  Nanotechnology offers the promise of harnessing quantum properties not
available in the bulk phase. These desirable properties are highly dependent on
size and composition. Generators that control these variables are therefore
essential for progress in the field. The spark discharge generator (SDG) is an
outstanding aerosol route for nanoparticle synthesis, which stands out due to
its fast kinetics, scalability, high purity, accuracy and reproducibility with
the added advantage of allowing the synthesis of nanoparticles of any
conducting material. These advantages are a consequence of its vast heating and
cooling rates, its intrinsic and easily controllable electronic variables at
the reach of a click. However, the mechanistic impact of these variables on the
actual aerosol generated is still not fully understood. In this work, we
constructed an SDG and systematically studied its behavior with particular
interest in the effect that resistance, capacitance, inductance, flow rate, gap
separation and current have on the electrical behavior of the spark. Our model
system produced primarily Fe and Cu nanoparticles with measured concentrations.
We discuss how the spark influences particle size and number concentration and
provide useful correlations that link dependent with independent variables.
Remarkably, a finite resistance produces a maximum in the output of the
generated aerosols. This suggests a direct link between RLC properties of the
circuit and cabling into the frequency of the spark, and nanoparticle number
concentration, indicating potential for exploiting such behavior towards
maximizing nanoparticle generation. Furthermore, we discuss a link between
spark oscillations and energy release with its consequent aerosol generation.
