1. A method for making a carbon nanotube-metal particle composite, the method comprising:
providing carbon nanotubes, polymer monomers, a first solution containing metal ions, and a second solution containing carboxylic acid radical ions;
mixing the carbon nanotubes and the polymer monomers in a solvent to form a first mixture, wherein the polymer monomers are adsorbed on a surface of the carbon nanotubes;
forming a second mixture by mixing the first mixture, the first solution, and the second solution; wherein the polymer monomers, the first solution, and the second solution react with each other to form a coordination complex mixture containing the metal ions, and the coordination complex mixture is adsorbed on the surface of the carbon nanotubes; and
adding a reducing agent into the second mixture to reduce the metal ions of the coordination complex mixture to metal particles and simultaneously polymerize the polymer monomers.
2. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein a first reaction occurs between the metal ions and the carboxylic acid radical ions, and a second reaction occurs between the polymer monomers and the carboxylic acid radical ions.
3. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein a plurality of pores are formed during polymerizing the polymer monomers, and the metal ions are simultaneously reduced to metal particles in the plurality of pores.
4. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein the metal ions are selected from the group consisting of gold ions, silver ions, platinum ions, rhodium ions, iridium ions, copper ions, ferrous ions, cobalt ions, nickel ions, and any combination thereof.
5. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein the first solution is selected from the group consisting of chloroauric acid, gold chloride, silver nitrate, chloroplatinic acid, ruthenium chloride, chlororhodic acid, palladium chloride, hexachloroosmic acid, hexachloroiridic acid, copper sulfate, ferrous chloride, and any combination thereof.
6. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein the second solution comprises carboxylic acid or carboxylic salt comprising at least two carboxylic acid groups.
7. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 6, wherein the carboxylic salt is sodium citrate or potassium citrate.
8. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 6, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, butane diacid, adipic acid, terephthalic acid, glutaric acid, and any combination thereof.
9. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, citric acid, hydrogen, ascorbic acid, and any combination thereof.
10. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein the polymer monomers are selected from the group consisting of aniline, pyrrole, thiophene, amide, propylene imine, acetanilide, methylpyrrole, ethylenedioxythiophene, oxamide, caprolactam, and any combination thereof.
11. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein a mass ratio of the carbon nanotubes to the polymer monomers is in a range from about 1:1 to about 1:7.
12. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, further comprising functionalizing the carbon nanotubes by using hydrophilic groups before mixing the carbon nanotubes and the polymer monomers.
13. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the second mixture by mixing the first mixture, the first solution, and the second solution comprises: mixing the first solution and the second solution to form a mixing liquid, and adding the first mixture into the mixing liquid.
14. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein a molar ratio of the carboxyl acid radical ions in the second solution to the metal ions of the first solution is in a range from about 1:1 to about 5:1.
15. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein a reaction temperature of forming the coordination complex mixture is in a range from about 4\xb0 C. to about 100\xb0 C.
16. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein a pH value of the second mixture is adjusted to be in a range from about 2 to about 5.
17. The method for making the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite of claim 1, wherein a molar ratio of the reducing agent to the metal ions is in a range from about 10:1 to about 60:1.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A flooring panel, comprising:
a decorative upper surface and a lower surface shaped and dimensioned for engaging a support surface on which the flooring panel is to be installed;
the flooring panel further includes a plurality of edges extending between the decorative upper surface and the lower surface, the plurality of edges are shaped and dimensioned for selective coupling with adjacent flooring panels, wherein each of the plurality of edges includes an edge profile having at least a male coupling member or a female coupling member shaped and dimensioned for engaging mating male coupling members or female coupling members of an adjacent flooring panel;
at least one notched transition section, the at least one notched transition section extending between a first edge of the plurality of edges of the flooring panel and the decorative upper surface of the flooring panel, the at least one notched transition section includes a vertical first wall and a horizontal second wall, and the first edge includes a vertically oriented wall directly depending from the horizontal second wall and a coupling member positioned between the horizontal second wall and the lower surface of the flooring panel;
a second edge includes a vertically oriented first wall that extends downwardly from the decorative upper surface until it reaches a horizontal wall, and wherein a coupling member is positioned between the horizontal wall and the lower surface of the flooring panel;
wherein when adjacent flooring panels are brought together by coupling respective male coupling members and female coupling members along respective edges of the adjacent flooring panels a grout receiving recess is formed into which a grout material may be poured for creation of the a grout line between the adjacent flooring panels, the grout receiving recess being defined by the vertical first wall of the notched transition section, the horizontal second wall of the notched transition section and the vertically oriented first wall of the adjacent flooring panel.
