Claims
- 1. A method for forming a catalyst for making carbon nanotubes, comprising:
depositing a transition-metal compound on an aerogel support to form a supported catalyst; calcining the supported catalyst; and activating the catalyst by reducing the transition-metal compound on the support.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transition-metal compound comprises at least one element from Group VIII-B or Group VI-B of the periodic table.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transition-metal compound comprises an element selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt and combinations thereof.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the aerogel comprises a material selected from the group consisting of alumina, magnesia, alumina/silica, silica and combinations thereof.
- 5. A catalyst for growing single-wall carbon nanotubes, made by the process comprising:
depositing a transition-metal compound on an aerogel support to form a supported catalyst; calcining the supported catalyst; and activating the catalyst by reducing the transition-metal compound on the support.
- 6. The catalyst of claim 5 wherein the transition-metal compound comprises at least one element from Group VIII-B or Group VI-B of the periodic table.
- 7. The catalyst of claim 5 wherein the transition-metal compound comprises an element selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt and combinations thereof.
- 8. The catalyst of claim 5 wherein the aerogel comprises a material selected from the group consisting of alumina, magnesia, alumina/silica, silica and combinations thereof.
- 9. A method for growing single wall carbon nanotubes comprising:
providing a catalyst comprising a transition-metal catalyst on an aerogel support to a reactor; providing a gaseous carbon-containing feedstock to the reactor at a temperature and pressure sufficient to grow single-wall carbon nanotubes on the catalyst; and removing the catalyst to the recover single-wall carbon nanotubes.
- 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the transition-metal catalyst comprises at least one element from Group VIII-B or Group VI-B of the periodic table.
- 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the transition-metal catalyst comprises an element selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt and combinations thereof.
- 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the aerogel comprises a material selected from the group consisting of alumina, magnesia, alumina/silica, silica and combinations thereof.
- 13. The method of claim 9 wherein the carbon-containing feedstock comprises at least one of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, alcohols, and combinations thereof.
- 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the carbon-containing feedstock comprises ethanol.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This patent application claims priority from U.S. provisional application 60/359,920, filed on Feb. 27, 2002, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60359920 |
Feb 2002 |
US |