US4826579A
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US
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Electrolytic preparation of tin and other metals
Assignee: CEL SYSTEMS Corp A CORP OF Co
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Filing: 1986-12-24
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Granted: 1989-05-02
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Expires: 2006-12-24
Abstract
Abstract Electrolytic processes for the growth of single crystal tin or other elemental crystals, with or without the use of a substrate. Exemplified cubic forms of alpha-tin and tetragonal forms of beta-tin are grown using a shaped anode and a pointed cathode to provide electrical geometric fields within an electrodeposition system to enhance the growth of the desired crystalline tin.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard M. Westfall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:30
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/16; H10F10/162; C; C30; C30B; C30B29/00; C30B29/02; C30B7/00; C30B7/005; C30B7/12; H10F30/00; H10F30/20; H10F30/21; H10F30/22; H10F30/221; H10F30/2212; H10F71/00; H10F71/125; H10F71/127; H10F77/00; H10F77/10; H10F77/12; H10F77/122; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/20; H10P14/26; H10P14/265; H10P14/29; H10P14/2901; H10P14/2902; H10P14/2905; H10P14/2906; H10P14/2923; H10P14/34; H10P14/3402; H10P14/3424; H10P14/3432; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/543; Y02E10/544; Y02E10/547
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A process for electrolytically producing a single crystal metal chosen from the group of metals consisting of silver, arsenic, gold, bismuth, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, gallium, mercury, indium, iridium, nickel, osmium, lead, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, antimony, selenium, tellurium, and zinc, said process comprising the steps of: forming a bath containing cations of the metal and an anion component having sufficient ionic activity to support nucleation of the metal cations on a cathode upon application of a sufficient electrical current; immersing a pointed cathode and a shaped anode into said bath to provide for nucleation of the metal cations on the cathode along at least one crystalline twinning plane; passing an electrical current between the anode and the cathode at an applied cathodic potential above the critical overpotential for the composition of the bath; and reducing the metal cations at the cathode by the application of said electrical current to thereby form a single crystal metal deposit at the cathode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A process for electrolytically producing a single crystal metal chosen from the group of metals consisting of silver, arsenic, gold, bismuth, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, gallium, mercury, indium, iridium, nickel, osmium, lead, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, antimony, selenium, tellurium, and zinc, said process comprising the steps of: forming a bath containing cations of the metal and an anion component having sufficient ionic activity to support nucleation of the metal cations on a cathode upon application of a sufficient electrical current; immersing a pointed cathode and a shaped anode into said bath to provide for nucleation of the metal cations on the cathode along at least one crystalline twinning plane; passing an electrical current between the anode and the cathode at an applied cathodic potential above the critical overpotential for the composition of the bath; and reducing the metal cations at the cathode by the application of said electrical current to thereby form a single crystal metal deposit at the cathode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is silver, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of acetate, chlorate, perchlorate, cyanide, fluorofallate, fluoride, flurosilicate, lactate, nitrate, oxylate, pyrophosphate, sulfate, ammonia, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a fluoride and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is arsenic, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of fluoride, bromide, iodide, arsenic oxide, and mixtures of at least two thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is gold, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting fo chloride, bromide, iodide, cyanide, nitrate, potassium, pyrophosphate, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is bismuth, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of acetate, citrate, lactate, molybdate, nitrate, oxylate, propionate, salicylate, sulfate, tartrate, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, ammonium salts, bismuth oxide, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is cadmium, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of acetate, borate, bromide, carbonate, chloride, chlorate, cyanide, formate, fluoride fluoroborate, fluorosilicate, iodide, iodate, lactate, manganate, molybdate, nitrate, oxalate, phosphate, pyrophosphate, selenate, sulfate, tartrate, tungstate, ammonium chloride, ammonium hydroxide, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is cobalt, and wherein the anion component is selected from the group consisting of acetate, benzoate, bromate, bromide, chlorate, chloride, cyanide, chromate, citrate, fluoride, fluorosilicate, formate, iodide, nitrate, oxalate, phosphate, propionate selenate, sulfate, tartrate, thiocyanate, calcium and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is copper, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of acetate, borate, bromide, bromate, chlorate, chloride, fluoroborate, fluorosilicate, formate, lactate, nitrate, perchlorate, salicylate, selenate, sulfate, ammonium, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is iron, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of acetate, bromide, chloride, fluorosilicate, formate, iodide, lactate, malate, nitrate, oxalate, perchlorate, sulfate, thiocyanate, thiosulfate, calcium, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is gallium, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of chlorate, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, perchlorate, selenate, sulfate, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is mercury, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of acetate, benzoate, bromate, bromide, chlorate, chloride, cyanide, fluoride, iodide, nitrate, sulfate, thiocyanate, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is