Nanoparticles with unique optical and electrical properties have been widely used as optical materials like color-converting phosphors, laser gaining materials, optical sensors and bio-sensing material, and perovskite for solar cells and photocatalytic. In the last several decades, flame synthesis, recognized as a promising technique for the scalable production of nanoparticles, has already been commercially used to produce single-component metal-oxide nanoparticles like TiO2 for solar-dye, and SiO2 for optical fiber, etc. Recently, the interest has been shifting to increase the complexity of structure and component of nanomaterials for the creation of optical materials with desired functionalities. In comparison with conventional synthesis methods, the flame synthesis offers the possibility to achieve fast, single-step assembling of different elements on the nano- and atomic-scale in the high-temperature environment.
The project aims to achieve fast, single-step production of advanced nanomaterials with complex architecture. A counterflow burner is used as the flame synthesis reactor, in which two kinds of precursors can be fed by two opposed flows with their amounts and residence time independently controlled. The nanoparticles can be sampled in-situ and then analyzed by TEM and XRD techniques. Laser diagnostic methods including LIF, LIBS, and PS-LIBS are utilized to gain the knowledge of nanoparticle formation and growth processes in the high-temperature environment.
The project is mainly funded by the Humboldt fellowship of Dr. Yihua Ren.
