Provided herein is a nanopore structure, which in one aspect is a “carbon nanotube porin”, that comprises a short nanotube with an associated lipid coating. Also disclosed are compositions and methods enabling the preparation of such nanotube/lipid complexes. Further disclosed is a method for therapeutics delivery that involves a drug delivery agent comprising a liposome with a NT loaded with a therapeutic agent, introducing the therapeutic agent into a cell or a tissue or an organism; and subsequent release of the therapeutic agents into a cell.

A membrane is electrically charged to a polarity. A surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a solution is caused to acquire a charge of the polarity. The solution is filtered through the membrane. An electromagnetic repulsion between the membrane of the polarity and the CNTs of the polarity causes the CNTs to spontaneously align to form a crystalline structure.

Provided herein is a nanopore structure, which in one aspect is a “carbon nanotube porin”, that comprises a short nanotube with an associated lipid coating. Also disclosed are compositions and methods enabling the preparation of such nanotube/lipid complexes. Further disclosed is a method for therapeutics delivery that involves a drug delivery agent comprising a liposome with a NT loaded with a therapeutic agent, introducing the therapeutic agent into a cell or a tissue or an organism; and subsequent release of the therapeutic agents into a cell.

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).

Embodiments described herein relate generally to the large scale production of functionalized graphene. In some embodiments, a method for producing functionalized graphene includes combining a crystalline graphite with a first electrolyte solution that includes at least one of a metal hydroxide salt, an oxidizer, and a surfactant. The crystalline graphite is then milled in the presence of the first electrolyte solution for a first time period to produce a thinned intermediate material. The thinned intermediate material is combined with a second electrolyte solution that includes a strong oxidizer and at least one of a metal hydroxide salt, a weak oxidizer, and a surfactant. The thinned intermediate material is then milled in the presence of the second electrolyte solution for a second time period to produce functionalized graphene.

The present disclosure relates to a method of preparing a graphene metal nanoparticle-composite, including: preparing graphene by applying a shearing force to a first solution containing a graphite-based material and thus exfoliating the graphite-based material; preparing metal nanoparticles by applying a shearing force to a second solution containing a metal precursor, a capping agent, and a reducing agent; and physically combining the metal nanoparticles on the graphene by applying a shearing force to a third solution containing the graphene and the metal nanoparticles, and a graphene metal nanoparticle-composite prepared according to the method.

A single chirality single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT), and combinations thereof, can be used to detect trace levels of chemical compounds in vivo with high selectivity.

A method for manufacturing a broadband fluorescence amplification assembly comprising the steps of providing a vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) substrate that has been treated with a plasma and at least partially coated with a metal coating and a support structure, and supporting the VACNT substrate by the support structure. The support structure can include one of quartz or glass. The method can also include the steps of cleaning the support structure with an alcohol solution and/or exposing the support structure to one of a surface cleaning plasma or ozone. The method can further comprise the step of adhering the VACNT substrate to the support structure, wherein the step of adhering can include applying an adhesive material to at least a portion of the support structure. Additionally, the method can include the step of treating the VACNT substrate and the support structure with the plasma.

Methods for forming carbon nanotube arrays are provided. Also provided are the arrays formed by the methods and electronic devices that incorporate the array as active layers. The arrays are formed by flowing a fluid suspension of carbon nanotubes through a confined channel under conditions that create a velocity gradient across the flowing suspension.

Disclosed is a porous carbon nanotube microsphere material and the preparation method and use thereof, a lithium metal-skeleton carbon composite and the preparation method thereof, a negative electrode of a secondary battery, a secondary battery, and a metal-skeleton carbon composite. The porous carbon nanotube microsphere material is spherical or spheroidal particles composed of carbon nanotubes. The spherical or spheroidal particles have an average diameter of 1 m to 100 m. A large number of nanoscale pores are composed of interlaced nanotubes inside the particle, and the pore size is 1 nm to 200 nm. The preparation method thereof comprises: mixing and dispersing carbon nanotubes and a solvent, and performing spray drying, to obtain the carbon nanotube microspheres. The lithium metal-skeleton carbon composite is obtained by uniformly mixing lithium metal in a melted state with a porous carbon material carrier and cooling.