Curriculum Vitae ................................................ 9
Abbreviations .................................................. 12
Notations ...................................................... 13
INTRODUCTION ................................................... 17
CHAPTER ONE. GENERAL NOTIONS IN NANOTECHNOLOGIES AND THERMAL
PLASMA ......................................................... 20
1.1 What is nanotechnology? ................................... 20
1.2 General concepts of plasma-chemistry ...................... 21
1.2.1 Characteristics of low-temperature plasma .......... 21
1.3 Description and characteristics of plasma-chemical
reactions ................................................. 24
1.3.1 Basic equation of the plasma-chemical kinetics ..... 25
1.3.2 Rate coefficient of plasma-chemical reactions ...... 28
1.3.3 Kinetics of dissociative reactions ................. 32
1.3.4 Quasi-equilibrium plasma-chemical processes ........ 33
1.3.4.1 Thermodynamics of plasma-chemical
processes ................................. 35
1.3.4.2 Kinetics of plasma-chemical processes ..... 36
1.3.5 Non-equilibrium plasma-chemical processes .......... 37
1.3.6 Condensed-phase plasma-chemical processes .......... 39
1.3.7 Advantages and disadvantages of the plasma-
chemical processes ................................. 40
CHAPTER TWO. THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND A PRIORI CONCEPTS
FOR PLASMA-CHEMICAL PREPARATION OF NANODISPERSED POWDERS ....... 44
2.1 Precise computer calculation of the free enthalpy
variation in the presence of phase transitions ............ 45
2.2 Physicochemical and technological aspects of the plasma-
chemical (high-temperature) processes for preparation
of ND powders ............................................. 49
2.2.1 Modelling the vaporization and condensation of
particles under the conditions of plasma-chemical
processes .......................................... 50
2.2.1.1 Development of a three-dimensional model
of the motion, heating, melting and
vaporization of micron-sized particles
in thermal plasma ......................... 71
2.2.1.2 Modelling the condensation of the
particles ................................. 89
2.2.2 Chemical, physicochemical and technological
aspects of the plasma-chemical preparation of ND
powders ............................................ 91
2.2.2.1 ND powders trapping ....................... 94
CHAPTER THREE. EQUIPMENT USED IN PLASMA-CHEMICAL PREPARATION
OF NANODISPERSED POWDERS ....................................... 96
3.1 The plasma-chemical installation - calculation of the
average mass temperature of the plasmatron and the
plasma-chemical reactor (PCR). Plasma-chemical unit -
characteristics. Determination of the specific surface
of ND powders ............................................. 96
3.2 Plasma preparation of nanotubes (fullerenes) ............. 106
CHAPTER FOUR. PLASMACHEMICAL NANO-TECHNOLOGIES IN CATALYSIS ... 110
4.1 Plasma-chemically synthesis and regeneration of
catalysts ................................................ 110
4.1.1 Plasma-chemical synthesis and regeneration
(activation) of nanostructured catalysts for
steam conversion of methane ....................... 115
4.1.2 Plasmachemical preparation of nanostructured
catalysts for low-temperature steam conversion
of carbon monoxide ................................ 126
4.1.2.1 Thermodynamic and model studies .......... 126
4.1.2.2 Properties of catalysts .................. 135
4.1.2.3 Catalytic activity ....................... 151
4.1.3 Comprehensive physical-chemical characterization
and kinetic studies of the reduction and activity
of catalysts for ammonia synthesis regenerated
by electric-arc plasma ............................ 163
4.1.3.1 Magnetochemical studies of
nanodispersed ferromagnetic catalysts
for ammonia synthesis .................... 181
4.1.4 Plasma spraying in the preparation of supported
catalysts ......................................... 191
4.1.5 Plasma modification of catalysts .................. 191
4.1.6 Conclusions ....................................... 194
CHAPTER FIVE. GENERALIZATIONS ON THE PLASMA-CHEMICAL
PREPARATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF NANODISPERSED
INORGANIC POWDERS ............................................. 195
5.1 On some technological characteristics of the plasma-
chemical preparation of nanodispersed inorganic powders .. 195
5.1.1 Classification of the processes developed ......... 196
5.1.2 Modeling of plasma-chemical reactors .............. 201
5.2 Particularities in the physical and physicochemical
properties of nanodispersed particles synthesized in
low-temperature plasma ................................... 202
5.2.1 Structural, phase and moфhological
characteristics of plasma-chemically synthesized
nanodispersed powders ............................. 207
5.2.1.1 Structural characteristics of
nanodispersed powders synthesized in
low-temperature plasma ................... 210
5.2.1.2 Phase characteristics of nanodispersed
particles synthesized in low-
temperature plasma ....................... 218
