Characteristics of synthesized alumina nanoparticles in a high-pressure radio frequency thermal plasma reactor

Srikumar Ghorui, Sunil Sahasrabudhe, Gayatri Dhamale, Nilesh Kanhe, Vikash Mathe, Sudha Bhoraskar, Ashoka Das

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nanophase alumina is synthesized in an atmospheric pressure radio frequency (RF) plasma reactor through melting, evaporation, and vapor phase nucleation technique. A specially designed high-pressure RF plasma reactor fitted with an indigenously built RF plasma torch converts commercially available micrometer size alumina chunks into spherical nanophase alumina in a single step under ambient quenching conditions without use of any additional quenching gas. Obtained powder contains mixed phases of α and δ-alumina as revealed by X Ray Diffraction studies. Transmission Electron Microscopy analyses exhibit very small particle size (peak at 15 nm), narrow size distribution (half width ∼24 nm), zero agglomeration, and good crystallinity. Obtained particle characteristics together with the high purity owing to inherent electrode-less feature of the RF discharge are suitable for important technological applications including fabrication of high-power ceramic laser gain media like Y3Al5O12 (YAG) from composites of Al 2O3 and Y2O3. Characteristics of the synthesized alumina are compared with that of nanoalumina synthesized in atmospheric arcs.

Original languageEnglish
Article number6728627
Pages (from-to)759-766
Number of pages8
JournalIEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Volume42
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Atmospheric-pressure plasmas
  • plasma devices
  • plasma materials processing
  • plasma sources

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