Nanomaterials and Synthesis
Homework #1
Due date: 3/26/2018
1. For each pair of photographs of nanomaterials shown below, write down appropriate
terminologies for each of them to characterize their difference:
(1)
Three-dimensional nanomaterials: Monolithic, bulk
made of nanoscale building blocks
Two-dimensional nanomaterial: or consisting of nanoscale structures
Ultrathin sheets of BN
(2)
(a) (a) (b)
(c) (d)
Single particles agglomerates
(3)
(e) (f)
monodisperse particles polydisperse particles
(spherical particles) (irregular)
(4)
(g)
Primary particles
(h) agglomerate
(5)
Low degree agglomeration
High degree agglomeration
2.
(i) (j)
If you want to observe (a) atomic arrangement, (b) width of dislocations, and (c) grains, what
instruments would be suitable for use? and explain why?
Solution:
a. To observe atomic arrangement: SPM (SPM & AFM). Because SPM can provide three-
dimensional (3-D) real-space images and allows spatially localized measurements of structure
and properties
b. Width of dislocations: TEM, because the range of width of dislocation is around
10-8 m, and the instrument can cover that range is TEM.
c. grains: SEM & TEM, because the range that two instruments can cover the grain dimension
requirement for observation.
3. Fine powders are usually used as the starting materials for the fabrication of dense and bulk
ceramics through shape forming and sintering. Before shape forming, fine powders are usually
treated by granulation process. What is granulation? And explain why granulation is usually a
necessary step for the fabrication of dense and bulk ceramics.
Solution:
Granulation is forming the agglomerates on purpose, usually in spherical shape.
Granulation is usually a necessary step for the fabrication of dense and bulk ceramics because
with granulation it will increase the density of ceramics dan decrease the flowability of material
so that we can get green compact with high density before sintering.
4. What are the limitations and problems for sieving? What techniques can you apply to overcome
these problems?
Solution:
The limitations and problem for sieving is below:
Agglomeration becomes a problem below about 44 µm and can introduce error in an
analysis (gives you diameters of agglomerates).
Techniques to overcome the agglomeration problem in sieving:
a) Dry sieving
1. Dry sieving analyses can be extended to 20 µm by admixing a desiccant of known size
into a very dry powder sample.
2. Modern apparatus that imparts a relatively high frequency air pulse produces a more
efficient sieving of the small size.
3. Combination of a low-frequency mechanical pulse and a high frequency air pulse can
provide precise dry sieving analyses for a wide range of sizes
(b) Wet sieving: the sample is dispersed in a liquid (slurry) and sieved wet.
1. applying suction to pull the slurry through the apertures.
2. supporting the sieve in an ultrasonic tank or a mechanical vibrator.
5. Look at photographs (b) and (c) in Fig.2 (shown below). Is each of them a dark-field or bright-
field image?
Fig.2 FE-SEM (a) and HR-TEM (b and c) images of the synthesized mesoporous TiO2 calcined at 400 ℃ for 5 h.
Solution:
a. Dark-field image
b. Bright-field image
c. Dark-field image
