Researchers at The George Washington University are developing innovative methods to produce materials and coatings, which can be used for electrodes in batteries, fuel cells, electrochemical cells, and energy-production devices, for catalysts and other purposes.
This novel technology enables the production and engineering of materials (and coatings) of widely variable densities: from less than 10% of normal density up to normal density. The materials can be engineered to include various with Nanometer-Scale Sub-structures and Micrometer-Scale Sub-Structures. The variability is achieved by the generation of voids within the materials either during or after their initial production. A key characteristic of the invention is the use of starting materials consisting of powders that have grains (particles) with one, two or three dimensions on the size scales of nanometers or micrometers. This produces materials or coatings that have desirable properties for stimulation of diverse chemical or nuclear reactions or other applications. Another major feature of the invention is the use of microwave radiation electromagnetic energy or induction heating to raise the temperature of the powders to produce materials or coatings. These approaches to heating and sintering of the powders have a stellar feature of fast and efficient heating, with the potential for direct coupling of the microwave or induced energy to the material or coating being produced, or by use of an intermediate absorber (solid or plasma) that heats the work piece.
The presence of nanometer-scale or micrometer-scale structures of many kinds within or on the surfaces of solid materials (substrates) affects the properties and, hence, the utility of such structures. The properties of most interest in this invention influence or determine the ability to induce reactions on or near surfaces involving nuclear, ionic, atomic, molecular and other entities. The reactions include the ability to form electromagnetic composites at the Compton scale. It is noted that this invention may have significant utility for the catalysis of ordinary chemical reactions, as well as pico-chemical reactions and nuclear reactions.
This technology is a powerful innovation in the fields of battery electrodes, catalysts for chemical and nuclear reaction, scattering materials for light and particles, fabrication of nanoscale and micro-scale materials of variable density. We expect that the materials and methods in this invention can be used in a wide array of other applications.
Applications:
1. Fabrication of nanoscale and micro-scale materials of variable density
2. Electrodes for batteries, fuel cells, electrochemical cells and energy production devices
3. Catalysts for nuclear reactions
4. Catalysts for chemical reactions
5. Controlling transport of fluids through permeable materials
6. Scattering material for photons, electrons, ions, atoms, and molecules
Advantages:
1. Efficient control of porous materials density enabling the production of materials having a density throughout the range from less than 10% of normal density up to normal density.
2. Efficient production of materials including nano-meter scale and micro-meter scale particles
