Solvated metal particle-coating system and method

Abstract

The solvated metal particle-coating system includes a metal additive and a polar outer-sphere electron transferring solvent. The metal additive is solvated in the polar outer-sphere electron transferring solvent. The polar outer-sphere electron transferring solvent may include liquid ammonia, methylamine, and/or hexamethylphosphoramide. The metal additive may include an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal. The solvated metal additive within the polar outer-sphere electron transferring solvent may be used to coat a metal particle and/or a metalloid particle as a layer. As the polar outer-sphere electron transferring solvent evaporates, the solvated metal additive is coupled to the metal particle and/or the metalloid particle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reactive particle system comprising:
 a metal additive solvated in a solvent, wherein the solvent and the metal additive form a reactive solution via an electrochemical process; and   at least one of a metal particle and a metalloid particle coated with the solvated metal additive.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent includes a polar outer-sphere electron transferring solvent. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the polar outer-sphere electron transferring solvent includes at least one of liquid ammonia, methylamine, and hexamethylphosphoramide. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the metal additive includes at least one element selected from Groups 1 to 4 of the periodic table. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the metal additive includes lithium. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the metal additive includes at least one of aluminum, zirconium, titanium, yttrium, hafnium, and magnesium. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the metal particle and the metalloid particle include boron. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the metal particle and the metalloid particle include an aluminum-lithium alloy. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is formed by evaporation of the solvent from the solvated metal additive. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coating includes a crystalline layer of the metal additive. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is applied via a wet particle coating process. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the wet particle coating process includes spraying the solvated metal additive onto the at least one of the metal particle and the metalloid particle. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the wet particle coating process includes tumble coating the solvated metal additive onto the at least one of the metal particle and the metalloid particle. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive solution includes solvated electrons formed during the electrochemical process. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the solvated electrons are stabilized by coordination with solvent molecules. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coating provides temporary passivation against oxidation prior to combustion. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is configured to ignite upon exposure to a combustion stimulus. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical process includes electrolysis. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical process includes radiation chemistry. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical process includes dissolution.