Discover our colloidal nanoparticles blog series from 2024
In 2024, we published a blog series concerning colloids –dispersions where particles are suspended in a substrate, such as paints and coatings.
We took a tour of the exciting applications of colloidal nanoparticles, and the analytical tools that can help make their potential a reality. You can start here for an introduction on the topic!
1. Realizing the potential of carbon nanotubes with XRF
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have extraordinary properties – for example, high strength, a large surface area, and you can even fine-tune their conductivity to make them either conductors or insulators.
However, CNT production involves melting metal nanoparticles such as iron, nickel, cobalt, and molybdenum, and using magnesium and aluminum oxides as catalyst support materials. Metallic impurities and toxicity can result from these processes.
Detecting traces of any residue is therefore crucial – and that’s where X-ray fluorescence comes in. Read the blog to find out how XRF works and why it’s an effective solution to help realize the potential of this groundbreaking technology.
2. How an everyday XRD instrument can perform advanced quantum dot analysis
Researchers in many fields would benefit from adding quantum dot analysis to their analytical arsenal – but the cost of the necessary instrumentation can be prohibitive.
But there’s another solution – instead of investing in a new and costly instrument, researchers can use a tool that’s common to universities and research labs worldwide and modify it to perform small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).
Read the blog to find out how to modify the Empyrean X-ray diffraction (XRD) platform and unlock this crucial technique for quantum dot analysis!
3. How NTA can improve nanobubble performance
Water treatment is essential to health and quality of life worldwide, but many chemicals and purification techniques are off-limits, as water runoff from a treatment plant must remain fit for consumption.
Instead, nanoparticles in nanobubble form are an effective solution for wastewater treatment and many other applications.
Find out how nanobubbles can be examined using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and optimized thanks to the particle size information NTA provides.
4. Enhancing surfactant stability with light scattering
To develop and produce new generations of surfactants, researchers and manufacturers need to tightly control their particle size, molecular size and weight, and zeta potential.
Read the blog to find out how dynamic light scattering (DLS), static light scattering (SLS), electrophoretic light scattering (ELS), and Multi-angle dynamic light scattering (MADLS) enable this tight control.