This project has received funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 Programme (H2020) under grant agreement no. 720952 (ACEnano). The authors would like to thank Sigrid Benemann for SEM measurements, Markus Schneider for ToF-SIMS measurements and PCA, and Philipp Reichardt for assistance with filming.

CAUTION: The toxicological properties of nanoparticles are still under investigation; due to their size they can present unique hazards in humans as well as in the environment even when they consist of intrinsically non-hazardous materials. Before undertaking any work with nanoparticles, a proper risk assessment should be completed, and appropriate engineering controls, lab procedures, and PPE (personal protective equipment) put in place, depending on the hazard level of the materials to be studied29,30,31,32.
1. Preparation of Si wafers
NOTE: These steps are necessary to remove undesired (organic) contamination and increase the surface wettability. All solvents used should be at least ACS grade. A standard sonication bath (35 kH and 120 Watts) is suitable.
<ol>
	<li>Wet chemical cleaning of Si wafers
	<ol>
		<li>Put the Si wafer in a beaker with isopropanol and ultrasonicate for 5 min.</li>
		<li>Transfer the Si wafer to a beaker with an alkali glass cleaning solution and ultrasonicate for 10 min.</li>
		<li>Put the wafer in a beaker with ultrapure water. Change the water 10 times by pouring out the water and refilling the beaker; the Si wafers will remain at the bottom due to the capillary effect.</li>
		<li>Dry the wafer with clean N2 gas. 
		NOTE: Drying with N2 prevents the formation of &#8220;coffee rings&#8221; and other artefacts from water drying.</li>
		<li>Put the wafer in a second beaker with isopropanol and ultrasonicate for 10 min.</li>
		<li>Dry the wafer with clean N2 gas.</li>
		<li>Put the wafer in a beaker with ethanol and ultrasonicate for 10 min.</li>
		<li>Dry the wafer with clean N2 gas. The protocol can be paused here.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Plasma or UV/ozone cleaning of silicon wafers
	<ol>
		<li>Introduce the Si wafer in the plasma or the UV/ozone cleaner and switch on for 30 min. 
		NOTE: Wafers should be plasma- or UV/ozone-cleaned immediately before use.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Nanoparticle deposition from suspension
NOTE: The most common exposure route for nanoparticles is by inhalation. Working with suspensions can minimize exposure hazards.
<ol>
	<li>Preparation of nanoparticle suspension from powder 
	NOTE: All quantities described here are examples. The method should be optimized for the particular nanoparticles used in each case.
	<ol>
		<li>Accurately weigh 15 mg of nanoparticle powder (&#177; 10%) into a 10 mL tube.</li>
		<li>Accurately weigh in approximately 8 mL ultrapure water.</li>
		<li>Close the tube, pack in a 50 mL centrifuge tube with paper towel and place in the vortexer at 3,000 rpm for 15 min.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Drop-casting of electrically conductive nanoparticles from aqueous suspension
	<ol>
		<li>Place the wafer in the UV/ozone cleaner for 30 min.</li>
		<li>Place the wafer in one half of the wafer holder and place a 3 &#181;L drop of nanoparticle suspension in the center of the ring.</li>
		<li>Mount a 6.07 mm diameter Viton O-ring on the wafer around the droplet. Take care that the ring does not touch the droplet.</li>
		<li>Place the wafer in a vacuum desiccator under a vacuum of 4 mbar for 15 min to dry the wafer.</li>
		<li>Remove the wafer from the desiccator and examine using light microscopy and XPS to determine that the particle layer is homogeneous and closed. Repeat steps 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 until analysis shows a closed and homogeneous layer. The protocol can be paused here.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Spin-coating of electrically non-conductive nanoparticles from aqueous suspension
	<ol>
		<li>Place the wafer in the UV/ozone cleaner for 30 min. 
		NOTE: By spin-coating suspensions of different concentrations using the same protocol, different levels of surface coverage can be achieved.</li>
		<li>Program the spin-coater. A suitable sample program is: step 1: 500 rpm/s ramp to 1,000 rpm (5 s); step 2: 1,000 rpm/s ramp to 2,000 rpm (3 min); step 3: deceleration at 2,000 rpm/s to 0 rpm.</li>
		<li>Insert the wafer into the spin-coater and switch on the vacuum for fixation.</li>
		<li>Deposit 80 &#181;L of the suspension on the wafer and start the program.</li>
		<li>Remove the wafer from the spin-coater.</li>
		<li>Store the sample in a new, clean wafertray. The protocol can be paused here.</li>
		<li>Analyze the sample using SEM to confirm gapless coverage of the substrate.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Nanoparticle deposition from powder
<ol>
	<li>Nanoparticle deposition on double-sided adhesive tapes (&#8220;stick and go&#8221;)
	<ol>
		<li>Fix the double-sided adhesive to the sample holder and remove the liner.</li>
		<li>Take a spatula-tip of the nanoparticle powder and dip it onto the adhesive.</li>
		<li>Spread the sample over the adhesive and press into the adhesive with the spatula, until as much of the powder is adhered as possible.</li>
		<li>Check that the powder is fixed on the tap by inverting and tapping the sample holder, and by blowing a stream of gas (e.g., nitrogen) across it. The protocol can be paused here. 
		NOTE: Alternatively, a small amount of powder can be placed on a cleaned surface (Alu foil or glass slide) and pressed from above with the adhesive and double-sided sample holder.</li>
		<li>Place a spatula-tip of the powder onto the cleaned surface. Press the sample holder with the adhesive onto the powder from above.</li>
		<li>Check that the powder is fixed on the tap by inverting and tapping the sample holder, and by blowing a stream of gas (e.g., nitrogen) across it. The protocol can be paused here.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Preparation of pressed powder pellets
	<ol>
		<li>Thoroughly clean all parts of the pellet die, taking care not to scratch the polished surface.</li>
		<li>Invert the pellet die and rest on a small spacer.</li>
		<li>Insert the plunger and one stainless steel pellet, with polished side up, and pull the plunger through until there is enough space to fill with the powdered sample.</li>
		<li>Fill the die with a small amount of sample (1 large spatula tip), and then insert the second stainless steel pellet with the polished side facing the sample.</li>
		<li>Place the base onto the body and carefully invert. If a vacuum is desired and available, attach the vacuum pump to the base of the pellet die.</li>
		<li>Place the die into a press, making sure it is centered.</li>
		<li>Apply a light load (2 kN) for approximately 20 s and release.</li>
		<li>Apply a heavier load (6 kN) for 2 min and release.</li>
		<li>After the load is released, release the vacuum pump. 
		NOTE: Due to the different material properties of various nanoparticles, it may be advantageous to prepare a series of pellets with different loads and load times to determine the optimum pellet pressing conditions.</li>
		<li>Invert the die, place the extractor ring into position, and place a light load (up to 1 kN) between the plunger and the extractor ring.</li>
		<li>Remove the die parts from the press and carefully extract the sample pellet with tweezers.</li>
		<li>Gently mount the sample on a cleaned Si wafer using double-sided adhesive. The protocol can be paused here.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
4. Cryofixation of nanoparticle suspensions
<ol>
	<li>Fill the main chamber of the fast-freeze device with liquid nitrogen.</li>
	<li>Fill the cooled fast-freeze chamber with the cryogen (propane).</li>
	<li>Allow the fast-freeze device to cool to its operating temperature. 
	NOTE: The fast-freeze device requires some time to reach operating temperature prior to the sample preparation, therefore a reasonable timeframe (a few hours) is required for cryofixing the samples.</li>
	<li>Drop-cast 10&#8211;20 &#181;L of NP suspension onto a cleaned Si wafer with a pipette.</li>
	<li>Holding the Si wafer with fixing tweezers, place it inside the plunge freeze device.</li>
	<li>Move the fixing tweezers to the plunge position.</li>
	<li>Press the button to drop the sample inside the cryogen.</li>
	<li>Wait several seconds until the sample is completely frozen.</li>
	<li>Transfer the frozen samples as fast as possible into a cooled environment.</li>
	<li>Place the cryofixed sample (Si wafer) into the sample holder and transfer it inside the instrument. 
	NOTE: For transport, dry ice is recommended and short-term sample storage is possible. The samples can be measured in a frozen state with a cooled instrument or with conventional ToF-SIMS settings after stabilization by freeze-drying the sample.</li>
</ol>

