Revolutionize Your Product Line with Carbon Nanoscale Fiber-Based Materials

Introduction

In an era where innovation drives success, the materials you choose can set you apart from the competition. Our patented “Carbon Nanoscale Fiber-Based Materials and Methods” (Patent #10586629) represents a leap forward in material science, offering unparalleled strength, conductivity, and versatility in a lightweight form.

The New Standard in Material Innovation

Imagine materials that are not only incredibly strong but also remarkably light, flexible, and electrically conductive. Carbon nanoscale fibers are at the forefront of this revolution, combining the extraordinary properties of carbon at the nanoscale to create materials that are stronger than steel, yet lighter than aluminum. These fibers can be woven, layered, and integrated into a variety of applications, opening up new possibilities across multiple industries.

Why This Matters to You

Superior Strength and Lightweight Design: Carbon nanoscale fibers offer an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, making them ideal for applications where reducing weight is critical without compromising durability. Whether you’re designing the next generation of aircraft, automotive components, or sports equipment, these materials allow you to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Exceptional Electrical Conductivity: These fibers are not just strong—they’re also highly conductive. This makes them perfect for use in advanced electronics, energy storage solutions, and even smart textiles. Imagine the potential of integrating strong, flexible, and conductive materials into your products, creating smarter, more efficient designs.
Versatile Applications Across Industries: The potential uses for carbon nanoscale fibers are vast. From aerospace and automotive to consumer electronics and medical devices, this technology offers a competitive edge in any industry that values innovation, performance, and cutting-edge materials.
Future-Proof Your Products: As industries evolve, the demand for materials that can do more with less is only going to increase. By licensing this patent, you position your company at the forefront of material science, ready to meet the future’s challenges with solutions that are not only effective but also groundbreaking.

The Opportunity

This patent isn’t just about accessing a new material—it’s about redefining what your products can achieve. Carbon nanoscale fiber-based materials are the future of advanced manufacturing, offering the kind of performance that today’s consumers and industries are looking for. By licensing this technology, you’re not just keeping pace with innovation—you’re leading it.

Don’t let your competitors get ahead. License our carbon nanoscale fiber-based materials and methods today and start building the future of your industry, one fiber at a time.

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Abstract
Claims

Provided herein are composite materials and methods of making composite materials including carbon nanoscale fiber networks. The composite materials may include a stretched and doped carbon nanoscale fiber network and a capping layer. The methods of making the composite materials may include stretching a carbon nanoscale fiber network, contacting the nanoscale fiber network with a dopant, and disposing a capping layer on a surface of the carbon nanoscale fiber network.

We claim:

1. A method of making a composite material, the method comprising:

providing a carbon nanoscale fiber network which comprises a plurality of randomly oriented carbon nanoscale fibers;

stretching the carbon nano scale fiber network to align at least a portion of the plurality of randomly oriented carbon nanoscale fibers, thereby forming an aligned carbon nano scale fiber network, wherein the stretching of the carbon nano scale fiber network imparts the carbon nano scale fiber network with a stretch ratio of about 10% to about 70%;

rolling the aligned carbon nanoscale fiber network, pressing the aligned carbon nano scale fiber network, or rolling and pressing the aligned carbon nano scale fiber network prior to the contacting of the aligned carbon nano scale fiber network with a dopant;

contacting the aligned carbon nano scale fiber network with the dopant under conditions that cause at least a portion of the dopant to (i) adsorb to one or more surfaces of the aligned carbon nano scale fiber network, and (ii) penetrate the aligned carbon nano scale fiber network, thereby forming a doped carbon nano scale fiber network; and

disposing a capping layer on at least a surface of the doped carbon nano scale fiber network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stretching of the carbon nano scale fiber network and the contacting of the aligned carbon nano scale fiber network with the dopant is effective to increase the electrical conductivity of the carbon nano scale fiber network comprising the plurality of randomly oriented carbon nano scale fibers by at least 10×.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein after the contacting of the aligned carbon nanoscale fiber network with the dopant, the dopant of the doped carbon nanoscale fiber network is present in an amount of about 10% to about 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the plurality of carbon nanoscale fibers and the dopant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dopant comprises an oxidant.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the oxidant is selected from I₂, ICl, SOCl₂, HNO₃, HCl, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting of the aligned carbon nanoscale fiber network with the dopant occurs at a temperature sufficient to sublimate the dopant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the stretch ratio is about 25% to about 45%.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the doped carbon nanoscale fiber network is a sheet or a ribbon, and the capping layer is disposed substantially evenly on both sides of the sheet or the ribbon, respectively.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the capping layer comprises a conductive polymer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the conductive polymer comprises PEDOT:PSS.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the disposing of the capping layer on the doped carbon nanoscale fiber network comprises submerging at least a portion of the doped carbon nanoscale fiber network in a liquid comprising a conductive polymer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of randomly oriented carbon nanoscale fibers comprises single-wall carbon nanotubes, multi-wall carbon nanotubes, or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of randomly oriented carbon nanoscale fibers comprises functionalized carbon nanoscale fibers.

14. A method of making a composite material, the method comprising:

providing a carbon nanoscale fiber network which comprises a plurality of randomly oriented carbon nanotubes;

stretching the carbon nano scale fiber network to align at least a portion of the plurality of randomly oriented carbon nanotubes to form a stretched carbon nano scale fiber network, wherein the stretching of the carbon nano scale fiber network imparts the carbon nanoscale fiber network with a stretch ratio of about 10% to about 70%;

rolling the stretched carbon nanoscale fiber network, pressing the stretched carbon nano scale fiber network, or rolling and pressing the stretched carbon nano scale fiber network prior to the contacting of the stretched carbon nano scale fiber network with a dopant;

contacting the stretched carbon nano scale fiber network with the dopant to form a doped carbon nano scale fiber network, the contacting occurring under conditions that sublimate the dopant, and cause the dopant to (i) adsorb to one or more surfaces of the stretched carbon nano scale fiber network, (ii) penetrate the stretched carbon nano scale fiber network, or (iii) a combination thereof; and

submerging at least a portion of the doped carbon nano scale fiber network in a mixture comprising a liquid and a capping layer to dispose the capping layer on at least a surface of the doped carbon nano scale fiber network, wherein the capping layer comprises a conductive polymer;

wherein the stretching of the carbon nano scale fiber network and the contacting of the stretched carbon nano scale fiber network with the dopant is effective to increase the electrical conductivity of the carbon nano scale fiber network comprising the plurality of randomly oriented carbon nanotubes by at least 10×.

Title

Carbon nanoscale fiber-based materials and methods

Inventor(s)

Zhiyong Liang, Jin Gyu Park, Songlin Zhang, Ayou Hao

Assignee(s)

Florida State University Research Foundation Inc

Patent #

10586629

Patent Date

March 10, 2020