Microfluidic chemical reactor for the manufacture of chemically-produced nanoparticles
First Claim
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1. A microfluidic module comprising:
- a flow path comprised of a channel formed in a first substrate and enclosed by a second substrate, the flow path having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
mixing structures in the flow path; and
one or more independently controlled heat exchangers in thermal contact with the flow path for conditioning a nanocrystal forming reagent within the flow path;
the flow path inlet receives the nanocrystal forming reagent and conditioned nanocrystal forming reagent is removed from the flow path at the outlet, the flow path inlet and outlet capable of forming a fluid tight seal with one or more controlled fluid delivery devices.
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Abstract
The present invention discloses microfluidic modules for making nanocrystalline materials in a continuous flow process. The microfluidic modules include one or more flow path with mixing structures and one or more controlled heat exchangers to process the nanocrystalline materials and reagents in the flow path. The microfluidic modules can be interconnected to form microfluidic reactors that incorporate one or more process functions such as nucleation, growth, and purification.
261 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A microfluidic module comprising:
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a flow path comprised of a channel formed in a first substrate and enclosed by a second substrate, the flow path having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
mixing structures in the flow path; and
one or more independently controlled heat exchangers in thermal contact with the flow path for conditioning a nanocrystal forming reagent within the flow path;
the flow path inlet receives the nanocrystal forming reagent and conditioned nanocrystal forming reagent is removed from the flow path at the outlet, the flow path inlet and outlet capable of forming a fluid tight seal with one or more controlled fluid delivery devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A microfluidic module comprising:
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a first flow path comprised of a channel formed in a first substrate and enclosed by a second substrate, the first flow path having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a separation device in the flow path for removing impurities from nanocrystals in a fluid, the first flow path inlet receiving nanocrystals in a fluid, said separation device removing impurities from the nanocrystals in the fluid and the first flow path outlet for removing the nanocrystals from the flow path, the flow path inlet and outlet capable of forming a fluid tight seal with one or more controlled fluid delivery devices; and
a port in the first flow path. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A microfluidic reactor comprising:
a flow path including one or more fluidly connected microfluidic modules for making nanocrystals in a flow process, the flow path in each module is a channel formed in at least a first substrate and enclosed by at least a second substrate, said channel in thermal contact with one or more independently controlled heat exchangers along the flow path for conditioning a nanocrystal forming reagent fluid in the flow path, each module having an at least one inlet in the flow path for receiving the reagent fluid and and least one outlet in the flow path for removing conditioned reagent fluid from the module, each said inlet and outlet capable of forming a fluid tight seal with one or more fluid delivery devices. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of making nanocrystals comprising:
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conditioning nanocrystal forming reagents in a flow path, said flow path including one or more fluidly connected microfluidic modules for making nanocrystal product in a flow process, the flow path in each module is a channel formed in a first substrate, said channel in thermal contact with one or more independently controlled heat exchangers and mixing structures along the flow path to condition the nanocrystal forming reagents in the flow path;
each module having an inlet in the flow path for receiving the nanocrystal forming reagent fluid and an outlet in the flow path for removing conditioned reagent fluid from the module, each said inlet and outlet capable of forming a fluid tight seal with one or more controlled fluid delivery devices; and
monitoring a detectable property of said nanocrystal product or reagent in a portion of the flow path and adjusting a controllable heat exchanger, a fluid delivery device, reaction time, or a combination of these to maintain the detectable property of the nanocrystal product in a pre-determined range. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of purifying nanocrystals comprising:
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providing nanocrystals in a fluid into the flow path of a microfluidic module having a separation device in the flow path of said microfluidic module, and separating an impurity from said nanocrystals within said microfluidic module. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification