Nano-Particle Sizing in a Thermal Plasma Synthesis Reactor

The radio frequency inductively coupled thermal plasma synthesis process, based on the use of solution precursors as the process feedstock, has been employed for the production of ceria (CeO₂) nano-powders. A sampling probe has been developed to continuously withdraw synthesized nano-powders from all desired positions within the plasma chamber for subsequent analysis. Using this probe, it was possible to study the 3D mapping of the plasma synthesis process. A flow of helium was introduced into the sampling probe to quench sampled particles and to prevent further particle growth within the sampling probe. Numerical simulations of the plasma flow were performed to study the influence of the probe tip geometry on the plasma flow. The reactor wall product collection method was also applied for sampling probe performance verification. The effects of selected plasma power and reactor pressure on the synthesized nano-powders size were investigated with this sampling probe. The results indicated that size distribution of the synthesized nano-powders is locally monomodal, with particles sizes as small as 4 nm being synthesized.