Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100260998 | FIBER SIZING COMPRISING NANOPARTICLES - A fiber sizing formulation includes (1) a nanoparticle (NP)solution that includes a dispersion of transition metal nanoparticles (NPs) in a solvent and (2) a first fiber sizing agent. The NPs disperse throughout the first fiber sizing agent after application of the fiber sizing formulation to a fiber and removal of the solvent. The NPs serve a function selected from a secondary sizing agent, a catalyst for further nanostructure growth on the fiber, and combinations thereof. A fiber includes a sizing disposed about the fiber. The sizing includes transition metal nanoparticles dispersed throughout the sizing. A method includes applying the sizing formulation to a fiber during manufacture of the fiber, and removing the solvent from the applied formulation. A method includes adding a solution of transition metal NPs to a sizing-coated fiber and baking, whereby the sizing solution of NPs is added before baking the sizing. | 10-14-2010 |
20110304964 | ELECTRICAL DEVICES CONTAINING CARBON NANOTUBE-INFUSED FIBERS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF - Electrical devices having a plurality of stacked electrode layers are described. At least one of the electrode layers contains continuous fibers that are infused with carbon nanotubes. The continuous fibers can be disposed upon an electrically conductive base plate. The electrical devices can further contain an electrolyte contacting each electrode layer and a layer of separator material disposed between each electrode layer, in which case the electrical devices can form a supercapacitor. Such supercapacitors can have a capacitance of at least about 1 Farad/gram of continuous fibers. The capacitance can be increased by coating at least a portion of the infused carbon nanotubes with a material such as, for example, a conducting polymer, a main group metal compound, and/or a transition metal compound. Methods for producing the electrical devices are also described. | 12-15-2011 |
20120000691 | CNT-INFUSED FIBER AS A SELF SHIELDING WIRE FOR ENHANCED POWER TRANSMISSION LINE - A wire includes a plurality of carbon nanotube infused fibers in which the infused carbon nanotubes are aligned parallel to the fiber axes. An electromagnetic shield for a wire includes a plurality of carbon nanotube infused fibers, in which the infused carbon nanotubes are aligned radially about the fiber axes. The plurality of carbon nanotube infused fibers are arranged circumferentially about the wire with the fiber axes parallel to the wire. A self-shielded wire includes 1) a wire that includes a plurality of carbon nanotube infused fibers in which the infused carbon nanotubes are aligned parallel to the fiber axes; and 2) an electromagnetic shield that includes a plurality of carbon nanotube infused fibers in which the carbon nanotubes are aligned radially about the fiber axes. The axes of the carbon nanotube infused fibers of the wire and the carbon nanotube infused fibers of the electromagnetic shield share are parallel. | 01-05-2012 |
20120058296 | METAL SUBSTRATES HAVING CARBON NANOTUBES GROWN THEREON AND PROCESSES FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF - Processes for growing carbon nanotubes on metal substrates are described herein. The processes include depositing a catalyst precursor on a metal substrate, optionally depositing a non-catalytic material on the metal substrate, and after depositing the catalyst precursor and the optional non-catalytic material, exposing the metal substrate to carbon nanotube growth conditions so as to grow carbon nanotubes thereon. The carbon nanotube growth conditions convert the catalyst precursor into a catalyst that is operable for growing carbon nanotubes. The metal substrate can remain stationary or be transported while the carbon nanotubes are being grown. Metal substrates having carbon nanotubes grown thereon are also described. | 03-08-2012 |
20120065300 | CNT-INFUSED FIBER AND METHOD THEREFOR - A carbon nanotube-infused fiber and a method for its production are disclosed. Nanotubes are synthesized directly on a parent fiber by first applying a catalyst to the fiber. The properties of the carbon nanotube-infused fiber will be a combination of those of the parent fiber as well as those of the infused carbon nanotubes. | 03-15-2012 |
20120070667 | CARBON FIBER SUBSTRATES HAVING CARBON NANOTUBES GROWN THEREON AND PROCESSES FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF - Processes for growing carbon nanotubes on carbon fiber substrates are described herein. The processes can include depositing a catalyst precursor on a carbon fiber substrate, optionally depositing a non-catalytic material on the carbon fiber substrate, and after depositing the catalyst precursor and the optional non-catalytic material, exposing the carbon fiber substrate to carbon nanotube growth conditions so as to grow carbon nanotubes thereon. The carbon nanotube growth conditions can convert the catalyst precursor into a catalyst that is operable for growing carbon nanotubes. The carbon fiber substrate can remain stationary or be transported while the carbon nanotubes are being grown. Optionally, the carbon fiber substrates can include a barrier coating and/or be free of a sizing agent. Carbon fiber substrates having carbon nanotubes grown thereon are also described. | 03-22-2012 |
