How can we calculate mass of nanocluster (Cu NCs soln, less then 2nm) if we don't have MALDI-TOF MS ? Can we use DLS or any other technique? Need expert suggestions.
What is your material and in what form (powder, colloidal suspension?) is it?
DLS will work on the material in suspension and will provide the hydrodynamic diameter - it's very sensitive to the larger material in the system as there is a r6 dependence on intensity of scattering. Cu has a high density (9.3 g/cm3) and thus any settling indicates material > 50 nm or so.
I don't think you saw my posting. Yes, it should work if you have no material settling and in free Brownian motion. However I've seen too many of these systems where the metal lies on the bottom of the container and ther's virtually none in suspension.
These are nanoclusters, they don't settle down even in months. How can i calculate the mass now?
You can get the intensity distribution in DLS, convert to volume and, for constant density, the volume and mass distributions are identical.
The RMM technique can be used to measure the mass of particles. Look up Archimedes RMM. For example: http://www.malvern.com/en/products/technology/resonant-mass-measurement/
Unfortunately it will not work on material as small as 2 nm but will work on larger material.
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