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In situ observation of synthesized nanoparticles in ultra-dilute aerosols via X-ray scattering

McKibbin, Sarah R. LU orcid ; Yngman, Sofie LU ; Balmes, Olivier LU ; Meuller, Bengt O. LU ; Tågerud, Simon ; Messing, Maria E. LU ; Portale, Giuseppe ; Sztucki, Michael ; Deppert, Knut LU orcid and Samuelson, Lars LU , et al. (2019) In Nano Research 12(1). p.25-31
Abstract

In-air epitaxy of nanostructures (Aerotaxy) has recently emerged as a viable route for fast, large-scale production. In this study, we use small-angle X-ray scattering to perform direct in-flight characterizations of the first step of this process, i.e., the engineered formation of Au and Pt aerosol nanoparticles by spark generation in a flow of N2 gas. This represents a particular challenge for characterization because the particle density can be extremely low in controlled production. The particles produced are examined during production at operational pressures close to atmospheric conditions and exhibit a lognormal size distribution ranging from 5–100 nm. The Au and Pt particle production and detection are compared. We... (More)

In-air epitaxy of nanostructures (Aerotaxy) has recently emerged as a viable route for fast, large-scale production. In this study, we use small-angle X-ray scattering to perform direct in-flight characterizations of the first step of this process, i.e., the engineered formation of Au and Pt aerosol nanoparticles by spark generation in a flow of N2 gas. This represents a particular challenge for characterization because the particle density can be extremely low in controlled production. The particles produced are examined during production at operational pressures close to atmospheric conditions and exhibit a lognormal size distribution ranging from 5–100 nm. The Au and Pt particle production and detection are compared. We observe and characterize the nanoparticles at different stages of synthesis and extract the corresponding dominant physical properties, including the average particle diameter and sphericity, as influenced by particle sintering and the presence of aggregates. We observe highly sorted and sintered spherical Au nanoparticles at ultra-dilute concentrations (< 5 × 105 particles/cm3) corresponding to a volume fraction below 3 × 10–10, which is orders of magnitude below that of previously measured aerosols. We independently confirm an average particle radius of 25 nm via Guinier and Kratky plot analysis. Our study indicates that with high-intensity synchrotron beams and careful consideration of background removal, size and shape information can be obtained for extremely low particle concentrations with industrially relevant narrow size distributions. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
aerosol, Aerotaxy, in situ analysis, nanoparticle synthesis, small-angle X-ray scattering
in
Nano Research
volume
12
issue
1
pages
25 - 31
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85053414940
ISSN
1998-0124
DOI
10.1007/s12274-018-2170-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e740b844-4b21-4974-aa03-2ea3f8302018
date added to LUP
2018-10-23 08:43:08
date last changed
2024-01-15 04:55:13
@article{e740b844-4b21-4974-aa03-2ea3f8302018,
  abstract     = {{<p>In-air epitaxy of nanostructures (Aerotaxy) has recently emerged as a viable route for fast, large-scale production. In this study, we use small-angle X-ray scattering to perform direct in-flight characterizations of the first step of this process, i.e., the engineered formation of Au and Pt aerosol nanoparticles by spark generation in a flow of N<sub>2</sub> gas. This represents a particular challenge for characterization because the particle density can be extremely low in controlled production. The particles produced are examined during production at operational pressures close to atmospheric conditions and exhibit a lognormal size distribution ranging from 5–100 nm. The Au and Pt particle production and detection are compared. We observe and characterize the nanoparticles at different stages of synthesis and extract the corresponding dominant physical properties, including the average particle diameter and sphericity, as influenced by particle sintering and the presence of aggregates. We observe highly sorted and sintered spherical Au nanoparticles at ultra-dilute concentrations (&lt; 5 × 10<sup>5</sup> particles/cm<sup>3</sup>) corresponding to a volume fraction below 3 × 10<sup>–10</sup>, which is orders of magnitude below that of previously measured aerosols. We independently confirm an average particle radius of 25 nm via Guinier and Kratky plot analysis. Our study indicates that with high-intensity synchrotron beams and careful consideration of background removal, size and shape information can be obtained for extremely low particle concentrations with industrially relevant narrow size distributions. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].</p>}},
  author       = {{McKibbin, Sarah R. and Yngman, Sofie and Balmes, Olivier and Meuller, Bengt O. and Tågerud, Simon and Messing, Maria E. and Portale, Giuseppe and Sztucki, Michael and Deppert, Knut and Samuelson, Lars and Magnusson, Martin H. and Lundgren, Edvin and Mikkelsen, Anders}},
  issn         = {{1998-0124}},
  keywords     = {{aerosol; Aerotaxy; in situ analysis; nanoparticle synthesis; small-angle X-ray scattering}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{25--31}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Nano Research}},
  title        = {{In situ observation of synthesized nanoparticles in ultra-dilute aerosols via X-ray scattering}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12274-018-2170-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s12274-018-2170-1}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}