Synthesis of nanoparticles: control of size and agglomeration

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Nanoparticles of many different types are finding applications in such diverse areas as advanced materials, medicine, biotechnology and microelectronics. The use of thermal plasma technology, especially the use of induction plasma torches is a powerful technique to synthesize a wide array of nanosized metals, carbides and ceramic particles. However, due to a lack of fundamental understanding on the design and behaviour of the reactors used for the synthesis only a fraction of the synthesized material has the desired particle size distribution. It is often as expensive to separate out this desired fraction as it was to synthesize them. In addition the hard or soft agglomeration of the product often makes it difficult or impossible to use. This project will undertake a fundamental study of nanoparticle synthesis in a commercial type of induction plasma reactor using a model system to study both the control of particle size distribution and agglomeration. The results obtained will be of interest to all researchers using this technology. Our industrial partner is the major world producer of induction plasma equipment and is well situated to apply the results of this research to other systems.