Sucrose treated carbon nanotube and graphene yarns and sheets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9695531-B2
Application number	US-201414206292-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

Consolidated carbon nanotube or graphene yarns and woven sheets are consolidated through the formation of a carbon binder formed from the dehydration of sucrose. The resulting materials, on a macro-scale are lightweight and of a high specific modulus and/or strength. Sucrose is relatively inexpensive and readily available, and the process is therefore cost-effective.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of treating a carbon material to improve the mechanical properties thereof, the method comprising:
providing a carbon material, the carbon material comprising a plurality of carbon microstructures, wherein the carbon microstructures are comprised of nanotubes, graphene sheets, or any combinations thereof;
providing a liquid sucrose solution comprising sucrose intermixed with a solvent;
applying the liquid sucrose solution to the carbon material;
dehydrating the sucrose solution to form a binder that binds the carbon microstructures together to provide enhanced mechanical properties and form an amorphous carbon coated material,
post-treating the amorphous carbon coated material to yield graphitic structures and further enhance mechanical properties.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
a force is applied to the carbon material to align the carbon microstructures;
dehydrating the liquid sucrose solution to bind the carbon microstructures into the aligned form.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon material is soaked in the liquid sucrose solution.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the carbon material is soaked in the liquid sucrose solution a second time after the liquid sucrose solution has been dehydrated a first time; and
the newly applied sucrose is dehydrated a second time.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein a force is applied to the carbon material to stretch the carbon material when the carbon material is soaked the first and second times, and when the sucrose is dehydrated the first and second times.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon material comprises a yarn, wherein the yarn comprises carbon nanotubes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon material comprises a sheet, wherein the sheet comprises carbon nanotubes, graphene sheets, or any combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the carbon material comprises a sheet and the sheet is woven.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid sucrose solution comprises sucrose dissolved in water, ethanol, or any combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon material has a first modulus of elasticity before application of the liquid sucrose solution, and has a second modulus of elasticity after the sucrose solution is dehydrated, and wherein the second modulus of elasticity is greater than the first modulus of elasticity.

11. A method of treating materials formed from carbon nanotubes to improve the mechanical properties of the material, the method comprising:
providing a material comprising carbon nanotubes that are interconnected to form a macroscopic material;
stretching the macroscopic material to align the carbon nanotubes into an aligned configuration;
soaking the macroscopic material in a liquid sucrose solution;
dehydrating the deposited sucrose to form a binder that binds the carbon nanotubes in the aligned configuration.

12. The method of claim 11 , including:
stretching the macroscopic material a second time after the sucrose has been dehydrated;
soaking the macroscopic material in a liquid sucrose solution a second time; and
dehydrating the sucrose a second time.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the macroscopic material comprises yarn.

Assignees

• Nasa

Inventors

• Sauti Godfrey
• Kim Jae-Woo
• Siochi Emilie J
• Wise Kristopher E

Classifications

• B29K2005/00

  Use of polysaccharides or derivatives as moulding material · CPC title

• B29K2105/162

  Nanoparticles · CPC title

• D04H1/587 Primary

  characterised by the bonding agents used · CPC title

• B82Y30/00

  Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites · CPC title

• D04H1/64

  the bonding agent being applied in wet state, e.g. chemical agents in dispersions or solutions · CPC title