| New Process for the Production of 99% Purity MWCNT
September 20, 2004
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| Catalytic Materials LLC (CML) has developed a method for the production of ultra high purity multi-walled carbon nanotubes (>99% in the as-grown state), which could have a major industrial impact. The patented process involves the decomposition of a carbon monoxide mixture at atmospheric pressure over an unsupported metal catalyst at 600°C. The most outstanding feature of this patented process is that multi-walled carbon nanotubes is the exclusive product generated and the structures possess a uniform width of ~ 8 nm.
The process parameters have been verified on a pilot plant scale by various industrial laboratories. Well-dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotubes produced by the CML have been successfully incorporated into both polymer films and fibers. Since the loading of the nanotubes required to reach a desired conductivity level is significantly lower than that of traditional fillers, it is possible to fabricate optically transparent polymer films with excellent mechanical properties at relatively low cost.
Current production levels of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes are at a kg/day level.
A detailed economic analysis of the CML process indicates that once the production is scaled up to 100 tons/year, the materials can be grown at a cost of about $30/kg. CML is investigating the potential of these materials for a variety of applications from fuel cell electrodes, lithium-ion batteries, and catalysts for numerous reactions. With the imminent reduction in the price of these materials, commercialization is indeed a reality in the very near future.
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