3. Characterization of nanomaterials

The characterization of nanomaterials involves the determination of several physicochemical parameters:

• size and/or mass and shape. Size and/or mass distribution may also be essential, due to the polydispersity of samples and/or the need to assess the degree of polydispersity;

• aggregation/agglomeration rate ;

• solubility properties ;

• surface properties (charge, specific surface, etc.) ;

• structure (crystalline, amorphous...) ;

• chemical composition (elements, functional groups) ;

• concentration (in a dispersed environment).

Most of the techniques used to determine these parameters involve suspending particles...