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Formation of Metal Nanoparticles Directly from Bulk Sources Using Ultrasound and Application to E‐Waste Upcycling
Author(s) -
Watt John,
Austin Mariah J.,
Simocko Chester K.,
Pete Douglas V.,
Chavez Jonathan,
Ammerman Lauren M.,
Huber Dale L.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201703615
Subject(s) - pulmonary surfactant , materials science , nanoparticle , metal , bilayer , cavitation , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , colloidal gold , metallurgy , chemistry , thermodynamics , membrane , biochemistry , physics , engineering
A method for creating nanoparticles directly from bulk metal by applying ultrasound to the surface in the presence of a two‐part surfactant system is presented. Implosive collapse of cavitation bubbles near the bulk metal surface generates powerful microjets, leading to material ejection. This liberated material is captured and stabilized by a surfactant bilayer in the form of nanoparticles. The method is characterized in detail using gold, but is also demonstrated on other metals and alloys, and is generally applicable. It is shown that nanoparticles can be produced regardless of the bulk metal form factor, and the method is extended to an environmentally important problem, the reclamation of gold from an electronic waste stream.