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Fakultät BCI
Thesis offer

Thesis: First principle modeling of the intermediate gel formation in a nanoparticle production process

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  • Thesis offer
© © 2013 Zhou et al.
TEM imaging of titanium dioxide nanoparticle aggregates

Introduction

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles have properties that make them useful for the production of photocatalytic materials. The synthesis involves the hydrolysis of a precursor in water that produces primary nanoparticles. The nanoparticles then undergo agglomeration and deagglomeration until an equilibrium particle size distribution is reached. During the first stage of the process a gel is formed, which poses some challenges in handling the material and limits the ability to pump the material through pipes.

The goal of this thesis is to extend an existing a first-principles model to better describe the evolution of the nanoparticles over time, and to correlate the viscosity to properties of the gel. Once a model is available, several alternatives for the operation of the process shall be discussed, among which the transition from batch synthesis to other modes of operation (fed-batch or continuous), and the underlying strengths and weaknesses.

Objectives of the Master Thesis

  • Development of a first principles model for the viscosity of the nanoparticle system
  • Implementation of the model in Python/Matlab
  • Comparison of the model predictions with the available data
  • Identification and analysis of viable alternative modes of operation of the process

Prerequisites

  • Ability to work independently and to communicate progress or difficulties
  • Interest and curiosity about sol-gel processes
  • Familiarity with numerical computing languages (e.g. Matlab, Python)

Other

  • Start as soon as possible, six months of work, full time

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