Search for content and authors
 

Flame aerosol synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles

Sotiris E. Pratsinis 

ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich 8092, Switzerland

Abstract

Gas phase (aerosol) synthesis of ceramic nanoparticles is attractive as it does not require the multiple steps of wet chemistry processes and cleaning of liquid by-products resulting high purity products (e.g. optical fibers) while particle collection is easier from gas than liquid streams. As a result, the aerosol route is preferred in materials manufacture (pigmentary TiO2 by the chloride versus the sulfate process) or in cleaning of process streams (gas versus wet scrubbing). Today flame aerosol technology, in particular, is used in large scale manufacture of fumed SiO2, TiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles up to several tons/hour.

It will be shown how characteristics (size, morphology and crystallinity) of metal oxide nanoparticles (e.g. SiO2, TiO2) can be controlled by flame variables (reactant mixing, composition and flowrate as well as external electric fields). Such understanding guides rational design and operation of aerosol reactors for the above commodities and enables now aerosol technology to develop new processes and products for catalysts, sensors, biomaterials, photonics and even nutritional supplements!

For example, noble metal bearing catalysts (e.g. Pt/Al2O3) that were made for eons by multi-step wet impregnation and costly effluent treatment are made now by one-step liquid-fed flame aerosol reactors. Likewise biomaterials for bone replacement and dental prosthetics are made such as transparent but radioopaque Ta2O5/SiO2 nanocomposites. Highly efficient NOx storage-reduction Pt/Ba/Al2O3 catalysts are made by stereoscopically arranged twin flame reactors promoting component mixing at the nano rather than at the atomic level. Very recently, it was demonstrated gas-phase synthesis of sensors for organic vapors by one step synthesis of TiO2 or Pt/SnO2 nanoparticles and their direct deposition on Pt electrodes resulting in highly porous films. Hence all the demanding, impurity-prone steps of conventional sensor manufacture by wet processes are bypassed .

 

Legal notice
  • Legal notice:
 

Presentation: Invited at E-MRS Fall Meeting 2007, Symposium A, by Sotiris E. Pratsinis
See On-line Journal of E-MRS Fall Meeting 2007

Submitted: 2007-02-22 14:52
Revised:   2009-06-07 00:44