The application of supercritical fluid technology in the synthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

As nanotechnology becomes more important and prevalent, a new reproducible and production-stable synthesis method is needed to meet the demand for the industrial production of nanomaterials. Supercritical fluid (SCF) synthesis is an essential method for the synthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles owing to its fast reaction rate, uniform particle size distribution, high conversion rate, and environmentally friendly nature. This study systematically investigated the crystal nucleation mechanism of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles during synthesis. The effects of reaction material parameters and process parameters on the particle size distribution and conversion rate of nanoproducts were analyzed. Next, the SCF process and the improvement of its core components (mixer and reactor) were studied. Finally, the improvements made to the SCF process were evaluated and future investigation directions are proposed. By presenting a comprehensive overview of SCF technology, this study aims to contribute to the development of a reliable and effective method for the industrial production of nanomaterials.