20120073568 | METHODS FOR IN SITU DEPOSITION OF COATINGS AND ARTICLES PRODUCED USING SAME - Methods for depositing a coating on a metal surface can include heating a metal surface to a temperature not greater than its melting point; while heating the metal surface, applying a vacuum thereto; and while heating the metal surface, releasing the vacuum and backfilling with a first purge gas, where the first purge gas is reactive with the heated metal surface so as to deposit at least one layer of a coating thereon. The present methods can be used to deposit a coating in situ during the fabrication of solar receivers, in which the solar receivers contain an annulus defined by a metal tube as the inner surface and a material that is at least partially transparent to solar radiation as the outer surface. | 03-29-2012 |
20120247800 | CNS-SHIELDED WIRES - A shielded wire includes a carbon nanostructure (CNS)-shielding layer including a CNS material in a matrix material, the CNS-shielding layer being monolithic and disposed about a dielectric layer and a conducting wire, wherein the dielectric layer is disposed between the CNS-shielding layer and the conducting wire. An extruded thermoplastic jacket includes a CNS material, the extruded thermoplastic jacket being configured to protect at least one wire. A thermoplastic article includes a CNS-infused fiber material and a flexible thermoplastic. | 10-04-2012 |
20120255494 | LOW TEMPERATURE CNT GROWTH USING GAS-PREHEAT METHOD - A method for synthesizing carbon nanotubes (CNT) comprises the steps of providing a growth chamber, the growth chamber being heated to a first temperature sufficiently high to facilitate a growth of carbon nanotubes; and passing a substrate through the growth chamber; and introducing a feed gas into the growth chamber pre-heated to a second temperature sufficient to dissociate at least some of the feed gas into at least free carbon radicals to thereby initiate formation of carbon nanotubes onto the substrate. | 10-11-2012 |
20130101495 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTINUOUSLY PRODUCING CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES ON REUSABLE SUBSTRATES - A system includes a reusable substrate upon which a carbon nanostructure is formed as a carbon nanostructure-laden reusable substrate, a first conveyor system adapted to continuously convey the reusuable substrate through a carbon nanotube catalyst application station and carbon nanostructure growth station, and a second conveyor system adapted to create an interface between a second substrate and the carbon nanostructure-laden reusuable substrate, the interface facilitating transfer of a carbon nanostructure from the carbon nanostructure-laden reusuable substrate to the second substrate. A method includes growing a carbon nanostructure on a reusable substrate, the carbon nanostructure includes a carbon nanotube polymer having a structural morphology comprising interdigitation, branching, crosslinking, and shared walls and transferring the carbon nanostructure to a second substrate to provide a carbon nanostructure-laden second substrate. The method is adapted for continuous carbon nanostructure production on the reusable substrate. A pre-preg includes such a carbon nanostructure. | 04-25-2013 |
20130143087 | CORE/SHELL STRUCTURED ELECTRODES FOR ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES - An energy storage device can include at least one electrode that comprise a plurality carbon nanostructure (CNS)-infused fibers in contact with an active material and an electrolyte. | 06-06-2013 |
20140065447 | HYBRID CAPACITOR-BATTERY AND SUPERCAPACITOR WITH ACTIVE BI-FUNCTIONAL ELECTROLYTE - An electrode includes a substrate having a carbon nanostructure (CNS) disposed thereon and a coating including an active material conformally disposed about the carbon nanostructure and the substrate. The electrode is used in a hybrid capacitor-battery having a bifunctional electrolyte capable of energy storage. | 03-06-2014 |
20140093728 | CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - A carbon nanostructure that is free of a growth substrate can include a plurality of carbon nanotubes that are branched, crosslinked, and share common walls with one another. The carbon nanostructure can be released from a growth substrate in the form of a flake material. Optionally, the carbon nanotubes of the carbon nanostructure can be coated, such as with a polymer, or a filler material can be present within the porosity of the carbon nanostructure. Methods for forming a carbon nanostructure that is free of a growth substrate can include providing a carbon nanostructure adhered to a growth substrate, and removing the carbon nanostructure from the growth substrate to form a carbon nanostructure that is free of the growth substrate. Various techniques can be used to affect removal of the carbon nanostructure from the growth substrate. Isolation of the carbon nanostructure can further employ various wet and/or dry separation techniques. | 04-03-2014 |
