Metal delivery system for nanoparticle manufacture
AssigneeETH Zurich
InventorsJan Wendelin Stark, Sotiris E. Pratsinis
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Abstract
Described is a method for the production of pure or mixed metal oxides, wherein at least one metal precursor that is a metal carboxylate with a mean carbon value per carboxylate group of at least 3, e.g. the 2-ethyl hexanoic acid salt, is formed into droplets and e.g. flame oxidized. The method is performed at viscosities prior to droplet formation of usually less than 40 mPa s, obtained by heating and/or addition of one or more low viscosity solvents with adequately high enthalpy.
Claims15
A method for manufacturing a metal oxide or a mixed metal oxide, said oxide being in the form of nanoparticles, wherein at least one metal precursor is contained in a precursor solution which is formed into droplets and the at least one metal precursor is oxidized in a flame, characterized in that
- a) said at least one metal precursor is a metal 2-ethyl hexanoate;
- b) said precursor solution, prior to being formed into droplets, has a viscosity of at most 100 mPas;
- c) said precursor solution is
- i) heated to obtain such viscosity or
- ii) mixed with at least one viscosity reducing solvent, said solvent is at least 60% apolar;
- d) said flame oxidation is performed in a spray burner that comprises nozzles;
- e) said precursor solution comprises at least 0.15 moles metal per liter of the precursor solution;
- and
- f) at least 0.15 moles of a metal oxide or a mixed metal oxide per nozzle and per liter of the precursor solution are produced,
- wherein the metal or metals in the metal oxide or the mixed metal oxide is/are selected from the group consisting of zirconium, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, aluminum, boron, gallium, indium, tin, lead, antimony, bismuth, titanium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, mangenese, rhenium, iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, thorium, uranium and silicon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.