Gas-phase production of aligned metal nanoparticles using external magnetic fields
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsMichael R. Zachariah, Reza Abbaschian, Pankaj Ghildiyal, Steven Herrera, Prithwish Biswas
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Abstract
A method and system are disclosed of assembling metal particles into nanoparticles. The method includes electromagnetically levitating the metal particles; inductively heating the electromagnetically levitated metal particles beyond their melting point into metal droplets; and wherein an evaporation flux achieved at a surface of the metal droplets result in a supersaturation of metal atoms around the metal droplets leading to nucleation and growth of the nanoparticles.
Claims23
A method of assembling metal particles into nanoparticles, the method comprising:
- electromagnetically levitating the metal particles;
- inductively heating the electromagnetically levitated metal particles beyond their melting point into metal droplets;
- and
- wherein an evaporation flux achieved at a surface of the metal droplets result in a supersaturation of metal atoms around the metal droplets leading to nucleation and growth of the nanoparticles.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A system for assembling metal particles into nanoparticles, the system comprising:
- an electromagnetic levitation coil, the electromagnetic levitation coil configured to electromagnetically levitate the metal particles and inductively heat the electromagnetically levitated metal particles beyond their melting point into metal droplets;
- and
- wherein an evaporation flux achieved at a surface of the metal droplets result in a supersaturation of metal atoms around the metal droplets leading to nucleation and growth of the nanoparticles.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.