Abstract: Laser pyrolysis can be used to produce directly metal vanadium oxide composite nanoparticles. To perform the pyrolysis a reactant stream is formed including a vanadium precursor and a second metal precursor. The pyrolysis is driven by energy absorbed from a light beam. Metal vanadium oxide nanoparticles can be incorporated into a cathode of a lithium based battery to obtain increased energy densities. Implantable defibrillators can be constructed with lithium based batteries having increased energy densities.

Abstract: A collection of nanoscale particles are a composite of carbon and metal oxide or silicon oxide. The composite particles have an average diameter from about 5 nm to about 1000 nm, and can be produced by laser pyrolysis. The laser pyrolysis involves the formation of a molecular stream including a metal precursor, an infrared absorber, an oxidizing agent and a carbon precursor. The pyrolysis is driven by heat absorbed from a laser beam. Furthermore, nanoparticles including titanium oxide with a rutile crystal structure have been produced.

Abstract: Improvements to chemical reaction systems provide for the production of commercial quantities of chemical products, such as chemical powders. The improved chemical reaction systems can accommodate a large reactant flux for the production of significant amounts of product. Preferred reaction systems are based on laser pyrolysis. Features of the system provide for the production of highly uniform product particles.

Abstract: Laser pyrolysis can be used to produce directly metal vanadium oxide composite nanoparticles. To perform the pyrolysis a reactant stream is formed including a vanadium precursor and a second metal precursor. The pyrolysis is driven by energy absorbed from a light beam. Metal vanadium oxide nanoparticles can be incorporated into a cathode of a lithium based battery to obtain increased energy densities. Implantable defibrillators can be constructed with lithium based batteries having increased energy densities.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery apparatus is used to deliver an aerosol into a reaction chamber for chemical reaction to produce reaction products such as nanoparticles. A variety of improved aerosol delivery approaches provide for the production of more uniform reaction products. In preferred embodiments, a reaction chamber is used that has a cross section perpendicular to the flow of reactant having a dimension along a major axis greater than a dimension along a minor axis. The aerosol preferably is elongated along the major axis of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Metal vanadium oxide particles have been produced with an average diameter less than about 500 nm. The particles are produced from nanocrystalline vanadium oxide particles. Silver vanadium oxide particles, for example, can be formed by the heat treatment of a mixture of nanoscale vanadium oxide and a silver compound. Other metal vanadium oxide particles can be produced by similar processes. The metal vanadium oxide particles have very uniform properties.

Abstract: Tin oxide nanoparticles were produced with tin in a variety of oxidation states. In particular, nanoparticles of single phase, crystalline SnO2 were produced. Preferred tin oxide nanoparticles have an average diameter from about 5 nm to about 100 nm with an extremely narrow distribution of particle diameters. The tin oxide nanoparticles can be produced in significant quantities using a laser pyrolysis apparatus. Nanoparticles produced by laser pyrolysis can be subjected to further processing to change the properties of the particles without destroying the nanoscale size of the particles. The nanoscale tin oxide particles are useful for the production of transparent electrodes for use in flat panel displays.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery apparatus is used to deliver an aerosol into a reaction chamber for chemical reaction to produce reaction products such as nanoparticles. A variety of improved aerosol delivery approaches provide for the production of more uniform reaction products. In preferred embodiments, a reaction chamber is used that has a cross section perpendicular to the flow of reactant having a dimension along a major axis greater than a dimension along a minor axis. The aerosol preferably is elongated along the major axis of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Lithium manganese oxide particles have been produced with an average diameter less than about 250 nm. The particles have a high degree of uniformity. The particles are formed by the heat treatment of nanoparticles of manganese oxide. The lithium manganese oxide particles are useful as active materials in the positive electrodes of lithium based batteries. Improved batteries result from the use of the uniform nanoscale lithium manganese oxide particles.

Abstract: Batteries based on nanoparticles are demonstrated to achieve high energy densities. Vanadium oxide nanoparticles can have several different stoichiometries and corresponding crystal lattices. The nanoparticles preferably have average diameters less than about 150 nm. Cathodes produced using the vanadium oxide nanoparticles and a binder can be used to construct lithium batteries or lithium ion batteries. The nanoparticles may have energy densities greater than about 900 Wh/kg.

Abstract: Vanadium oxide nanoparticles were produced with vanadium in a variety of oxidation states and with different crystalline lattice structures. These particles preferably have an average diameter of 150 nm or less with a narrow distribution of diameters. The particles manifest unique properties that result from the small particle size and correspondingly large surface area. A variety of the vanadium oxide nanoparticles can be produced by a versatile laser pyrolysis arrangement. These nanoparticles can be further processed to change the properties of the particles without destroying the nanoscale size of the particles.

Abstract: The stoichiometry and/or crystal structure of vanadium oxide particles are altered by heating initial particles of vanadium oxide under mild conditions. The temperature is generally at least about 300.degree. C. less than the melting point of both the initial vanadium oxide particle and the product vanadium oxide particles. Preferred initial particles are vanadium oxide nanoparticles. The heating can be performed under an oxidizing atmosphere or an inert atmosphere, depending on the particular initial particles and the desired product particles.

Abstract: Batteries based on nanoparticles are demonstrated that achieve high energy densities. Vanadium oxide nanoparticles can have several different stoichiometries and corresponding crystal lattices. The nanoparticles preferably have average diameters less than about 500 nm and more preferably less than about 150 nm. Cathodes produced using the vanadium oxide nanoparticles and a binder can be used to construct lithium batteries or lithium ion batteries. The nanoparticles may have energy densities greater than about 900 Wh/kg.