Understanding bottom-up continuous hydrothermal synthesis of nanoparticles using empirical measurement and computational simulation

Continuous hydrothermal synthesis was highlighted in a recent review as an enabling technology for the production of nanoparticles. In recent years, it has been shown to be a suitable reaction medium for the synthesis of a wide range of nanomaterials. Many single and complex nanomaterials such as metals, metal oxides, doped oxides, carbonates, sulfides, hydroxides, phosphates, and metal organic frameworks can be formed using continuous hydrothermal synthesis techniques. This work presents a methodology to characterize continuous hydrothermal flow systems both experimentally and numerically, and to determine the scalability of a counter current supercritical water reactor for the large scale production (>1,000 T·year–1) of nanomaterials. Experiments were performed using a purpose-built continuous flow rig, featuring an injection loop on a metal salt feed line, which allowed the injection of a chromophoric tracer. At the system outlet, the tracer was detected using UV/Vis absorption, which could be used to measure the residence time distribution within the reactor volume. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations were also conducted using a modeled geometry to represent the experimental apparatus. The performance of the CFD model was tested against experimental data, verifying that the CFD model accurately predicted the nucleation and growth of the nanomaterials inside the reactor

Hydrothermal technology for nanotechnology

The importance of hydrothermal technology in the preparation of nanomaterials has been discussed in detail with reference to the processing of advanced materials for nanotechnology. Hydrothermal technology in the 21st century is not just confined to the crystal growth or leaching of metals, but it is going to take a very broad shape covering several interdisciplinary branches of science. The role of supercritical water and supercritical fluids has been discussed with appropriate examples. The physical chemistry of hydrothermal processing of advanced materials and the instrumentation used in their preparation with respect to nanomaterials have been discussed. The synthesis of monodispersed nanoparticles of various metal oxides, metal sulphides, carbon nanoforms (including the carbon nanotubes), biomaterials, and some selected composites has been discussed. Recycling, waste treatment and alteration under hydrothermal supercritical conditions have been highlighted. The authors have discussed the perspectives of hydrothermal technology for the processing of advanced nanomaterials and composites

Nanoparticles synthesis using supercritical fluid technology – towards biomedical applications

Supercritical fluid (SCF) technology has become an important tool of materials processing in the last two decades. Supercritical CO2 and H2O are extensively being used in the preparation of a great variety of nanomaterials. The greatest requirement in the application of nanomaterials is its size and morphology control, which determine the application potential of the nanoparticles, as their properties vary significantly with size. Although significance of SCF technology has been described earlier by various authors, the importance of this technology for the fabrication of inorganic and hybrid nanomaterials in biomedical applications has not been discussed thoroughly. This review presents the nanomaterial preparation systematically using SCF technology with reference to the processing of biomedical materials. The basic principles of each one of the processes have been described in detail giving their merits and perspectives. The actual experimental data and results have been discussed in detail with respect to the selected nanomaterials for biomedical applications. The SCF synthesis of nanoparticles like phosphors, magnetic materials, carbon nanotubes, etc. have been discussed as they have potential applications in bio-imaging, hyperthermia, cancer therapy, neutron capture therapy, targeted drug delivery systems and so on. The more recent approach towards the in situ surface modification, dispersibility, single nanocrystal formation, and morphology control of the nanoparticles has been discussed in detail