A carbon-coated metal powder having few impurities, a narrower particle size distribution, and sintering properties is particularly suitable as a conductive powder of a conductive paste for forming internal conductors in a ceramic multilayer electronic component obtained by co-firing multilayered ceramic sheets and internal conductor layers; a conductive paste containing the carbon-coated metal powder; a multilayer electronic component using the conductive paste; and a method for manufacturing the carbon-coated metal powder. The carbon-coated metal powder has specific properties in TMA or ESCA measurements. The carbon-coated metal powder can be obtained by melting and vaporizing a metallic raw material in a reaction vessel, conveying the generated metal vapor into a cooling tube and rapidly cooling the metal vapor by endothermically decomposing a carbon source supplied into the cooling tube, and forming a carbon coating film on metal nuclei surfaces in parallel with generation of the metal nuclei.

A carbon-coated metal powder having few impurities, a narrower particle size distribution, and sintering properties is particularly suitable as a conductive powder of a conductive paste for forming internal conductors in a ceramic multilayer electronic component obtained by co-firing multilayered ceramic sheets and internal conductor layers; a conductive paste containing the carbon-coated metal powder; a multilayer electronic component using the conductive paste; and a method for manufacturing the carbon-coated metal powder. The carbon-coated metal powder has specific properties in TMA or ESCA measurements. The carbon-coated metal powder can be obtained by melting and vaporizing a metallic raw material in a reaction vessel, conveying the generated metal vapor into a cooling tube and rapidly cooling the metal vapor by endothermically decomposing a carbon source supplied into the cooling tube, and forming a carbon coating film on metal nuclei surfaces in parallel with generation of the metal nuclei.

One aspect of the invention requires an apparatus for forming core-shell magnetic nanoparticles comprising: a magnetic nanoparticle source operable to generate a beam of nanoparticles; at least one shell material source comprising a bore through which the beam of nanoparticles may pass; and at least one controllable magnetic field generator, operable to generate a magnetic field which at least partially surrounds the at least one shell material source, wherein nanoparticles may be received at one end of the shell material source and the movement of the nanoparticles within the bore may be controlled by the controllable magnetic field to be coated by the shell material to specified dimensions, and nanoparticles may leave the other end of the shell material source. Another aspect of the in invention is a method of manufacturing core-shell magnetic nanoparticles, wherein: a beam of magnetic nanoparticles is generated by the nanoparticles source (34); and at least one vapour of at least one shell material is generated by at least one shell material source (36, 38, 50), wherein the at least one vapour of at least one shell material is located within the field generated by a controllable magnetic field generator (80); wherein the beam of nanoparticles enter the vapour of at least one shell material source (36, 38, 50) and the movement of the magnetic nanoparticles is controlled to coat the nanoparticles with the at least one shell material to specified dimensions and subsequently the coated nanoparticles are directed from the at least one shell material source to exit the at least one shell material source.

One aspect of the invention requires an apparatus for forming core-shell magnetic nanoparticles comprising: a magnetic nanoparticle source operable to generate a beam of nanoparticles; at least one shell material source comprising a bore through which the beam of nanoparticles may pass; and at least one controllable magnetic field generator, operable to generate a magnetic field which at least partially surrounds the at least one shell material source, wherein nanoparticles may be received at one end of the shell material source and the movement of the nanoparticles within the bore may be controlled by the controllable magnetic field to be coated by the shell material to specified dimensions, and nanoparticles may leave the other end of the shell material source. Another aspect of the in invention is a method of manufacturing core-shell magnetic nanoparticles, wherein: a beam of magnetic nanoparticles is generated by the nanoparticles source (34); and at least one vapour of at least one shell material is generated by at least one shell material source (36, 38, 50), wherein the at least one vapour of at least one shell material is located within the field generated by a controllable magnetic field generator (80); wherein the beam of nanoparticles enter the vapour of at least one shell material source (36, 38, 50) and the movement of the magnetic nanoparticles is controlled to coat the nanoparticles with the at least one shell material to specified dimensions and subsequently the coated nanoparticles are directed from the at least one shell material source to exit the at least one shell material source.

