Licensable Technologies : Materials : Fuel Cells

Synthesis of Zeolites in Reverse microemulsions, HighAspect RatioCrystals, and Novel Materials.

Abstract
The present invention provides methods for synthesizing porous silicon materials based on microemulsions that allows for an early preorganization of the silicon. This can lead to a crystalline material that is porous and has a powder XRD pattern that does not match any known zeolite material. The invention also provides a method for using microemulsions to synthesize (at the nanoscale) crystals with aspect ratios up to 100. Aspect ratio of crystals are important for magnetic properties, optical materials to generate polarized light, and physical properties of composites. The invented methods open up a whole new area by making it possible to synthesize a much broader range of materials in microemulsions to control the morphology.

Application(s)
New porous silicon materials with controlled structure, and nanoporous materials having porosity on the order of molecular dimensions and above are highly desirable for a wide range of applications including:
� Absorbents
� Gas and liquid separations
� Catalysts
� Ion-exchange materials
� Biomimetic materials

IP Status: Available Exclusively

Reference Number: 189

S Number: DOE reference no.(s): 104,981; 97,735

Patents & Applications:
United States National Patent Number 7,361,327 Issued on 04/22/2008 United States National Patent Number 6949238 Issued on 09/27/2005

Posted: 09-17-2004

Contact
Laura Barber
Technology Transfer Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MailStop C334
(505) 667-9266
ljbb@lanl.gov