Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, the ink may include metal oxide nanoparticles and reducing agent nanoparticles in a stable form, providing a shelf-life suitable for transportation and storage of the ink in large-scale commercial operations. The ink may be delivered onto the powder of the metal particles in the powder bed, where the metal oxide nanoparticles and the reducing agent nanoparticles may interact with one another to form metal nanoparticles. In turn, the metal nanoparticles may interact with the metal particles in the powder bed to improve strength of the three-dimensional objects being fabricated and, also or instead, to reduce the likelihood of defects associated with subsequent processing of the three-dimensional objects.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, local densities of the powder of each layer may be determined and used as a basis for selectively distributing the ink including nanoparticles to increase density of one or more portions of the respective layer as compared to density of the respective portion of the layer prior to the selective distribution of the ink. Thus, the selective distribution of the ink including the nanoparticles may reduce density variations in each layer of three-dimensional objects being fabricated. In turn, such a reduction in density variation associated with the fabrication of three-dimensional objects may reduce the likelihood of defects (e.g., through unintended variations in shrinkage rates) associated with subsequent processing of the three-dimensional objects.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, the ink may include high aspect ratio nanoparticles, such as filaments. As compared to nanoparticles having lower aspect ratios, high aspect ratio nanoparticles may facilitate bridging more surface of the metal particles in the powder bed. As the three-dimensional objects including the high aspect ratio nanoparticles and the metal particles are thermally processed, the increased bridging associated with the high aspect ratio nanoparticles may result in increased bonded area between the nanoparticles and the metal particles and, thus, three-dimensional objects that are more robust with respect to subsequent processing required to form the three-dimensional objects into finished parts.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, metal particles in the powder bed may be coated with nanoparticles to facilitate achieving a substantially uniform distribution of nanoparticles relative to metal particles in the three-dimensional objects being formed in the powder bed. Through such a substantially uniform distribution, the nanoparticles and the metal particles may interact with one another in a predictable manner useful for reducing variations in three-dimensional objects being fabricated and, also or instead, useful for reducing the likelihood of defects associated with subsequent processing of the three-dimensional objects.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, the ink may include nanoparticles of an inorganic material (e.g., a metal) that undergoes at least one phase change as the three-dimensional objects are heated. This phase change may facilitate achieving more uniform distribution of the inorganic material relative to the metal particles in the three-dimensional objects which, in turn, may improve strength of the three-dimensional objects being fabricated. Further, or instead, improved distribution of the inorganic material may reduce the likelihood of defects associated with subsequent processing of the three-dimensional objects.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, the ink may include a colloid of nanoparticles of an inorganic material (e.g., a metal) in a carrier, and the colloid may be destabilized along one or more sections of at least one layer. Destabilization of the colloid may aggregate the nanoparticles along at least one layer to facilitate, for example, formation of an interface layer useful for separating the three-dimensional objects from associated support structures. Further, or instead, the aggregated nanoparticles may be useful for hardening a given layer to facilitate uniform distribution of a subsequent layer on top of the given layer. Thus, more generally, aggregation of the nanoparticles along the powder be may be useful for improving quality of the three-dimensional objects being fabricated.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, the ink may include a carrier, supramolecular assemblies of molecules, and nanoparticles of an inorganic material. The supramolecular assemblies may sequester the nanoparticles of the inorganic material from the carrier to facilitate maintaining the nanoparticles in a stable form, providing a shelf-life suitable for transportation and storage of the ink in large-scale commercial operations. The supramolecular assemblies of the molecules may be disrupted during a fabrication process to release the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may improve strength of the three-dimensional objects being fabricated and, also or instead, may reduce the likelihood of defects associated with subsequent processing of the three-dimensional objects (e.g., slumping and shrinking and/or inadequate densification of the final part).

A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric material comprising: ball-milling a compound comprising a plurality of components, the first component M comprising at least one of a rare earth metal, an actinide, an alkaline-earth metal, and an alkali metal, the second component T comprising a metal of subgroup VIII, and the third component X comprises a pnictogen atom. The compound may be ball-milled for up to 5 hours, and then thermo-mechanically processed by, for example, hot pressing the compound for less than two hours. Subsequent to the thermo-mechanical processing, the compound comprises a single filled skutterudite phase with a dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) above 1.0 and the compound has a composition following a formula of MT.sub.4X.sub.12.

The disclosure provides a method of producing a platinum colloid comprising reducing platinum ions by the use of a platinum ion solution, water, a nonionic surfactant, a pH adjusting agent, and a reducing agent, wherein the platinum ion solution contains platinum at a concentration of 20 w/v %, the nonionic surfactant is polysorbate 80, the pH adjusting agent is an alkaline metal salt, the reducing agent is a lower alcohol, the volume of the water is from 600 to 660 times that of the platinum ion solution, the volume of the nonionic surfactant is from 0.20 to 0.30 times that of the platinum ion solution, the volume of the pH adjusting agent as a 5 w/v % aqueous solution is from 10 to 30 times that of the platinum ion solution, and the volume of the reducing agent is from 27 to 37 times that of the platinum ion solution,
as well as the platinum colloid produced by the method.

A manufacturing method of a three-dimensional shaped object includes a first step of depositing powder to form a powder layer, and a second step of scanning and irradiating an energy beam to the powder layer to melt and then solidifying the powder layer to form a solidified layer. The energy beam is irradiated to the powder layer corresponding to a contour area and an inner-solid area inside of the contour area. The first and second steps are alternately and repeatedly executed. The energy beam is scanned such that an irradiation starting point of the energy beam for forming an upper solidified layer does not overlap with an irradiation starting point of the energy beam for forming a lower solidified layer in a view from a lamination direction.