Tri-fluid mixing in a microchannel for nanoparticle synthesis

Feng, Xiangsong; Ren, Yukun; Hou, Likai; Tao, Ye; Jiang, Tianyi; Li, Wenying; Jiang, Hongyuan

doi:10.1039/c9lc00425d

Cited by 26 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Figure a shows our proposed microfluidic reactor, which is based on the microstructure inversion in a microfluidic channel for multi‐scale homogeneous mixing of the reagents and for maintaining a uniform residence time for the nanoparticles. As microstructures are known to generate a transverse flow by disturbing the flow in the longitudinal direction, [ 34,35 ] we used herringbone microstructures to induce turbulence, thereby achieving homogeneous mixing. However, in the case of microstructures located at the bottom of the channel, some nanoparticles could either be irreversibly trapped inside the microstructure or take a long time to escape the microstructure.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microfluidic Multi‐Scale Homogeneous Mixing with Uniform Residence Time Distribution for Rapid Production of Various Metal Core–Shell Nanoparticles

Shin

Lim

Kwak

et al. 2020

Adv Funct Materials

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Seed‐mediated growth of core–shell nanoparticles, which is conventionally performed in a batch reactor, is successfully reproduced in a microfluidic reactor for a facile production of uniform metal core–shell nanoparticles. The proposed microfluidic design is based on the microstructure inversion for achieving multi‐scale homogeneous mixing with uniform nanoparticle residence time. Simulations demonstrate that among the staggered herringbone microstructures investigated in this study, the upper herringbone (UH) structure can rapidly and homogeneously mix multiple‐sized reagents and can also prevent both the irreversible trapping and long residence time of the nanoparticles inside the microfluidic channel. A wide variety of metal core–shell nanoparticles, namely Au@Ag, Au@Pd, and Au@Au with an interior nanogap, are synthesized by using the microfluidic reactor with built‐in UH microstructures. The proposed microfluidic synthesis produces a more uniform shell size than the conventional batch synthesis. This work could significantly expand the practical utility of metal core–shell nanoparticles in a multitude of applications ranging from catalysis to nanomedicine.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microfluidic Multi‐Scale Homogeneous Mixing with Uniform Residence Time Distribution for Rapid Production of Various Metal Core–Shell Nanoparticles

Shin

Lim

Kwak

et al. 2020

Adv Funct Materials

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“…8,9 Unlike conventional batch reactors and analysis platforms, microfluidic devices have distinct advantages including high efficiency of heat and mass transfer, lower sample and reagent consumption, and integration of synthetic processes with analysis techniques (i.e., micrototal analysis system, μTAS). 10 However, high-efficiency micromixing in the low Reynolds number range (Re < 100) remains as an essential challenge in microfluidics, especially for applications in chemical synthesis 11,12 and reaction kinetic studies. 13,14 On the macro scale, fast mixing of conventional working fluids can be accomplished with the aid of turbulent flow.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over the past decades, microfluidics has attracted considerable attention in diverse areas like wearable biomarker sensing, − cell culture technologies, , and organic synthesis. , Recently, microfluidic devices have even been applied in COVID-19 diagnosis. , Unlike conventional batch reactors and analysis platforms, microfluidic devices have distinct advantages including high efficiency of heat and mass transfer, lower sample and reagent consumption, and integration of synthetic processes with analysis techniques (i.e., micrototal analysis system, μTAS) . However, high-efficiency micromixing in the low Reynolds number range ( Re < 100) remains as an essential challenge in microfluidics, especially for applications in chemical synthesis , and reaction kinetic studies. , On the macro scale, fast mixing of conventional working fluids can be accomplished with the aid of turbulent flow. However, miniaturization of microfluidic systems brings about unfavorable laminar flow and a molecular-diffusion-dominant mass transport mechanism, which is detrimental for micromixing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and Evaluation of Three-Dimensional Zigzag Chaotic Micromixers for Biochemical Applications

