Nanoparticles
Nanoparticle Technology
Nanoparticles are at the forefront of the nanotechnology wave. They are less than about 100 nm in diameter that exhibit new or enhanced size-dependent properties compared with larger particles of the same material. The ability to fabricate and control the structure of nanoparticles allows the scientist and engineer to influence the resulting properties and, ultimately, design materials to give the desired properties. The current and potential applications for nanoparticles are growing and cover an extremely broad range of markets industries including biomedical & cancer treatment, renewable energy, environmental protection, pharmaceuticals, personal care, surface coatings, plastics, textiles, food, building materials, electronics, automotive, etc. Our group uses a variety of synthesis methods such as sol-gel, co-precipitation, hydrothermal, solvothermal and mechanochemical techniques.
The examples of current research programs on nanoparticle technology are:
- Hydrogel-fuel production through artificial photosynthesis
- Energy storage nanomaterials
- CO2 utilisation technology
- Environmental remediation (water, air)
- Biomedical nanomaterials
Wheel of Nanoparticle Applications (T. Tsuzuki, (2009) “Commercial scale production of inorganic nanoparticles’, International Journal of Nanotechnology, Vol. 6, Nos. 5/6, pp. 567-578.)
Mechanochemical processing
In particular, our group is well recognised for its expertise in the mechanochemical synthesis of nanomaterials. Mechanochemical synthesis is a relatively new technique that can produce a variety of nanoparticles. Although this technique uses ball-milling, it is not a top-down approach but a bottom-up approach to the nanomaterial synthesis. The technique utilises a ball mill as a chemical reactor wherein reactions are induced by mechanical energy input though ball-reactant collision events. During milling, deformation, fracture, and welding of reactant powder particles occur repeatedly, which generates a nano-scopically uniform mixture of reactants. This nanometer grain size enhances the reaction kinetics, enabling chemical reactions which otherwise require high temperatures to occur, during milling. At the same time, the nano-scopically uniform reaction environment allows the formation of nanoparticles with uniform sizes and morphologies without introducing size-limiting surfactants. Due to the dry-reaction environment during milling, the resultant nanoparticles are embedded and separated in a solid matrix, which greatly assists the separation of nanoparticles during particle growth. Nanoparticles can be extracted by selectively dissolving the matrix phase in particular solutions. Due to these unique features, mechanochemical processing enables the production of high quality nanoparticles in a manner scalable to commercial production. Recently we demonstrated that mechanochemical processing has the ability to control the morphologies of nanoparticles.
Selected reference readings:
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McCormick PG, Tsuzuki T, Robinson JS, Ding J. “Nanopowders synthesised by mechanochemical processing”, Advanced Materials, (2001) Vol. 13, No. 12-13, pp. 1008-1010.
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J.S. Robinson, L. M. Cukrov, D. A. Lee, P. G. McCormick, and T. Tsuzuki, “Process for the production of ultrafine plate-like alumina particles”, PCT/AU2004/000005, Jan 2004, WO2004060804.
Green nanmaterials
Growing environmental awareness and government regulations have led to increased pressure on manufacturers and users of materials to consider the environmental impact of the products at all stages of the life cycle including manufacturing, recycling and disposal processes. Nanomaterials are no exception. Our group has actively pursued the concept of green nanomaterials ahead of other research groups in Australia. Our initial research has demonstrated that naturally-occurring fibers, such as wool, plant, silk and wood fibres as renewable raw materials, can be converted into nanoparticles and nanofibers using simple top-down methods without introducing hazardous chemicals. The inherent biocompatible, biodegradable and carbon neutral nature of such green nanomaterials will be particularly advantageous in biomedical and environmental applications. Nanomaterials of natural origin will also provide positive environmental benefits due to the possibility of carbon-neutral disposal.
