A method for carbon nanotube purification, preferably including: providing carbon nanotubes; depositing a mask; and/or selectively removing a portion of the mask; and optionally including removing a subset of the carbon nanotubes and/or removing the remaining mask.

There is provided a pH responsive optical nanoprobe comprising metallic SWCNTs or graphene coated with a transition metal M. The coated metallic SWCNTs or graphene have an absorption spectrum comprising an optical resonance, and have a Raman scattering spectrum responsive to optical excitation at said optical resonance comprising at least one pH-dependent peak having at least one of a Raman shift value and an intensity that is function of a solution pH, when the nanoprobe is in contact with a solution at said solution pH. There is also provided a method to measure the pH of a solution, by contacting the solution with the nanoprobe; illuminating the nanoprobe with an excitation light beam having a wavelength at said optical resonance, thereby generating a Raman signal from the nanoprobe according to said Raman scattering spectrum; measuring a spectral distribution of the Raman signal; and determining the pH of the solution from the spectral distribution.

A conductive material dispersion includes a carbon-based conductive material, a main dispersant, an auxiliary dispersant, and a dispersion medium, wherein the main dispersant is a nitrile-based copolymer and the auxiliary dispersant is a copolymer including an oxyalkylene unit and at least one selected from the group consisting of a styrene unit and an alkylene unit.

A system for inductive heating of an aircraft surface includes a conductive outer layer configured to be located on an outer portion of the aircraft surface. The system further includes a carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn configured to receive and conduct electrical current. The system further includes an insulator located between the conductive outer layer and the CNT yarn such that the electrical current flowing through the CNT yarn generates induction heating on the conductive outer layer.

A system for measuring a concentration of lead in water includes a variable electrode having a mixture of lead ionophore II, carbon nanotubes, and a first binder. A reference electrode includes a mixture of carbon nanotubes and a second binder. A meter is electrically connected in series with the variable and reference electrodes, and the meter generates a signal reflective of the concentration of lead in the water when the variable and reference electrodes are immersed in the water. A method for measuring a concentration of lead in water may include preparing a variable electrode having lead ionophore II and a reference electrode having carbon nanotubes. The method may further include electrically connecting a meter with the variable and reference electrodes, immersing the variable and reference electrodes in the water, and generating a signal from the meter reflective of the concentration of lead in the water.

Solder-carbon nanostructure composites and methods of making and using thereof are described. Such composites can be useful for thermal application and can serve, for example, as thermal interface materials (TIMs).

A conductive material dispersion containing a conductive material containing carbon fibers, a dispersant, and a dispersion medium, in which the dispersant contains a copolymer A containing a nitrile group-containing structural unit and an aliphatic hydrocarbon structural unit, and a Mooney viscosity (ML.sub.1+4, 100° C.) of the copolymer A is 40 to 70, and the conductive material dispersion has a phase angle of 19° or greater at a frequency of 1 Hz.

A consumer product having a sensor for controlling the operation of the consumer product, a system and method including the consumer product and a sensor are provided. The system and method including a central communication unit capable of receiving incoming signals and sending outgoing instructions from the consumer product and sensor. The central communication unit communicably connected with a memory configured to store an algorithm. The sensor has a cross-linked carbon nanotube network comprising: a plurality of carbon nanotubes; and at least one linker that covalently links adjacent carbon nanotubes. The algorithm controls the consumer product based on incoming signals sent from the sensor to the central communication unit.

The present invention relates to a bundle-type carbon nanotube which has a bulk density of 25 to 45 kg/m.sup.3, a ratio of the bulk density to a production yield of 1 to 3, and a ratio of a tap density to the bulk density of 1.3 to 2.0, and a method for preparing the same.

Methods for producing a conductive element precursor and a conductive element, such as a tape or wire, are provided. The methods comprise growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes on a metallic substrate and coating carbon nanotubes of the plurality of carbon nanotubes on the metallic substrate with a metallic material.