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Northeastern University

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Chinuka Limited

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Cambridge Enterprise Limited the Old Schools

Cambridge Univ. Technical Services, Ltd.

Derek Fray

Ali Kamali

Thomas William Farthing

Robert Charles Copcutt

Zheng Chen

Carsten Schwandt

Vega Petrova Kotzeva

Paul Coxon

Eimutis Juzeliunas

George Zheng Chen

Ian McCrady Dalrymple

Gregory Russlan Doughty

Lyn Holt

Paul David Goodman

Shuqiang Jiao

Aleksandar Dimitrov

Robert William Gibson

A method of producing graphene sheets comprising the steps of, (a) forming a carbonaceous powder by electrochemical erosion of a graphite electrode in a molten salt comprising hydrogen ions, (b) recovering the resulting carbonaceous powder from the molten salt liquid, and (c) thermally treating the carbonaceous powder by heating the carbonaceous powder in a non-oxidising atmosphere to produce a thermally treated powder comprising graphene sheets.

Method of producing graphene

A method of producing diamonds comprises the steps of producing a carbonaceous powder comprising nano-structured carbonaceous material and a transition metal and thermally treating the powder. The carbonaceous powder is produced by electrochemical erosion of graphite in a molten salt, the transition metal being incorporated into the carbonaceous powder during the electrochemical erosion. The step of thermally treating the carbonaceous powder is carried out in a non-oxidising atmosphere at a temperature of between 350&#xb0; C. and 300&#xb0; C., at a pressure of lower than 1 GPa. The method allows diamond to be produced at low pressures and low temperatures.

Method for producing synthetic diamonds

A method of producing graphene sheets comprising the steps of, forming a carbonaceous powder by electrochemical erosion of a graphite electrode in a molten salt comprising hydrogen ions, recovering the resulting carbonaceous powder from the molten salt liquid, and thermally treating the carbonaceous powder by heating the carbonaceous powder in a non-oxidising atmosphere to produce a thermally treated powder comprising graphene sheets. The method allows high production rates of high purity graphene sheets.

An oxygen generator for an oxygen-generation apparatus has a proton-conducting membrane, a cathode contacting a first side, or cathodic side, of the membrane, an anode contacting a second side, or anodic side, of the membrane, and a source of water for supply to the membrane. In use, an electrolysis voltage applied between the cathode and the anode causes electrolysis of the water to generate oxygen gas at the anode. Atmospheric oxygen, i.e. oxygen in the air, is substantially prevented from coming into contact with the cathode. For an acidic proton-conducting membrane this substantially prevents the formation of hydrogen peroxide at the cathode.

Oxygen generation apparatus and method

A method of producing titanium, comprising providing an oxide of titanium having a level of impurities of at least 1.0 wt %, reacting the oxide of titanium to form a titanium oxycarbide; and electrolyzing the titanium oxycarbide in an electrolyte, with the titanium oxycarbide configured as an anode; and recovering a refined titanium metal from a cathode in the electrolyte.

Treatment of titanium ores

An apparatus and methods are provided for the accurate determination of hydrogen content in fluid media at elevated temperatures. The apparatus consists of a proton conducting solid electrolyte in contact with an internal metal/hydrogen reference standard, in which the electrolyte and the reference material are in a chemically stable contact. The electrical signal generated is a function of the hydrogen concentration on the measuring side.

Hydrogen sensing apparatus and method

The surface of silicon is textured to create black silicon on a nano-micro scale by electrochemical reduction of a silica layer on silicon in molten salts. The silica layer can be a coating, or a layer caused by the oxidation of the silicon.

Method for texturing silicon surface to create black silicon for photovoltaic applications

An inert anode material for use in electrolytic processes comprises calcium ruthenate. [Note that the nominal formula for this compound is CaRuO3, although different stoichiometries may apply in practice].

Electrode materials

In an electrolytic method for producing nano-scale carbon products, such as carbon nanotubes, first and second graphite electrodes contact a fused-salt electrolyte. A power supply is coupled to the electrodes and first and second voltages are alternately applied to the electrodes. The first voltage is applied such that the first electrode is at a cathodic potential relative to the second electrode, and the second voltage is applied such that the second electrode is at a cathodic potential relative to the first electrode. The method thus advantageously converts the carbon of both electrodes to nano-scale carbon products.

Electrochemical method, apparatus and carbon product

The subject invention pertains to methods for processing a solid material (MX) comprising a solid solution of a non-metal species (X) in a metal or semi-metal (M) or a compound between the non-metal species and the metal or semi-metal is immersed in a molten salt (MY). A cathodic potential is applied to the material to remove a portion of the non-metal species by electro-deoxidation. To remove the non-metal species at lower concentrations, a source of a reactive metal (M) is immersed in the molten salt and is electronically connected to the material. Reactions occur at the material, where the non-metal species dissolves in the salt, and at the reactive metal, which reacts with the non-metal species dissolved in the salt to form a reaction product more stable than a compound between the non-metal species and the metal or semi-metal (M). The non-metal species is thus removed from the solid material.

Electrochemical processing of solid materials in fused salt

The present invention pertains to a method for removing a substance (X) from a solid metal or semi-metal compound (MX) by electrolysis in a melt of MY, which comprises conducting the electrolysis under conditions such that reaction of X rather than Mdeposition occurs at a electrode surface, and that X dissolves in the electrolyte MY. The substance X is either removed from the surface (i.e., MX) or by means of diffusion extracted from the case material. The temperature of the fused salt is chosen below the melting temperature of the metal M. The potential is chosen below the decomposition potential of the electrolyte.

Removal of substances from metal and semi-metal compounds

A method for the production of an intermetallic compound (MZ) involves treating a solid precursor material comprising three or more species, including first and second metal or metalloid species (M, Z) and a non-metal species (X), by electro-deoxidation in contact with a melt comprising a fused salt (MY) under conditions whereby the non-metal species dissolves in the melt. The first and second metal or metalloid species form an intermetallic compound. The method is performed in a cell comprising a cathode of the precursor material (), which is immersed in a melt () contained in a crucible () for electro-deoxidation.

Intermetallic compounds

The present invention pertains to a method for removing a substance (X) from a solid metal or semi-metal compound (M X) by electrolysis in a melt of M Y, which comprises conducting the electrolysis under conditions such that reaction of X rather than M deposition occurs at a electrode surface, and that X dissolves in the electrolyte M Y. The substance X is either removed from the surface (i.e., M X) or by means of diffusion extracted from the case material. The temperature of the fused salt is chosen below the melting temperature of the metal M . The potential is chosen below the decomposition potential of the electrolyte.

A method for selective dissolution of tin and/or lead- or tin-containing alloys from printed circuit boards is provided comprising contacting a printed circuit board with a solution comprising Ti(IV) and an acid which forms stable and soluble salt of Ti(III), Ti(IV), Sn(II) and Pb(II), under conditions to effect dissolution of substantially all of the Sn and/or Pb- or Sn-containing alloy therefrom, as Sn(II) and/or Pb(II) and recovering from the solution by electrolytic reduction substantially all of the Sn(II) and/or PB(II) species as Sn and/or Pb. After the electrolytic reduction step, the oxidant metal species is regenerated by oxidation and recycled to the first stage of the process.

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Cambridge, United Kingdom

Derek Fray