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Title: Method of synthesizing silica nanofibers using sound waves

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1375230

A method for synthesizing silica nanofibers using sound waves is provided. The method includes providing a solution of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, adding sodium citrate and ammonium hydroxide to form a first mixture, adding a silica-based compound to the solution to form a second mixture, and sonicating the second mixture to synthesize a plurality of silica nanofibers having an average cross-sectional diameter of less than 70 nm and having a length on the order of at least several hundred microns. The method can be performed without heating or electrospinning, and instead includes less energy intensive strategies that can be scaled up to an industrial scale. The resulting nanofibers can achieve a decreased mean diameter over conventional fibers. The decreased diameter generally increases the tensile strength of the silica nanofibers, as defects and contaminations decrease with the decreasing diameter.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
Assignee:
UT-Battelle, LLC
Patent Number(s):
9,732,444
Application Number:
14/819,749
OSTI ID:
1375230
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2015 Aug 06
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (4)

Ultrasonic dispersion apparatus for silica sol patent August 2002
Silica nanofibers and method for preparing them patent February 2004
Method of synthesizing silica nanofibers using sound waves patent September 2015
Method of Manufacturing Silica Nanowires patent-application June 2011