Our Products
The simplicity of equipment and the use of low cost precursors make the U of U process relatively inexpensive.
Uniform Product in the 4–8 nm range
This process produces very fine crystallite sizes (4–8nm), as demonstrated by the broad X-ray diffraction peaks (Fig. 1A). In comparison, the X-ray peaks for a competitor’s samples are sharper indicating much larger crystallite sizes (Fig. 1B).
- Fig. 1A X-ray diffraction pattern of yttria stabilized zirconia powder made by the University of Utah technology
- Fig. 1B X-ray diffraction pattern of yttria stabilized zirconia powder made by a competitor
Powders can be supplied dry or as liquid suspensions. The University of Utah process is also capable of producing nano-structured surface layers which have applications in state of the art sensors and catalytic membranes.
Product Characteristics
The product consists of extremely fine, individual (Fig. 3A) or loosely agglomerated crystallites in the 4–8nm (Fig. 3B) range. The uniformity (narrow size distribution) of size is also evident in Fig. 3B. The fine particle size imparts transparency in applications such as UV blocking coatings. As a consequence of the fine particle size the nano-powders also have a high surface area per unit mass. This feature coupled with the uniformity of size leads to very efficient surface coverage which is advantageous in applications such as coatings, paints and catalysts.
- Gamma-Fe2O3
- (click image to enlarge)
- Fig. 3A TEM micrograph of a crystallites of U of U gamma iron oxide powder about 5nm in diameter. The white marker is 10nm.
- Tin Dioxide
- (click image to enlarge)
- Fig. 3B TEM micrograph of crystallites of U of U tin dioxide powder about 5–7nm in size. The white marker is 10nm.
Typical powder characteristics
| 1. Surface Area (m2/gm) | 60–220 |
|---|---|
| 2. Crystallite size (nm)-From X-ray line broadening | 4–8 |
| 3. Average particle size (nm) –From BET | 3–15 |
| 4. Purity (%) | 98 to 99.99 |
Potential Applications
Table 2 demonstrates the uniformity and consistency of the University of Utah manufactured powders. The nano-particles have large surface area and consistent size that can enhance applications; such as, catalysts, membranes, fuel cells, sensors, coatings and optics.
| Nano Powder | Typical Potential Applications | Nano Surface Area (m2/g) | Average Crystallite Size by XRD (nm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yttria stabilized ZrO2 | Solid oxide fuel cells, thermal barrier coatings, dental fillings | 66 | 3 |
| Cerium oxide CeO2 | Catalyst support, fuel cells, chemical mechanical polishing | 70 | 2 |
| Lanthanum Doped CeO2 | Fuel cells, catalyst support | 73 | 2 |
| Samarium Doped CeO2 | Fuel cells, catalyst support | 70 | 2 |
| Barium Titanate BaTiO3 | Dielectrics, multilayer capacitors | 65 | 20 |
| Titanium Oxide TiO2 | Sunscreens, paints, membranes | 112 | 5 |
| Iron Oxide Fe2O3 | Magnetic memory, pigments | 60 | 4 |
| Tin dioxide SnO2 | Gas sensors, optical devices | 220 | 3 |