IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,892,599
Granted Patent B2
US 7,892,599 · App. 10/899,595 · Granted Feb 22, 2011

Surface functionalization of nanomaterials for improved processing into devices and products

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,892,599
App. No.
10/899,595
Granted
Feb 22, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods for functionalizing the surface of nanomaterials to improve processing and product manufacturing. These methods are useful for oxides, nitrides, carbides, borides, metals, alloys, chalcogenides, and other compositions.

Claims (21)

1. A method for functionalizing the surface of nanomaterials comprising:

washing nanomaterials comprising soft agglomerates with an organic acid;

treating the washed nanomaterials with a surface stabilizing species selected from the group consisting of: nitrogen containing organic compounds, oxygen containing organic compounds, oxygen and nitrogen containing organic compounds, chalcogenide containing organic compounds, polyalkylimines, polyalkeneimines, and quaternary ammonium species; and

wherein the treatment step functionalizes the surface of the nanomaterials by creating a layer on the surface of the nanomaterials;

wherein the layer has a volume fraction that is given by the relationship:

γ s <1/( d p /3+1)

wherein, γ s is the volume fraction of the surface stabilizing species and d p is the average domain size of the nanomaterials measured in nanometers.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the nanomaterials comprise a substance selected from the group consisting of: oxides, carbides, nitrides, chalcogenides, metals, and alloys.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface stabilizing species comprises a non-silicon composition.

4. A method for functionalizing the surface of nanoparticles comprising:

contacting nanoparticle agglomerates comprising hard agglomerates with a reactive media that dissolves sintered interfaces between the agglomerated nanoparticles;

applying stress to the agglomerates for a period sufficient to break up the agglomerates;

heating the nanoparticles thereby removing adsorbed species on the nanoparticles;

treating the heated nanoparticles with a species to functionalize the surface of the nanoparticles; and

wherein the reactive media accelerates stress-induced separation of agglomerated particles, and the treatment step functionalizes the surface of the nanoparticles with the species.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the heating step is aided by the presence of vacuum.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the nanoparticles comprise a substance selected from the group consisting of: oxides, carbides, nitrides, chalcogenides, metals, and alloys.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the nanomaterials comprise a purity greater than 99.9% by metal basis.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the nanomaterials comprise a purity greater than 99.9% by metal basis.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the nanomaterials comprise an aspect ratio greater than 1.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the nanomaterials comprise an aspect ratio greater than 1.