Particle-impact analysis of the degree of cluster formation of rutile nanoparticles in aqueous solution

Cluster formation can profoundly influence the bioavailability and (bio)geochemical activity of nanoparticles in natural aquatic systems. While colloidal properties of nanoparticles are commonly investigated using light-scattering techniques, the requirement to dilute samples can affect the fundamen...

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Main Authors: Shimizu, K, Sokolov, S, Young, N, Compton, R
Format: Journal article
Published: Royal Society of Chemistry 2017
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author Shimizu, K
Sokolov, S
Young, N
Compton, R
author_facet Shimizu, K
Sokolov, S
Young, N
Compton, R
author_sort Shimizu, K
collection OXFORD
description Cluster formation can profoundly influence the bioavailability and (bio)geochemical activity of nanoparticles in natural aquatic systems. While colloidal properties of nanoparticles are commonly investigated using light-scattering techniques, the requirement to dilute samples can affect the fundamental nature and extent of the cluster size. Hence, an alternative in situ approach that can cover a much higher and wider concentration range of particles is desirable. In this study, particle impact chronoamperometry is employed to probe the degree of cluster formation of Alizarin Red S modified rutile nanoparticles of diameter ca. 167 nm in conditions approximating those existing in the environment. Random collisions of individual clusters of the modified rutile particles with a stationary electrode result in transient current signals during a chronoamperometric measurement, indicative of the reduction of the adsorbed Alizarin Red S dye molecules. The results from the particle-impact analysis reveal that the nanoparticles are heavily clustered with an average 91 monomeric particles per cluster. As the spherical equivalent size of the clusters (ca. 754 nm in diameter) is considerably larger than that from nanoparticle tracking analysis (ca. 117 nm), the present work highlights the impact of the dilution on the fundamental nature of the colloidal suspension and introduces the electrochemical determination of the size distribution of inert mineral nanoparticles in highly concentrated media.
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spelling oxford-uuid:bcf851e4-c23e-40fb-83bd-fdc22f78bf4b2022-03-27T05:28:21ZParticle-impact analysis of the degree of cluster formation of rutile nanoparticles in aqueous solutionJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:bcf851e4-c23e-40fb-83bd-fdc22f78bf4bSymplectic Elements at OxfordRoyal Society of Chemistry2017Shimizu, KSokolov, SYoung, NCompton, RCluster formation can profoundly influence the bioavailability and (bio)geochemical activity of nanoparticles in natural aquatic systems. While colloidal properties of nanoparticles are commonly investigated using light-scattering techniques, the requirement to dilute samples can affect the fundamental nature and extent of the cluster size. Hence, an alternative in situ approach that can cover a much higher and wider concentration range of particles is desirable. In this study, particle impact chronoamperometry is employed to probe the degree of cluster formation of Alizarin Red S modified rutile nanoparticles of diameter ca. 167 nm in conditions approximating those existing in the environment. Random collisions of individual clusters of the modified rutile particles with a stationary electrode result in transient current signals during a chronoamperometric measurement, indicative of the reduction of the adsorbed Alizarin Red S dye molecules. The results from the particle-impact analysis reveal that the nanoparticles are heavily clustered with an average 91 monomeric particles per cluster. As the spherical equivalent size of the clusters (ca. 754 nm in diameter) is considerably larger than that from nanoparticle tracking analysis (ca. 117 nm), the present work highlights the impact of the dilution on the fundamental nature of the colloidal suspension and introduces the electrochemical determination of the size distribution of inert mineral nanoparticles in highly concentrated media.
spellingShingle Shimizu, K
Sokolov, S
Young, N
Compton, R
Particle-impact analysis of the degree of cluster formation of rutile nanoparticles in aqueous solution
title Particle-impact analysis of the degree of cluster formation of rutile nanoparticles in aqueous solution
title_full Particle-impact analysis of the degree of cluster formation of rutile nanoparticles in aqueous solution
title_fullStr Particle-impact analysis of the degree of cluster formation of rutile nanoparticles in aqueous solution
title_full_unstemmed Particle-impact analysis of the degree of cluster formation of rutile nanoparticles in aqueous solution
title_short Particle-impact analysis of the degree of cluster formation of rutile nanoparticles in aqueous solution
title_sort particle impact analysis of the degree of cluster formation of rutile nanoparticles in aqueous solution
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AT sokolovs particleimpactanalysisofthedegreeofclusterformationofrutilenanoparticlesinaqueoussolution
AT youngn particleimpactanalysisofthedegreeofclusterformationofrutilenanoparticlesinaqueoussolution
AT comptonr particleimpactanalysisofthedegreeofclusterformationofrutilenanoparticlesinaqueoussolution