Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

University of Manitoba

Johan Alexander Van Lierop

Michael Paul Rowe

Elizabeth Marie Skoropata

Yaroslav Stephan Wrocyznskyj

Charles Alexander Roberts

Torsten Hegmann

David F Moore

Vinod K Paidi

Vinith Yathindranath

A method for synthesizing a reagent complex includes a step of ball-milling a mixture that includes: a powder of a zero-valent element; a hydride molecule; and a nitrile ligand. The method produces a reagent complex having a formula Q.X.L, where Qis the zero-valent element, X is the hydride molecule, and L is the nitrile ligand. A process for synthesizing nanoparticles composed of the zero-valent element includes a step of adding solvent to the reagent complex. Crystal texture of the nanoparticles is modulated by appropriate selection of the molar ratio nitrile ligand in the reagent complex.

Textured-crystal nanoparticles from ligated anionic element reagent complex

A method to predict the catalytic activity of a metal oxide of formula MOwhere x is a number from 1 to 3 and y is a number from 1 to 8 is provided. The metal of the metal oxide has redox coupled oxidation states wherein the redox transformation is between oxidation states selected from the group consisting of a diamagnetic oxidation state (M) and a paramagnetic oxidation state (M), a paramagnetic oxidation state (M) and a ferromagnetic oxidation state (M), and a paramagnetic oxidation state (M) and an antiferromagnetic oxidation state (Mwhere d, p, f and a are independently numbers from 1 to 6 and one of the oxidation states (M), (M), (M), and (M) is formed by reduction by the O. The magnetic susceptibility of the metal oxide as a sample in an oxygen environment at a specified temperature is correlated with a value of (Mor Mor Mor M)/g (Orich). Then the magnetic susceptibility of the metal oxide as a sample in an oxygen free environment at the specified temperature is measured and correlated with a value of number of (Mor Mor Mor M)/g (Odeficient). The catalytic activity is predicted based on the difference of these two numbers.

Method of magnetic analysis to determine the catalytic activity of metal oxides including nanoceria

A reagent includes an element, formally in oxidation state zero, in complex with a hydride molecule and an incorporated ligand. The incorporated ligand typically has surface active properties. The reagent, termed a Ligated Anionic Element Reagent Complex, can be useful in synthesis of elemental nanoparticles. A method for synthesizing the aforementioned reagent includes a step of ball-milling a mixture containing an elemental powder, bulk hydride molecule, and bulk ligand. The components of the reagent, once complexed, have altered electronic structure and vibrational modes.

Ligated anionic-element reagent complexes as novel reagents formed with metal, metalloid, and non-metal elements

A novel ferromagnetic phase of manganese-bismuth alloy has an NiAs-type unit cell structure, similar to that of Low Temperature Phase manganese-bismuth, but with manganese atoms populating interstitial sites. The novel phase, termed &#x3b2;-MnBi, possesses maximum magnetic coercivity at unusually high temperature. A method for forming &#x3b2;-MnBi includes annealing MnBi nanoparticles, for example by hot compaction, at temperature lower than 175&#xb0; C.

Ferromagnetic &#x3b2;-MnBi alloy

A method for synthesizing ferromagnetic manganese-bismuth (MnBi) nanoparticles, and the MnBi nanoparticles so synthesized, are provided. The method makes use of a novel reagent termed a manganese-based Anionic Element Reagent Complex (Mn-LAERC). A process for forming a bulk MnBi magnet from the synthesized MnBi nanoparticles is also provided. The process involves simultaneous application of elevated temperature and pressure to the nanoparticles.

Synthesis of ferromagnetic manganese-bismuth nanoparticles using a manganese-based ligated anionic-element reagent complex (Mn-LAERC) and formation of bulk MnBi magnets therefrom

An allotrope-specific reagent includes a hydride molecule in complex with a specified elemental allotrope. The elemental allotrope included in the complex substantially retains a specified allotropic structure of the bulk element. For example, the reagent can contain a specified allotrope of carbon, such as amorphous carbon, diamond, or graphite. The allotrope-specific reagent can be useful for the synthesis of allotropic nanoparticles. A method for synthesizing the allotrope-specific reagent includes a step of ball-milling a mixture that includes a bulk hydride molecule, such as lithium borohydride powder, and a powder of a specified elemental allotrope.

Allotrope-specific anionic element reagent complexes

Reagent complexes have two or more elements, formally in oxidation state zero, complexed with a hydride molecule. Complexation with the hydride molecule may be evidenced by shifts to lower binding energies, of one or more electrons in each of the two or more elements, as observed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The reagents can be useful for the synthesis of multi-element nanoparticles. Preparation of the reagents can be achieved by ball-milling a mixture that includes powders of two or more elements and a hydride molecule.

Multi-element anionic reagent complexes

A novel ligated reagent complex is provided. The ligated reagent includes at least one zero-valent atom, whether metal, metalloid, or non-metal, in complex with at least one hydride molecule and at least one nitrile compound. The ligated reagent complex can be useful in the synthesis of nanoparticles. Also provided is a method for preparing a ligated reagent complex. The method includes a step of ball-milling a mixture that includes a preparation containing a zero-valent element, a hydride molecule, and a nitrile compound.

Ligated anionic-element reagent complexes (LAERCs) as novel reagents

A method of making iron-containing nanoparticles (e.g., magnetite nanoparticles) that includes contacting an iron-containing precursor with a reducing agent at a temperature less than 200&#xb0; C. and allowing the mixture to react to form magnetite nanoparticles.

Growing community of inventors

Winnipeg, Canada

Johan Alexander Van Lierop