The Importance of Dean Flow in Microfluidic Nanoparticle Synthesis: A ZIF‐8 Case Study

Abstract

The Dean Flow, a physics phenomenon that accounts for the impact of channel curvature on fluid dynamics, has great potential to be used in microfluidic synthesis of nanoparticles. This study explores the impact of the Dean Flow on the synthesis of ZIF‐8 particles. Several variables that influence the Dean Equation (the mathematical expression of Dean Flow) are tested to validate the applicability of this expression in microfluidic synthesis, including the flow rate, radius of curvature, channel cross sectional area, and reagent concentration. It is demonstrated that the current standard of reporting, providing only the flow rate and crucially not the radius of curvature, is an incomplete description that will invariably lead to irreproducible syntheses across different laboratories. An alternative standard of reporting is presented and it is demonstrated how the sleek and simple math of the Dean Equation can be used to precisely tune the final dimensions of high quality, monodisperse ZIF‐8 nanoparticles between 40 and 700 nm.

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“…offer tunable porous structures and porous surfaces that allow control over sorption kinetics and capacity. 72–77…”

Prednisolone Nanoprecipitation with Dean Instability Microfluidics Mixer

“…There are numerical [ 20 , 21 ] and experimental reports [ 22 , 23 ] on using Dean flow for mixing purposes. Regarding nanoparticle synthesis, X. Yu et al [ 24 ] performed ZIP-8 nanoparticles synthesis using the Dean flow and resulted in nanoparticles from 40 nm to 700 nm. M. Thiele et al [ 25 ] fabricated the gold nanocubes with the edge length down to 53 nm by Dean flow in the zigzag channel.…”

The Physics and Manipulation of Dean Vortices in Single- and Two-Phase Flow in Curved Microchannels: A Review

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