Dow Corning Corporation

Philip Morris USA Inc.

Virginia Commonwealth University

Mohamed Samy El-Shall

Daniel Graiver

Udo C Pernisz

Sarojini Deevi

A method of making palladium-containing nanoscale catalyst particles comprising subjecting a starting material to laser energy so as to form a vapor and condensing the vapor so as to form the catalyst particles. The catalyst comprises nanoscale particles of palladium and/or palladium oxide incorporated in and/or on nanoscale particles of a metal or metal oxide. The nanoscale catalyst, which can be incorporated in the tobacco cut filler, cigarette wrapper and/or cigarette filter of a cigarette, is useful for low-temperature and near-ambient temperature catalysis. The nanoscale catalyst can convert carbon monoxide and nitric oxide that are found in mainstream smoke to carbon dioxide and nitrogen, respectively. The nanoscale catalyst may also be incorporated into a hydrocarbon conversion reactor, into a vehicle exhaust emissions system, into a laser, into a fuel cell or used in an air filter or for emissions reduction in the cold starting of an automobile engine.

Palladium-containing nanoscale catalysts

Nanoparticles of silicon oxide alloys (i.e., oxides of SiMo, SiPt, and SiAl) are produced by laser vaporization of a silicon target and a target of a metal (i.e., Mo, Pt, or Al), in an oxygen containing atmosphere in a diffusion cloud chamber, where the target metal vapors aggregate into novel three-dimensional porous web structures. The structures have a homogeneous composition with a uniform ratio of silicon to the metal.

Nanoparticles of silicon oxide alloys

A web-like nanoparticle silicon is produced by laser vaporization of silicon metal in an oxygen-free atmosphere in a diffusion cloud chamber where it aggregates into novel web-like microstructures. The aggregates are porous, and bright yellow to orange photoluminescence from the web-like nanoparticle silicon is observed upon irradiation with ultraviolet light.

Silicon nanoparticles

A web-like nanoparticle silica is produced by laser vaporization of silicon metal in a helium/oxygen atmosphere in a diffusion cloud chamber where it aggregates into novel web-like microstructures. The aggregates are porous and have a surface area greater than 300 m.sup.2 /g. Bright blue photoluminescence from the web-like nanoparticle silica is observed upon irradiation with ultraviolet light.

Growing community of inventors

Richmond, VA, United States of America

Mohamed Samy El-Shall