In this data sheet it is demonstrated that SAXS measurements performed on our multipurpose XRD platforms allow to easily determine particle size distributions and specific surface areas of colloidal quantum dots and to probe for the presence of aggregates.
SAXS measurements on dilute dispersions of CdS quantum dots in toluene were performed on the Empyrean multipurpose XRD platform. A good data quality could be obtained, which allowed a consistent data analysis with the EasySAXS software to determine the size distribution and the specific surface area of the nanoparticles.
Semiconductor nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots, have peculiar optical and electronic properties that strongly depend on the size and shape of the particles. At particle sizes below 10 nm the band gap increases with decreasing size (quantum confinement effect). Colloidal synthesis of quantum dots allows to tune the particle size so as to achieve the desired property. Quantum dots are of high