Home > News > Taking It One Particle at a Time: Two new characterization platforms reveal that there’s more than one way to size up a nanoparticle.
September 23rd, 2010
Taking It One Particle at a Time: Two new characterization platforms reveal that there’s more than one way to size up a nanoparticle.
Abstract:
Once upon a time, when particles were measured in micrometers and an optical microscope could do the heavy lifting, the size and distribution of particles in a solution were discovered through the strength of a researcher's eyesight.
To see the truly small particles, however, we needed to invent less direct solutions. After the invention of the laser, researchers determined that Rayleigh scattering could accomplish this task. As long as a particle is relatively small when compared to a given wavelength of light, it will scatter light in all directions. If it's highly-collimated light—a laser—it can be measured accurately, and the particle characteristics can be determined by watching how the intensity of reflect light changes over time. It's guaranteed to change, too, because all such small molecules are constantly moving about in Brownian motion.
This method, dynamic light scattering (DLS), has become the gold standard for characterization of very small particles since its invention not long after the laser. It is not, of course, the only way to analyze particles. Attenuators, sieves, filters, and centrifuges are all employed for larger particle sizes. But for analyzing samples containing broad distributions of species of widely differing molecular masses (such as proteins and aggregates), DLS is reliably the cost-effective choice.
Source:
rdmag.com
Bookmark:
| Related News Press |
News and information
Researchers develop molecular qubits that communicate at telecom frequencies October 3rd, 2025
Next-generation quantum communication October 3rd, 2025
"Nanoreactor" cage uses visible light for catalytic and ultra-selective cross-cycloadditions October 3rd, 2025
Imaging
ICFO researchers overcome long-standing bottleneck in single photon detection with twisted 2D materials August 8th, 2025
Simple algorithm paired with standard imaging tool could predict failure in lithium metal batteries August 8th, 2025
First real-time observation of two-dimensional melting process: Researchers at Mainz University unveil new insights into magnetic vortex structures August 8th, 2025
New imaging approach transforms study of bacterial biofilms August 8th, 2025
Discoveries
Researchers develop molecular qubits that communicate at telecom frequencies October 3rd, 2025
Next-generation quantum communication October 3rd, 2025
"Nanoreactor" cage uses visible light for catalytic and ultra-selective cross-cycloadditions October 3rd, 2025
Announcements
Rice membrane extracts lithium from brines with greater speed, less waste October 3rd, 2025
Researchers develop molecular qubits that communicate at telecom frequencies October 3rd, 2025
Next-generation quantum communication October 3rd, 2025
"Nanoreactor" cage uses visible light for catalytic and ultra-selective cross-cycloadditions October 3rd, 2025
Tools
Japan launches fully domestically produced quantum computer: Expo visitors to experience quantum computing firsthand August 8th, 2025
Rice researchers harness gravity to create low-cost device for rapid cell analysis February 28th, 2025
 |
||
 |
||
| The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
 |
||
|
|
||
| Premium Products | ||
 |
||
|
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
 |
||
|
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||
|
|
||