Described embodiments include a graphene membrane film for solvent purification and related method, and a solvent purification system using same. The graphene membrane film for solvent purification is formed having a plurality of stacked graphene plate-shaped flakes, and at least one pair of the plurality of stacked graphene plate-shaped flakes comprises a physical bond or a chemical bond connecting layers. The graphene membrane film for solvent purification is produced by preparing a graphene oxide dispersion liquid by dispersing graphene oxide in distilled water; confining the graphene oxide dispersion liquid between a pair of substrates; and applying heat and pressure to the graphene oxide dispersion liquid between the substrates to perform a hydrothermal reaction to concurrently thermally reduce the graphene oxide and bind graphenes. Due to lipophilic surface property and fine pores, size exclusion separation and hydrophilic-lipophilic component separation through polarity may be realized, and thus is usable in fine chemistry fields.

Provided is a method for synthesizing carbon agglomerates containing metastable carbyne/carbynoid chains; a method for synthesizing carbon or carbon compound allotropes from the agglomerates containing metastable carbyne/carbynoid chains; and the uses of the methods. The method for synthesizing carbon agglomerates containing metastable carbyne/carbynoid chains includes the following steps: a) forming carbon vapor precursors, containing carbine/carbynoid chains, by decomposing a carbon gas selected from among CH.sub.4, C.sub.2H.sub.2, C.sub.2H.sub.4, gaseous toluene, and benzene in the form of vapors at a temperature T such that 1 500° C.<T≦3 000° C.; and b) condensing the carbon vapor precursors, obtained in Step a), on the surface of a substrate, the temperature Ts of which is less than the temperature T. The invention is particularly of use in the field of electronics.

Compositions comprising hydrogenated and dehydrogenated graphite comprising a plurality of flakes. At least one flake in ten has a size in excess of ten square micrometers. For example, the flakes can have an average thickness of 10 atomic layers or less.

Material compositions are provided that may comprise, for example, a vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) array, a conductive layer, and a carbon interlayer coupling the VACNT array to the conductive layer. Methods of manufacturing are provided. Such methods may comprise, for example, providing a VACNT array, providing a conductive layer, and bonding the VACNT array to the conductive layer via a carbon interlayer.

There is disclosed a method of generating non-ionizing radiation, non-ionizing .sup.4He atoms, or a combination of both, the method comprising: contacting graphene materials with a source of deuterium; and aging the graphene materials in the source of deuterium for a time sufficient to generate non-ionizing radiation, non-ionizing .sup.4 1-le atoms. In one embodiment, graphene materials may comprise carbon nanotubes, such as nitrogen doped single walled or multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Unlike an alpha particle, the non-ionizing .sup.4He atoms generated by the disclosed method are a low energy particles, such as one having an energy of less than 1 MeV, such as less than 100 keV. Other non-ionizing radiation that can be generated by the disclosed process include soft x-rays, phonons or energetic electrons within the carbon material, and visible light.

Provided is method of producing graphene directly from a pulp, paper, or paper product, the method comprising a procedure of subjecting the pulp, paper, or paper product (preferably containing post-consumer, reclaimed, or recycled product) to a graphitization treatment at a graphitization temperature in the range of 1,500° C. to 3,400° C. (preferably >2,500° C.) in a substantially non-oxidizing environment for a length of time sufficient for converting the product to a graphene material product. Preferably and typically, the method does not involve the use of an externally added undesirable chemical (other than those paper chemicals already present in the paper product) or catalyst. The method is environmentally benign, ecologically friendly, and highly scalable.

A solar cell structure is disclosed that includes a first metal layer, formed over predefined portions of a sun-exposed major surface of a semiconductor structure, that form electrical gridlines of the solar cell; a network of carbon nanotubes formed over the first metal layer; and a second metal layer formed onto the network of carbon nanotubes, wherein the second metal layer infiltrates the network of carbon nanotubes to connect with the first metal layer to form a first metal matrix composite comprising a metal matrix and a carbon nanotube reinforcement, wherein the second metal layer is an electrically conductive layer in which the carbon nanotube reinforcement is embedded in and bonded to the metal matrix, and the first metal matrix composite provides enhanced mechanical support as well as enhanced or equal electrical conductivity for the electrical contacts against applied mechanical stressors to the electrical contacts.

The present invention relates to a method of reproducing at least one single-walled carbon nanotube (3) having predefined electronic properties or a plurality of single-walled carbon nanotube (3) having the same electronic properties. A dispersion (2) is produced for this purpose and carbon nanotubes (3) contained in the dispersion are processed into fragments (6) by energy input. These fragments (6) are applied to and oriented on a carrier (7). The fragments (6) are subsequently extended by chemical vapor deposition and the originally present carbon nanotubes (3) are thus reproduced.

Photoreduction of graphene oxide, by UV-generated ketyl radicals, to graphene. The photoreduction is versatile and can be carried out in solution, solid-state, and even in polymer composites. Reduction of graphene oxide can take place in various polymer matrixes. Methods for producing graphene-supported metal nanoparticles by photoreduction. Graphene oxide and a metal nanoparticle precursor are simultaneously reduced by the action of photogenerated ketyl radicals. Photoreduction is performed on polymer composite films in one embodiment.

The present invention provides a method for producing a carbon nanotube sheet that is excellent in light transmittance and conductivity, and the carbon nanotube sheet. The method includes firstly modifying of modifying a free-standing unmodified carbon nanotube sheet in which a plurality of carbon nanotubes are aligned in a predetermined direction. The firstly modifying includes performing a densification process of bringing the unmodified carbon nanotube sheet into contact with either one of or both of vapor and liquid particles of a liquid substance to produce a modified carbon nanotube sheet that contains the carbon nanotubes which are mainly aligned in a predetermined direction, and that includes a high density portion where the carbon nanotubes are assembled together and a low density portion where density of the carbon nanotubes is relatively lower than density in the high density portion.