AgNWs have been synthesized from AgNO3. The product mainly contains nanowires and a small amount of nanoparticles. I want to calculate the yield of this reaction. In other words whats the percentage of NWs? I have SEM images of the NWs . It seems that more than 95 % is NWs, but how can I calculate it accurately?
The manual method to do this is as follows:
* Select a suitable image size where you can clearly distinguish between particles and rods.
* Count all the particles. Count all the rods.
* Calculate the value you want. For example
%rods = 100 * number of rods / (number of rods + number of particles)
In the meantime, software exists to help do this on digital images. You might start with ImageJ.
The manual method to do this is as follows:
* Select a suitable image size where you can clearly distinguish between particles and rods.
* Count all the particles. Count all the rods.
* Calculate the value you want. For example
%rods = 100 * number of rods / (number of rods + number of particles)
In the meantime, software exists to help do this on digital images. You might start with ImageJ.
If you want to calculate the NWs against nano-particles you can count it on a clear SEM or TEM image by yourself; but if you want to calculate to find how much AgNO3 converted to NWs, you should calculate the Ag+ ion concentration in the precursor solution and compare it to Ag+ concentration in the secondary solution (solution after synthesis) using atomic absorption or ICP.
I don't know what your process is, but if it only has this component, then it would seem your reaction is AgNO3 + H -> Ag + HNO3. If you know the normality of the solution, and none of the HNO3 is boiled away, you might be able to do a simple test of acidity to determine how much of it is acid and how much is salt. Also, the molar mass of AgNO3 is 169.87 and the molar mass of HNO3 is 63.01, which is quite a spread. Some simple weight measurements might be highly informative.
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