The authors have no competing interests to disclose.

A number of methods have been presented for the preparation of nanoparticles for surface analysis using XPS and ToF-SIMS. We have summarized the advantages and disadvantages of these methods, as well as possible sources of error and suitability for different materials, in Table 2. As shown in the representative results, the preparation of nanoparticles can strongly influence the success of the resulting surface analysis. In addition, not all methods are suitable for all particle types due to factors such as signal interference with the substrate or mounting materials, charging effects in non-conducting thick films, state of the nanoparticles as a powder or suspension, potential damage to sensitive outer layers, destruction of biological structures and information on aggregation and interfaces, or vulnerability of sensitive ultrahigh-vacuum instruments to free nanoparticles.
Because XPS and ToF-SIMS measurements average over an area rather than measuring single particles, it is only possible to obtain reproducible results from homogeneous layers; aggregation or agglomeration of the particles on the substrate should therefore be avoided. Additionally, too-thick layers of non-conductive materials cause charging effects during analysis, which can lead to undesired artefacts in the spectra, especially partial charging which cannot be compensated with a flood gun. On the other hand, incomplete films show strong signals from the substrate or mounting materials (e.g., adhesives), which can interfere with sensitive peaks from the particle surface. The ideal thickness of the film is material dependent and should be determined experimentally by analysis of films of different thicknesses. In particular, samples prepared using spin coating should be analyzed with SEM to ensure completeness of the coating.
Working with NP suspensions presents fewer exposure hazards and safety requirements compared to working with NP powders. Drop-casting is a relatively simple method with low equipment requirements and is particularly suitable for conductive nanoparticles in suspension where film thickness is not a concern. While the samples can easily be dried under atmospheric conditions, the vacuum desiccator serves to reduce the drying time for the droplets as well as protecting the wafers from contamination. The Viton ring is used to modify the evaporation patterns of the droplet and thereby minimize the formation of coffee-rings. Evaporation patterns can also be influenced by varying the substrate hydrophilicity using cleaning protocols or by application of alternative coatings51,52, by evaporating in solvent atmospheres53, or even by heating the substrate54. Spin-coating is recommended for suspensions of non-conductive nanoparticles in suspension because it is capable of generating a homogeneous particle layer that is thin enough to avoid charging effects but still thick enough to prevent the Si substrate from contributing to the XPS and ToF-SIMS spectra. For each individual NP system and concentration, both the centrifuge and spin-coating parameters must be optimized but can then very reliably be reproduced even on different instruments. Because the spin-coated drop is always in the middle of the wafer, the radius of rotation is irrelevant and the unit &#8220;revolutions per minute&#8221; (rpm) can be used. The suspension could alternatively be deposited on the wafer after starting the program; however, this would require different spin-coating parameters and a greater amount of suspension to obtain a thicker coating.
Because of their extremely small size, nanoparticles may detach from the substrate and move freely inside the ultrahigh-vacuum chamber when impacted with an ion or x-ray beam. This is a particular problem for samples prepared with powder. In some cases, the nanoparticles can penetrate into the sensitive components of the instrument requiring expensive and time-consuming maintenance. Due to the applied acceleration voltage, the danger of damaging sensitive parts is larger with ToF-SIMS than with XPS. Powdered samples, particularly those prepared using the &#8220;stick and go&#8221; method, should be carefully checked to ensure the powders are fixed securely enough, especially for ToF-SIMS analysis. This can be confirmed by, for example, holding the sample upside down and blowing a stream of gas (e.g., N2) across it. Prior to analysis, the samples can also be left overnight in the airlock or other initial sample entry chamber of the instrument, where a stable vacuum can indicate that there are no loose particles from the sample. Nanoparticles prepared as pellets, however, can even be sputtered (at low acceleration voltages) without damaging the instrument; this method can eliminate contaminants, particularly hydrocarbons, introduced from the press and can also enable bulk analysis of the particles.
Preparation of NP powders in the sample holder stub allows for the preparation of samples with defined geometry and a macroscopically flat surface. Critical points are the cleanliness of the tool for pressing the sample, and the use of a low pressure to avoid changes in the nanoparticle surface due to this procedure. It has the disadvantages of needing a relatively high amount of material, and potential problems with loss of material in high-vacuum instruments. We do not recommend this method for ToF-SIMS analysis, as the particles are not compressed or secured in any way.
Regarding the NP material, the first consideration for sample preparation is elimination or minimizing of interference between NPs and substrates of similar material; for example, Si wafers are an unsuitable substrate for analysis of SiO2 NPs using XPS and ToF-SIMS, even with sufficient sample coverage. Metallic or inorganic nanoparticles can be readily analyzed as powder on an adhesive (assuming they contain no organic layers or coatings) due to the lack of signal interference between the nanoparticles and the double-sided adhesive, a preparation method which would be unsuitable for polymeric NPs. Metallic nanoparticles have more flexibility in terms of possible film thickness used due to the absence of charging effects, and may be drop-cast with relatively little equipment; however, they are likely to contain large amounts of impurities and stabilizers from their synthesis, which must be carefully removed without damage to the particles. Polymeric nanoparticles may more easily be damaged by die pressing but may also more readily hold together in the pellet, depending on the pressures used. Pellets or soft organic coatings on the NP surface also&#160;can be damage sensitive. Direct deposition from the solution has the potential to damage sensitive coatings either through the suspension or the drying process but is advantageous for analyzing NPs already present in suspension. Cryofixation is a suitable method for the analysis of chemical structures, surfaces or interfaces in suspension which would be damaged or destroyed by various other sample preparation techniques, but requires a specialized cryoequipment for both XPS and ToF-SIMS46&#8217;47.
While this paper describes several exemplary methods that can be used for sample preparation, in every case the method should be optimized and validated using alternative analytical methods. A detailed overview of the influence of different factors was recently published22. Besides the development and validation of suitable preparation methods, the documentation of these steps is also of paramount importance40. This publication presents some easy-to-handle methods and is a guide to modify or develop new methods according to the requirements of the specific task.

