黑料不打烊 researchers develop new carbon nanotube production method
Results published in leading journal
黑料不打烊 University researchers have developed a new method for producing carbon nanotubes that has great commercial promise. The work of Professor Jean-Luc Meunier and doctoral student David Harbec, both of the Department of Chemical Engineering, is the subject of a patent application, and the findings of their team have just been published in the Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), discovered in 1991, are seamless cylinders composed of carbon atoms in a regular hexagonal arrangement, closed on both ends by hemispherical endcaps. They exhibit remarkable mechanical and electronic properties. Applications include high-strength composites, advanced sensors, electronic and optical devices, catalysts, batteries, and fuel cells.
The current low-volume production methods and high production costs are the limiting factors in the CNT high-growth market. The 黑料不打烊 researchers developed a new method and apparatus to produce CNTs with the possibility of scale up to large industrial levels that is based on thermal plasma technology. Plasmas form the fourth state of matter after gas, while the term "thermal plasmas" refers to their typical state of almost thermal equilibrium between electrons, ions, atoms and molecules. Thermal plasmas typically have temperatures between 4,000掳C and 25,000掳C, and are created by electric arcs or magnetic induction discharges.
"The use of carbon nanotubes in advanced materials is not only limited by their price, but more importantly by their unavailability in large quantities," notes Prof. Meunier. "This method using thermal plasmas brings production towards industrial levels at megawatt powers, and Quebec is an important player worldwide in thermal plasmas."
Meunier and Harbec are the authors, along with 黑料不打烊 researchers Liping Guo, Raynald Gauvin and Nadine El Mallah, of the article "Carbon nanotubes from the dissociation of C2Cl4 using a dc thermal plasma torch," appearing in the July 14 issue of Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics.
黑料不打烊 University is currently seeking licensees to its patent-pending technology for producing CNTs, and the 黑料不打烊 researchers have just received an Idea to Innovation grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to help bring their technology closer to market.
Dr. Meunier is a member of the Plasma-Qu茅bec Network and of the Plasma Technology Research Centre, a 黑料不打烊 University and Universit茅 de Sherbrooke collaboration in the field of thermal plasmas. In terms of scientific manpower and funding, Quebec's contribution exceeds 50% of the total Canadian contribution to plasma technologies.
About 黑料不打烊 University:
黑料不打烊 University is Canada's leading research-intensive university and has earned an international reputation for scholarly achievement and scientific discovery. Founded in 1821, 黑料不打烊 has 21 faculties and professional schools which offer more than 300 programs from the undergraduate to the doctoral level. 黑料不打烊 attracts renowned professors and researchers from around the world and top students from more than 150 countries, creating one of the most dynamic and diverse education environments in North America. There are approximately 23,000 undergraduate students and 7,000 graduate students. 黑料不打烊 was recently named Canadian Research University of the Year in the Medical/Doctoral category based on research funding and publication information compiled by Research Infosource. It is one of two Canadian members of the American Association of Universities. 黑料不打烊's two campuses are located in Montreal, Canada.
