Fluidic systems and methods for the manufacture of nanoparticles
The present disclosure relates to a method of synthesizing metal nanoparticles, where the method includes mixing a metal precursor with a stabilizing ligand in a first zone of a first fluidic device to form a first mixture and mixing the first mixture with a reductant in a second zone of the first fluidic device to form a second mixture, such that the metal nanoparticles form in the second zone.
1 . A device comprising:
a channel constructed of at least two runs fluidly connected in series by a bend;
a first inlet fluidly connected to a first end of the channel,
an outlet fluidly connected to a second end of the channel,
a second inlet fluidly connected to the channel between the first inlet and the outlet, and
a third inlet fluidly connected to the channel between the second inlet and the outlet, wherein:
the channel has a diameter between 0.1 mm and 10 mm, and
at least one run comprises an additional bend positioned therein.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each run is positioned substantially parallel to adjacent runs.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the bend connecting the runs redirects the channel by about 180 degrees.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the number of runs is between 2 and 100 runs.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one run has between 2 and 100 additional bends.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the additional bend redirects the run by about 90 degrees.
7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a narrowing in the diameter of the channel, followed by a widening in the diameter of the channel.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the channel is positioned within a block of material.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the material comprises at least one of a plastic, a ceramic, a glass, or a metal.
10 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the material is capable of operating at a temperature between 0° C. and 200° C.
11 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the material is capable of operating at a pressure between one atmosphere and ten atmospheres of absolute pressure.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the channel has a volume between 100 ml and 10,000 ml.
13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the channel has a length between 10 mm and 10,000 mm.
14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the channel is configured to provide laminar flow, with water flowing through the channel at a flow rate between 1 ml/min and 100 ml/min.
15 . A system comprising:
a first fluidic device comprising:
a channel constructed of at least two runs fluidly connected in series by a bend;
a first inlet fluidly connected to a first end of the channel,
an outlet fluidly connected to a second end of the channel,
a second inlet fluidly connected to the channel between the first inlet and the outlet, and
a third inlet fluidly connected to the channel between the second inlet and the outlet, wherein:
the channel has a diameter between 0.1 mm and 10 mm, and
at least one run comprises an additional bend positioned therein; and
a second fluidic device, wherein:
the first fluidic device and the second fluidic device are connected in series by a union.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the second fluidic device comprises a channel having a narrowing in a diameter of the channel, followed by a widening in the diameter of the channel.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the second fluidic device comprises a channel constructed of at least two runs fluidly connected in series by a bend.
18 . A method of synthesizing metal nanoparticles, the method comprising:
mixing a metal precursor with a stabilizing ligand in a first zone of a first fluidic device to form a first mixture; and
combining the first mixture with a reductant in a second zone of the first fluidic device to form a second mixture, wherein:
the metal nanoparticles form in the second zone, and
the first fluidic device comprises:
a channel constructed of at least two runs fluidly connected in series by a bend;
a first inlet fluidly connected to a first end of the channel,
an outlet fluidly connected to a second end of the channel,
a second inlet fluidly connected to the channel between the first inlet and the outlet, and
a third inlet fluidly connected to the channel between the second inlet and the outlet, wherein:
the channel has a diameter between 0.1 mm and 10 mm, and
at least one run comprises an additional bend positioned in the run.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the metal nanoparticles have a substantially spherical shape with an average diameter between about 1 nm and about 10 nm.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
directing the second mixture from the first fluidic device to a second fluidic device,
mixing in a first zone of the second fluidic device the second mixture with a diluting liquid to form a third mixture, and
combining in a second zone of the second fluidic device the third mixture with a liquid comprising the metal precursor, wherein:
at least a portion of the spherical metal nanoparticles are transformed into nanorods.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein laminar flow is maintained in the first fluidic device.