Case Western Reserve University

California Institute of Technology

The United States Government As Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs

R Mohan Sankaran

Christian A Zorman

Konstantinos P Giapis

Richard C Flagan

John C Angus

Philip X L Feng

Edwin D Burwell

Yongkun Sui

Andrew C Barnes

Christopher J Miller

Wei-Hung Chiang

Dean Holunga

Sean McHugh

Souvik Ghosh

Julie Renner

A method of ammonia synthesis is described that includes contacting a nitrogen gas-containing plasma with an aqueous solution, thereby forming ammonia from the nitrogen gas and water. The nitrogen gas-containing plasma is present in an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes a container including an acidic liquid electrolyte. The electrochemical cell also includes a source of nitrogen gas, a metal electrode at least partially immersed in the electrolyte, a metal tube electrode spaced apart from a surface of the electrolyte by a predetermined spacing. The electrochemical cell is configured to provide a plasma spanning the predetermined space from the metal tube electrode to contact the surface of the electrolyte when power is applied to the metal tube electrode.

Ammonia synthesis using plasma-produced electrons

A method for directly writing metal traces on a wide range of substrate materials is disclosed. The method includes writing a pattern of particle-free metal-salt-based ink on the substrate followed by a plasma-based treatment to remove the non-metallic components of the ink and decompose its metal salt into pure metal. The ink is based on a multi-part solvent whose components differ in at least one of evaporation rate, surface tension, and viscosity, which improves the manner in which the ink is converted into its metal constituent via the plasma treatment. In some embodiments, a microplasma is used for post-treatment of the deposited ink, where the plasma properties are controlled to provide different material properties, such as porosity and effective resistivity, in different regions of the metal pattern.

Composition comprising directly written metal features and method of formation

A microplasma sputter deposition system suitable for directly writing two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures on a substrate is disclosed. Deposition systems in accordance with the present invention include a magnetic-field generator that provides a magnetic field that is aligned with the arrangement of an anode and a wire target. This results in a plasma discharge within a region between a wire target and an anode that is substantially a uniform sheet, which gives rise to the deposition of material on the substrate in highly uniform and radially symmetric fashion.

Apparatus for direct-write sputter deposition and method therefor

A method of forming nanoscale diamond particles comprises providing Cand CH radicals at a low pressure, and nucleating the Cand CH radicals to form carbon nanoparticles comprising a diamond phase and a non-diamond phase. The method further comprises removing at least a portion of the non-diamond phase in flight during the nucleation of the Cand CH radicals to form a carbon powder comprising a plurality of nanoscale diamond particles.

Nanoscale diamond particles and method of forming nanoscale diamond particles

A method for synthesizing carbon nanotubes having a narrow distribution of diameter and/or chirality is presented. The method comprises providing catalyst particles to a reactor for synthesizing the carbon nanotubes, wherein the catalyst particles are characterized by a narrow distribution of catalyst-particle diameters and a narrow distribution of catalyst-particle compositions. Preferably, the catalyst particles are characterized by a mean catalyst-particle diameter of 2.6 nm or less and a composition of NiFe, wherein x is less than or equal to 0.5.

Growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes

An electrochemical cell includes a container at atmospheric pressure comprising a liquid electrolyte and a first electrode at least partially immersed in the electrolyte. A plasma source is spaced apart from a surface of the electrolyte by a predetermined spacing, and a plasma spans the predetermined spacing to contact the surface of the electrolyte. A method of operating the electrochemical cell entails providing a first electrode at least partially immersed in a liquid electrolyte and producing a plasma in contact with a surface of the electrolyte at atmospheric pressure. The plasma acts as a second electrode, and a current is generated through the electrolyte. Electrochemical reactions involving at least the second electrode are initiated in the electrolyte.

Electrochemical cell including a plasma source and method of operating the electrochemical cell

A system and method for making nanoparticles. The system includes a first cathode including a first metal tube associated with a first end and a second end, a first anode including a second metal tube associated with a third end and a fourth end, and a first container including a first gas inlet. The first end and the third end are located inside the first container. The first end and the third end are separated by a first gap, the first metal tube is configured to allow a first gas to flow from the second end to the first end, and the first container is configured to allow a second gas to flow from the first gas inlet into the second metal tube through at least a first part of the first gap.

System and method for making nanoparticles using atmospheric-pressure plasma microreactor

An apparatus and method for converting methane to methanol by partial oxidation comprises a source of methane, a source of oxygen, and a capillary tube having an outflow end and an inflow end communicating with the sources of methane and oxygen. An anode is positioned proximate to but spaced from the capillary tube. A voltage source negatively biases the capillary tube relative to the anode. A plasma jet flows from the outflow end of the capillary tube. The methane partially oxidizes into methanol in a reaction zone in the plasma jet. A collector receives the methanol in the plasma jet for subsequent condensation, separation and purification.

Growing community of inventors

University Heights, OH, United States of America

R Mohan Sankaran