US 8,211,388 B2 · Preparation of uniform nanoparticles of ultra-high purity metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, metals, and metal alloys

Abstract

In preferred embodiments, metal nanoparticles, mixed-metal (alloy) nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles and mixed-metal oxide nanoparticles are provided. According to embodiments, the nanoparticles may possess narrow size distributions and high purities. In certain preferred embodiments, methods of preparing metal nanoparticles, mixed-metal nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles and mixed-metal nanoparticles are provided. These methods may provide tight control of particle size, size distribution, and oxidation state. Other preferred embodiments relate to a precursor material that may be used to form nanoparticles. In addition, products prepared from such nanoparticles are disclosed.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method of forming nanoparticles comprising:

providing at least one metal salt;
providing at least one base, wherein the at least one base comprises an ammonium salt;
mixing the at least one metal salt and the at least one base to form a precursor material, wherein the metal salt and base ions are not completely solvated;
and
heating the precursor material to a pre-determined temperature, at a pre-determined rate, in a pre-determined atmosphere, and for a pre-determined length of time, wherein the nanoparticles have an average particle size, wherein the average particle size is between about 1 nm and about 100 nm, a size distribution, wherein the size distribution is within about 1% to about 15% of the average particle size, and a substantially pre-determined stoichiometry.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/707,840Filed 16 Feb 2007 · us provisional application

Priority

16 Feb 2006

Published

US 2008/0032132 A17 Feb 2008

Granted

3 Jul 2012

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification42 codes

C01G 1/02
Methods of preparing compounds of metals not covered by subclasses C01B, C01C, C01D, or C01F, in general: oxides
B22F 1/054
Metallic powder characterised by the size or surface area of the particles: nanosized particles
B22F 9/20
With reduction of metal compounds: starting from solid metal compounds
B82Y 30/00
Nanotechnology for materials or surface science

Preparation of uniform nanoparticles of ultra-high purity metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, metals, and metal alloys

Life of this patent

Preparation of uniform nanoparticles of ultra-high purity metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, metals, and metal alloys

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27