Plasma processing and characterisation of metal and oxide nanoparticles

Keywords:
nanoparticles, plasma processing, material characterisation

Abstract:
There is an increasing demand for particles with sizes below 100nm for a range of applications including catalysts, sintering aids, magnetic recording tapes, magnetic fluid, additives for propellants/explosive, optical absorption, batteries and electronic applications, etc.. Recent research at Birmingham has led to the development of a plasma processing method for the generation and deposition nanoparticles of elemental, alloy and compound materials. Their particle size, morphology and distribution have been characterised using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The oxidation behaviour and the magnetic properties of the nanosized powders have been studied simultaneous thermal analysis and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. In addition, the nanosized powders of iron have been successfully encapsulated by Poly (dl-lactide co-glycolide) (PLGA) biogdegradable polymer for magnetic drug carrier application. This paper highlights the microstructure and properties of the Al, Fe, Ni, Cu, TiN, Mg nanoparticles produced by this novel method and the performance of the magnetic drug carriers made from PLGA microspheres containing nanosized iron particles.

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Nanotech 2007 Conference Program Abstract