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Thin nanoparticle coatings generated by Liquid Flame Spray method

Mikko Aromaa 1Helmi Keskinen 1Jyrki M. Mäkelä 1Joe A. Pimenoff 2

1. Aerosol Physics Laboratory, Tampere University of Technology (TUT), Korkeakoulunkatu 3, Tampere 33720, Finland
2. Beneq Oy, Ensimmainen Savu, Vantaa 01510, Finland

Abstract

In nanoparticle synthesis, gas phase methods, especially flame based methods, are widely used. Liquid Flame Spray (LFS) is one of those, the difference from other flame techniques being mainly the selection of combustion gases providing high temperature, hydrogen and oxygen, and their specific use in liquid atomization. The high temperature allows us to use a great variety of precursor materials. Presently, LFS is used in particle generation for several applications, mostly coating by particle deposition. The particle size in coatings can be adjusted with the process parameters.

One of the applications is fabrication of anti-microbial and self-cleaning surfaces. In this application, we generate TiO2-Ag particles in one step process and deposit them directly on ceramic tiles. The coatings are then characterized using several analysis methods. Transmission Electron Micrographs show that the composite particles consist of TiO2 (anatase) particles sized around 20 nm, with metallic Ag particles with the size of few nanometres on top.

Another application of LFS is its use in etching mask fabrication. SiO2 nanoparticles with size around 100 nm, are deposited from the flame directly on a silicon wafer. Coatings with coverage of less than 100 % can be easily prepared using LFS technique. Here it is essential to have a small coverage and randomly distributed particles for the patterning of the wafer.

Glass colouring is one of the most fascinating applications where LFS method can be used. Metallic and oxide nanoparticles create a specific colour in glass, depending on the particle size. Glass can be coloured in many ways, both in bulk and on surface. The overwhelming property of LFS is that it generates a coloured thin layer on the surface of the glass, creating a visual veil effect. This kind of veil cannot be produced by any other method. The recent studies have concentrated on producing gold particles, commonly known to create red colour with particle size of 50 nm.

 

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Related papers

Presentation: Oral at E-MRS Fall Meeting 2007, Symposium A, by Mikko Aromaa
See On-line Journal of E-MRS Fall Meeting 2007

Submitted: 2007-05-14 14:59
Revised:   2009-06-07 00:44