Hydrodynamic cavitation as a tool to control macro-, micro-, and nano-properties of inorganic materials

Hydrodynamic cavitation was shown to be a powerful tool for the synthesis o f nanostructured catalysts, ceramics, and piezoelectrics in high phase puri ties. The macro-, micro-, and nano- properties of solid-state materials cou ld be controlled through adjusting the cavitational regime during synthesis by simple mechanical adjustment. The synthesis of nanostructured titania, piezoelectrics, perovskites, supported and unsupported cobalt molybdates, a nd Pd and Ag supported on alumina illustrate changes in morphology and size of crystals, growth in a preferred orientation of crystallites, and contro l of crystallographic strain and size compared to classically prepared mate rials. The high shear and cavitational forces during synthesis induce micro -strain into the materials and are a function of the Reynolds and cavitatio n numbers.