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Observation particle morphology of colloidal system by conventional SEM with an improved specimen preparation technique
Author(s) -
Xu Jing,
Hou Zhaosheng,
Yuan Xiaojiao,
Guo Hong
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.20953
Subject(s) - colloid , scanning electron microscope , materials science , polymer , particle size , particle (ecology) , morphology (biology) , solvent , chemical engineering , sample preparation , microstructure , dilution , emulsion , nanotechnology , chromatography , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , oceanography , physics , biology , engineering , genetics , geology , thermodynamics
Abstract On the basis of our previous report that polymer emulsion with different viscosity can be investigated by conventional scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we have developed an improved specimen preparation technique for obtaining particle morphology and size of colloidal silver, collagen, glutin, and polymer microspheres. In this study, we expect to provide a means for charactering the three‐dimensional surface microstructure of colloidal particles. Dilution of the samples with appropriate volatile solvent like ethanol is effective for SEM specimen preparation. At a proper ratio between sample and ethanol, the colloidal particles are dispersed uniformly in ethanol and then deposited evenly on the substrate. Different drying methods are studied to search a proper drying condition, in which the small molecule solvent is removed without destroying the natural particle morphology. And the effects of ethanol in the specimen preparation process are described by analyzing the physicochemical properties of ethanol. The specimen preparation technique is simple and can be achieved in common laboratory for charactering the particle morphology of colloidal system. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.