TS 3. Aerosol-Based Synthesis of Functional Materials for Several Applications

Presented by: Shalinee Kavadiya and Weining Wang

Location: Ruidoso/Pecos

Abstract: Aerosol-based methods have emerged as highly efficient, scalable, and continuous approaches for synthesizing advanced materials with customized properties. These processes utilize aerosols—suspended droplets or particles in the air—to synthesize and engineer materials (particles, thin films, or 3D structures). The droplet and particles can undergo several dynamics in the process such as evaporation, reaction, nucleation, self-assembly, condensation, coagulation, and sintering, which affects the properties of the synthesized materials. There are several aerosol techniques which include aerosol spray drying, electrospray, aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition, flame spray pyrolysis, and aerosol-based 3D printing, developed for synthesis of a wide range of materials such as metal oxides, carbon-based materials, perovskites, metal organic framework, and composites.

This tutorial aims to introduce the fundamental concepts of synthesizing materials in aerosol-based processes, with a specific focus on synthesis from droplet of material precursor dispersion – droplet to particle conversion. It will cover different atomization techniques for generating droplets, droplet characteristics (such as size distribution based on atomization parameters), solvent evaporation from droplets, and heat and mass transfer within the droplet. Additionally, it will discuss the effects of solvent evaporation, precursor types (soluble to non-soluble), solvent types, reactor temperature, and residence time on the properties of synthesized particles (size, morphology, crystallinity, composition, etc.) theoretically and experimentally.

Examples of materials synthesized for various applications such as solar cells, water treatment, CO2 conversion, catalysis, and energy storage will be provided to emphasize precise control of material properties in the aerosol-based process desired for applications. These materials will be categorized based on their particle morphologies, demonstrating how control over droplet dynamics can manipulate particle properties. The tutorial will also briefly explore other aerosol techniques mentioned earlier, their working mechanisms, and their capabilities for material synthesis. Overall, this tutorial aims to showcase how we can utilize the fundamentals of aerosols and aerosol processes for synthesizing a wide range of functional materials with tailored properties for diverse applications.

Presenters’ Bio: Shalinee Kavadiya is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). She obtained her Ph.D. degree from the Department of Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis (WUStL). Before joining UTSA, she was a Research Associate at the University of Miami and Postdoctoral Research Scholar at Arizona State University. She also worked extensively as a user at Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory with several funded proposals. Her research focuses on developing novel aerosol processes for materials and thin film synthesis, 3D printing, in-situ characterization techniques, and their applications in photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and biomedical fields. She aims to leverage aerosol science and technology to enhance material properties for improved efficiency in various applications. Additionally, she is interested in utilizing waste materials through aerosol-based routes to create useful materials. She has co-authored 25 peer-reviewed journal articles and has been a reviewer for several journals including Nature Scientific Reports, ACS Environmental Science and Technology Letters, Aerosol Science and Technology, Journal of Aerosol Science, and others.

Wei-Ning Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Prior to joining VCU, he served as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis (WUStL). Dr. Wang earned his doctoral degree in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from Hiroshima University in Japan in 2006. Dr. Wang’s research portfolio encompasses a broad spectrum of topics in nanomanufacturing and nanotechnology, with a primary focus on aerosol process development, hierarchical nanostructure formation, in-situ/operando characterization, and heterogeneous catalysis. His research aims to address fundamental challenges such as nucleation, crystal growth, self- assembly, and transport phenomena (including particle, charge, heat, and mass transfers), as well as material interface interactions. By tackling these challenges, Dr. Wang seeks to contribute to advancements in the fields of energy, the environment, and human health. He has coauthored over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and 7 book chapters.