Number size distribution and charging properties of sub-10 nm metal-based particles produced by spark ablation at atmospheric pressure

Number size distribution and charging properties of sub-10 nm metal-based particles produced by spark ablation at atmospheric pressure

Liu, Yiliang (University of Helsinki; Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing)
Attoui, Michel (Université Paris-Est-Créteil)
Baalbaki, Rima (University of Helsinki)
Cai, Runlong (University of Helsinki)
Biskos, G. (TU Delft Atmospheric Remote Sensing; The Cyprus Insitute)
Chen, Yang (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing)
Kangasluoma, Juha (University of Helsinki)

2024

Sub-10 nm metal-based nanoparticles have garnered immense interest due to their unique properties and versatile applications. In this study, we created sub-10 nm Ag-based particles with a spark discharge generator and explored the parameters impacting their size distribution and charging properties, including carrier gas flow rates, spark discharge voltage, electrode gap distances, and capacitance. Our findings illuminate that there is a comparable influence of different factors on both self-charged and neutral particles. Among the different factors, carrier gas flow rates emerging as a paramount determinant in particle size. While increasing spark discharge voltage and capacitance within the spark circuit increases particle concentrations, the associated changes in particle size prove to be less straightforward. Significant differences between the concentration of positive and negative self-charged particles manifest when the carrier gas flow rate surpasses 5.0 L min⁻¹, with positive particles ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 nm and negative particles spanning 0.8 to 3.0 nm. Self-charged particles close to 1 nm tend to exhibit positive charges, whereas those larger than 2 nm tend to acquire negative charges, which suggests the growth of negative particles is faster than positive ones in the spark chamber. Nevertheless, these disparities between bipolar particles diminish with the increase of residence time, leading to the observation of similar particle size distributions. Positive particles consistently bear a single charge, while some negative particles exceeding 3 nm exhibit multiple charges, primarily under carrier gas flow rates exceeding 7.5 L min⁻¹. This study provides insights into the control of properties of nano-sized metal particles, which are crucial for their practical utilization.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:1e467765-6ab9-4ee2-af4d-34546dc0c0ec

https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2024.2355174

2024-12-05

0278-6826

Aerosol Science and Technology

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2024 Yiliang Liu, Michel Attoui, Rima Baalbaki, Runlong Cai, G. Biskos, Yang Chen, Juha Kangasluoma