Generation of nanoparticles by spark discharge

The production of nanoparticles by microsecond spark discharge evaporation in inert gas is studied systematically applying transmission electron microscopy, mobility analysis and BET surface area measurement. The method of spark discharge is of special interest, because it is continuous, clean, extremely flexible with respect to material, and scale-up is possible. The particle size distributions are narrow and the mean primary particle size can be controlled via the energy per spark. Separated, unagglomerated particles, 3–12 nm in size, or agglomerates can be obtained depending on the flow rate. The nanoparticulate mass produced is typically 5 g/kWh. A formula is given, which estimates the mass production rate via thermal conductivity, evaporation enthalpy and the boiling point of the material used. We showed that with gas purified at the spot, the method produced gold particles that were so clean that sintering of agglomerated particles occurred at room temperature. The influence of a number of parameters on the primary particle size and mass production rate was studied and qualitatively understood with a model of Lehtinen and Zachariah (J Aerosol Sci 33:357–368, 2002). Surprisingly high charging probabilities for one polarity were obtained. Spark generation is therefore of special interest for producing monodisperse aerosols or particles of uniform size via electrical mobility analysis. Qualitative observations in the present study include the phenomenon of material exchange between the electrodes by the spark, which opens the possibility of producing arbitrary mixtures of materials on a nanoscale. If spark generation of nanoparticles is performed in a standing or almost standing gas, an aerogel of a web-like structure forms between surfaces of different electrical potential.     

Generation of mixed metallic nanoparticles from immiscible metals by spark discharge

Using a spark discharge system, we synthesized Ag-Cu, Pt–Au and Cu-W mixed particles a few nanometers in size. These combinations have miscibility gaps in the bulk form. The microsecond sparks between electrodes consisting of the respective materials, form a vapour cloud. Very fast quenching of the mixed vapour results in the formation of nanoparticles. To investigate the morphology, size, composition and structure of the particles, TEM, XRD analyses and EDS elemental mapping were performed on the samples. The average compositions were measured by ICP and the specific surface areas were determined by the BET. Our method produces Ag-Cu and Au–Pt mixed crystalline phases that do not exist in macroscopic samples. For Cu-W, alloying is not observed, and the metals are mixed on a scale of about 1 nm.     

Ultrasonic-assisted spark plasma discharge for gold nanoparticles synthesis

We examine the ultrasonic-assisted spark discharge in gold nanoparticles production. A 1 kHz pulsed power supply is used to generate spark discharge plasma. The appropriate range of peak power (pulse peak current) for nanoparticles production was determined by the Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) method. Colloidal gold nanoparticles were synthesized in 100 mL deionized water and pure ethanol as liquid dielectrics. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs show that the nanoparticles diameter in the deionized water is larger than in pure ethanol. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) micrographs of the gold nanoparticles also confirm the SEM results with more accuracy. The present study revealed that the ultrasonic wave increases the shape uniformity of the nanoparticles and decreases their size.     

Antibacterial activity of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles produced by spark discharge in deionized water

Inorganic antibacterial agents such as metal nanoparticles (NPs) are very important in biomedical and pharmaceutical areas. There are many methods of synthesizing these NPs, but all of them have their own disadvantages. In this study, ultrasonic‐assisted spark discharge is employed to produce colloidal silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs which are stable without using any stabilizers or surfactants. Different tests such as X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy are used for the characterization of the quantity and quality of these NPs, and their antibacterial activity is evaluated by the disk diffusion method and determination of the minimum inhibitory concentrations against Escherichia coli . The results show that the overall antibacterial activity of Ag NPs is higher than that of ZnO NPs.     

火花放电电极结构及其等离子体反应器

在阐述火花放电机制与等离子体特性基础上,着重探讨了火花放电的电极结构与等离子体反应器。新研制的电极旋转的新型 kHz 交流火花放电反应器,在甲烷裂解制乙炔和甲烷与二氧化碳重整制合成气应用研究中,其放电稳定性、反应物转化率、产物浓度和能量效率等指标,均明显优于其它放电反应器。     

Spectral and temporal characteristics of metallic nanoparticles produced by femtosecond laser pulses

We study the time of flight optical emission from titanium and tungsten nanosized particles, generated through femtosecond laser-matter interaction in vacuum, in the wavelength spectral range from 300 to 900 nm. Typical spectra consist of broadband structureless signals similar to black body emission from a macroscopic object. Nanoparticles temperature, deduced from their emission spectra, decreases drastically as a function of their time of arrival at a given distance from the target. This behaviour is seen to be independent of individual particle velocities.     

Synthesis of nanoparticles in an atmospheric pressure glow discharge

Nanopowders are produced in a low temperature, non-equilibrium plasma jet (APPJ), which produces a glow discharge at atmospheric pressure, for the first time. Amorphous carbon and iron nanoparticles have been synthesized from Acetylene and Ferrocene/H₂, respectively. High generation rates are achieved from the glow discharge at near-ambient temperature (40–80°C), and rise with increasing plasma power and precursor concentration. Fairly narrow particle size distributions are measured with a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) and an aerosol electrometer (AEM), and are centered around 30–35 nm for carbon and 20–25 nm for iron. Particle characteristics analyzed by TEM and EDX reveal amorphous carbon and iron nanoparticles. The Fe particles are highly oxidized on exposure to air. Comparison of the mobility and micrograph diameters reveal that the particles are hardly agglomerated or unagglomerated. This is ascribed to the unipolar charge on particles in the plasma. The generated particle distributions are examined as a function of process parameters.     

