Monodispersiteetti

Monodispersiteetti refers to a state where all particles in a sample are of uniform size. In contrast, polydispersity describes a sample containing particles of various sizes. The concept of monodispersity is particularly important in fields such as colloid science, materials science, and nanotechnology, where particle size directly influences physical and chemical properties.

A monodisperse sample exhibits predictable behavior because the surface area and volume of each particle are essentially the same. This uniformity allows for more controlled interactions, such as aggregation, dissolution rates, and optical properties. For example, in the synthesis of nanoparticles, achieving monodispersity is often a key goal to ensure consistent performance in applications like catalysts, drug delivery systems, and electronic components.

Methods to achieve and verify monodispersity include carefully controlled synthesis techniques, such as controlled precipitation or emulsion polymerization, and characterization methods like dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), or scanning electron microscopy (SEM). While perfectly monodisperse samples are an ideal, in practice, samples are considered monodisperse if the size distribution is narrow enough for their intended application. The degree of monodispersity is often quantified by a polydispersity index (PDI), where a lower PDI indicates a higher degree of monodispersity.