Microfluidics in Inorganic Chemistry

TLDR

Microfluidics offers controlled fluid transport, rapid reactions, and cost savings, and while widely used in analytical, bioanalytical, and organic synthesis, its application in inorganic chemistry and materials science remains limited to metal ion separation and nanoparticle synthesis. This study aims to employ microfluidic devices to formulate advanced inorganic materials and hybrids. Microfluidic devices provide precise control over reaction conditions, enabling the synthesis of complex inorganic materials and hybrids.

Abstract

The application of microfluidics in chemistry has gained significant importance in the recent years. Miniaturized chemistry platforms provide controlled fluid transport, rapid chemical reactions, and cost-saving advantages over conventional reactors. The advantages of microfluidics have been clearly established in the field of analytical and bioanalytical sciences and in the field of organic synthesis. It is less true in the field of inorganic chemistry and materials science; however in inorganic chemistry it has mostly been used for the separation and selective extraction of metal ions. Microfluidics has been used in materials science mainly for the improvement of nanoparticle synthesis, namely metal, metal oxide, and semiconductor nanoparticles. Microfluidic devices can also be used for the formulation of more advanced and sophisticated inorganic materials or hybrids.