title: Nanoparticle characterization by means of scanning free grazing emission X-ray fluorescence.
abstract: Nanoparticles are considered for applications in domains as various as medical and pharmaceutical sciences, opto- and microelectronics, catalysis, photovoltaics, spintronics or nano- and biotechnology. The applications realized with nanocrystals depend strongly on the physical dimensions (shape and size) and elemental constitution. We demonstrate here that grazing emission X-ray fluorescence (GEXRF) is an element sensitive technique that presents the potential for a reliable and accurate determination of the morphology of nanoparticles deposited on a flat substrate (ready-to-use devices). Thanks to the scanning-free approach of the used GEXRF setup, the composition, shape and average size of nanoparticles are determined in short time intervals, minimizing the exposure to radiation. The (scanning-free) GEXRF technique allows for in situ investigations of the nanoparticulate systems thanks to the penetration properties of both the probe X-ray beam and the emitted X-ray fluorescence signal.
authors.affiliation: Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland. yves.kayser@psi.ch.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kayser
authors.forename: Jacinto
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sá
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szlachetko