AVS 52nd International Symposium
    Applied Surface Science Monday Sessions
       Session AS-MoA

Paper AS-MoA5
Multi-Technique Characterization of Iron Nanoparticles

Monday, October 31, 2005, 3:20 pm, Room 206

Session: Electron Spectroscopies
Presenter: D.R. Baer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Authors: D.R. Baer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
M.H. Engelhard, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
C.M. Wang, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
K.H. Pecher, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
R.L. Penn, University of Minnesota
P.G. Tratnyek, Oregon Health and Sciences University
Y. Qiang, University of Idaho
D.E. McCready, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
J.C. Linehan, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
J.E. Amonette, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
J. Antony, University of Idaho
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Understanding the chemical properties of iron nanoparticles requires detailed information about the size, physical and chemical structure and the presence of surface coatings. Because of the reactive nature of iron, these particles are usually covered by some type of incidental or deliberately added protective layer. In spite of any protection, the properties of the particles change with time and are altered by the environments they have been exposed to and in some cases by the manner the samples have been handled prior to analysis. For some of our reaction studies, we expect the particles to react and change with time and it is important to understand this particle evolution. This presentation will describe aspects of nanoparticle synthesis and processing, the methods we are using to handle the samples, the priority and order of the analysis, and the information we expect from each method. Methods routinely used include: x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; transmission electron spectroscopy; x-ray diffraction; surface area analysis; x-ray adsorption spectroscopy. These are correlated with measurements of electrochemical properties and chemical properties. The issues and challenges of forming a consistent picture of the particles as a function of time will be discussed.