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Forming of hollow spherical ceramic nanoparticles by spray pyrolysis method

Ryszard Gajerski ,  Stanisław Łabuś ,  Andrzej Małecki ,  Barbara Małecka ,  Jan Obłąkowski 

AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics (AGH UST), Mickiewicza 30, Kraków 30-059, Poland

Abstract

Nanoparticles can have different form but predominantly are obtained as solid grains. The properties of many materials based on these nanopowders are relatively well known. Using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (2,6 MHz) nanopowders composed of hollow ball-shaped grains were obtained. The diameter of grains vary in the range 2 - 400 nm. The obtained nanopowder materials were metallic (Ru, Ag, Pd, Ag-Pd, Ag-Rh), ceramic (Al2O3, Al2O3-Cr2O3, CeO2, CeO2-ZrO2) as well as composite (cermetals: NiO-Au, CeO2-ZrO2-Pt and CeO2-ZrO2-Au).
As a precursors aqueous solutions of adequate nitrates(V), chlorides, acetates or alkoxides of appropriate metal were used. The total concentration of initial salts solution was in the range 0.1-0.03 mol.dm-3. The concentration of particular solution corresponded to the assumed nanopowder product composition. Aerosols based on such a solution were obtained by ultrasonic nebulization in the stream of adequate carrier gas (i.e. air, Ar+H2) and introduced into horizontal reactor heated to 500-800oC, depending of the type of solution, carrier gas and its flow rate, were the decomposition of salts occurred. Products of decomposition were caught in electrofilter.
Microstructure of the powders obtained was examined using different methods like TEM, SEM and EDAX.
The hollow nanoparticles enable formation of porous ceramic composite membranes of higher permeability than those made of solid particles, which is important for catalytic applications. On the other hand, the dense ceramic membranes can be applied as cathodes in ion transport. The basic advantage of hollow nanoparticles is their low specific weight and presence of metal admixture atoms (Ag, Au, Pt, Ru, Rh) on the surface of nanoparticles. This can give the significant economic effect for many applications e.g. in electronic engineering for conductive path fabrication by screen- or ink-printing techniques.


 

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Presentation: poster at E-MRS Fall Meeting 2004, Symposium G, by Stanisław Łabuś
See On-line Journal of E-MRS Fall Meeting 2004

Submitted: 2004-05-26 14:27
Revised:   2009-06-08 12:55