Nanoparticle Manufacturing – Heterogeneity through Processes to Products

Abstract

Commercial products are now making use of the unique properties of nanoscale particles. However, common challenges of making nanoparticles into products still limit their impact. In this article, we review recent advances in nanoparticle manufacturing in liquids, clarifying the similarities between different processes and products at a system level. Our integrative survey emphasizes the fundamental challenge of heterogeneity, which propagates through manufacturing processes and increases the cost of quality control. We also consider the central constraint of production scale, external costs of safety and sustainability, and technology transfer from the laboratory to the market. We review applications of nanoparticles in nanocomposite materials, healthcare and medicine, electronics and photonics, and energy and the environment, and conclude with a summary of the critical issues.

Identification of Eschweilenol C in derivative of Terminalia fagifolia Mart. and green synthesis of bioactive and biocompatible silver nanoparticles

“…The AgNP synthesis process was observed via the colour change in the reaction mixture (composed of the plant extracts and AgNO 3 ). In this study, no further purification of the nanoparticles was performed considering that purification of the nanoparticles produced by natural extracts can require processes that increases the cost, reduces yield and generates waste, besides causing instabilities of the nanoparticles (Stavis et al, 2018). A major advantage of a green synthesis method such as that described here, is the lack of toxic by products or reagents in the synthesis medium, reducing the need for further purification.…”

Assembling Ni–Fe Layered Double Hydroxide 2D Thin Films for Oxygen Evolution Electrodes

“…However, various issues still limit the exploitation of these and other nanomaterials for energy applications on a large scale. These limitations span from health and environmental issues 17 to agglomeration 18 and heterogeneous composition and morphology of the products 19 . This last lack of uniformity mainly stems from the batch processes employed in nanomaterial synthesis.…”

Static-state particle fabrication via rapid vitrification of a thixotropic medium

“…One widespread method to mass-produce particles from bulk matter is emulsion processing 15 – 17 that consists of emulsifying a bulk liquid in a continuous phase via either shear mixing or sonication, then solidifying the distributed phase. Although rapid and scalable, previous emulsion processes have not addressed the need for high process yield 18 , monodispersity 19 , 20 , or anisotropy 21 , 22 . Similarly, micro-fluidic particle fabrication processes can address these critical demands, but produce small numbers of particles (large quantity production is time-consuming and costly).…”