The lack of automatic software to measure the dimensions of nanomaterials captured in digital images is a major issue in nanomanufacturing, as this measurement process is both subjective and labor intensive.
However, these images are critical to assure quality. NanoMet provides a solution - automatically running the images captured during the manufacturing process and reporting the quality of the nanomaterials being produced.
Key Features and Advantages
- Enables the maximum number of measurements
- Image processing can be done within seconds
- Can be operated by entry level experience
- True, objective quality assurance
- Shorter time to market
Applications
- Dimensional analysis – Wire and particle morphologies from electron microscopy images, generation of full report with statistics, annotated figures and histograms.
- Scanning electron microscopy - imaging mode optimization, EDS.
- Transmission electron microscopy - hi-res, EELS, EDS, electron diffraction.
- Magnetic characterization - SQUID & VSM, temperature and field dependence.
- X-ray diffraction - powders, metric cell refinement and phase ID with internal standards.
- Raman spectroscopy - raw and normalized spectra, peak ID and structural correlation analysis.
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy - full spectra, elemental ID.
- Atomic and magnetic force microscopy - full suite capabilities.
- Transport properties – resistance, heat capacity, temperature and field dependence
Why NanoMet is Superior to Manual Analysis
It takes 11 hours in total for a manual analysis. The time breakup for each action is as follows:
- Two Hours: Assigning numbers individually to each object
- One Hour: Inputting assignments to spreadsheet
- Four Hours: Measuring the diameter of each object once
- Four Hours: Measuring the length of each object once
- Two Hours: Inputting lengths and diameters to spreadsheet
- Two Hours: The time required for statistical analysis
The results are Subjective
This lack of quality control is affecting the flow of nanomaterials and compromising key factors at each stage; post production in particular. The process is not only inconsistent, but is also time intensive.
Example of NanoMet as the Solution
To complete the determination and measurement of the length and diameter of all nanowires recorded in an image, inputting the results to spreadsheet, and performing the statistical analysis to generate a formatted report. Manual analysis requires 11 hours whereas NanoMet analysis takes only 7 minutes:
- Loading images to NanoMet takes 1 minute
- Pressing “G” button takes less than 1 minute
- Verifying thin report takes 5 minutes
- Exporting the entire report with object assignments, statistical analysis and multiple measurements takes seconds