Method for coating ultrafine particles, system for coating ultrafine particles
The invention provides a method for dispersing particles within a reaction field, the method comprising confining the particles to the reaction field using a standing wave. The invention also provides a system for coating particles, the system comprising a reaction zone; a means for producing fluidized particles within the reaction zone; a fluid to produce a standing wave within the reaction zone; and a means for introducing coating moieties to the reaction zone. The invention also provides a method for coating particles, the method comprising fluidizing the particles, subjecting the particles to a standing wave; and contacting the subjected particles with a coating moiety.
1. A method for coating particles, the method comprising:
a) fluidizing the particles;
b) subjecting the particles to a standing fluid wave which is produced by providing a modulating fluid flow in a reaction zone; and
c) contacting the subjected particles with a coating moiety.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the wave is generated when an inert fluid is coherently applied to the fluidized particles.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the inert fluid has the same frequency as the fluidized particles.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the wave is generated when an inert fluid is reflected onto the fluidized particles.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the particles are less than 20 microns in diameter.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the particles are more than approximately 10 nm and less than approximately 100 μm in diameter.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the standing fluid wave is the product of the fluid interacting with a reflector surface positioned within the reaction chamber.
8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the coating moiety comprises at least a portion of the standing fluid wave.
9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the particles are different sizes.
10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the reaction zone remains motionless.
11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the contacting step further comprises introducing two coating moieties alternatively into the reaction zone using a computer-controlled injection system with a fixed time interval between injections.