Apr 13 2006
Malvern Instruments has donated a Zetasizer Nano particle characterization system to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to support graduate and undergraduate Chemistry studies being carried out in the Department of Chemistry.
Professors Avnir and Magdassi received the Zetasizer Nano from Malvern’s Distributor Sales Manager, Stuart Wakefield at a presentation held in February. The presentation was attended by members of the Institute of Chemistry, the Director of Chemistry studies, and the Dean of the Faculty of Science.
The new instrument will be used mainly in the course "Advanced Materials", led by Professors David Avnir and Shlomo Magdassi . The course focuses on preparation and characterization of materials, such as polymeric nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles, photolithography, micelles, emulsions and sol-gel processes.
Professors Avnir's and Magdassi’s, research interests include: Sol-Gel processes, Silica particles, formation of nanoparticles, investigation of colloidal systems and the applications of new colloids in industrial products; and formulation chemistry. They also plays a key role in the Nano Functional Materials (NFM) Consortium, a consortium of 13 commercial companies and 12 academic research groups in Israel. The consortium is successfully developing new ways to fabricate and use nanoparticles in industrial processes and products.
Malvern’s Zetasizer Nano simplifies the measurement of particle size, stability characterization using zeta potential, and molecular weight, for a wide range of dispersions, emulsions and molecules in solution. The technology built into the system provides the sensitivity required for measurements of highly dilute proteins and polymers, as well as the ability to measure inks, pigments and emulsions at high concentrations. It is the method of choice for nano-particle applications from routine colloid size measurements to the investigation of particulates at the leading edge of materials research. Patented technologies ensure optimum performance for particle size measurement over the range 0.6 to 6000 nm, molecular weight measurement from 1 x 103 to 2 x 107 Daltons and the zeta potential of particles from 5 nm to 10 µm.