One aspect of the invention requires an apparatus for forming core-shell magnetic nanoparticles comprising: a magnetic nanoparticle source operable to generate a beam of nanoparticles; at least one shell material source comprising a bore through which the beam of nanoparticles may pass; and at least one controllable magnetic field generator, operable to generate a magnetic field which at least partially surrounds the at least one shell material source, wherein nanoparticles may be received at one end of the shell material source and the movement of the nanoparticles within the bore may be controlled by the controllable magnetic field to be coated by the shell material to specified dimensions, and nanoparticles may leave the other end of the shell material source. Another aspect of the in invention is a method of manufacturing core-shell magnetic nanoparticles, wherein: a beam of magnetic nanoparticles is generated by the nanoparticles source (34); and at least one vapour of at least one shell material is generated by at least one shell material source (36, 38, 50), wherein the at least one vapour of at least one shell material is located within the field generated by a controllable magnetic field generator (80); wherein the beam of nanoparticles enter the vapour of at least one shell material source (36, 38, 50) and the movement of the magnetic nanoparticles is controlled to coat the nanoparticles with the at least one shell material to specified dimensions and subsequently the coated nanoparticles are directed from the at least one shell material source to exit the at least one shell material source.

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma apparatus for synthesizing metal particles is provided. The DBD plasma apparatus includes an electrolyte vessel for receiving an electrolyte solution comprising metal ions; an electrode spaced-apart from the electrolyte vessel; a dielectric barrier interposed between the electrolyte vessel and the electrode such that, when the electrolyte solution is present in the electrolyte vessel, the dielectric barrier and an upper surface of the electrolyte solution are spaced-apart from each other and define a discharge area therebetween; and gas inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with the discharge area such that supplying gas in the discharge area while applying an electrical potential difference between the electrode and the electrolyte solution cause a plasma to be produced onto the electrolyte solution, the plasma interacting with the metal ions and synthesizing metal particles. A method for synthesizing metal particles using a DBD plasma apparatus is also provided.

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma apparatus for synthesizing metal particles is provided. The DBD plasma apparatus includes an electrolyte vessel for receiving an electrolyte solution comprising metal ions; an electrode spaced-apart from the electrolyte vessel; a dielectric barrier interposed between the electrolyte vessel and the electrode such that, when the electrolyte solution is present in the electrolyte vessel, the dielectric barrier and an upper surface of the electrolyte solution are spaced-apart from each other and define a discharge area therebetween; and gas inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with the discharge area such that supplying gas in the discharge area while applying an electrical potential difference between the electrode and the electrolyte solution cause a plasma to be produced onto the electrolyte solution, the plasma interacting with the metal ions and synthesizing metal particles. A method for synthesizing metal particles using a DBD plasma apparatus is also provided.

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma apparatus for synthesizing metal particles is provided. The DBD plasma apparatus includes an electrolyte vessel for receiving an electrolyte solution comprising metal ions; an electrode spaced-apart from the electrolyte vessel; a dielectric barrier interposed between the electrolyte vessel and the electrode such that, when the electrolyte solution is present in the electrolyte vessel, the dielectric barrier and an upper surface of the electrolyte solution are spaced-apart from each other and define a discharge area therebetween; and gas inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with the discharge area such that supplying gas in the discharge area while applying an electrical potential difference between the electrode and the electrolyte solution cause a plasma to be produced onto the electrolyte solution, the plasma interacting with the metal ions and synthesizing metal particles. A method for synthesizing metal particles using a DBD plasma apparatus is also provided.

There is provided a method of manufacturing nanoparticles comprising the steps of feeding a core precursor into a plasma torch in a plasma reactor, thereby producing a vapor of silicon or alloy thereof; and allowing the vapor to migrate to a quenching zone of the plasma reactor, thereby cooling the vapor and allowing condensation of the vapor into a nanoparticle core made of the silicon or alloy thereof, wherein the quenching gas comprises a passivating gas precursor that reacts with the surface of the core in the quenching zone produce a passivation layer covering the core, thereby producing said nanoparticles. The present invention also relates to nanoparticles comprising a core covered with a passivation layer, the core being made of silicon or an alloy thereof, as well as their use, in particular in the manufacture of anodes.

There is provided a method of manufacturing nanoparticles comprising the steps of feeding a core precursor into a plasma torch in a plasma reactor, thereby producing a vapor of silicon or alloy thereof; and allowing the vapor to migrate to a quenching zone of the plasma reactor, thereby cooling the vapor and allowing condensation of the vapor into a nanoparticle core made of the silicon or alloy thereof, wherein the quenching gas comprises a passivating gas precursor that reacts with the surface of the core in the quenching zone produce a passivation layer covering the core, thereby producing said nanoparticles. The present invention also relates to nanoparticles comprising a core covered with a passivation layer, the core being made of silicon or an alloy thereof, as well as their use, in particular in the manufacture of anodes.