Autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles, unreported variables, and safety considerations
Abstract Autoclave reactors are widely used across chemical and biological sciences, including for the synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and other nanomaterials. Yet, the details of how autoclave reactors are used in such synthesis are rarely reported in the literature, leaving several...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Communications Chemistry |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01415-3 |
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| author | Rebecca McGonigle Jodie Glasgow Catriona Houston Iain Cameron Christian Homann Dominic J. Black Robert Pal Lewis E. MacKenzie |
| author_facet | Rebecca McGonigle Jodie Glasgow Catriona Houston Iain Cameron Christian Homann Dominic J. Black Robert Pal Lewis E. MacKenzie |
| author_sort | Rebecca McGonigle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Autoclave reactors are widely used across chemical and biological sciences, including for the synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and other nanomaterials. Yet, the details of how autoclave reactors are used in such synthesis are rarely reported in the literature, leaving several key synthesis variables widely unreported and thereby hampering experimental reproducibility. In this perspective, we discuss the safety considerations of autoclave reactors and note that autoclaves should only be used if they are (a) purchased from reputable suppliers/manufacturers and (b) have been certified compliant with relevant safety standards. Ultimately, using unsuitable autoclave equipment can pose a severe physical hazard and may breach legal safety requirements. In addition, we highlight several parameters in autoclave synthesis that should be reported as standard to maximise the reproducibility of autoclave synthesis experiments across materials and chemistry research. We encourage users of autoclave synthesis vessels to: (1) adopt high-safety autoclaves and (2) report the many experimental variables involved to enhance experimental reproducibility. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-77efbdaa063442a5a65eb14fec5086b7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2399-3669 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Chemistry |
| spelling | doaj-art-77efbdaa063442a5a65eb14fec5086b72025-02-09T12:16:28ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Chemistry2399-36692025-02-01811710.1038/s42004-025-01415-3Autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles, unreported variables, and safety considerationsRebecca McGonigle0Jodie Glasgow1Catriona Houston2Iain Cameron3Christian Homann4Dominic J. Black5Robert Pal6Lewis E. MacKenzie7Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of StrathclydeDepartment of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of StrathclydeDepartment of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of StrathclydeDepartment of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of StrathclydeDivision of Biophotonics, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM)Department of Chemistry, Durham UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, Durham UniversityDepartment of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of StrathclydeAbstract Autoclave reactors are widely used across chemical and biological sciences, including for the synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and other nanomaterials. Yet, the details of how autoclave reactors are used in such synthesis are rarely reported in the literature, leaving several key synthesis variables widely unreported and thereby hampering experimental reproducibility. In this perspective, we discuss the safety considerations of autoclave reactors and note that autoclaves should only be used if they are (a) purchased from reputable suppliers/manufacturers and (b) have been certified compliant with relevant safety standards. Ultimately, using unsuitable autoclave equipment can pose a severe physical hazard and may breach legal safety requirements. In addition, we highlight several parameters in autoclave synthesis that should be reported as standard to maximise the reproducibility of autoclave synthesis experiments across materials and chemistry research. We encourage users of autoclave synthesis vessels to: (1) adopt high-safety autoclaves and (2) report the many experimental variables involved to enhance experimental reproducibility.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01415-3 |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca McGonigle Jodie Glasgow Catriona Houston Iain Cameron Christian Homann Dominic J. Black Robert Pal Lewis E. MacKenzie Autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles, unreported variables, and safety considerations Communications Chemistry |
| title | Autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles, unreported variables, and safety considerations |
| title_full | Autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles, unreported variables, and safety considerations |
| title_fullStr | Autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles, unreported variables, and safety considerations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles, unreported variables, and safety considerations |
| title_short | Autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles, unreported variables, and safety considerations |
| title_sort | autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles unreported variables and safety considerations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01415-3 |
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