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Preparation of Nanoparticles for ToF-SIMS and XPS Analysis
Published on: September 13, 2020
Transmission electron microscopy analysis of octanethiol-coated Cu powders
Tae Hun Lee1, Jung Ho Yoo, Moon Seop Hyun
1Measurement and Analysis Team, National Nanofab Center, Daejeon 305-806, South Korea.
Journal of Electron Microscopy
|March 12, 2011
Summary
Octanethiol coatings on copper powders decompose over 30 days in air, forming a copper oxide layer. This study details the aging process of these coatings using advanced microscopy techniques.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Octanethiol is used to coat copper (Cu) powders, influencing their surface properties.
- Understanding the stability of such coatings is crucial for applications involving Cu nanoparticles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the microstructural changes and aging process of octanethiol-coated Cu powders.
- To analyze the decomposition of the octanethiol layer and the formation of new surface species over time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM) for microstructural analysis.
- Employed electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) to study the aging of the octanethiol layer.
Main Results:
- Observed the decomposition of the octanethiol coating on Cu powders after approximately 30 days of air exposure.
- Identified the formation of a copper(II) oxide (Cu(2)O) layer on the Cu powder surfaces as the coating degraded.
Conclusions:
- The octanethiol coating on Cu powders is not stable long-term in ambient air.
- Progressive decomposition of the organic layer leads to the oxidation of the underlying copper surface.
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