IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,582,962
Granted Patent B2
US 12,582,962 · App. 18/173,317 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Fluidic systems and methods for the manufacture of nanoparticles

Inventors: Frederick G. Baddour (Denver, CO); Susan E. Habas (Boulder, CO); Brittney E. Petel (Lakewood, CO); Alexander Kenneth Yung (Fort Collins, CO)
Assignee: Alliance for Energy Innovation, LLC
B01J19/0093B22F1/0547B22F9/24B01J2219/00822B01J2219/00824B01J2219/00831B01J2219/00833B01J2219/0086B01J2219/00889B01J2219/00894B22F2009/245B22F2301/255B22F2304/054B82Y30/00B82Y40/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,582,962
App. No.
18/173,317
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (53)

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.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 16, 2025
From: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
To: ALLIANCE FOR ENERGY INNOVATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 073993/0276 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Aug 14, 2023
From: NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 064577/0768 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 23, 2023
From: BADDOUR, FREDERICK G.; HABAS, SUSAN E.; PETEL, BRITTNEY E.; YUNG, ALEXANDER KENNETH
To: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 062783/0585 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63313011 · Feb 23, 2022
Related Publication 20230264166A1 · Aug 24, 2023
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