초록

Multi-metal particles, apparatuses and method of making same are provided. Specifically, the multi-metal particles are of nanometer dimensions and are prepared by spatially arranged electrodes configured to generate and maintain a plasma cloud.

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1. An apparatus comprising: a controller;a first electrode;a second electrode, the second electrode arranged spaced apart from said first electrode defining between the first electrode and the second electrode a plasma cloud zone sized to generate a plasma cloud;an electrical power supply coupled to

1. An apparatus comprising: a controller;a first electrode;a second electrode, the second electrode arranged spaced apart from said first electrode defining between the first electrode and the second electrode a plasma cloud zone sized to generate a plasma cloud;an electrical power supply coupled to the controller and arranged for applying one or more high voltage pulses to the first and second electrodes;a current detector coupled to the controller and at least one of the first or the second electrodes, the current detector configured and arranged to provide a first signal corresponding to the plasma cloud zone; anda linear actuator coupled to controller and at least one of the first and the second electrodes, the linear actuator configured and arranged to advance one or more of the first or second electrode corresponding to the first signal; anda fluid controller configured and arranged for introducing a fluid into the plasma cloud zone via a conduit fluidically coupled to a channel surrounding the first electrode or the second electrode. 2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid controller is configured to present particulate matter together with the fluid to the plasma cloud zone. 3. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is of a different elemental composition than the first electrode. 4. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is of a different corrosion rate at a given applied current than the first electrode. 5. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein first electrode is of a higher melt temperature than that of the second electrode at a given applied current capable of melting and vaporizing the second electrode. 6. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second electrodes are rotatable. 7. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and the second electrodes are elongated tube or wire, the apparatus further comprising additional elongated electrodes arranged spaced apart from the first electrode and the second electrode, the additional elongated electrodes further defining the plasma cloud zone, one or more of the additional elongated electrodes being of the same or different elemental composition as the first electrode or the second electrode, the longitudinal axis of both the first and second electrodes and the longitudinal axes of each of the additional elongated electrodes intersecting within the plasma cloud zone defined thereby. 8. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the one or more of the additional electrodes is of a higher melt temperature at an applied current capable of melting or vaporizing at least one other additional electrodes or one of the first or the second electrodes. 9. An apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors, the one or more sensors operably connected to the controller such that in use, the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode or the plasma cloud is automatically adjusted according to the output of the one or more sensors. 10. A method of producing multi-metal particles, the method comprising in an apparatus as defined in claim 1, supporting at least the first electrode and the second electrode as a first pair of elongated electrodes coaxially arranged with corresponding ends thereof spaced apart, the pair of elongated electrodes defining the plasma cloud zone, wherein the combination of the first pair of elongated electrodes comprise at least two metals; applying a potential difference to the first electrode pair so that a plasma cloud is formed and at least substantially maintained in the plasma cloud zone between the first pair of elongated electrode ends; andconsuming at least a portion of one or more of the at least one pair of electrodes;directing a fluid stream around at least one of the electrodes of the first pair of elongated electrodes and towards the plasma cloud zone. 11. A method of claim 10, wherein one of the pair of elongated electrodes is of a higher melt temperature at an applied current capable of melting or vaporizing the corresponding other elongated electrode. 12. A method of claim 10, wherein the first pair of elongated electrodes comprise a transition metal anode or a noble metal anode, and a transition metal cathode or a noble metal cathode. 13. A method of claim 12, wherein the anode and cathode is comprised of a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, silver, zinc, copper, nickel, gold, and alloys thereof. 14. A method of claim 10, wherein the first pair of elongated electrodes comprise a transition metal anode, and a noble metal cathode or wherein the first pair of elongated electrodes comprise a transition metal cathode, and a noble metal anode. 15. A method of claim 10, further comprising additional elongated electrodes arranged spaced apart from the first pair of elongated electrodes and the additional elongated electrodes further defining the plasma cloud zone, one or more of the additional elongated electrodes being of the same or different elemental composition as the first electrode or the second electrode, the longitudinal axes of the first pair of elongated electrodes and the longitudinal axes of each of the additional elongated electrodes intersecting within the plasma cloud zone defined thereby. 16. A method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the one or more of the additional electrodes is of a higher melt temperature at an applied current capable of melting or vaporizing at least one other additional electrodes or one of the first pair of elongated electrodes. 17. A method of claim 10, further comprising introducing particulate matter into the plasma cloud. 18. A method of claim 17, wherein the particulate matter is an inorganic oxide, inorganic carbide, inorganic nitride, or mixture thereof. 19. A multi-metal particle formed by the method of claim 10, having an average particle size between 1 and 1000 nanometers. 20. Particulate matter coated or combined with a multi-metal particle formed by the method of claim 17. 21. A method of claim 10, further comprising introducing a metal precursor into the plasma cloud. 22. A method of claim 21, wherein the metal precursor is an organometallic compound, a radionuclide, or an organometallic compound and a radionuclide. 23. Particulate matter coated or combined with a multi-metal particle formed by the method of claim 21. 24. A system for producing multi-metal particles or solutions thereof, the system comprising: a housing configured to retain a fluid medium;a power supply source capable of controlling electric current, voltage, or current and voltage;a metal or metal alloy cathode operably connected to the power supply source;a metal or metal alloy anode operably connected to the power supply source and spaced apart from the metal or metal alloy cathode such that a plasma cloud zone is defined between the metal or metal alloy anode and metal or metal alloy cathode, wherein at least two metals constitute the combination of cathode and anode;a control unit arranged and configured for moving at least one of the metal or metal alloy anode or the metal or metal alloy cathode to maintain the plasma cloud zone; anda flow controller configured to deliver a fluid medium via a conduit fluidically coupled to a channel surrounding the housing or the a metal or metal alloy anode into the plasma cloud zone. 25. A system of claim 24, wherein the metal or metal alloy anode is of a higher melt temperature at an applied current capable of melting or vaporizing the metal or metal alloy cathode. 26. A system of claim 24, wherein the metal or metal alloy anode comprises a transition metal, and the metal or metal alloy cathode comprises a noble metal. 27. A system of claim 24, wherein the metal or metal alloy anode and cathode is comprised of a metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten, platinum, palladium, silver, zinc, copper, nickel, gold, and alloys thereof. 28. A system of claim 24, further comprising additional electrodes arranged spaced apart from the metal or metal alloy cathode and the anode electrode, and the additional elongated electrodes further defining the plasma cloud zone, one or more of the additional electrodes being of the same or different elemental composition as the metal or metal alloy cathode and anode. 29. A system of claim 28, wherein the metal or metal alloy anode is of a higher melt temperature at an applied current capable of melting or vaporizing at least one of the additional electrodes. 30. The system of claim 24, wherein the fluid flow controller is configured to introduce fluid with particulate matter and/or organometallics and/or radionuclides into the plasma cloud zone. 31. The system of claim 19, wherein the system further comprises a linear actuator coupled to the metal or metal alloy cathode electrode, wherein the linear actuator is configured to move the metal or metal alloy cathode. 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the metal or metal alloy cathode is rotatable. 33. The system of claim 30, further comprising conduits in fluidic communication between the fluid flow controller, metal or metal alloy anode electrode, and the housing.