Electrostatic deposition of particles generated from rapid expansion of supercritical fluid solutions
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsJohn L. Fulton, George Deverman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for depositing a substance on a substrate that involves forming a supercritical fluid solution of at least one supercritical fluid solvent and at least one solute, discharging the supercritical fluid solution through an orifice under conditions sufficient to form solid particles of the solute that are substantially free of the supercritical fluid solvent, and electrostatically depositing the solid solute particles onto the substrate. The solid solute particles may be charged to a first electric potential and then deposited onto the substrate to form a film. The solute particles may have a mean particle size of less than 1 micron.
Claims33
A method for depositing a substance on a substrate, comprising:
- forming a supercritical fluid solution that includes at least one supercritical fluid solvent and at least one solute, wherein the supercritical fluid solvent is selected from carbon dioxide, a hydrocarbon, ammonia, ethylene, acetone, diethyl ether, N2O, xenon, argon, argon, and sulfur and the solute comprises an organic substance;
- discharging the supercritical fluid solution through an orifice under conditions sufficient to form solid particles of the solute that are substantially free of the supercritical fluid solvent;
- charging the solid solute particles to a first electric potential;
- and
- depositing the charged solid solute particles onto a substrate.
A method for depositing a substance on a substrate, comprising:
- forming a supercritical fluid solution that includes at least one supercritical fluid solvent and at least one solute;
- discharging a spray of the supercritical fluid solution through a capillary under conditions sufficient to form particles of the solute that are substantially free of the supercritical fluid solvent, wherein the capillary comprises an insulator material;
- providing a first electrode that is secured to the capillary and that can generate an electrical field for charging the solid solute particles to a first electric potential;
- and
- depositing the charged solid solute particles onto a substrate.
A method for depositing a substance on a substrate, comprising:
- forming a mixture of at least one supercritical fluid and about 3.0 weight percent or less of at least one polymer, based on the total weight of the supercritical fluid and the polymer;
- flowing the mixture through an orifice to produce a spray that includes particles of the polymer;
- and
- electrostatically depositing the polymer particles onto the substrate.
A method for depositing a substance on a substrate, comprising:
- forming a supercritical fluid solution that includes at least one supercritical fluid solvent and at least one solute;
- discharging the supercritical fluid solution through an orifice outlet under conditions sufficient to form particles of the solute that are substantially free of the supercritical fluid solvent;
- providing an electrode that can generate an electrical field for charging the solid solute particles to a first electric potential, wherein the electrode is located within 1 cm of the orifice outlet;
- and
- depositing the charged solute particles onto a substrate.
A method for collecting bulk powders, comprising:
- forming a supercritical fluid solution that includes at least one supercritical fluid solvent and at least one solute;
- discharging the supercritical fluid solution through an orifice under conditions sufficient to form solid particles of the solute that are substantially free of the supercritical fluid solvent;
- electrostatically depositing the solid solute particles onto a substrate surface;
- and
- collecting the solid solute particles as a bulk powder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.