Nanotechnology

Chemical synthesis

Synthesis of nano-materials in ionic liquids
A method of synthesizing nanoparticles includes: combining at least one stabilizing agent, at least one precursor and an ionic liquid to form a reaction mixture; heating the reaction mixture to a predetermined temperature to form the nanoparticles and cause the nanoparticles to self-separate from the reaction mixture; and collecting the nanoparticles from the reaction mixture. Ionic liquid from which the nanoparticles are separated may be reused.

Method for making silica nanoparticles by flame spray pyrolysis adopting two-fluid nozzle
The invention relates to a method for making silica nanoparticles using a flame reactor, which includes a droplet spray having a two-fluid nozzle and a burner of a quintuple tube structure. In this method, droplets of silicon alkoxide as liquid Si compound are sprayed through the droplet spray of the flame reactor. A flame is generated by the flow of inert gas, oxygen, hydrogen and air simultaneously into the burner of the flame reactor. The liquid Si compound is delivered through the flame of the burner to produce silica nanoparticles having a mean particle size ranging from 9 nm to 68 nm. Resultant nanoparticles are collected and recovered in a particle collector. The droplets sprayed under high pressure from a silicon alkoxide solution are directly oxidized in the flame, thereby producing spherical silica nanoparticles.

ZnX (X=S, Se, Te) quantum dot preparation method
A ZnX, X is S, Se, Te or a combination thereof, quantum dot preparation method. This method comprises the following steps: dissolving S powder, Se powder, Te powder or a combination thereof into an organic alkali to form a first complex solution; dissolving ZnO into an organic acid and a co-solvent to form a second complex solution; and mixing the first complex solution and the second complex solution to obtain the ZnX quantum dot.

Process for plasma synthesis of rhenium nano and micro powders, and for coatings and near net shape deposits thereof and apparatus therefor
The process for the synthesis of rhenium powders comprises the injection of ammonium perrhenate powder through a carrier gas in a plasma torch of a plasma reactor operated using a mixture including hydrogen as the plasma gas, yielding metallic rhenium under the following chemical reaction: 2 NH.sub.4ReO.sub.4+4 H.sub.2.fwdarw.2 Re+N.sub.2.uparw.+8 H.sub.2O.uparw.. The reactor is provided with a quench zone for cooling the metallic rhenium so as to yield rhenium nano and micro powders.

Nickel oxide nanoparticles as catalyst precursor for hydrogen production
Decomposition of methane to produce carbon monoxide-free hydrogen is accomplished using un-supported, nanometer sized, hydrogen reduced, nickel oxide particles made by a precipitation process. A nickel compound, such as NiCl.sub.2 or Ni(NO.sub.3) is dissolved in water and suitably precipitated as nickel hydroxide. The precipitate is separated, dried and calcined to form the NiO catalyst precursor particles.