Nanoparticle Surface Characterization

by X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

http://www.phi.com/Interface/PHI%20Interface%20Spring%2005.pdf
What is Nanotechnology?

Nano = 10-9

Nanoscale science: investigates the

properties of matter in the critcal range
of 1nm – 100 nm.

Nanotechnology: Is building and using

devices from 1 nm – 100 nm.
 What Leads to Unsual Properties?

Any solid or liquid

has 2 components:
•surface
•bulk
The Macroscopic Case

One drop of
water:
100,000 bulk
molecules per
1 surface
molecule
 Another Example...

•2 surface layers vs.

~10,000,000 internal
layers
•2 surface layers vs.
~5,000,000 internal
layers
•Percentage of surface:
0.000002% vs
0.000004%
Shrinking Down to the Nanoscale
C60

5%

10% 100%

Properties of surface
atoms/molecules now
50% affect the overall
properties.
Properties Change According to Size!

Different sizes of gold particles = different optical

properties.
Nanoparticle Surfaces: What’s the Problem?

• Nano is all about surface!

• Surfaces are thin.
• Most surface coatings are
organic.

Boyen, H.-G.; Kastle, G.; Weigl, F. et al. Science 2002, 297, 1533-1536.
 XPS: How Does it Work?

ejected
electron

X-Ray

KEelectron = hX-ray – BEelectron

http://www.almaden.ibm.com/st/scientific_services/materials_analysis/xps/
 XPS Spectrometer: Basic Components

Settle, F., ed. Handbook of Instrumental Techniques for Analytical Chemistry. Prentice Hall. 1997.
 1200

1000

Counts / s 800

600

400

200

0
300 295 290 285 280 275

C(1s) Binding Energy (eV)

Peak Position Area % C1s Carbon- ID

1 285.50 1457.1 52% Pristine C60

2 287.45 489.75 18% Mono-oxidized C

3 289.73 836.67 30% Di-oxidized C