Characterization

Abstract

In order to relate the physical properties to the size, shape and crystallinity of nanoobjects an accurate and detailed characterization has to be performed. The determination of the size and shape distribution of nanometer size particles can be addressed with several techniques like for example: analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) [3], light scattering techniques, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) [50, 51, 52, 19, 21] etc. The most common tools for the structural characterization of nanoobjects are high resolution TEM (HRTEM) and diffraction techniques such as electron diffraction (ED) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). HRTEM permits to directly visualize the atomic columns of a single particle and to determine its structure and possible structural defects. However, this method is not statistically applicable to a large amount of particles. Powder XRD measurements are able to overcome this limitation and provide a global information about the crystallinity of a sample, thus making it a perfect complementary technique to HRTEM. This chapter mainly focuses on the characterization of inorganic nanoobjects by electron microscopy and diffraction techniques. Additional useful and widely used characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) will also be discussed in a particular example.KeywordsHigh Resolution Transmission Electron MicroscopyBenzyl AlcoholHigh Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy ImageSolid State Nuclear Magnetic ResonanceOriented AttachmentThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.