A continuous method for manufacturing graphene films using a metal substrate, wherein a first surface of the metal substrate is heated such that a top layer of the first surface melts to form a molten metal layer, and devices for carrying out the same.

Disclosed here is a method of fabricating a covalently reinforced carbon nanotube (CNT) assembly. The method includes producing a CNT assembly by pulling entangled CNTs from a CNT array fabricated on a substrate, the CNT assembly including a plurality of CNTs that are aligned; and creating covalent bonding between the CNTs of the CNT assembly by applying a high energy ion irradiation to the CNT assembly.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a carbon-nanotube-based composite coating, comprising a layer of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that comprise metal oxide claddings sheathing them. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing such CNT-based composite coatings using chemical vapour deposition (CVD).

A method of producing a carbon nanostructure is provided that enables production of a high-quality carbon nanostructure with a high yield. The method of producing a carbon nanostructure includes supplying a feedstock gas to a catalyst and growing a carbon nanostructure by chemical vapor deposition. A gas X that is derived from the feedstock gas and that comes into contact with the catalyst contains a hydrocarbon A having at least one cyclopentadiene skeleton and a hydrocarbon B having at least one acetylene skeleton. A total volume concentration [A] of the hydrocarbon A is at least 0.06%.

A continuous method for manufacturing graphene films using a metal substrate, wherein a first surface of the metal substrate is heated such that a top layer of the first surface melts to form a molten metal layer, and devices for carrying out the same.

Disclosed is an apparatus for manufacturing a carbon nanotube fiber.

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 method for making artificial graphite includes placing a graphene film on a surface of a base, to obtain a graphene film/base composite structure. The graphene film includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the second surface is in direct contact with the surface of the base. The graphene film/base composite structure is placed in a reaction chamber, and a carbon layer is formed on the first surface of the graphene film, to obtain a carbon layer/graphene film/base composite structure. The carbon layer/graphene film/base composite structure is graphitized in an inert gas environment or a vacuum environment to obtain artificial graphite.

A method of producing a carbon nanotube-containing composition is a method of producing a carbon nanotube-containing composition for synthesizing carbon nanotube aggregates by introducing a ferrocene derivative, a sulfur compound, a carbon source, and a carrier gas into a gas phase flowing in a heating furnace within a temperature range of higher than 1,200 C. to 1,800 C. The carbon source substantially consists of benzene or toluene. The carrier gas includes hydrogen at 10% by volume to 85% by volume. The carrier gas has a linear velocity of 500 cm/min to 2,200 cm/min.

Methods of producing layers of patterned graphene with smooth edges are provided. The methods comprise the steps of fabricating a layer of crystalline graphene on a surface, wherein the layer of crystalline graphene has a crystallographically disordered edge, and decreasing the crystallographic disorder of the edge of the layer of crystalline graphene by heating the layer of crystalline graphene on the surface at an elevated temperature in a catalytic environment comprising carbon-containing molecules.