Intermethod comparison of the particle size distributions of colloidal silica nanoparticles.

There can be a large variation in the measured diameter of nanoparticles depending on which method is used. In this work, we have strived to accurately determine the mean particle diameter of 30-40 nm colloidal silica particles by using six different techniques. A quantitative agreement between the particle size distributions was obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrospray-scanning mobility particle sizer (ES-SMPS).

Combined electrospray-scanning mobility particle sizer (ES-SMPS) and time-resolved synchrotron radiation-small-angle X-ray scattering (SR-SAXS) investigation of colloidal silica aggregation. Part II. Influence of aggregation initiator on gel stability.

The effect of ion specificity on the slow aggregation of silica nanoparticles with various initial morphology was investigated with an electrospray-scanning mobility particle sizer (ES-SMPS) and time-resolved synchrotron radiation-small-angle X-ray scattering (SR-SAXS). This combination provides a unique tool to monitor and resolve the early aggregate development in detail. Aggregation was induced by varying the K(2)CO(3) or KCl concentration to obtain a fixed gelation time of ∼40 min, and the results were compared with those obtained in a previous paper (Johnsson et al.

Combined electrospray-SMPS and SR-SAXS investigation of colloidal silica aggregation. Part I. Influence of starting material on gel morphology.

The slow aggregation of monodisperse, polydisperse, and preaggregated silica nanoparticles was studied with an electrospray-scanning mobility particle sizer (ES-SMPS) and time-resolved synchrotron radiation-small-angle X-ray scattering (SR-SAXS). Aggregation was induced by varying the NaCl concentration to obtain a fixed gelation time of ∼40 min. The combination of these techniques provides a unique tool to monitor and resolve the aggregate development in detail.