Flame spray pyrolysis

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This proposal is to acquire a flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) setup for nanotechnology-related research. The setup is used to synthesize metal oxide nano and micro particles using a scalable process that can produce particles in large quantities at a high production rate (kg/h). It can also be used for direct deposition of particles on various substrates. It is capable of producing pure particles as well as doped particles with one or more dopants in a simple one-step process. It allows for tight control over particle size, enough to be able to produce quantum dots which are typically smaller than 10 nm. Our research requires generating coatings from nanomaterial in a one-step process, the production of pure and silica-doped TiO2(B), and quantum dots with band gap energies in the UV region and in the visible region. Those coatings are promising candidates in the aerospace industry to combat icing. TiO2(B) can be used for catalysis as well as battery applications. Quantum dots with band gap energies in the UVC region will be used as catalysts in the development of photostable, photocurable materials for stereolithography 3D printing. The acquired FSP setup will be unique in Canada and rare in North America (the sixth). The acquisition will propel Canadian nanotechnology research towards industry as applications based on FSP synthesis already have the advantage of using mass-producible particles. The acquisition builds upon our investment in developing in-house expertise as our PhD student has spent several months at the particle technology laboratory (PTL) in ETH Zürich, the leading laboratory on the technology. This proposal meshes perfectly with the Concordia strategic research focus on both “advanced materials and technology” as well as “energy, environment and biotechnology”. The equipment will strengthen the foundation of the soon to be established department of chemical and materials engineering at Concordia and supports the interdisciplinary master’s thesis program on nanotechnology that is being developed.