Synthesis micro-architecture

After the success and the widespread acceptance of logic and register-transfer-level (RTL) synthesis, the next step is micro-architecture synthesis, commonly called behavioral synthesis or high-level synthesis. This chapter presents an advanced, high-level synthesis system called Amical that is targeted toward... 

ScHOUTEN, J. C., Rebrov, E., de Croon, M. H. J. M., Challenging prospects for microstructured reaction architectures in high-throughput catalyst screening, small scale fuel processing, and sustainable fine chemical synthesis, in Proceedings of the Micro Chemical Plant - International Workshop, pp. L5 (25-32) (4 Eebruary 2003), Kyoto, Japan. 

Referring to highly parallel synthesis, the smallness of the micro-channel dimensions enables one to combine several micro imit operations on one chip [23]. By using multi-layered chip architecture complicated fluidic circuits with nx m combinations of fluid streams can be made. By this means, truly combinatorial parallel processing can be achieved. 

When liquids are used, the channels should be at least 1 /rm in diameter the catalytic centers can still exist as nanometer-size cavities, to be connected through thin walls with well-defined molecular-sized micropores. Channels or micro cavities could be hydrophilic or hydrophobic and thus tuned by the needs of the particular reaction studied. The architecture of a catalytic system aims to reduce mass transport limitations and optimize the mixing of components at least near catalyticaUy active centers. Second, for highly exothermic or endothermic reactions, the design should also include heat transfer considerations. Clearly this is a topic where there is a need for extensive catalytic process modeling and innovative catalyst synthesis. 

Synthetic control over the physical and chemical properties of a nanoparticle can be tuned according to its biological micro- or nano-environment. Some of the most notable platforms that are currently being used for the controlled synthesis of metal oxides include the apoprotein ferritin, viral capsids or bacterial cages however, recently adapted biotemplates, such as self-assemble peptide nanorings or porous butterfly wings, have been used as unique platforms and have yielded interesting structures. These molecular architectures offer constrained environments that yield a small distribution of nanoparticle size under ambient conditions, and will be discussed as viable alternatives for the synthesis of functional nanomaterials. 

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