Characterization techniques for nanoparticles: comparison and complementarity upon studying nanoparticle properties

Abstract

Nanostructures have attracted huge interest as a rapidly growing class of materials for many applications. Several techniques have been used to characterize the size, crystal structure, elemental composition and a variety of other physical properties of nanoparticles. In several cases, there are physical properties that can be evaluated by more than one technique. Different strengths and limitations of each technique complicate the choice of the most suitable method, while often a combinatorial characterization approach is needed. In addition, given that the significance of nanoparticles in basic research and applications is constantly increasing, it is necessary that researchers from separate fields overcome the challenges in the reproducible and reliable characterization of nanomaterials, after their synthesis and further process (e.g. annealing) stages. The principal objective of this review is to summarize the present knowledge on the use, advances, advantages and weaknesses of a large number of experimental techniques that are available for the characterization of nanoparticles. Different characterization techniques are classified according to the concept/group of the technique used, the information they can provide, or the materials that they are destined for. We describe the main characteristics of the techniques and their operation principles and we give various examples of their use, presenting them in a comparative mode, when possible, in relation to the property studied in each case.

Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles

“…Not all techniques are necessary for all scenarios, and others are available as well, raising the question of which should be employed when. Ample review literature exists on this subject 45,46 , but we suggest the following when characterizing a new PCM or similar nanoparticle. Begin by checking for aggregation, both by visual inspection for turbidity and by optical microscopy.…”

sp amorphous carbons in view of multianalytical consideration: Normal, expeсted and new

“…Such a study was performed for wet and dry samples of the studied ACs [40] and the obtained results give a perfect chance to check data listed in Table 6. (1) and dry (2) samples as well as the differences (3) between spectra (1) and (2) presenting adsorbed water. Curves (4) in panels a present spectra of as prepared CB624.…”

“…Nanoscience and nanotechnology are still under constant growth and the importance of reliable characterization is evidently increased [1]. The multidisciplinary aspects of the fields do not permit every research team to have easy access to a broad range of characterization facilities.…”

Toxicity Evaluation of Quantum Dots (ZnS and CdS) Singly and Combined in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

“…Moreover, this suggests that the use of other quantitative techniques (e.g., ICP-MS, XRF) could be useful to complement the QDs analysis and provide more accuracy on results. In addition, Mourdikoudis et al [75] stated that there are significant challenges in the analysis of ENMs due to the interdisciplinary nature of the field, the lack of suitable reference materials for the calibration of analytical tools, the difficulties associated to the sample preparation and the interpretation of the data.…”