Development of Rapid Heating and Cooling Technology by Single-Mode Microwave Cavity Applied for Nanoparticle Synthesis

Selective microwave heating of ethylene glycol in the immiscible non-polar fluid (dodecane) was conducted using a single-mode microwave flow reactor. Selective heating and precise control of the ethylene glycol temperature were confirmed. After 20 W of microwave was irradiated, the 4 mm dia. ethylene glycol droplet was heated to 60°C without the dodecane temperature rise. When the microwave irradiation stopped, the ethylene glycol droplet underwent rapid cooling (30 K/s). In the model reaction, copper nanoparticle (NP) synthesis based on a polyol process was conducted. The size distribution of the Cu NPs was improved by rapid heating and cooling temperature control.