Abstract: Nanostructured non-stoichiometric materials and methods of reducing manufacturing and raw material costs through the use of nanostructured materials are provided. Specifically, use of non-stoichiometric materials of oxide, nitride, carbide, chalcogenides, borides, alloys and other compositions are taught.

Abstract: A nanocomposite structure comprising a nanostructured filler or carrier intimately mixed with a matrix, and methods of making such a structure. The nanostructured filler has a domain size sufficiently small to alter an electrical, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, chemical, thermal, biomedical, or tribological property of either filler or composite by at least 20%.

Abstract: Nanoscale non-stoichiometric materials with unusual properties are disclosed. These materials offer a wide range of novel formulations for applications in catalysis, chemicals and fuels, electronics, electromagnetics, photonics, optics, sensors, electrochemical products, structural products, biomedical engineering, acoustics, composites, and other applications. Illustrative methods and processes are disclosed to highlight catalytic properties and electrical properties and to process these materials from powder or porous forms into dense forms and shapes. The invention includes a non-stoichiometric composition of a material, preferably in nanostructured form, for various applications including, but not limited to, methods to reduce the sintering temperature, the sintering time, or both.

Abstract: This invention describes a method of rapidly monitoring the temperature of a medium and a method of preparing a quantum confined device that can enable such measurements. The monitoring principle uses changes in impedance of nanostructured devices, i.e. devices in which one or more materials have the domain size precision engineered to less than 500 nanometers, preferably to dimensions less than the domain sizes where quantum confinement effects become significant and modify the electrical or thermal properties of the materials. The invention can be used to monitor absolute values of and changes in temperature of gases, inorganic and organic liquids, solids, suspensions, and mixtures of one or more of the said phases. The invention can be used to monitor radiation, power, heat and mass flow, charge and momentum flow, and phase transformation.

Abstract: Illustrations are provided on applications and usage of electrically activated catalysts. Methods are disclosed for preparing catalysts from nanomaterials. Processes and devices are described that utilize catalysts. The invention can also be applied to improve the performance of existing catalysts, to enhance the performance of substances by inducing or applying charge in nanostructured forms of substances, and to prepare novel devices. Example processes for hydrogen production are discussed. Finally, the invention can be utilized to engineer the thermal, structural, electrical, magnetic, electrochemical, optical, photonic, and other properties of nanoscale substances.

Abstract: A nanocomposite structure comprising a nanostructured filler or carrier intimately mixed with a matrix, and methods of making such a structure. The nanostructured filler has a domain size sufficiently small to alter an electrical, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, chemical, thermal, biomedical, or tribological property of either filler or composite by at least 20%.

Abstract: Methods and devices for transforming less desirable chemical species into more desirable or useful chemical forms are disclosed. The specifications can be used to treat pollutants into more benign compositions and to produce useful chemicals from raw materials and wastes. The methods and devices disclosed utilize electrical current induced by electromagnetic field and high surface area formulations. The invention can also be applied to improve the performance of existing catalysts and to prepare novel devices.

Abstract: Methods of monitoring environmental variables in general and chemical composition in particular, and sensors for such monitoring. These low-cost sensors comprised multiple layers in a laminated stack. Very high numbers of sensing layers (e.g., 500) may be incorporated into a single laminated sensor device. The sensors may signal changes in environmental state such as chemical composition due to changes in sensor properties such as resistivity, capacitance, inductance, permittivity, permeability, refractive index, chromaticity, transparency to light, reflection characteristics, resonance frequency, and/or magnetic characteristics.

Abstract: A process for producing nanoscale powders, and the powders so produced. The process comprises mixing an emulsion comprising all of the elements of the desired powder composition and a combustible fuel, and then combusting that emulsion to produce a powder. Powders with a median particle size of less than 50 nm have been made by this process. The process is suitable for the production of many types of powders, including particles and nanowhiskers of simple, doped, and polymetallic powders.

Abstract: Nanosize powders with particle size smaller than the critical length for specific material properties are used to form the ceramic layers of passive electronic components. Ceramic substrates are coated with electrodes, which are then coated with a ceramic layer from a suspension, preferably a low viscosity suspension, of nanoscale powders. The ceramic layer is dried at low temperatures (preferably below 200 .degree. C.) and it is sintered to high density (preferably above 90%) at moderate temperatures (preferably low and less than 1,000 .degree. C.). Once sintered, an electrode layer is coated on top of the ceramic layer to yield an electrode/ceramic/electrode structure.

Abstract: Ion conducting solid electrolytes are constructed from nanoscale precursor material. Nanocrystalline powders are pressed into disc structures and sintered to the appropriate degree of densification. Metallic material is mixed with 0 to 65 vol % nanostructured electrolyte powders to form a cermet mix and then coated on each side of the disc and fitted with electrical leads. The electrical conductivity of a Ag/YSZ/Ag cell so assembled exhibited about an order of magnitude enhancement in oxygen ion conductivity. As an oxygen-sensing element in a standard O.sub.2 /Ag/YSZ/Ag/N.sub.2 set up, the nanocrystalline YSZ element exhibited commercially significant oxygen ion conductivity at low temperatures. The invention can be utilized to prepare nanostructured ion conducting solid electrolytes for a wide range of applications, including sensors, oxygen pumps, fuel cells, batteries, electrosynthesis reactors and catalytic membranes.

Abstract: A continuous process that produces nanoscale powders from different types of precursor material by evaporating the material and quenching the vaporized phase in a converging-diverging expansion nozzle. The precursor material suspended in a carrier gas is continuously vaporized in a thermal reaction chamber under conditions that favor nucleation of the resulting vapor. Immediately after the initial nucleation stages, the vapor stream is rapidly and uniformly quenched at rates of at least 1,000 K/sec, preferably above 1,000,000 K/sec, to block the continued growth of the nucleated particles and produce a nanosize powder suspension of narrow particle-size distribution. The nanopowder is then harvested by filtration from the quenched vapor stream and the carrier medium is purified, compressed and recycled for mixing with new precursor material in the feed stream.

Abstract: A thermal reactor system that produces nanoscale powders by ultra-rapid thermal quench processing of high-temperature vapors through a boundary-layer converging-diverging nozzle. A gas suspension of precursor material is continuously fed to a thermal reaction chamber and vaporized under conditions that minimize superheating and favor nucleation of the resulting vapor. According to one aspect of the invention, the high temperature vapor is quenched using the principle of Joule-Thompson adiabatic expansion. Immediately after the initial nucleation stages, the vapor stream is passed through the nozzle and rapidly quenched through expansion at rates of at least 1,000.degree. C. per second, preferably greater than 1,000,000.degree. C. per second, to block the continued growth of the nucleated particles and produce a nanosize powder suspension of narrow particle-size distribution.