US2013072077A1PendingUtilityA1

Systems and methods for growth of nanostructures on substrates, including substrates comprising fibers

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Assignee: STEINER III STEPHEN APriority: Sep 21, 2011Filed: Feb 29, 2012Published: Mar 21, 2013
Est. expirySep 21, 2031(~5.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Stephen A. Steiner, IiiBrian L. WardleRichard Li
C23C 16/22C01B 32/18C01B 32/16C01B 32/15C23C 16/44Y10S977/742C01B 2202/08Y10S977/843Y10T428/31935Y10T428/2933Y10T442/20Y10T428/249924Y10T428/31678Y10T428/2918Y10T428/292Y10T428/31504D06M 15/263B82Y 40/00D06M 11/79D06M 2101/40D01F 9/127B82Y 30/00D06M 15/233D06M 11/74D06M 11/45
62
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Claims

Abstract

Systems and methods for the formation of nanostructures, including carbon-based nanostructures, are generally described. In certain embodiments, substrate configurations and associated methods are described.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article, comprising:
 a growth substrate;   an intermediate material non-covalently associated with the growth substrate; and   a nanopositor configured to promote the growth of carbon-based nanostructures from carbon-based nanostructure precursors associated with the intermediate material.   
     
     
         2 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanopositor is in direct contact with the intermediate material. 
     
     
         3 . An article as in  claim 2 , wherein the nanopositor is covalently bonded to the intermediate material. 
     
     
         4 . An article as in  claim 2 , wherein the nanopositor is ionically bonded to the intermediate material. 
     
     
         5 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the growth substrate comprises carbon, glass, and/or a polymer. 
     
     
         6 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanopositor comprises an elemental metal and/or a metal oxide. 
     
     
         7 . An article as in  claim 6 , wherein the nanopositor comprises an elemental metal. 
     
     
         8 . An article as in  claim 7 , wherein the nanopositor comprises elemental iron. 
     
     
         9 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanopositor comprises iron. 
     
     
         10 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         11 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material comprises a functional group capable of participating in a pi-pi interaction with the substrate. 
     
     
         12 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material comprises an aromatic group. 
     
     
         13 . An article as in  claim 12 , wherein the intermediate material comprises a phenyl group. 
     
     
         14 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material comprises poly(styrene-alt-[maleic acid]). 
     
     
         15 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material covers at least a portion of an exposed surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         16 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material is present as a coating over the substrate. 
     
     
         17 . An article as in  claim 16 , wherein the intermediate material is present as a substantially conformal coating over the substrate. 
     
     
         18 . An article as in  claim 17 , wherein the intermediate material is present as a surface layer over the substrate. 
     
     
         19 . An article as in  claim 18 , wherein the intermediate material is present as a monolayer over the substrate. 
     
     
         20 . An article as in  claim 16 , wherein the intermediate material is present as a non-conformal coating over the substrate. 
     
     
         21 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material comprises an anion. 
     
     
         22 . An article, comprising:
 an elongated carbon-based growth substrate, wherein the substrate has a tensile strength of at least about 1 GPa; and   a plurality of substantially aligned carbon-based nanostructures positioned over the elongated carbon-based growth substrate.   
     
     
         23 . An article as in  claim 22 , comprising a ceramic-containing material positioned between the elongated carbon-based growth substrate and the plurality of substantially aligned carbon-based nanostructures. 
     
     
         24 . An article as in  claim 23 , wherein the ceramic-containing material comprises a metal oxide and/or a metalloid oxide. 
     
     
         25 . An article as in  claim 24 , wherein the metal comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         26 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the carbon-based nanostructures comprise carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         29 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the carbon-based nanostructures comprise carbon nanofibers. 
     
     
         30 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the growth substrate comprises a fiber. 
     
     
         31 . An article as in  claim 30 , wherein the fiber is part of a weave of fibers. 
     
     
         32 . An article as in  claim 30 , wherein the fiber is part of a bundle of fibers. 
     
     
         33 . An article as in  claim 30 , wherein the fiber is substantially free of contact with other fibers. 
     
     
         34 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the growth substrate comprises a carbon fiber. 
     
     
         35 . An article as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanopositor comprises a catalyst. 
     
     
         36 . A system for growing carbon-based nanostructures, comprising:
 a growth substrate under a tensile force; and   a nanopositor positioned over the growth substrate;   wherein the system is configured to expose a carbon-based nanostructure precursor to the nanopositor under conditions causing the formation of carbon-based nanostructures on the nanopositor while the tensile force is applied to the growth substrate.   
     
     
         37 . A system as in  claim 36 , comprising an intermediate material between the growth substrate and the nanopositor. 
     
     
         38 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A system as in  claim 36 , wherein the nanopositor is in direct contact with the growth substrate. 
     
     
         42 - 65 . (canceled) 
     
     
         66 . A system as in  claim 36 , wherein the magnitude of the tensile force is such that it defines a stress that is greater than about 1% of the breaking strength of the substrate. 
     
     
         67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A method of growing carbon-based nanostructures, comprising:
 applying a tensile force to a growth substrate over which a nanopositor is positioned; and   exposing a carbon-based nanostructure precursor to the nanopositor under conditions causing the formation of carbon-based nanostructures on the nanopositor while the tensile force is applied to the growth substrate.   
     
     
         69 - 71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . A method of growing carbon-based nanostructures, comprising:
 exposing a carbon-based nanostructure precursor to a nanopositor under conditions causing the formation of carbon-based nanostructures on the nanopositor, wherein the nanopositor is associated with an intermediate material that is non-covalently associated with a growth substrate.   
     
     
         73 - 88 . (canceled) 
     
     
         89 . A method of growing carbon-based nanostructures, comprising:
 exposing a ceramic-containing layer, positioned over an elongated carbon-based growth substrate, to a carbon-based nanostructure precursor under conditions causing the formation of substantially aligned carbon-based nanostructures on the ceramic-containing layer.   
     
     
         90 - 108 . (canceled)

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