Mixed oxide nanoparticles and method of making
AssigneeUT-Battelle, LLC
InventorsRobert J. Lauf, Tommy J. Phelps, Chuanlun Zhang, Yul Roh
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for producing mixed oxide nanoparticulates are disclosed. Selected thermophilic bacteria cultured with suitable reducible metals in the presence of an electron donor may be cultured under conditions that reduce at least one metal to form a doped crystal or mixed oxide composition. The bacteria will form nanoparticles outside the cell, allowing easy recovery. Selection of metals depends on the redox potentials of the reducing agents added to the culture. Typically hydrogen or glucose are used as electron donors.
Claims27
A method for producing mixed-oxide compounds, comprising:
- providing a supply of thermophilic bacteria, said thermophilic bacteria adapted for reducing at least one transition metal ion;
- providing ions of a first metal and ions of at least a second metal, at least one of said metals being a transition metal, said first metal being different from said second metal;
- and
- combining said thermophilic bacteria, said ions and at least one electron donor in a reactor at a temperature of from between about 25° C. and about 85° C. to reduce at least one of said ions through metabolic activity of said thermophilic bacteria;
- wherein said thermophilic bacteria reduce said ions of at least one of said transition metals to form at least one mixed-oxide compound, said mixed-oxide compound comprising both said first and second metals.
A method for producing mixed-oxide compounds, comprising:
- providing a supply of thermophilic bacteria, said thermophilic bacteria adapted for reducing at least one transition metal ion;
- providing ions of a first reducible transition metal and ions of at least a second reducible transition metal, said first transition metal being different from said second transition metal;
- and
- combining said thermophilic bacteria, said ions and at least one electron donor in a reactor at a temperature of from between about 25° C. and about 85° C. to reduce at least one of said ions through metabolic activity of said thermophilic bacteria;
- wherein said thermophilic bacteria reduce said ions of at least one of said transition metals to form said at least one mixed-oxide compound, said mixed-oxide compound comprising both said first and second transition metals.
A method for producing mixed-oxide compounds, comprising:
- providing a supply of thermophilic bacteria, said thermophilic bacteria adapted for reducing at least one transition metal ion;
- providing ions of a first reducible transition metal and ions of at least a second nonreducible transition metal, said first reducible transition metal being different from said second nonreducible transition metal;
- and
- combining said thermophilic bacteria, said ions and at least one electron donor in a reactor at a temperature of from between about 25° C. and about 85° C. to reduce at least one of said ions through metabolic activity of said thermophilic bacteria;
- wherein said thermophilic bacteria reduce said ions of at least one of said transition metals to form at least one mixed-oxide compound, said mixed-oxide compound comprising both said first and second transition metals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.