skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Laser ablation for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1080305

Single walled carbon nanotubes are produced in a novel apparatus by the laser-induced ablation of moving carbon target. The laser used is of high average power and ultra-fast pulsing. According to various preferred embodiments, the laser produces and output above about 50 watts/cm.sup.2 at a repetition rate above about 15 MHz and exhibits a pulse duration below about 10 picoseconds. The carbon, carbon/catalyst target and the laser beam are moved relative to one another and a focused flow of "side pumped", preheated inert gas is introduced near the point of ablation to minimize or eliminate interference by the ablated plume by removal of the plume and introduction of new target area for incidence with the laser beam. When the target is moved relative to the laser beam, rotational or translational movement may be imparted thereto, but rotation of the target is preferred.

Research Organization:
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF), Newport News, VA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84ER40150
Assignee:
Jefferson Science Associates, LLC (Newport News, VA)
Patent Number(s):
8,317,983
Application Number:
12/798,377
OSTI ID:
1080305
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (4)

Production of high-density single-walled nanotube material by a simple laser-ablation method journal August 1998
Time period for the growth of single-wall carbon nanotubes in the laser ablation process: evidence from gas dynamic studies and time resolved imaging journal December 2000
Large-Scale Production of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Using Ultrafast Pulses from a Free Electron Laser journal June 2002
Growth mechanisms for single-wall carbon nanotubes in a laser-ablation process journal May 2001