Media.Player

Rapid Solid-State Metathesis Routes to Nanostructured Silicon-Germanium

Technology Benefits

Rapid production of unfunctionalized nanostructured siliconDoes not result in the production of carbon-based capping ligandsProduction is readily scaled up

Technology Application

ThermoelectricsSolar CellsBatteriesBiological Imaging

Detailed Technology Description

Researchers at UCLA and JPL have identified a method for producing unfunctionalized nanostructured silicon and silicon-germanium through a solid state metathesis reaction that is very efficient and inexpensive. The method does not require any expensive equipment and instead relies on favorable thermodynamics to drive the formation of the nanostructured materials. Overcoming the previous limitations of the manufacturing methods could lead to cost-effective utilization of these materials device applications focusing on energy storage and energy conversion.

Application No.

8808658

Others

Background

Silicon has long been revered for its unique semiconductor properties, and is used heavily in advanced electronic device fabrication of all types. Nanostructured silicon is now being used for next generation devices that take advantage of the material's unique properties in new and exciting ways; however current manufacturing methods for producing nanostructured silicon have their limitations. These current methods, which include pyrolsis of silane, pulsed laser ablation, MOCVD, MBE, plasma etching, and electrochemistry, can involve complex equipment and toxic precursors and as such can be expensive and difficult to scale up.

Additional Technologies by these Inventors

• Rapid Bulk Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes and Graphite Encapsulated Metal Nanoparticles
• Enantioseparation of Amino Acids Using a Chiral Recognition Polymer
• Polyanaline Nanofibers as Hydrogen Sensors
• Polyaniline Nanofiber Composite Materials: New Chemical Sensors for Phosgene
• Nanostructured Polymer Electrodes
• Mechanochemical Synthesis of Mg2Si and Related Compounds and Alloys
• Polyanaline Nanofibers

Tech ID/UC Case

21581/2010-656-0

Related Cases

2010-656-0

*Abstract

In collaboration with UCLA Scientists from the Department of Chemistry and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Cal Tech, scientists have developed a rapid solid state metathesis route to produce nanostructured silicon and silicon-germanium composites that have applications in energy storage and energy conversion.

*Applications

• Thermoelectrics
• Solar Cells
• Batteries
• Biological Imaging

*IP Issue Date

Aug 19, 2014

*Principal Investigator

Name: Sabah Bux

Department:

Name: Jean-Pierre Fleurial

Department:

Name: Richard Kaner

Department:

Name: Marc Rodriguez

Department:

Country/Region

USA