Provided are apparatus and methods for enriching and separating isotopologues or isotopes. The apparatus and methods enrich and/or separate isotopes or isotopologues present in a substantially monovelocity supersonic beam incident upon a solid surface comprising condensed forms of the isotopologues or the isotopes via the differential condensation of the different isotopologues or isotopes on the surface or the differential reflection of the different isotopologues or isotopes from the surface.

Provided are apparatus and methods for enriching and separating isotopologues or isotopes. The apparatus and methods enrich and/or separate isotopes or isotopologues present in a substantially monovelocity supersonic beam incident upon a solid surface comprising condensed forms of the isotopologues or the isotopes via the differential condensation of the different isotopologues or isotopes on the surface or the differential reflection of the different isotopologues or isotopes from the surface.

Provided is a method of separating carbon and oxygen isotopes by using a laser. In one preferred embodiment, the method includes performing a photolysis process on formaldehyde including a carbon or oxygen isotope by irradiation with ultraviolet light having a wavelength ranging from 340 nm to 360 nm to generate carbon monoxide having a carbon or oxygen isotope enriched therein and hydrogen, performing a catalytic reaction on the carbon monoxide having a carbon or oxygen isotope enriched therein and the hydrogen to synthesize carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and water (H.sub.2O) having a carbon or oxygen isotope enriched therein, and cooling the H.sub.2O to recover CO.sub.2 having a carbon isotope enriched therein or H.sub.2O having an oxygen isotope enriched therein.

Provided is a method of separating carbon and oxygen isotopes by using a laser. In one preferred embodiment, the method includes performing a photolysis process on formaldehyde including a carbon or oxygen isotope by irradiation with ultraviolet light having a wavelength ranging from 340 nm to 360 nm to generate carbon monoxide having a carbon or oxygen isotope enriched therein and hydrogen, performing a catalytic reaction on the carbon monoxide having a carbon or oxygen isotope enriched therein and the hydrogen to synthesize carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and water (H.sub.2O) having a carbon or oxygen isotope enriched therein, and cooling the H.sub.2O to recover CO.sub.2 having a carbon isotope enriched therein or H.sub.2O having an oxygen isotope enriched therein.

Methods for enriching, separating, or enriching and separating isotopes and isotopologues, as well as other chemical species, contained in a supersonic beam are provided. In the methods, a supersonic beam having different isotopes, isotopologues, or other chemical species entrained therein and a beam comprising a matrix material converge on a surface. As the matrix material forms a solid matrix on the surface, heavier isotopes, isotopologues, and/or other chemical species become preferentially embedded in the matrix, while lighter isotopes, isotopologues, and/or other chemical species are preferentially scattered from the surface.

Methods for enriching, separating, or enriching and separating isotopes and isotopologues, as well as other chemical species, contained in a supersonic beam are provided. In the methods, a supersonic beam having different isotopes, isotopologues, or other chemical species entrained therein and a beam comprising a matrix material converge on a surface. As the matrix material forms a solid matrix on the surface, heavier isotopes, isotopologues, and/or other chemical species become preferentially embedded in the matrix, while lighter isotopes, isotopologues, and/or other chemical species are preferentially scattered from the surface.

The present invention is directed to a method of separating hydrogen isotopes. The method comprises: providing an aqueous solution comprising a mixture of hydrogen isotopes comprising a first hydrogen isotope and a second hydrogen isotope and nanoparticles, and exposing the aqueous solution to at least one wavelength of light of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The present invention is directed to a method of separating hydrogen isotopes. The method comprises: providing an aqueous solution comprising a mixture of hydrogen isotopes comprising a first hydrogen isotope and a second hydrogen isotope and nanoparticles, and exposing the aqueous solution to at least one wavelength of light of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Methods for separating isotopes are provided. An embodiment of such a method comprises directing a supersonic beam characterized by an average velocity v and velocity distribution Δv/v, the beam comprising a first isotope and a second isotope, at a single-crystalline surface at an angle of incidence θ.sub.i such that the first isotope elastically scatters from the surface with a peak angle θ.sub.f1 and the second isotope elastically scatters from the surface with a peak angle θ.sub.f2; and selectively collecting the scattered first isotope, the scattered second isotope, or both. Apparatus for carrying out the methods are also provided.

Methods for separating isotopes are provided. An embodiment of such a method comprises directing a supersonic beam characterized by an average velocity v and velocity distribution Δv/v, the beam comprising a first isotope and a second isotope, at a single-crystalline surface at an angle of incidence θ.sub.i such that the first isotope elastically scatters from the surface with a peak angle θ.sub.f1 and the second isotope elastically scatters from the surface with a peak angle θ.sub.f2; and selectively collecting the scattered first isotope, the scattered second isotope, or both. Apparatus for carrying out the methods are also provided.