Trends in high spatial high spectral resolution material characterization

摘要

Morphological and spectral properties of surfaces and interfaces are often closely related at small spatial scales. In the case of nanomaterials, such as those currently used in medicine, electronics, aeronautics, automotives, and energy an understanding of the physical properties is required often at the scale of these novel materials. These circumstances have driven the development of new analytical tools. Given the very small dimensions, concentrations, quantities, densities etc., a key challenge is the quantitative characterization of these engineered or natural, chemical or biological materials within the composite material or biological system. Two fundamental properties of interest – location and identification – demand high spatial resolution (both surface and subsurface) and chemical speciation. While high resolution may benefit from scanning probe microscopy technologies, chemical speciation may be realized through spectroscopy. In this paper we discuss some potential approaches to achieving high spatial and high spectral material characterization. State-of-the-art near-field and remote-standoff instrumentation for diverse applications in biofuel production, nanotoxicology, plasmon nano-devices, food quality control, and chemical threat agent detection are discussed.