Carbon wire and nano structure formed of carbon film and method of producing the same

Abstract

There are provided a carbon wire using CNT or a similar carbon filament having a sufficiently low electrical resistance value, and a wire assembly employing that carbon wire. A carbon wire ( 1 ) includes an assembly portion ( 3 ) and a graphite layer ( 4 ). The assembly portion ( 3 ) is configured of a plurality of carbon filaments implemented as carbon nanotubes ( 2 ) in contact with one another. The graphite layer ( 4 ) is provided at an outer circumference of the assembly portion ( 3 ).

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of producing electrically conductive film having a carbon nanotube network formed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes linked together by graphite film, comprising the step of exposing a carbon nanotube network to Ga (gallium) vapor to provide said graphite film. 
     
     
         15 . A method of producing electrically conductive film having a carbon nanotube network formed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes linked together by graphite film, comprising the steps of:
 providing amorphous carbon film on a carbon nanotube network; and   exposing said carbon nanotube network and said amorphous carbon film obtained in the step of providing, to Ga vapor to provide said graphite film.   
     
     
         16 . The method of producing the electrically conductive film according to  claim 14 , comprising, before the step of exposing, the step of mechanically pressure-welding those portions of a plurality of carbon nanotubes forming said carbon nanotube network which are in contact with one another. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method of producing an electrically conductive substrate formed with a substrate and an electrically conductive film provided on said substrate and having a carbon nanotube network formed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes linked together by graphite film, comprising the steps of:
 forming a carbon nanotube network on a substrate; and   exposing said carbon nanotube network to Ga vapor to provide said graphite film.   
     
     
         19 . A method of producing an electrically conductive substrate formed with a substrate and an electrically conductive film provided on said substrate and having a carbon nanotube network formed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes linked together by graphite film, comprising the steps of:
 forming a carbon nanotube network on a substrate;   providing amorphous carbon film on said carbon nanotube network; and   exposing said carbon nanotube network and said amorphous carbon film that is obtained in the step of providing, to Ga vapor to provide said graphite film.   
     
     
         20 . The method of producing the electrically conductive substrate according to  claim 18 , comprising, before the step of exposing, the step of mechanically pressure-welding those portions of a plurality of carbon nanotubes forming said carbon nanotube network which are in contact with one another. 
     
     
         21 . A transparent, electrically conductive sheet formed with a sheet of resin and an electrically conductive film provided on said sheet of resin and having a carbon nanotube network formed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes linked together by graphite film. 
     
     
         22 . The transparent, electrically conductive sheet according to  claim 21 , wherein a surface of said sheet of resin that has said electrically conductive film is formed of one of thermosetting resin and ultraviolet curable resin. 
     
     
         23 . A method of producing the transparent, electrically conductive sheet according to  claim 21 , comprising the steps of:
 forming a carbon nanotube network on a substrate;   exposing said carbon nanotube network to Ga vapor to provide said graphite film; and   transferring to a sheet of resin an electrically conductive film having said carbon nanotube network formed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes linked together by graphite film in the step of exposing.   
     
     
         24 . A method of producing the transparent, electrically conductive sheet according to  claim 21 , comprising the steps of:
 forming a carbon nanotube network on a substrate;   providing amorphous carbon film on said carbon nanotube network;   exposing said carbon nanotube network and said amorphous carbon film that is obtained in the step of providing, to Ga vapor to provide said graphite film; and   transferring to a sheet of resin an electrically conductive film having said carbon nanotube network formed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes linked together by graphite film in the step of exposing.   
     
     
         25 . The method of producing the transparent, electrically conductive sheet according to  claim 23 , comprising, before the step of exposing, the step of mechanically pressure-welding those portions of said plurality of carbon nanotubes forming said carbon nanotube network which are in contact with one another. 
     
     
         26 . The method of producing the transparent, electrically conductive sheet according to any one of  claims 23  and  24  that is a method of producing the transparent, electrically conductive sheet according to  claim 22 , wherein the step of transferring transfers said electrically conductive film to the surface of said sheet of resin that is formed of one of thermosetting resin and ultraviolet curable resin, the method further comprising the step of setting/curing one of said thermosetting resin and said ultraviolet curable resin. 
     
     
         27 . A method of producing graphite film by exposing a surface of a carbon source to Ga vapor to provide graphite film on the surface of said carbon source. 
     
     
         28 . The method of producing graphite film according to  claim 27 , wherein said Ga vapor has a temperature equal to or higher than 600° C. 
     
     
         29 . The method of producing graphite film according to  claim 27 , wherein said Ga vapor has a uniform vapor pressure at the surface of said carbon source. 
     
     
         30 . The method of producing graphite film according to  claim 27 , wherein said Ga vapor is plasmatized. 
     
     
         31 . The method of producing graphite film according to  claim 30 , wherein said carbon source is located on a substrate and said Ga vapor plasmatized is brought into contact with said substrate having a temperature equal to or higher than 400° C. 
     
     
         32 . The method of producing graphite film according to  claim 27 , wherein said carbon source is amorphous carbon. 
     
     
         33 . The method of producing graphite film according to  claim 32 , wherein said amorphous carbon is amorphous carbon film provided on a monocrystalline substrate formed of one type selected from the group consisting of SiC, Ni, Fe, Mo, and Pt. 
     
     
         34 . The method of producing graphite film according to  claim 27 , wherein said carbon source is a hydrocarbon material. 
     
     
         35 . The method of producing graphite film according to  claim 27 , wherein said carbon source is a three dimensional amorphous carbon structure having a surface exposed to Ga vapor to provide graphite film having a three dimensional surface structure. 
     
     
         36 . A method of producing graphite film by mixing Ga vapor and a source material gas of a carbon source together and supplying a mixture thereof to provide graphite film on a substrate. 
     
     
         37 . The method of producing graphite film according to  claim 36 , wherein said Ga vapor has a temperature equal to or higher than 400° C. 
     
     
         38 . The method of producing graphite film according to  claim 36 , wherein said Ga vapor is plasmatized. 
     
     
         39 . The method of producing graphite film according to  claim 38 , wherein said Ga vapor plasmatized is brought into contact with said substrate having a temperature equal to or higher than 400° C.