Systems and methods for controlling chirality of nanotubes
View Patent ↗A system is provided that can be utilized to generate nanotubes with substantially similar chirality. The system provides a resonant frequency, keyed to a desired radial breathing mode linked to the desired chirality, that causes a template of catalysts particles or nanotubes to oscillate at the provided resonant frequency, so as to stimulate growing nanotubes to oscillate at a corresponding resonant frequency. This resonant frequency can be a result of a high frequency field or the natural heat radiation generated by the system.
1. A method for manufacturing nanotubes, the method comprising:
exposing a plurality of catalyst particles from which nanotubes can grow to a substantially high frequency field;
resonating the catalyst particles at a selected resonant frequency keyed to a radial breathing mode unique to a desired chiral nature of a nanotube to be manufactured; and
allowing those nanotubes having a resonant frequency substantially similar to the selected resonant frequency, and thus the unique desired chiral nature, to be grown.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein, in the step of exposing, the substantially high frequency field includes one of an electromagnetic field, an electric field, or a magnetic field.
3. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of exposing includes exposing the catalyst particles to a substantially high temperature necessary to permit nanotube growth.
4. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of exposing includes introducing the catalyst particles to a reactive gas for use as a source for nanotube growth on the catalyst particles.
5. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of resonating includes generating a substantially high frequency field.
6. A method as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the step of generating includes providing one of an electromagnetic field, an electric field, or a magnetic field.
7. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein, in the step of resonating, the radial breathing mode (RBM) is keyed to a diameter of the nanotube to be manufactured.
8. A method as set forth in claim 7 , wherein, in the step of resonating, the diameter to which the RBM is keyed can be unique to a chiral nature of that nanotube.
9. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein in the step of resonating, the plurality of catalyst particles can be provided as one of a laminar flow of catalyst particles, a fluidized bed of catalyst particles or a substrate seeded with catalyst particles.
10. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of allowing includes permitting a volume of nanotubes substantially uniform in their chiral nature to be manufactured.
11. A method of manufacturing nanotubes, the method comprising:
generating within a first environment radiant energy;
filtering, within the first environment, the radiant energy so as to select for energy within a particular resonant frequency or small band of frequencies corresponding to a chiral nature of a desired nanotube;
directing, from the first environment into a second environment, the selected energy within a particular resonant frequency or small band of frequencies;
exposing a template positioned in the second environment to the selected energy, so that the template can be stimulated in the presence of the selected energy and provide a footprint from which nanotubes can grow; and
permitting nanotubes exhibiting a resonant frequency substantially similar to the selected resonant frequency or small band of frequencies, and thus the desired chiral nature, to grow from the template.
12. A method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein, in the step of generating, the radiant energy within the first environment exceeds about 1250° C.
13. A method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein, in the step of generating, the radiant energy includes energy within a particular terahertz frequency or a small band of terahertz frequencies.
14. A method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the step of filtering includes blocking energy outside the selected particular resonant frequency or small band of frequencies.
15. A method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the step of directing includes introducing a reactive gas into the second environment for initiating nanotube growth.
16. A method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein, in the step of exposing, the template includes one of a batch of particles or a seeded substrate.
17. A method as set forth in claim 16 , wherein, in the step of exposing, the batch of particles includes a laminar flow of catalyst particles, or a fluidized bed of catalyst particles, and wherein the seeded substrate includes a substrate seeded with catalyst particles.
18. A method as set forth in claim 16 , wherein, in the step of exposing, the seeded substrate includes a substrate seeded with nanotubes of a desired chirality.
19. A method as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the step of exposing includes directing introducing a catalyst precursor and a reactive gas into the second environment for nanotube growth on the substrate.
20. A method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the step permitting includes allowing a volume of nanotubes substantially uniform in their chiral nature to be manufactured.