Silicon nanoparticles produced by spark discharge

On the example of silicon, the production of nanoparticles using spark discharge is shown to be feasible for semiconductors. The discharge circuit is modelled as a damped oscillator circuit. This analysis reveals that the electrode resistance should be kept low enough to limit energy loss by Joule heating and to enable effective nanoparticle production. The use of doped electrodes results in a thousand-fold increase in the mass production rate as compared to intrinsic silicon. Pure and oxidised uniformly sized silicon nanoparticles with a primary particle diameter of 3–5 nm are produced. It is shown that the colour of the particles can be used as a good indicator of the oxidation state. If oxygen and water are banned from the spark generation system by (a) gas purification, (b) outgassing and (c) by initially using the particles produced as getters, unoxidised Si particles are obtained. They exhibit pyrophoric behaviour. This continuous nanoparticle preparation method can be combined with other processing techniques, including surface functionalization or the immediate impaction of freshly prepared nanoparticles onto a substrate for applications in the field of batteries, hydrogen storage or sensors.     

Energy measurement of spark discharge using different triggering methods and inductance loads

Spark discharge experiments with different nominal energy (100–1000 mJ) and inductance loads (0.024 or 1.454 mH) were carried out using different trigger methods. A Tektronix oscilloscope with a high-voltage probe and a current probe was used to record the dynamic voltage and current. The influence of inductance and trigger method on the discharge efficiency and discharge time were investigated. It was found that, when the discharge was triggered by electrode movement, the discharge efficiency ranged from 78.2% to 90.1% in case of without inductor, and ranged from 41.1% to 59.3% in case of with inductor.     

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt/gold bimetallic nanoparticles

Cobalt/gold (Co/Au) bimetallic nanoparticles are prepared by chemically reducing gold (III) chloride to gold in the presence of pre-synthesized Co nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectrometry, and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer have been used to characterize as-prepared bimetallic nanoparticles. Our findings demonstrate Au not only grows onto Co nanoparticles, forming a surface coating, but also diffuses into Co nanoparticles. The introduction of Au alters the crystalline structure of Co nanoparticles and changes their magnetic properties. Dodecanethiols induce a reorganization of as-prepared Co/Au bimetallic nanoparticles.     

基于大能量火花放电的枪声模拟系统设计*

为准确模拟某型枪械实弹射击枪声,设计了一种基于大能量火花放电的枪声模拟系统,理论分析和仿真验证了系统工作原理,并对所模拟枪声的声级以及时域和频域特性进行了试验测试。仿真和测试结果表明:点火电容放电所辐射的电场击穿高能电极空气间隙,可有效控制储能电容组火花放电模拟枪声;模拟与真实枪声的声级误差约为-2.1~5.8 d B(A),标准差为1.974 dB(A),模拟与真实枪声的时域信号随时间增加均以指数形式迅速减小且频谱分布规律一致;模拟与真实枪声信号在时域进行相关运算后存在着明显的相关峰,二者有较好的相似性。     

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用火花预电离辅助介质阻挡放电装置在大气压空气中实现了均匀的类辉光放电。通过用光谱模拟法和波尔兹曼图解法对N 2 第一负带系B2Σ→X 2Σ(0,0)带发射谱线的分析,对放电过程中N 2 的转动温度进行了诊断。研究了不同频率和放电模式下转动温度的变化规律,对由两种方法计算所得的温度进行了对比。实验结果表明,转动温度会随着外加频率的增加而缓慢的增加;当放电从类辉光模式变到丝状放电模式时,转动温度会有70K左右的升高。     

A novel precursor for synthesis of metallic copper nanocrystals by thermal decomposition approach

[Bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehydato)copper(II)] complex, as a novel precursor, was employed in thermal decomposition process to synthesize metallic copper nanoparticles using oleylamine (C₁₈H₃₇N) as capping agent. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The synthesized copper nanoparticles have a fcc structure with average size 20-35 nm.     

