Plasma synthesis of reactive species and nanoparticles with controlled surface chemistry

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Nanoparticles are physicochemical entities having at least one dimension inferior to 100 nm. Due to their extremely high surface areas, such particles are ideal hosts for chemical reactions and gas storage through adsorption on their surface. They can be fabricated of numerous materials including metals, semiconductors and insulators and used in a variety of applications ranging from catalysis, photovoltaic cells, and fuel additives in rocket engines. When properly stabilized and dispersed in a host fluid, they may form colloidal suspensions. The nanofluids thus produced exhibit enhanced or new properties with respect to the base fluids. Nanoparticles may render electrically conductive an otherwise insulating fluid. Their composition can be tuned to acquire uncommon properties like efficient direct solar energy absorbance, enhanced heat capacity (storage capacity), laser light amplification and chemical affinity with specific molecules. One of the main objectives of this research programme is to further develop various plasma-assisted synthesis processes to obtain the desired nanoparticles and nanofluids. Specific applications in mass transfer, gas storage and solar energy harvesting and conversion will be considered.