Technology Overview
This technology is a method for the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on substrates formed from pellets or powders of oxides such as magnesia, silica, and alumina.
Furthermore, a catalyst such as an iron-cobalt alloy is applied to the substrate surface to enable the desirable CNT growth – so-called catalytic CVD (CCVD). Various carbon-containing gases can be used in the process, and various substrate and catalyst formation methods and compositions are covered in the provided patent disclosures. Together these methods can provide control of the location and orientation of the nanotubes and can produce organized arrays of CNT on a large scale.
Benefits
- Growth directly on substrate – avoids defects caused by liquid suspension preparation and application
- CVD process advantages – higher yield, more easily controlled, and more scalable than arc deposition or laser ablation techniques
- Efficient use of materials – uses less catalytic material than other CCVD processes and employs common, inexpensive substrate materials
- Provides aligned CNTs – more valuable than bulk, entangled CNTs for many applications
Applications
Potential applications for carbon nanotubes are numerous and varied, including:
- Nanoelectronics such as wires and basic electronic components such as transistors
- High strength composite materials
- Medical uses such as hearing aids and implantable biosensors
- Fuel cells for hydrogen containment
- Advanced battery systems
- Photovoltaic devices
Keywords: nanotube, carbon nanotubes, cnt, SWNT, chemical vapor deposition, cvd, catalytic CVD, CCVD, pellet oxide
Inventors: Alexandru S. Biris, Enkeleda Dervishi, Zhongrui Li, Yang Xu
