Nanoparticle size distribution estimation by full-pattern powder diffraction analysis

TL;DR

This paper discusses methods for estimating nanoparticle size distributions using powder diffraction analysis, focusing on spherical particles with log-normal distribution, and demonstrates the approach with a CeO2 sample.

Contribution

It critically evaluates powder diffraction calculation methods for nanoparticle size estimation, emphasizing spherical particles with log-normal distribution, and provides a practical example with CeO2.

Findings

Effective estimation of nanoparticle size distribution from diffraction data.

Critical analysis of crystallographic approximations in small particle analysis.

Application of method to real CeO2 sample.

Abstract

The increasing scientific and technological interest in nanoparticles has raised the need for fast, efficient and precise characterization techniques. Powder diffraction is a very efficient experimental method, as it is straightforward and non-destructive. However, its use for extracting information regarding very small particles brings some common crystallographic approximations to and beyond their limits of validity. Powder pattern diffraction calculation methods are critically discussed, with special focus on spherical particles with log-normal distribution, with the target of determining size distribution parameters. A 20-nm CeO$_{2}$ sample is analyzed as example.