IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,029,513
Granted Patent B2
US 7,029,513 · App. 10/346,271 · Granted Apr 18, 2006

Reactant delivery apparatuses

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,029,513
App. No.
10/346,271
Granted
Apr 18, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aerosol delivery apparatus is used to deliver an aerosol into a reaction chamber for chemical reaction to produce reaction products such as nanoparticles. A variety of improved aerosol delivery approaches provide for the production of more uniform reaction products. In preferred embodiments, a reaction chamber is used that has a cross section perpendicular to the flow of reactant having a dimension along a major axis greater than a dimension along a minor axis. The aerosol preferably is elongated along the major axis of the reaction chamber.

Claims (20)

1. A method of producing particles, the method comprising introducing a reactant stream into a reaction chamber, the reactant stream intersecting a radiation beam, the reactant stream comprising an aerosol, a vapor metal and a compound that absorbs sufficient radiation energy to drive a reaction resulting in particle formation, wherein the aerosol is generated with an aerosol generator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the aerosol generator comprises a two fluid external mix atomizer.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the two fluid external mix atomizer is a gas-blast atomizer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the aerosol generator comprises a gas atomizer.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the aerosol generator comprises a two fluid internal mix atomizer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the aerosol generator comprises a simplex atomizer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the aerosol generator comprises a Venturi based atomizer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the particles are quenched rapidly after leaving a reaction zone that comprises an intersection of the radiation beam and the reactant stream.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the laser comprises a carbon dioxide laser.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the radiation beam is produced by a laser.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the aerosol is generated with a neat liquid.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the aerosol is generated with a solid dissolved in a liquid.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the aerosol comprises a metal.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the aerosol comprises a plurality of metals.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the aerosol comprises silicon.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the reactant stream further comprises a vapor reactant comprising a plurality of metal.

17. A method of producing particles, the method comprising introducing a reactant stream into a reaction chamber, the reactant stream intersecting a radiation beam path, the reactant stream comprising a vapor and an aerosol comprising a metal reactant wherein the vapor forms a vapor stream in a delivery tube oriented directly into the reaction chamber and wherein the aerosol flows into the vapor stream from a direction that is not oriented toward the reaction chamber.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the aerosol is generated within a chamber in fluid communication with the delivery tube leading to the reaction chamber.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the aerosol is generated within a side channel leading to the delivery tube.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the aerosol is drawn into a gas flow.