William Marsh Rice University

University of Pennsylvania

W Edward Billups

Robert H Hauge

James Mitchell Tour

Feng Liang

Richard E Smalley

Andrew Ross Barron

Anil Sadana

Howard K Schmidt

Michael P Stewart

Karen Winey

Elizabeth Whitsitt

Ramon Colorado, Jr

Christopher A Dyke

Valerie C Moore

Robin E Anderson

Mohammad Moniruzzaman

Jayanta Chattopadhyay

Douglas C Ogrin

Provided are polyamide nanocomposites incorporating carbon nanotubes and other filler species. Also provided are related methods.

Polyamide composites having flexible spacers

The present invention is directed towards methods (processes) of providing large quantities of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) of defined diameter and chirality (i.e., precise populations). In such processes, CNT seeds of a pre-selected diameter and chirality are grown to many (e.g., hundreds) times their original length. This is optionally followed by cycling some of the newly grown material back as seed material for regrowth. Thus, the present invention provides for the large-scale production of precise populations of CNTs, the precise composition of such populations capable of being optimized for a particular application (e.g., hydrogen storage). The present invention is also directed to complexes of CNTs and transition metal catalyst precurors, such complexes typically being formed en route to forming CNT seeds.

Amplification of carbon nanotubes via seeded-growth methods

The present invention is directed to novel processes for the functionalization (derivatization) of carbon nanotubes and, as an extension, to fullerenes and other carbon surfaces. Generally, such processes involve reductive pathways. In some embodiments, carbon nanotubes are reacted with alkali metal and organic halides in anhydrous liquid ammonia. In other embodiments, polymers are grown from carbon nanotube sidewalls by reacting carbon nanotubes with alkali metal and monomer species in anhydrous liquid ammonia.

Reductive functionalization of carbon nanotubes

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

W Edward Billups