To see or not to see: Imaging surfactant coated nano-particles using HIM and SEM

Gregor Hlawacek; Imtiaz Ahmad; Mark A. Smithers; E. Stefan Kooij

doi:10.1016/j.ultramic.2013.07.010

To see or not to see: Imaging surfactant coated nano-particles using HIM and SEM

Gregor Hlawacek, Imtiaz Ahmad, Mark A. Smithers, E. Stefan Kooij

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Abstract

Nano-particles are of great interest in fundamental and applied research. However, their accurate visualization is often difficult and the interpretation of the obtained images can be complicated. We present a comparative scanning electron microscopy and helium ion microscopy study of cetyltrimethylammonium-bromide (CTAB) coated gold nano-rods. Using both methods we show how the gold core as well as the surrounding thin CTAB shell can selectively be visualized. This allows for a quantitative determination of the dimensions of the gold core or the CTAB shell. The obtained CTAB shell thickness of 1.0 nm–1.5 nm is in excellent agreement with earlier results using more demanding and reciprocal space techniques.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	89-94
Number of pages	6
Journal	Ultramicroscopy
Volume	135
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2013.07.010
Publication status	Published - 2013

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10.1016/j.ultramic.2013.07.010

Hlawacek2013toFinal published version, 1.66 MBLicence: Taverne

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title = "To see or not to see: Imaging surfactant coated nano-particles using HIM and SEM",

abstract = "Nano-particles are of great interest in fundamental and applied research. However, their accurate visualization is often difficult and the interpretation of the obtained images can be complicated. We present a comparative scanning electron microscopy and helium ion microscopy study of cetyltrimethylammonium-bromide (CTAB) coated gold nano-rods. Using both methods we show how the gold core as well as the surrounding thin CTAB shell can selectively be visualized. This allows for a quantitative determination of the dimensions of the gold core or the CTAB shell. The obtained CTAB shell thickness of 1.0 nm–1.5 nm is in excellent agreement with earlier results using more demanding and reciprocal space techniques.",

author = "Gregor Hlawacek and Imtiaz Ahmad and Smithers, {Mark A.} and Kooij, {E. Stefan}",

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AU - Hlawacek, Gregor

AU - Ahmad, Imtiaz

AU - Smithers, Mark A.

AU - Kooij, E. Stefan

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

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AB - Nano-particles are of great interest in fundamental and applied research. However, their accurate visualization is often difficult and the interpretation of the obtained images can be complicated. We present a comparative scanning electron microscopy and helium ion microscopy study of cetyltrimethylammonium-bromide (CTAB) coated gold nano-rods. Using both methods we show how the gold core as well as the surrounding thin CTAB shell can selectively be visualized. This allows for a quantitative determination of the dimensions of the gold core or the CTAB shell. The obtained CTAB shell thickness of 1.0 nm–1.5 nm is in excellent agreement with earlier results using more demanding and reciprocal space techniques.

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DO - 10.1016/j.ultramic.2013.07.010

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JO - Ultramicroscopy

JF - Ultramicroscopy

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To see or not to see: Imaging surfactant coated nano-particles using HIM and SEM

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