The concentrations of Na2CO3 in the materials are in the range of 10-20 wt.%. Using TEM seems to be straightforward but I wonder if it is an appropriate approach since the atomic number of Al (27) and Na (23) is close to one another. The similarity in atomic number supposes to decrease the contrast and makes it difficult to distinguish between Na and Al. I could not use Scherrer equation since all the XRD peaks corresponding to Na2CO3 disappeared in the supported material.
If not, what technique would give me this information?
In which reaction you will use this catalyst system, Na2CO3 supported alumina will lead to decomposition to N2O/alumina and then it would be easy to measure particle size of Na2CO3 back calculated from Na2O particle size.
Similar to calculation of Co particle size calculated from Co3O3 particle size
Sometimes you can use Fe-SEM-EDAX for particles size. Because you can choose specific area and scan it so calculate particle size by SEM. You can distinguish between Na and Al according weight percent of them in EDAX
If you know the weight-loading, XPS might help as XPS beeing only surface sensitive (few nm in depth) will give you the ratio of sodium/aluminum. Knowing the surface of your alumina support, the elementary ratio (Na/Al) on the surface (from XPS) and the weight loading you could roughly recalculate the specific Area (area per mass) of your Na2CO3 particles and hense the particle size assuming spheres.
Alternatively another interesting method to determine the specific area of your Na2CO3 particles (which can be converted into a sphere equivalent particle size) may be the chemisorption techniques - check out this paper from ChemSuSChem Journal dealing with Al2O3/Na2O I just found when checking this topic of chemisorption on Na2CO3 out of couriosity - DOI:10.1002/cssc.201402474
good luck.
you can determine the particle size of Sodium carbonate by using HRTEM technique
Hi
There are different techniques where you can measure the particle size, the most common are TEM, EDX
Have a very good day
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