I made one composite material of metal oxide and graphene. In SEM, particle size of metal oxide ranges between 1-10 um even in the composite, but in TEM, the composites showing 100-200 nm particles in graphene matrix (Please note that morphology of metal oxide also changed significantly in composite).
Before doing TEM, sonication was done in ethanol for 10-15 mins.
What can be the possible reasons of decreased and distorted particle size of metal oxide in composite?
Important Thing: I also did TEM of metal oxide only with and without sonication. With sonication, I obtained random shaped particles and without sonication or dispersion under mild conditions, I obtained Perfectly shaped particles.
Can it be concluded that sonication leads to distortion/breakage of particle shape which results in less sized particle?
Or any other possible reasons?
yes, you have absolutely drawn a correct conclusion basically sonic waves breaks the particle into smaller pieces you may try by freely suspending aluminum foil in sonicator and you will find that it is broken into various small pieces. sonicator in many procedures is used as top down methodology for formation of nano particles and Qds. It is an heterogeneous approach .
yes, you have absolutely drawn a correct conclusion basically sonic waves breaks the particle into smaller pieces you may try by freely suspending aluminum foil in sonicator and you will find that it is broken into various small pieces. sonicator in many procedures is used as top down methodology for formation of nano particles and Qds. It is an heterogeneous approach .
yes. the sonication will break your particles into smaller one and it depends on sonication time. The graphene layer also affected by sonication. Graphene is derived from sonication exfoliation method and which simple method than others.
Sonication leads to de-aggregation, breaks particles and distorts their shape. If sonication is necessary, do it for as less as possible time. For organic nanocrystals, we have used NMT 3 min.
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