Production of silicon nano-particles and uses thereof
AssigneeEpro Development Limited
InventorsAlbert Pui Sang LAU, Lee Cheung LAU
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for producing silicon nano-particles from a raw silicon material, the process including steps of alloying the raw silicon material with at least one alloying metal to form an alloy; thereafter, processing the alloy to form alloy nano-particles; and thereafter, distilling the alloying metal from the alloy nano-particles whereby silicon nano-particles are produced.
Claims14
A process for producing porous silicon nano-particles from a raw silicon material, the process including steps of:
- (i) alloying the raw silicon material with at least one distillable alloying metal selected from zinc and magnesium to form an alloy;
- (ii) milling the alloy to form alloy nano-particles of 100 nm-150 nm in diameter, said milling being performed in an inert environment to alleviate oxidation of the alloy;
- (iii) distilling the alloying metal from the alloy nano-particles so that a porous silicon structure is produced, said distilling being performed in a vacuum furnace;
- and
- (iv) milling the porous silicon structure in an inert environment to break the porous silicon structure apart to produce the porous silicon nano-particles.
An apparatus for producing porous silicon nano-particles from a raw silicon material, the apparatus including means for:
- (i) alloying the raw silicon material with at least one distillable alloying metal selected from zinc and magnesium to form an alloy;
- (ii) milling the alloy to form alloy nano-particles of 100 nm-150 nm in diameter, said milling being performed in an inert environment to alleviate oxidation of the alloy;
- (iii) distilling the alloying metal from the alloy nano-particles so that a porous silicon structure is produced, said distilling being performed in a vacuum furnace;
- and
- (iv) milling the porous silicon structure in an inert environment to break the porous silicon structure apart to produce the porous silicon nano-particles.
An electrical device including an electrically-conductive substrate formed from a flexible structure, and wherein porous silicon nano-particles are configured to coat, encapsulate, and/or entangle the structure of the electrically-conductive substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.