Nanomaterials are defined as materials having any external dimension between 1 nm and 100 nm or having an internal or surface structure on this scale1. Due to the unique properties arising from their small scale and correspondingly large surface area (among other factors), they find increasing use in a wide variety of fields including agriculture, chemistry, automotive construction, cosmetics, environment, medicine, printing, energy, and textiles. This increased use means that both humans and the environment will be exposed, on a hitherto unknown scale, to these materials whose toxicological properties are not yet fully known, and whose size enables their facile integration into biological or environmental systems2.
After the fundamental properties of surface area and particle size/size distribution, surface chemistry and coatings were identified as the most crucial property of nanomaterials3; smaller particles have a higher surface area per unit mass, and therefore a higher ratio of surface to bulk atoms. Indeed, for nanoparticles of 1 nm size, over 70% of atoms can be found at corners or edges; this strongly influences surface properties such as chemisorption which is highly dependent on the atomic-scale surface morphology4. Regulations dealing with nanomaterials require accurate data regarding physicochemical properties and reliable estimates of the toxicological properties of these materials. In order to efficiently estimate toxicological properties from physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials, the nanomaterials community requires reliable, standardized, and verified analytical procedures. Projects such as ACEnano5 aim to collect and correlate accurate and verifiable physical data from nanoparticles in a framework allowing better regulation and characterization of nanomaterials. This drive towards standardized analytical procedures has also been supported by the editors of ACS Nano, wishing &#8220;to consolidate and to agree on methods of characterization and minimum levels of analysis of materials6&#8221;. Furthermore, XPS and ToF-SIMS offers new possibilities for elucidating the particle architecture of core-shell nanoparticles7,8.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), compared in Table 1, are well-established methods for investigation of surface atoms. In XPS, the sample is irradiated with x-rays having an energy between 1 and 2 keV, causing emission of electrons due to the photoelectric effect. These emitted electrons, having a kinetic energy in the same range, correlate to the binding energy of the electrons in the solid; the appearance of photoelectrons at these defined binding energies and measurable intensities therefore allows quantitative analysis of the composition. Since the mean free pathway of these photoelectrons is below 10 nm, XPS is a highly surface sensitive technique for quantitative analysis. Furthermore, detailed analysis of the binding energies in highly resolved spectra enables the quantitative determination of the valence states of these electrons.
In ToF-SIMS the surface is sputtered with a focused ion beam (primary ions), with the ions ejected from the material (secondary ions) collected and analyzed in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The mass/charge pattern obtained allows the determination of the elemental, isotopic, or molecular composition. Due to the mean free pathway of the secondary ions, this technique is also highly surface sensitive and has an information depth of 1&#8211;2 nm but is at best semi-quantitative, due to the matrix effect whereby the ionization probability (and therefore yield) of secondary ions is strongly influenced by their surrounding matrix. ToF-SIMS can be operated in either static or dynamic mode; the difference between the two is the primary ion flux impacting the surface. Static SIMS keeps the primary ion flux to a level that impacts (i.e., fragments) a maximum of 1%-10% of the surface; the surface remains relatively undisturbed, which allows analysis of the top atomic layers of material. Since even static SIMS causes some destruction to the surface, it is considered to be less &#8220;non-destructive&#8221; of the two methods.
These surface-sensitive techniques allow analysis of the first few nanometers of the material, including intentional or unintentional coatings, which, for nanomaterials, can significantly influence material properties. Examples of intentional coatings are capping layers on quantum dots to improve photoluminescence quantum yields and reduce environmental reactivity9, alumina or silica coatings for the prevention of photocatalytic activity of titania nanoparticles in sun blockers10, surface functionalization to enable bioconjugation and subsequent biological activity11, coatings for diagnostic and drug delivery applications12, and fluorocarbon coatings on magnetic particles for ferrofluids and core-shell metallic systems to enhance catalyst properties13. Unintentional coatings, such as oxidation, surface contamination, or protein coronas in biological systems have a similarly strong influence on nanoparticle properties and it is crucial that experimental preparation procedures ensure that the coating and more generally the surface chemistry of the nanomaterial is not destroyed or transformed. It is also crucial to evaluate the properties of the nanoparticles as they are in-situ, as their properties can be drastically altered by the change2,14,15. In addition, the concentration of stabilizers in the nanoparticle suspension can dramatically influence the analysis and structural integrity of the nanoparticles; the presence of a stabilizer can result in large unwanted signals (for example, C, H, O, and Na) in the analysis, while its removal can result in damage or agglomeration of the nanoparticles.
Due to their size and surface area, the storage conditions of nanoparticles also affect their behavior, both as stored powders/suspensions and as prepared samples. The effect of sub-optimal storage conditions, particularly room-temperature storage and exposure to light, have been shown in various studies to cause degradation of the nanoparticles which has been shown to alter the particles&#8217; physical, chemical, and/or toxicological properties14,15,16,17,18. Smaller nanoparticles have been shown to oxidize more rapidly than larger ones with oxidation/degradation rates dependent on storage conditions15 as well as surface chemistry14. The effects of the nanoparticle degradation during storage have been shown to significantly affect physicochemical properties including toxicity14, while the oxidative growth can proceed inwards at the expense of the core15.
The careful storage and preparation of nanomaterials is therefore essential for an accurate surface analysis, and any factors which could influence the sample surface and/or the quality of the measurements should be carefully considered. It should be noted that due to the relatively low spatial resolution of XPS (in the &#181;m range) and ToF-SIMS (a few hundred nm), only a small subset of the nanoparticles can be investigated; these methods average over an area and do not have the ability to image single particles as is possible with techniques such as electron microscopy. For this reason, any analysis requires deposition of the nanoparticles in a continuous layer to ensure no interference from the substrate. Electron microscopy and XPS/ToF-SIMS are therefore often used together as complementary methods for nanomaterial analysis.
Aside from changes in surface chemistry, the main challenges for preparation of nanoparticle samples for XPS and ToF-SIMS analysis are to prepare a layer that is: homogeneous, to increase reproducibility; gapless, to minimize the contribution of the substrate to the spectra; thin enough to avoid charging effects (for non-conductive samples); and securely fixed to the substrate, to avoid free nanoparticles entering and damaging ultrahigh vacuum instruments
Nanoparticles can be deposited onto the substrate from suspension or as a powder. Firstly, we will discuss the different methods for depositing nanoparticles from suspension. Silicon wafers are a commonly used substrate for suspension deposition, because they are relatively cheap, readily available as a highly pure product consisting of pure or doped silicon (doping avoids charging effects), and for most nanoparticles the spectral peaks do not overlap with peaks typical for nanoparticles. This last point is important; before analysis it should be ensured that the substrate peaks are well separated from the peaks expected from the nanoparticles, otherwise interpretation of the spectra is complicated or impossible and the continuous coverage of the substrate by the nanoparticles cannot be verified. Before using silicon wafers, an extensive cleaning procedure (described in this publication) is necessary to remove (organic) contaminants and to increase the surface wettability. Other suitable substrates such as gold films, highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), or indium foils have been successfully used, but a discussion about their preparation is beyond the scope of this work19,20,21,22.
Secondly, we present methods for depositing nanoparticle powders on a substrate for XPS and ToF-SIMS analysis and present the advantages and disadvantages of each method, allowing researchers new to the techniques to find the optimal preparation method for their purposes. Thirdly, we discuss cryofixation, which is a suitable preparation method to conserve features such as the agglomeration behavior, organic corona, solid/aqueous interface23,24 or distribution in biological media25 of NPs. Cryofixation, typically fast freezing of material in a liquid nitrogen&#8211;cooled cryogen and analysis in the frozen-hydrated state, allows the analysis and visualization of nanoparticles directly in complex matrices. This procedure does not cause ice crystal formation but forms amorphous ice that keeps membranes and cellular and tissue structures in their native biological state, avoiding damage caused by water crystallization processes and enabling the exact chemical distribution of all cell metabolites and cell membrane compounds to be maintained26,27,28. This preparation method may be of particular interest for presenting an exact chemical map of the actual NP agglomerate or heteroagglomerate, visualizing the exact chemical space in close proximity to the nanoparticle directly in suspension, or correlating either cell tissue-specific features or intra-cellular compartments within NP agglomerates or heteroagglomerates.
As shown through the results presented in this work, the most suitable procedure in a particular case is dependent on a variety of parameters such as the nanoparticles&#8217; hydrophilicity, stability, conductivity, state (e.g., powder or suspension) and the analytical question at hand (e.g., size, bulk properties, or surface coatings). A variety of methods are presented here that can be used for preparation of NPs for surface analysis, as well as a comparison of their advantages and disadvantages.

