Suspension- and powder-based derivation of Hansen dispersibility parameters for zinc oxide quantum dots

For most particle-based applications, formulation in the liquid phase is a decisive step, and thus, particle interactions and stability in liquid media are of major importance. The concept of Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) was initially invented to describe the interactions of (polymer) molecules and their solubility in different liquids and is increasingly being used in particle technology to describe dispersibility. Because dispersions are not thermodynamically stable, the term Hansen dispersibility parameters (HDP) is used instead of HSP (SiiE, Sobisch, Peukert, Lerche,& Segets, 2018). Herein, we extend a previously developed standardized and non-subjective method for determination of Hansen parameters based on analytical centrifugation to the important class of quantum materials. As a technically relevant model system, zinc oxide quantum dots (QDs) were used to transfer our methodology to nanoparticles (NPs) with sizes below lOnm. The results obtained using the standard procedure starting from a dried powder were compared with those obtained through redispersion from the wet sediment produced during the typical washing procedure of QDs, and drying was observed to play an important role. In conclusion, our study reveals the high potential of HDP for quantifying the interfacial properties of NPs as well as their link to dispersibility.

Formulation of carbon black-ionomer dispersions for thin film formation in fuel cells

The performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) is strongly determined by the structure and composition of the electrode layer.The interactions between the ionomer,carbon black particles,and solvent affect the suspension properties and thus the layer morphology.We analyze the effect of the ionomer-to-carbon (I/C) weight ratio for two different types of carbon black on the suspension and layer characteristics.Highly branched carbon blacks with a high surface area tend to form less cracked layers.As less branched carbons can pack together more closely,a smaller pore size results in a larger capillary pressure during drying and thus more cracks.The added ionomer adsorbs on the carbon particles and improves the colloidal stability of the carbon black particles.The carbon black aggregates are thus smaller,resulting in closer packing and thinner layers.Moreover,the addition of the ionomer increases the critical coating thickness (CCT) of the layers because drying stresses are dissipated by the deformation of the ionomer,preventing crack formation.An optimum I/C weight ratio is identified for optimal layer formation and minimized crack formation.

Assessing stress conditions and impact velocities in fluidized bed opposed jet mills

Fluidized bed opposed jet mills are capable of meeting the continuously growing dema nd for contamination-free fine particles.In this type of jet mill,the solid material is entrained and accelerated by expanding gas jets that are focused onto a focal point in side a fluidized bed.The resulting particle collisions induce breakage.The process is affected by the relative particle velocities and the number of particle-particle collisions.Clearly,both quantities are distributed.However,to date,neither relative particle velocities nor collision frequencies in such units have been determined.The present work introduces an innovative method to assess the stressing conditions in jet mills experimentally.To this end,mixtures of glass and ductile metal microspheres were used,with the latter employed in small amounts.Inter-particle collisions between the aluminum and glass spheres lead to the formation of dents on the microparticles.The size and number of these dents are associated with the individual collision velocities and overall collision frequencies.The correlation between dent size and collision velocity was obtained from finite element calculations based on empirical data.The proposed approach was validated using particle image velocimetry during secondary gas injection into a fluidized bed reactor.In this case the effect of the distance between two opposed nozzles was examined.For a lab-scaled fluidized bed opposed jet mill the effects of gas pressure and hold-up were investigated.Relative particle velocities were found to be sign ificantly lower tha n the gas velocities,while the nu mber of contacts per particle was determined to be extremely high.

UNDERSTANDING PARTICLE INTERACTIONS FROM A MICROSCOPIC VIEW OF PARTICULATE INTERFACES

Particle interactions are of crucial importance in many applications including fluidized beds and other powder handling systems. The present contribution discusses how surface properties of the particles can be determined in order to get quantitative information on particle interactions. For instance, we apply adsorption experiments in order to get information on dispersive and polar interactions. These measurements are complemented by careful roughness measurements as well as FTIR-spectroscopy and TG-MS analysis. Adhesion force measurements with AFM and ultra-centrifuge on well defined ideal as well as heterogeneous surfaces led to the introduction of three generic types of adhesion force distributions: monomodal Weibull, bimodal Weibull and lognormal. The influence of roughness and adsorbed layers on adhesion are shown. In addition, we discuss important aspects of the dynamic nature of the adhesion/detachment process by means of MD-simulations.

Mechanically induced phase transformation of zinc sulfide

Molecular dynamics （MD） simulations of the consecutive compression-decompression cycles ot hexagonal zinc sulfide （wurtzite） nanoparticles predict an irreversible phase transformation to the cubic polymorph.The phase transformation commences at the contact area between the particle and the inden- ter and proceeds with the number of compression cycles. Dislocations are visible for a particle size above 5nm. Results from wet grinding and dry powder compression experiments on a commercial wurtzite pigment agree qualitatively with MD simulation predictions. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that the amount of cubic polymorph in the compressed samples increases with pressure applied to the powder. In comparison with powder compression, wet milling leads to a more pronounced phase transformation. This occurs because the particles are exposed to a large number of stress events by collision with the grinding media, which leads to the formation of defects and new surface crystallites by particle fracture. According to the MD simulations, phase transformation is expected to occur preferentially in surface crystallites because they experience the highest mechanical load. Because of the phase transformation, the wet ground and compressed samples exhibit a lower photo- luminescence intensity than the feed material. In comparison with powder compression, milling reduces the photoluminescence intensity more substantially. This occurs because a higher defect concentration is formed. The defects contribute to the phase transformation and photoluminescence quenching.

PRODUCT ENGINEERING OF PARTICULATE SOLIDS

An important development in Particle Technology is directed towards tailored product properties, i.e. product engineering. Product properties are strongly related to the disperse properties of the particles, i.e. their size, shape, morphology and surface. We discuss some general applicable principles in product engineering and give various examples. Strongly related to this approach are methods to characterize and to tailor product and particle properties. For systems which are controlled by the interfaces (e.g. particles in the micron size range and below) we apply a multi-scale approach from the particulate interfaces over particle interactions to the macroscopic properties. Thus, we tailor macroscopic product properties through microscopic control of the interfaces. This approach must be complemented by methods to characterize particle and product properties. It is shown that by careful consideration of the underlying physical processes considerable progress can be achieved.