CHAPTER 6
Bulk Characterization
Techniques for
Nanomaterials
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
This chapter provides a broad survey of some of the common techniques
used for characterization of the bulk properties of materials, including
nanomaterials. These techniques can provide insight on properties such
as the concentration or composition of molecules or nanoparticles, the
thickness of nanofilms, or the arrangement of atoms in ordered structures
such as crystals. However, all of these techniques typically average over a
macroscopic region of a material to determine an ensemble property
(analogous to the macroscopic thermodynamic properties discussed in
Chapter 2) instead of directly examining a material’s nanoscale dimensions. Many of these techniques are spectroscopic, involving the interaction of light at different frequencies with matter, and applying principles
from Chapter 4. Several of techniques that will be discussed are typically
encountered in undergraduate chemistry and materials labs, while others
require more specialized equipment. Specific examples of the application
of these methods to nanomaterials are found in Chapters 9 and 10.
6.1 SPECTROSCOPIC METHODS
Spectroscopy is the study of the ways in which electromagnetic radiation
interacts with matter. Spectroscopy is an invaluable field of chemical
analysis, and different spectroscopic methods are able to determine
identity, concentration, and structural information of chemical compounds, among other useful information. Because the electromagnetic
spectrum is so broad, different spectroscopic methods are employed for
Bulk Characterization
Techniques for
Nanomaterials
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
This chapter provides a broad survey of some of the common techniques
used for characterization of the bulk properties of materials, including
nanomaterials. These techniques can provide insight on properties such
as the concentration or composition of molecules or nanoparticles, the
thickness of nanofilms, or the arrangement of atoms in ordered structures
such as crystals. However, all of these techniques typically average over a
macroscopic region of a material to determine an ensemble property
(analogous to the macroscopic thermodynamic properties discussed in
Chapter 2) instead of directly examining a material’s nanoscale dimensions. Many of these techniques are spectroscopic, involving the interaction of light at different frequencies with matter, and applying principles
from Chapter 4. Several of techniques that will be discussed are typically
encountered in undergraduate chemistry and materials labs, while others
require more specialized equipment. Specific examples of the application
of these methods to nanomaterials are found in Chapters 9 and 10.
6.1 SPECTROSCOPIC METHODS
Spectroscopy is the study of the ways in which electromagnetic radiation
interacts with matter. Spectroscopy is an invaluable field of chemical
analysis, and different spectroscopic methods are able to determine
identity, concentration, and structural information of chemical compounds, among other useful information. Because the electromagnetic
spectrum is so broad, different spectroscopic methods are employed for