Evaluation of layered titanate nanosheets using TOF‐SIMS and G‐SIMS analysis

Abstract

Nanostructure evaluation is crucial for developing highly controlled nanomaterials. The titanate nanosheets with a lamellar mesostructure synthesized using a lamellar self‐assembly of dodecanediamine (DDA) were evaluated with time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS) and gentle‐SIMS (G‐SIMS) to evaluate detailed chemical structures which have not been provided with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction, and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectra analysis. Although TOF‐SIMS is a useful method for evaluating complex organic and inorganic materials, it is often difficult to interpret TOF‐SIMS spectra of complex samples due to complicated fragment ions. Therefore, G‐SIMS, helpful for analyzing intricate TOF‐SIMS spectra, was applied to extract important information of TOF‐SIMS data. For example, molecular ions and more intact fragment ions are emphasized and found easily using G‐SIMS. The layered titanate nanosheets sample produced using tetraisopropyl orthotitanate (TIPT), triethanolamine (TEOA), and DDA (TIPT + DDA + TEOA) and reference nanoparticle samples TIPT + DDA, TIPT + TEOA, and TIPT were prepared. As a result, titanate compounds and DDA molecular ions were only detected in TIPT + DDA + TEOA. Therefore, it is indicated that robust lamellar mesostructure of titanate compounds and DDA is produced by reactions related to TIPT, DDA, and TEOA. It is also suggested that organic metal materials which have large hydrocarbon groups can be analyzed using G‐SIMS. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.