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Silica-based composite and mixed-oxide nanoparticles from atmospheric pressure flame synthesis

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Abstract

Binary TiO2/SiO2 and SnO2/SiO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by feeding evaporated precursor mixtures into an atmospheric pressure diffusion flame. Particles with controlled Si:Ti and Si:Sn ratios were produced at various flow rates of oxygen and the resulting powders were characterized by BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) surface area analysis, XRD, TEM and Raman spectroscopy. In the Si–O–Ti system, mixed oxide composite particles exhibiting anatase segregation formed when the Si:Ti ratio exceeded 9.8:1, while at lower concentrations only mixed oxide single phase particles were found. Arrangement of the species and phases within the particles correspond to an intermediate equilibrium state at elevated temperature. This can be explained by rapid quenching of the particles in the flame and is in accordance with liquid phase solubility data of Ti in SiO2. In contrast, only composite particles formed in the Sn–O–Si system, with SnO2 nanoparticles predominantly found adhering to the surface of SiO2 substrate nanoparticles. Differences in the arrangement of phases and constituents within the particles were observed at constant precursor mixture concentration and the size of the resultant segregated phase was influenced by varying the flow rate of the oxidant. The above effect is due to the variation of the residence time and quenching rate experienced by the binary oxide nanoparticles when varying the oxygen flow rate and shows the flexibility of diffusion flame aerosol reactors.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the EC and the Swiss BBW for their support of the FP5-Project Photocoat (EU contract No G5RD-CT-2002-00861; BBW project No 01.0571-1) and also Dr. Markus Wegmann and Dr. R.B. Diemer for their contributions to this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for High Performance Ceramics, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA), CH-8600, Duebendorf, Switzerland

    Kranthi K. Akurati, Rainer Dittmann, Andri Vital, Ulrich Klotz, Paul Hug & Thomas Graule

  2. Nanoparticle Process Technology, Institute of Combustion and Gas Dynamics, University of Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstr. 1, D-47057, Duisburg, Germany

    Markus Winterer

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  1. Kranthi K. Akurati
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  2. Rainer Dittmann
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Correspondence to Andri Vital.

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Akurati, K.K., Dittmann, R., Vital, A. et al. Silica-based composite and mixed-oxide nanoparticles from atmospheric pressure flame synthesis. J Nanopart Res 8, 379–393 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-005-9024-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-005-9024-y

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