University of Michigan

Mayaterials, Inc.

Wadham Energy LP

Julien Claudius Marchal

Richard M Laine

David James Krug

Vera Popova

Thomas Hinklin

Roy Rennesund

José Azurdia

Anthony C Sutorik

Andrew Stewart Mccolm

Tyrone Johns

The present invention discloses glycoxy silanes as a source of silica and silica precipitated by advantageous chemical reactions preferably beginning with biogenic silica. Alkoxy C&#x2014;O&#x2014;Sare hydrolyzed in a controlled fashion to nucleate formation of nanoparticles of silica. The growth rate of the particles is controlled by various parameters such that particles of known sizes, size distributions, specific surface areas and pore sizes and size distributions are recovered.

Glycoxy silanes as a source of silica and silicate precipitates

A method of producing alkoxysilanes and precipitated silicas from biogenic silicas is provided. In a first step, biogenically concentrated silica is mixed with a liquid polyol to obtain a mixture, and then the mixture is heated. In a second step, a base is added to obtain a reaction mixture. In a third step, the reaction mixture is filtered to remove the carbon enriched RHA or other undissolved biogenic silica and recover the solution of alkoxysilane and alcoholate. In a fourth step, alkoxysilane is purified by filtering, distilling, precipitating or extracting from the original reaction solution to precipitate various forms of silica. In a final step, residual base present in alkoxysilane is neutralized to eliminate the residual alkali metal base.

Method of producing alkoxysilanes and precipitated silicas from biogenic silicas

The present invention is directed to a method for providing an agricultural waste product having amorphous silica, carbon, and impurities; extracting from the agricultural waste product an amount of the impurities; changing the ratio of carbon to silica; and reducing the silica to a high purity silicon (e.g., to photovoltaic silicon).

Low cost routes to high purity silicon and derivatives thereof

Nano- and micron sized metal oxide and mixed metal oxide particles are injected into a high temperature region wherein the temperature is between about 400&#xb0; C. and less than 2000&#xb0; C., and collected as particles or as coatings wherein a particulate nature is substantially maintained. The particles are altered in at least one of phase, morphology, composition, and particle size distribution, and may achieve further changes in these characteristics by coinjection of metal oxide precursor in liquid form.

Liquid feed flame spray modification of nanoparticles

Liquid feed flame spray pyrolysis of solutions of a metal oxide precursor which is an alkoxide or Ccarboxylate and at least one second metal oxide precursor and/or second metal compound dissolved in oxygenated solvent by combustion with oxygen lead to the formation of sub-micron mixed-metal oxide powders not accessible by other processes or by the pyrolysis of metal chlorides or nitrates. The powders have numerous uses in advanced materials applications including particulate solid state lasers, advanced ceramic materials, and as catalysts in organic synthesis and automobile exhaust systems.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Julien Claudius Marchal