Controllable Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Piezoelectric-Actuated High-Frequency Vibration Self-Circulating Microfluidic Reactor

Abstract

Based on the liquid-phase reduction mechanism, a controllable synthesis method, which uses piezoelectric-actuated high-frequency vibration self-circulating microfluidic reactor, to prepare silver nanoparticles is proposed. Firstly, the synthesis mechanism of silver nanoparticles and the working principle of the microfluidic reactor were analyzed. Then, in order to study and explore the influence of self-circulating and high frequency vibration on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, a series of related synthesis experiments were carried out. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of micropump driving voltage and high-frequency vibration on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles were analyzed. The experiment results show that when the silver nanoparticles were synthesized using piezoelectric-actuated high-frequency vibration self-circulating microfluidic reactor, the higher the driving voltage of the circulating reflux micropump, the faster the vortex rotation speed in the mixing pool and the more uniform the reagent reaction. Besides, high-frequency vibration can suppress the aggregation of silver nanoparticles, and balance the growth environment of particles, which is beneficial to the formation of silver nanoparticles with good monodispersity, high sphericity and small size deviation.