<table><tbody><tr><td>4-figure Laboratory balance</td><td>Kern &amp;amp; Sohn GmbH</td><td>ADB200-4A</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5 mm Pellet die</td><td>Specac</td><td>GS03060</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Alkali glass cleaning solution</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>Hellmanex&amp;trade; III Z805939</td><td>Special cleaning solution for cuvettes</td></tr><tr><td>Carbon adhesive tabs</td><td>Plano</td><td>&quot;Leit-Tabs&quot; G3347</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Clean laboratory beakers</td><td>any</td><td></td><td>e.g. 300 mL</td></tr><tr><td>Cryo-freezer</td><td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td><td>EMS-002 Cryo Workstation</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dialysis tube with fasteners</td><td>Medicell Membranees Ltd</td><td>DTV12000.06.30</td><td>Molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) 12-14 kDa</td></tr><tr><td>Die press</td><td>any</td><td></td><td>Capable of 2 kN force</td></tr><tr><td>Disposable syringe, 1 mL, Luer-slip</td><td>TH Geyer</td><td>Labsolute 7657545</td><td>Any appropriate volume can be used</td></tr><tr><td>Double-sided adhesive</td><td>3M</td><td>Removable Repositionable Tape 665</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dry ice</td><td>Linde AG</td><td>ICEBITZZZ&lt;sup&gt;&amp;reg;&lt;/sup&gt;</td><td>For short term storage/cooling</td></tr><tr><td>Eppendorf transfer pipette and tips</td><td>Eppendorf</td><td>various</td><td>Check correct size for planned pipetting volume</td></tr><tr><td>Ethanol, ACS grade</td><td>Merck KGaA</td><td>1009832500</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>FFP2 or FFP3 mask</td><td>various</td><td></td><td>For working with nanoparticles from non-hazardous materials, when not in a fume hood or glove box</td></tr><tr><td>Isopropanol, ACS grade</td><td>Merck KGaA</td><td>1096342500</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Lab coat, gloves and goggles</td><td>any</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Laboratory centrifuge</td><td>Eppendorf</td><td>Centrifuge 5430</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Laboratory fume hood</td><td>any</td><td></td><td>necessary for working with nanoparticles</td></tr><tr><td>Laboratory stirrer &amp;amp; stirrer bar</td><td>NeoLab</td><td>D-6010</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Lint-free wipes</td><td>Kimberley Clark Professional</td><td>Kimtech Science Precision wipes</td><td>Recommended for working with Si wafers</td></tr><tr><td>Liquid Nitrogen</td><td>Linde AG</td><td>Stickstoff fl&amp;uuml;ssig 5.0</td><td>Only for cooling of the cryogen.</td></tr><tr><td>Microtube/centrifuge tube 1,5 mL</td><td>T.H. Geyer GmbH &amp;amp; Co. KG</td><td>Labsolute 7696751</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nitrogen 5.0</td><td>any</td><td></td><td>99.999% purity</td></tr><tr><td>Pasteur pipette, PE, plastic 3 mL</td><td>TH Geyer</td><td>Labsolute 7 691 203</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Pasteur pipette, PE, plastic 3 mL</td><td>TH Geyer</td><td>Labsolute 7 691 203</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Powder sample holder</td><td>BAM workshop</td><td></td><td>&quot;Home-made&quot; sample holder</td></tr><tr><td>Propane</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>769037</td><td>The cryogen should be of highest possible purity.</td></tr><tr><td>Sample vial or centrifuge tube 1 mL</td><td>Greiner Bio-One GmbH</td><td>Cellstar 188 261</td><td>Should be capable of being fixed in the Vortexer</td></tr><tr><td>Silicon wafers</td><td>any</td><td></td><td>ideally 1cm&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; pre-cut</td></tr><tr><td>Spin-coater</td><td>SPS Europe</td><td>SPIN150i-NPP</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Syringe filter 0,45 &amp;micro;m</td><td>Th Geyer</td><td>Labsolute 7699803</td><td>For smaller samples; larger versions exist for larger sample volumes</td></tr><tr><td>ToF-SIMS</td><td>IONTOF GmbH</td><td>ToF-SIMS IV or V, equipped with Bi LMIG and flood gun</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tweezers for handling Si wafers</td><td>any</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>ultrapure water</td><td>TKA</td><td>MicroPure 08.1202</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ultrasonicator</td><td>Bandelin</td><td>Sonorex Super</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>UV/Ozone cleaner</td><td>NanoBioAnalytics</td><td>UVC-1014</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vacuum dessicator</td><td>any</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vacuum pump (membrane/diaphragm)</td><td>Vacuubrand GmbH</td><td>Type MD-4T</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Viton O-ring 6.07 x 1.78 mm</td><td>Betech GmbH</td><td>2-010, FKM 80</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vortexer</td><td>Heathrow Scientific</td><td>Vortexer HS120212</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Wafer Holder 25mm coin style</td><td>Semiconductor Production Systems Europe</td><td>eWB0091-ASSY-1</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>XPS</td><td>Kratos</td><td>Kratos Axis Ultra DLD</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

