Nanotube Production

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Non-Confidential Description - PSU No. 0648 Keywords: Nanotechnology – Nanoparticles, Fabrication, Manufacturing Links: US Patent 6,068,800 US Patent 5,770,126 Background Nanoparticles are used in many biomedical, catalytic, magnetic, electronic, and structural applications. Conventional methods for producing nanoparticles include mechanical milling, spray pyrolysis, chemical precipitation, and vapor-phase synthesis. These methods are hindered by contaminants, agglomeration, poor control of particle size and morphology, and hazardous chemical wastes. Invention Description The disclosed invention describes a method for the production of nanoparticles that avoids many of the complications faced by other methods. This method uses a pulsed or continuous laser to locally heat a metallic substrate that is immersed in a specialized liquid precursor. A single, highpowered (~300 W) laser and beam splitters are used to heat the substrate. The resulting laser-liquidsolid interaction forms a plasma that atomizes into ultrafine elemental powders, viz. nanoparticles and nanotubes. The parameters of the method have been tailored to produce nanoparticles of silver, nickel, and immiscible alloys of the two; as well as oxides of metals such as silver, cobalt, iron, and vanadium. Advantages/Applications Ability to tailor particle diameter and material composition Synthesis rates upwards of 3 grams/hour Process appears scalable, but development is required