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NEI Corporation receives new Patent Allowance

October 8, 2019

Somerset, NJ (USA) – NEI Corporation announced today that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has recently issued a notice of allowance to the company on a patent application for producing a new class of energetic, core-shell nanoparticles.

Core-shell nanoparticles with a metal core can be used in various applications, such as energetic, pyrotechnics, joining, medical imaging, liquid hydrocarbon fuels, munitions, and energy storage. However, the presence of an oxide layer on the surface of the core metal nanoparticles can significantly reduce the performance of the core-shell nanoparticles. Consequently, the negative impact of the oxide layer outweighs the benefits of high enthalpy nanoparticles. NEI’s patent is directed at synthesizing a new core-shell nanoparticle structure comprised of a metal core, a metal boride intermediate layer, and an outer metal or metal oxide shell. The key characteristic of this core-shell structure is that it allows the use of both pristine metal, as well as oxygen containing metal particles, whereby the oxide surface layer of the metal particles is transformed into metal boride.

Metal-metal boride-metal based core-shell particles and a method to produce the same

Abstract: A new class of energetic nanoparticles and a method to produce the same. The energetic nanoparticles are differentiated from other metallic energetic nanoparticles by their core-shell nanostructure, including an intermediate boride layer that provides oxidation protection and acts as an active mass. An intermetallic reaction occurs between aluminum and nickel. Aluminum based nanoparticles were used for the examples, but the principle is applicable to other materials as well.

Patent History

Patent number: 10421695
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 20, 2015
Date of Patent: Sep 24, 2019
Assignee: NEI Corporation (Somerset, NJ)
Inventors: Mohit Jain (East Brunswick, NJ), Biju Mathew (Monroe, NJ)
Primary Examiner: Robert S Cabral
Application Number: 14/803,673

View / Download Full Patent (pdf) ⇓

About NEI Corporation

Founded in 1997, NEI Corporation is an application driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate advanced materials to create significant performance improvements in manufactured goods. NEI’s products include advanced protective coatings, high performance battery electrode materials, and specialty nanoscale materials for diverse applications. NEI’s state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facility includes high temperature furnaces with controlled atmospheres, mixing, blending and drying equipment, coaters, particle characterization instruments, corrosion testing equipment, polymer films & coatings characterization, and a Li-ion battery testing laboratory. Learn more »

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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Case Studies in Designing New Nanoscale Materials

Core-Shell Particles

Core-shell

Example of core-shell nanoparticles produced at NEI Corporation

Core-Shell nanoparticles are composite particles where a core material is coated with a material of a different composition (shell), imparting unique functionalities that are otherwise unattainable for the individual materials. Such nanostructured particles have diverse applications. NEI Corporation has recently developed a patent pending, scalable process to produce core-shell nanoparticles. The process can be used to manufacture metallic and ceramic core-shell nanoparticles, such as metal / metal oxide and metal / metal boride core-shell nanoparticles. The versatility of the process allows core-shell nanoparticles to be synthesized in a wide range of compositions.

Applications:

  • Biomedical – in-vitro and deep tissue imaging
  • Solid propellants – launch vehicles, satellites, and missiles
  • Energetic materials – airbags, drug injection, and micro-valves
  • LEDs, lasers, and phosphors
  • Catalysis

 

Sulfide Nanomaterials

Lithium Tin Phosphorus Sulfide (LSPS) »

Lithium Tin Phosphorus Sulfide (LSPS) is a “superionic” solid that conducts lithium ions at room temperature. The patent pending solid electrolyte is designed to eliminate flammability issues associated with currently used liquid electrolytes, while providing high ion conductivity. At room temperature, the electrolyte has high lithium-ion conductivity (~10-3 S/cm) and can potentially be used in lithium-ion and lithium-sulfur rechargeable batteries. The processing methodology, which has been scaled to the kilogram level, can be adapted to other multi-element sulfide compositions.

Processes to produce tin (IV) sulfide (SnS2) nanoparticles (~100 nm), and micro-nano hybrid zinc sulfide (ZnS) particles, have also been developed at NEI.

Oxide Nanomaterials

Magnesium Oxide (MgO)

Magnesium oxide is commonly used as a grain growth inhibitor, desiccant, cement additive and an industrial cable insulator. Additional applications include visible and IR transparent windows, deacidification of at-risk paper items, protective coatings in plasma displays, and medicinal applications. We produce high surface area (specific surface area 10-15 m2/g, primary particle size ~150 nm) magnesium oxide nanoparticles.

We also produce and supply nanoparticles of yttrium oxide (cubic Y2O3), yttrium aluminum oxide (garnet, Y3Al3O12), and magnesium aluminum oxide (spinel MgAl2O4).

High Surface Area Hollow Silica Fibers

HSF_Fig1 HSF_Fig2

NANOMYTE® SuperSurf-C and SuperSurf-W are exceptionally high surface area, fibrous silica-based materials. Their nominal specific surface area (BET) is > 1000 m2/g. These materials are supplied in two forms: woven cloth (SuperSurf-C) and wool (SuperSurf-W). The fibers of these materials are hollow, which allows them to be infiltrated with other materials to achieve a desired functionality. The exceptionally high surface area of the fibers is due to the presence of nanoscale roughness and pores.

Applications:

  • Base for filters to remove hazardous materials from water & air
  • Antimicrobial textiles
  • Thermal insulators
  • Desiccants and sorbents

 

Download White Paper (pdf) »

 

About NEI Corporation

Founded in 1997, NEI Corporation develops, manufactures, and sells nanoscale materials for a broad range of industrial customers around the world. NEI’s products incorporate proprietary nanotechnology and advanced materials science to create significant performance improvements in manufactured goods. NEI’s products include advanced protective coatings, high performance battery electrode materials, and specialty nanoscale materials for diverse applications. NEI has created a strong foundation in the emerging field of nanotechnology that has enabled the company to become a world leader in selected markets.

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