The material composition of nanoparticles is an important aspect to consider when engineering nanomaterials that should fulfil specific property and performance criteria. Here we list 10 methods that can be used to characterize the nanoparticle chemical composition
The chemical composition of nanoparticles can range from a single raw material to multiple ones, assembled into multi-layered and composite objects. The composition of the outer surface is important as it interfaces, and will interact with, the surrounding environment. The outer surface can be tailored to achieve a specific performance. For example, in nanomedicines, the nanoparticle surface can be functionalized with molecules to target specific cells in the body. Another example of surface tailoring would be where the nanoparticle is coated with a resistant layer to protect the core material from surrounding harsh conditions.
The chemical composition of the nanoparticles can be characterized both in terms of surface and bulk chemistry. The surface chemistry refers to the composition of the outer layer of the nanoparticle, i.e. the layer which is exposed to the surrounding environment. The bulk chemistry corresponds to all chemical compounds present in the nanoparticles. Access to the surface or bulk chemical composition depends on the sensing depth of the measuring tool. The chemical composition of nanoparticles is mainly obtained by spectroscopy techniques and can be combined with microscopy to achieve single-particle level.
Below we list a set of techniques that can be used to extract the nanoparticle chemical composition. The information will be either on the ensemble level or at the single nanoparticle level, denoted with (E) and (SP) respectively.
The surface chemistry of nanoparticles can be obtained using:
Information about the bulk chemical composition of nanoparticles can be obtained using:
In addition to the chemical composition, there are several other parameters that are important to characterize, such as size, concentration in solution, shape, and surface charge.
Download the overview to learn more about the characterization of nanoparticle suspensions, and what characterization methods that can be used.
Malin graduated in engineering physics in 2006, where her research focused on the QCM-D technology. Since then, she has been scrutinizing the how’s and why’s of the world in general, and the world of QCM-D in particular.
