6. Application of Nanoseparation in Reaction Mechanism Analysis

Density gradient centrifugation has been established to obtain monodisperse nanoparticles with strictly uniform size and morphology, which are usually hard to be obtained by synthetic optimization. Previous chapters have demonstrated the versatility and universality of such separation method, by which nearly all kinds of nanostructures can be separated, including particles, clusters, and assemblies. Further, reaction mechanism, as well as structure–property relationship, can also be investigated based on the separated fractions. The focus of this chapter is the reaction mechanism analysis using density gradient centrifugation, namely by introducing a distinctive functional gradient layer, such as reaction zone and assembly zone, reaction mechanisms can be therefore studied since the reaction time can be pre-designed and the reaction environment can be switched extremely fast in a centrifugal force field. In a word, “lab in a tube” based on nanoseparation opens a new door for the investigation of synthetic optimization, assembly behavior, and surface reaction of various nanostructures.