A New High Rate Process for Nanoparticle Separation

"We propose to develop a new high rate process for sorting nanoparticles in the gas phase. The process also overcomes the fundamental limitation of the existing differential mobility analyzer, thereby allowing an output that is conducive to industrial use.The nanoparticle separator can be used either as a stand-alone system, or in conjunction with a nanoparticle generating reactor, such as a plasma system. The nanoparticle separator is conceptually novel since it involves strategic utilization ofelectrostatic forces in synergistic aerodynamic configurations, which exploits the inertia-based and/or size-mobility of nanoparticles, thereby allowing for effective size-based sorting. In Phase I, the nanoparticle separator will be experimentallydemonstrated, combined with computer simulation to refine the process and scale-up to deliver an output in excess of 1 kg/hour. A scaled system will be constructed in Phase II, and integrated with a nanoparticle generating reactor in Phase II, eitherin-house or at the Army facility. There are several nanopowder synthesis processes, the plasma process being one of them, which yield nanoparticles with a wide size distribution. While the process is intrinsically inexpensive and scalable, the particlesneed to be separated based on the size in order to be effectively used in any application. Our program addresses this critical need."