Capacitors comprising organized assemblies of carbon and non-carbon compounds

Abstract

This invention relates generally to capacitors comprising organized assemblies of carbon and non-carbon compounds. This invention further relates to methods of making such organized structures. It also relates to devices containing such structures. In preferred embodiments, the organized structures of the instant invention take the form of nanorods or their aggregate forms. More preferably, a nanorod is made up of a carbon nanotube filled, coated, or both filled and coated by a non-carbon material. In particular, the present invention is directed to a capacitor electrode comprising a carbon nanotube filled with one or more non-carbon materials comprising titanium, a titanium compound, manganese, a manganese compound, cobalt, nickel, palladium, platinum, bromine, iodine, an interhalogen compound, or the combination thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A capacitor comprising two capacitor electrodes separated by an insulating material, wherein at least one of the two capacitor electrodes comprises a carbon nanotube filled with one or more non-carbon materials selected from the group consisting of titanium, a titanium compound, manganese, cobalt, nickel, palladium, platinum, and any combination thereof, wherein the filling of the one or more non-carbon materials in the carbon nanotube increases the capacitance in comparison with the capacitance provided by a capacitor electrode comprising the same carbon nanotubes but unfilled. 
     
     
         2 . The capacitor according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-carbon material is titanium. 
     
     
         3 . The capacitor according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-carbon material is a titanium compound. 
     
     
         4 . The capacitor according to  claim 3 , wherein said titanium compound has a formula TiH w , wherein w=0 to 2. 
     
     
         5 . The capacitor according to  claim 3 , wherein said titanium compound is a mixture of titanium and bismuth. 
     
     
         6 . The capacitor according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-carbon material is manganese. 
     
     
         7 . The capacitor according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-carbon material is cobalt. 
     
     
         8 . The capacitor according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-carbon material is nickel. 
     
     
         9 . The capacitor according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-carbon material is palladium. 
     
     
         10 . The capacitor according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-carbon material is platinum. 
     
     
         11 . The capacitor according to  claim 1 , wherein said carbon nanotube is a single wall carbon nanotube. 
     
     
         12 . The capacitor according to  claim 1 , wherein said carbon nanotube is a multi wall carbon nanotube. 
     
     
         13 . The capacitor according to  claim 1 , wherein said carbon nanotube is further coated with a second non-carbon material. 
     
     
         14 . The capacitor according to  claim 13 , wherein said second non-carbon material comprises titanium, a second titanium compound, manganese, cobalt, nickel, palladium, platinum, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The capacitor according to  claim 14 , wherein said second non-carbon material is a second titanium compound. 
     
     
         16 . The capacitor according to  claim 14 , wherein said second non-carbon material is titanium.