Analysis on plasma chemistry and particle growth in corona discharge process for NO/sub x/ removal using discrete-sectional method

The particle formation and growth combined with plasma chemistry in the pulsed corona discharge process (PCDP) to remove NO/sub x/ were analyzed by the discrete-sectional model. In the PCDP, most of the NO is converted into NO/sub 2/ and, later, into HNO/sub 3/ which reacts with NH/sub 3/ to form the NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ particle. In the beginning of the reactor, we have the high concentration of small size particles and, later, the particle size distribution in the reactor becomes bimodal with the large size and small size particles and, finally, becomes monodisperse with the large size particles. As the average electron concentration increases, it takes a shorter reactor length to remove the NO/sub x/. As the initial NO and H/sub 2/O concentrations decrease, the NH/sub 3/ is consumed more slowly to form the ammonium nitrates particles. As the averaged electron concentration and initial H/sub 2/O concentration increase, the large size particles grow more quickly and the particle size distribution becomes bimodal earlier. As the initial NO and NH/sub 3/ concentrations increase, the diameter of large size particles becomes larger by the faster coagulation between particles. The predicted NO/sub x/ conversion and particle size distribution were in close agreements with the published experimental results at the averaged electron concentration of 2/spl times/10/sup 5/ cm/sup -3/ in this study.     

Controlled synthesis and biomolecular probe application of gold nanoparticles

In addition to their optical properties, the ability of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) to generate table immobilization of biomolecules, whilst retaining their bioactivities is a major advantage to apply them as biosensors. Optical biosensors using Au NPs are simple, fast and reliable and, recently, they have been moving from laboratory study to the point of practical use. The optical properties of Au NPs strongly depend on their size, shape, degree of aggregation and the functional groups on their surface. Rapid advances in the field of nanotechnology offer us a great opportunity to develop the controllable synthesis and modification of Au NPs as well as to study on their properties and applications. The size-controlled growth of Au NPs requires the isotropic growth on the surface of Au nuclei whereas anisotropic growth will induce the formation of Au NPs of varying shape. Functionalized Au NPs provide sensitive and selective biosensors for the detection of many targets, including metal ions, small organic compounds, protein, DNA, RNA and cell based on their optical, electrical or electrochemical signals. In this review, we will discuss the size- and shape-controlled growth and functionalization of Au NPs to obtain Au nanoprobes. The basis of the optical detection of Au nanoprobes and their applications in nucleic acid, protein detection and cell imaging are also introduced.     

Precipitation of calcium carbonate particles by gas–liquid reaction: Morphology and size distribution of particles in Couette-Taylor and stirred tank reactors

The morphology and size of CaCO₃ precipitated by CO₂–Ca(OH)₂ reaction in stirred tank and Couette-Taylor reactors were experimentally investigated. The Taylor vortex in CT reactor encouraged more homogeneous mixing conditions, resulting in the production of smaller particles with a uniform shape throughout the reactor. However, in the stirred tank reactor, the local non-homogeneity of the mixing intensity led to the simultaneous production of cube-like and spindle-like particles at a high reactant concentration. The agglomeration of CaCO₃ resulted in a bimodal size distribution. However, the morphology and size of a single particle were predominantly changed by the excess species in the solution. The largest mean size and cube-like particles were observed under stoichiometric reaction conditions. As the excess species concentration increased, the morphology was transformed to a spindle-like shape and the mean size decreased due to selective adsorption of the excess species on the crystal faces.     

Microwave-induced fabrication of copper nanoparticle/carbon nanotubes hybrid material

Copper nanoparticle/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) hybrid material could be fabricated by microwave irradiation to a suspension of MWCNTs dispersed in copper precursor with the presence of ethylene glycol. Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses could confirm the uniform dispersion of copper oxide nanoparticles hybridized on the outer surface of MWCNTs. Reduction of Cu²⁺ ions to Cu₂O and Cu nanoparticles was ascribed to functional groups which were generated after the precursor was irradiated by microwave. Sufficient irradiation time of 5 min or longer played an important role to induce the agglomeration of copper oxide nanoparticles on the MWCNT surface.     

Production of Monodisperse Nanoparticles and Application of Discrete-Monodisperse Model in Plasma Reactors

The particle growth in plasma reactor were investigated by using the discrete-monodisperse (D-M) model for various process conditions. The monodisperse large sized particle distribution predicted by the D-M model are in good agreement with the large sized particles by the discrete-sectional model and also in the experiments by Shiratani et al. (1996). Some fractions of the small size particles are in a neutral state or even charged positively, but most of the large sized monodisperse particles are charged negatively. As the mass generation rate of monomers increases, the large sized particles grow more quickly and the production rate of nanoparticles of 100nm by plasma reactor increases. As the initial electron concentration or the monomer diameter increases, it takes longer time for the large sized particles to grow up to 100nm, but the large sized particle concentration of 100nm increases and the resulting production rate of large sized particles of 100nm increases. As the residence time increases, the time for the large sized particles to grow up to 100nm decreases and the large sized particle concentration of 100nm increases and, as a result, the production rate of large sized particles of 100nm increases. We propose that the plasma reactor can be a good candidate to produce monodisperse nanoparticles.     

