Continuous Flow Synthesis of Ni-Based Nano-Catalysts

Millifluidic continuous flow reactors are promising solutions for reaction scale-up, due to their promoted heat and mass transfer, excellent reproducibility, and potential high throughput. Ni and its derivative nanocrystal catalysts stand out as earth-abundant alternatives for noble metals in renewable energy applications. But their manufacturing process is restricted to the lab scale nowadays, due to their sensitivity to conditions of synthesizing, and challenges for transferring the wet-chemistry batch synthesis into continuous flow systems. The synthesis of Ni-based catalysts requires high reaction temperature ranging from 220-320°C, relative long residence times up to 2 hours, and high purity which is crucial in catalysis. We have engineered millifluidic reactors meeting these requirements, as well as accommodating corrosion and gas evolution from reducing agents trioctylphosphine (TOP) and oleylamine (OAm). This study broadens the applications of the liquid continuous millifluidic flow systems, and further provides a promising vision for scale-up and industrialization of transition metal nano-catalysts.