SBIR Phase I: A method and reactor for continuous production of titania and related metal oxide nanowires

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a new method and reactor for continuous and large-scale production of titania and other related metal oxide nanowires. Inexpensive micron scale metal oxide and spherically shaped powders will be converted to nanowires using a plasma oxidation scheme. The fast reaction time (on the order of minutes) of this process will allow the development of a reactor for continuous production of nanowire powders. The broader/commercial impact of this project will be the potential to provide a process and reactor for the production of nanowire-based materials in large volume. Titania and manganese oxide nanowire powders will find commercial applications in lithium-ion batteries for transportation and large-scale storage. Ceria and titania nanowire powders may also be used in catalysis, paints, light-weight and optical composite materials etc.