Applying Optical Energy to Nanoparticles to Produce a Specified Nanostructure

• US 20110043965A1
• Filed: 07/14/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Nanotech, Inc. (Nano Magic, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Applied Nanotech, Inc. (Nano Magic, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jiang, Nan, Fink, Richard L., Yaniv, Zvi, Novak, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,422,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/502
• CPC Class Codes: B82B 3/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures by manipulation of individual atoms or molecules, or limited collections of atoms or molecules as discrete units
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/30 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/36 Nanostructures, e.g. nanofibres, nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/46 Metal oxides
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/134 Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/1395 of electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12722 Next to Group VIII metal-base component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1275 Next to Group VIII or IB metal-base component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/256 Heavy metal or aluminum or compound thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension

Abstract

The instant article of manufacture is made by applying optical energy to one or more layers of nanoparticulate materials under predetermined conditions to produce a nanostructure. The nanostructure has layers of optically fused nanoparticles including a predetermined pore density, a predetermined pore size, or both. The predetermined conditions for applying the optical energy may include a predetermined voltage, a predetermined duration, a predetermined power density, or combinations thereof.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture made by a method comprising:

applying optical energy to one or more layers of nanoparticulate material under predetermined conditions to produce a nanostructure having one or more optically fused layers including a predetermined pore density, a predetermined pore size, or both.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more layers of nanoparticulate material include at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu is disposed on a polyamide substrate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu is disposed on the polyamine substrate by printing the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu on the polyamide substrate.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu is printed on the polyamide substrate by a drop down printing process, a screen printing process, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more layers of nanoparticulate material include at least one layer of nanoparticulate Si.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Si is disposed on at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Si is disposed on the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu by a drop down printing process, a screen printing process, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined conditions include a predetermined voltage, a predetermined duration, a predetermined power density, or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the optical energy is applied via an optical energy source having an optical power of 10⁶ W.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical energy is applied for a duration of 0.2 to 1.0 milliseconds.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical energy is applied with an energy density up to 12.1/cm².

13. A Si anode of a Li ion battery made by the method of claim 1.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more layers of nanoparticulate material include at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu including nanoparticulate MnO additives disposed therein.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming a Cu oxide layer by applying heat to the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu including nanoparticulate MnO additives disposed therein at a temperature between 200°

C. to 300°

C. for a duration between 3 minutes and 5 minutes.

16. A supercapacitor made by the method of claim 15.

17. An article of manufacture comprising:

a substrate;

at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu disposed on the substrate, wherein at least a portion of Cu nanoparticles of the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu are optically fused together to form a continuous film; and

at least one layer of nanoparticulate Si disposed on the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu, wherein at least a portion of Si nanoparticles of the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Si are optically fused together and the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Si has a predetermined pore density, a predetermined pore size, or both.

18. A method of making the article of manufacture of claim 17 comprising:

disposing the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu on the substrate via a printing process;

disposing the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Si on the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu via an additional printing process; and

applying optical energy to the substrate, the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu, and the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Si.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising applying the optical energy at a power density between 5.50 kW/cm² and 6.50 kW/cm² for a duration of about 800 microseconds at a voltage between 1050 V and 1175 V.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing an ink formulation comprising nanoparticulate Cu, wherein disposing the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu on the substrate via the printing process comprises applying the ink formulation comprising nanoparticulate Cu to the substrate via the printing process; and

providing an additional ink formulation comprising nanoparticulate Si, wherein disposing the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Si on the at least one layer of nanoparticulate Cu via the additional printing process comprises applying the ink formulation comprising nanoparticulate Si via the additional printing process.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the optical energy is applied via a Xe lamp.