Liquid chromatography used to size-separate the amphiphilic-molecules stabilized nano-particles of CdS in the 1-10nm range.

The making of nano-particles in the 1-10nm range in micro-emulsions, the su rface coating of these by the amphiphilic-molecules in the same microemulsi on and the subsequent treatment of the oil-phase based particles in the liq uid chromatography (HPLC) is the focus of this work. A HPLC column,with Sil ica (5 mu m diameter, 120 Angstrom pare size) with C-18 (ODS) bonded phase was used. Toluene is used as the mobile phase. The CdS nanoparticles in the mobile phase were continuously monitored by ultra-violet spectroscopy The CdS products were collected at different time intervals. For a relatively c oarse feed, in 5.7nm range, a rich product,vith a sharp size distribution c an be obtained. High resolution transmission electron micrograph shows that the product is well crystallized. The eluted products from the HPLC were t reated separately in a Size Exclusion Chromatography. Elution times for siz e-exclusion-chromatography show that the different HPLC products come out i n different time intervals suggesting the possibility of nanoparticle size separation by this method. (C) 1999 Acta Metallurgica Inc.