Optimizing Instrument Operation and Data Processing for Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Measurement of Gold Nanoparticles

Published

May 16, 2013

Author(s)

Jingyu Liu, Karen E. Murphy, Robert I. MacCuspie, Michael R. Winchester

Abstract

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operated in single particle mode is an attractive analytical tool capable of both sizing and counting metal containing nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions. In this study, we have evaluated the performance of single particle-ICP-MS (spICP-MS) for gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) characterization. Instrument operating parameters, test solution concentration and data processing were optimized for accurate size and particle number concentration measurement. We demonstrate that short measurement dwell time induces severe particle splitting between adjacent dwells, and the optimal dwell time, limiting both splitting and coincident particle events, is 10 ms. A pre-established protocol for particle size calculation using the measured aerosol transport efficiency and soluble standard calibration was examined over a range of AuNPs diameters from 10 nm to 200 nm. Finally, size measurements were performed on heterogeneous Au solutions containing both soluble Au and AuNPs.

Proceedings Title

Nanotech Conference Technical Proceedings

Volume

1

Conference Dates

May 12-16, 2013

Conference Location

Washington, DC

Conference Title

Nanotech Conference 2013

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

Single particle ICP-MS, nanomaterial characterization, gold nanoparticles

Citation

Liu, J. , Murphy, K. , MacCuspie, R. and Winchester, M. (2013), Optimizing Instrument Operation and Data Processing for Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Measurement of Gold Nanoparticles, Nanotech Conference Technical Proceedings, Washington, DC, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=913478 (Accessed December 21, 2024)