Apparatus, system and method for making carbanogel buckypaper from carbon dioxide and products thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a process for making a carbanogel buckypaper product. Such carbanogel buckypaper product may be imparted with enhanced properties as compared to other buckypaper products. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the carbanogel can be generated by an electrolysis process that can transform a carbon-containing gas into a carbon nanomaterial.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for making a carbanogel buckypaper, the system comprising:
 a. an apparatus for performing an electrolysis process that splits carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) within a molten electrolyte for producing a carbanogel, wherein the carbanogel comprises carbon nanomaterials (CNM) and electrolyte;   b. a mold; and   c. a compression unit.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a processing unit. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrolyte reducing unit. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an alignment unit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an isolation unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the compression unit comprises a vacuum for pulling the carbanogel through a filter. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing unit is configured to cool the carbanogel, extract the cooled carbanogel and crush the cooled carbanogel. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the compression unit is configured to apply a pressure of at least 2000 psi. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the electrolyte reducing unit is configured to press, react, wash, filter and any combination thereof for reducing the amount of electrolyte within the carbanogel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the reducing unit is integrated into the mold or the alignment unit is separate from the mold. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing unit is integrated into the mold or the alignment unit is separate from the mold. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the alignment unit is integrated into the mold or the alignment unit is separate from the mold. 
     
     
         13 . Use of the carbanogel buckypaper made by the system of  claim 1  as a heating element. 
     
     
         14 . Use of the carbanogel buckypaper made by the system of  claim 1  as any one of: light-weight tooling application for high speed, safety, and quick changes; a tool for drilling, impact, and/or sawing; a tool for thermal management; a foldable material; a precursor to fibers and textiles; a storage packet for transport and delivery of CNMs; for sequestrating carbon dioxide; as a sponge; pre-made laminate sheet for composites; a ballistic shield; an electromagnetic (EMF) shield; a composite with high amount of CNMs by infiltrating pores in a structure of the composite; a parachute; a drag enhancer; and, to study bulk properties of CNMs. 
     
     
         15 . Use of the carbanogel buckypaper made by the system of  claim 1  as a heat dispersing member. 
     
     
         16 . Dual use of the carbanogel buckypaper made by the system of  claim 1  as: a portion of a structure and electrical energy storage; a portion of a structure and thermal energy storage; a portion of a structure and as an electrical conduit or wire; a portion of a structure and as strain or safety sensor to collect real time data on material performance; a portion of a structure and as a catalyst; a portion of a structure and as a thermal conduit and any combination thereof.