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.

The present invention provides an improved sorbent and corresponding device(s) and uses thereof for the capture and stabilization of volatile organic compounds (VOC) or semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) from a gaseous atmosphere. The sorbent is capable of rapid and high uptake of one or more compounds and provides quantitative release (recovery) of the compound(s) when exposed to elevated temperature and/or organic solvent. Uses of particular improved grades of mesoporous silica are disclosed.

Provided herein are methods for forming one or more silicon nanostructures, such as silicon nanotubes, and a silica-containing glass substrate. As a result of the process used to prepare the silicon nanostructures, the silica-containing glass substrate comprises one or more nanopillars and the one or more silicon nanostructures extend from the nanopillars of the silica-containing glass substrate. The silicon nanostructures include nanotubes and optionally nanowires. A further aspect is a method for preparing silicon nanostructures on a silica-containing glass substrate. The method includes providing one or more metal nanoparticles on a silica-containing glass substrate and then performing reactive ion etching of the silica-containing glass substrate under conditions that are suitable for the formation of one or more silicon nanostructures.

We provide ZnO nanoporcupines and a coating comprising ZnO nanoporcupines. Each nanoporcupine comprises a ZnO stem attached by one end to said surface, and a plurality of ZnO nanospikes attached to and extending away from the surface of the stem, the nanospikes being spread across the surface of the stem. The nanoporcupines and coating have antibacterial properties. We also provide a method of producing the nanoporcupine/coating comprising the steps of immersing a surface with ZnO stem precursors in a reaction mixture comprising hexamethylenetetramine, up to about 1 mM of L-ascorbic acid, and up to about 1 mM of a zinc salt in deionized water, and heating the reaction mixture at a temperature between about 90° C. and about 95° C. to produce the ZnO nanoporcupines on the surface.

A nanotube dispersion, a nanotube film manufactured using the same, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The nanotube dispersion comprises a nanotube, a nanotube dispersant including at least one selected from a compound represented by a chemical formula 1 and a salt thereof, and a solvent including one selected from an organic solvent, water, and a mixture thereof.

A system and method of producing carbon nanotubes from flare gas and other gaseous carbon-containing sources.

A system for measuring a concentration of lead in water includes a variable electrode having lead ionophore II and a reference electrode electrically connected to the variable electrode and having carbon nanotubes. A potentiometer is electrically connected to the variable and reference electrodes, and the potentiometer generates a signal reflective of the electrical potential between the variable and reference electrodes 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 potentiometer with the variable and reference electrodes, immersing the variable and reference electrodes in the water, and generating a signal from the potentiometer reflective of the electrical potential between the variable and reference electrodes in the water.

Thermal interface materials may be enhanced through the dispersion of refined boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) into a polymer matrix material and one or more microfillers. A refined BNNT material may be formed by reducing free boron particle content from an as-synthesized BNNT material, and in some embodiments reducing h-BN content. Reducing these species improves the thermal conductivity of the BNNTs. Refined BNNTs may be deagglomerated to reduce the size and mass of BNNTs in agglomerations when the deagglomerated BNNT material is dispersed into a target polymer matrix material. The deagglomerated BNNT material may be lyophilized prior to dispersion in the matrix material, to retain the deagglomeration benefit following return to solid state. The surface of the deagglomerated BNNT material may be modified, with one or more functional groups that improve dispersibility and heat transfer in the target polymer matrix material.

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.

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to boron nitride nanomaterials. In one aspect, a method includes generating a directed flow of plasma. A boron-containing species is introduced to the directed flow of the plasma. Boron nitride nanostructures are formed in a chamber. In another aspect, a method includes generating a directed flow of plasma using nitrogen gas. A boron-containing species is introduced to the directed flow of the plasma. The boron-containing species can consist of boron powder, boron nitride powder, and/or boron oxide powder. Boron nitride nanostructures are formed in a chamber, with a pressure in the chamber being about 3 atmospheres or greater.