So I've been reading around, and I came across some methodology that suggested it is relatively straightforward to grow short carbon nanotubes. According to their recipe:
1) Construct vacuum chamber with heavy-duty anode and cathode within.
2) Bridge electrodes with carbon rod, evacuate atmosphere from chamber.
3) Arc 220V electricity through the carbon rod.
4) Carbon nanotubes will grow upon the anode.
5) Modulate chemical properties of carbon nanotubes by changing the atmosphere of the vacuum chamber. Apparently it's not so much important that there be no atmosphere as it is that there be no oxygen, which is fine by me as it is easier to build. Hydrogen makes sweeter nanotubes, while a nitrogen mix makes for more bitter ones.
It should probably be noted that I don't exactly yet know what it is I'm going to do with carbon nanotubes once I've grown them--in fact, that's an understatement, I have no clue--but that's not likely to stop me here. Now all I have to figure out is how to build a "vacuum" chamber. Maybe I can bribe a hacker with muffins to suck all the air out through a scuba mask regulator...
28 April, 2010
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11 comments:
Hi, so has there been any forward progress in this idea yet?
BUMP THIS SHIT, because home made carbon nano tubes would be the shit, heat it up and spin it into sweet sweet wonder-thread :) hello DIY bullet proof shirts
Any progres?
There has been much progress including in manufacturing such as growing them with chemicals instead of this low yield way of growing them. Plus the chemical way produces high quality single and multiwall nanotubes at a high quantity and lots of room for improvement.
Make some nanotube bullets
Well, I would use them combined with aerogels to make impact/heat resistant suits for firefighting or stuff like that, also it could be used by law enforcement as clothing to protect from bullets, environment (during a persuit for ex).
They would be also usable for super-capacitors, either as nanotubes or as carbon aerogel. (being aerogel offtopic of course)
what is the "chemical process" that you refer to ?
Did u build the vaccum already?
how can i turn the nanotubes in to nano sheets? Like those from sci fi science
yes i would like to know the chemical method too.. and are the tubes produced good in quality that they can be directly used or do we need to do something like downstream processing to weed out the good ones from the bad
I would love to combine this with ceramic for DIY rocket engine experimentation
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