Skip to main content
Log in

The electrical explosion of wire: A method for the synthesis of weakly aggregated nanopowders

  • Reviews
  • Published:
Nanotechnologies in Russia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This overview covers investigations and designs that demonstrate the opportunity to use the phenomenon of the electrical explosion of wire to produce weakly aggregated nanopowders of metals, alloys, mixtures, and oxides. Some general regularities that facilitate the choice of the circuit parameters and dimensions of the exploding wire necessary for producing particles of the required size are described. The limitations to synthesizing the nanopowders of some metals and oxides are indicated. The method is environmentally clean, offers sufficiently high output capacity, and is energy efficient.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. E. Nairne, “Electrical Experiments by Mr. Edward Nairne,” Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, pp. 79–89 (1774).

  2. R. Abrams, Production and Analysis of Radioactive Aerosols CH3629 (University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States, 1946).

    Google Scholar 

  3. F. G. Karioris and B. R. Fish, “An Exploding Wire Aerosol Generator,” J. Colloid Sci. 17, 155–161 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. M. J. Joncich and D. G. Reu, in Proceedings of the Third Conference on Exploding Wire Phenomenon, Boston, MA, United States, March, 10–12, 1964, Ed. by W. G. Chace and H. K. Moore (Plenum, New York, 1964), pp. 353–359 (Exploding Wires 3, 353–359 (1964)).

    Google Scholar 

  5. M. J. Joncich, J. W. Vauchn, and B. F. Kuntsen, “Preparation of Metal Nitrides by the Exploding Wire Technique,” Can. J. Chem. 44, 137–142 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. F. G. Karioris and J. J. Woyci, “X-Ray Investigation of Aerosols from Wires Exploded in Nitrogen,” in Proceedings of the XII Annual Conference on Applications of X-Ray Analysis, Denver, CO, United States, 1963 (Denver, 1963), pp. 240–251.

  7. E. Cook, and B. Siegel, “Reactions of SF6 with Exploding Metals,” J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem. 29, 2739–2743 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. F. N. Weber and D. D. Shear, “Exploding Wire Particle Size by Light Scattering Measurement,” J. Appl. Phys. 40(9), 3854–3856 (1969).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. R. L. Johnson and B. A. Siegel, “Chemical Reactor Utilizing Successive Multiple Electrical Explosion of Metal Wires,” Rev. Sci. Instrum. 41, 854–859 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. R. F. Phalen, “Evaluation of an Exploded-Wire Aerosol Generator for Use in Inhalation Studies,” J. Aerosol Sci. 3, 395–406 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. E. Oktay, “Effect of Wire Cross Section on the First Pulse of an Exploding Wire,” Rev. Sci. Instrum. 36, 1327–1328 (1965).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. P. M. Sherman, “Generation of Submicron Metal Particles,” J. Colloid. Interface Sci. 51, 87–93 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. P. M. Sherman, “Prediction of Conditions for a Single Pulse Discharge,” J. Appl. Phys. 48, 143–144 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. F. D. Bennett, “High-Temperature Exploding Wires,” in Collected Papers: Progress in High-Temperature Physics and Chemistry, Ed. by C. A. Rouse (Pergamon, New York, 1969), pp. 2–63.

    Google Scholar 

  15. J. N. DiMarco and L. C. Burkhardt, “Characteristics of a Magnetic Energy Storage System Using Foils,” J. Appl. Phys. 41, 3894–3899 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. E. I. Azarkevich, “Application of the Similarity Theory to the Calculation of Some Characteristics of the Electrical Explosion of Wires,” Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 43(1), 141–145 (1973) [Sov. Phys. Tech. Phys. 18 (1), 90–93 (1973)].

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. E. I. Azarkevich, Yu. A. Kotov, and V. S. Sedoi, “Conditions for the Current Pause in Exploding Wires,” Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 45(1), 175–177 (1975) [Sov. Phys. Tech. Phys. 20 (1), 111–112 (1975)].

