Scientists Create New Design of Microstructured Glass Fibers That Can Measure Nanoparticle Sizes

Nanoparticles generally have sizes that range from one to one hundred nanometers, according to ScienceDirect. They are usually categorized based on their characteristics, sizes, or shapes.

In relation to this, a new design of glass fibers was created by a team of researchers from the Leibniz IPHT or Institute of Photonic Technology. According to Phys, this design allows remarkably lengthy observation of a large scope of unrestrictedly moving and individual nanoparticles in fluids.

Such design permits the distribution of sample nanoparticles based on sizes with greater accuracy and precision. Moving forward, the researchers are laying grounds for better findings that can impact bioanalytical and environmental issues.

The research was recently included in the journal Small.

Nanoparticle Mixtures Hard to Identify

In analyzing samples of biological specimens and analyzing water samples, nanoparticle mixtures take place in nearly every area of daily living. These comprise different small objects within fluid environments.

One significant challenge science faces the precise determination and delineation of particular components of these tiny nanoparticles within liquids. This is especially challenging considering the width and depth of the distribution of sizes and the presence of different nanoparticle types that only have minor size differences.

Thanks to this microstructured design of glass fibers, there is room to become more accurate in gauging nano-sized particles.

Microstructured Glass Fibers Increase Precision of Analysis

Thanks to a specialized optical fiber from the Jena Institute, nanoparticles found in liquid solutions that have less than 20 nanometers worth of diameter can be tracked individually, confined, and have their exact size measured.

Because of this, researchers can accurately study the size distribution of these nanoparticles within mixtures.

For this reason, the glass fiber has a microchannel with a thin wall that conducts light. The microchannel specifically has a diameter worth 17 micrometers.

To check a specimen, the fluid of the particle is given direct contact with the fiber with a hollow core. This then fills up the fluid sample because of the capillaries' force. The light is then routed through the fluid channels that are integrated with the fiber.

The glass wall with a thickness of 756 nanometers enables powerful and consistent sample illumination and stored nanoparticles to be checked.

Because of the light dispersed by respective nanoparticles, the position of these particles can be monitored. Thanks to this, microscopic observations can be conducted with remarkable accuracy.

Doctoral student Mona Nissen shares that thanks to this recent fiber-optic methodology, individual nano-objects can be monitored over lengthy durations. Through this, the size of these particles can be gauged reliably and accurately. It also makes it possible to characterize the particular components found within a mixture.

This approach can be used across nano technical applications across bioanalytical, environmental, medicine, and chemistry fields.

Check out more news and information on Nanotechnology in Science Times.