Aerosol synthesis of silicon nanoparticles with narrow size distribution—Part 1: Experimental investigations

• Published in: Journal of aerosol science Vol. 41; no. 11; pp. 998 - 1007
• Main Authors: Körmer, R., Jank, M.P.M., Ryssel, H., Schmid, H.-J., Peukert, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aerosol synthesis; Aerosols; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Hot wall reactor; Monodisperse; Nanoparticles; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Silicon; Nanoparticles; Silicon; Monodisperse; Hot wall reactor; Aerosol synthesis; Pyrolysis; Nucleation; Wall; Residence time; Growth; Thermal decomposition; Nanoparticle; Agglomeration; Precursor; Particle size distribution; Partial pressure; Synthesis; Distribution; Production; Aerosols; Monodispersed particle; Standard deviation; Reactor; Silane
• ISSN: 0021-8502; 1879-1964
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2010.05.007

A study on the feasibility of aerosol processing of nearly monodisperse silicon nanoparticles via pyrolysis of monosilane in a hot wall reactor is presented. For optimal conditions silicon nanoparticles with a geometric standard deviation of 1.06 were synthesized at a production rate of 0.7 g/h. The size of the particles could be precisely controlled in the range of 20–40 nm, whilst maintaining a geometric standard deviation in the range of 1.06–1.08, by proper choice of the governing parameters temperature, residence time and precursor concentration. The results show that narrow particle size distributions can only be obtained in the temperature range between 900 and 1100 °C, as long as both the initial silane concentration (1 mbar silane partial pressure) and the reactor total pressure are low (25 mbar). This regime for the production of narrow particle size distributions has not been identified in prior work on the thermal decomposition of silane. Narrowly distributed particles can be obtained under conditions where nucleation and particle growth are separated and the agglomeration rates are negligible.