Patent ID: 7014743
Filing Date: 2006-03-21
Classification: B82Y,C25D,G01Q,H01J,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of separating materials containing at least one of nanotubes and nanowires with different electronic properties into separate groups wherein each group contains materials with similar electronic properties, the method comprising: (i) suspending the materials to be separated in a liquid medium; (ii) introducing a plurality of electrodes into the suspension, the plurality of electrodes including at least a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode having a different geometry from the second electrode; (iii) establishing an asymmetrical alternating-current (AC) electrical field within the mixture between the first electrode and the second electrode; (iv) adjusting the frequency of the AC field to a suitable value to cause at least a first group of materials with one type of electronic properties to migrate to the first electrode and causing a second group of materials with a different type of electronic properties to migrate to the second electrode; and (v) recovering at least the first group from the liquid medium at the first electrode.