indium, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of bromide, chlorate, chloride, cyanide, fluoride, nitrate, selenate, sulfate, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is iridium, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of bromide, chloride, fluoride, iodide, nitrate, oxalate, sulfate, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is nickel, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of acetate, benzenesulfonate, borate, bromate, bromide, chlorate (ClO 3 and ClO 4 ), chloride, fluoride, iodide, nitrate, oxalate, phosphate, pyrophosphate, selenate, sulfate, ammonium hydroxide, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is osmium, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of bromide, chloride, fluoride, iodide, ammonium hydroxide, potassium, sodium and mixtures of at least two thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is lead, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of acetate, chlorate, citrate, dithionate, fluoroborate, fluorosilicate, nitrate, perchlorate, peroxydisulfate and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is palladium, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of borate, bromide, chloride, cyanide, fluoride, nitrate, selenate, sulfate, ammonium hydroxide, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is platinum, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of bromdie, chloride, fluoride, iodide, ammonium hydroxide, alkali metal salts, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is rhodium, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of chloride, nitrate, sulfate, ammonium hydroxide, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that chloride and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is ruthenium, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of chloride, ammonium hydroxide, and a mixture thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is antimony, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of bromide, chloride, fluoride, iodide, mercaptoacetamide, sulfate, tartrate, antimony oxide, and mixtures of at least two thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is selenium, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of bromide, chloride, selenium oxide, and mixtures of at least two thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is tellurium, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of bromide, chloride, tellurium oxide, and mixtures of at least two thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal is zinc, and wherein the anion component is chosen from the group consisting of acetate, benzoate, bromate, bromide, butyrate, carbonate, chlorate, chloride, chloroplatinate, cyanide, fluoride, formate, iodide, manganate, nitrate, oxalate, phosphate, pyrophosphate, salicylate, selenate, sulfate, tellurate, thiocyanate, ammonium chloride, ammonium hydroxide and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the bath is substantially saturated with cations of the metal to be electrolytically produced.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the anode is constructed of the metal to be electrolytically produced.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as defined in claim 26 wherein the anode has a larger surface area than that of the cathode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as defined in claim 26 wherein an electric reduction potential less than the reduction potential of the cations of the metal to be electrolytically produced is first passed between the electrodes to remove cation impurities from the bath.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 or 26 wherein a portion of the anode is V-shaped and the cathode is located in the bath substantially intermediate the legs of said V-shaped portion of said anode.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention as defined in claim 29 wherein the V-shaped portion of the anode forms an angle which coincides substantially with the crystallographic angle of the metal to be electrolytically produced to provide a shaped electric field between the electrodes which enhances or reinforces desired crystal growth.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
141 words
A process for electrolytically producing single crystal tin, said process comprising the steps of: forming a bath containing cations of tin and an anion component chosen from the group consisting of chromate, iodide, nitrate, oxalate, selenate, tortrate, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and a nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture; immersing a pointed cathode and a shaped anode into said bath to provide for nucleation of the tin cations on the cathode along at least one crystalline twinning plane; passing an electrical current between the anode and the cathode at an applied cathodic potential above the critical overpotential for the consumption of the bath; and reducing the tin cations at the cathode by the application of said electrical current to thereby form a single crystal tin deposit at the cathode.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
141 words
A process for electrolytically producing single crystal tin, said process comprising the steps of: forming a bath containing cations of tin and an anion component chosen from the group consisting of chromate, iodide, nitrate, oxalate, selenate, tortrate, and mixtures of at least two thereof with the proviso that a halide and a nitrate are not simultaneously present in any such mixture; immersing a pointed cathode and a shaped anode into said bath to provide for nucleation of the tin cations on the cathode along at least one crystalline twinning plane; passing an electrical current between the anode and the cathode at an applied cathodic potential above the critical overpotential for the consumption of the bath; and reducing the tin cations at the cathode by the application of said electrical current to thereby form a single crystal tin deposit at the cathode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as claimed in claim 31 and wherein the anion component can have additionally mixed therewith one anion component chosen from the group consisting of bromide, chloride, fluoride, and sulfate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4632736A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-01 | 1992-10-31 | 1993-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-01 | 1996-10-31 | 1997-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-01 | 2000-10-31 | 2001-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |