Process for producing largely nonferrous metal chalcogenides or arsenides with a grain size distribution in the nanometer range

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for producing largely nonferrous metal chalcogenides or arsenides which can be easily carried out in terms of process engineering in an environmentally-friendly manner. This is because in a single process step the desired, largely nonferrous metal chalcogenide or arsenide is obtained from a nonferrous metal powder by reaction with reactants selected from the group sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and arsenic by grinding in a reaction mill in an inert atmosphere.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . Process for producing largely nonferrous metal chalcogenides or arsenides with a grain size distribution in the nanometer range, characterized in that the nonferrous metal powder with reactants selected from the group sulfur, selenium, tellurium and arsenic is ground in a reaction mill in an inert atmosphere.  
     
     
         16 . Process as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the reaction mill is a multimodule eccentrically driven vibratory mill.  
     
     
         17 . Process as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the mill lining and the grinding media consist of nonferrous hard metal and/or a nonferrous pseudoalloy of tungsten carbide with a metallic binding matrix.  
     
     
         18 . Process as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the metallic binding matrix consists of cobalt.  
     
     
         19 . Process as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the nonferrous hard metals are tungsten carbide and/or zirconium oxide.  
     
     
         20 . Process as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the metal powder and reactants are used in stoichiometric ratios with reference to the metal chalcogenides or arsenides to be produced.  
     
     
         21 . Process as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the progress of grinding is monitored by x-ray diffraction analysis.  
     
     
         22 . Process as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein reaction grinding takes place in batch operation.  
     
     
         23 . Process as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein elements selected from the group bismuth, tin, copper, indium, gallium, zinc, aluminum, titanium, molybdenum and tungsten are used as the metal powder.  
     
     
         24 . Process as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the metal powder is used as a nonferrous metal alloy.  
     
     
         25 . Process as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein mixtures of two or more pure metals except for iron are used as the metal powder.  
     
     
         26 . Process as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein other powdered additives such as graphite, carbides, nitrides, oxides or silicates which do not participate in the reaction itself, but are present intimately mixed with the reaction product after grinding, are added to the reaction mixture.  
     
     
         27 . Process as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein to prevent formation of agglomerates paraffins are added to the reaction mixture.  
     
     
         28 . Process as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the metal chalcogenides or arsenides produced are free of iron.