Title:
PROCESS UTILIZING PRE-FORMED CLUSTER CATALYSTS FOR MAKING SINGLE-WALL CARBON NANOTUBES
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2002079082
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A gas-phase method for producing high yields of single-wall carbon nanotubes with high purity and homogeneity is disclosed. The method involves using preformed metal catalyst clusters to initiate and grow single-wall carbon nanotubes. In one embodiment, multi-metallic catalyst precursors are used to facilitate the metal catalyst cluster formation. The catalyst clusters are grown to the desired size before mixing with a carbon-containing feedstock at a temperature and pressure sufficient to initiate and form single-wall carbon nanotubes. The method also involves using small fullerenes and preformed sections of single-wall carbon nanotubes, either derivatized or underivatized, as seed molecules for expediting the growth and increasing the yield of single-wall carbon nanotubes. The multi-metallic catalyst precursors and the seed molecules may be introduced into the reactor by means of a supercritical fluid. In addition the seed molecules may be introduced into the reactor via an aerosol or smoke.
Inventors:
SMALLEY RICHARD E
HAUGE ROBERT H
WILLIS PETER ATHOL
KITTRELL W CARTER
HAUGE ROBERT H
WILLIS PETER ATHOL
KITTRELL W CARTER
Application Number:
PCT/US2002/002659
Publication Date:
December 12, 2002
Filing Date:
January 30, 2002
Export Citation:
Assignee:
UNIV RICE WILLIAM M (US)
International Classes:
B01J3/00; B01J19/12; B01J19/26; C01B31/02; D01F9/127; (IPC1-7): D01F9/12
Foreign References:
| US5358646A | 1994-10-25 |
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