    Google Scholar 

  18. V. S. Sedoi, “Certain Features of Exploding Wires,” Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 46(8), 1707–1710 (1976) [Sov. Phys. Tech. Phys. 21 (8), 983–984 (1976)].

    Google Scholar 

  19. Yu. A. Kotov, V. S. Sedoi, and L. I. Chemezova, “Energy and Time Characteristics of the LC Circuit with an Exploding Wire,” in A Collection of Articles: Development and Application of Sources of Intense Electron Beams (Nauka, Novosibirsk, 1976), pp. 61–69 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  20. R. Rüdenberg, Transient Performance of Electric Power Systems (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1950).

    Google Scholar 

  21. G. W. Anderson and E. W. Neilson, “Use of the Action Integral in Exploding Wire Studies,” in Proceedings of the First Conference on Exploding Wire Phenomenon, Boston, MA, United States, March 24–27, 1959, Ed. by W. G. Chace and H. K. Moore (Plenum, New York, 1959), pp. 97–103 (Exploding Wires 1, 97–103 (1959)).

    Google Scholar 

  22. E. C. Cnare and F. W. Neilson, “Large Exploding Wires-Correlation to Small Wires and Pause Time versus Length Dependency,” in Proceedings of the First Conference on Exploding Wire Phenomenon, Boston, MA, United States, March 24–27, 1959, Ed. by W. G. Chace and H. K. Moore (Plenum, New York, 1959), pp. 83–96 (Exploding Wires 1, 83–96 (1959)).

    Google Scholar 

  23. E. C. Cnare, “Observations on the Striations of Electrically Exploded Copper Foils,” J. Appl. Phys. 32, 1043–1044 (1966).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Yu. A. Kotov, O. M. Samatov, V. S. Sedoi, L. I. Chemezova, and A. A. Chertov, “Heating of Conductors by High-Density Current: The Energy Input and the Integral of Action,” in Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Megagauss Fields and Pulsed Power Systems, Novosibirsk, Russia, July 3–7, 1989, Ed. by V. M. Titov and G. A. Shvetsov (Nova Science, New York, 1990), pp. 497–502.

    Google Scholar 

  25. T. J. Tucker and F. W. Neilson, “The Electrical Behavior of Fine Wires Exploded by a Coaxial Cable Discharge System,” in Proceedings of the First Conference on Exploding Wire Phenomenon, Boston, MA, United States, March 24–27, 1959, Ed. by W. G. Chace and H. K. Moore (Plenum, New York, 1959), pp. 73–81 (Exploding Wires 1, 73–81 (1959)).

    Google Scholar 

  26. L. I. Chemezova, G. A. Mesyats, V. S. Sedoi, B. N. Semin, and V. V. Valevich, in “Proceedings of the 28th International Symposium on Discharges and Electrical Insulation in Vacuum, the Endhoven University of Technology, Endhoven,” The Netherlands, August 17–21, 1998 (Endhoven, 1998), Vol. 1, pp. 48–51.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. A. I. Lur’e, Electrical Exploding of Charges (Uraltekhizdat, Moscow, 1957) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  28. Yu. A. Kotov and N. A. Yavorovskii, “Investigation of Particles Formed in the Course of the Electrical Explosion of Wires,” Fiz. Khim. Obrab. Mater., No. 4, 24–29 (1978).

  29. L. I. Chemezova, “Simulation and Engineering Calculation of the Electrical Explosion of Wires Produced from Different Metals,” Candidate’s Dissertation (Institute of High-Current Electronics of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, Tomsk, 1987).

    Google Scholar 

  30. M. I. Lerner, “Control over the Process of Formation of Highly Disperse Particles under Conditions of Electrical Explosion of Wires,” Candidate’s Dissertation (Polytechnical Institute, Tomsk, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Yu. A. Kotov, E. I. Azarkevich, I. B. Beketov, T. M. Demina, A. M. Murzakaev, and O. M. Samatov, “Producing Al and Al2O3 Nanopowders by Electrical Explosion of Wire,” Key Eng. Mater., Trans. Tech. (Switzerland) 132–136, 173–176 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. G. P. Glazunov, V. P. Kantsedal, A. A. Kornienko, et al., “Some Properties of Finely Dispersed Powders Prepared by Electrical Explosion of Wires in a High-Pressure Gas,” Vopr. At. Nauki Tekh., Ser.: At. Materialoved., No. 1, 21–24 (1978).

