Microwave and laser assisted production refractory metal oxides

Abstract

Described herein are method for converting a transition metal ore to the corresponding transition metal oxide. The method may comprise applying microwave or laser power to the transition metal ore. The transition metal ore may be a transition metal dichalcogenides and may comprise Mn, Mo, Cr, Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Tc, Ta, Hf, W, or Re.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a transition metal ore; and   generating a crystalline transition metal oxide corresponding to the transition metal ore by applying a microwave power or a laser power to the transition metal ore.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises applying the microwave power. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises applying the laser power. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microwave power is provided at a power from 500 to 1200 W. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microwave power is provided at a power from 700 to 900 W. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the laser power is provided at a power from 1 to 100 W. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the laser power is blue light with a wavelength from 380 to 500 nm. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transition metal ore has a formula of MX 2 , wherein M is a transition metal atom and X is a chalcogen atom. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein M is Mn, Mo, Cr, Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Tc, Ta, Hf, W, or Re. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein X is S, Se, or Te. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the transition metal ore is MoSe 2 , MoS 2 , WSe 2 , WS 2 , MoTe 2 , or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transition metal ore is MoS 2 . 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the crystalline transition metal oxide is primarily alpha-MoO 3 . 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the crystalline transition metal oxide comprises layered crystals. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the layered crystals have a size of at least 1 micron in length. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the crystalline transition metal oxide comprises microbelts. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the microbelts have a size of at least 500 micron in length. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the crystalline transition metal oxide has less than 5 ppm impurities. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 receiving MoS 2 ; and   generating crystalline MoO 3  by applying a microwave power or a laser power to the MoS 2 ;   wherein the MoO 3  is primarily alpha-MoO 3 .   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least 80% of the MoO 3  is alpha-MoO 3 .