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Wet Colloid Synthesis: Precipitation and Dispersion

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Book cover Production, Handling and Characterization of Particulate Materials

Part of the book series: Particle Technology Series ((POTS,volume 25))

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Abstract

Recent developments have significantly altered our understanding of (nano)particle wet synthesis. The most salient feature is that after nucleation and limited growth the “primary” particles aggregate and subsequently coalesce into larger secondary particles of which the size can be limited in the traditional way such as by surface active agents. Hence, the final size and shape of the secondary particles can be controlled at will through the controlled assembly of the primary particles. The aim of this chapter is to use this in the design of wet synthesis methods for both organic and inorganic particles where a particular example for Pt catalysts is discussed in detail. In order to achieve this, colloidal behavior is presented in a colloquial form and interactions, stability, nucleation and growth are reviewed. Subsequently, the use of surfactant as a template is discussed after which the reader is prepared to embark on a description of a synthesis procedure that was recently developed in our group. The importance cannot be stressed: finally one is able to design a synthesis procedure although many challenges remain that are reviewed in the outlook at the end of the chapter.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Even though many (colloidal) objects are not spheres, one still uses expressions for spheres to obtain the correct order of magnitude in the absence of a more accurate value.

  2. 2.

    It is important to realize that the diffusion rate determines the time scale over which the sedimentation profile establishes itself. The shape of the profile however is independent of the kinetics; as a signature: the profile does not contain the viscosity which is the rate determining liquid property here.

  3. 3.

    The word coagulation is also used to denote flocculation or aggregation.

  4. 4.

    The Smoluchoski family preferred the Polish name as given in the text. German texts, such as his PhD thesis, refer to him as Marian, Ritter von Smolan Smoluchowski; the word Ritter stands for Knight. In contemporary texts, confusion dominates and one also finds Maryan von Smoluchowsky.

  5. 5.

    The ionic strength of a 1–1 electrolyte is equal to its concentration, for more involved electrolytes it can be found in various text books [22].

  6. 6.

    There is no immediate argument as to why the functional form of the nucleation function should be a Gaussian.

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Acknowledgement

The Chemistry department of Cambridge University is thanked for hosting G.K. in 2014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

    Ger J. M. Koper

  2. Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, TNO, Zeist, The Netherlands

    Roman Latsuzbaia

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  1. Emeritus Professor, Chemical Engineering Department, Delft University of Technology, Pijnacker, The Netherlands

    Henk G. Merkus

  2. DSM Food Specialties & Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

    Gabriel M.H. Meesters

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Koper, G.J.M., Latsuzbaia, R. (2016). Wet Colloid Synthesis: Precipitation and Dispersion. In: Merkus, H., Meesters, G. (eds) Production, Handling and Characterization of Particulate Materials. Particle Technology Series, vol 25. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20949-4_3

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