Ultrasonic Spray Synthesis

There is a critical need for scalable methods to nanomaterials with defined crystallite sizes and shape. While recognized as a scalable route to inorganic solids with complex compositions, ultrasonic spray synthesis - an aerosol technique - is under-realized as a strategy to shape-controlled nanocrystals and architecturally defined microspheres. These limitations arise because the typical pyrolysis chemistry incorporated into USS cannot inhibit aggregation of the many particles that form per droplet, resulting in polycrystalline microspheres. By emphasizing aerosol droplet phase, the Skrabalak group is achieving shape-controlled nanocrystals for diverse materials classes, including those challenging to achieve by conventional colloidal methods. We are also using these methods to assemble nanoscale building blocks into hierarchically porous structures for applications in catalysis and chemical separations.

Our current emphasis is on the synthesis of shape-defined metal heteroanionic (oxynitrides/oxyhalides) materials for photocatalysis.

Funding provided by NSF-DMR (2016-2019) for "Spray Synthesis of Shape-Defined Nanocrystals", NSF-DMR CAREER Award (2010-2015) for "Advanced Aerosol Synthesis of Metal Oxides for Photocatalytic Applications" and by ACS-PRF (2009-2011) for "Electrospray Synthesis of Composite Photocatalysts with Controlled Architectures".

For a representative publication, please see:

Towards Shape Control of Metal Oxide Nanocrystals in Confined Molten Media

ARTICLE LINK Chen, D. P.; Fu, J.; Skrabalak, S. E.* "Towards Shape Control of Metal Oxide Nanocrystals in Confined Molten Media" ChemNanoMat, 2015, 1, 18-26. DOI: 10.1002/cnma.201500032.