FUNCTIONALIZED FEW-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES (FWNTs) AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME

Abstract

Few-walled carbon nanotubes (FWNTs) can be synthesized in a simple chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system using a mixture of methanol and ethanol as the carbon source. In preferred embodiments, the present invention uses an ethanol/methanol mixture as the carbon source so that few walled nanotubes (FWNTs) with high purity can be prepared following a simplified purification process. Under the growth conditions of the present invention, ethanol is believed to act as the carbon source while methanol is believed to act as a “carbonaceous impurity remover” to remove the impurities deposited on a support (e.g., MgO) and thereby hinder the formation of such impurities.

1 . A process for making few walled carbon nanotubes (FWNTS) comprising synthesizing the FWNTs by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of an alcohol vapor mixture comprised of methanol and ethanol. 
     
     
         2 . A process as in  claim 1 , wherein the methanol is present in the alcohol vapor mixture in an amount of greater than 50 vol. %. 
     
     
         3 . A process as in  claim 1 , wherein the volume ratio of methanol to ethanol in the alcohol vapor mixture is between about 20:80 to about 80:20. 
     
     
         4 . A process as in  claim 1 , wherein the FWNTs are synthesized on a support. 
     
     
         5 . A process as in  claim 4 , wherein the support consists of magnesium oxide. 
     
     
         6 . A process as in  claim 1 , wherein the FWNTs are synthesized in an inert atmosphere at an elevated temperature of 1000° C. or greater. 
     
     
         7 . A process as in  claim 6 , wherein the inert atmosphere is argon. 
     
     
         8 . A process as in  claim 7 , wherein the FWNTs are synthesized in the presence of a catalyst. 
     
     
         9 . A process as in  claim 8 , wherein the catalyst comprises cobalt and molybdenum. 
     
     
         10 . A process as in  claim 1 , further comprising collecting a sample of the FWNTs and purifying the sample to remove impurities therefrom. 
     
     
         11 . A process as in  claim 10 , wherein the step of purifying the sample comprises heating the sample at a temperature and time sufficient to remove impurities therefrom. 
     
     
         12 . Few walled carbon nanotubes (FWNTs) made by the process of  claim 1 .