Multiscale materials from microcontinuous-flow synthesis: ZnO and Au nanoparticle-filled uniform and homogeneous polymer microbeads

Nanotechnology. 2010 Jan 8;21(1):015605. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/21/1/015605. Epub 2009 Nov 30.

Abstract

Tri(propylene glycol) diacrylate (TPGDA) was found to be an excellent monomer for the stabilization and dispersion of inorganic nanoparticles. Uniform nano-Au/poly(TPGDA) and nano-ZnO/poly(TPGDA) composite microbeads were synthesized in situ using a designed axisymmetric capillary-based flow-focusing microfluidic device without any additional surfactant or coupling agent. Using the designed mixing-enhanced microfluidic device, homogeneous nano-inorganic/polymer composites with a high content of nanoparticles were obtained. Morphologies of the composites were characterized by SEM, TEM, surface microscopy, dark-field microscopy and internal fluorescence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't