preparation of nanoparticles for tof-sims and xps analysis

Nanoparticles have gained increasing attention in recent years due to their potential and application in different fields including medicine, cosmetics, chemistry, and their potential to enable advanced materials. To effectively understand and regulate the physico-chemical properties and potential adverse effects of nanoparticles, validated measurement procedures for the various properties of nanoparticles need to be developed. While procedures for measuring nanoparticle size and size distribution are already established, standardized methods for analysis of their surface chemistry are not yet in place, although the influence of the surface chemistry on nanoparticle properties is undisputed. In particular, storage and preparation of nanoparticles for surface analysis strongly influences the analytical results from various methods, and in order to obtain consistent results, sample preparation must be both optimized and standardized. In this contribution, we present, in detail, some standard procedures for preparing nanoparticles for surface analytics. In principle, nanoparticles can be deposited on a suitable substrate from suspension or as a powder. Silicon (Si) wafers are commonly used as substrate, however, their cleaning is critical to the process. For sample preparation from suspension, we will discuss drop-casting and spin-coating, where not only the cleanliness of the substrate and purity of the suspension but also its concentration play important roles for the success of the preparation methodology. For nanoparticles with sensitive ligand shells or coatings, deposition as powders is more suitable, although this method requires particular care in fixing the sample.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Preparation of Nanoparticles for ToF-SIMS and XPS Analysis at JoVE.com

Preparation of Nanoparticles for ToF-SIMS and XPS Analysis

A number of different procedures for preparing nanoparticles for surface analysis are presented (drop casting, spin coating, deposition from powders, and cryofixation). We discuss the challenges, opportunities, and possible applications of each method, particularly regarding the changes in the surface properties caused by the different preparation methods.

