METHOD FOR PRODUCING NANOPARTICLE OF METAL OXIDE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing nanoparticles of a metal oxide substantially free from coarse scraps from an oxidizing agent and vaporous metal reactant in a flow reactor. SOLUTION: The method for producing the nanoparticles of a metal oxide comprises (a) introducing a flow of a metal reactant into a contact zone of the flow reactor; (b) forming a flow of a hot oxidizing agent by passing a flow of the oxidizing agent through a high temperature zone of the flow reactor, and then introducing the flow of the hot oxidizing agent on the contact zone of the flow reactor under flow conditions sufficient to form a reaction flow including the flow of the hot oxidizing agent, the flow of the metal reactant, and the diffusion flow of the hot oxidizing agent and the metal reactant; (c) forming a curtain of fluid surrounding the reaction flow by passing the reaction flow into the reaction zone of the flow reactor, and at the same time, introducing a cooling fluid of upstream on substantially the same axis as that of the reaction flow; (d) maintaining the curtain of the fluid while the particles of the metal oxide are formed in the diffusion flow of the reaction flow; and (e) separating the particles of the metal oxide from the reaction flow. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI