This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for synthesizing multiwall carbon nanotubes from high molecular polymeric wastes. The process comprises using induction heating in combination with catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CVD) with an array of catalytic materials to synthesize high value carbon nanotubes with better yield and purity from high molecular polymeric wastes.

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.

Provided is a positive electrode for a secondary battery in which carbon nanotubes are used, of which an initial resistance is small, and that suppresses an increase in resistance when charging and discharging are repeated. The positive electrode for a secondary battery disclosed herein includes a positive-electrode current collector and a positive-electrode active material layer provided on the positive-electrode current collector. The positive-electrode active material layer contains a positive-electrode active material and carbon nanotubes, and substantially does not contain a resin binder. The positive-electrode active material layer includes a layer-like region that is in contact with the positive-electrode current collector, and a region other than the layer-like region. Both of the layer-like region and the region other than the layer-like region contain carbon nanotubes. A content of carbon nanotubes in the layer-like region is larger than a content of carbon nanotubes in the region other than the layer-like region.

A carbon nanotube aggregate according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, in which: the carbon nanotubes each have a plurality of walls; a distribution width of a wall number distribution of the carbon nanotubes is 10 walls or more; a relative frequency of a mode of the wall number distribution is 25% or less; and a length of each of the carbon nanotubes is more than 10 μm. A carbon nanotube aggregate according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, in which: the carbon nanotubes each have a plurality of walls; a mode of a wall number distribution of the carbon nanotubes is present at a wall number of 10 or less; a relative frequency of the mode is 30% or more; and a length of each of the carbon nanotubes is more than 10 μm.

The present invention provides methods for purifying a layer of carbon nanotubes comprising providing a precursor layer of substantially aligned carbon nanotubes supported by a substrate, wherein the precursor layer comprises a mixture of first carbon nanotubes and second carbon nanotubes; selectively heating the first carbon nanotubes; and separating the first carbon nanotubes from the second carbon nanotubes, thereby generating a purified layer of carbon nanotubes. Devices benefiting from enhanced electrical properties enabled by the purified layer of carbon nanotubes are also described.

Discrete, individualized carbon nanotubes having targeted, or selective, oxidation levels and/or content on the interior and exterior of the tube walls are claimed. Such carbon nanotubes can have little to no inner tube surface oxidation, or differing amounts and/or types of oxidation between the tubes' inner and outer surfaces. These new discrete carbon nanotubes are useful in plasticizers, which can then be used as an additive in compounding and formulation of elastomeric, thermoplastic and thermoset composite for improvement of mechanical, electrical and thermal properties.

Carbon-carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid materials, and methods of producing the hybrid materials. The hybrid materials include carbon particles and CNTs on the surface of the particles. The CNT comprises more than about 3.2 weight percent of the hybrid material.

Methods and apparatus to generate carbon nanostructures from organic materials are described. Certain embodiments provide solid waste materials into a furnace, that pyrolyzes the solid waste materials into gaseous decomposition products, which are then converted to carbon nanostructures. Methods and apparatuses described herein provide numerous advantages over conventional methods, such as cost savings, reduction of handling risks, optimization of process conditions, and the like.

Provided is a structure for forming carbon nanofiber, including a base material containing an oxygen ion-conductive oxide, and a metal catalyst that is provided on one surface side of the base material.

Disclosed herein is a scaled method for producing substantially aligned carbon nanotubes by depositing onto a continuously moving substrate, (1) a catalyst to initiate and maintain the growth of carbon nanotubes, and (2) a carbon-bearing precursor. Products made from the disclosed method, such as monolayers of substantially aligned carbon nanotubes, and methods of using them are also disclosed.