5.2.1.3 The effect of impurities on the
structure of ND particles ................ 221
5.2.2 Particularities in the surface structure of ND
particles ......................................... 222
5.2.3 On the increased chemical activity and the
passivation of ND powders synthesized in
electric-arc low-temperature plasma ............... 226
5.2.4 Particularities in the physical and
physicochemical properties of nanodispersed
particles synthesized in electric-arc low-
temperature plasma ................................ 234
5.3 Other plasma technologies ................................ 235
5.3.1 Preparation of inter-metal compounds and
composite materials ............................... 235
5.3.2 Spheroidization of high-melting temperature
materials and of other materials .................. 235
5.3.3 Deposition of coatings and modification of
surfaces .......................................... 235
5.4 Fields of applications of plasma-chemically-synthesized
ND powders ............................................... 236
5.5 Conclusions .............................................. 237
CHAPTER SIX. APPLICATIONS OF THE NANO-TECHNOLOGIES AND THE
NANOMATERIALS ................................................. 239
6.1 Essence of the nano-technologies ......................... 239
6.2 Electronics, communications, nano-devices and sensors .... 245
6.3 Aviation and space industries ............................ 250
6.4 Chemical industry and power generation ................... 251
6.4.1 Scientific and technological progress ............. 251
6.4.2 Energy storage - lithium batteries, carbon
nanotubes and fuel cells .......................... 254
6.4.3 Nanocatalysts and nanocatalysis ................... 255
6.4.4 Hydrogen storage and fuel cells ................... 256
6.4.5 Increase of the energy efficiency ................. 257
6.4.6 Conclusions ....................................... 257
6.5 Metallurgy (powder and metal ceramics) - special steels
and alloys ............................................... 258
6.6 Consolidated nano-structures ............................. 259
6.6.1 Scientific and technological progress ............. 260
6.6.2 Ceramic nanoparticles ............................. 260
6.6.3 Preparation of nanostructured coatings ............ 261
6.6.4 Lowering the flammability of plastics ............. 261
6.6.5 Fabrication ofhard nanostructured materials ....... 262
6.6.6 Nanostructures with colossal magnetic resistance .. 263
6.6.7 Conclusions ....................................... 263
6.7 Fabrication of ultra-high-strength carbon nanofibers ..... 263
6.7.1 Classification and strength parameters of carbon
fibers ............................................ 264
6.7.2 Carbon fibers structure ........................... 265
6.7.3 Techniques for CNF fabrication .................... 265
6.7.4 Industrial applications of CNF .................... 266
6.7.5 Conclusions ....................................... 267
6.8 Nanoprocesses and nanomaterials in the environmental
protection ............................................... 268
6.8.1 Scientific and technological progress ............. 268
6.8.2 Adsorption of heavy metals by hierarchically
self-aligned nanostructures ....................... 270
6.8.3 Photo-catalytic purification of fluids ............ 271
6.8.4 Fabrication of mesoporous materials ............... 271
6.8.5 Application of nanoporous materials in
purification of water ............................. 272
6.8.6 Nanoparticles in the environment .................. 272
6.9 Nanotechnologies and nanomaterials applications in the
defense industry and fight against terrorism ............. 273
6.10 Nanotechnologies and nanomaterials in the everyday life .. 274
6.11 Nanotechnologies in biology and medicine ................. 275
6.12 Nanotechnologies and education ........................... 278
6.13 Conclusions .............................................. 279
CONCLUSIONS ................................................... 280
REFERENCES .................................................... 286
APPENDIX. National research program NANO-TECHNOLOGIES AND
NEW MATERIALS ................................................. 296
1 Justification ............................................ 296
2 Aims of the National program on NT and new materials ..... 298
2.1 Bringing the educational academic programs in line
with the new trends of development .................. 299
2.2 Development of scientific research .................. 299
2.3 Organization of the experimental and technological
infrastructure in Bulgaria related to the nano-
technologies, the nano-sized materials and their
apphcations ......................................... 301
3 Program packages ......................................... 301
3.1 Research and technological development .............. 301
3.2 Improvement of the research infrastructure .......... 302
3.2.1 Educational programs ......................... 302
3.2.2 Scientific research .......................... 303
3.2.3 Environment for dissemination of the
scientific research achievements and
innovations .................................. 303
|
