Method of forming nanostructures on ceramics and the ceramics formed
First Claim
1. A method of forming a ceramic body with nanostructures on at least one surface thereof, the method comprising:
- (a) compressing ceramic particulate at a pressure sufficient to form a solid body;
(b) sintering the solid body at a temperature and for a period sufficient to bond the particulate in the solid body into one or more ceramic crystals;
(c) exposing the solid body to a reducing environment at a temperature and for a period sufficient to form nanostructures on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the solid body.
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Abstract
A method for manufacturing oriented arrays of ceramic or metal oxide nanostructures, such as titania (TiO2) nanofibers. The nanofibers are formed on the surface of a body that is first sintered at a temperature in the range of about 1,100 to about 1,400 degrees Celsius. Subsequently, the surface is exposed to an H2-bearing gas, such as H2 and N2 in a ratio of about 5:95 at about 700 degrees Celsius for about 8 hours. During heat treatment in the gas phase reaction, sintered titania grains transform into arrays of nanofibers oriented in the same crystallographic direction.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of forming a ceramic body with nanostructures on at least one surface thereof, the method comprising:
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(a) compressing ceramic particulate at a pressure sufficient to form a solid body;
(b) sintering the solid body at a temperature and for a period sufficient to bond the particulate in the solid body into one or more ceramic crystals;
(c) exposing the solid body to a reducing environment at a temperature and for a period sufficient to form nanostructures on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the solid body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of forming a metal oxide body with nanostructures on at least one surface thereof, the method comprising:
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(a) compressing metal oxide particulate at a pressure greater than 0 MPa to form a solid body;
(b) sintering the solid body in air at a temperature of less than 1,400 degrees Celsius; and
then(c) heat treating the solid body in a gas mixture containing a majority of an inert gas and a minority of a hydrogen-containing gas at a gas flow rate, a temperature and for a period sufficient to cause nanostructures to form on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the solid body. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of forming a titania body with nanofibers on at least one surface thereof, the method comprising:
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(a) compressing titania particulate at a pressure of about 400 MPa to form a solid body;
(b) sintering the solid body in air at a temperature between about 1,100 and about 1,400 degrees Celsius for about 6 hours; and
then(c) heat treating the solid body in gas containing about 95 percent inert gas and about 5 percent hydrogen with a gas flow rate between about 100 and about 500 milliliters per minute and a gas temperature of about 700 degrees Celsius. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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- 35. A titania solid body having a plurality of fibers on the surface thereof, said fibers having a diameter in a range from about 15 nanometers to about 50 nanometers.
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39. A sensor comprising:
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(a) a titania solid body having a plurality of fibers on the surface thereof, said fibers having diameters in a range between about 15 and about 50 nanometers; and
(b) a resistance measuring means electrically connected to the solid body.
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Specification