Research Foundation
Kansas State University
2005 Research Park Circle
Suite 105
Manhattan, KS 66502-5020
Tel: 785-532-5720
Fax: 785-532-3920
tech.transfer@k-state.edu

Synthetic Carbon Nanotubes

Reference Number: 05-17

Inventor: Duy H. Hua

Description:

Carbon nanotubes represent the ultimate carbon fiber, having the highest thermal conductivity, exceptional mechanical properties and the highest tensile strength of any material. However, existing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) have several limiting features including non-uniformity of size (requiring expensive sorting), and a cap at one or both ends.

Applications

Potential applications include the following uses:

• Semiconductor materials
• As components in the areas of electron field emissions source, scanning probes
• As components of electrochemical energy storage systems, and hydrogen storage systems
• High tensile strengths fibers
• Electronic computer circuits
• Miniature cathode ray tubes (CRT) of thin high-brightness low energy low-weight displays
• Biological uses

Advantages

• Carbon nanotubes can be metallic (n=m; a armchair nanotubes) or semiconductor (n&m are not equal; chiral nanotubes)
• SWNT can be synthesized with uniform and pre-determined sizes
• Synthesized SWNT are less expensive than those produced and sorted via traditional methods
• Nanotubes may be open or closed at one end or both ends as needed
• Heteroatoms can be incorporated into the SWNT

Patent Status

• U.S. Application No. 12/063,101 filed on February 6, 2008

Kansas State University Research Foundation seeks to have discussions with companies that are interested in licensing and/or research collaborations.

Interested parties should contact:

Kansas State University Institute for Commercialization (KSU-IC)
2005 Research Park Circle Manhattan, KS 66502
Tel: 785-532-3900 Fax: 785-532-3909
E-Mail: ic@k-state.edu