Carbon Nanostructures from Coal-Derived Liquid Feedstocks

51121-98-I
Carbon Nanostructures from Coal-Derived Liquid Feedstocks--TDA Research, Inc., 12345 West 52nd Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-1916;
(303) 940-2300
Dr. Michael D. Diener, Principal Investigator
Mr. John D. Wright, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-98ER82692
Amount: $75,000

Interest in the application of new forms of carbon exist in medicine, structural materials and electronics. While nanostructured carbons (fullerenes, buckytubes, etc.) have tremendous commercial potential, their high price and limited quantities have prevented applications from developing. The problems arise from relatively expensive feedstocks, low yields, and methods unsuitable for scale-up. This project addresses these issues through the production of nanostructured carbons from hydrocarbons that are byproducts of the coal-to-coke process. Certain distilled fractions of coal tar, produced as a by-product of the coal carbonization process, provide a chemically ideal and low-cost feedstock for synthesis methods, now under development. Scale-up of the process, starting from coal-derived liquids, will drop the cost of nanostructured carbons sufficiently for applications to develop. During Phase I, the technology will be developed to convert production equipment to coal-derived feedstocks and their applicability for improving production of nanostructured carbons will be demonstrated.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Applications for nanostructured carbons are developing in medicine as antioxidants, in catalysis as supports, for structural materials with improved performance versus carbon fibers, and for electronics as both molecular devices and organic transistors for flat panel displays._