Fast fragmentation of 20nm iron oxide and 60nm tin oxide nanoparticles into a few nanometer nanoparticles in a diffusion oxyhydrogen flame is reported. The phenomenon is explained by the in situ reduction of generated 2060nm nanoparticles. The fragmentation occurs due to reduction induced instability in the oxygen-deficient surface. Simulated experiments with electron irradiation and characterization with x-ray absorption spectroscopy substantiated this mechanism. This finding may open a route to continuously generate a few nanometer scale nanoparticles of various oxides in a flame synthesis.

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