Session:

Doping, defect engineering, quantum confinement and extending to clusters, ternary or high entropy oxides can create disruptive materials with new or improved properties. Atmospheric pressure microplasmas represent a viable synthesis platform to achieve exceptional tuning capability therefore achieving an exquisite control of the size, composition and defects of metal oxide nanoparticles. Microplasmas offer dial-up delivery of precursor radicals together with tunable temperature conditions for nanoparticle formation, followed by rapid quenching. These microplasma conditions can lead to unprecedented crystal structures that can be constructed in a bottom-up approach. In this contribution we will show how quantum confinement and extensive defects in metal oxide nanoparticles can produce very desirable opto-electronic properties. Therefore we will discuss the formation of metal oxides nanoparticles with gas-phase microplasmas as well as hybrid plasma-liquid systems. The pros and cons of these microplasma synthesis approaches will be revealed and opportunities explored also in terms of manufacturing scalability and process integration. We will further provide in-depth analysis of the metal oxide nanoparticles, including their application opportunities in energy conversion and storage. Examples will include oxides from Ni, Cu, Mn, Sn, Co, Mo and Zn. Finally we will provide future directions at the boundaries between ordered and disordered crystal structures.

Davide Mariotti

Ulster University

Appearances