Microwave-assisted nanoparticle synthesis enhanced with addition of surfactant

Microwave-assisted nanoparticle synthesis has been associated with some operational issues such as overheating due to the heat generation of particles and the thermal energy concentration at the interface. In the previous studies, improved methods have been proposed to address the above issues. These methods cover addition of anti-solvent, implementing two-stage irradiation and synergistic effect of microwave and ultrasound. This study is the first to investigate a combined effect of microwave and surfactant addition on the operation of nanoparticle synthesis. Results indicate that based on the size profiles obtained during and after microwave irradiation, addition of shorter surfactant results in better performances to prevent both particle and bubble growths. Surfactant-induced capping effect phenomena occurring as adsorption at the interface of solid-liquid are explained and their mechanisms to suppress the particle growth are revealed.