Continuous nanoparticle production by microfluidic-based emulsion, mixing and crystallization

Abstract

BaSO 4 and 2,2′-dipyridylamine (DPA) nanoparticles were synthesized as reactive crystallization and anti-solvent recrystallization examples, respectively, of using the microfluidic-based emulsion and mixing approach as a new avenue of continuously producing inorganic and organic nanoparticles. BaSO 4 nanoparticles in the size range of 15–100 nm were reactively precipitated within the confinement of an aqueous droplet which was coalesced from two separate aqueous droplets containing BaCl 2 and (NH 4) 2SO 4 using a three T-junction micromixer configuration constructed with commercially available simple tubing and fitting supplies. Also, DPA nanoparticles of about 200 nm were crystallized by combining DPA+ethanol and water droplets using the same micromixer configuration.