同轴场畸变气体火花开关的多通道放电特性

设计了一种同轴场畸变气体火花开关,在开关仅受触发脉冲作用和开关内外电极分别连接正负充电电容两种条件下,实验研究了触发脉冲峰值对开关间隙在氮气中的放电通道数的影响,比较了两种条件下的放电通道数。开关仅受触发脉冲作用时,放电通道承载电流较小;开关内外电极分别连接充电电容,触发脉冲施加于开关触发极时,放电通道承载电流较大。实验结果表明:仅受触发脉冲作用时,开关内间隙的平均通道数随着触发脉冲峰值增加而显著增加;开关电极连接电容的情况下,随着触发脉冲峰值增加,开关内间隙的平均通道数增加,外间隙的平均通道数减小;相近的过电压倍数下,开关电极连接电容情况下的平均通道数明显小于开关仅受触发脉冲作用情况下的平均通道数。     

同轴场畸变气体火花开关的多通道放电特性

设计了一种同轴场畸变气体火花开关,在开关仅受触发脉冲作用和开关内外电极分别连接正负充电电容两种条件下,实验研究了触发脉冲峰值对开关间隙在氮气中的放电通道数的影响,比较了两种条件下的放电通道数。开关仅受触发脉冲作用时,放电通道承载电流较小;开关内外电极分别连接充电电容,触发脉冲施加于开关触发极时,放电通道承载电流较大。实验结果表明：仅受触发脉冲作用时,开关内间隙的平均通道数随着触发脉冲峰值增加而显著增加;开关电极连接电容的情况下,随着触发脉冲峰值增加,开关内间隙的平均通道数增加,外间隙的平均通道数减小;相近的过电压倍数下,开关电极连接电容情况下的平均通道数明显小于开关仅受触发脉冲作用情况下的平均通道数。     

Thin-film deposition by combining plasma jet with spark discharge source at atmospheric pressure

This study demonstrates a method for the deposition of CuO_x thin films by combining atmospheric pressure plasma jet with spark discharge. In this type of discharge source, the bulk copper material of spark discharge electrodes plays the role of a precursor. Copper atoms and particles go through the physical processes of sputtering, evaporation, and further agglomeration and condensation in the plasma jet and on the substrate. The experiments were carried out with and without a combination of discharges. The material coated on the substrate was studied using a scanning electron microscope, Raman spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The characteristics of the set-up and plasma, such as I-V curves, optical emission spectra, and substrate temperature, were also measured. Copper electrodes were examined for erosion by a scanning electron microscope. The results demonstrate that deposits coated by combined discharge show denser and thicker films.     

气体火花开关初始放电等离子体演化过程

气体火花开关的初始放电过程对研究其工作状态有着非常重要的影响,通过基于网格粒子法-直接蒙特卡罗法(PIC-DSMC)耦合算法模拟了气体火花开关从放电开始到等离子体通道初步形成的完整过程,得到了电子和离子的数密度时空分布变化,分析了间隙中电场分布随时间变化规律,完整清晰地揭示了气体火花开关从放电初始到等离子体通道初步形成的物理过程,并初步开展了气体火花开关击穿过程的光学诊断实验,为进一步深入研究气体火花开关的物理机理打下了基础。     

Characterization of a spark discharge for dust cloud ignition

Spark discharges are widely used to ignite flammable gases, liquids, or dust. For a better understanding of the interaction between the spark discharge and the ignited media (gas, liquid, or dust), it is necessary to measure some key parameters of the spark, especially the space‐time variation of its temperature. Determination of temperature gradients would allow a more precise and realistic simulation of the ignition process. In fact, electrons and particles in the discharge zone get their energy with increasing temperature before interacting with particles of the media to ignite the flame. In this study, optical emission spectroscopy of the spark discharge between two tungsten electrodes was performed. Assuming excitation balance between the WI lines, a Boltzmann plot after an Abel inversion gives the excitation temperature and its space‐time variation. For a 100‐μs time discharge, at 80‐μs delay, we measured 7,000 K at the centre of the column zone, 4,100 K at the centre of the cathode zone, and 3,600 K at the centre of the anode zone. Assuming a singly ionized tungsten plasma and excitation equilibrium, we used also the Saha–Boltzmann equation to calculate the plasma composition. The electron density at the column zone was about 3 × 10¹⁷ cm^?3, which is two orders of magnitude higher than in the rest of the spark.     

气体火花开关放电的数值模拟

基于Rompe-Weizel火花动态电阻公式,数值计算了电容器经火花开关放电时负载电阻上的输出电压。在相同电参数条件下,计算所得的峰值电压为54 kV,前沿为2.0 ns,与实验所得的55 kV和2.3 ns基本吻合。基于Braginskii火花动态电阻公式,在假定火花开关电导率恒定与电导率渐变的条件下,利用传输线放电电路数值计算了气体火花开关的非线性动态电阻。与已有实验测量结果(0.7～0.9 Ω)对比,发现电导率渐变模型(0.5～0.8 Ω)更适合用于反映火花开关的动态电阻变化过程。进而在此模型中引入了负载电阻项,通过计算负载端的透射电流,数值计算得单脉冲形成线对负载放电时的电压脉冲前沿为7～9 ns,而利用单线经高压氢气自击穿火花开关放电得到初步实验结果为8 ns。     

Synthesis of nanoparticles using a pulsed electrical discharge in a liquid

We used a pulsed electrical discharge in a liquid to obtain Cu-, WC-, and ZnO-containing nanoparticles. The effect of the discharge current and pulse duration on the morphology and phase composition of the synthesized material was studied by spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction analysis. We discuss possible mechanisms for nanoparticle formation in a discharge submerged in a liquid. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 1, pp. 111–120, January–February, 2008.