Synthesis of silicon nanocrystals by laser pyrolysis

US8337673B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES · FR

Inventors

• Nathalie Herlin-Boime · Grenoble, FR
• Olivier Sublemontier · Fontenay-aux-Roses, FR
• Frederic Lacour · Paris, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: May 15, 2008
• Grant date: Dec 25, 2012
• Expiry date: Mar 23, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01J2219/00162
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to the synthesis of silicon-containing nanoparticles by laser pyrolysis. For this purpose: a precursor (SiH4) containing the element silicon is conveyed, by a transport fluid (He), into a pyrolysis reactor (REAC); laser radiation (LAS) is applied, in the reactor, to a mixture that the transport fluid and the precursor form; and silicon-containing nanoparticles (nP) are recovered at the exit of the reactor. In particular, the power of the laser radiation is controlled. Furthermore, the effective pulse duration is controlled within a laser firing period. Typically, for a power greater than 500 watts and a pulse duration greater than 40% of a laser firing period, nanoparticles having a crystalline structure with a size of less than or of the order of one nanometer are obtained at a rate greater than or of the order of 80 milligrams per hour. Under optimum conditions, a record rate of greater than 740 milligrams per hour was able to be obtained.