# US 2023/0264166 A1 · Fluidic systems and methods for the manufacture of nanoparticles

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2023/0264166 A1
- Document ID: US20230264166A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/173,317
- Filed: 2023-02-23
- Published: 2023-08-24
- Earliest claimed: 2022-02-23
- Assignees: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
- Applicants: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
- Inventors: Frederick G. BADDOUR; Susan E. HABAS; Brittney E. PETEL; Alexander Kenneth YUNG
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230264166A1

## CPC

- B01J 19/0093: {Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors (laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027)}
- B22F 1/054: Nanosized particles
- B22F 1/0547: {Nanofibres or nanotubes}
- B22F 5/10: of articles with cavities or holes, not otherwise provided for in the preceding subgroups
- B22F 9/24: starting from liquid metal compounds, e.g. solutions
- B01J 2219/00822: Metal
- B01J 2219/00824: Ceramic
- B01J 2219/00831: Glass
- B01J 2219/00833: Plastic
- B01J 2219/0086: Dimensions of the flow channels
- B01J 2219/00889: Mixing
- B01J 2219/00894: More than two inlets
- B22F 2009/245: {Reduction reaction in an Ionic Liquid [IL]}
- B22F 2301/255: Silver or gold
- B22F 2304/054: Particle size between 1 and 100 nm
- B22F 2998/00: Supplementary information concerning processes or compositions relating to powder metallurgy
- B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method of synthesizing metal nanoparticles, where the method includes mixing a metal precursor with a stabilizing ligand in a first zone of a first fluidic device to form a first mixture and mixing the first mixture with a reductant in a second zone of the first fluidic device to form a second mixture, such that the metal nanoparticles form in the second zone.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device comprising:
a channel constructed of at least two runs fluidly connected in series by a bend;
a first inlet fluidly connected to a first end of the channel,
an outlet fluidly connected to a second end of the channel,
a second inlet fluidly connected to the channel between the first inlet and the outlet, and
a third inlet fluidly connected to the channel between the second inlet and the outlet,
wherein:
the channel has a diameter between 0.1 mm and 10 mm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein each run is positioned substantially parallel to adjacent runs.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the bend redirects the channel by approximately 180 degrees.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the number of runs is between 2 and 100 runs.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a mixing element positioned in at least one of the runs.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one run has between 2 and 100 mixing elements.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein a mixing element comprises a bend in the run.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein the bend in the run redirects the run by about 90 degrees.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the mixing element comprises a narrowing in the diameter of the channel, followed by a widening in the diameter of the channel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the channel is positioned within a block of material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein the material comprises at least one of a plastic, a ceramic, a glass, or a metal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein the material is capable of operating at a temperature between 0° C. and 200° C.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10 wherein the material is capable of operating at a pressure between one atmosphere and ten atmospheres of absolute pressure.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the channel has a volume between 100 ml and 10,000 ml.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the channel has a length between 10 mm and 10,000 mm.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the channel is characterized by laminar flow, with water flowing through the channel at a flow rate between 1 ml/min and 100 ml/min.

### Claim 17

A system comprising:
a first fluidic device; and
a second fluidic device, wherein:
the first fluidic device and the second device are connected in series by a union.

### Claim 18

A method of synthesizing metal nanoparticles, the method comprising:
mixing a metal precursor with a stabilizing ligand in a first zone of a first fluidic device to form a first mixture; and
mixing the first mixture with a reductant in a second zone of the first fluidic device to form a second mixture, wherein:
wherein the metal nanoparticles form in the second zone.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the metal nanoparticles have a substantially spherical shape with an average diameter between about 1 nm and about 10 nm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising:
directing the second mixture from the first fluidic device to a second fluidic device,
mixing in a first zone of the second fluidic device the second mixture with a diluting liquid to form a third mixture, and
mixing in a second zone of the second fluidic device the third mixture with liquid comprising the metal precursor, wherein:
at least a portion of the spherical metal nanoparticles are transformed into nanorods.