A carbon nanotube (CNT) growth apparatus includes: a body; an inlet cap; an outlet cap; insulation extending through a portion of an interior of the body, the insulation including a first stage and a second stage, a flow tube extending through the inlet cap and passing coaxially through the first stage of the insulation, the flow tube configured to receive and flow a fluid to the interior of the body; a gas heater including a plurality of heat pipes configured to be inserted in the first stage of the insulation, the plurality of heat pipes being disposed adjacent to the flow tube; a substrate heater incorporated in the second stage of the insulation; and a temperature controller configured to adjust a temperature of the gas heater and substrate heater, wherein a removed portion of the second stage is configured to provide an unobstructed view of the substrate.

A carbon nanotube (CNT) growth apparatus includes: a body; an inlet cap; an outlet cap; insulation extending through a portion of an interior of the body, the insulation including a first stage and a second stage, a flow tube extending through the inlet cap and passing coaxially through the first stage of the insulation, the flow tube configured to receive and flow a fluid to the interior of the body; a gas heater including a plurality of heat pipes configured to be inserted in the first stage of the insulation, the plurality of heat pipes being disposed adjacent to the flow tube; a substrate heater incorporated in the second stage of the insulation; and a temperature controller configured to adjust a temperature of the gas heater and substrate heater, wherein a removed portion of the second stage is configured to provide an unobstructed view of the substrate.

The present invention relates to a method for producing carbon nanostructures using a fluidized bed reactor. According to the method, some of the as-produced carbon nanostructures remain uncollected and are used as fluidic materials to improve the fluidity in the reactor. The method enables the production of carbon nanostructures in a continuous process. In addition, the fluidity of the catalyst and the fluidic materials in the reactor is optimized, making the production of carbon nanostructures efficient.

The present invention relates to a method for producing carbon nanostructures using a fluidized bed reactor. According to the method, some of the as-produced carbon nanostructures remain uncollected and are used as fluidic materials to improve the fluidity in the reactor. The method enables the production of carbon nanostructures in a continuous process. In addition, the fluidity of the catalyst and the fluidic materials in the reactor is optimized, making the production of carbon nanostructures efficient.

A method for preparing carbon nanotubes, nanofibres or nanofilaments by decomposition of at least one carbon precursor in the presence of a catalyst, in which method continuously:—a first gas stream comprising a precursor of a catalyst is brought into contact with a porous substrate (43);—a second gas stream comprising at least one carbon precursor is brought into contact with said porous substrate (43);—said porous substrate (43) is heated to a temperature leading to the deposition of catalyst particles and to the catalytic growth of carbon nanotubes.

Provided herein are methods and devices for production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which have high structural uniformity and low levels of impurities. The device includes, for example, a module for depositing catalyst on a substrate, a module for forming CNTs, a module for separating CNTs from the substrate, a module for collecting the CNTs and a module for continuously and sequentially advancing the substrate through the above modules. The method includes, for example, the steps of depositing catalyst on a moving substrate, forming carbon nanotubes on the substrate, separating carbon nanotubes from the substrate and collecting the carbon nanotubes from the surface, where the substrate moves sequentially through the depositing, forming, separating and collecting steps.

Provided herein are methods and devices for production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which have high structural uniformity and low levels of impurities. The device includes, for example, a module for depositing catalyst on a substrate, a module for forming CNTs, a module for separating CNTs from the substrate, a module for collecting the CNTs and a module for continuously and sequentially advancing the substrate through the above modules. The method includes, for example, the steps of depositing catalyst on a moving substrate, forming carbon nanotubes on the substrate, separating carbon nanotubes from the substrate and collecting the carbon nanotubes from the surface, where the substrate moves sequentially through the depositing, forming, separating and collecting steps.

A CNT production apparatus 1 provided by the present invention includes a cylindrical chamber 10 and a control valve 60 provided to a gas discharge pipe 50. The chamber 10 includes a reaction zone provided in a partial range of the chamber 10 in the direction of the cylinder axis, a deposition zone 22 which is provided downstream of the reaction zone 20, and a deposition state detector 40 that detects a physical property value indicating a deposition state of carbon nanotubes in the deposition zone 22. The apparatus is configured to close the control valve 60 and deposit carbon nanotubes in the deposition zone 22 when the physical property value detected by the deposition state detector 40 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, and configured to open the control valve 60 and recover the carbon nanotubes deposited in the deposition zone 22 when the physical property value exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

Disclosed here is a method of fabricating a covalently reinforced carbon nanotube (CNT) assembly. The method includes producing a CNT assembly by pulling entangled CNTs from a CNT array fabricated on a substrate, the CNT assembly including a plurality of CNTs that are aligned; and creating covalent bonding between the CNTs of the CNT assembly by applying a high energy ion irradiation to the CNT assembly.

Disclosed here is a method of fabricating a covalently reinforced carbon nanotube (CNT) assembly. The method includes producing a CNT assembly by pulling entangled CNTs from a CNT array fabricated on a substrate, the CNT assembly including a plurality of CNTs that are aligned; and creating covalent bonding between the CNTs of the CNT assembly by applying a high energy ion irradiation to the CNT assembly.