Formation of nanoparticles in liquid phase processes

The thermodynamic and kinetic regularities of the formation of inorganic nanoparticles in solutions containing additives of highly adsorbable organic compounds were examined. The dependences of the surface tension on the nanoparticle size and surface coverage and of the size dependences of the rate constants of all reactions were taken into account. A kinetic equation describing the formation of nanoparticles was derived, important limiting cases considered, and simplified analytical solutions obtained. It was demonstrated that, at the initial stage, the nanoparticle grows linearly with time, whereas at later stages (large nanoparticle radii) and high intensity of organic compound adsorption, it grows in the formation regime. The properties of size distribution function of nanoparticles under steady-state conditions are analyzed. It was shown that the presence of a highly adsorbable organic compound in the solution substantially diminishes the variation of nanoparticles in size and makes them smaller.