20140094541 | COMPOSITE MATERIALS FORMED BY SHEAR MIXING OF CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES AND RELATED METHODS - Carbon nanostructures free of an adhered growth substrate can include a plurality of carbon nanotubes that are branched, crosslinked, and share common walls with one another. Under applied shear, crosslinks between the carbon nanotubes in carbon nanostructures can break to form fractured carbon nanotubes that are branched and share common walls. Methods for making polymer composites from carbon nanostructures can include combining a polymer matrix and a plurality of carbon nanostructures that are free of an adhered growth substrate, and dispersing the carbon nanostructures in the polymer matrix under applied shear. The applied shear breaks crosslinks between the carbon nanotubes to form a plurality of fractured carbon nanotubes that are dispersed as individuals in the polymer matrix. Polymer composites can include a polymer matrix and a plurality of fractured carbon nanotubes dispersed as individuals in the polymer matrix. | 04-03-2014 |
20140097146 | CARBON NANOSTRUCTURE SEPARATION MEMBRANES AND SEPARATION PROCESSES USING SAME - Carbon nanostructures can include a plurality of carbon nanotubes that are branched, crosslinked, and share common walls with one another, thereby defining a porous space having a tortuous path within the carbon nanostructures. The porous space can be used for sequestering a range of particulate sizes from various types of substances. Separation membranes can include a separation body having an effective pore size of about 1 micron or less and providing a tortuous path for passage of a substance therethrough. The separation body can include carbon nanostructures. | 04-10-2014 |
20140097917 | MICROWAVE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLIES FABRICATED FROM CARBON NANOSTRUCTURE POLYMER COMPOSITES - Carbon nanostructures can be formed into polymer composites that are electrically conductive and highly reflective of microwave radiation, thereby facilitating transmission of the microwave radiation. Microwave transmission assemblies containing carbon nanostructures can include an elongate structure containing elongate opposing surfaces that extend the length of the elongate structure and that are spaced apart from one another with a channel region defined in between. The elongate opposing surfaces include a polymer composite containing a polymer matrix and a plurality of carbon nanostructures. Each carbon nanostructure can include a plurality of carbon nanotubes that are branched, crosslinked, and share common walls with one another. | 04-10-2014 |
20140099493 | CARBON NANOSTRUCTURE LAYERS AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME - A carbon nanostructure that is free of a growth substrate adhered to the carbon nanostructure can include a plurality of carbon nanotubes that are branched, crosslinked, and share common walls with one another. Carbon nanostructures can be agglomerated with one another and densified to form a carbon nanostructure layer in which at least a portion of the carbon nanotubes in each carbon nanostructure are aligned substantially parallel to one another. Methods for forming a carbon nanostructure layer can include providing a plurality of carbon nanostructures that are free of a growth substrate adhered to each carbon nanostructure, and forming a carbon nanostructure layer by depositing the carbon nanostructures on a surface. | 04-10-2014 |
20140151111 | CARBON NANOSTRUCTURE-COATED FIBERS OF LOW AREAL WEIGHT AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - Carbon nanostructures can convey enhanced electrical conductivity to various substrates, while maintaining a high surface area and low density per unit area. Such substrates can provide good shielding against electromagnetic radiation over a wide range of frequencies. Electrically conductive structures can include a support layer containing a plurality of fibers having apertures defined between the fibers, and a plurality of carbon nanostructures at least partially conformally coating the fibers and bridging across the apertures defined between adjacent fibers to form a continuous carbon nanostructure layer. Each carbon nanostructure can include a plurality of carbon nanotubes that are branched, crosslinked, and share common walls with one another. | 06-05-2014 |
20140154412 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SURFACE TREATMENT AND BARRIER COATING OF FIBERS FOR IN SITU CNT GROWTH - A system for synthesizing carbon nanotubes (CNT) on a fiber material includes a surface treatment system adapted to modify the surface of the fiber material to receive a barrier coating upon which carbon nanotubes are to be grown, a barrier coating application system downstream of the surface treatment system adapted to apply the barrier coating to the treated fiber material surface, and a barrier coating curing system downstream of the barrier coating application systems for partially curing the applied barrier coating to enhance reception of CNT growth catalyst nanoparticles. | 06-05-2014 |