In the synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) via high temperature, high pressure methods, a boron feedstock may be elevated above its melting point in a nitrogen environment at an elevated pressure. Methods and apparatus for supporting the boron feedstock and subsequent boron melt are described that enhance BNNT synthesis. A target holder having a boron nitride interface layer thermally insulates the target holder from the boron melt. Using one or more lasers as a heat source, mirrors may be positioned to reflect and control the distribution of heat in the chamber. The flow of nitrogen gas in the chamber may be heated and controlled through heating elements and flow control baffles to enhance BNNT formation. Cooling systems and baffle elements may provide additional control of the BNNT production process.

Apparatuses and methods for preparing carbon nanostructure sheets are provided. The apparatuses may include a casting body including a substrate configured to move along a first direction, a slurry reservoir configured to contain a slurry, a dispenser connected to the slurry reservoir and configured to dispense the slurry onto a surface of the substrate and a doctoring member that extends in a second direction traversing the first direction and that is positioned above the surface of the substrate. The slurry may include carbon nanostructures, and/or one or more functional materials. The doctoring member may be spaced apart from the surface of the substrate by a predetermined distance.

There is described a mesoporous composite material comprising carbon nanoparticles dispersed in a mesoporous carbonaceous material.

Disclosed is a free atom nanotube growth technology capable of continuously growing long, high quality nanotubes. This patent application is a Continuation In Part of the Trekking Atom Nanotube Growth patent application #14037034 filed on Sep. 25, 2013. The current invention represents a departure from chemical vapor deposition technology as the atomic feedstock does not originate in the gaseous environment surrounding the nanotubes. The technology mitigates the problems that cease carbon nanotube growth in chemical vapor deposition growth techniques: 1) The accumulation of material on the surface of the catalyst particles, suspected to be primarily amorphous carbon, 2) The effect of Ostwald ripening that reduces the size of smaller catalyst particles and enlarges larger catalyst particles, 3) The effect of some catalyst materials diffusing into the substrate used to grow carbon nanotubes and ceasing growth when the catalyst particle becomes too small.

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.

This present invention relates to oxidized, discrete carbon nanotubes in dispersions, especially for use in printing inks. The dispersions can include materials such as elastomers, thermosets and thermoplastics or aqueous dispersions of open-ended carbon nanotubes with additives. A further feature of this invention relates to the development of a dispersion of oxidized, discrete carbon nanotubes that are electrically conductive.

A carbon nanotube aggregate includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, a metal compound, and an oxide of the metal compound. The metal compound is contained in a space inside of each of the carbon nanotubes and/or in a space defined between the plurality of carbon nanotubes. When the metal compound is added inside the carbon nanotube aggregate, the metal compound is oxidized by reacting with oxygen or the like during or after a production process of the CNT aggregate, and the oxide is formed in the opening of the space to which the metal compound is added, so that the metal compound is capped with the oxide. Since the metal compound inside the CNT aggregate is shielded from the atmosphere, separation of the metal compound and reaction between the metal compound and oxygen and water in the atmosphere are suppressed, increasing heat resistance of the carbon nanotube aggregate.

A process for preparing an anticorrosive coating includes providing a substrate, providing a sacrificial metal particle, chemically binding a graphitic material to a first molecule comprising a first group, a first spacer, and a second group, chemically binding said graphitic material to a second molecule comprising a third group, a second spacer, and a fourth group, wherein said third group is a different group from said first group, binding said sacrificial metal particle to either said first or said third group, binding either said first or said third group with said substrate, wherein said group bound to said substrate is different from said group bound to said sacrificial metal particle, chemically binding said second group and said fourth group to said graphitic material, growing thermoset resin side chains on said graphitic material, and growing siloxane side chains on said graphitic material.

A nanometer niobium carbide/carbon nanotube reinforced diamond composite and a preparation method thereof, belonging to the field of materials science. The nanometer niobium carbide/carbon nanotube reinforced diamond composite is composed of nanometer niobium carbide/carbon nanotube composite powders, matrix powders and diamond grains, wherein the nanometer niobium carbide/carbon nanotube composite powders are the composites of nanometer niobium carbide which are evenly distributed in the surface defects and interior of the carbon nanotube, the nanometer niobium carbide/carbon nanotube reinforced diamond composite is prepared by mixing the nanometer niobium carbide/carbon nanotube composite powders, matrix powders and diamond grains uniformly and sintering with a hot pressing technique.

Methods and compositions for the formation of dispersions of nanotubes are provided using solution comprising an aromatic hydrocarbon and an electron donor group. Also provided are methods for isolating carbon nanotubes from the composition, and use of carbon nanotube products.