A Multi-Physic Modelling Insight into the Differences between Microwave and Conventional Heating for the Synthesis of TiO2 Nanoparticles

Abstract

Microwave-assisted synthesis of nanoparticles usually leads to a smaller and more uni-formly distributed particle size compared to conventional heating (e.g., oil bath). Numerical simulation can help to obtain a better insight into the process in terms of temperature distribution or to evidence existing different temperature profiles and heating rates between the two techniques. In this paper multi-physics numerical simulation is used to investigate the continuous flow synthesis of titanium oxide nanoparticles starting from alkoxide precursors. Temperature-dependent permit-tivity of reactants has been measured, including the effects of permanence at the maximum synthesis temperature. A temperature homogeneity index has been defined to compare microwave and conventional heating. Results show that when using microwave heating at 2450 MHz, in the inves-tigated conditions, a much higher temperature homogeneity of the reactants is reached. Moreover, reactants experience different heating rates, depending on their position inside the microwave ap-plicator, while this is almost negligible in the case of conventional heating.