Characterization of synthesized titanium oxide nanoclusters by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Abstract

Titania represents an important material that has wide applications. The bactericidal efficiency of TiO 2 has been shown to be dependent on the size of the nanoparticles, so it is important to be able to reliably estimate their dimensions. In this study, a stable TiO 2 cluster suspension is produced by the thermal solvent process, and ultrasmall clusters (Ͻ1 nm) with different sizes are obtained by size-selection treatment. MALDI-TOF-MS and LDI-TOF-MS are shown to be useful for characterization of these ultrasmall nanoparticles. Peak maxima are found to correlate with nanoparticle size, and the possibility of using these mass spectrometry-based approaches to estimate nanoparticle size is affirmed. The size distributions of TiO 2 nanoparticles obtained from MALDI-and LDI-TOF-MS are in good agreement with parallel TEM observations. Finally, PSD analysis of inorganic nanomaterials is performed and valuable information about the structure of analytes has been obtained. (J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 2007, 18, 517-524)

Experimental Methodologies for the Characterization of Nanoparticles

“…Consequently, the time of ion flight differs according to the m/z ratio of the ion. Ramalinga et al (2011), Guan et al (2007), Alves et al (2003), Bauer et al (2003), Khitrov and Strouse (2003), and Dopke et al (1998). A laser beam desorbs and ionizes the specimen that enters into the TOF chamber.…”

Titanium dioxide anatase as matrix for matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization analysis of small molecules

“…Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) is widely used in photocatalysis, sensor technology, optical coatings, and pigments 21. The three naturally occurring polymorphs of TiO 2 , anatase, brookite, and rutile, have different physical properties, such as refractive index, chemical reactivity, and photochemical activity.…”

Nanomaterials as Assisted Matrix of Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Small Molecules

“…Nowadays, TiO 2 nanomaterials have attracted tremendous interest in photocatalysis, sensor technology, optical coating and pigments owing to their attractive physical and chemical properties [66]. Generally, as we all known, TiO 2 nanomaterials own three different crystal structures including rutile, anatase, and brookite.…”