Understanding the relationship between particle size and ultrasonic treatment during the synthesis of metal nanoparticles

Guannan Yang; Wei Lin; Haiqi Lai; Jin Tong; Junjun Lei; Maodan Yuan; Yu Zhang; Chengqiang Cui

doi:10.1016/j.ultsonch.2021.105497

Understanding the relationship between particle size and ultrasonic treatment during the synthesis of metal nanoparticles

Ultrason Sonochem. 2021 May:73:105497. doi: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2021.105497. Epub 2021 Feb 20.

Authors

Guannan Yang¹, Wei Lin², Haiqi Lai², Jin Tong², Junjun Lei², Maodan Yuan², Yu Zhang³, Chengqiang Cui⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Precision Electronic Manufacturing Technology and Equipment, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; Jihua Laboratory, Foshan 528225, PR China.
² State Key Laboratory of Precision Electronic Manufacturing Technology and Equipment, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Precision Electronic Manufacturing Technology and Equipment, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; Jihua Laboratory, Foshan 528225, PR China. Electronic address: zhangyu@gdut.edu.cn.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Precision Electronic Manufacturing Technology and Equipment, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; Jihua Laboratory, Foshan 528225, PR China. Electronic address: cqcui@gdut.edu.cn.

Abstract

Ultrasonic treatment is an effective method for size refinement and dispersion of nanomaterials during their synthesis process. However, the quantitative relationship between ultrasonic conditions and particle size in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles has not been fully revealed. In this study, Cu nanoparticles were synthesized via the wet-chemical redox method under ultrasonic treatment, and statistical analysis on the evolution of particle size distribution was carried out. It was found that the particle size decreased exponentially with increasing ultrasonic power. A quantitative model was then proposed to describe the influence of ultrasonic power on the size distribution of metal nanoparticles from the perspective of the competition between the surface energy and the ultrasonic force. A relational expression of R_c∝γ⁴⁷P^-37 was revealed, and it was proved to fit well with the experimental results. Our study provides new experimental basis and theoretical method for understanding the mechanism of ultrasonic-induced size refinement of metal nanoparticles.

Keywords: Metal nanoparticles; Size refinement; Ultrasonic treatment; Wet-chemical redox method.