APPLICATIONS
- Catalysts
- Optical devices, e.g., displays, solar cells, etc.
- Electrochromics
- Medical and chemical research
ADVANTAGES
- Lowers film processing complexity and cost
- Enables room temperature / low temperature processing
ABSTRACT
Polyoxometalates (POMs) are tunable metal-oxide nanoclusters used in catalysis (including green chemistry); assembly of advanced materials and devices designed for specific optical, electrical, or magnetic capabilities; and research in fields of medicine, materials, and chemistry. However, fabricating POM-based thin films is often expensive and complex.
To fully realize the benefits of POMs in all fields of use, a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory / University of Texas research team has developed a process to produce a networked metal oxide film via low-temperature chemical condensation of POMs. In this approach, a POM solution is deposited onto a substrate to form an initial POM film. (Constituents of the POM solution, e.g., ions, nanocrystals, are selected for the film’s specific use.) The film is then cured in an acidic environment, ultimately transforming the POM film into a condensed or networked film. The POM film may also be produced by electrochemical deposition and condensation of POM clusters onto the substrate.
This technology represents an improvement over vacuum deposition techniques and thermal treatments by lowering process costs and enabling devices to be efficiently fabricated entirely by solution processing at low/room temperature.
For a complete description and claims, go to published U. S. Patent Application 15/304,177 (Publication no. US2017/0031224).
STATUS: Published U. S. Patent Application 15/304,177. Available for licensing or collaborative research.
REFERENCE NUMBER: 2014-041