Nanoparticles have gained increasing attention in recent years due to their potential and application in different fields including medicine, cosmetics, ...

preparation-of-nanoparticles-for-tof-sims-and-xps-analysis

Research

JoVE Journal

Chemistry

7.8K Views.  Federal Institute for Material Research and Testing (BAM). A number of different procedures for preparing nanoparticles for surface analysis are presented (drop casting, spin coating, deposition from powders, and cryofixation). We discuss the challenges, opportunities, and possible applications of each method, particularly regarding the changes in the surface properties caused by the different preparation methods.

Video: Preparation of Nanoparticles for ToF-SIMS and XPS Analysis

In Situ SIMS and IR Spectroscopy of Well-defined Surfaces Prepared by Soft Landing of Mass-selected Ions

Soft landing of mass-selected ions onto surfaces is a powerful approach for the highly-controlled preparation of materials that are inaccessible using conventional synthesis techniques. Coupling soft landing with in situ characterization using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) enables analysis of well-defined surfaces under clean vacuum conditions. The capabilities of three soft-landing instruments constructed in our laboratory are illustrated for the representative system of surface-bound organometallics prepared by soft landing of mass-selected ruthenium tris(bipyridine) dications, [Ru(bpy)3]2+ (bpy = bipyridine), onto carboxylic acid terminated self-assembled monolayer surfaces on gold (COOH-SAMs). In situ time-of-flight (TOF)-SIMS provides insight into the reactivity of the soft-landed ions. In addition, the kinetics of charge reduction, neutralization and desorption occurring on the COOH-SAM both during and after ion soft landing are studied using in situ Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR)-SIMS measurements. In situ IRRAS experiments provide insight into how the structure of organic ligands surrounding metal centers is perturbed through immobilization of organometallic ions on COOH-SAM surfaces by soft landing. Collectively, the three instruments provide complementary information about the chemical composition, reactivity and structure of well-defined species supported on surfaces.

In Situ SIMS and IR Spectroscopy of Well-defined Surfaces Prepared by Soft Landing of Mass-selected Ions

Soft landing of mass-selected ions onto surfaces is a powerful approach for the highly-controlled preparation of novel materials. Coupled with analysis by in situ secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), soft landing provides unprecedented insights into the interactions of well-defined species with surfaces.

Soft landing of mass-selected ions onto surfaces is a powerful approach for the highly-controlled preparation of materials that are inaccessible using ...

Energy Dispersive X-ray Tomography for 3D Elemental Mapping of Individual Nanoparticles

Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy within the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) provides accurate elemental analysis with high spatial resolution, and is even capable of providing atomically resolved elemental maps. In this technique, a highly focused electron beam is incident upon a thin sample and the energy of emitted X-rays is measured in order to determine the atomic species of material within the beam path. This elementally sensitive spectroscopy technique can be extended to three dimensional tomographic imaging by acquiring multiple spectrum images with the sample tilted along an axis perpendicular to the electron beam direction.
Elemental distributions within single nanoparticles are often important for determining their optical, catalytic and magnetic properties. Techniques such as X-ray tomography and slice and view energy dispersive X-ray mapping in the scanning electron microscope provide elementally sensitive three dimensional imaging but are typically limited to spatial resolutions of &gt; 20 nm. Atom probe tomography provides near atomic resolution but preparing nanoparticle samples for atom probe analysis is often challenging. Thus, elementally sensitive techniques applied within the scanning transmission electron microscope are uniquely placed to study elemental distributions within nanoparticles of dimensions 10-100 nm.
Here, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy within the STEM is applied to investigate the distribution of elements in single AgAu nanoparticles. The surface segregation of both Ag and Au, at different nanoparticle compositions, has been observed.

The use of energy dispersive X-ray tomography in the scanning transmission electron microscope to characterize elemental distributions within single nanoparticles in three dimensions is described.

Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy within the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) provides accurate elemental analysis with high spatial ...

Engineering

Generation of Zerovalent Metal Core Nanoparticles Using n-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminosilanetriol

In this work, a facile one-pot reaction for the formation of metal nanoparticles in a water solution through the use of n-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminosilanetriol is presented. This compound can be used to effectively reduce and complex metal salts into metal core nanoparticles coated with the compound. By controlling the concentrations of salt and silane one is able to control reaction rates, particle size, and nanoparticle coating. The effects of these changes were characterized through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis spectrometry (UV-Vis), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A unique aspect to this reaction is that usually silanes hydrolyze and cross-link in water; however, in this system the silane is water-soluble and stable. It is known that silicon and amino moieties can form complexes with metal salts. The silicon is known to extend its coordination sphere to form penta- or hexa-coordinated species. Furthermore, the silanol group can undergo hydrolysis to form a Si-O-Si silica network, thereby transforming the metal nanoparticles into a functionalized nanocomposites.

Generation of Zerovalent Metal Core Nanoparticles Using n-2-aminoethyl-3-aminosilanetriol

A novel method for metal core nanoparticle synthesis using a water stable silanol is described.

