Monodisperse Nanoparticle Synthesis by an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Process:  An Example of a Visible Light Photocatalyst

Abstract

An atmospheric pressure plasma-enhanced nanoparticle synthesis (APPENS) process was proposed to produce a titania-based visible light photocatalyst. The titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) precursor was vaporized with a N2 carrier gas and entered a nonthermal AC plasma system. The N2 gas was dissociated into N atoms by the plasma energy, and then they were doped into the precursor vapors. The produced TiO2 - x N x nanoparticles were highly uniform and adjustable in size. The titania-based particle sizes ranged from 25 to 40 nm, and they depended on the precursor ratio of TTIP/H2O. In addition to producing the photocatalytic particles, the APPENS process has a potential application as a continuous-flow nanosize monodisperse aerosol generator.

Generation and Sizing of Particles for Aerosol-Based Nanotechnology

“…Using such configurations, simple atmospheric plasma systems using nitrogen, argon or helium as a carrier gas can produce high particle concentrations without requiring a complicated vacuum system. Particles have been successfully produced from ferrocene, acetylene and hexamethyldisiloxane (Vons et al 2006), and from titaniumisopropoxide for the production of titania particles (Bai et al 2004;). Furthermore, this type of plasma can also be used for gas-phase particle coating, both for particles from another DBD plasma or particles produced using other methods (e.g.…”

Titanium Dioxide/Zeolite Catalytic Adsorbent for the Removal of NO and Acetone Vapors

“…It can be seen that the XRD pattern of TiO 2 clearly indicates characteristic peaks of the anatase form of TiO 2 crystals. 30 The major peaks that appeared in the 2 range between 22°and 25°and 7°and 9°correspond to the specific peaks of H-ZSM-5 zeolite. 31 As the content of H-ZSM-5 zeolite is increased in the TiO 2 /zeolite composites, the gradual increase in the intensity of the zeolite peaks and the decrease in the intensity of the TiO 2 peaks are clearly observed.…”

Nitrogen‐Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles and Their Composites with Plasma Polymer as Deposited by Atmospheric Pressure DBD

“…It can be noticed, however, that H 2 O is a reactant that ensures direct hydrolysis of TTIP without necessary implementation of plasma. Although definite differences between the particles deposited with and without plasma were observed, certain ambiguity remained about CVD/PECVD interrelation in this process.…”

“…However, only the possibility to fabricate TiO 2 coatings by this method was demonstrated. A more detailed research was presented by Liu and Lai, Klenko and Pichal, and Bai with co‐workers who prepared crystalline TiO 2 nanoparticles by atmospheric pressure plasma in the TTIP/H 2 O + N 2 /O 2 /Ar mixtures with subsequent annealing. It was shown that different types of N‐doping of TiO 2 were realized depending on the working gas and/or annealing gas composition.…”