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Particle size distribution of Cu nanoparticles in polyimide film

Background

In the past, for metal or ceramics nanoparticles dispersed in a film, the average particle size and distribution were estimated from cross-sectional transmission electron microscope (TEM) images, which required enormous labor and time.

Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements can be made in tens of minutes using a sample of about 15 mm × 2 mm, with no need to slice or pre-treat the film.

Investigation

The figures below show the temperatures of heat treatment and cross-sectional TEM photos of samples in which copper nanoparticles were dispersed in the polyimide film.

temperatures of heat treatment

 

cross-sectional TEM photos of samples

 

The graphs below show the SAXS data (top) and the the results of analysis with NANO-Solver (bottom); the average particle sizes were determined to be 3.9 nm and 8.8 nm.

SAXS data

 

cross-sectional TEM photos of samples

 

Samples supplied by Professor Hidemi Nawafune and Instructor Kensuke Akamatsu, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University