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How Size Determines the Value of Gold: Economic Aspects of Wet Chemical and Laser‐Based Metal Colloid Synthesis
Author(s) -
Jendrzej Sandra,
Gökce Bilal,
Epple Matthias,
Barcikowski Stephan
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201601139
Subject(s) - laser ablation , nanoparticle , laser ablation synthesis in solution , nanotechnology , colloid , colloidal gold , materials science , laser , productivity , process engineering , chemical engineering , chemistry , laser power scaling , organic chemistry , optics , physics , engineering , x ray laser , economics , macroeconomics
Gold is one of the most valuable materials, and its monetary value is enhanced by size reduction from bullions to colloidal nanoparticles by a factor of 450. Wet‐chemical reduction with subsequent centrifugation and pulsed laser ablation in liquids are frequently used for pure colloidal gold synthesis. Both methods provide similar physicochemical nanoparticle properties, but are very different synthesis techniques. However, the costs inherent to these methods are surprisingly seldom discussed. Both methods have in common that the labor effort poses the majority of synthesis costs. Besides an increase in batch size and mass concentration, especially an increase of the nanoparticle productivity via higher laser power and centrifugation capacity reduces synthesis costs if pilot‐ or industrial‐scale applications are intended. In this case, laser‐based synthesis is more economical if its productivity exceeds a break‐even value of 550 mg h −1 , where the costs arising are limited by the metal costs. In contrast to industrial scale production, wet‐chemical synthesis is more feasible for laboratory‐scale applications, especially if the advantageous nanoparticle properties provided by laser ablation in liquids are not needed.