Synthesis of goethite by separation of the nucleation and growth processes of ferrihydrite nanoparticles using microfluidics.

Microfluidic synthesis is used to form nanoparticles by separate nucleation and growth processes using two microreactors (see picture) operating under different temperature and flow conditions. Ferrihydrite nanoparticles precipitated in the first microreactor are aged under continuous flow in a second microtubular reactor, leading to goethite nanoparticles. TMAOH = tetramethylammonium hydroxide.