Microfluidic-assisted metal nanoparticle synthesis: emerging trends toward optical sensing applications

Metal nanoparticles have garnered significant attention due to their unique optical properties, which are highly advantageous in various sensing applications. While conventional batch synthesis methods often suffer from poor control over particle size and morphology, microfluidic synthesis has emerged as a powerful alternative, offering precise control over reaction parameters to synthesize monodisperse nanoparticles with tailored optical properties. This review highlights recent advances in microfluidic strategies for metal nanoparticle synthesis, emphasizing their potential in the development of high-performance optical sensors. A thorough overview of the key factors is also provided, including the materials used to fabricate microfluidic devices, different fabrication techniques, and different flow regimes required to achieve the desired nanoparticle properties. Furthermore, a perspective on future research aspects is discussed based on the current prospects and obstacles in translating laboratory-scale microfluidic synthesis into scalable, practical sensing platforms.