Methods to partially reduce a niobium metal oxide oxygen reduced niobium oxides
AssigneeCabot Corporation
InventorJames A. Fife
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Abstract
Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the getter material, and for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Niobium oxides and/or suboxides are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made from the niobium oxides and suboxides.
Claims22
A method to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide comprising heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a niobium flaked getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the niobium flaked getter material, for a sufficient time and temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide, wherein said atmosphere comprises a hydrogen atmosphere.
A method to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide comprising heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a magnesium containing getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the magnesium containing getter material, for a sufficient time and temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide, wherein said atmosphere comprises a hydrogen atmosphere, and wherein said oxygen reduced niobium oxide has an atomic ratio of niobium to oxygen of 1:less than 1.5.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.