Semiconductors and Electronics

Nickel nano powders are used in conductive pastes for electronic components, including the internal electrodes of multilayer ceramic capacitors and other applications requiring fine conductive metal particles. Small, uniform particles enable thinner conductive layers and support the continued miniaturization of electronic components. CVMR’s process can produce spherical nickel nano powder using its carbonyl-based powder technology. CVMR’s process can also produce custom nickel, iron, cobalt, tantalum, manganese and other metal nano-powders with particle sizes and morphologies tailored to specific application requirements. Control over particle size, morphology and composition allows the powder characteristics to be matched to the requirements of conductive pastes and other advanced electronic-material applications.

Cobalt’s magnetic and electromagnetic properties make cobalt nano-powders relevant to applications including electromagnetic-wave absorption and shielding, magnetic media and other electronic materials requiring controlled magnetic behaviour. CVMR’s nano-powder process provides control over particle size and morphology, allowing cobalt and cobalt-containing powders to be produced to meet specific material requirements for advanced electronic applications.

Vapour deposition enables metals to be deposited directly onto prepared substrates under controlled process conditions. Depending on the application, the process can be used to create metallic coatings, replicate detailed surface geometries and manufacture solid metal forms without conventional casting or extensive machining. CVMR has performed deposition on silicon wafers for Schlumberger Doll Research Center and optical-part coating for Avery Dennison, demonstrating the application of its deposition technologies to semiconductor and precision optical surfaces. CVMR’s vapour-deposition technology can also produce solid nickel tooling for optical manufacturing. The company has produced a one-piece nickel plate measuring approximately 20 centimetres square and 2 centimetres thick for use in injection moulding optical components.

Nickel nano powders and nickel-containing nanomaterials are used in catalytic and electrocatalytic research because their small particle size and high surface area can provide useful catalytic properties. In proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells, reducing the amount of platinum-group metals required in catalyst systems remains an important research objective. Platinum is still widely used in conventional PEM fuel-cell catalysts, but nickel is used in platinum–nickel catalyst systems and in research on lower-cost catalyst compositions. Platinum–nickel structures can increase oxygen-reduction activity while reducing the amount of platinum required. CVMR’s ability to produce controlled nickel nano powders and nickel-containing alloy powders provides material options for catalyst development and other advanced energy-conversion applications.