Method for preparing metal oxide or metal hydroxide nano thin-film material by molten salt method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preparing metal oxide and hydroxide nano-film materials are energy-intensive, costly, and environmentally unfriendly, with complex processes that hinder industrialization, and lack the ability to directly produce nano-film materials using the molten salt method.
Innovation Solution
A method involving heating a low-melting-point salt to a molten state, adding a substrate and metal source for reaction, and controlling temperature and time to produce controllable, adhesive-free metal oxide or hydroxide nano-films on various substrates without the need for additional coatings or adhesives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If solvothermal method is used to prepare metal oxide nano materials, then special morphologies can be obtained, but the preparation conditions are complex with high temperature and high pressure requiring high energy consumption and high production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the preparation parameters from high temperature and high pressure (solvothermal method) to low temperature conditions using molten salt as a medium. This parameter change allows obtaining nano materials with controllable shapes and sizes while significantly reducing energy consumption and simplifying the preparation process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces molten salt as an intermediary medium to replace the complex solvothermal conditions. The molten salt serves as both solvent and template, enabling the formation of special morphologies without requiring high temperature and high pressure, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining shape control
2Temperature
If sol-gel method is used to prepare metal oxide membrane, then high temperature and high pressure conditions are avoided, but the preparation process has a long period and complicated operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the time-consuming steps from the sol-gel process by using molten salt method. The direct synthesis in molten salt avoids the long drying and calcination periods required in sol-gel method, achieving both low temperature processing and short preparation time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the preparation process into simple sequential steps: dissolving metal salts in molten salt, adding substrate, heating to reaction temperature, and cooling. This segmented approach replaces the complicated multi-step sol-gel process, reducing both time and operational complexity while maintaining low temperature processing
3Ease of manufacture
If chemical precipitation method is used for industrial production of metal oxides, then it is commonly used, but the steps are cumbersome, a large amount of waste liquid is produced, and environmental pollution is serious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste liquid byproduct of chemical precipitation into a beneficial feature by using molten salt as a reusable medium. The molten salt can be filtered and reused multiple times, transforming the waste generation problem into a sustainable process with minimal environmental impact while maintaining ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements recovery and reuse of the molten salt medium after each reaction cycle. The salt is filtered from the product and reused in subsequent reactions, eliminating the need to discard large amounts of waste liquid and significantly reducing environmental pollution while keeping the manufacturing process simple
4Shape
If electrochemical deposition is used to deposit nanosheet array on foam nickel, then the nanostructures can be formed, but the adhesion is weak and the structures are easy to agglomerate and grow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses molten salt as an intermediary medium that facilitates strong bonding between the metal oxide nanosheets and the foam nickel substrate. The molten salt enables direct growth of nanosheets on the substrate with strong adhesion, preventing agglomeration and growth that occurs in electrochemical deposition, while maintaining the desired nanosheet array structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables rapid, efficient, and cost-effective production of metal oxide or hydroxide nano-films with controllable shape and size, suitable for large-scale industrial production, and directly usable as functional materials in energy and environmental applications.
Implementation Method 1
heating a low-melting-point salt to a molten state
Implementation Method 2
adding a substrate into the molten salt before or after melting for reaction; adding a metal source and continuing the reaction
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for preparing a metal oxide or a metal hydroxide nano thin-film material by a molten salt method, which mainly comprises the following steps: heating a low-melting-point salt to a molten state, adding a substrate into the molten salt before or after melting for reaction; adding a metal source and continuing the reaction for a period of time; removing the substrate, cooling the substrate to a room temperature, cleaning and drying the substrate to obtain the metal oxide or metal hydroxide nano thin-film material; wherein, the mass ratio of the low-melting-point salt to the metal source is 100-1.5:1. The metal oxide and metal hydroxide nano-film materials with various nano-morphologies prepared by the method of the present application have morphologies that can be regulated and controlled by the types and proportions of the low-melting-point salts and metal sources.