Functional nanoparticles by controlled production and coating in aerosol processes

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Lutz Mädler
• Subject Area: Mechanical Process Engineering
• Term: from 2005 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5451890

The proposed research comprises a novel two-step method of functionalizing nanoparticles using a gas phase (aerosol route) process. The nanoparticles are generated by the laser ablation method using a system developed at the Nanoparticle Laboratory of Prof. Frielander (UCLA). Coatings of those nanoparticles will be applied by interconnecting the laser ablation method with an atmospheric-pressure plasma developed in the Surface Science Laboratory of Prof. Hicks (UCLA). Operating these two independent developed techniques in tandem will produce coated nanoparticles with tailor made properties. Applying theoretical models of the laser ablation process in combinatoin with the collision-coalescence concept of particle formation will enable targeted reactor design and successful interconnection with the plasma source. Surface growth concepts on nanoparticles will be applied to study the observed coating mechanisms in the plasma reactor. Many functionalized nanopowders could be produced with this new tandem technique where the aerosol synthesis may be used to manufacture a wide variety of metal and metal oxide based nanoparticles while the downstream plasma process may be configured to deposit organic or inorganic coatings including metals, oxides or nitrides. Such nanocomposites are expected to have a high scientific impact in many different areas of nanotechnology as for example gas sensors (e.g. Pt doped SnO2), optoelectronic devices (e.g. silica coated gold), medicine (e.g. study of cell uptake of nanoparticles depending on their coating properties or magnetic resonance imaging ability). Furthermore, the direct application of particles with well controlled surface functionality to cell cultures enables toxicological studies. The cooperation with Prof. Nel¿s Laboratory will give insights of particles surface effects on mitochondrial functoin and generation of reactive oxygen species.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Switzerland