The present invention provides methods for uniform growth of nanostructures such as nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes) on the surface of a substrate, wherein the long axes of the nanostructures may be substantially aligned. The nanostructures may be further processed for use in various applications, such as composite materials. For example, a set of aligned nanostructures may be formed and transferred, either in bulk or to another surface, to another material to enhance the properties of the material. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance the mechanical properties of a material, for example, providing mechanical reinforcement at an interface between two materials or plies. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance thermal and/or electronic properties of a material. The present invention also provides systems and methods for growth of nanostructures, including batch processes and continuous processes.

A system that receives nanomaterials, forms nanofibrous materials therefrom, and collects these nanofibrous materials for subsequent applications. The system is coupled to a chamber that generates nanomaterials, typically carbon nanotubes produced from chemical vapor deposition, and includes a mechanism for spinning the nanotubes into yarns or tows. Alternatively, the system includes a mechanism for forming non-woven sheets from the nanotubes. The system also includes components for collecting the formed nanofibrous materials. Methods for forming and collecting the nanofibrous materials are also provided.

A system that receives nanomaterials, forms nanofibrous materials therefrom, and collects these nanofibrous materials for subsequent applications. The system is coupled to a chamber that generates nanomaterials, typically carbon nanotubes produced from chemical vapor deposition, and includes a mechanism for spinning the nanotubes into yarns or tows. Alternatively, the system includes a mechanism for forming non-woven sheets from the nanotubes. The system also includes components for collecting the formed nanofibrous materials. Methods for forming and collecting the nanofibrous materials are also provided.

A system for utilizing solar power to generate carbon nano-materials. A system for utilizing the carbon dioxide byproduct of a fossil fuel power generation process to drive an electrolysis reaction which produces carbon nano-materials, and methods of producing the same.

A method for preparing a cable formed of carbon nanotubes, comprising decomposing at least one carbon precursor compound and at least one precursor compound of a catalyst on a porous substrate (43), in which method continuously: —a first gas stream comprising a precursor of a catalyst is brought into contact with a porous substrate (43); —a second gas stream comprising at least one carbon precursor is brought into contact with said porous substrate (43); —said porous substrate (43) is heated to a temperature leading to the deposition of catalyst particles and the catalytic growth of a carbon nanotube bundle, and preferably between 500° C. and 1000° C.

A method for preparing a cable formed of carbon nanotubes, comprising decomposing at least one carbon precursor compound and at least one precursor compound of a catalyst on a porous substrate (43), in which method continuously: —a first gas stream comprising a precursor of a catalyst is brought into contact with a porous substrate (43); —a second gas stream comprising at least one carbon precursor is brought into contact with said porous substrate (43); —said porous substrate (43) is heated to a temperature leading to the deposition of catalyst particles and the catalytic growth of a carbon nanotube bundle, and preferably between 500° C. and 1000° C.

The present invention provides a process for preparing a yarn, which comprises introducing a raw material that comprises a carbon source and a catalyst into a reaction chamber having a heating means, converting the carbon source into a plurality of carbon nanotubes in a heating part of the reaction chamber with thermal energy supplied by the heating means, and growing the plurality of carbon nanotubes in the vertical direction to form a yarn by the interactions among the carbon nanotubes.

A low carbon footprint material is used to decrease the carbon dioxide emission for production of a high carbon footprint substance. A method of forming composite materials comprises providing a first high carbon footprint substance; providing a carbon nanomaterial produced with a carbon-footprint of less than 10 unit weight of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) emission during production of 1 unit weight of the carbon nanomaterial; and forming a composite comprising the high carbon footprint substance and from 0.001 wt % to 25 wt % of the carbon nanomaterial, wherein the carbon nanomaterial is homogeneously dispersed in the composite to reduce the carbon dioxide emission for producing the composite material relative to the high carbon footprint substance.

A system and method of producing carbon nanotubes from flare gas and other gaseous carbon-containing sources.

A system and method of producing carbon nanotubes from flare gas and other gaseous carbon-containing sources.