# US 2020/0392003 A1 · Systems and techniques for modifying electronic properties of matter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0392003 A1 - Document ID: US20200392003A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/657,129 - Filed: 2019-10-18 - Published: 2020-12-17 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-12 - Assignees: Continuum Energy Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Continuum Energy Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Christopher J. Nagel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200392003A1 ## CPC - C01B 32/21: After-treatment - C23C 14/185: {by cathodic sputtering} - C23C 14/3435: {Applying energy to the substrate during sputtering} - C23C 14/46: by ion beam produced by an external ion source - G21G 1/00: Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes (separation of different isotopes of the same element B01D59/00) - B32B 9/007: {comprising carbon, e.g. graphite, composite carbon} - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - G21G: CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS; RADIOACTIVE SOURCES (applications of radiation in general G21H5/00; handling particles, e.g. neutrons, or electromagnetic radiation not otherwise provided for G21K) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract Systems and techniques are disclosed for modifying electronic properties of a sample operated upon thereby. The disclosed systems may include a gas supply system and a downstream reactor system, in accordance with some embodiments. The disclosed systems also may include an intervening gas treatment system disposed between the upstream gas supply system and the downstream reactor system, in accordance with some embodiments. In at least some embodiments, the disclosed systems may include one or more sample treatment sources configured to treat the sample with either (or both) electromagnetic radiation and particle bombardment. In some embodiments, the disclosed systems also may include one or more gas treatment sources configured to treat a given gas flow with either (or both) electromagnetic radiation and particle bombardment. In operation of the disclosed systems, one or more gas flows (optionally treated) are delivered to contact (or otherwise interact with) the sample, modifying its electronic structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing a metal or alloy thereof, the method comprising: delivering at least one gas to interact with a carbon sample, wherein the at least one gas is non-reactive with respect to the carbon sample; and subjecting the carbon sample to at least one of electromagnetic radiation, an electromagnetic field, and subatomic particle bombardment such that the carbon sample thereafter further comprises the metal or alloy thereof without the carbon sample previously having been in contact with said metal or alloy thereof, wherein: the electromagnetic radiation is selected from the group consisting of light, laser light, an electromagnetic field, and gamma radiation; and the subatomic particle bombardment involves subatomic particles selected from the group consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein prior to carrying out the method, the carbon sample comprises at least 95% graphite by weight. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the metal or alloy thereof comprises a rare earth metal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the metal or alloy thereof comprises a platinum-group element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the metal or alloy thereof comprises platinum. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the amount of platinum present is at least one order of magnitude higher than prior to carrying out the method. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the metal or alloy thereof comprises iron. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the amount of iron present is at least one order of magnitude higher than prior to carrying out the method. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the amount of iron present is at least two orders of magnitude higher than prior to carrying out the method. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the metal or alloy thereof comprises a transition metal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein subjecting the carbon sample to at least one of electromagnetic radiation, an electromagnetic field, and subatomic particle bombardment occurs either: before delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample; during delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample; or after delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein subjecting the carbon sample to at least one of electromagnetic radiation, an electromagnetic field, and subatomic particle bombardment occurs at least two of: before delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample; during delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample; and after delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein subjecting the carbon sample to at least one of electromagnetic radiation, an electromagnetic field, and subatomic particle bombardment occurs each of: before delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample; during delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample; and after delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: subjecting the carbon sample to induction heating. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein subjecting the carbon sample to the induction heating occurs either: before delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample; during delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample; or after delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein subjecting the carbon sample to the induction heating occurs at least two of: before delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample; during delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample; and after delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein subjecting the carbon sample to the induction heating occurs at each of: before delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample; during delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample; and after delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein prior to delivering the at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample, the method further comprises: subjecting the at least one gas to at least one of: (a) at least one of electromagnetic radiation and subatomic particle bombardment; and (b) at least one of an electromagnetic field and induction heating. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A metal or alloy thereof manufactured via the method of claim 1. ### Claim 20 A composition comprising: a carbon body; and a manufactured metal or alloy thereof hosted by the carbon body, wherein the manufactured metal or alloy is of an ore-type formation pattern as hosted by the carbon body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The composition of claim 20, wherein the carbon body comprises at least 95% graphite by weight. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The composition of claim 20, wherein the metal or alloy thereof comprises a rare earth metal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The composition of claim 20, wherein the metal or alloy thereof comprises a platinum-group element. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The composition of claim 23, wherein the metal or alloy thereof comprises platinum. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The composition of claim 20, wherein the metal or alloy thereof comprises iron. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The composition of claim 20, wherein the metal or alloy thereof comprises a transition metal. ### Claim 27 A system configured to manufacture a metal or alloy thereof, the system comprising: at least one sample containment configured to contain a carbon sample and to deliver at least one gas to interact with the carbon sample, wherein the at least one gas is non-reactive with respect to the carbon sample; and at least one sample treatment source external to the at least one sample containment and configured to subject the carbon sample to at least one of electromagnetic radiation, an electromagnetic field, and subatomic particle bombardment such that the carbon sample thereafter further comprises the metal or alloy thereof without the carbon sample previously having been in contact with said metal or alloy thereof, wherein: the electromagnetic radiation is selected from the group consisting of light, laser light, an electromagnetic field, and gamma radiation; and the subatomic particle bombardment involves subatomic particles selected from the group consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The system of claim 27, further comprising a coil at least partially surrounding the at least one sample containment, wherein the coil is configured to be driven so as to subject the carbon sample to induction heating. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The system of claim 27, further comprising: at least one gas containment configured to have the at least one gas flow therethrough to be delivered to interact with the carbon sample; and at least one gas treatment source external to the at least one gas containment and configured to subject the at least one gas to at least one of: (a) at least one of electromagnetic radiation and subatomic particle bombardment, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is selected from the group consisting of light, a static magnetic field, an alternating magnetic field, a static electric field, and an alternating electric field; and (b) at least one of an electromagnetic field and induction heating.