Issue 7, 2019

Using evolved gas analysis – mass spectrometry to characterize adsorption on a nanoparticle surface

Abstract

The surface chemistry of nanoparticles is the key factor to control and predict their interactions with molecules, ions, other particles, other materials, or substrates, determining key properties such as nanoparticle stability or biocompatibility. In consequence, the development of new techniques or modification of classical techniques to characterize nanoparticle surfaces is of utmost importance. Here, a classical analysis technique, thermally evolved gas analysis – mass spectrometry (EGA-MS), is employed to obtain an image of the nanoparticle–solvent interface, unraveling the molecules present on the surface. As the use of complementary techniques is urged, the validity of EGA-MS characterization is corroborated by comparison with a previously reported surface characterization method. Previous studies were based on several experimental techniques and MD simulations using YF3 nano/supraparticles and LaF3 nanoparticles as model systems. We demonstrate the applicability of this technique in two differently sized systems and two systems composed of the same ions on their surface but with a different inorganic core (e.g. LaF3 and YF3 nanoparticles). The results described in this paper agree well with our previous results combining experimental techniques and MD simulations. EGA-MS not only revealed the ions attached to the nanoparticle surface but also shed light on their coordination (e.g. citrate attached to one or two carboxylate moieties). Thus, we show that EGA-MS is a useful and efficient technique to characterize the surface chemistry of nanoparticles and to control and predict their final properties.

Graphical abstract: Using evolved gas analysis – mass spectrometry to characterize adsorption on a nanoparticle surface

  • This article is part of the themed collection: Gas sensing

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Feb 2019
Accepted
03 Jun 2019
First published
04 Jun 2019
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Nanoscale Adv., 2019,1, 2740-2747

Using evolved gas analysis – mass spectrometry to characterize adsorption on a nanoparticle surface

J. Martínez-Esaín, T. Puig, X. Obradors, J. Ros, J. Farjas, P. Roura-Grabulosa, J. Faraudo, R. Yáñez and S. Ricart, Nanoscale Adv., 2019, 1, 2740 DOI: 10.1039/C9NA00098D

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