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Manufacturing of Functional Nanoparticles

The manufacturing of functional nanoparticles can be divided into two main categories: mechanical and chemical methods. The mechanical method is a top-down approach, as it uses mechanical forces to reduce the particle size.  Well-established comminution technology, such as e.g. high-compression roller mills, jet mills, and ball mills are used for this purpose.  In contrast, the chemical method uses a bottom-up approach, making nanoparticles by assembling molecules in various ways to form nano-size clusters.  The final product, whether in a liquid suspension or in powder forms has high purity, good composition control and chemical homogeneity.

In our research group we have been developing new environmentally-friendly and easy approach based on ion-exchange route using sodium alginate as precursor to produce nanoparticles with high purity and homogeneity for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and sensor applications.  Current projects are nanoparticle manufacturing of co-doped cerium gadolinium oxide electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC) and manufacturing of pyrochlore nanoparticles for use in SOFC.

Related Publications:

  • Sardar S, Kale G, Ghadiri M. 2020. Influence of processing conditions on the ionic conductivity of holmium zirconate (Ho2Zr2O7). Ceramics International. 11508-11514 46.8 Part B
  • Kumi Barimah E, Rahayu S, Ziarko MW, Bamiedakis N, White IH, Penty RV, Kale GM, Jose G. 2020. Erbium-Doped Nanoparticle–Polymer Composite Thin Films for Photonic Applications: Structural and Optical Properties. ACS Omega. 9224-9232 5.16
  • Sardar S, Kale G, Cespedes O, Ghadiri M. 2020. Environmentally Sustainable Facile Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Holmium Hafnate (Ho₂Hf₂O₇): Promising New Oxide-ion Conducting Solid Electrolyte. SN Applied Sciences.
  • Sardar S, Kale G, Ghadiri M, Cespedes O. 2019. Structural study of holmium zirconate nanoparticles obtained through carbon neutral sol-gel process. Thermochimica Acta. 120-129 676
  • Rahayu S, Forrester JS, Kale GM, Ghadiri M. 2018. Promising solid electrolyte material for an IT-SOFC: Crystal structure of the cerium gadolinium holmium oxide Ce₀.₈Gd₀.₁Ho₀.₁O₁.₉ between 295 and 1023 K. Acta Crystallographica Section C: Structural Chemistry. 236-239 74.2
  • Wang Z, Liu J, Kale GM, Ghadiri M. 2014. Ion-exchange kinetics and thermal decomposition characteristics of Fe 2+-exchanged alginic acid membrane for the formation of iron oxide nanoparticles. Journal of Materials Science. 7151-7155 49.20
  • Wang Z, Kale GM, Yuan Q, Ghadiri M. 2012. X-Ray micro-tomography of freeze dried nickel alginate beads and transformation into NiO nanopowders. RSC Advances. 9993-9997 2.26
  • Wang Z, Kale GM, Ghadiri M. 2012. Novel ion-exchange process for the preparation of metal oxide nanopowders from sodium alginate. Journal of the American Ceramic Society. 3124-3129 95.10