Size-Resolved Kinetic Measurements of Aluminum Nanoparticle Oxidation with Single Particle Mass Spectrometry

Oxidation investigation of nickel nanoparticles

This work reported an experimental investigation of complete oxidation of nickel nanoparticles using simultaneous thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Nickel nanoparticles and their elemental compositions were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The oxidation experiments were performed under isoconversion conditions for seven heating rates, varying from 2 to 20 K min(-1), with temperatures up to 1000 degrees C. The experiments revealed unique oxidation behaviour of nickel at the nanometre scale, such as early oxidation and melting phenomena, variable activation energies and different oxidation kinetics between low and high conversion ratios. Unlike its bulk counterpart where the activation energy is a constant, the activation energy of nickel nanoparticles depended on the conversion ratio, ranging between 1.4 and 1.8 eV. The oxidation kinetics of nickel nanoparticles changed from the classical diffusion controlled mechanism to a pseudo-homogeneous reaction as conversion ratios were over 50%. The oxidation mechanisms of nickel nanoparticles were further discussed and future studies to enhance understanding were identified.

An ion optics for effective ion detection in single particle mass spectrometry

Recently, we reported that significant ion loss occurs prior to detection in conventional single particle mass spectrometry. A more serious type of loss is ion-kinetic-energy-dependent loss. This leads to significant errors in the measured chemical composition of nanoparticles, especially when they have a core-shell structure. In this paper, a novel ion optics for effective detection of ions generated from a single nanoparticle is designed. Using the commercial software SIMION, the trajectories of ions launched at different speeds inside a single particle mass spectrometer are simulated. The effects of changes are investigated with different repelling plates, Einzel lens additions, and substitutions of the tube electrode between extraction and acceleration grids on the ion flight. The best design was found when assembling the trials in the present condition. It was demonstrated experimentally that the new ion optics works well not only in theory, but also in practice.