Cellulose nanofibre research
Our team demonstrated that mechano-chemistry can be applied to the synthesis of nanomaterials from renewable raw materials, using eco-friendly synthesis conditions. Our research projects include the applications of cellulose nanofibres in recyclable thermoplastic nanocomposites, biocomposites, eco-friendly bio-plastics, nano-membranes, food-packaging materials and biomedical nanocomposites.
Carbon nanofibre research
Carbon nanofibres are a novel class of engineering materials with excellent mechanical and electrical properties and a wide range of promising applications in electronics, composites, energy and biomaterials. However, the current production method relies on fossil-fuel raw materials and use of hazardous chemicals and costly techniques. In addition, the production of conventional carbon fibres generates toxic HCN gas. We are one of the few research groups that that demonstrated the production of carbon nanofibres from plant-based cellulose nanofibres in a simple and scalable manner. Our method is carbon-neutral, without uuse of hazardous chemicals. This research resulted in 2nd Nanovic award and invited lecture in an international conference. We aim to establish a research hub in Australia for the production and applications of carbon nanofibres from renewable raw materials. Our reserch projects include the investigations of carbon nanofibre applications in structural composites, nanocomposites for electronics, energy and catalysis reactions.
Selected reference readings:
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L. Zhang, T. Tsuzuki, X. Wang, (2015) “Preparing Cellulose Nanofibre from Softwood Pulp by Ball Milling” Cellulose, accepted 17 February 2015.
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E. Jazaeri, T. Tsuzuki (2013) “Effect of Pyrolysis Conditions on the Properties of CarbonNanofibers Obtained from Freeze-dried Cellulose Nanofibers”, Cellulose, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 707-716.
Translational nanotechnology
Commercialisation is not just an activity for making money; it also plays an important role in society as a vehicle to deliver technological innovation to general public. Translational nano-research is the research into the issues that arise in the translation of nanoscience and nanotechnology from the laboratory to industrial scale manufacture, particularly throughout the lifecycle of commercial production, use, disposal and recycling or degradation. Our group leader was involved in the foundation of a university-spin-off company and has first-hand experience in the issues that arise in the translation of nanoscience and nanotechnology from the laboratory to industrial scale manufacture. We welcome research collaborations from other institutions, research initiative from PhD candidates, and consultation opportunities on the following themes:
- Safety of nanomaterials and nano-enabled products
- Standardisation of nano-characterisation techniques, nano-metrology
- Life cycle assessment of commercial nano-enabled products
- Development of new commercial-scale manufacturing technologies
- Product development and assessment of commercial nanomaterials
- Nano-regulation and nano-ethics
Selected reference readings:
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T. Tsuzuki (ed.) Nanotechnology Commercialisation, CRC Press, Pan Stanford Publishing, Singapore, 2013, ISBN 978-9814303286.
http://www.panstanford.com/books/9789814303286.html
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T. Tsuzuki, “Life cycle assessment of nanomaterials: towards green nanotechnology”, Chapter 3 in Nanotechnology for Water and Wastewater Treatment, (P. Lens, J. Virkutyte, V. Jegatheesan, S.-H. Kim, S. Al-Abed eds.), 2013, IWA publishing, London, UK, ISBN 978-1780404585.
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T. Tsuzuki, "Life Cycle Thinking and Green Nanotechnology", Austin Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology, 2014, Vol. 2, No. 1, page 1.
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U. Shrestha, L. Shu, V. Jegatheesan, T. Tsuzuki, (2013) “Fate, mobility and toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles in water” Chapter 14 in Solutions to Environmental Challenges through Innovations in Research, Eds. L. Shu, V. Jegatheesan, A. Pandey, J.Virkutyte, H. D. Utomo, Asiatech Publishing Inc, New Delhi, India, pp. 292-319, ISBN 978-8187680314.
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S. E. Cross, B. Innes, M. S. Roberts, T. Tsuzuki, T. A. Robertson and P. G. McCormick, “Human Skin Penetration of Sunscreen Nanoparticles: In-vitro Assessment of a Novel Micronised Zinc Oxide Formulation”, Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 20 [3] (2007) 148-154.