Harvesting single domain nanoparticles and their applications
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsGary Cook, Dean R. Evans, Sergey Basun, Victor Y. Reshetnyak
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Abstract
Methods are disclosed for separating and harvesting very small single domain ferroelectric nanoparticles by application of a non-uniform electric or magnetic field gradient. The disclosed methods enable collection of nanoparticles with permanent strong dipole moments for use in a wide variety of applications with greatly improved results.
Claims41
A method of harvesting nanoparticles having strong dipole moments, the method comprising:
- suspending a plurality of nanoparticles in an enclosed column, the column having an electrode and a ground plate spaced away from the electrode;
- applying a nonuniform field gradient to the column between the electrode and the ground plate such that nanoparticles of the plurality having a strong dipole moment are attracted to the electrode and nanoparticles of the plurality having a weak dipole moment or no dipole moment are attracted to the ground plate;
- and
- collecting nanoparticles of the plurality having the strong dipole moment from the electrode.
An apparatus for harvesting nanoparticles having permanent dipole moments, comprising:
- an enclosed column for receiving a plurality of nanoparticles;
- an electrode positioned inside and coaxial with the column;
- a plurality of shelves coupled to the electrode, the shelves of the plurality spaced along a lengthwise central axis of the electrode;
- a ground plate operably coupled to the column and separated from and space away from the electrode;
- and
- a source operably coupled to the electrode and configured to generate an electrical or magnetic energy such that a nonuniform field gradient is generated within the column between the electrode and the ground plate,
- wherein nanoparticles of the plurality segregated along the electrode during generation of the nonuniform field gradient are collected by a proximate one of the plurality of shelves when the nonuniform field gradient is terminated.
A method of harvesting strong dipole moment nanoparticles from a plurality of nanoparticles, the method comprising:
- dispensing the plurality of nanoparticles into an enclosed column;
- applying a nonuniform field gradient along a first dimension of the column so as to segregate nanoparticles of the plurality along the first dimension and according to a dipole moment;
- removing the nonuniform field;
- and
- collecting nanoparticles of the plurality along the first dimension corresponding to a strong dipole moment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.