Cerium oxide nanoparticles were continuously
precipitated from a solution of cerium(III) nitrate and ammonium
hydroxide using a static microchannel T-mixer. Tmixer
synthesis results were compared with synthesis results
from batch precipitation. Findings show that the method of
mixing is important in the ceria precipitation process. Uniform
porous film structures and nanorods were produced
when the particle chemistry was synthesized using T-mixing
followed by spin coating. Batch mixing, when using higher
NH₄OH feed concentrations followed by spin coating, was
characterized by the heavy agglomeration of nanoparticles.
Similar, high aspect ratio nanorods were produced when
feed conditions in both batch mixing and T-mixing were
identical demonstrating that the momentum effects of continuous
microchannel T-mixing did not impact the synthesis
process. In addition, it was found that the micromixing
approach reduced the exposure of the Ce(OH)₃ precipitates
to oxygen, yielding hydroxide precipitates in place of CeO₂
precipitates. The key advantage of the micro-scale T-mixing
approach is higher throughput which is important for the
scaling of ceria nanoparticle production.Keywords: Ceria, Nanoparticles, Continuous flow synthesis, Microreactor, MicromixerKeywords: Ceria, Nanoparticles, Continuous flow synthesis, Microreactor, Micromixe
