Production of nano particles and tubes by laser liquid interaction

Abstract

Abstract The present invention is a process and apparatus for producing nano-scale particles using the interaction between a laser beam and a liquid precursor solution. There are two embodiments. The first embodiment includes the use of a solid substrate during the laser-liquid interaction. In this embodiment the laser beam is directed at the solid substrate which is immersed in the liquid precursor solution and rotating. The second embodiment includes the use of a plasma during the laser-liquid interaction. In the second embodiment, a mixture of a liquid precursor and a carrier gas is injected into a laser beam. Injection of the mixture can be performed either perpendicular or parallel to the laser beam. The apparatus for injecting the liquid precursor and carrier gas into the laser beam includes a plasma nozzle designed to allow the laser beam to enter the plasma nozzle so that the laser beam may irradiate what is flowing through the plasma nozzle to create a plasma flow. The carrier gas allows for the formation of a plasma by its interaction with the laser beam. The liquid precursor is allowed to atomize into fine droplets. These fine droplets are exposed to the laser beam along with the plasma. The photon energy from laser beam and plasma energy induce the breaking of the molecular bond of the liquid precursor which results in the formation of ultra-fine elemental powders.

Inventors

• 👤 Jogender Singh
• 👤 Eric Whitney
• 👤 Paul E. Denney

Bibliographic Details