Methods of synthesis for nanostructured oxides and hydroxides

US6517802B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignees

• UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT · US
• Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey · US

Inventors

• Tongsan D. Xiao · Tolland, US
• Peter R. Strutt · Storrs, US
• Bernard H. Kear · Madison, US
• Huimin Chen · Shanghai, CN
• Donald M. Wang · Storrs, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 15, 2000
• Grant date: Feb 11, 2003
• Expiry date: Sep 15, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/2982
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A chemical synthetic route for nanostructured materials that is scalable to large volume production, comprising spray atomization of a reactant solution into a precursor solution to form a nanostructured oxide or hydroxide precipitate. The precipitate is then heat-treated followed by sonication, or sonicated followed by heat treatment. This route yields nanostructured doped and undoped nickel hydroxide, manganese dioxide, and ytrria-stabilized zirconia. Unusual morphological superstructures may be obtained, including well-defined cylinders or nanorods, as well as a novel structure in nickel hydroxide and manganese dioxide, comprising assemblies of nanostructured fibers, assemblies of nanostructured fibers and agglomerates of nanostructured particles, and assemblies of nanostructured fibers and nanostructured particles. These novel structures have high percolation rates and high densities of active sites, rendering them particularly suitable for catalytic applications.