You can run nanoparticles in organic solvents on the DCS. Some considerations for this are below.
Firstly, you will need to build a gradient inside the disc using the same organic solvent that your nanoparticles are in, plus a second solvent of higher viscosity to make the gradient. We usually recommend Halocarbon 1.8 for this.
The following information applies to use of hexane but can be used with other organic solvents as well.
Gradient and Fluid Parameters
LO – 95% Hexane + 5% Halocarbon 1.8 (w/w)
HI – 85% Hexane + 15% Halocarbon 1.8 (w/w)
Make up the fluid gradient following the attached sheet (nine separate manual injections of different volumes of the LO & HI fluids in the disc). The fluid parameters can be calculated using the attached Excel spreadsheet.
Fluid density = 0.823g/ml
Refractive index = 1.424
Viscosity = ~1cps (use viscosity of base solvent e.g. hexane in this case)
Calibration Parameters
You shall need a calibration standard of particles of a known size and narrow size distribution dispersed in hexane. You could freeze dry a small sample of PVC (evaporate off the water) and re-disperse the dry particles in hexane. Alternatively you can source a particle standard of known size to disperse in hexane. Silica particles are very well suited for this. Finally, you can also buy a diamond calibration standard from us if you send us the neat hexane solvent (100ml); we would disperse diamond particles (516nm; density 3.51) in the neat solvent.
Analytik can supply HaloCarbon 1.8 and Diamond calibration standards (dispersed in your solvent as described above). I can quote for either of these if needed.cps WITH ORGANIC SOLVENTS