Nonthermal plasma synthesis

An apparatus comprising:

• a nonthermal plasma reactor vessel comprising;
• a core formation region;
• and
• a shell formation region downstream of the core formation region;
• a gaseous core precursor inlet, upstream of the core formation region, configured to introduce gaseous core precursors to the reactor vessel;
• a gaseous shell precursor inlet, downstream of the core formation region and upstream of the shell formation region, configured to introduce gaseous shell precursors to the reactor vessel;
• a plasma source configured to produce a plasma in the core formation region and the shell formation region, wherein the gaseous core precursors form negatively-charged core nanoparticles from the gaseous core precursors in the core formation region of the reactor vessel, and where the gaseous shell precursors from shells on the core nanoparticles in the shell formation region of the reactor vessel.

A system comprising:

• a controller configured to:
• control a plasma source to power a nonthermal plasma reactor to form a plasma in a core formation region and a shell formation region of the nonthermal plasma reactor, wherein the shell formation region is downstream of the core formation region;
• control a gaseous core precursor inlet, upstream of the core formation region, to introduce gaseous core precursors to the nonthermal plasma reactor, wherein the gaseous core precursors form negatively-charged core nanoparticles from the gaseous core precursors in the core formation region of the nonthermal plasma reactor;
• and
• control a gaseous shell precursor inlet, downstream of the core formation region and upstream of the shell formation region, to introduce gaseous shell precursors to the nonthermal plasma reactor, wherein the gaseous shell precursors form shells on the core nanoparticles in the shell formation region of the nonthermal plasma reactor.

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to:

• power, using a plasma source, a nonthermal plasma reactor to form a plasma in a core formation region and a shell formation region of the nonthermal plasma reactor, wherein the shell formation region is downstream of the core formation region;
• introduce, upstream of the core formation region, gaseous core precursors, wherein the gaseous core precursors form negatively-charged core nanoparticles from the gaseous core precursors in the core formation region of the nonthermal plasma reactor;
• and
• introduce, to the plasma downstream of the core formation region, gaseous shell precursors, wherein the gaseous shell precursors form shells on the core nanoparticles in the shell formation region of the nonthermal plasma reactor.