title: In situ Characterization of Nanoparticles Using Rayleigh Scattering.
abstract: We report a theoretical analysis showing that Rayleigh scattering could be used to monitor the growth of nanoparticles under arc discharge conditions. We compute the Rayleigh scattering cross sections of the nanoparticles by combining light scattering theory for gas-particle mixtures with calculations of the dynamic electronic polarizability of the nanoparticles. We find that the resolution of the Rayleigh scattering probe is adequate to detect nanoparticles as small as C60at the expected concentrations of synthesis conditions in the arc periphery. Larger asymmetric nanoparticles would yield brighter signals, making possible to follow the evolution of the growing nanoparticle population from the evolution of the scattered intensity. Observable spectral features include characteristic resonant behaviour, shape-dependent depolarization ratio, and mass-dependent line shape. Direct observation of nanoparticles in the early stages of growth with unobtrusive laser probes should give insight on the particle formation mechanisms and may lead to better-controlled synthesis protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Biswajit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Santra
authors.affiliation: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Mikhail N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Shneider
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.|Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.|Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Car