GROUP IV METAL OR SEMICONDUCTOR NANOWIRE FABRIC

• US 20110223484A1
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pinion Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Holmberg, Vincent C., Smith, Damon A., Thurk, Paul, Patel, Reken, Korgel, Brian A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,038,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/231.5
• 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: H01L 29/0665 the shape of the body defining a nanostructure nanotechnology per se B82B
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/134 Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/139 Processes of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/1395 of electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/38 of elements or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/382 Lithium H01M4/405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/386 Silicon or alloys based on silicon
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/405 Alloys based on lithium
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249921 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component

Abstract

A method is provided for making a fabric. The method comprises (a) providing a composition comprising a plurality of nanocrystals disposed in a liquid medium, the nanocrystals comprising a material elected from the group consisting of a Group IV element; (b) applying the composition to a porous substrate, thereby removing at least a portion of the liquid medium from the nanocrystals; and (c) removing the nanocrystals from the porous substrate as a self-supporting mass.

Claims

1. A fabric, comprising:

a self-supporting mass of Group IV semiconductor nanowires.

2. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric has a density of less than about 10% of the density of the bulk Group IV material.

5. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric has a thickness of at least 7 microns.

8. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the plurality of semiconductor nanowires comprises Si.

9. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the plurality of semiconductor nanowires comprises Ge.

10. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric consists essentially of Group IV semiconductor nanowires.

12. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the nanowires comprise silicon with an added concentration of copper at a concentration no less than 0.01%.

14. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises Group IV semiconductor nanowires mixed with carbon nanotubes.

15. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises Group IV semiconductor nanowires mixed with nanofibers that do not comprise a Group IV element.

16. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises Group IV semiconductor nanowires mixed with polymeric fibers.

17. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises Group IV semiconductor nanowires mixed with cellulosic fibers.

18. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises Group IV semiconductor nanowires mixed with textile fibers.

22. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises Group IV semiconductor nanowires which have been doped with a dopant at a concentration of at least 0.01% by weight of a dopant, based on the total weight of the nanowire.

23. The fabric of claim 22, wherein said dopant is electrically active.

24. The fabric of claim 22, wherein the dopant is selected from the group consisting of phosphorous and boron.

3-4. -4. (canceled)

6-7. -7. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

19-21. -21. (canceled)

25. A method for making a fabric, comprising:

providing a composition comprising a plurality of semiconducting nanowires disposed in a liquid medium, the nanowires comprising a material elected from the group consisting of a Group IV element;

applying the composition to a porous substrate, thereby removing at least a portion of the liquid medium from the nanocrystals; and

removing the nanowires from the porous substrate as a self-supporting mass.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the Group IV element is selected from the group consisting of Si and Ge.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

adding a sizing agent to the self-supporting mass.

27-28. -28. (canceled)

30-126. -126. (canceled)

127. A method for making a construct from a plurality of Group IV nanostructures, comprising:

creating a suspension of nanostructures in a volatile solvent medium;

applying the suspension to a release liner;

removing at least a portion of the solvent, thereby forming a mass of nanostructures on the release liner; and

removing the mass of nanostructures from the release liner as a self-supporting mass.

128. The method of claim 127, wherein the self-supporting mass is a fabric.

129. The method of claim 127, wherein the self-supporting mass is a paper.

130. A rechargeable battery, comprising:

an anode;

a cathode; and

an electrolyte;

wherein at least one of said anode and said cathode comprises a nanowire fabric comprising a Group IV element.

131. The rechargeable battery of claim 130, wherein said anode comprises said nanowire fabric.

135. The rechargeable battery of claim 130, wherein said rechargeable battery is a lithium ion battery, wherein said Group IV element is selected from the group consisting of Si and Ge, and wherein said anode comprises said nanowire fabric.

136. The rechargeable battery of claim 130, wherein said nanowire fabric comprises a plurality of nanowires.

137. The rechargeable battery of claim 136, wherein each of said nanowires contains a shell.

138. The rechargeable battery of claim 137, wherein each shell comprises an organometallic material.

132-134. -134. (canceled)

139-143. -143. (canceled)

144. A self-supporting mass comprising nanowires of a Group IV semiconductor.

145. The self-supporting mass of claim 144, wherein said self-supporting mass is a paper-like product.

146. The self-supporting mass of claim 145, wherein the product is in the form of a sheet.

147. The self-supporting mass of claim 145, wherein the product is semiconducting.

148-158. -158. (canceled)