Understanding the dynamics of aggregation state is critically important to predicting the fate and transport of nanoparticles in environmental systems. A major research focus in the Penn group is pairing careful solid-state characterization with quantitative kinetics of reaction, nanoparticle growth, and phase transformations. Accessible reactive surface area is sensitive to the dynamics of aggregation.  Our group uses a combination of dynamic light scattering, x-ray scattering, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy to track changes in aggregation state as a function of time and changing conditions. Transitions between different states of aggregation (e.g., ranging from single-phase fractal aggregates to mesocrystals composed of oriented primary nanocrystals to heterogeneous aggregates of two or more phases) can be directly linked to evolving kinetics of reactions and phase transformations.

Characterizing nanoparticle aggregation in reactive systems

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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