Surface characterization of nanomaterials and nanoparticles: Important needs and challenging opportunities

摘要: This review examines characterization challenges inherently associated with understanding nanomaterials and the roles surface interface methods can play in meeting some of challenges. In parts research community, there is growing recognition that studies published reports on properties behaviors often have reported inadequate or incomplete characterization. As a consequence, true value data these is, at best, uncertain. With increasing importance fundamental technological applications, it desirable researchers from wide variety disciplines involved recognize nature unexpected reproducible synthesis nanomaterials, including difficulties maintaining desired materials during handling processing due to their dynamic nature. It equally valuable for understand how approaches (surface otherwise) help minimize surprises determine (and quickly) change different environments. Appropriate application traditional sensitive analysis (including x-ray photoelectron Auger electron spectroscopies, scanning probe microscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy) provide information helps address several needs. many circumstances, extensions considerably more than normally obtained collected. Less common evolving selectivity (e.g., variations nuclear magnetic resonance, sum frequency generation, low medium energy scattering) about surfaces interfaces working environments (operando situ) not provided by methods. Although may require instrumentation expertise generally available, they be particularly useful addressing specific questions, examples use nanomaterial are presented.