By adding combinations of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms to stubborn, hard-to-evaporate metals like tungsten and platinum, researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities were able to convert the elements into thin layers more cheaply and safely. Photo credit: Bharat Jalan MBE Lab, University of Minnesota
Researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities College of Science and Engineering have invented cheaper, safer, and simpler technology that enables a “tough” group of metals and metal oxides to be processed into thin films that are used in many electronic components, computer components, and others applications are used.
The research is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The researchers worked with the University of Minnesota’s Technology Commercialization Office to patent the technology and have already generated interest in the industry.
Many metals and their compounds have to be processed into thin layers before they can be used in technological products such as electronics, displays, fuel cells or catalytic applications. “Stubborn” metals – which include elements such as platinum, iridium, ruthenium and tungsten – are very difficult to convert into thin layers because they require extremely high temperatures (usually over 2,000 degrees Celsius) to evaporate.
Typically, scientists synthesize these metal films using techniques such as sputtering and electron beam evaporation. The latter consists of the melting and evaporation of metals at high temperatures and the formation of a film on wafers. However, this conventional method is very expensive, consumes a lot of energy and can also be unsafe due to the high voltage used.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have now developed a way to vaporize these metals at significantly lower temperatures, less than 200 degrees Celsius instead of several thousand. By designing and adding organic ligands – combinations of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms – to the metals, the researchers were able to significantly increase the vapor pressure of the materials so that they can be more easily vaporized at lower temperatures. Not only is their new technique simpler, but it also makes higher quality materials that are easily scalable.
“The ability to create new materials with ease and control is essential to transitioning into a new era in the power industry,” said Bharat Jalan, study lead author, materials synthesis expert, and associate professor and shell chair at the University of Minnesota. Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (CEMS). “There is already a historical link between innovation in synthetic science and the development of new technologies. Millions of dollars are poured into making materials for various uses. Now we’ve developed a simpler, cheaper technology that makes better materials with atomic precision. “
Countless products are made from these metals, from semiconductors for computer applications to display technology. For example, platinum is also a great catalyst for energy conversion and storage and is being tested for use in spintronics devices.
“Reducing the cost and complexity of metal deposition while enabling the deposition of more complex materials such as oxides will play an important role in both industry and research,” said William Nunn, a graduate in chemical engineering and materials science from the university of Minnesota, first author of the paper and a recipient of the department’s Robert V. Mattern Fellowship. “Now that these metals like platinum are becoming easier to deposit, we hope that there will be renewed interest in the more complex materials that these stubborn metals contain.”
Electron beam melting brings brittle metal into shape
More information:
William Nunn et al., Novel Synthetic Approach to “Persistent” Metals and Metal Oxides, PNAS (2021). DOI: 10.1073 / pnas.2105713118 Provided by the University of Minnesota
citation: New technology enables more efficient production of important metals (2021, August 6), accessed on August 7, 2021 at https://phys.org/news/2021-08-technology-important-metals-efficiently.html
This document is subject to copyright. Except for fair trade for private study or research purposes, no part may be reproduced without written permission. The content is provided for informational purposes only.
