| abstract |
A new method of manufacturing nanoscale single- and multi-component metal oxide particles is described. In a first step of the method, a first solution that includes one or more metal salts, an acid, and a solvent is formed; in a second step, a second solution that includes an organic polymer, a base, and water is formed; in a third step, the first solution is combined with the second solution to form a combined solution, and a precipitation reaction occurs such that metal hydroxide particles precipitate out of the combined solution; in a fourth step, the metal hydroxide particles are collected, rinsed, and dried; and finally, in a fifth step, the metal hydroxide particles are heated, thereby forming nanoscale metal oxide particles of less than about 100 nm in size. Exemplary nanoscale particles that may be produced using this method include indium tin-oxide (ITO) and antimony doped-tin oxide (ATO). |