Laurent Falk

Size-controlled synthesis of ZnO quantum dots in microreactors.

In this paper, we report on a continuous-flow microreactor process to prepare ZnO quantum dots (QDs) with widely tunable particle size and photoluminescence emission wavelengths. X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, UV-vis, photoluminescence and transmission electron microscopy measurements were used to characterize the synthesized ZnO QDs. By varying operating conditions (temperature, flow rate) or the capping ligand, ZnO QDs with diameters ranging from 3.6 to 5.2xa0nm and fluorescence maxima from 500 to 560xa0nm were prepared. Results obtained show that low reaction temperatures (20 or 35u2009°C), high flow rates and the use of propionic acid as a stabilizing agent are favorable for the production of ZnO QDs with high photoluminescence quantum yields (up to 30%).

Comparison of Experimental and Computational Particle Trajectories in a Stirred Vessel

A particle trajectory in a turbulent flow is measured by a 3-dimensional tracking technique and compared with the pattern calculated by a Lagrangian model. The geometry chosen is a standard vessel provided with a Rushton turbine. First, the flow field is simulated using the commercial Fluent package. The impeller global performance is determined. The dimensionless numbers are calculated: t c , N QP , N P . These results are validated by LDV data. The numerical particle trajectory is compared to the experimental trajectory, and the reliability of the numerical trajectory is proved. Finally, some news tools for analyzing the flow are presented. Useful information is included in the long particle trajectory, which enables one to compute a probability of presence. The fluid dynamic behavior is visualized by Poincare sections.

Analysis of Equilibrium Shifting by Inter-Stage Reactant Feeding in a Series of Isothermal Reactors

Abstract This paper focuses on the impact of reactant staging on conversion for one single reversible reaction in a two-stage, isothermal, continuous reactor. The analytical expression of global conversion has been derived for a series of two continuously stirred-tank reactors. Improvements in the overall conversion and yield by staging can be obtained for low Damköhler number systems leading to low conversions, when the volumetric flow rate of the staged reactant has a higher value than that of the other one. The example of triolein transesterification involving three reversible reactions in a two-stage plug flow reactor is also studied as a concrete example of a consecutive/parallel reversible reactions system. Results are obtained by using a pseudo-homogeneous model and are compared with those obtained with a heterogeneous model from a previous study.