Browsing by Author "Young, Colin"

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    Dissolution of graphite, graphite and graphene nanoribbons in superacid solutions and manipulation thereof
    (2017-01-03) Tour, James M.; Pasquali, Matteo; Behabtu, Natnael; Lomeda, Jay R.; Kosynkin, Dmitry V.; Duque, Amanda; Green, Micah J.; Parra-vasquez, A. Nicholas; Young, Colin; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
    Methods for dissolving carbon materials such as, for example, graphite, graphite oxide, oxidized graphene nanoribbons and reduced graphene nanoribbons in a solvent containing at least one superacid are described herein. Both isotropic and liquid crystalline solutions can be produced, depending on the concentration of the carbon material The superacid solutions can be formed into articles such as, for example, fibers and films, mixed with other materials such as, for example, polymers, or used for functionalization of the carbon material. The superacid results in exfoliation of the carbon material to produce individual particles of the carbon material. In some embodiments, graphite or graphite oxide is dissolved in a solvent containing at least one superacid to form graphene or graphene oxide, which can be subsequently isolated. In some embodiments, liquid crystalline solutions of oxidized graphene nanoribbons in water are also described.
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    Liquid crystals from single-walled carbon nanotube polyelectrolytes and their use for making various materials
    (2016-02-02) Marti-arbona, Angel A.; Jiang, Chengmin; Saha, Avishek; Pasquali, Matteo; Young, Colin; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
    In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of forming a solution of single-walled carbon nanotube polyelectrolytes in a liquid crystalline phase. In some embodiments, such methods comprise: (a) providing single-walled carbon nanotube polyelectrolytes; and (b) mixing the single-walled polyelectrolytes with a polar aprotic solvent to form a mixture, where the mixing results in the formation of single-walled carbon nanotubes in the liquid crystalline phase. In some embodiments, the polar aprotic solvent comprises crown ether. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to a method of making single-walled carbon nanotube fibers. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to a method of making a single walled carbon nanotube composite. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to an article comprising neat aligned carbon nanotubes.