title: Synthesis and Monitoring of Airborne Nanoparticles with Unique Properties
Creators: name: Fomenko, Elena
Publisher: name: Griffith University
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: nanoparticles
subject: combustion
subject: ionisation
subject: glowing wire technology (GWT)

description: Recent advancements in aerosol technology have ushered in a plethora of methodologies for the production of metal nanoparticles, encompassing techniques such as thermal evaporation, chemical vapour deposition, electrode deposition, direct metal combustion, and Glowing Wire Technology (GWT) (Boskovic &amp; Agranovski, 2013). Among these methods, GWT emerges as a particularly promising avenue for the generation of highly pure metal nanoparticles. Despite its considerable potential, achieving accurate control over the size and purity of the resulting nanoparticles (Mourdikoudis et al., 2021) continues to be a critical area that requires further research and development within this field. The unique attributes of glowing wire technology offer distinct advantages, including scalability, simplicity, and the capability to synthesise nanoparticles with controlled purity. Nevertheless, optimising this technique to afford precise control over key parameters such as particle size, shape, and composition remains a critical challenge. Addressing these challenges necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, integrating insights from materials science, aerosol physics, and process engineering to refine the underlying mechanisms governing nanoparticle formation in GWT. Furthermore, continued exploration and refinement of glowing wire technology hold the potential to unlock new avenues for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles with tailored properties and functionalities. By leveraging advances in materials synthesis, nanotechnology, and characterisation techniques, researchers can elucidate the fundamental mechanisms dictating nanoparticle formation in GWT and devise strategies to enhance process efficiency and product quality. Ultimately, advancing the capabilities and applications of glowing wire technology in nanoparticle synthesis requires concerted efforts to bridge fundamental research with technological innovation. By fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government agencies, we can accelerate progress in this field and unlock new opportunities for the design and fabrication of advanced nanomaterials with diverse applications. Typically, a Glowing Wire Generator (GWG) operates by utilising a designated metal wire as the precursor material to generate nanoparticles through aerosol vapour formation (Peineke et al., 2009). Through the application of GWT, nanoparticles are synthesised, typically exhibiting an average diameter of less than 30 nm (Bose et al., 2006). Moreover, it is pertinent to highlight that the nanoparticles produced via GWT often manifest a polydisperse distribution, indicating variations in size and morphology within the nanoparticle population. The utilisation of a metal wire as the precursor material in GWG offers several advantages, including simplicity of operation, scalability, and the ability to generate nanoparticles with high purity. However, the polydisperse nature of the resulting nanoparticle population presents a challenge in achieving uniformity in size and morphology, which is often desired for specific applications. Addressing this challenge requires a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms governing nanoparticle formation and growth in GWT. Efforts to enhance the uniformity and monodispersity of nanoparticles synthesised via GWT involve optimising process parameters such as wire composition, temperature, and gas flowrate. Additionally, advancements in nanoparticle characterisation techniques, such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), enable precise assessment of nanoparticle size distribution and morphology, facilitating the refinement of synthesis protocols. Furthermore, ongoing research endeavours aimed at interpreting the kinetics and thermodynamics of nanoparticle nucleation and growth in GWT hold promise for achieving greater control over nanoparticle properties. By leveraging insights from theoretical modelling and computational simulations, researchers can tailor synthesis protocols to yield nanoparticles with desired size, shape, and surface characteristics, thus expanding the applicability of GWT in various field. In this study, several of these areas were examined and can be classified into two distinct categories: 1. Production of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles using single and double wired glowing wire generator. The primary objective is to investigate methods for controlling nanoparticle production, aiming to achieve nanoparticles with different size ranges and reduced polydispersity. Small-sized nanoparticles have demonstrated significant potential across various applications, including coatings, separation processes, electronics, and energy-related applications. However, in certain applications, larger-sized nanoparticles could offer advantages by facilitating the deposition of a more homogeneous and thicker coating over a reduced time frame. Therefore, by systematically investigating the influence of process parameters, such as wire configuration, temperature, and gas flowrate, we aim to optimise nanoparticle synthesis to produce nanoparticles with controlled size distributions and enhanced uniformity. The findings of this study are expected to contribute significantly to the development of efficient and reliable nanoparticle synthesis techniques. By explaining the mechanisms governing nanoparticle deposition and uniformity, researchers can pave the way for the design and fabrication of tailored nanoparticles for specific purposes. Furthermore, the insights gained from this study may have broader implications for advancing nanoparticle-based technologies across various sectors, including materials science, electronics, and biomedical engineering. 2. Magnesium Oxide (MgO) nanoparticles represent a crucial focus of this study, owing to their immense potential across diverse fields, stemming from their unique physical and chemical properties. Their synthesis involves interdisciplinary methodologies and classification methodologies from physics, chemistry, and biology, underscoring their significance as a promising class of nanomaterials with broadranging application prospects. Central to the study is the recognition of nanoparticle charging within the synthesis flame as a pivotal indicator of their evolutionary trajectory during the formation processes. Researchers examine the shape and morphology of MgO nanoparticles within an undisturbed flame to gain insights into how continuous unipolar ion emission during external charging impacts nanoparticle synthesis. This investigation aims to enhance the understanding of the mechanisms governing nanoparticle formation in the presence of charged flames. Understanding the interplay between external charging and nanoparticle formation processes is crucial for elucidating the sophisticated dynamics at play within the synthesis flame. By interpreting how external charging influences MgO nanoparticle morphology and characteristics, researchers can uncover valuable insights into the mechanisms driving nanoparticle evolution and growth. This, in turn, can inform the development of more efficient and tailored synthesis strategies for producing MgO nanoparticles with desired properties for specific applications. Moreover, the findings of this study may have broader implications for advancing our understanding of nanoparticle synthesis processes and their applications across various disciplines. By bridging the gap between fundamental research and practical applications, researchers can unlock new avenues for harnessing the potential of MgO nanoparticles in fields such as catalysis, sensing, energy storage, and biomedicine.