Researchers of Oregon State University have discovered a new method to increase nanoparticle production rate to make nanotechnology products more commercially practical. This effort will make possible the production of improved sensors, medical imaging, electronics and solar energy or biomedical gadgets when the same strategy is applied to materials such as copper, zinc or tin. The production process is claimed to be more environmentally sensitive, use fewer solvents and less energy and cost. The new approach used a microreactor with new architecture that produced ‘undecagold nanoclusters’ hundreds of times faster than conventional ‘batch synthesis’ processes. Commercial production might be as simple as just grouping hundreds of these small devices together. The process has been used to create nanoparticles based on gold, but the same concept should be applicable to other materials as well, according to the scientists.