Device and process for mass production of particulate materials
AssigneeKansas State University Research Foundation
InventorsStephen Corkill, Christopher Sorensen, Justin Wright, Arjun Nepal, Stefan Bossmann
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided that are capable of mass production of particulate materials, such as graphene particulates. The apparatus comprises an ignition assembly that comprises readily interchangeable electrode cassettes and that may be configured to self-clean in between the combustion cycles in which the particulate materials are generated. Methods of generating the particulate materials require low energy inputs in order to initiate the combustion reaction, which is then self-sustaining until the reactants are depleted.
Claims8
Apparatus for production of particulate materials through combustion of reactants comprising:
- a reaction chamber operably coupled with a source of a carbon-containing material and a source of an oxidizer;
- a vacuum source operably connected with the reaction chamber and operable to selectively evacuate at least a portion of the contents of the reaction chamber;
- and
- an ignition assembly configured to initiate combustion of a quantity of the carbon-containing material and a quantity of the oxidizer delivered to the reaction chamber from their respective sources,
- the ignition assembly comprising a pair of electrodes that are operable to generate an ionizing arc therebetween, each electrode being contained within a respective cassette that is removably received within the ignition assembly;
- and
- one or more fluid diverters configured to direct, or disturb, at least a portion of a fluid flowing through the ignition assembly across a surface of one or both of the pair of electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.