Characterization of nanomaterials

Nanomaterials and nanoparticles have attracted widespread attention in recent years due to their remarkable properties and versatile applications in almost every field. There have been several attempts to develop better techniques that can characterize these materials to indicate their morphology, diameter, crystalline structure, functional groups present, and other internal and external properties of these novel structures. Most often, multiple techniques can be used to give details and characteristics about the same attribute. Furthermore, the characterization process is dependent on the methods of preparation used for the development of nanoparticles and the external environment where their characterization is carried out. Analysis of these aspects is essential because it helps us control nanoparticle structure and its respective functions. Each technique used boasts a unique advantage and suffers from some limitations. Therefore, hyphenated techniques are given preference to understand the nature of nanoparticles. However, the current developments in the field of nanotechnology and its growing demands need that any challenges posed by these techniques must be overcome to obtain more precise and accurate results during the analysis of nanoparticles. This chapter discusses some of the most widely used characterization techniques and how they allow for the precise measurements of different nanoparticle properties. We have also mentioned the principle, advantages, and disadvantages of each method. Improvement in the characterization steps of nanoparticles is vital so that they can be compared and contrasted better. Thus, the most suitable nanoparticles with the required properties can be used to advance scientific knowledge in the coming years.