Yang

Zhao

et al. 2021

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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Zigzag is a classic microchannel configuration with unique modifiable geometric parameters (bending angles and overlapped regions) compared with other serpentine geometries. It provides an additional potential for application-oriented micromixer design. In this work, diverse novel three-dimensional (3D) zigzag micromixer configurations were proposed and investigated based on classic zigzag planar geometries. These micromixers consist of misaligned inlet junction parts and 3D zigzag mixing parts with various bending angles and overlapped regions. The mixing performance, mixing mechanism, and pressure drop characteristics of these micromixers were investigated by numerical simulation. Furthermore, selected 3D micromixer geometries were fabricated into polyimide-based microfluidic chips by efficient and low-cost manufacturing techniques. The Villermaux–Dushman experiment has been conducted in these customized chips, which exhibits promising prospects in biochemical applications.

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“…Compared to the conventional mechanical stirring mixing process, fluidic mixing within a micromixer has become a particularly exciting field due to its advantages of low reagent consumption, fast mixing, facile operation, and convenient integration with other analysis modules, delivering a better controlled chemical synthesis. Within the micromixer, a passive mixer relies on the specific structure within the main channel, which is generally used to perform two-fluid reactions, simultaneous reactions among three fluids, and segmented microreactions. − However, it remains challenging to use a passive mixer for continuous sequential reactions, which requires specific control of the mixing sequence and timing. In contrast, active mixers offer better control since they require external interference to drive the mixing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-Fluid Sequential Micromixing-Assisted Nanoparticle Synthesis Utilizing Alternating Current Electrothermal Flow

Sun

Ren

Tao

et al. 2020

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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Multiple micromixing in a controlled sequence is an essential process for complex chemical synthesis of functional nanoparticles with desired physicochemical properties. Herein, we developed a unique sequential micromixing-assisted nanoparticle synthesis platform utilizing alternating current electrothermal flow (ACET). A two-fluid micromixer comprised with pairs of staggered asymmetric electrodes was first designed and characterized by joint numerical simulations and experiments to obtain the optimized electrode configuration within a straight channel. On this basis, an extra pair of symmetric electrodes was added at the main channel entrance to form a three-fluid sequential micromixer. The middle fluid would first mix with the side fluids through the symmetric ACET microvortex pair in the upstream region and then realize the side fluid mixing by the asymmetric ACET microvortex in the downstream region. Rapid and complete mixing in a short channel was observed for a relatively high flow velocity up to 7 mm/s at an AC signal of 27.5 V and 1 MHz. Sequential micromixing was achieved by flexibly adjusting the volume of each fluid and the AC voltage within the three-fluid mixer. Both the two-fluid mixing process and the three-fluid mixing process were applied to synthesize the Co−Fe Prussian blue analogue nanoparticles. In comparison with two-fluid mixing, three-fluid sequential mixing offers nanoparticles with higher dispersion, controlled particle morphology, and more regular shapes. Therefore, the ACET flow-based sequential micromixing strategy can be an alternative for complex chemical and biochemical reactions.

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Tri-fluid mixing in a microchannel for nanoparticle synthesis

Abstract: We present an innovative tri-fluid mixing methodology, potentially applied in multi-step continuous-flow reactions, multicomponent reactions, nanoparticle synthesis, etc.

Cited by 26 publications

References 52 publications

Microfluidic Multi‐Scale Homogeneous Mixing with Uniform Residence Time Distribution for Rapid Production of Various Metal Core–Shell Nanoparticles

Microfluidic Multi‐Scale Homogeneous Mixing with Uniform Residence Time Distribution for Rapid Production of Various Metal Core–Shell Nanoparticles

Design and Evaluation of Three-Dimensional Zigzag Chaotic Micromixers for Biochemical Applications

Three-Fluid Sequential Micromixing-Assisted Nanoparticle Synthesis Utilizing Alternating Current Electrothermal Flow

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