Flow Effects on the Controlled Growth of Nanostructured Networks at Microcapillary Walls for Applications in Continuous Flow Reactions.
Low-cost microfluidic devices are desirable for many chemical processes; however, access to robust, inert, and appropriately structured materials for the inner channel wall is severely limited. Here, the shear force within confined microchannels was tuned through control of reactant solution fluid-flow and shown to dramatically impact nano- through microstructure growth. Combined use of experimental results and simulations allowed controlled growth of 3D networked Zn(OH)F nanostructures with uniform pore distributions and large fluid contact areas on inner microchannel walls. These attributes facilitated subsequent preparation of uniformly distributed Pd and PdPt networks with high structural and chemical stability using a facile, in situ conversion method. The advantageous properties of the microchannel based catalytic system were demonstrated using microwave-assisted continuous-flow coupling as a representative reaction. High conversion rates and good recyclability were obtained. Controlling materials nanostructure via fluid-flow-enhanced growth affords a general strategy to optimize the structure of an inner microchannel wall for desired attributes. The approach provides a promising pathway toward versatile, high-performance, and low-cost microfluidic devices for continuous-flow chemical processes.
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, and ‡Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, MOE, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China.|School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, ∥School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and ⊥School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
Gang
G
Wang
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, and ‡Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, MOE, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China.|School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, ∥School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and ⊥School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
Cansheng
C
Yuan
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, and ‡Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, MOE, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China.|School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, ∥School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and ⊥School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
Boyi
B
Fu
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, and ‡Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, MOE, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China.|School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, ∥School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and ⊥School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
Luye
L
He
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, and ‡Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, MOE, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China.|School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, ∥School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and ⊥School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
Elsa
E
Reichmanis
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, and ‡Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, MOE, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China.|School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, ∥School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and ⊥School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
Hongzhi
H
Wang
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, and ‡Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, MOE, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China.|School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, ∥School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and ⊥School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
Qinghong
Q
Zhang
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, and ‡Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, MOE, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China.|School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, ∥School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and ⊥School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
Yaogang
Y
Li
3D networks; flow chemistry; microfluidic reactions; shear stress