AAAR 33rd Annual Conference
October 20 - October 24, 2014
Rosen Shingle Creek
Orlando, Florida, USA
Abstract View
Flame-driven Aerosol Synthesis of Multicomponent Metal and Non-Oxide Semiconductor Nanoparticles
Di Qi, Singh Saurabh, Munish Sharma, MARK SWIHART, University at Buffalo (SUNY)
Abstract Number: 438 Working Group: Nanoparticles and Materials Synthesis
Abstract This presentation will describe our most recent efforts to synthesize metallic and semiconductor nanoparticles in the gas phase. Over the past few years, we have developed the high temperature reducing jet (HTRJ) process for aerosol synthesis of nanoparticles of hydrogen-reducible metals and semiconductors. It employs a fuel-rich hydrogen flame as the source of energy to decompose low-cost metal salt precursors and initiate nanoparticle formation. Aqueous precursor solutions are injected within a converging-diverging nozzle downstream of the flame. The high velocity gas flow atomizes the precursors, which then evaporate, decompose, and nucleate particles. Excess hydrogen ensures that the particles form in a reducing environment, so that metals or non-oxide semiconductors, rather than metal oxides, are formed. In most cases, the process fully converts precursors to products, which is particularly valuable for creating multi-component nanoparticles of controlled composition. Examples to be discussed will include copper-silver-tin mixtures and copper-nickel alloys, which are of interest for use in conductive inks for printable electronics, as well as copper chalcogenide-based semiconductor particles that are of interest for use in solar cells and other optoelectronic applications.