Organized carbon and non-carbon assembly

Abstract

This invention relates generally to organized assemblies of carbon and non-carbon compounds and methods of making such organized structures. In preferred embodiments, the organized structures of the instant invention take the form of nanorods or their aggregate forms. More preferably, a nanorod is made up of a carbon nanotube filled, coated, or both filled and coated by a non-carbon material. This invention is further drawn to the separation of single-wall carbon nanotubes. In particular, it relates to the separation of semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes from conducting (or metallic) single-wall carbon nanotubes. It also relates to the separation of single-wall carbon nanotubes according to their chirality and/or diameter.

1 . An organized carbon and non-carbon assembly comprising a carbon nanotube filled with a titanium compound, wherein the carbon nanotube contains titanium carbide in an amount less than about 10 volume percent of the core volume of the carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         2 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the titanium compound has a formula of TiH w B x N y O z , where w varies in the range of 0 to 2, x varies in the range of 0 to 2, y varies in the range of 0 to 1, and z varies in the range of 0 to 2. 
     
     
         3 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the titanium compound is at least about 0.10 weight percent of the organized assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the titanium compound is at least about 1.00 weight percent of the organized assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the titanium compound is at least about 4.00 weight percent of the organized assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube contains titanium carbide in an amount less than about 1 volume percent of the core volume of the carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         7 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube contains titanium carbide in an amount less than about 0.1 volume percent of the core volume of the carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         8 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the titanium compound is titanium. 
     
     
         9 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the carbon nanotube is filled and coated with titanium. 
     
     
         10 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the titanium compound is TiN y , where y varies in the range of 0 to 1. 
     
     
         11 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the carbon nanotube is filled and coated with TiN y . 
     
     
         12 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the titanium compound is TiH w , where w varies in the range of 0 to 2. 
     
     
         13 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the titanium compound is TiO z , where z varies in the range of 0 to 2. 
     
     
         14 . The organized carbon and non-carbon assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the carbon nanotube is filled and coated with TiO z .