In this work, a facile one-pot reaction for the formation of metal nanoparticles in a water solution through the use of ...

In Situ Characterization of Hydrated Proteins in Water by SALVI and ToF-SIMS

This work demonstrates in situ characterization of protein biomolecules in the aqueous solution using the System for Analysis at the Liquid Vacuum Interface (SALVI) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). The fibronectin protein film was immobilized on the silicon nitride (SiN) membrane that forms the SALVI detection area. During ToF-SIMS analysis, three modes of analysis were conducted including high spatial resolution mass spectrometry, two-dimensional (2D) imaging, and depth profiling. Mass spectra were acquired in both positive and negative modes. Deionized water was also analyzed as a reference sample. Our results show that the fibronectin film in water has more distinct and stronger water cluster peaks compared to water alone. Characteristic peaks of amino acid fragments are also observable in the hydrated protein ToF-SIMS spectra. These results illustrate that protein molecule adsorption on a surface can be studied dynamically using SALVI and ToF-SIMS in the liquid environment for the first time.

In Situ Characterization of Hydrated Proteins in Water by SALVI and ToF-SIMS

This work presents a protocol for liquid handling and sample introduction to a microchannel for in situ time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis of protein biomolecules in an aqueous solution.

This work demonstrates in situ characterization of protein biomolecules in the aqueous solution using the System for Analysis at the Liquid Vacuum ...

Multifunctional Hybrid Fe2O3-Au Nanoparticles for Efficient Plasmonic Heating

One of the most widely used methods for manufacturing colloidal gold nanospherical particles involves the reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) to neutral gold Au(0) by reducing agents, such as sodium citrate or sodium borohydride. The extension of this method to decorate iron oxide or similar nanoparticles with gold nanoparticles to create multifunctional hybrid Fe2O3-Au nanoparticles is straightforward. This approach yields fairly good control over Au nanoparticle dimensions and loading onto Fe2O3. Additionally, the Au metal size, shape, and loading can easily be tuned by changing experimental parameters (e.g., reactant concentrations, reducing agents, surfactants, etc.). An advantage of this procedure is that the reaction can be done in air or water, and, in principle, is amenable to scaling up. The use of such optically tunable Fe2O3-Au nanoparticles for hyperthermia studies is an attractive option as it capitalizes on plasmonic heating of gold nanoparticles tuned to absorb light strongly in the VIS-NIR region. In addition to its plasmonic effects, nanoscale Au provides a unique surface for interesting chemistries and catalysis. The Fe2O3 material provides additional functionality due to its magnetic property. For example, an external magnetic field could be used to collect and recycle the hybrid Fe2O3-Au nanoparticles after a catalytic experiment, or alternatively, the magnetic Fe2O3 can be used for hyperthermia studies through magnetic heat induction. The photothermal experiment described in this report measures bulk temperature change and nanoparticle solution mass loss as functions of time using infrared thermocouples and a balance, respectively. The ease of sample preparation and the use of readily available equipment are distinct advantages of this technique. A caveat is that these photothermal measurements assess the bulk solution temperature and not the surface of the nanoparticle where the heat is transduced and the temperature is likely to be higher.

Multifunctional Hybrid Fe2O3-Au Nanoparticles for Efficient Plasmonic Heating

We describe the synthesis and properties of multifunctional Fe2O3-Au nanoparticles produced by a wet chemical approach and investigate their photothermal properties using laser irradiation. The composite Fe2O3-Au nanoparticles retain the properties of both materials, creating a multifunctional structure with excellent magnetic and plasmonic properties.

One of the most widely used methods for manufacturing colloidal gold nanospherical particles involves the reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) to ...

Synthesis of Ligand-free CdS Nanoparticles within a Sulfur Copolymer Matrix

Aliphatic ligands are typically used during the synthesis of nanoparticles to help mediate their growth in addition to operating as high-temperature solvents. These coordinating ligands help solubilize and stabilize the nanoparticles while in solution, and can influence the resulting size and reactivity of the nanoparticles during their formation. Despite the ubiquity of using ligands during synthesis, the presence of aliphatic ligands on the nanoparticle surface can result in a number of problems during the end use of the nanoparticles, necessitating further ligand stripping or ligand exchange procedures. We have developed a way to synthesize cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles using a unique sulfur copolymer. This sulfur copolymer is primarily composed of elemental sulfur, which is a cheap and abundant material. The sulfur copolymer has the advantages of operating both as a high temperature solvent and as a sulfur source, which can react with a cadmium precursor during nanoparticle synthesis, resulting in the generation of ligand free CdS. During the reaction, only some of the copolymer is consumed to produce CdS, while the rest remains in the polymeric state, thereby producing a nanocomposite material. Once the reaction is finished, the copolymer stabilizes the nanoparticles within a solid polymeric matrix. The copolymer can then be removed before the nanoparticles are used, which produces nanoparticles that do not have organic coordinating ligands. This nascent synthesis technique presents a method to produce metal-sulfide nanoparticles for a wide variety of applications where the presence of organic ligands is not desired.

Herein we present a method to synthesize ligand-free cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles based on a unique sulfur copolymer. The sulfur copolymer operates as a high temperature solvent and a sulfur source during the nanoparticle synthesis and stabilizes the nanoparticles after the reaction.

Aliphatic ligands are typically used during the synthesis of nanoparticles to help mediate their growth in addition to operating as high-temperature ...

