Nanoparticles and systems and methods for synthesizing nanoparticles through thermal shock

Abstract

Systems and methods of synthesizing nanoparticles on substrates using rapid, high temperature thermal shock. A method involves depositing micro-sized particles or salt precursors on a substrate, and applying a rapid, high temperature thermal pulse or shock to the micro-sized particles or the salt precursors and the substrate to cause the micro-sized particles or the salt precursors to become nanoparticles on the substrate. A system may include a rotatable member that receives a roll of a substrate sheet having micro-sized particles or salt precursors; a motor that rotates the rotatable member so as to unroll consecutive portions of the substrate sheet from the roll; and a thermal energy source that applies a short, high temperature thermal shock to consecutive portions of the substrate sheet that are unrolled from the roll by rotating the first rotatable member. Some systems and methods produce nanoparticles on existing substrate. The nanoparticles may be metallic, ceramic, inorganic, semiconductor, or compound nanoparticles. The substrate may be a carbon-based substrate, a conducting substrate, or a non-conducting substrate. The high temperature thermal shock process may be enabled by electrical Joule heating, microwave heating, thermal radiative heating, plasma heating, or laser heating.

1 - 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A method of forming nanoparticles on a substrate, the method comprising:
 depositing micro-sized particles or salt precursors on a substrate; and   applying a rapid, high temperature thermal shock to the substrate and the micro-sized particles or the salt precursors to cause the micro-sized particles or the salt precursors to become nanoparticles on the substrate,   wherein the micro-sized particles comprise aluminum, tin, gold, palladium, iron, nickel, silicon, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         4 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for synthesizing nanoparticles on a substrate, the system comprising:
 a rotatable member configured to receive a roll of a substrate sheet having deposited thereon micro-sized particles or salt precursors;   a motor configured to rotate the rotatable member so as to unroll consecutive portions of the substrate sheet from the roll; and   a thermal energy source configured to apply a short, high temperature thermal shock to consecutive portions of the substrate sheet that are unrolled from the roll by rotating the rotatable member to cause the micro-sized particles or the salt precursors to become nanoparticles on consecutive portions of the substrate sheet.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the thermal energy source is a thermal radiation source or a direct Joule heating source. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a rotatable member configured to receive a roll for receiving a nanocomposite sheet comprising nanoparticles on consecutive portions of the substrate sheet. 
     
     
         24 . A composite comprising:
 a substrate; and   a plurality of nanoparticles formed on the substrate from a micro-sized particle or salt precursors exposed to a rapid, high temperature thermal shock.   
     
     
         25 . The composite of  claim 24 , wherein the substrate is a reduced graphene oxide substrate for the micro-sized particles or a carbon nanofiber substrate for the salt precursors. 
     
     
         26 . The composite of  claim 24 , wherein the micro-sized particles comprise aluminum, tin, gold, palladium, iron, nickel, silicon, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The composite of  claim 24 , wherein the salt precursors comprise metal chloride, metal nitrate, metal acetate, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The composite of  claim 24 , wherein the nanoparticles are metallic, ceramic, inorganic, semiconductor, compounds, or any combination thereof.