Systems and methods for growth of nanostructures on substrates, including substrates comprising fibers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9540243-B2
Application number	US-201414216487-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2014
Priority date	Sep 21, 2011
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for the formation of nanostructures, including carbon-based nanostructures, are generally described. In certain embodiments, substrate configurations and associated methods are described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of growing carbon-based nanostructures, comprising:
applying a tensile force to a carbon fiber over which a nanopositor is positioned; and
exposing a carbon-based nanostructure precursor to the nanopositor under conditions causing the formation of carbon-based nanostructures on the nanopositor while the tensile force is applied to the carbon fiber,
wherein the magnitude of the tensile force is such that it defines a stress that is greater than about 5% of the breaking strength of the carbon fiber.

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the nanopositor is in direct contact with the carbon fiber.

3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein an intermediate material is positioned between the carbon fiber and the nanopositor.

4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the carbon-based nanostructures comprise carbon nanotubes.

5. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the carbon-based nanostructures comprise carbon nanofibers.

6. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the carbon fiber is part of a weave of fibers.

7. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the carbon fiber is part of a bundle of fibers.

8. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the carbon fiber is substantially free of contact with other fibers.

9. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the nanopositor comprises an elemental metal and/or a metal oxide.

10. A method as in claim 9 , wherein the nanopositor comprises an elemental metal.

11. A method as in claim 10 , wherein the nanopositor comprises elemental iron.

12. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the nanopositor comprises iron.

13. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the conditions causing formation of the carbon-based nano structures comprise a temperature of less than about 600° C.

14. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the nanopositor comprises a catalyst.

15. A method as in claim 3 , wherein the intermediate material comprises a polyeletrolyte.

16. A method as in claim 15 , wherein the intermediate material comprises a polyelectrolyte incorporating carboxylate, sulfonate, carbonate, bicarbonate, amine, ammonium, phosphate, and/or phosphonate groups.

17. A method as in claim 3 , wherein the intermediate material is in the form of a substantially conformal coating over the carbon fiber.

18. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the magnitude of the tensile force is such that it defines a stress that is greater than about 10% of the breaking strength of the carbon fiber.

19. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the magnitude of the tensile force is such that it defines a stress that is less than about 75% of the breaking strength of the substrate.

20. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising, prior to applying the tensile force to the carbon fiber, affixing at least one end of the carbon fiber to stationary or moveable mount.

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Steiner Iii Stephen A
• Wardle Brian L
• Li Richard

Classifications

• C23C16/22

  characterised by the deposition of inorganic material, other than metallic material · CPC title

• C01B32/18 Primary

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

• C01B32/16

  Preparation · CPC title

• C01B32/15

  Nano-sized carbon materials · CPC title

• Y10S977/843

  Gas phase catalytic growth, i.e. chemical vapor deposition · CPC title