Production of metal oxide particles with nano-sized grains
AssigneeVery Small Particle Company Pty Ltd
InventorsPeter Cade Talbot, Jose Antonio Alarco, Geoffrey Alan Edwards
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Abstract
A method for producing metal oxide particles having nano-sized grains is disclosed. A solution of metal cations is mixed with surfactant under conditions such that surfactant micelles are formed. This mixture is then heated to form the metal oxide particles; this heating step removing the surfactant, forming the metal oxide and creating the pore structure of the particles. The pore structures are disordered. This method is particularly advantageous for production of complex (multi-component) metal oxides in which the different atomic species are homogeneously dispersed.
Claims14
A method of producing metal oxide particles having nano-sized grains, said method consisting essentially of:
- (a) preparing a solution containing one or more metal cations;
- (b) mixing the solution from step (a) with surfactant under conditions such that surfactant micelles are formed within the solution to thereby form a micellar liquid;
- and
- (c) heating the micellar liquid from step (b) above to form metal oxide, the heating step being undertaken at a temperature and for a period of time to remove the surfactant and thereby form metal oxide particles having a disordered pore structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.