Qualification of an Ultrasonic Instrument for Real-Time Monitoring of Size and Concentration of Nanoparticles during Liquid Phase Bottom-Up Synthesis (original) (raw)

The qualification of a unique ultrasonic instrument for real-time monitoring of the size and concentration of nanoparticles during bottom-up liquid phase synthesis is presented in this paper. The presented results of the ultrasonic instrument are verified with a dynamic light scattering device and a transmission electron microscope. Nanoparticles are increasingly used in numerous applications, such as in coatings, paints, cosmetics, etc. Both in the design and the production of nanoparticles there is a need for real-time measurements of their size and concentration. Ultrasound-based instruments are particularly suitable for measuring particle size and concentration, as they are non-destructive, fast, relatively cheap, and can measure in highly concentrated opaque dispersions. Also, the ultrasound sensors are robust enough to be placed inside a chemical reactor, allowing for real-time measurements of the particle size and concentration during synthesis.