Measurement of Particle Size Distribution in Turbid Solutions by Dynamic Light Scattering Microscopy. 2017

Takashi Hiroi, and Mitsuhiro Shibayama
Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Tokyo; hiroi@chem.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp.

A protocol for measuring polydispersity of concentrated polymer solutions using dynamic light scattering is described. Dynamic light scattering is a technique used to measure the size distribution of polymer solutions or colloidal particles. Although this technique is widely used for the assessment of polymer solutions, it is difficult to measure the particle size in concentrated solutions due to the multiple scattering effect or strong light absorption. Therefore, the concentrated solutions should be diluted before measurement. Implementation of the confocal optical component in a dynamic light scattering microscope1 helps to overcome this barrier. Using such a microscopic system, both transparent and turbid systems can be analyzed under the same experimental setup without a dilution. As a representative example, a size distribution measurement of a temperature-responsive polymer solution was performed. The sizes of the polymer chains in an aqueous solution were several tens of nanometers at a temperature below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). In contrast, the sizes increased to more than 1.0 µm when above the LCST. This result is consistent with the observation that the solution turned turbid above the LCST.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008853 Microscopy The use of instrumentation and techniques for visualizing material and details that cannot be seen by the unaided eye. It is usually done by enlarging images, transmitted by light or electron beams, with optical or magnetic lenses that magnify the entire image field. With scanning microscopy, images are generated by collecting output from the specimen in a point-by-point fashion, on a magnified scale, as it is scanned by a narrow beam of light or electrons, a laser, a conductive probe, or a topographical probe. Compound Microscopy,Hand-Held Microscopy,Light Microscopy,Optical Microscopy,Simple Microscopy,Hand Held Microscopy,Microscopy, Compound,Microscopy, Hand-Held,Microscopy, Light,Microscopy, Optical,Microscopy, Simple
D010316 Particle Size Relating to the size of solids. Particle Sizes,Size, Particle,Sizes, Particle
D000067493 Dynamic Light Scattering An analytical technique for measuring particle size of molecules that are less than a micron in diameter dispersed or dissolved in a liquid. Quasi-Elastic Light Scattering (QELS),Light Scattering, Dynamic,Light Scattering, Quasi-Elastic (QELS),Quasi Elastic Light Scattering (QELS),Quasi-Elastic Light Scatterings (QELS),Scattering, Dynamic Light,Scattering, Quasi-Elastic Light (QELS),Scatterings, Quasi-Elastic Light (QELS)
D000180 Acrylic Resins Polymers of high molecular weight which are derived from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or other related compounds and are capable of being molded and then hardened to form useful components. Acrylic Resin,Resin, Acrylic,Resins, Acrylic
D012542 Scattering, Radiation The diversion of RADIATION (thermal, electromagnetic, or nuclear) from its original path as a result of interactions or collisions with atoms, molecules, or larger particles in the atmosphere or other media. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Radiation Scattering,Radiation Scatterings,Scatterings, Radiation
D012996 Solutions The homogeneous mixtures formed by the mixing of a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance (solute) with a liquid (the solvent), from which the dissolved substances can be recovered by physical processes. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Solution
D013696 Temperature The property of objects that determines the direction of heat flow when they are placed in direct thermal contact. The temperature is the energy of microscopic motions (vibrational and translational) of the particles of atoms. Temperatures

Related Publications

Takashi Hiroi, and Mitsuhiro Shibayama
December 1969, Photochemistry and photobiology,
Takashi Hiroi, and Mitsuhiro Shibayama
May 2003, Journal of colloid and interface science,
Takashi Hiroi, and Mitsuhiro Shibayama
August 2000, Journal of colloid and interface science,
Takashi Hiroi, and Mitsuhiro Shibayama
July 2008, The Review of scientific instruments,
Takashi Hiroi, and Mitsuhiro Shibayama
September 2021, Materials (Basel, Switzerland),
Takashi Hiroi, and Mitsuhiro Shibayama
October 2022, Materials (Basel, Switzerland),
Copied contents to your clipboard!