Multi-metal particle generator and method

Abstract

Multi-metal particles, apparatuses and method of making same are provided. Specifically, the multi-metal particles are of nanometer dimensions and are prepared by spatially arranged electrodes configured to generate and maintain a plasma cloud.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus comprising:
 a controller;   a first electrode;   a second electrode, the second electrode arranged spaced apart from said first electrode defining between the first electrode and the second electrode a plasma cloud zone sized to generate a plasma cloud;   an electrical power supply coupled to the controller and arranged for applying one or more high voltage pulses to the first and second electrodes;   a current detector coupled to the controller and at least one of the first or the second electrodes, the current detector configured and arranged to provide a first signal corresponding to the plasma cloud zone; and   a linear actuator coupled to controller and at least one of the first and the second electrodes, the linear actuator configured and arranged to advance one or more of the first or second electrode corresponding to the first signal; and   a flow controller coupled to: a channel surrounding the first electrode or the second electrode; or the interior of the first electrode or the second electrode.   
     
     
         35 . An apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the flow controller is configured to present particulate matter to the plasma cloud zone. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the second electrode is of a different elemental composition than the first electrode. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the second electrode is of a different corrosion rate at a given applied current than the first electrode. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein first electrode is of a higher melt temperature than that of the second electrode at a given applied current capable of melting and vaporizing the second electrode. 
     
     
         39 . An apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the first and the second electrodes are rotatable. 
     
     
         40 . An apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the first and the second electrodes are elongated tube or wire, the apparatus further comprising additional elongated electrodes arranged spaced apart from the first electrode and the second electrode, the additional elongated electrodes further defining the plasma cloud zone, one or more of the additional elongated electrodes being of the same or different elemental composition as the first electrode or the second electrode, the longitudinal axis of both the first and second electrodes and the longitudinal axes of each of the additional elongated electrodes intersecting within the plasma cloud zone defined thereby. 
     
     
         41 . An apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the one or more of the additional electrodes is of a higher melt temperature at an applied current capable of melting or vaporizing at least one other additional electrodes or one of the first or the second electrodes. 
     
     
         42 . An apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising one or more sensors, the one or more sensors operably connected to the controller such that in use, the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode or the plasma cloud is automatically adjusted according to the output of the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         43 . A method of producing multi-metal particles, the method comprising
 supporting a first pair of elongated electrodes coaxially arranged with corresponding ends thereof spaced apart, the pair of elongated electrodes defining a plasma cloud zone, wherein combination of the first pair of elongated electrodes comprise at least two metals;   applying a potential difference to the first electrode pair so that a plasma cloud is formed and at least substantially maintained in the plasma cloud zone between the first pair of elongated electrode ends; and   consuming at least a portion of one or more of the at least one pair of electrodes;   flowing material through a channel surrounding at least one of the electrodes of the first pair of elongated electrodes or through the interior of at least one of the electrodes of the first pair of elongated electrodes and towards the plasma cloud zone.   
     
     
         44 . A method of  claim 43 , wherein one of the pair of elongated electrodes is of a higher melt temperature at an applied current capable of melting or vaporizing the corresponding other elongated electrode. 
     
     
         45 . A method of  claim 43 , wherein the first pair of elongated electrodes comprise a transition metal anode or a noble metal anode, and a transition metal cathode or a noble metal cathode. 
     
     
         46 . A method of  claim 45 , wherein the anode and cathode is comprised of a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, silver, zinc, copper, nickel, gold, and alloys thereof. 
     
     
         47 . A method of  claim 43 , wherein the first pair of elongated electrodes comprise a transition metal anode, and a noble metal cathode; or wherein the first pair of elongated electrodes comprise a transition metal cathode, and a noble metal anode. 
     
     
         48 . A method of  claim 43 , further comprising additional elongated electrodes arranged spaced apart from the first pair of elongated electrodes and the additional elongated electrodes further defining the plasma cloud zone, one or more of the additional elongated electrodes being of the same or different elemental composition as the first electrode or the second electrode, the longitudinal axes of the first pair of elongated electrodes and the longitudinal axes of each of the additional elongated electrodes intersecting within the plasma cloud zone defined thereby. 
     
     
         49 . A method of  claim 48 , wherein at least one of the one or more of the additional electrodes is of a higher melt temperature at an applied current capable of melting or vaporizing at least one other additional electrodes or one of the first pair of elongated electrodes. 
     
     
         50 . A method of  claim 43 , further comprising introducing particulate matter into the plasma cloud. 
     
     
         51 . A method of  claim 50 , wherein the particulate matter is an inorganic oxide, an inorganic carbide, an inorganic nitride, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         52 . A multi-metal particle formed by the method of  claim 43 , having an average particle size between 1 and 1000 nanometers. 
     
     
         53 . Particulate matter coated or combined with a multi-metal particle formed by the method of  claim 50 . 
     
     
         54 . A system for producing multi-metal particles or solutions thereof, the system comprising:
 a housing configured to retain a fluid medium;   a power supply source capable of controlling electric current, voltage, or current and voltage;   a metal or metal alloy cathode operably connected to the power supply source;   a metal or metal alloy anode operably connected to the power supply source and spaced apart from the metal or metal alloy cathode such that a plasma cloud zone is defined between the metal or metal alloy anode and the metal or metal alloy cathode, wherein at least two metals constitute the combination of cathode and anode;   a control unit arranged and configured for moving at least one of the metal or metal alloy anode or the metal or metal alloy cathode to maintain the plasma cloud zone; and   a flow controller coupled to: a channel surrounding the metal or metal alloy electrode; or the interior of the metal or metal alloy electrode.   
     
     
         55 . A system of  claim 54 , wherein the metal or metal alloy anode is of a higher melt temperature at an applied current capable of melting or vaporizing the metal or metal alloy cathode. 
     
     
         56 . A method of  claim 54 , wherein the metal or metal alloy anode comprises a transition metal, and the metal or metal alloy cathode comprises a noble metal. 
     
     
         57 . A system of  claim 54 , wherein the metal or metal alloy anode and the metal or metal alloy cathode is comprised of a metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten, platinum, palladium, silver, zinc, copper, nickel, gold, and alloys thereof. 
     
     
         58 . A system of  claim 54 , further comprising additional electrodes arranged spaced apart from the metal or metal alloy cathode and the anode electrode, and the additional elongated electrodes further defining the plasma cloud zone, one or more of the additional electrodes being of the same or different elemental composition as the metal or metal alloy cathode and anode. 
     
     
         59 . A system of  claim 58 , wherein the metal or metal alloy anode is of a higher melt temperature at an applied current capable of melting or vaporizing at least one of the additional electrodes. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 54 , the flow controller is configured to flow particulate matter, organometallics, or radionuclides into the plasma cloud zone. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the system further comprises a linear actuator coupled to the metal or metal alloy cathode electrode, wherein the linear actuator is configured to move the metal or metal alloy cathode. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the metal or metal alloy cathode is rotatable. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising conduits coupling the flow controller and the metal or metal alloy anode electrode. 
     
     
         64 . A method of  claim 43 , further comprising introducing a metal precursor into the plasma cloud, wherein the metal precursor is an organometallic compound, a radionuclide, or an organometallic compound and a radionuclide. 
     
     
         65 . Particulate matter coated or combined with a multi-metal particle formed by the method of  claim 64 .