Methods and Technical Means for Ensuring Uniformity of Nanoparticle Size Measurements

Abstract

The paper proposes a set of technical tools for solving the problem of ensuring the uniformity of measurements of micro- and nanoparticles. To do this, it is necessary to ensure the traceabilityof particle size measurements to a unit of length – a meter, as well as equivalent diameters used in measurements in various dispersed media (aerosols and suspensions). To ensure traceability of particle diameter measurements to the meter, it is proposed to use a nanomeasuring machine with an atomic force microscope as a probing system. The paper presents a diagram of the measuring system, describes the principle of operation of the machine and the method for measuring particle sizes. The main alleged sources of errors in particle measurement by this method are also identified. To ensure the traceability of measurements of the hydrodynamic diameter of nanoparticles, which characterizes particles in a liquid (suspension), it is proposed to use a nanoparticle size analyzer that implements the method of dynamic light scattering. The scheme of the analyzer with a description of the principle of measuring the size of nanoparticles by the method of dynamic light scattering is presented in the paper. The scheme of the column of the analyzer of the differential electrical mobility of particles is presented to ensure the traceability of measurements of their diameter, which is equivalent in electrical mobility. Diameter is usually used to characterize particles in the aerosol state. A diagram of an analyzer for the differential electric mobility of particles is given with a description of the operating principle, a formula for calculating the particle diameter is derived.