Supercritical Fluid Facilitated Growth of Copper and Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

Though the diversity of applications involving supercritical fluids (SCFs) continue to mount in virtually every sector of the scientific workplace, this environmentally-friendly medium is only briefly mentioned in undergraduate curricula; most often without hands-on laboratory experience. A new experimental module featuring this technology was introduced into an undergraduate inorganic chemistry laboratory. Nanoparticles of copper and aluminum oxide were formed using a variety of novel procedures, with scanning electron microscopy (SEM–EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) utilized for characterization. While particles of aluminum oxide were found to average 100 nm with sufficient aggregation, the copper nanoparticles were much smaller in diameter, with less agglomeration. A discussion of overall student sentiment and pedagogical outcomes from this module is also provided.

Controlled Synthesis of Nanomaterials at the Undergraduate Laboratory: Cu(OH)2 and CuO Nanowires

“…In this context, several laboratory protocols aiming to introduce nanoscience to undergraduate students have been reported. − Many of the described experiments are based on the synthesis of noble-metal nanoparticles (e.g., gold and silver), ,,,, demand the use of transmission electron microcopy (TEM), ,,,− which is rarely available for undergraduate students, and focus on conventional nanoparticles, such as quasi-spherical shapes. Conversely, experiments concerning the controlled synthesis of nanomaterials, such as structures having shapes other than quasi-spheres, remain scarce.…”

Diiminic Schiff Bases: An Intriguing Class of Compounds for a Copper‐Nanoparticle‐Induced Fluorescence Study

“…For the synthesis of CuNPs, many methods can be adopted: use of supercritical carbon dioxide,23, 24 water‐in‐oil microemulsions,25 high‐temperature decomposition of organometallic precursors,26 a polyol reduction method,27 and a photochemical route 28. Herein, we report the synthesis of CuNPs by means of a reproducible photoactivation technique using salen and salen‐like Schiff bases (DSBs).…”

Photoacoustic Sentinel Lymph Node Imaging with Self-Assembled Copper Neodecanoate Nanoparticles

“…22–26 Typically, these methods yield particles larger than the normal renal filtration threshold ( i.e. , 6–10 nm), presenting long-term safety and regulatory challenges.…”