Particle synthesis in flames

From the view point of combustion science, the fundamentals of particle formation in a flame environment are discussed. The principles of converting a gas phase precursor dopant into particles and also their growth are addressed. Various experimental methods and examples for the synthesis of particles of both single and mixed oxides are reviewed. First attempts to tune the stoichiometry of oxide particles by varying the combustion parameters of premixed flames are demonstrated. Some aspects of modelling and the problems which still need to be solved are illustrated by means of the particles' population balance equation. (C) 2006 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.