Nanoparticles are being developed for use in many aspects of life from novel materials to medical applications.

It is essential for industry and researchers to be able to accurately characterise nanoparticles to enable product development and quality control during manufacture. Parameters that have been identified as important for characterisation include: particle size, size distribution, shape, total surface area and charge (stability).

The characterisation step is challenged by the need to analyse the materials with nanoscale measurement sensitivity. In addition, there can also be possible matrix issues, suggesting the need to have tools with high selectivity.

NPL offers extensive expertise in handling different type of nanoparticles, together with a wide range of powerful tools for high resolution particle characterisation:

• Nanoparticle size and morphology using high resolution SEM and TEM imaging
• Nanoparticle size in solution using dynamic light scattering (DLS)
• Nanoparticle size and size distribution in solution using disk centrifuge analysis (CPS Centrifuge)
• Nanoparticle surface charge in solution (Zeta-potential)
• Nanoparticle total surface area in solution by NMR-based technique
• State of nanoparticle aggregation/agglomeration and sedimentation rate

Characterising size distribution of dispersed zinc oxide nanoparticles using DLS and SEM

Correlating DLS data with SEM

Contact

Customer Service tel: +44 20 8943 8637
E-mail: nanoparticles_enquiries@npl.co.uk