The generation of semiconductor quantum dots, metal colloids, emulsions, and liposomes by a continuous flow microfluidic systems has been reported by Andreas Jahn of National Institute of Standards and Technology USA. and others. Microfluidics is a branch of nanotechnology that involves manipulating minute quantities of liquids, Compared to the traditional bulk alcohol injection method continuous-flow microfluidic method has potential benefits in that continuous generation of desired particle formulations is possible.
The routine synthesis of nanomaterials is the tedious, expensive method. Instead a continuous flow microreactors have been used by several research groups to synthesize and characterize nanomaterials. Microreaction technology reported by Chih-Hung Chang of School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, USA and other scientists results in higher yield and reactant conversion, better energy efficiency and less by-product generation. The possibility of synthesizing nanomaterials in the required volumes at the point-of-use eliminates the need to store and transport potentially hazardous materials and provides the flexibility for tailoring complex functional nanomaterials. This method could be used for scale up and other post synthesis processes such as separation and deposition