SBIR Phase II: Commercial Combustion Synthesis of Homogeneous Lots of Carbon Nanotubes

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is designed to achieve a pilot-plant demonstration of the technical and commercial feasibility of cost- and energy-efficient large-scale conversion of natural gas to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). The research will include: (1) exothermic and selective synthesis of SWCNT by premixed combustion of natural gas after introduction of catalyst precursors with the cold gas mixture; (2) continuous collection of material by means of a bag-house filter; and, (3) detailed understanding of the correlations between operating conditions (pressure, type of catalyst, fuel-oxygen ratio, dilution with inert gas, cold gas velocity) and characteristics of the carbon nanotubes (single-, double-, or multi-walled, diameter, length, conductivity). Results of this project are expected to have a significant impact on the development of the US nanotechnology sector and to strengthen its international competitiveness. Projected sales price of not more than $50/g will lead to a pronounced increase of the number of economically viable SWCNT applications.