Electrolysis methods that utilize carbon dioxide for making nanocarbon allotropes of nano-dragons and nano-belts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023416928-A1
Application number	US-202217993298-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 23, 2022
Priority date	Nov 24, 2021
Publication date	Dec 28, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and apparatus for producing a carbon nanomaterial product (CNM) product that may comprise carbon nanotubes and various other allotropes of nanocarbon. The method and apparatus employ a consumable carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and a renewable carbonate electrolyte as reactants in an electrolysis reaction in order to make CNTs. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, operational conditions of the electrolysis reaction may be varied in order to produce the CNM product with a greater incidence of a desired allotrope of nanocarbon or a desired combination of two or more allotropes.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method for producing a carbon nanomaterial (CNM) product, the method comprising steps of:
(a) heating an electrolyte media to obtain a molten electrolyte media; (b) positioning the molten electrolyte media between a high-nickel content anode and a copper-containing cathode of an electrolytic cell; (c) introducing a source of carbon into the electrolytic cell; (d) introducing an iron-containing salt into the electrolyte media or the molten electrolyte media; (e) applying a low current-density, electrical current to the cathode and the anode in the electrolytic cell; and (f) collecting the CNM product from the cathode,
wherein the CNM product comprises a minimum relative-amount of a desired allotrope that is a carbon nano-dragon or a carbon nano-belt.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the iron-containing salt is added in an amount of between about 0.05 wt % to about 2 wt %, relative to the amount of the electrolyte media or the molten electrolyte media.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the iron-containing salt is iron oxide.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the anode is an Inconel alloy.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the low current-density, electrical current has a current density of between about 0.3 A/cm 2 to about 0.75 A/cm 2 , wherein the desired allotrope is the nano-dragon and wherein the minimum relative-amount is at least 70 wt % of a total weight of the CNM product.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the copper-containing cathode is a Monel alloy.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the low current-density, electrical current is applied for about 4 hours.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of ageing the molten electrolyte media for at least 24 hours, wherein the iron oxide is added before the aging step, wherein the low current-density, electrical current has a current density of between about 0.05 A/cm 2 and 0.15 A/cm 2 , wherein the desired allotrope is the nano-belt and wherein the minimum relative-amount is at least 90 wt % of a total weight of the CNM product.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the copper-containing cathode comprises Muntz brass.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the low current-density, electrical current is applied for between about 15 hours and about 20 hours.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of introducing a magnetic additive component into the electrolytic cell, wherein the magnetic additive component comprises a magnetic material addition component, a carbide-growth component or any combination thereof and wherein the desired allotrope is magnetic and moves when in a magnetic field.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of introducing a doping additive component into the electrolytic cell, wherein the desired allotrope is doped and atoms of the doping additive component are directly incorporated throughout the doped desired allotrope to impart desired physical and/or chemical properties to the doped desired allotrope that are different than an undoped desired allotrope.

13 . A carbon nanomaterial comprising a nano-dragon, wherein the nano-dragon has an elongated body carbon nanotube (CNT) with at least one protrusion that extend away from the elongated body CNT.

14 . The carbon nanomaterial of claim 13 , wherein the at least one protrusion is multiple protrusions.

15 . The carbon nanomaterial of claim 13 , wherein each of the at least one protrusion comprise a branched CNT, a nodule of metal growth or any combination thereof.

16 . The carbon nanomaterial of claim 13 , wherein the nano-dragon has an I D /AG ratio of between about 0.6 and about 0.8, as measured by Raman spectroscopy.

17 . A carbon nanomaterial comprising a nano-belt with an I D /AG ratio of about 0.67, as measured by Raman spectroscopy.

18 . Use of a desired nano-carbon allotrope in one or more of a medical device, a structural enhancement additive, a strength enhancement additive, an electrical conductivity enhancement additive, a themal conductivity enhancement additive, or a flexibility enhancement additive, a hardness enhancement additive, a durability enhancement additive, a lubrication enhancement additive, or as a catalyst, electric vehicles, cables or wires, athletic equipment, a pharmaceutical drug delivery system, an electronic, a battery, a super capacitor, a sensor, a plastic, a polymer, a textile, a hydrogen storage system, a light absorbing enhancement for a surface, an electromagnetic shielding enhancement for a surface, a surface treatment, a surface coating, a paint or a water treatment system, wherein the desired allotrope is a carbon nano-dragon or a carbon nano-belt.

Assignees

• C2Cnt Llc

Inventors

• Licht Stuart
• Licht Gad

Classifications

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• C25B1/135 Primary

  Carbon · CPC title

• C25B11/046

  Alloys · CPC title

• C01B32/158

  Carbon nanotubes · CPC title

• C01B32/18

  Nanoonions; Nanoscrolls; Nanohorns; Nanocones; Nanowalls · CPC title