Safe and low temperature thermite reaction systems and method to form porous silicon
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsXiaolin Li, Ji-Guang Zhang, Jun Liu
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Abstract
Embodiments of a safe, low-temperature reaction system and method for preparing porous silicon are disclosed. The porous silicon is prepared from porous silica, a low-melting metal halide, and a metal comprising aluminum, magnesium, or a combination thereof. Advantageously, embodiments of the disclosed methods can be performed at temperatures ≤400° C. Silicon produced by the disclosed methods has a porosity that is equal to or greater than the porous silica precursor. The porous silicon is suitable for use in electrodes.
Claims12
A method for preparing porous silicon, comprising:
- forming a mixture comprising (i) porous silica, (ii) a metal comprising aluminum, magnesium, or a combination thereof, and (iii) a metal halide comprising a metal M, where the metal M is Ti, Zn, Ga, Ge, Aq, Sn, Sb, Au, Hq, Tl, Bi, or a combination thereof, and the metal halide has a melting point ≤400° C.;
- heating the mixture in a sealed vessel at a temperature greater than or equal to the melting point of the metal halide and ≤400° C. under an inert atmosphere to form a product comprising porous silicon;
- and
- combining the product with acid to remove any by-products from the porous silicon.
A method for preparing porous silicon, comprising:
- forming a mixture comprising (i) porous silica, (ii) a metal comprising aluminum, magnesium, or a combination thereof, and (iii) an iron halide having a melting point ≤400° C.;
- heating the mixture in a sealed vessel at a temperature greater than or equal to the melting point of the iron halide and ≤400° C. under an inert atmosphere to form a product comprising porous silicon;
- and
- combining the product with acid to remove any by-products from the porous silicon, wherein the porous silica, the metal comprising aluminum, magnesium, or a combination thereof, and the iron halide are combined in a molar ratio of 1 mole silica, 2-6 moles metal, and 0.2-0.3 moles iron halide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.