Nanoparticle Characterization

Nanoparticle characterization is a critical aspect of nanotechnology and materials science, involving the analysis of the size, shape, surface properties, composition, and other physical and chemical characteristics of nanoparticles. This characterization is essential to understand how nanoparticles interact with biological systems, other materials, or environmental components. Characterization of nanoparticles is also necessary for evaluating the safety and potential toxicity of nanoparticles. In manufacturing processes, the characterization of nanoparticles ensures product uniformity and quality.

Nanoparticle characterization is crucial for various applications across multiple fields such as drug delivery, catalysis, electronics, and environmental remediation. Numerous techniques have been developed to investigate the physical, chemical, and biological properties of nanoparticles. The following table summarize some key techniques used for nanoparticle characterization.

Table 1. Summary of the experimental techniques that are used for nanoparticle characterization (Stefanos M, etc. (2018))

Technique	Main information derived
XRD (group: X-ray based techniques)	Crystal structure, composition, crystalline grain size
XAS	X-ray absorption coeﬃcient (element-specific) - chemical state of species, interatomic distances, Debye-Waller factors, also for non-crystalline NPs
SAXS	Particle size, size distribution, growth kinetics
XPS	Electronic structure, elemental composition, oxidation states, ligand binding (surface-sensitive)
FTIR	Surface composition, ligand binding
NMR	Ligand density and arrangement, electronic core structure, atomic composition, influence of ligands on NP shape, NP size
BET	Surface area
TGA	Mass and composition of stabilizers
LEIS	Thickness and chemical composition of self-assembled monolayers of NPs
UV-Vis	Optical properties, size, concentration, agglomeration state, hints on NP shape
PL spectroscopy	Optical properties - relation to structure features such as defects, size, composition
DLS	Hydrodynamicsize, detection of agglomerates
NTA	NP size and size distribution
DCS	NP size and size distribution
ICP-MS	Elemental composition, size, size distribution, NP concentration
SIMS, ToF-SIMS, MALDI	Chemical information (surface-sensitive) on functional group, molecular orientation and conformation, surface topography, MALDI for NP size
SQUID-nanoSQUID	Magnetization saturation, magnetization remanence, blocking temperature
VSM	Similar to SQUID through M-H plots and ZFC-FC curves
Mössbauer	Oxidation state, symmetry, surface spins, magnetic ordering of Fe atoms, magnetic anisotropy energy, thermal unblocking, distinguish between iron oxides
FMR	NP size, size distribution, shape, crystallographic imperfection, surface composition, M values, magnetic anisotropic constant, demagnetization field
XMCD	Site symmetry and magnetic moments of transition metal ions in ferro- and ferri-magnetic materials, element specific
Superparamagnetic relaxometry	Core properties, hydrodynamicsize distribution, detect and localize superparamagnetic NPs
TEM	NP size, size monodispersity, shape, aggregation state, detect and localize/ quantify NPs in matrices, study growth kinetics
HRTEM	All information by conventional TEM but also on the crystal structure of single particles. Distinguish monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous NPs. Study defects
Liquid TEM	Depict NP growth in realtime, study growth mechanism, single particle motion, superlattice formation
Cryo-TEM	Study complex growth mechanisms, aggregation pathways, good for molecular biology and colloid chemistry to avoid the presence of artefacts or destroyed samples
Electron diﬀraction	Crystal structure, lattice parameters, study order-disorder transformation, long-range order parameters
STEM	Combined with HAADF, EDX for morphology study, crystal structure, elemental composition. Study the atomic structure of hetero-interfaces
Aberration-corrected (STEM, TEM)	Atomic structure of NP clusters, especially bimetallic ones, as a function of composition, alloy homogeneity, phase segregation
EELS (EELS-STEM)	Type and quantity of atoms present, chemical state of atoms, collective interactions of atoms with neighbors, bulk plasmon resonance
Electron tomography	Realistic 3D particle visualization, snapshots, video, quantitative information down to the atomic scale
SEM-HRSEM, T-SEM-EDX	Morphology, dispersion of NPs in cells and other matrices/supports, precision in lateral dimensions of NPs, quick examination-elemental composition
EBSD	Structure, crystal orientation and phase of materials in SEM. Examine microstructures, reveal texture, defects, grain morphology, deformation
AFM	NP size and shape in 3D mode, evaluate degree of covering of a surface with NP morphology, dispersion of NPs in cells and other matrices/supports, precision in lateral dimensions of NPs, quick examination-elemental composition
MFM	Standard AFM imaging together with the information of magnetic moments of single NPs. Study magnetic NPs in the interior of cells. Discriminate from non- magnetic NPs

STEMart utilizes a combination of these sophisticated detection methods to assist our customers in seeking in-depth understanding of their nanoparticle samples. Our services include:

For more information about our elemental composition determination service, please contact us.

Reference

Stefanos M, etc. (2018). “Characterization techniques for nanoparticles: comparison and complementarity upon studying nanoparticle properties.” Nanoscale. 10: 12871–12934.

Nanoparticle Characterization

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