Browsing by Author "Dyke, Christopher A."
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Item Amplification of carbon nanotubes via seeded-growth methods(2013-10-22) Smalley, Richard E.; Hauge, Robert H.; Barron, Andrew R.; Tour, James M.; Schmidt, Howard K.; Billups, Edward W.; Dyke, Christopher A.; Moore, Valerie C.; Whitsitt, Elizabeth Anne; Anderson, Robin E.; Colorado Jr., Ramon; Stewart, Michael P.; Ogrin, Douglas C.; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark OfficeThe present invention is directed towards methods (processes) of providing large quantities of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) of defined diameter and chirality (i.e., precise populations). In such processes, CNT seeds of a pre-selected diameter and chirality are grown to many (e.g., hundreds) times their original length. This is optionally followed by cycling some of the newly grown material back as seed material for regrowth. Thus, the present invention provides for the large-scale production of precise populations of CNTs, the precise composition of such populations capable of being optimized for a particular application (e.g., hydrogen storage). The present invention is also directed to complexes of CNTs and transition metal catalyst precurors, such complexes typically being formed en route to forming CNT seeds.Item Bulk separation of carbon nanotubes by bandgap(2011-05-10) Tour, James M.; Dyke, Christopher A.; Flatt, Austen K.; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark OfficeThe present invention is directed to methods of separating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by their electronic type (e.g., metallic, semi-metallic, and semiconducting). Perhaps most generally, in some embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods of separating CNTs by bandgap, wherein such separation is effected by interacting the CNTs with a surface such that the surface interacts differentially with the CNTs on the basis of their bandgap, or lack thereof. In some embodiments, such methods can allow for such separations to be carried out in bulk quantities.Item Interaction of microwaves with carbon nanotubes to facilitate modification(2011-12-20) Tour, James M.; Dyke, Christopher A.; Stephenson, Jason J.; Yakobson, Boris I.; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark OfficeThe present invention is directed toward methods of crosslinking carbon nanotubes to each other using microwave radiation, articles of manufacture produced by such methods, compositions produced by such methods, and applications for such compositions and articles of manufacture. The present invention is also directed toward methods of radiatively modifying composites and/or blends comprising carbon nanotubes with microwaves, and to the compositions produced by such methods. In some embodiments, the modification comprises a crosslinking process, wherein the carbon nanotubes serve as a conduit for thermally and photolytically crosslinking the host matrix with microwave radiation.Item Methods for selective functionalization and separation of carbon nanotubes(2011-02-15) Strano, Michael S.; Usrey, Monica; Barone, Paul; Dyke, Christopher A.; Tour, James M.; Kittrell, Carter W.; Hauge, Robert H.; Smalley, Richard E.; Marek, Irene Morin; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark OfficeThe present invention is directed toward methods of selectively functionalizing carbon nanotubes of a specific type or range of types, based on their electronic properties, using diazonium chemistry. The present invention is also directed toward methods of separating carbon nanotubes into populations of specific types or range(s) of types via selective functionalization and electrophoresis, and also to the novel compositions generated by such separations.Item Methods of attaching or grafting carbon nanotubes to silicon surfaces and composite structures derived therefrom(2012-04-17) Tour, James M.; Chen, Bo; Flatt, Austen K.; Stewart, Michael P.; Dyke, Christopher A.; Maya, Francisco; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark OfficeThe present invention is directed toward methods of attaching or grafting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to silicon surfaces. In some embodiments, such attaching or grafting occurs via functional groups on either or both of the CNTs and silicon surface. In some embodiments, the methods of the present invention include: (1) reacting a silicon surface with a functionalizing agent (such as oligo(phenylene ethynylene)) to form a functionalized silicon surface; (2) dispersing a quantity of CNTs in a solvent to form dispersed CNTs; and (3) reacting the functionalized silicon surface with the dispersed CNTs. The present invention is also directed to the novel compositions produced by such methods.Item Process for functionalizing carbon nanotubes under solvent-free conditions(2008-12-02) Tour, James M.; Dyke, Christopher A.; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark OfficeThe present invention provides methods by which carbon nanotubes can be functionalized under solvent-free conditions. As extremely large quantities are typically required to dissolve or disperse carbon nanotubes, solvent elimination the processes more favorable for scale-up. Such processes are also amenable to a wide variety of chemical reactions are functionalizing agents.Item Selective functionalization of carbon nanotubes(2009-08-11) Strano, Michael S.; Usrey, Monica; Barone, Paul; Dyke, Christopher A.; Tour, James M.; Kittrell, Carter W.; Hauge, Robert H.; Smalley, Richard E.; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark OfficeThe present invention is directed toward methods of selectively functionalizing carbon nanotubes of a specific type or range of types, based on their electronic properties, using diazonium chemistry. The present invention is also directed toward methods of separating carbon nanotubes into populations of specific types or range(s) of types via selective functionalization and electrophoresis, and also to the novel compositions generated by such separations.