Submicronic particles synthesis by a supercritical way

Abstract

The chemical transformation of metallic precursors in a supercritical fluid is a new route for obtaining nanometric homogeneous powders. In this paper we present a technique to produce metal, oxide or nitride submicronic particles, with a spherical morphology and mean diameters from a few microns to a few tens of nanometers. Metallic copper, oxides (Cu₂O, Fe₃O₄, Ga₂O₃) and nitrides (Cu₃N, Fe⁴N) have been prepared. This process consists in solubilizatiw and subsequent thermal decomposition of acetylacetonates of metals in a supercritical fluid, either a mixture of CO₂/C₂H₅OH or NH₃.

Key Words:

• Nanoparticles
• Supercritical fluid
• Acetylacetonate
• Oxide
• Nitride
• Metal