Using microfluidics device for synthesizing inorganic nanoparticles

• Main Author: Lee, Cheryl Anne Jia Lin
• Other Authors: Yong Ken Tye
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Optics, optoelectronics, photonics
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/63858
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Coprecipitation is the process that produces magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles, which have been used greatly in medical application. However, controlling the size and size distribution has proven to be a difficult task. As the nanoparticles have to be smaller than 100 nm, it is important to find a method that can produce nanoparticles of that size and also have a narrow size distribution. Hence, for this report, two different methods were used to synthesize magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles, which are surface functionalized using citric acid (CA). The first experiment is based on the traditional method of synthesizing while the second method uses a microfluidic chip as the synthesis platform. The purpose of using two different methods is to see which is more effective in producing smaller nanoparticles and also has control over the size of the nanoparticles produced. The results of the two experiments were compiled and compared to observe the average particle size as well as the size distribution. In addition, the nanoparticles produced is also tested for its usability as a contrast agent for MRI.