.jpg)
Topics Covered
Background
Nanocrystalline Powders
Synthesis Techniques
Physical Vapor Synthesis (PVS)
NanoArc Synthesis (NAS)
Nanoparticle Dispersions
Background
Alfa Aesar, a leading supplier of research chemicals, metals and materials, and Nanophase Technologies, an industry-leading nanocrystalline materials innovator, have entered into a mutually exclusive partnership for the distribution of nanoparticles and nanoparticle dispersions. Alfa Aesar is the sole distributor of research and development quantities for a group of Nanophase materials.
.jpg)
Figure 1. Nanoparticles and dispersions brochure
Nanocrystalline Powders
Nanocrystalline powders typically have a mean particle size less than 100 nm, are non-porous single crystals, have defined surface chemistry, and are chemically pure. Alfa Aesar offers raw nanoparticles and dispersions from Nanophase. The dispersions in water or other liquids offer a more refined product allowing uniform distribution of material.
Synthesis Techniques
Nanoparticles are produced using one of two methods, Physical Vapor Synthesis (PVS) or NanoArc Synthesis (NAS).
Physical Vapor Synthesis (PVS)
In the PVS process, arc energy is first applied to a solid metal precursor in order to generate a vapor at high temperature. A reactant gas is then added to the vapor, which is then cooled at a controlled rate and condenses to form nanoparticles. The nanomaterials produced by the PVS process consist of discrete, fully-dense particles of defined crystallinity. This method typically produces particles with average sizes ranging from 8-75 nm.
NanoArc Synthesis (NAS)
Like the PVS process, the NAS process uses arc energy to produce nanoparticles. The NAS process, however, is capable of using a wide variety precursor formats and chemical compositions, thereby greatly expanding the number of materials that can be manufactured as nanopowders at commercial scale.
Nanopowders
The nanomaterials produced by the NAS process consist of discrete, fully-dense particles of defined crystallinity. This method has been used to produce particles with average sizes ranging from 7-45 nm.
Nanoparticles can be coated with a thin polymeric shell that enables compatibility of the particles with a wide variety of fluids, resins and polymers. This patented technology, called Discrete Particle Encapsulation, ensures that the appropriate surface coating completely surrounds each individual particle, where the chemistry of the coating is selected to provide the characteristics required for compatibility. In this way, the nanoparticles retain their original chemical and physical properties, but the coating can be tailored for wide variety of applications and environments, ranging from extremely non-polar (hydrophobic) to very polar (hydrophilic) systems
Nanophase Particle Attributes
- Particles less than 100 nanometers
- Particles are equi-axed
- High surface and chemical purity
- Non porous and fully crystalline
- Non-friable
- Near theoretical density
- Unique crystal morphology
In addition to the powders, Alfa Aesar offers Nanophase nanoparticle dispersions. For a complete list of Nanophase powders and dispersions, visit the Alfa Aesar web site at
http://www.alfa.com/Alf/Product Indexes/Alfa_Complete/nano.html.
To request a copy of the Nanoparticles and Dispersions brochure, click here.
To view a pdf version of the Nanoparticles and Dispersions brochure, please go to http://www.alfa.com/alf/marketingdownloads.html
Source: Alfa Aesar
For more information on this source please visit Alfa Aesar