2. The flooring panel according to claim 1, wherein the decorative upper surface is a decorative laminate that is secured to a substantially rigid substrate.
3. The flooring panel according to claim 1, a plurality of notched transition sections extend between respective edges of the flooring panel and the decorative upper surface of the flooring panel.
4. A flooring system comprising:
a first flooring panel including a decorative upper surface and a lower surface shaped and dimensioned for engaging a support surface on which the first flooring panel is to be installed; the first flooring panel further includes a plurality of edges extending between the decorative upper surface and the lower surface, the plurality of edges are shaped and dimensioned for selective coupling with a second flooring panel, wherein each of the plurality of edges of the first flooring panel includes an edge profile having at least a male coupling member or a female coupling member shaped and dimensioned for engaging a mating male coupling member or female coupling member of the second flooring panel; and at least one notched transition section, the at least one notched transition section extending between a first edge of the plurality of edges of the first flooring panel and the decorative upper surface of the first flooring panel, the at least one notched transition section includes a vertical first wall and a horizontal second wall; a second edge includes a substantially vertically oriented first wall that extends downwardly from the decorative upper surface until it reaches a horizontal wall;
the second flooring panel includes a decorative upper surface and a lower surface shaped and dimensioned for engaging the support surface on which the second flooring panel is to be installed; the second flooring panel further includes a plurality of edges extending between the decorative upper surface and the lower surface, the plurality of edges are shaped and dimensioned for selective coupling with the first flooring panel, wherein each of the plurality of edges of the second flooring panel includes an edge profile having at least a male coupling member or a female coupling member shaped and dimensioned for engaging a mating male coupling member or female coupling member of the first flooring panel; and at least one notched transition section, the at least one notched transition section extending between a first edge of the plurality of edges of the second flooring panel and the decorative upper surface of the second flooring panel; wherein the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel are brought together along a coupling line by coupling respective male coupling members and female coupling members of respective edges of the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel, the at least one notched transition section includes a vertical first wall and a horizontal second wall; a second edge includes a vertically oriented first wall that extends downwardly from the decorative upper surface until it reaches a horizontal wall;
a grout receiving recess at the coupling line of the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel, the grout receiving recess consisting essentially of the vertical first wall of the notched transition section of the first flooring panel, the horizontal second wall of the notched transition section of the first flooring panel and the vertically oriented first wall of the a second flooring panel; and
a grout material applied within the grout receiving recess to form a grout line at the coupling point of the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel.
5. The flooring system according to claim 4, wherein the decorative upper surface of the first flooring panel is a decorative laminate that is secured to a substantially rigid substrate and the decorative upper surface of the second flooring panel is a decorative laminate that is secured to a substantially rigid substrate.
6. The flooring system according to claim 4, wherein the first flooring panel includes a plurality of notched transition sections extending between respective edges of the first flooring panel and the decorative upper surface of the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel includes a plurality of notched transition sections extending between respective edges of the second flooring panel and the decorative upper surface of the second flooring panel.
7. A method for installing flooring panels, comprising:
installing a first flooring panel upon a support surface, the first flooring panel including a decorative upper surface and a lower surface shaped and dimensioned for engaging the support surface on which the first flooring panel is to be installed; the first flooring panel further includes a plurality of edges extending between the decorative upper surface and the lower surface, the plurality of edges are shaped and dimensioned for selective coupling with a second flooring panel, wherein each of the plurality of edges of the first flooring panel includes an edge profile having at least a male coupling member or a female coupling member shaped and dimensioned for engaging a mating male coupling member or female coupling member of the second flooring panel; the first flooring panel also includes at least one notched transition section, the at least one notched transition section extending between a first edge of the plurality of edges of the first flooring panel and the decorative upper surface of the first flooring panel, the at least one notched transition section includes a vertical first wall and a horizontal second wall, and the first edge includes a vertically oriented wall directly depending from the horizontal second wall and a coupling member positioned between the horizontal second wall and the lower surface of the flooring panel;
and a second edge includes a vertically oriented first wall that extends downwardly from the decorative upper surface until it reaches a horizontal wall, and wherein a coupling member is positioned between the horizontal wall and the lower surface of the flooring panel;
