Chapter Tungsten Nanoparticles Produced by Magnetron Sputtering Gas Aggregation: Process Characterization and Particle Properties

• Main Author: Acsente, Tomy (auth)
• Other Authors: Bernard, E. (auth), Dinescu, Gheorghe (auth), Negrea, Raluca (auth), Matei, Elena (auth), Bita, Bogdan (auth), Gabriela Carpen, Lavinia (auth), Grisolia, Christian (auth)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: InTechOpen 2020
• Subjects: Physics; tungsten, nanoparticles, gas aggregation, nanoparticle synthesis, tungsten nanoparticle properties, fusion technology, toxicology of nanoparticles, tritium retention
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

Tungsten and tungsten nanoparticles are involved in a series of processes, in nanotechnology, metallurgy, and fusion technology. Apart from chemical methods, nanoparticle synthesis by plasma offers advantages as good control of size, shape, and surface chemistry. The plasma methods are also environmentally friendly. In this chapter, we present aspects related to the magnetron sputtering gas aggregation (MSGA) process applied to synthesis of tungsten nanoparticles, with size in the range of tens to hundreds of nanometers. We present the MSGA process and its peculiarities in the case of tungsten nanoparticle synthesis. The properties of the obtained particles with a focus on the influence of the process parameters over the particle production rate, their size, morphology, and structure are discussed. To the end, we emphasize the utility of such particles for assessing the environmental and biological impacts in case of using tungsten as wall material in thermonuclear fusion reactors.