Abstract
Optimal deposition procedures are determined for nanoparticle size characterization by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Accurate nanoparticle size distribution analysis with AFM requires non-agglomerated nanoparticles on a flat substrate. The deposition of polystyrene (100 nm), silica (300 and 100 nm), gold (100 nm), and CdSe quantum dot (2–5 nm) nanoparticles by spin coating was optimized for size distribution measurements by AFM. Factors influencing deposition include spin speed, concentration, solvent, and pH. A comparison using spin coating, static evaporation, and a new fluid cell deposition method for depositing nanoparticles is also made. The fluid cell allows for a more uniform and higher density deposition of nanoparticles on a substrate at laminar flow rates, making nanoparticle size analysis via AFM more efficient and also offers the potential for nanoparticle analysis in liquid environments.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bornside DE, Macosko CW, Scriven LE (1987) On the modeling of spin coating. J Imag Technol 13(4):122–130
Brust M, Kiely CJ (2002) Some recent advances in nanostructure preparation from gold and silver particles: a short topical review. Colloids Surf A 202:175–186. doi:10.1016/S0927-7757(01)01087-1
Fujita M, Yamaguchi Y (2006) Development of three-dimensional structure formation simulator of colloidal nanoparticles during drying. J Chem Eng Jpn 39(1):83–89. doi:10.1252/jcej.39.83
Ghosh M, Fan F, Stebe KJ (2007) Spontaneous pattern formation by dip coating of colloidal suspensions on homogeneous surfaces. Langmuir 23:2180–2183. doi:10.1021/la062150e
Hong YK, Kim H, Lee G, Kim W, Park JL, Cheon J, Koo JY (2002) Controlled two-dimensional distribution of nanoparticles by spin-coating method. Appl Phys Lett 80:844–846. doi:10.1063/1.1445811
Hoo CM, Starostin N, West P, Mecartney ML (2008) A comparison of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) methods to characterize nanoparticle size distributions. J Nanopart Res 10:89–96. doi:10.1007/s11051-008-9435-7
Juillerat F, Solak H, Bowen P, Hoffmann H (2005) Fabrication of large-area ordered arrays of nanoparticles on patterned substrates. Nanotechnology 16:1311–1316. doi:10.1088/0957-4484/16/8/055
Leite ED, Lee EJH, Ribeiro C, Longo E (2006) Controlled thickness deposition of ultrathin ceramic films by spin coating. J Am Ceram Soc 89(6):2016–2020. doi:10.1111/j.1551-2916.2006.00992.x
Lin XM, Jaeger HM, Sorensen CM, Klabunde KJ (2001) Formation of long-range-ordered nanocrystal superlattices on silicon nitride substrates. J Phys Chem B 105(17):3353–3357. doi:10.1021/jp0102062
Nakade S, Saito Y, Kubo W, Kitamura T, Wada Y, Yanagida S (2003) Influence of TiO2 nanoparticle size on electron diffusion and recombination in dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells. J Phys Chem B 107:8607–8611. doi:10.1021/jp034773w
Ogi T, Modesto-Lopez LB, Iskandar F, Okuyama K (2007) Fabrication of a large area monolayer of silica particles on a sapphire substrate by a spin coating method. Colloid Surf A 297:71–78
Schmidt HK (2000) Nanoparticles for ceramic and nanocomposite processing. Mol Cryst Liquid Cryst 353:165–179. doi:10.1080/10587250008025657
Shi FG (1994) Size dependent thermal vibrations and melting in nanocrystals. J Mater Res 9(5):1307–1313. doi:10.1557/JMR.1994.1307
Taminiau TH, Segerink FB, Moerland RJ, Kuipers L, Van Hulst NF (2007) Near-field driving of a optical monopole antenna. J Opt A 9:S315–S321. doi:10.1088/1464-4258/9/9/S06
Thomson T, Toney MF, Raoux S, Lee SL, Sun S, Murray CB, Terris BD (2004) Structural and magnetic model of self-assembled FePt nanoparticle arrays. J Appl Phys 96(2):1197–1201. doi:10.1063/1.1759393
Wang D, Möhwald H (2004) Rapid fabrication of binary colloidal crystals by stepwise spin-coating. Adv Mater 16(3):244–247. doi:10.1002/adma.200305565
Xia D, Brueck SRJ (2004) A facile approach to directed assembly of patterns of nanoparticles using interference lithography and spin coating. Nano Lett 4(7):1295–1299. doi:10.1021/nl049355x
Xia D, Biswas A, Li D, Bruek SRJ (2004) Directed self-assembly of silica nanoparticles into nanometer-scale patterned surfaces using spin coating. Adv Mater 16:1427–1432. doi:10.1002/adma.200400095
Xiong X, Makaram P, Busnaina A, Bakhtari K, Somu S, McGruer N, Park J (2006) Large scale directed assembly of nanoparticles using nanotrench templates. Appl Phys Lett 89:193108. doi:10.1063/1.2385067
Xiong X, Busnaina A, Selvarasah S, Somu S, Wei M, Mead J, Chen C, Aceros J, Makaram P, Dokmeci MR (2007) Directed assembly of gold nanoparticle nanowires and networks for nanodevices. Appl Phys Lett 91:063101. doi:10.1063/1.2763967
Zheng J, Zhu Z, Chen H, Liu Z (2000) Nanopatterned assembling of colloidal gold nanoparticles on silicon. Langmuir 16:4409–4412. doi:10.1021/la991332o
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the U.S. Navy under contract # N00244-06-P-2341 and N00244-05-P-2456. Additional support from Pacific Nanotechnology Inc. is gratefully acknowledged.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hoo, C.M., Doan, T., Starostin, N. et al. Optimal sample preparation for nanoparticle metrology (statistical size measurements) using atomic force microscopy. J Nanopart Res 12, 939–949 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-009-9644-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-009-9644-8