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A simple, low-cost and rapid contrasting method for screening the particle size and monodispersity of silica microparticles by optical bright field microscopy

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Abstract

Silica gel microparticles can be contrasted for optical bright field microscopy by high quality china ink. This method allows the rapid screening of particle size and size distribution of Stöber silica particles. The theoretical resolution power achievable by optical microscopy can be practically reached for the first time for characterizing colorless microparticles. Costs and time for screening charges of synthesized silica particles could be reduced significantly by this method.

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Acknowledgments

B.S. would like to thank the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung for a PhD scholarship and the Ortszirkel Berlin des Kartellverbandes katholischer deutscher Studentenvereine (KV) for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany

    Bernd Schetter

  2. IBU-tec GmbH & Co. KG, Hainweg 9-10, 99425, Weimar, Germany

    Gerd Fischer

Authors
  1. Bernd Schetter
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  2. Gerd Fischer
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Correspondence to Bernd Schetter.

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Schetter, B., Fischer, G. A simple, low-cost and rapid contrasting method for screening the particle size and monodispersity of silica microparticles by optical bright field microscopy. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 44, 167–170 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-007-1596-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-007-1596-9

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