Feedstock feeding duration influence on silicon nanoparticle synthesis using tandem modulated induction thermal plasmas with intermittent feedstock feeding

Influences of feedstock feeding duration on the size and composition of synthesized nanoparticles produced using tandem-type modulated induction thermal plasma (tandem-MITP) with time-controlled feeding of feedstock (TCFF) were investigated both experimentally and numerically. This tandem-MITP+TCFF method has been confirmed to give highly efficient evaporation of the feedstock during on-time and also highly efficient nucleation during off-time. Furthermore, the time duration of feedstock feeding in a modulation cycle is an important factor for ascertaining the production rate. The experimentally obtained results indicate that a higher rate of smaller nanoparticle production was obtained at the duty factor of feedstock feeding DFvalve of 40% in range of DFvalve from 27% to 100%. This result suggests control of the formation and coagulation growth of nanoparticles by controlling the feedstock feeding time. The developed simulation model can also predict that reducing the ratio of feedstock feeding time produces high-density Si vapor, which is converted efficiently into nanoparticles because the evaporated vapor is cooled by the strong entrained gas flow at the downstream region. Numerically and experimentally obtained results were compared in terms of the particle size distribution, indicating reasonably good mutual agreement. These experimentally obtained and numerical results indicate control of the feedstock feeding time as desirable for nanoparticle synthesis.

Automated summary

The influences of feedstock feeding duration on the size and composition of synthesized nanoparticles using tandem-type modulated induction thermal plasma (tandem-MITP) with time-controlled feeding of feedstock (TCFF) were studied both experimentally and numerically. It was found that controlling the feedstock feeding time is desirable for nanoparticle synthesis, as it can control the formation and growth of nanoparticles. The experimentally obtained results were in good agreement with the numerically obtained results, indicating the effectiveness of controlling the feedstock feeding time.