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Abram SL, Mrkwitschka P, Thünemann AF, Radnik J, Häusler I, Bresch H, Hodoroaba VD, Resch-Genger U. Iron Oxide Nanocubes as a New Certified Reference Material for Nanoparticle Size Measurements. Anal Chem 2023; 95:12223-12231. [PMID: 37566555 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c00749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
The rational design and increasing industrial use of nanomaterials require a reliable characterization of their physicochemical key properties like size, size distribution, shape, and surface chemistry. This calls for nanoscale reference materials (nanoRMs) for the validation and standardization of commonly used characterization methods closely matching real-world nonspherical nano-objects. This encouraged us to develop a nonspherical nanoRM of very small size consisting of 8 nm iron oxide nanocubes (BAM-N012) to complement spherical gold, silica, and polymer nanoRMs. In the following, the development and production of this nanoRM are highlighted including the characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) as complementary methods for size and shape parameters, homogeneity and stability studies, and calculation of a complete uncertainty budget of the size features. The determination of the nanocubes' edge length by TEM and SAXS allows a method comparison. In addition, SAXS measurements can also provide the mean particle number density and the mass concentration. The certified size parameters, area equivalent circular diameter and square edge length, determined by TEM with a relative expanded uncertainty below 9%, are metrologically traceable to a natural constant for length, the very precisely known (111) lattice spacing of silicon. Cubic BAM-N012 qualifies as a certified nanoRM for estimating the precision and trueness, validation, and quality assurance of particle size and shape measurements with electron microscopy and SAXS as well as other sizing methods suitable for nanomaterials. The production of this new iron oxide nanocube RM presents an important achievement for the nanomaterial community, nanomaterial manufacturers, and regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah-Luise Abram
- Division Biophotonics, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Richard-Willstaetter-Straße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Mrkwitschka
- Division Surface Analysis and Interfacial Chemistry, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Unter den Eichen 44-46, 12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas F Thünemann
- Division Synthesis and Scattering of Nanostructures, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörg Radnik
- Division Surface Analysis and Interfacial Chemistry, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Unter den Eichen 44-46, 12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ines Häusler
- Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstraße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Harald Bresch
- Division Material-Microbiome Interactions, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Richard-Willstaetter-Straße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Vasile-Dan Hodoroaba
- Division Surface Analysis and Interfacial Chemistry, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Unter den Eichen 44-46, 12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ute Resch-Genger
- Division Biophotonics, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Richard-Willstaetter-Straße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
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