Direct Visualization of the Hydration Layer on Alumina Nanoparticles with the Fluid Cell STEM in situ

• DOI: 10.1038/srep09830
• Publication Date: 2015-05-21T16:47:50Z
• Authors: Emre Firlar; Simge Çınar; Sanjay Kashyap; Mufit Akinc; Tanya Prozorov
• Keywords: Particle (ecology); Nanometre; Nanoclusters; Particle aggregation

Abstract Rheological behavior of aqueous suspensions containing nanometer-sized powders is relevance to many branches industry. Unusually high viscosities observed for nanoparticles compared those micron size cannot be explained by current viscosity models. Formation so-called hydration layer on alumina in water was hypothesized, but never experimentally. We report here the direct visualization with fluid cell situ. observe formed over particle aggregates and show that such hydrated constitute new assemblies affect flow suspensions. discuss how these nanoclusters alter effective solid content nanostructured Our findings elucidate source nanoparticle are industrial sectors including materials, food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical among others employing colloidal slurries nanometer-scale particles.