Carbon Combustion Synthesis of Ceramic Oxide Nanopowders

Abstract

The rapidly growing market demand for nanoparticles calls for cost-effective and environmentally friendly technologies for their large-scale production. We developed a new, simple, economical and energy efficient synthesis of nanostructured complex oxides from inexpensive reactant mixtures, referred to as Carbon Combustion Synthesis of Oxides (CCSO). In CCSO the exothermic oxidation of carbon nanoparticles generates a steep thermal reaction wave that propagates through the solid reactant mixture converting it to the desired complex oxide product. CCSO is a modified form of SHS that maintains the advantages of SHS and circumvents some of its disadvantages. Specifically, it enables a more economical synthesis of complex oxides. The carbon used in CCSO is not incorporated in the product and is emitted from the sample as a CO2. A large gas emission provides a convective cooling mechanism trough the sample that significant reduces local temperature and prevents product partial melting and particles growth. CCSO does not require use of expensive fuel reactants and complex equipment and can be scaled up for continuous mass production. This paper reviewed the recent progress in the synthesis of advanced complex oxides nanoparticles by using carbon combustion process.