Growing Carbon Nanotubes

[selearemus]

lol I just googled How to grow carbon nanotubes

[aldogago]

@selearemus

You found this video looking how to grow CNT in google?

[TheChickenrun3]

@aldogago so did I

[norchaaa]

@selearemus he's makes our future that is good even very can't wait 30 years to see nanotubes at work 

[PinkProgram]

Could something like this be used to print a 3 dimensional structure out of aggragated carbon nanotubes?

[douro20]

This can also be done by generating a DC arc between two graphite electrodes in an inert atmosphere. However this process uses a considerable amount of electricity and it is difficult to remove the formed nanotubes intact after the process is complete.

[aldogago]

That's true, but single walled CNT (SWCNT) can be produced, which have even more interesting electronic properties than MWCNT.

[circusboy90210]

very nice where do you purchas one of these and how quicky can it be modified to create new wafer stock for computer chips. industry should start rolling on technology as soon as it comes out. Banks should be for creating new tech (governments too) as this stimulates economy

[aldogago]

Very soon them will be in the most advanced lithium batteries (probably powering some of the newest apple devices), and in micro fuel cells, sensors, ultracapacitors, solar cells, screens, carbon tissues, etc. As you say, electronic industry will take great advantage of this.

[DPat6590]

Man this stuff is so awesome. Researchers say its going to change so many things in the world. New technologies, also medical uses and so many other things Im sure.

[aldogago]

Im agree. CNT have awesome physical and chemical properties. Whey they can be produced as cheap as graphitic or amorphous carbon, then things are going to change...

[NickBlackDIN]

is there a way to grow nanotubes at home?

I'm thinking I might want to try building a supercapacitor at some point.

and can you tell me the principles of growing nanotubes?

thanks :)

[aldogago]

First of all I guess you will need some kind of license to buy the chemical reagents (benzene is carcinogenic) . Secondly, there is some environmental regulations about producing nanostructured materials. I guess you will have to find out more about this in Canada legislation. It is nice that you are interested in taking advantage of the super-capacitance property of carbon nanotubes. Thanks for you comment.

[DPat6590]

@aldogago Thats awesome. So since its possible to grow carbon nano tubes, it would make production and manufacturing so much cheaper right? Like if they built planes out of nano tubes since its stronger and lighter than steel it would still be cheaper for them I think right?

[aldogago]

With this procedure you can grow them at home, but I guess you will need some permission to buy the chemical precursors (ferrocene, benzene) and the nitric acid to clean them. Take a look in sciencedirect and search in all fields, using the key words: produce or grow carbon nanotubes. Nowadays there are cheaper and more efficient methods for growing CNT.

[Kalywonkas]

@NickBlackDIN It's possible to create a fairly impure dust with carbon nanotubes in it (single walled) by passive a very high current through two graphite electrodes isolated in an atmosphere of helium... depending on the purity you need this might be okay...

[CinEasthood]

Nano tech..... So many possible applications in energy and health. By changing the size of the particles (clusters) you change the properties. Frequencies of light (EM waves) that a material absorbs. Rate that a med is adelivered. Its funny almost 20 years ago nano caught my attention (Omni mag) and the people around me could not see the applications, if you could not grow large crystals. Glad to see the technology thriving even though its not at the level I assumed it would be.

[blad3runn69]

cool

[hangman9]

I see the tube furnace and the flow meters, whats the big thing in the middle and the thing on the retort stand?

[aldogago]

It is just something to produce a fine mist of the liquid precursor, in fact it works better with with a vaporizer. Thanks for your comment.

[bbwlam]

This is a Meth Lab?!

[aldogago]

No, is not. I know it looks like that, buy we dont produce drugs, only nanostructured materials. Thanks for your comment.

[theTeabag]

Nice machine but I prefer Whirlpool drier

[aldogago]

Yeah, me too, but the idea is to produce CNT using the cheapest equipment available. Thanks for your comment.

[asdfidot]

That's amazing, 1 thing that came to mind as soon as I had learned about CNT was armor capabilities. Imagine the possibilities of a substance like that being strung across a vest of some sort, flexible enough to move in it yet durable enough to save your life.

After learning about this, my entire outlook on what I'LL be able to see in the near future has changed significantly.

Thank you for the video =)

[DevoiranGamer]

Armour? Got to think of something to do with war....

Carbon Nanotubes would also be useful in the creation of a terrestrial space elevator, or in construction work, as clothes, or anything that needs a strong material.

And, Carbon Nanotubes are so light and strong in comparison to steel, that instead of having a thick 'vest' made, you could have some nice clothes made for you, and they'd do the same job, all over. In theory.

Bullet-proof Pants, shirt, balaclava, gloves, shoes etc etc.

[DPLacerta]

-_- Yeah, until the toxicity kills you.

[DevoiranGamer]

And then Nano-machines will save us!

[aldogago]

Actually those are the science fiction applications of CNT, in fact more realistic applications are in materials science: catalysis, electronics, enhanced mechanical properties of materials, etc. A strong rope of CNT or some kind of fabric is still way beyond our expectations.

[Shtanto]

Space elevator ftw :)

[paramounter54]

Could someone please tell me exactly whats going on?

[asianwong]

how much does this process cost?

[shahainhigh]

it depend but probably it's about $10000

[aldogago]

It's not that expensive... In fact the Kg of CNT is getting cheaper every day.

[asianwong]

thanks, and how much (length) would you get out of that a day? do you think we could use it to make a space elevator?

[aldogago]

Yes indeed.. a macroscopic cable having the same strength-to density

ratio as a single, defect-free nanoscopic CNT would allow

us to build fantastic structures such as a terrestrial space elevator.

[asianwong]

that is awesome! i dont mean to be annoying with all these questions but, how much energy would it take to mass produce them? and what technique do you use to connect them?

[aldogago]

I don't evaluate their mechanical properties, so I don't care if they are connected. Although there are several methods to connect them, using electromagnetic fields for instance. I test them for fuel cell catalyst support and for hydrogen production with solar light. I haven't made an estimation of how much energy the whole process consume... I just use the equipment in the lab ;-).

[aldogago]

But I'll do the estimation of the total cost, considering the 900°C of the furnace, the cost of the Argon, the ferrocene, etc... I promise.

[asianwong]

thanks!

[Samlongxu]

Is this a spray prosess?

[aldogago]

Spray-pyrolisis method, a variation of the well known "chemical vapor deposition" (CVD) method. The solution with the catalyst is sprayed inside the quartz tube, which is at 900°C.

[Keylimedelight]

I would love to know more about this prosess