Invention:
This invention relates to the synthesis of carbon nanostructures such as graphene, fullerenes and nano-tubes, and more particular to the synthesis of such nanostructures from carbon-excess explosives in supercritical fluid.
Background:
Carbon nanostructures are synthesized from carbon-excess explosives having a negative oxygen balance. A supercritical fluid provides an environment that safely dissolves and decomposes the explosive molecules into its reactant products including activated C or CO and provides the temperature and pressure for the required collision rate of activated C atoms and CO molecules to form carbon nanostructures such as graphene, fullerenes and nanotubes. The nanostructures may be synthesized without a metal reactant at relatively low temperatures in the supercritical fluid to provide a cost effective path to bulk fabrication. These nanostructures may be synthesized “metal free”. As the supercritical fluid provides an inert buffer that does not react with the explosive, the fluid is preserved. Once the nanostructures are removed, the other reaction products may be removed and the fluid recycled.
Advantages:
- Provides a cost-effective technique for synthesizing carbon nanostructures in quantities for industrial applications.
- “Metal free” carbon nanostructures.
- Low-temperature synthesis of carbon nanostructures.
- Environmentally friendly manufacturing.
Applications:
- Electrical circuits
- Paper batteries
- Solar cells
- Ultracapacitors
Status: issued U.S. patent #8,323,609
