Method for Producing Nanoparticles from a Liquid Mixture

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This patent describes a method and reactor design for the industrial-scale production of nanoparticles from a liquid mixture containing a precursor and solvent. The process operates in a continuous flow reactor where a fuel and oxygen-containing gas are mixed to form an ignitable mixture, and a precursor/solvent mixture is then injected. The ignitable mixture spontaneously combusts after a controlled delay, creating a stabilized flame in which the precursor is converted into nanoparticles. The process offers precise control over particle size and uniformity and is scalable to large production volumes.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Mass production of metal oxide or metal nitride nanoparticles for industrial applications
• Manufacture of high-purity nanomaterials for use in electronics, batteries, and catalysts
• Production of advanced materials for photovoltaic and energy storage devices
• Fabrication of nanoparticle-based coatings, sensors, or conductive inks
• Production of uniformly sized nanomaterials for research and commercial purposes

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables continuous and scalable nanoparticle production beyond laboratory scale
• Allows precise control of particle size, composition, and morphology, leading to high-quality, monodisperse nanoparticles
• Utilizes cost-effective raw materials and energy-efficient methods
• Versatile for synthesizing a wide variety of nanoparticle materials
• Flame stabilization method improves safety and consistency, even at high production rates
• Well-suited to industrial use, supporting large throughputs and continuous operation
• Potential for integration of various precursor types and adjustable reaction conditions for customized particle properties

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing nanoparticles from a liquid mixture of at least one precursor and at least one solvent in a continuous flow reactor, having the following steps: a) introducing at least one oxygen-containing gas inlet flow (E) at a temperature (TE) into the at least one reactor, b) adding at least one fuel (B) at a temperature (TB) into the oxygen-containing gas inlet flow, wherein the fuel and the oxygen-containing gas inlet flow form a homogeneous ignitable mixture (ZM) at a temperature (TZM), the temperature of the homogeneous ignitable mixture (TZM) lying above the spontaneous ignition temperature (TEntzZM) of the homogeneous ignitable mixture; c) introducing at least one precursor/solvent mixture into the homogenous ignitable mixture (ZM); d) spontaneously combusting the ignitable mixture (ZM) of the oxygen-containing gas and the fuel after an ignition delay time (tvz), thereby forming a stabilized flame, and converting the precursor/solvent mixture in the stabilized flame, thereby forming nanoparticles from the precursor; and e) removing the formed nanoparticles from the reactor.