Applying optical energy to nanoparticles to produce a specified nanostructure

• US 8,422,197 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Nanotech, Inc. (Nano Magic, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Applied Nanotech Holdings Incorporated (Nano Magic, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yaniv, Zvi, Jiang, Nan, Novak, James P., Fink, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ha, Nguyen T
• Application Number:
  US12/836,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20110043965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 361/502, 361/503, 361/504, 361509-512, 361/301.2, 361/301.4, 428/328, 428/332, 428/648, 428/652
• 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 specified conditions to produce a nanostructure having layers with a predetermined degree of porosity and a predetermined size of fused nanoparticles.

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 specified 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 J/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 with nanoparticulate MnO additives.

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 with nanoparticulate MnO additives 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. A method comprising applying optical energy to a nanoparticulate material under specified conditions to produce a nanostructure with a predetermined degree of porosity and a predetermined size of fused nanoparticles.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the nanoparticulate material includes nanoparticulate copper.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising disposing the nanoparticulate copper onto a polyamide substrate.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the nanoparticulate material includes nanoparticulate silicon.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising disposing the nanoparticulate silicon onto a polyamide substrate.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the specified conditions include a predetermined voltage, a predetermined duration, a predetermined power density, or combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the optical energy is applied via an optical energy source having an optical power of 10⁶ W.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the optical energy is applied for a duration of 0.2 to 1.0 milliseconds.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the optical energy is applied with an energy density up to 12 J/cm².

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the nanoparticulate material includes a layer of nanoparticulate copper with nanoparticulate MnO additives.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising forming a copper oxide layer by applying heat to the nanoparticulate copper with nanoparticulate MnO additives at a temperature between 200°

C. to 300°

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