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We present an accurate online method for the study of size-dependent evaporation of free nanoparticles allowing us to detect a size change of 0.1 nm. This method is applied to Ag nanoparticles. The linear relation between the onset temperature of evaporation and the inverse of the particle size verifies the Kelvin effect and predicts a surface energy of 7.2 J/m(2) for free Ag nanoparticles. The surface energy of nanoparticles is significantly higher as compared to that of the bulk and is essential for processes such as melting, coalescence, evaporation, growth, etc., of nanoparticles.

A simple model describing the evolution of particle molecular to the continuum regime. The model predicmorphology, size, and number concentration by coagutions compare well to those of a detailed two-dimenlation and sintering is presented that neglects the sional sectional model of nonspherical particle dynamspread of the polydispersity of aggregate and primary ics. After a theoretical evaluation of the main sintering particles. The influence of irregular/fractat structure mechanism, the proposed model was applied to laser on the collision kernel is accounted for, from the free synthesis of silicon in an aerosol reactor.

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ZnO can be regarded as one of the most important metal oxide semiconductors for future applications. Similar to silicon in microelectronics, it is not only important to obtain nanoscale building blocks of ZnO, but also extraordinary purity has to be ensured. A new gas-phase approach to obtain size-selected, nanocrystalline ZnO particles is presented. The tetrameric alkyl-alkoxy zinc compound [CH 3 ZnOCH(CH 3 ) 2 ] 4 is chemically transformed into ZnO, and the mechanism of gas-phase transformation is studied in detail. Furthermore, the morphological genesis of particles via gas-phase sintering is investigated, and for the first time a detailed model of the gas-phase sintering processes of ZnO is presented. Various analytical techniques (powder XRD, TEM/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, etc.) are used to investigate the structure and purity of the samples. In particular, the defect structure of the ZnO was studied by photoluminescence spectroscopy.

The size-dependent evaporation of free-spherical PbS nanoparticles has been investigated by in-flight sintering of size-classified aerosols. The temperature (T(ev)) at which the particle size decreases due to evaporation is found to be size dependent and decreases with decreasing particle size. A linear relationship between the evaporation temperature and the inverse of the particle size is obtained as is the case with size-dependent melting of nanoparticles. This gives a direct evidence of the Kelvin effect and allows one to estimate the surface energy of nanoparticles. The surface energy of PbS nanoparticles has been found to be 2.45 J m(2).

This article describes the challenges in focusing nanoparticles (<30 nm) into tightly collimated beams, and provide guidelines for designing aerodynamic lens systems for nanoparticles. The major difficulties of focusing nanoparticles arise from their low inertia and high diffusivity. Because of their low inertia, nanoparticles tend to closely follow gas streamlines; their high diffusivities lead to beam broadening and diffusional deposition. We have identified the minimum particle size that can be focused to the axis with a single lens when diffusion is neglected, assuming that the flow is continuum and subsonic. We show that lighter carrier gases are preferred for focusing small particles, and that multiple lenses operating at suboptimal Stokes numbers can be designed to focus particles smaller than was recognized previously. There exists a maximum pressure under which particles can be optimally focused, while particle diffusion and pumping requirements are minimized. Finally, we describe the procedure for designing aerodynamic lens systems for focusing nanoparticles, and present a case study of designing a single aerodynamic lens to focus 5 nm particles.