Synthesis of nanoparticles via microfluidic devices and integrated applications

In recent years, nanomaterials have attracted the research intervention of experts in the fields of catalysis, energy, biomedical testing, and biomedicine with their unrivaled optical, chemical, and biological properties. From basic metal and oxide nanoparticles to complex quantum dots and MOFs, the stable preparation of various nanomaterials has always been a struggle for researchers. Microfluidics, as a paradigm of microscale control, is a remarkable platform for online stable synthesis of nanomaterials with efficient mass and heat transfer in microreactors, flexible blending of reactants, and precise control of reaction conditions. We describe the process of microfluidic preparation of nanoparticles in the last 5 years in terms of microfluidic techniques and the methods of microfluidic manipulation of fluids. Then, the ability of microfluidics to prepare different nanomaterials, such as metals, oxides, quantum dots, and biopolymer nanoparticles, is presented. The effective synthesis of some nanomaterials with complex structures and the cases of nanomaterials prepared by microfluidics under extreme conditions (high temperature and pressure), the compatibility of microfluidics as a superior platform for the preparation of nanoparticles is demonstrated. Microfluidics has a potent integration capability to combine nanoparticle synthesis with real-time monitoring and online detection, which significantly improves the quality and production efficiency of nanoparticles, and also provides a high-quality ultra-clean platform for some bioassays.

Automated summary

In recent years, the research on nanomaterials has been focused on their unique optical, chemical, and biological properties, attracting experts in the fields of catalysis, energy, biomedical testing, and biomedicine. Microfluidics, a paradigm of microscale control, provides an ideal platform for stable synthesis of nanomaterials through efficient mass and heat transfer, flexible blending of reactants, and precise control of reaction conditions. This article summarizes the microfluidic preparation of nanoparticles in the last 5 years, including microfluidic techniques and manipulation of fluids. It also demonstrates the ability of microfluidics to prepare different types of nanomaterials and presents cases of nanomaterials prepared under extreme conditions.