  33. Yu. A. Kotov, I. V. Beketov, E. I. Azarkevich, and A. M. Murzakaev, “Synthesis of Nanometer-Sized Powders of Alumina Containing Magnesia,” in Proceedings of the Ninth CIMTEC-World Ceramic Congress “Ceramics: Getting into the 2000s,” Florence, Italy, June 14–19, 1998, Ed. by P. Vincenzini (Techna, Faenza, 1998), Part B, pp. 277–284.

    Google Scholar 

  34. V. P. Volkov, V. N. Gavrilov, and E. A. Litvinov, “Hydrodynamics of the Scattering of Products Formed in the Course of the Electrical Explosion of a Wire,” Teplofiz. Vys. Temp., No. 6, 1203–1208 (1992).

  35. V. N. Gavrilov and E. A. Litvinov, “Numerical Prediction of the Dimensions of Particles Produced by the Electrical Explosion of a Wire,” Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 19(2), 18–23 (1993) [Tech. Phys. Lett. 19 (1), 44–45 (1993)].

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Yu. A. Kotov, “Electrical Explosion of Wires as a Method for Preparation of Nanopowders,” J. Nanopart. Res. 5(5–6), 539–550 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Yu. A. Kotov, I. V. Beketov, A. I. Medvedev, and O. R. Timoshenkova, “Preparation of Aluminum Nanoparticles in an Oxide Shell,” Ross. Nanotekhnol. 2009 (in press) [Nanotechnol. Russ. (2009) (in press)].

  38. A. P. Lyashko, G. G. Savel’ev, and D. V. Tikhonov, “Morphology, Phase Composition, and Oxidation of Powders Produced by the Electrical Explosion of Brass Wires,” Fiz. Khim. Obrab. Mater., No. 6, 127–130 (1992).

  39. E. I. Azarkevich, A. P. Il’in, M. I. Lerner, and D. V. Tikhonov, “The Method for Preparing Metallic Powders,” RF Patent No. 2 075 371 (July 19, 1994).

  40. E. I. Azarkevich, A. P. Il’in, D. V. Tikhonov, and G. V. Yablunovskii, “Synthesis of Ultradispersed Powders of Alloys and Intermetallic Compounds by Electrical Explosion of Wires,” Zh. Fiz. Khim. Obrab. Mater., No. 4, 85–88 (1997).

  41. Yu. A. Kotov, O. V. Samatov, C. K. Rhee, A. M. Murzakaev, O. R. Timoshevskaya, A. I. Medvedev, and A. K. Shtolts, “Nanopowders Prepared by Simultaneous Electrical Explosion of Al and Fe Wires,” in Proceedings of the 10th Asia-Pacific Academy of Materials Topical Seminar and the 3rd Conference Materials of Siberia: Nanoscience and Technology, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, June 2–6, 2003 (Novosibirsk, 2003), 128–130.

  42. N. A. Yavorovskii, “Electrical Explosion of Wires—A Method for Preparing Ultradispersed Metallic Powders,” Candidate’s Dissertation (Polytechnical Institute, Tomsk, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  43. Yu. A. Kotov and O. M. Samatov, “Characteristics of Aluminum Oxide Powders Produced by Pulsed Heating of a Wire,” Poverkhnost, Nos. 10–11, 90–94 (1994).

  44. Yu. A. Kotov, I. V. Beketov, V. P. Volkov, A. M. Murzakaev, O. M. Samatov, R. Boehme, and G. Schumacher, “Synthesis of Nanometersized Powders of Alumina and Titania Using the Electrical Explosion of Wires,” in Proceedings of the Fourth Euro Ceramic Conference “Basic Science Developments in Processing of Advanced Ceramics,” Riccione, Italy, 1995, Ed. by C. Galassi (Riccione, 1995), Vol. 1,Part 1, pp. 77–82.

