A floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition system produces nanotubes. The system includes a reaction chamber, a heater for heating a nanotube-material precursor and a catalyst precursor, and an injector for injecting the precursors into the chamber. In the chamber, the catalyst precursor is pyrolysed to produce catalyst particles, and the nanotube-material precursor is pyrolysed in the presence of the catalyst particles in order to produce nanotubes. A controller controls at least one operational parameter, e.g., injection temperatures of the precursors, flow rates of carrier gases of the precursors, and a reaction temperature of the chamber and of the precursors. An injection pipe extends into the chamber to an adjustable extent in order to control the injection temperature of the catalyst precursor and/or the nanotube-material precursor.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a carbon nanotube fiber. The apparatus includes: a vertical reactor having a reaction zone; a concentric double-pipe inlet tube disposed on top of the reaction zone and consisting of an inner pipe through which a spinning feedstock including a spinning solution and a first gas is introduced into the reaction zone and an outer pipe defining a concentric annular portion surrounding the inner pipe and through which a second gas is introduced into the reaction zone; heating means for heating the reaction zone; and a discharge unit disposed under the bottom of the reaction zone to discharge a carbon nanotube fiber therethrough. The spinning feedstock entering the reaction zone through the inner pipe of the inlet tube is carbonized and graphitized while flowing from the top to the bottom of the reaction zone to form a carbon nanotube fiber consisting of a continuous sock (or aggregates) of carbon nanotubes. The second gas entering the reaction zone through the outer pipe of the inlet tube forms a gas curtain surrounding the circumference of the continuous sock of carbon nanotubes while flowing from the top to the bottom of the reaction zone. The gas curtain minimizes the contamination of the inner wall of the reactor and facilitates the discharge of the carbon nanotube fiber. Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention is suitable for the production of a carbon nanotube fiber in a continuous manner.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a carbon nanotube fiber. The apparatus includes: a vertical reactor having a reaction zone; a concentric double-pipe inlet tube disposed on top of the reaction zone and consisting of an inner pipe through which a spinning feedstock including a spinning solution and a first gas is introduced into the reaction zone and an outer pipe defining a concentric annular portion surrounding the inner pipe and through which a second gas is introduced into the reaction zone; heating means for heating the reaction zone; and a discharge unit disposed under the bottom of the reaction zone to discharge a carbon nanotube fiber therethrough. The spinning feedstock entering the reaction zone through the inner pipe of the inlet tube is carbonized and graphitized while flowing from the top to the bottom of the reaction zone to form a carbon nanotube fiber consisting of a continuous sock (or aggregates) of carbon nanotubes. The second gas entering the reaction zone through the outer pipe of the inlet tube forms a gas curtain surrounding the circumference of the continuous sock of carbon nanotubes while flowing from the top to the bottom of the reaction zone. The gas curtain minimizes the contamination of the inner wall of the reactor and facilitates the discharge of the carbon nanotube fiber. Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention is suitable for the production of a carbon nanotube fiber in a continuous manner.

The present disclosure is directed to multifunctional conductive wire and methods of making multifunctional conductive wire. According to some aspects, the multifunctional conductive wire disclosed herein can function as a current carrier and as a battery, either for providing or storing power. The multifunctional conductive wires disclosed herein can eliminate the need for heavy metal conductors in various devices while improving power efficiency.

A method for manufacturing a carbon nanostructure according to an embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a carbon nanostructure, the method including a preparation step of preparing a substrate containing a carburizable metal as a main component, and a carbon nanostructure growth step of supplying a carbon-containing gas while heating the substrate, in which the carbon nanostructure growth step includes gradually cleaving a heated portion of the substrate. The cleaving in the carbon nanostructure growth step is preferably performed by subjecting the substrate to shearing. The heating in the carbon nanostructure growth step is preferably performed by irradiating a cleaving portion of the substrate with a laser. The preparation step preferably includes forming, in the substrate, a notch for inducing cleavage. Preferably, the substrate in the carbon nanostructure growth step is not oxidized.

A method for manufacturing a carbon nanostructure according to an embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a carbon nanostructure, the method including a preparation step of preparing a substrate containing a carburizable metal as a main component, and a carbon nanostructure growth step of supplying a carbon-containing gas while heating the substrate, in which the carbon nanostructure growth step includes gradually cleaving a heated portion of the substrate. The cleaving in the carbon nanostructure growth step is preferably performed by subjecting the substrate to shearing. The heating in the carbon nanostructure growth step is preferably performed by irradiating a cleaving portion of the substrate with a laser. The preparation step preferably includes forming, in the substrate, a notch for inducing cleavage. Preferably, the substrate in the carbon nanostructure growth step is not oxidized.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for producing a volume of substantially all armchair nanotubes of a preselected chirality for fabricating yarn consisting of substantially all metallic conducting armchair tubes. The systems and methods can be used for the synthesis of (10,10), (11,11), and (12,12) metallic armchair carbon nanotubes and potentially other chiralities. The elements of the present disclosure include: (i) a carbon source that provides substantial numbers of ethylene and acetylene radicals in combination with a high population of ethylene groups and a small amount of methane, (ii) a hydrogen to carbon ratio sufficient to passivate all other chiral growth sites to a higher degree than armchair growth sites, and (iii) a CVD process that can be tuned to create a well-controlled population of catalyst with tight diameter distribution with sparse modal distribution that falls within a range of the desired single wall diameters.

A system and process for producing carbon nano-materials is disclosed. A carbonate material such as Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 is heated via a furnace to transform into molten carbonate. CO.sub.2 is bubbled into the molten carbonate. The molten carbonate is subjected to electrolysis by passing current from an anode to a cathode. A transition metal nucleation agent is added to result in nucleation sites that grow carbon nano-materials at the cathode. This process separates oxygen at the anode and carbon nano-materials at the cathode. The characteristics of the carbon nano-material may be controlled by varying current density, feed gas, transition metal composition, temperature, viscosity and electrolyte composition.

A method for preparing carbon nanotubes, nanofibres or nanofilaments by decomposition of at least one carbon precursor in the presence of a catalyst, 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 to the catalytic growth of carbon nanotubes.

A method for preparing carbon nanotubes, nanofibres or nanofilaments by decomposition of at least one carbon precursor in the presence of a catalyst, 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 to the catalytic growth of carbon nanotubes.