Patent ID: 7655160
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: C22B,C22C,C22F,F27D,H01B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of modifying the electronic structure of a material comprising the steps of: (1.) Melting the material; (2.) Adding a carbon source to the material; and (3.) Varying the temperature of the material between two temperatures over one or more cycles, wherein the material remains at a temperature above the melting point during the entire step; and (4) Cooling the material to room temperature; the improvement comprising exposing at least one gas or gaseous addition to a radiation source and adding said gas or gaseous addition during one or more of the above steps; and/or exposing the material to a radiation source in during one or more of the above steps, wherein said radiation source is selected from the group consisting of short arc lamps, high intensity discharge lamps, pencil lamps, lasers, light emitting diodes, a radiation source emitting wavelengths consisting of infrared wavelengths, a radiation source emitting wavelengths consisting of ultraviolet wavelengths, a radiation source emitting wavelengths consisting of long wave ultraviolet wavelengths and/or halogen lamps.