Simultaneous, Real-time, Mutli-parameter Analysis of Nanoparticles in Liquids

A new nanoparticle sizing and characterization technique is described allowing nanoparticles in a suspension to be individually but simultaneously detected and analysed in real time using a laser-based microscope system. The technique uniquely allows the user a simple and direct qualitative view of the sample under analysis and from which an independent quantitative estimation of sample size, size distribution and concentration can be immediately obtained. Nanoparticles of all types and in any solvent can be detected, sized and counted through video-based tracking of their Brownian motion when illuminated by a specially configured laser beam. Examples of analyses of a wide range of sample types will be shown including nano-emulsions from pharmaceutical and clinical applications and metal oxides and nanoceramics from the chemical, pigments and coatings industries. Novel advances in the technique will be described which allow each particle to be simultaneously analysed not just in terms of its size but also light scattering power (mass/refractive index) and fluorescence from which 3D plots of size v. light scatter or fluorescence can be produced.