Safe Ag (and CuO) nanoparticles colloids production
Partner lead: APPNPS
Case Study 1 deals with the transition of highly monodisperse Ag (and CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) colloids synthesis from the current batch production regime to an online controlled continuous production regime. As AgNPs is SABYDOMA’s lead demonstrator, the AgNPs multi-step batch synthetic protocol will be adapted and translated to a continuous production micro-fluidics system, coupling Continuous Flow Inverse Reactors (CFIR) numbering-up approach while tracking and controlling the seeded-growth of AgNPs using integrated online UV-vis characterization (see Figure 1) The online procedure will be validated against the batch procedure and by project end, it will be coupled to the sensing platforms. Additionally, toxicity modules sensing will be used to moderate the nanoparticle design.

Figure 1: (a) The production line coupled with feedback control system and HISENTS sensor; (b) Numbering up strategy for the nanomaterial production line.

Figure 2: Seeded-growth synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) – Transmission electron microscopy images of seed particles and those obtained after different growth steps. (Source: Figure 2 from Bastús et al. Chemistry of Materials 2014 26 (9), 2836-2846. DOI: 10.1021/cm500316k)