Combustion-driven synthesis of non-oxide nanoparticles in a high temperature reducing jet

Copper nanoparticles were synthesized using a new technique that combines thermal decomposition and hydrogen reduction. The technique uses a flame as a source of low-cost energy to initiate particle synthesis. The molar concentration of the aqueous precursor solution, reactor pressure and temperature, and flow rate of combustion gases (hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen), were varied to control particle size, size distribution, and morphology. Copper serves here as a prototype for non-oxide materials that are generally difficult to produced in flame-based reactors. This work demonstrates that such materials can be produced in substantial quantities with particle diameters below 50 nm in this process.