Appeal 2007-2045
Application 10/204,670
5) Rinzler teaches that field emission of electrons from carbon
nanotubes may be dramatically enhanced by opening the nanotube
tips using laser evaporation or oxidative etching. (Abstract).
6) Rinzler discloses experiments which included monitoring
the tips of nanotubes to determine “precisely when the tip had
opened.” (P. 1550, col. 3).
7) According to the present inventors, “the reason the end
surface of carbon nanotubes processed by CHF3 plasma appears to
be closed is that the carbon that makes up the tips of the carbon
nanotubes reacts with fluorine radicals, and fluorides
(fluorocarbon) are deposited on the tips (end surface) of the carbon
nanotubes.” (Specification 106-107).
8) Hiura states that “[i]t is known that crude carbon nanotubes
after synthesis have been capped at the tips by carbon fragments
which comprise pentagons (five-membered carbon rings) as well
as carbon impurities such as carbon nanoparticles, amorphous
carbons or the like . . . are adhered to around them.” (Col. 1, ll.15-
20).
9) Hiura teaches that purification of the crude carbon
nanotubes may be effected by an oxidation reaction. (Col. 2, ll.
15-19).
10) According to Hiura, “at the initial stage of a reaction, the
tips of the carbon nanotubes first start reacting, then carbon
nanoparticles reacts [sic] prior to the side walls of carbon
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