Production of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Catalytic Disproportionation ...

The unmatched properties of single-wall nanotubes make them a unique product that will represent a billion-dollar market in applications that range from space to consumer products. At the University of Oklahoma, the catalytic production of SWNT has been optimized in a novel process (CoMoCAT) based on a specific catalyst formulation that yields SWNT with high selectivity. A fluidized bed reactor is particularly suitable to achieve optimal synthesis conditions and make the process continuous. A good-quality SWNT product has been consistently obtained. The present proposal will focus on the gradual improvement of the current CoMoCAT technology to make it able to operate in a continuous, larger-scale mode that will result in low SWNT costs. The anticipated results of the phase I include the development and testing of the continuous, large-scale reactor and the scale up of the purification process. Phase II is visualized as a direct application of the optimized process at an even larger scale that will incorporate the participation of strategic partners for the development of SWNT-based materials. The carbon nanotube is 100x stronger than steel, yet 1/5th the weight. SouthWest NanoTechnologies will commercialize nanotubes for their structural properties, meeting a direct need for NASA, and providing the next generation of lightweight composites for industries worldwide.