Abstract: Guidelines for designing lenses or systems for aerodynamic focusing of nanoparticle or cluster beams. The design process may involve obtaining a relationship between particle size, operating pressure and aperture size, and selecting the operating pressure to provide continuum flow of an aerosol beam through the aerodynamic lens. Particles having diameters less than 30 nanometer may be focused. Simulation techniques for evaluating designed lenses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A particle beam deposition apparatus includes a particle source for generating a plurality of particles in suspended form, an expansion chamber, and a deposition chamber connected to the expansion chamber by an aerodynamic focusing stage, and containing a substrate. The aerodynamic focusing stage may be comprised of a plurality of aerodynamic focusing elements, or lenses. Particles, including nanoparticles, may be deposited on the substrate by generating an aerosol cloud of particles, accelerating the particles into the expansion chamber, creating a collimated beam out of the particles by passing them through the aerodynamic focusing lenses and into a deposition chamber, and impacting the particles into the substrate.

Abstract: A particle beam deposition apparatus includes a particle source for generating a plurality of particles in suspended form, an expansion chamber, and a deposition chamber connected to the expansion chamber by an aerodynamic focusing stage, and containing a substrate. The aerodynamic focusing stage may be comprised of a plurality of aerodynamic focusing elements, or lenses. Particles, including nanoparticles, may be deposited on the substrate by generating an aerosol cloud of particles, accelerating the particles into the expansion chamber, creating a collimated beam out of the particles by passing them through the aerodynamic focusing lenses and into a deposition chamber, and impacting the particles into the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the controlled synthesis and assembly of nanoparticles into nanostructured materials, including nanocomposites, includes a source of nanoparticles and a hypersonic impaction apparatus. The nanoparticles are impacted on a substrate through hypersonic impaction to thereby provide nanostructured materials as well as nanophase materials.

Abstract: A particle beam shaping apparatus preferably includes a prefocusing element and a primary focusing element disposed within a tube. An aerosol beam source having relatively heavy particles and relatively light gas is operably connected to the prefocusing element. The prefocusing element preferentially expands the aerosol beam such that the gas diverges laterally relatively rapidly while the particles diverge laterally relatively slowly. The tube laterally confines the rapidly expanding gas such that the primary focusing element converges the gas upon the particle beam to more narrow the particle beam. A detector may be located downstream of the primary focusing means to sense the particles impinging thereon. A skimmer is preferably interposed between the primary focusing element and the detection means to remove the gas while allowing the particles to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A particle removal system provides for the removal of submicron particles in gas streams, such as combustion flue gases or diesel exhausts. The gas stream is treated to permit very fine particles to coagulate through a short residence time in the conduits handling the gas stream, and thereafter is conditioned to establish saturation of the gas stream at a low temperature, such as by water injection. The saturated stream of gas containing the particles is then passed through a particle growth chamber or section where steam is injected into the gas to establish a supersaturation condition, causing the particles in the gas stream to grow in size by water condensing around the particles. The particles are grown to a size that is near one micron, and are removed through conventional particulate removal devices.