The changes in particle charge distribution during rapid growth of particles in the plasma reactor

The changes in particle charging were investigated during the rapid growth of particles in the plasma reactor by the discrete-sectional model and the Gaussian charge distribution function. The particle size distribution becomes bimodal in the plasma reactor and most of the large particles are charged negatively, but some fractions of small particles are in a neutral state or even charged positively. As the particles accumulate in the plasma reactor, the amount of electrons absorbed onto the particles increases, while the electron concentration in the plasma decreases. As the mass generation rate of small particles (monomers) decreases or as the initial electron concentration increases, the electron concentration in the plasmas increases and the particle charge distribution is shifted in the negative direction and the fraction of particles charged negatively and the average number of electrons per particle increase. With the decrease in monomer diameter, the electron concentration decreases in the beginning of plasma discharge, but, later, increases. For high mass generation rate of monomers or for low initial electron concentration or for small monomer diameter, the fraction of particles in a neutral state increases and the particle size distribution becomes broader.     

Effect of initial precursor concentration on TiO2 thin film nanostructures prepared by PCVD system

TiO₂ thin film was prepared on Si substrate by plasma chemical vapor deposition（PCVD） system and the morphologies of TiO₂ thin film were controlled by adjusting the initial precursor concentration.As the initial titanium tetra-isopropoxide（TTIP） concentration increases in PCVD reactor,the shapes of TiO₂ particles generated in PCVD reactor change from the spherical small-sized particles around 20 nm and spherical large-sized particles around 60 nm to aggregate particles around 100 nm.The TiO₂ particles with different shapes deposit on the substrate and become the main building blocks of resulting TiO₂ thin film.We observed the TiO₂ thin film with smooth morphology at low initial TTIP concentration,granular morphology at medium initial TTIP concentration,and columnar morphology at high initial TTIP concentration.It is proposed that we can prepare the TiO₂ thin film with controlled morphologies in one-step process just by adjusting the initial precursor concentration in PCVD.     

Effect of initial precursor concentration on TiO2 thin film nanostructures prepared by PCVD system

TiO₂ thin film was prepared on Si substrate by plasma chemical vapor deposition (PCVD) system and the morphologies of TiO₂ thin film were controlled by adjusting the initial precursor concentration. As the initial titanium tetra-isopropoxide (TTIP) concentration increases in PCVD reactor, the shapes of TiO₂ particles generated in PCVD reactor change from the spherical small-sized particles around 20 nm and spherical large-sized particles around 60 nm to aggregate particles around 100 nm. The TiO₂ particles with different shapes deposit on the substrate and become the main building blocks of resulting TiO₂ thin film. We observed the TiO₂ thin film with smooth morphology at low initial TTIP concentration, granular morphology at medium initial TTIP concentration, and columnar morphology at high initial TTIP concentration. It is proposed that we can prepare the TiO₂ thin film with controlled morphologies in one-step process just by adjusting the initial precursor concentration in PCVD.     

Analysis of preparation of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> particles by diffusion flame reactor for photodegradation of phenol and toluene

TiO₂ nanoparticles were produced in the diffusion flame reactor, and the size and anatase/rutile content of TiO₂ were examined by a Particle Size Analyzer and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Increase in fuel/O₂ ratio, initial concentration of TiCl₄ or total gas flow rate causes the larger particle size and the higher rutile composition. The photocatalytic activities of TiO₂ powders were tested on the decompositions of phenol and toluene in the aqueous solution under UV irradiation. The degradation rate increases as the TiO₂ particle size decreases and as the initial concentration of phenol or toluene increases. The photodegradation rate of phenol by TiO₂ particles is higher than that of toluene at the same process conditions. The computational method was used to simulate the gas temperature, velocity and species mass fractions inside the diffusion flame reactor during synthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The measured and simulated temperature results were compared on several positions above the burner and both of them show good agreements. The typical contours of TiCl₄, TiO₂ mass fractions and gas velocities in flame reactor were presented.     

Simultaneous removal of NO and SO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in a plasma reactor packed with TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-coated glass beads

We analyzed the dielectric pellet bed discharge-photocatalyst hybrid process for NO and SO₂ removal. A cylindrical-wire type discharge reactor was packed with glass beads as dielectric pellets and the plasmas were generated by dielectric pellet bed discharge. The TiO₂ photocatalysts were coated onto the glass beads by the dip-coating method and were activated by the light from discharge. Experiments were carried out for three cases: NO removal only, SO₂ removal only, and simultaneous NO and SO₂ removal. As the voltage applied to the plasma reactor increased, or as the residence time increased, the NO and SO₂ removal efficiencies increased. With increasing initial NO and SO₂ concentrations, the NO and SO₂ removal efficiencies decrease. The removal efficiencies for simultaneous NO and SO₂ removal are lower than those for NO only or SO₂ only.