installing the second flooring panel upon the support surface in mating engagement with the first flooring panel, the second flooring panel includes a decorative upper surface and a lower surface shaped and dimensioned for engaging the support surface on which the second flooring panel is to be installed; the second flooring panel further includes a plurality of edges extending between the decorative upper surface and the lower surface, the plurality of edges are shaped and dimensioned for selective coupling with the first flooring panel, wherein each of the plurality of edges of the second flooring panel includes an edge profile having at least a male coupling member or a female coupling member shaped and dimensioned for engaging a mating male coupling member or female coupling member of the first flooring panel; the second flooring panel includes at least one notched transition section, the at least one notched transition section extending between a first edge of the plurality of edges of the first flooring panel and the decorative upper surface of the second flooring panel, the at least one notched transition section includes a vertical first wall and a horizontal second wall, and the first edge including a vertically oriented wall directly depending from the horizontal second wall and a coupling member positioned between the horizontal second wall and the lower surface of the flooring panel;
and a second edge includes a vertically oriented first wall that extends downwardly from the decorative upper surface until it reaches a horizontal wall, and wherein a coupling member is positioned between the horizontal wall and the lower surface of the flooring panel;
wherein the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel are brought together along a coupling line by coupling respective male coupling members and female coupling members of respective edges of the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel; the step of installing the second panel includes positioning the second flooring panel adjacent the first flooring panel and upon the support surface, and bringing one of the plurality of edges of the second flooring panel into mating engagement with one of the plurality of edges of the first flooring panel along the coupling line, wherein mating engagement of the first flooring panel with the second flooring panel engagement along the coupling line creates a grout receiving recess at the coupling line of the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel, the grout receiving recess being defined by the vertical first wall of the notched transition section of the first flooring panel, the horizontal second wall of the notched transition section of the first flooring panel and the vertically oriented first wall of the second flooring panel; and
applying grout material within the grout receiving recess to form a grout line at the coupling point of the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the decorative upper surface of the first flooring panel is a decorative laminate that is secured to a substantially rigid substrate and the decorative upper surface of the second flooring panel is a decorative laminate that is secured to a substantially rigid substrate end.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first flooring panel includes a plurality of notched transition sections extending between respective edges of the first flooring panel and the decorative upper surface of the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel includes a plurality of notched transition sections extending between respective edges of the second flooring panel and the decorative upper surface of the second flooring panel.
10. A flooring system comprising:
a first flooring panel including a decorative laminate having an upper surface and an edge portion, and a lower surface shaped and dimensioned for engaging a support surface on which the first flooring panel is to be installed; the first flooring panel further includes a plurality of edges extending between the decorative laminate and the lower surface, the plurality of edges are shaped and dimensioned for selective coupling with a second flooring panel, wherein each of the plurality of edges of the first flooring panel includes an edge profile having at least a male coupling member or a female coupling member shaped and dimensioned for engaging a mating male coupling member or female coupling member of the second flooring panel; and at least one notched transition section, the at least one notched transition section extending between a first edge of the plurality of edges of the first flooring panel and the upper surface of the decorative laminate of the first flooring panel and the at least one notched transition section includes a vertical first wall, including the edge portion of the decorative laminate, and a horizontal second wall; a second edge includes a substantially vertically oriented first wall, including the edge portion of the decorative laminate, that extends downwardly from the upper surface of the decorative laminate;
the second flooring panel includes a decorative laminate having an upper surface and an edge portion, and a lower surface shaped and dimensioned for engaging the support surface on which the second flooring panel is to be installed; the second flooring panel further includes a plurality of edges extending between the decorative laminate and the lower surface, the plurality of edges are shaped and dimensioned for selective coupling with the first flooring panel, wherein each of the plurality of edges of the second flooring panel includes an edge profile having at least a male coupling member or a female coupling member shaped and dimensioned for engaging a mating male coupling member or female coupling member of the first flooring panel; and at least one notched transition section, the at least one notched transition section extending between a first edge of the plurality of edges of the second flooring panel and the upper surface of the decorative laminate of the second flooring panel; wherein the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel are brought together along a coupling line by coupling respective male coupling members and female coupling members of respective edges of the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel, the at least one notched transition section extending between the first edge of the plurality of edges of the second flooring panel and the upper surface of the decorative laminate of the second flooring panel and the at least one notched transition section includes a vertical first wall, including the edge portion of the decorative laminate, and a horizontal second wall; a second edge includes a substantially vertically oriented first wall, including the edge of the decorative laminate, that extends downwardly from the upper surface of the decorative laminate;
a grout receiving recess at the coupling line of the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel, the grout receiving recess including the vertical first wall of the notched transition section of the first flooring panel, the horizontal second wall of the notched transition section of the first flooring panel and the vertically oriented first wall of the a second flooring panel; and
a grout material applied within the grout receiving recess to form a grout line at the coupling point of the first flooring panel and the second flooring panel.