Characterization of nanoparticles through medium-energy ion scattering

Abstract

In this work we review the use of the medium-energy ion scattering (MEIS) technique to characterize nanostructures at the surface of a substrate. We discuss here how the determination of shape and size distribution of the nanoparticles is influenced by the energy loss at the backscattering collision, which leads to an asymmetrical energy-loss line shape. We show that the use of a Gaussian line shape may lead to important misinterpretations of a MEIS spectrum for nanoparticles smaller than 5 nm. The results are compared to measurements of gold nanoparticles adsorbed on a multilayered film of weak polyelectrolyte.