Synthesis of functional TiO2-based nanoparticles in radio frequency induction thermal plasma
A method of synthesizing functional nanostructured powders by using reactive thermal plasma processing has been developed. Nanosized TiO2 powders have been synthesized by the plasma oxidation of solid and liquid precursors. Quench gases, either injected from the shoulder of the reactor or injected counter to the plasma plume from the bottom of the reactor, are used to affect the quench rate and hence the particle size of the resultant powders. The experimental results are well supported by numerical analysis of the effects of the quench gas on flow pattern and temperature field of the thermal plasma as well as trajectory and temperature histories of the particles. The plasma-synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles showed phase preferences different from those synthesized by conventional wet processes. Nanosized particles of high crystallinity and nonequilibrium chemical composition were formed in one step by reactive thermal plasma processing. The plasma-synthesized nanoparticles were spherical and hardly agglomerated. Applications of highly functional nanoparticles are thought to require nanoparticles structured in the forms of (1) dispersoids, (2) fillers, and (3) patterns. For these purposes, plasma-synthesized nanocrystallites seem to be suitable.