The Evolution of Silica Nanoparticle-polyester Coatings on Surfaces Exposed to Sunlight

Corrosion of metallic surfaces is prevalent in the environment and is of great concern in many areas, including the military, transport, aviation, building and food industries, amongst others. Polyester and coatings containing both polyester and silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) have been widely used to protect steel substrata from corrosion. In this study, we utilized X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection infrared micro-spectroscopy, water contact angle measurements, optical profiling and atomic force microscopy to provide an insight into how exposure to sunlight can cause changes in the micro- and nanoscale integrity of the coatings. No significant change in surface micro-topography was detected using optical profilometry, however, statistically significant nanoscale changes to the surface were detected using atomic force microscopy. Analysis of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection infrared micro-spectroscopy data revealed that degradation of the ester groups had occurred through exposure to ultraviolet light to form COO&#903;, -H2C&#903;, -O&#903;, -CO&#903; radicals. During the degradation process, CO and CO2 were also produced.

Two types of surfaces, polyester-coated steel and polyester coated with a layer of silica nanoparticles, were studied. Both surfaces were exposed to sunlight, which was found to cause substantial changes in the chemistry and nanoscale topography of the surface.

Corrosion of metallic surfaces is prevalent in the environment and is of great concern in many areas, including the military, transport, aviation, ...

In Situ Detection and Single Cell Quantification of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Using Nuclear Microprobe Analysis

Micro-analytical techniques based on chemical element imaging enable the localization and quantification of chemical composition at the cellular level. They offer new possibilities for the characterization of living systems and are particularly appropriate for detecting, localizing and quantifying the presence of metal oxide nanoparticles both in biological specimens and the environment. Indeed, these techniques all meet relevant requirements in terms of (i) sensitivity (from 1 up to 10 &#181;g.g-1 of dry mass), (ii) micrometer range spatial resolution, and (iii) multi-element detection. Given these characteristics, microbeam chemical element imaging can powerfully complement routine imaging techniques such as optical and fluorescence microscopy. This protocol describes how to perform a nuclear microprobe analysis on cultured cells (U2OS) exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Cells must grow on and be exposed directly in a specially designed sample holder used on the optical microscope and in the nuclear microprobe analysis stages. Plunge-freeze cryogenic fixation of the samples preserves both the cellular organization and the chemical element distribution. Simultaneous nuclear microprobe analysis (scanning transmission ion microscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and particle induced X-ray emission) performed on the sample provides information about the cellular density, the local distribution of the chemical elements, as well as the cellular content of nanoparticles. There is a growing need for such analytical tools within biology, especially in the emerging context of Nanotoxicology and Nanomedicine for which our comprehension of the interactions between nanoparticles and biological samples must be deepened. In particular, as nuclear microprobe analysis does not require nanoparticles to be labelled, nanoparticle abundances are quantifiable down to the individual cell level in a cell population, independently of their surface state.

In Situ Detection and Single Cell Quantification of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Using Nuclear Microprobe Analysis

We describe a procedure for the detection of chemical elements present in situ in human cells as well as their in vitro quantification. The method is well-suited to any cell type and is particularly useful for quantitative chemical analyses in single cells following in vitro metal oxide nanoparticles exposure.

Micro-analytical techniques based on chemical element imaging enable the localization and quantification of chemical composition at the cellular level. ...

A Continuous-flow Photocatalytic Reactor for the Precisely Controlled Deposition of Metallic Nanoparticles

In this work, a novel photocatalytic reactor for the pulsed and controlled excitation of the photocatalyst and the precise deposition of metallic nanoparticles is developed. Guidelines for the replication of the reactor and its operation are provided in detail. Three different composite systems (Pt/graphene, Pt/TiO2, and Au/TiO2) with monodisperse and uniformly distributed particles are produced by this reactor, and the photodeposition mechanism, as well as the synthesis optimization strategy, are discussed. The synthesis methods and their technical aspects are described comprehensively. The role of the ultraviolet (UV) dose (in each excitation pulse) on the photodeposition process is investigated and the optimum values for each composite system are provided.

For a continuous and scalable synthesis of noble-metal-based nanocomposites, a novel photocatalytic reactor is developed and its structure, operation principles, and product quality optimization strategies are described.

In this work, a novel photocatalytic reactor for the pulsed and controlled excitation of the photocatalyst and the precise deposition of metallic ...

Imaging Corrosion at the Metal-Paint Interface Using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Corrosion developed at the paint and aluminum (Al) metal-paint interface of an aluminum alloy is analyzed using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), illustrating that SIMS is a suitable technique to study the chemical distribution at a metal-paint interface. The painted Al alloy coupons are immersed in a salt solution or exposed to air only. SIMS provides chemical mapping and 2D molecular imaging of the interface, allowing direct visualization of the morphology of the corrosion products formed at the metal-paint interface and mapping of the chemical after corrosion occurs. The experimental procedure of this method is presented to provide technical details to facilitate similar research and highlight pitfalls that may be encountered during such experiments.

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry is applied to demonstrate the chemical mapping and corrosion morphology at the metal-paint interface of an aluminum alloy after being exposed to a salt solution compared with a specimen exposed to air.

Preparation of Nanoparticles for ToF-SIMS and XPS Analysis

Summary

Explore More Videos

Chapters in this video

In Situ SIMS and IR Spectroscopy of Well-defined Surfaces Prepared by Soft Landing of Mass-selected Ions

Energy Dispersive X-ray Tomography for 3D Elemental Mapping of Individual Nanoparticles

Generation of Zerovalent Metal Core Nanoparticles Using n-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminosilanetriol

In Situ Characterization of Hydrated Proteins in Water by SALVI and ToF-SIMS

Multifunctional Hybrid Fe₂O₃-Au Nanoparticles for Efficient Plasmonic Heating

Synthesis of Ligand-free CdS Nanoparticles within a Sulfur Copolymer Matrix

The Evolution of Silica Nanoparticle-polyester Coatings on Surfaces Exposed to Sunlight

In Situ Detection and Single Cell Quantification of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Using Nuclear Microprobe Analysis

A Continuous-flow Photocatalytic Reactor for the Precisely Controlled Deposition of Metallic Nanoparticles

Imaging Corrosion at the Metal-Paint Interface Using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry