Summary:
A Slovenian research institute has developed a novel method for the deposition of vanadium and other metal oxide nanoparticles. The method is simple and results in unimodal nanoparticle size distributions. The institute is looking for producers of lithium-ion batteries, vanadium redox batteries, catalysts, microbolometers, ethanol sensors and other electronic devices for technical cooperation agreement and license agreement to apply the technology in their production.
Description:
The currently available methods of synthesising metal oxide nanoparticles typically include one or more of chemical synthesis, mechanical grinding, colloidal precipitation and gas-phase nucleation and growth (aerosol process). Among the existing techniques, gas-phase synthesis has benefits because of the purity of the resulting product, but the control of the distribution of particles and the rate of aggregation are problematic. Considering transition metal oxides, particularly vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles attract attention due to their unique properties. High-purity particles of vanadium pentoxide are used in lithium ion batteries, vanadium redox batteries, catalysts, microbolometers, ethanol sensors and other electronic devices as well as agents against corrosion.
A Slovenian research institute has developed a novel method for deposition of vanadium oxide (V2O5) and other metal oxide nanoparticles using atmospheric pressure plasma. The method can be applied with any atmospheric pressure plasma (jet) with an inlet feed of gas and a metal oxide macropowder dispersed in a liquid. Nanoparticles of any metal (besides vanadium (V) for example also niobium (Nb), ruthenium (Ru), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni)) oxide which is dispersible in water or any other simple liquid, can be synthesised using this method.
The technology has been developed at the leading Slovenian research institute which is active on a broad spectrum of basic and applied research. The research group has a lot of experience in plasma systems and surface engineering.
The research institute is looking for industrial partners for technical cooperation agreement and license agreement. Industrial partners should be companies that produce lithium-ion batteries, vanadium redox batteries, catalysts, microbolometers, ethanol sensors and other electronic devices on which metal oxide nanoparticles need to be deposited. Within the technical cooperation agreement, the partner sought shall jointly with Slovenian institute scale up the method and employ the method in their production process. If the partner successfully implements the method in their production process, they will be invited to sign a license agreement.
Type (e.g. company, R&D institution…), field of industry and Role of Partner Sought:
Type: Companies that produce lithium-ion batteries, vanadium redox batteries, catalysts, microbolometers, ethanol sensors and other electronic devices on which vanadium and other metal (niobium, ruthenium, manganese, cobalt and nickel) oxide nanoparticles need to be deposited.
Role: The role of partner sought is to employ the method in their production process within a technical cooperation agreement. If the partner is able to implement the method successfully, they will be invited to sign a license agreement.
Stage of Development:
Under development/lab tested
IPR Status:
Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted
Comments Regarding IPR Status:
A patent application filed at the European Patent Office in 2020.
External code:
TOSI20210222001
