Determination of the volume-specific surface area by using transmission electron tomography for characterization and definition of nanomaterials.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) remains an important technique to investigate the size, shape and surface characteristics of particles at the nanometer scale. Resulting micrographs are two dimensional projections of objects and their interpretation can be difficult. Recently, electron tomography (ET) is increasingly used to reveal the morphology of nanomaterials (NM) in 3D. In this study, we examined the feasibility to visualize and measure silica and gold NM in suspension using conventional bright field electron tomography.

Results

The general morphology of gold and silica NM was visualized in 3D by conventional TEM in bright field mode. In orthoslices of the examined NM the surface features of a NM could be seen and measured without interference of higher

SUBMITTER: Van Doren EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3113930 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature