PLASMA SYNTHESIS OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE NANOPOWDER AND POWDER DOPING AND SURFACE MODIFICATION PROCESS

摘要

A process and apparatus for the synthesis of metal oxide nanopowder from a metal compound vapour is presented. In particular a process and apparatus for the synthesis of TIO2 nanopowder from TICI4 is disclosed. The metal compound vapour is reacted with an oxidising gas in an electrically induced RF frequency plasma thus forming a metal oxide vapour. The metal oxide vapour is rapidly cooled using a highly turbulent gas quench zone which quickly halts the particle growth process, yielding a substantial reduction in the size of metal oxide particles formed. The metal compound vapour can also be reacted with a doping agent to create a doped metal oxide nanopowder. Additionally, a process and apparatus for the inline synthesis of a coated metal oxide is disclosed wherein the metal oxide particles are coated with a surface agent after being cooled in a highly turbulent gas quench zone.