I am doing a class project which is about measuring the nanoparticles size in the ferrofluid and we could not use the X-ray powder diffraction or telescope. According to the advice given by my teacher, it is possible to measure the particle size by mixing the laser jet toner with water or oil, then record the change of the liquid's color with camera when the liquid turns transparent from black due to the sedimentation.
But I am not sure how could I analyze the color and get the distribution of the diameter of the particles. Is there any analyzing methods that could help me to finish the measurement?
Put your fluid in a test tube.
Set up a camera and take photos periodically. Measure the height from the base of your tube to the point where the fluid changes from black to clear. Express this "sediment" height relative to the total height of the fluid.
Plot the sediment height as a function of time to get the sedimentation rate and then use Stokes' Law to estimate the size (I'll let you find that :) ). You'll need to know the density of the particles and the liquid. You will also have to assume your particles do not aggregate. If they do, Stokes' Law won't apply.
It might take a day or two.
If you have a broad distribution of sizes then you may struggle to see the transition from dark to clear. Lighting is very important. Often lighting from behind or the side is helpful. Or use a laser pointer.
Dear all, please check this RG document. My Regards
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257775361_Model_for_predicting_the_critical_size_of_aggregates_in_nanofluids
If you have got a calorimeter or UV-Vis spectrophotometer then check for its SPR (surface plasmon resonance) which is a characteristic wavelength of absorption for nanoparticles of given material which is reported in earlier standard journal papers and any deviation from reported value to higher or lower wavelength (red or blue shift) is attributed to coarser or smaller particle size than reported one. Earlier researchers quote the particle size based on various characterization tools like SEM, TEM, XRD, DLS etc they use. So where does our SPR stand against theirs will give you approximate particle size. Similarly a colloidal solution possesses characteristic color and deviations from it shows agglomeration and thereby larger particle size. There can be rough estimates made however in absence of using proper characterization tools mentioned above. From the stability of colloidal solution you can make some estimate as mentioned by Mr. John above.
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