Production of nanostructure by curie point induction heating

Abstract

An apparatus for synthesizing nanostructures. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a heating device that defines a reaction zone therein and a susceptor made of a ferromagnetic material with a Curie temperature and placed in the reaction zone, where the Curie temperature substantially corresponds to a temperature at which the growth of desired nanostructures occurs and the heating device is capable of heating the susceptor substantially at the Curie temperature.

1 . An apparatus for synthesizing nanostructures, comprising:
 a. a heating device defines a reaction zone therein; and   b. a susceptor made of a ferromagnetic material having a characteristic temperature and placed in the reaction zone,   wherein the heating device is capable of heating the susceptor substantially at the characteristic temperature.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristic temperature corresponds to a temperature at which the growth of desired nanostructures occurs. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the characteristic temperature is substantially equal to a Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic material. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating device comprises an inductively heating device. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the inductively heating device comprises an inductor coil. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the inductor coil is electrically coupled to an alternating current (AC) power supply. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the inductor coil is configured such that, in operation, it allows an alternating current to pass through to generate an electromagnetic field with a radio frequency (RF) in the reaction zone to heat the susceptor substantially at the characteristic temperature. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the susceptor comprises a foil or plate of the ferromagnetic material, and wherein the foil or plate has a surface for nanostructures to grow on the surface. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the foil or plate of the ferromagnetic material is coated with a non-magnetic conductive material. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the non-magnetic conductive material comprises gold or chromium. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the susceptor is mounted on an ultra-low heat conductivity/capacity insulator. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the ultra-low heat conductivity/capacity insulator is made of silicate. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the susceptor comprises a bed of powders made from the ferromagnetic material. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each of the powders is coated with a catalyst and support materials. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a chamber having a first end, an opposite, second end, and a body portion defined therebetween. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the heating device is formed on the exterior surface of the body portion of the chamber such that the reaction zone is defined inside the chamber. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for synthesizing nanostructures, comprising a susceptor made of a ferromagnetic material having a characteristic temperature. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a heating device for heating the susceptor substantially at the characteristic temperature. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the characteristic temperature corresponds to a temperature at which the growth of desired nanostructures occurs. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the characteristic temperature is substantially equal to a Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic material. 
   
   
       21 - 39 . (canceled)