Plasma reactor for the synthesis of nanopowders and materials processing

A plasma reactor comprising:

• a torch body comprising a plasma torch for generating a plasma;
• a reactor section in fluid communication with the torch body for receiving the plasma from the plasma torch;
• a quench section in fluid communication with the reactor section,
• wherein the quench section comprises a frusto-conical quench chamber,
• wherein the frusto-conical quench chamber comprises an inner wall of a serrated configuration, and
• wherein the frusto-conical quench chamber comprises an upstream end having a first diameter adjacent the reactor section and an opposite downstream end having a second diameter larger than the first diameter;
• and
• at least one heating element in thermal communication with the reactor section,
• wherein the at least one heating element provides for selectively modulating a temperature within the reactor section.