Method of Generating Energy Using Three-demensional Nanostructured Carbon Materials
There is disclosed a method of generating non-ionizing radiation, non-ionizing 4 He atoms, or a combination of both, the method comprising: contacting graphene materials with a source of deuterium; and aging the graphene materials in the source of deuterium for a time sufficient to generate non-ionizing radiation, non-ionizing 4 1-le atoms. In one embodiment, graphene materials may comprise carbon nanotubes, such as nitrogen doped single walled or multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Unlike an alpha particle, the non-ionizing 4 He atoms generated by the disclosed method are a low energy particles, such as one having an energy of less than 1 MeV, such as less than 100 keV. Other non-ionizing radiation that can be generated by the disclosed process include soft x-rays, phonons or energetic electrons within the carbon material, and visible light.
1 . A method of generating 4 He atoms and energy, said method comprising:
contacting three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material with deuterium; and
transmuting the deuterium to 4 He atoms and energy.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein 4 He is generated in an amount of at least ten 4 He atoms per hour per microgram of said three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material at 0° C.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material comprise multilayer graphite, single walled carbon nanotubes, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, buckyballs, carbon onions, and carbon nanohorns.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said deuterium comprises a liquid or gas.
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9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material comprises carbon nanotubes, and said method further comprises heating the carbon nanotubes at a temperature and for a time sufficient to promote absorption of the deuterium into or onto the carbon nanotubes.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the temperature and time sufficient to promote absorption ranges from 30° C. to 300° C., and from 30 minutes to 8 hours, respectively.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of contacting the three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material with deuterium is performed at or below room temperature.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of contacting three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material with deuterium is performed at a temperature ranging from 20° C. to −100° C.
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14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said 4 He atoms have an energy of less than 1 KeV.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said 4 He atoms have an energy of less than 100 eV.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material are placed in deuterium for a time ranging from 30 minutes to 48 hours.
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28 . A method of generating radiation, said method comprising:
contacting three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material with deuterium; and
placing said three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material in said deuterium for a time sufficient to generate radiation.
29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein said radiation comprises x-rays, visible light or combinations thereof.
30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein said three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material comprise, multilayer graphite, single walled carbon nanotubes, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, buckyballs, carbon onions, carbon nanohorns and combinations thereof.
31 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the deuterium is in a liquid, gas, plasma, or supercritical phase.
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35 . The method of claim 28 , wherein said 4 He atoms have an energy of less than 1 KeV.
36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein said 4 He atoms have an energy of less than 100 eV.
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39 . A method of inducing nuclear transmutation, comprising the steps of:
contacting three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material with deuterium; and
placing said three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material in deuterium for a time sufficient to transmute said deuterium and generate primarily a plurality of 4 He atoms and energy.
40 . The method of claim 39 , wherein said three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material comprises carbon nanotubes.
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42 . The method of claim 39 , wherein said deuterium is a gas.
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46 . A method of generating energy, comprising:
contacting three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material with deuterium; and
transmuting said deuterium to produce a plurality of 4 He atoms and energy.
47 . The method of claim 46 , wherein said three-dimensional nanostructured carbon material comprises carbon nanotubes.
48 . The method of claim 46 , wherein said deuterium is a gas.