Nanostructured metallic powders and films via an alcoholic solvent process

Claim 1

A method of forming a nanocrystalline metallic powder, comprising the steps of: mixing a precursor of a refractory metal with an alcoholic solvent to form a reaction mixture, said precursor being selected from the group consisting of a metal salt, a hydrate of a metal salt, an acid including said refractory metal as part of an oxyanion, a salt of said acid, and mixtures thereof; refluxing said reaction mixture so that said alcoholic solvent reduces said precursor to said refractory metal, over a time selected to produce particles of said refractory metal having a mean diameter size of about 100 nm or less.

Claim 2

A method of forming a nanocrystalline metallic powder, comprising the steps of: mixing a precursor of a refractory metal with an alcoholic solvent to form a reaction mixture, said precursor being selected from the group consisting of a metal salt, a hydrate of a metal salt, an acid including said refractory metal as part of an oxyanion, a salt of said acid, and mixtures thereof; refluxing said reaction mixture so that said alcoholic solvent reduces said precursor to said refractory metal, over a time selected to produce particles of said refractory metal having a mean diameter size of about 100 nm or less.

Claim 11

A method of forming a nanocrystalline metallic film, comprising the steps of: mixing a precursor of a metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Sn, Ta, W, and mixtures thereof with an alcoholic solvent to form a reaction mixture, said precursor being selected from the group consisting of a metal salt, a hydrate of a metal salt, an acid including said refractory metal as part of an oxyanion, a salt of said acid, and mixtures thereof; physically contacting said reaction mixture with a substrate surface that is essentially free of borosilicates; refluxing said reaction mixture so that said alcoholic solvent reduces said metal precursor, while said reaction mixture is in contact with said substrate surface, for a time selected to produce an adherent metal film on said substrate surface, said film having particles of said metal with a mean diameter size of about 100 nm or less.

Claim 12

A method of forming a nanocrystalline metallic film, comprising the steps of: mixing a precursor of a metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Sn, Ta, W, and mixtures thereof with an alcoholic solvent to form a reaction mixture, said precursor being selected from the group consisting of a metal salt, a hydrate of a metal salt, an acid including said refractory metal as part of an oxyanion, a salt of said acid, and mixtures thereof; physically contacting said reaction mixture with a substrate surface that is essentially free of borosilicates; refluxing said reaction mixture so that said alcoholic solvent reduces said metal precursor, while said reaction mixture is in contact with said substrate surface, for a time selected to produce an adherent metal film on said substrate surface, said film having particles of said metal with a mean diameter size of about 100 nm or less.

Claim 17

A method of forming a nanocrystalline complex substance comprising at least 50 volume percent of first component selected from the group consisting of an elemental refractory metal or an alloy thereof, said method comprising the steps of: atomically mixing, in an alcoholic solvent, a first precursor for at least one elemental refractory metal with a second precursor for at least one second component, or with said second component, to form a reaction mixture, said first precursor being selected from the group consisting of a metal salt, a hydrate of a metal salt, an acid including said elemental refractory metal as part of an oxyanion, a salt of said acid, and mixtures thereof; refluxing said reaction mixture so that said alcoholic solvent reduces at least said first precursor to said elemental refractory metal, over a time selected to produce particles of said complex substance having a mean diameter size of about 100 nm or less.

Claim 18

A method of forming a nanocrystalline complex substance comprising at least 50 volume percent of first component selected from the group consisting of an elemental refractory metal or an alloy thereof, said method comprising the steps of: atomically mixing, in an alcoholic solvent, a first precursor for at least one elemental refractory metal with a second precursor for at least one second component, or with said second component, to form a reaction mixture, said first precursor being selected from the group consisting of a metal salt, a hydrate of a metal salt, an acid including said elemental refractory metal as part of an oxyanion, a salt of said acid, and mixtures thereof; refluxing said reaction mixture so that said alcoholic solvent reduces at least said first precursor to said elemental refractory metal, over a time selected to produce particles of said complex substance having a mean diameter size of about 100 nm or less.