Title: Hydrothermal synthesis of nanocubes of sillenite type compounds for photovoltaic applications and solar energy conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels

Abstract

The present invention relates to formation of nanocubes of sillenite type compounds, such as bismuth titanate, i.e., Bi.sub.12TiO.sub.20, nanocubes, via a hydrothermal synthesis process, with the resulting compound(s) having multifunctional properties such as being useful in solar energy conversion, environmental remediation, and/or energy storage, for example. In one embodiment, a hydrothermal method is disclosed that transforms nanoparticles of TiO.sub.2 to bismuth titanate, i.e., Bi.sub.12TiO.sub.20, nanocubes, optionally loaded with palladium nanoparticles. The method includes reacting titanium dioxide nanotubes with a bismuth salt in an acidic bath at a temperature sufficient and for a time sufficient to form bismuth titanate crystals, which are subsequently annealed to form bismuth titanate nanocubes. After annealing, the bismuth titanate nanocubes may be optionally loaded with nano-sized metal particles, e.g., nanosized palladium particles.

Inventors:

Subramanian, Vaidyanathan; Murugesan, Sankaran

Issue Date:

2014-04-29

Research Org.:

Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1130072

Patent Number(s):

8709304

Application Number:

12/967,922

Assignee:

Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, on behalf of the University of Nevada (Reno, NV)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B82 - NANOTECHNOLOGY B82Y - SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES

C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01G - COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B82 - NANOTECHNOLOGY B82Y - SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES

B82Y30/00 - Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites

C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01G - COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F

C01G29/00 - Compounds of bismuth

C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01P - INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS

C01P2002/76 - by a space-group or by other symmetry indications
C01P2004/03 - obtained by SEM
C01P2004/38 - cube-like
C01P2004/64 - Nanometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 nanometer

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DOE Contract Number:  

EE0000272

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2010 Dec 14

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

14 SOLAR ENERGY