  45. Yu. A. Kotov, A. V. Bagazeev, A. I. Medvedev, A. M. Murzakaev, T. M. Demina, and A. K. Shtol’ts, “Characteristics of Aluminum Oxide Nanopowders Produced by the Method of Electrical Explosion of a Wire,” Ross. Nanotekhnol. 2(7–8), 109–115 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  46. Yu. A. Kotov, I. V. Beketov, A. M. Murzakaev, O. M. Samatov, R. Boehme, and G. Schumacher, “Synthesis of Al2O3, TiO2, and ZrO2 Nanopowders by Electrical Explosion of Wires,” in Proceedings of the Symposium “Metastable Mechanically Alloyed and Nanocrystalline Materials (ISMANAM-95),” Quebec, Canada, July 24–28, 1995, Ed. by R. Schulz (Quebec, 1995) (Mater. Sci. Forum (Switzerland) 225–227, 913–916 (1995)).

  47. Yu. A. Kotov, I. V. Beketov, T. M. Demina, A. M. Murzakaev, and O. M. Samatov, “Properties of Zirconium Dioxide Powders Produced by the Electrical Explosion of a Wire,” Materialovedenie, No. 4, 49–52 (1997).

  48. Yu. A. Kotov, A. V. Bagazeev, I. V. Beketov, A. M. Murzakaev, O. M. Samatov, A. I. Medvedev, N. I. Moskalenko, O. R. Timoshenkova, T. M. Demina, and A. K. Shtolts, “Characteristics of Nickel Oxide Nanopowders Prepared by the Electrical Explosion of a Wire,” Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 75(10), 39–43 (2005) [Tech. Phys. 50 (10), 1279–1283 (2005)].

    Google Scholar 

  49. Yu. A. Kotov, Ch. K. Rhee, A. V. Bagazeyev, I. V. Beketov, T. M. Demina, A. M. Murzakaev, O. M. Samatov, O. R. Timoshenkova, A. I. Medvedev, A. K. Shtolts, “Production of Copper Nanopowders by Electrical Explosion of Wires: A Study of Their Oxidation during Storage and Heating in Air,” J. Metastable Nanocryst. Mater. 15–16, 343–348 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. E. I. Azarkevich, Yu. A. Kotov, and A. I. Medvedev, “Preparation of Copper Oxide Powders by the Method of Electrical Explosion of Wires” in Proceedings of the Sixth All-Russian Conference “Physical Chemistry of Ultradispersed (Nano-)Systems,” Moscow, Russia, 2003 (Moscow, 2003), pp. 114–117.

  51. Yu. A. Kotov, E. I. Azarkevich, A. I. Medvedev, A. M. Murzakaev, V. L. Kuznetsov, O. M. Samatov, T. M. Demina, O. R. Timoshenkova, and A. K. Shtoltz, “Iron Oxide Nanopowders Prepared by the Electrical Explosion of Wires,” Neorg. Mater. 43(6), 719–724 (2007) [Inorg. Mater. 43 (6), 633–637 (2007)].

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. V. S. Kortov, V. V. Ivanov, Yu. A. Kotov, A. S. Kaigorodov, and A. F. Zatsepin, “Luminescent Ceramic Materials Based on Aluminum and Silicon Oxides,” in Abstracts of Papers of the International Conference “NANO-2008,” Minsk, Belarus, 2008 (Minsk, 2008), p. 557.

  53. V. V. Ivanov and Yu. A. Kotov, “Powder Nanotechnologies for Producing Functional Materials and Devices of Electrochemical Power Engineering,” Vestn. Ross. Akad. Nauk 78(9), 777–787 (2008).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yu. A. Kotov.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © Yu.A. Kotov, 2009, published in Rossiiskie nanotekhnologii, 2009, Vol. 4, Nos. 7–8.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kotov, Y.A. The electrical explosion of wire: A method for the synthesis of weakly aggregated nanopowders. Nanotechnol Russia 4, 415–424 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995078009070039

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995078009070039

Keywords

Navigation