Advances in Nanoparticle Sizing in Suspensions: Dynamic Light Scattering and Ultrasonic Attenuation Spectroscopy

Abstract

Size characterization of nanoparticles has gained wide concerns in the past decades, but it remains a challenge for measurement in suspensions up to now. The extremely small scales of particle size result in great difficulty for traditional static light scattering method and optical imaging. In addition to the electron microscopy techniques, the dynamic light scattering (DLS) method is another widely used technique for laboratory analysis of samples. Moreover, the ultrasonic attenuation spectroscopy (UAS) technique is also being developed rapidly to provide an alternative method for nanoparticle sizing. This paper focuses on the latest development in the above two technologies for nanoparticle size characterization. As for the former, advances about the image-based DLS technology in recent years are reviewed, including three different kinds of data processing methods and corresponding measuring experiments using standard polystyrene particles. Methodology principles, models and experimental setup were also reviewed for the latter UAS technology. Samples of the same nanoscale silver particles were tested by the above two methods, as well as by transmission electron microscopy. A sample of Antimony Tin Oxide (ATO) nanoparticles has also been adopted for measurements and comparisons. Relatively consistent results can be found by comparing the particle sizes or distributions with various methods. The dramatically reduced measurement time in image-based DLS indicates the potential for real-time and in-situ nanoparticle sizing. UAS also provides a suitable way for nanoparticle size characterization at high concentrations.

Removal of Zinc Ions Using Hydroxyapatite and Study of Ultrasound Behavior of Aqueous Media

“…More recently, Galaz [ 45 ] presented an experimental verification of ultrasonic methods applied to suspensions of small particles. There are even ultrasonic studies dedicated to the estimation of the suspension particle sizes, from which we mention here on of the most recent [ 46 ]. In this paper, the ultrasonic technique is simple and directly applicable, based on acoustic signature of the signal in different suspensions.…”

Nanoparticle interactions with blood proteins and what it means: a tutorial review

“…Testing forcolloidal stability is often performed using dynamic light scattering (DLS), which tracks the nanoparticles' hydrodynamic size and their aggregates in a dispersion [96] . Aggregation and lack of sufficient stability are detected if the size increases above the expected size of the single particles, including the strongly hydrated and extended shell.…”

Comprehensive Characterization of Nano- and Microparticles by In-Situ Visualization of Particle Movement Using Advanced Sedimentation Techniques

“…The dynamic range is from about 1 nm to 1 μm. Review in nanoparticle sizing using DLS were very recently given by (Zhou et al, 2017).…”

“…SLS techniques, the volume concentration of particles should meet a given critical concentration. On the other hand, developed theories take into account particle-particle interactions, and particle size distributions can be extracted from attenuation spectra in concentrated systems (ISO 20998-1:2006), (Dukhin et al, 2010), (Zhou et al, 2017).…”