Nanostructured materials and their application have been attracted much attention in the last decades. Due to extended research in this area, various nanomaterials and endless application of them is known today. This led to rising demand for methods suitable for big scale nanomaterials production, especially when it comes to ones with target morphology, complex composition, multicomponent and coated materials. In this paper a report of first results on scale up of Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis (USP) process is presented, which is relatively inexpensive and quite versatile technique for Au nanoparticle production based on an aerosol process. It is possible to produce fine metallic, oxidic, composite nanoparticles of precisely controlled morphology and defined chemical compositions from water solution using different metal salts and their mixtures.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 16906774The nanoparticles investigated in this work are the very good studied nanomaterials, synthetized with various methods and with the numerous applications. Some of the most typical applications of the complex metal/oxide structures are for example, the catalysis and photocatalysis. Important is to notice that the characteristics and the morphology of the nanoparticles are dependent on the synthesis method. For this reason, it is to expect that a slight process differences can lead to the different final product characteristics, especially microstructure and functionality. Due to this, new synthesis methods are developed and tested for decades. In order to design and control the end product characteristics, for each synthesis method, the nanoparticle formation mechanism has to be understood. The special application for the nanoparticles studied in this work is the novel method for the improvement of the tribological and the electrical properties and the life time of the galvanic gold layers by the incorporation of the nanoparticles.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 18301462Realization of lectures: 1. New approaches by the production of core shell nano-materials and problems of their nano-structural characterization 2. The role of gold nano-particles in medicine, biology and pharmacy 3. Galvanizacija z rodijem (v sodelovanju s podjetjem Zlatarna Celje d.d. Slovenia)
B.05 Guest lecturer at an institute/university
COBISS.SI-ID: 17118230The announcement (report) of the innovation at the Spirit Agency Slovenia has been ranked amongst the best, which was acquired right before the presentation of the innovations at the 9th Slovenian Innovation Forum. This Forum is a central national event on the topics of Innovation and Enterprise, which took place on the 12th and 13th November 2014 in the Cankarjev Dom in Ljubljana. The authors, together with their partners, plan to set up a pilot prototype Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis (USP) device that will operate in a controlled industrial environment. The device is intended exclusively for the study process for the production of the nanoparticles of gold, which will limit the possibility of the contamination of the material. The vertical geometry was expected and thereby we enabled a better control over the phases of the process. The aim is to obtain spherical gold nanoparticles. The innovation is in the separate entry of the gas, which allows the drying of the drops prior to reacting with the gas thereby producing nanoparticles of gold with the same geometry.
E.01 National awards
COBISS.SI-ID: 18253590Research in the field of nanoparticles is becoming increasingly extensive. Surface adhesion, chemical reactivity, conductivity, melting point, plasmon resonance, and other properties of the materials are different at sizes below 100 nm. This gives nanoparticles potential use in various industries, from electronics to medicine. In cooperation with the Institute for the recycling of metallic materials - RWTH Aachen, Germany we produced nanoparticles with a technology called ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP). Ultrasonic spray pyrolysis operates on the principle of generating nanoparticles from micron droplets of dissolved material. The preferred material for the nanoparticles is first dissolved in acid and the solution is then diluted with water. An ultrasound is focused on the surface of the prepared solution, which causes high-frequency waves. Due to the intensity of the ultrasonic vibration, peaks of the waves tear off and thus droplets of a few microns are created. This is seen in the form of a formation of mist or aerosol. The generated aerosol is then sent to a reaction furnace at a suitable temperature by means of an inert gas, where the droplets are first dried and then reacted with an added reduction gas. The result is one newly created nanoparticle of the desired material from one drop of the initial solution. Depending on what the concentration of dissolved material we started with was, and of what size the droplet was, we obtain a nanoparticle in sizes from a few ten to a few hundred nanometers. Several configurations of the USP apparatus are possible: (i) with a vertical or horizontal furnace layout, (ii) with a submerged ultrasound, or an ultrasonic nozzle, (iii) different methods of nanoparticle collection: through an electrostatic filter, with collection bottles, nanofilm deposition on a selected substrate and others.
F.05 Ability to launch new technological development cycle
COBISS.SI-ID: 17945878