What are the advantages of customized corundum tube furnace in the field of new energy materials?

In the field of new energy materials, customized corundum tube furnaces have become the core equipment for the preparation and processing of materials such as lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, etc., due to their high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, high purity, precise temperature control, and flexible atmosphere control capabilities.

1. Preparation of lithium-ion battery materials: ensuring high purity and performance stability
Inert atmosphere protection:
In the synthesis of positive and negative electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (such as lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, graphite, silicon carbon composite materials), a corundum tube furnace can be filled with inert gases such as nitrogen and argon to prevent the material from reacting with oxygen and water vapor at high temperatures, and to prevent oxidation or impurity introduction. For example, when graphite negative electrode materials are calcined at high temperatures, an inert atmosphere can inhibit their reaction with oxygen to generate carbon dioxide, ensuring the purity of the material.
Accurate temperature control and uniform heating:
Through an intelligent PID temperature control system, temperature fluctuations can be controlled within ± 1 ℃. Combined with the high thermal conductivity of corundum tubes, the furnace temperature uniformity is excellent, avoiding abnormal growth or agglomeration of material grains caused by local overheating. For example, lithium iron phosphate cathode material needs to be calcined at 700-800 ℃, and a uniform temperature field can ensure a narrow particle size distribution and improve battery cycling performance.
Multi temperature gradient control:
Customized multi temperature zone furnace body (such as dual temperature zone, triple temperature zone), which can achieve independent control of heating, reaction, and cooling. For example, in the preparation of silicon carbon composite negative electrode materials, the precursor is decomposed in the low-temperature zone, the composite reaction between silicon and carbon is promoted in the high-temperature zone, and the reaction rate is controlled in the intermediate temperature zone to avoid material cracking or performance degradation.

2. Preparation of Fuel Cell Catalysts: Enhancing Activity and Durability
Restoring atmosphere control:
Fuel cell catalysts (such as platinum/carbon, platinum alloys) need to be reduced in a hydrogen or hydrogen/argon mixed atmosphere to remove oxide impurities and form highly active metal particles. The corundum tube furnace can accurately adjust the gas flow rate and ratio to ensure the cleanliness of the catalyst surface and enhance the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. For example, after reduction in a hydrogen atmosphere, the electrochemical active area of platinum carbon catalysts can be increased by more than 30%.
High temperature stability and chemical inertness:
Corundum tubes are resistant to high temperatures (≥ 1600 ℃) and have strong chemical stability, which can prevent catalysts from reacting with furnace tube materials at high temperatures and prevent catalyst poisoning. For example, in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), platinum alloy catalysts prepared by corundum tube furnaces have significantly better stability in acidic environments than ordinary quartz tube furnaces.
Vacuum environment support:
Some fuel cell materials, such as perovskite oxide catalysts, need to be annealed in a vacuum environment to remove gas impurities from the pores and improve density. The corundum tube furnace can be equipped with a vacuum system (maximum vacuum degree ≤ 10 ⁻ ³ Pa) to meet the requirements of such processes.

3. Material processing of solar cells: optimizing structure and optoelectronic performance
Rapid annealing and crystallization control:
In perovskite solar cells, a corundum tube furnace can be used for annealing the perovskite layer. By precisely controlling the annealing temperature (such as 100-150 ℃) and time (such as 5-30 minutes), grain boundary defects can be eliminated and the photoelectric conversion efficiency can be improved. For example, after annealing, the carrier mobility of perovskite films can be increased by 50%, and the open circuit voltage can be increased by 0.1V.
Inert atmosphere protection:
In the preparation of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin film solar cells, the selenization process needs to be carried out under argon protection to prevent oxidation of elements such as copper, indium, and gallium. The sealing design of the corundum tube furnace can ensure the purity of the atmosphere, improve the uniformity and adhesion of the film.
High temperature sintering and doping:
In silicon-based solar cells, a corundum tube furnace can be used for phosphorus diffusion doping process, forming a uniform p-n junction by precisely controlling the diffusion temperature (such as 800-900 ℃) and time. For example, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of diffused silicon wafers can be improved by 1-2 percentage points.

4. Hydrogen energy material development: supports high-temperature and high-pressure reactions
High pressure atmosphere reaction:
In the preparation of hydrogen storage materials such as metal hydrides and carbon nanotube hydrogen storage, the corundum tube furnace can be equipped with a high-pressure gas path system to support hydrogen pressure up to 10MPa, promoting the adsorption and desorption of hydrogen in the material. For example, titanium based hydrogen storage alloys synthesized under high-pressure hydrogen atmosphere can increase hydrogen storage capacity by 20%.
High temperature corrosion environment tolerance:
In the preparation of hydrogen production catalysts for electrolysis of water (such as nickel iron oxide), it is necessary to carry out in alkaline or acidic high-temperature environments. The corrosion resistance of corundum tubes can avoid furnace tube pollution and ensure catalyst activity. For example, under the conditions of 1M KOH solution and 80 ℃, the stability of nickel iron catalyst prepared by corundum tube furnace is significantly better than that of ordinary quartz tube furnace.

5. Customized design to meet diverse needs
Customization of furnace tube size and shape:
Customize furnace tube diameter (Φ 20- Φ 200mm) and length (300-1200mm) based on the size of new energy materials such as films, powders, and blocks, and optimize the thermal field distribution. For example, when preparing long strip perovskite thin films, using a long furnace tube can achieve continuous annealing and improve production efficiency.
Multi atmosphere mixing control:
Support the mixing of multiple gases such as nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide to meet complex process requirements. For example, in the preparation of positive electrode materials for lithium air batteries, calcination is required in an oxygen/argon mixed atmosphere. The corundum tube furnace can accurately adjust the gas ratio and optimize the material structure.
Rapid cooling system integration:
Equipped with water or air cooling devices to achieve rapid cooling (such as 10 ℃/min) and suppress material phase transition or grain growth. For example, in the preparation of negative electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, rapid cooling can form an amorphous structure, improving the efficiency of initial charge and discharge.