title: Gas Slug Microfluidics: A Unique Tool for Ultrafast, Highly Controlled Growth of Iron Oxide Nanostructures.
abstract: The use of nanomaterials in real life applications is often hampered by our inability to produce them in large quantities while preserving their desired properties in terms of size, shape, and crystalline phase. Here we present a novel continuous method to synthesize nanostructures with an unprecedented degree of control regarding their properties. In particular, the excellent properties of microreactors for chemical synthesis are enhanced by the introduction of gas slugs of tailored composition. Slug dynamics accelerate mixing, reduce processing times (from hours in batch processes to minutes or even seconds), and, depending on the gas atmosphere used, allows one to accurately control the crystalline phase and shape of the resulting nanostructures. Inert (N2), oxidizing (O2), or reducing (CO, H2) gases were used, leading to different morphologies and crystalline structures in a high yield, highly reproducible fabrication process.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Aragon Institute of Nanoscience (INA), University of Zaragoza , Campus Río Ebro-Edificio I+D, C/Poeta Mariano Esquillor S/N, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors: Ane
authors: A
authors: Larrea
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Aragon Institute of Nanoscience (INA), University of Zaragoza , Campus Río Ebro-Edificio I+D, C/Poeta Mariano Esquillor S/N, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain ; Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN , 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Sebastian
authors: Laboratorio de Microscopias Avanzadas (LMA), Universidad de Zaragoza , 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors: Alfonso
authors: A
authors: Ibarra
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Aragon Institute of Nanoscience (INA), University of Zaragoza , Campus Río Ebro-Edificio I+D, C/Poeta Mariano Esquillor S/N, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain ; Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN , 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Arruebo
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Aragon Institute of Nanoscience (INA), University of Zaragoza , Campus Río Ebro-Edificio I+D, C/Poeta Mariano Esquillor S/N, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain ; Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN , 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Jesus
authors: J
authors: Santamaria