Dynamic Light Scattering

(Malvern Nano ZS) August 2010

Start-up
Turn on the equipment power q p p Open the software Zetasizer Wait for up to 2-5 min. The light on the top button will turn red into green Create your measurement data file: open File New Measurement File and name a new file File, or open your existing data file: open File open Measurement File, and select your data file

Loading S di Sample l
Size Measurement: add the sample solution iinto DTS0012 cell with a h i ht b t t ll ith height between 10 10mm and 15mm (refer to the diagram on the q p ) backside of equipment lid), and insert the cuvette into sample holder Zeta Potential Measurement: use a syringe to y g inject the sample solution into DTS1060C cell (refer to the instruction right) and put on the two plugs. plugs Inset the cell into sample holder with the assembly panel of the cell as the front side.

Fill the 1st half

Fill the 2nd half

Front panel

Creating Method C i M h d
Open File New SOP Click on Measurement type to select the right measurement type: size, zeta potential, etc. N Name the sample th l Click on Material and define material type Click on Dispersant and define dispersant type Dispersant Click on temperature and set up measurement temperature Click on Cell and define sample cell (select DTS0012 for size Cell measurement; DTS1060C for zeta potential) Click on Export and set up data export file (select Frequency Distribution template, and d fi export fil t l t d define t filename and path) d th)

Running Measurement R i M
Run SOP: open Measure Start SOP, select your SOP, Main window and name the sample Press Start and wait until finished Close measurement window
Multi-view

Viewing D Vi i Data
Size Measurement (under size category): Select Intensity PSD, Volume PSD Si S l t I t it PSD V l PSD, Size quality report and Expert Advice to view the q y data and evaluate the data quality. For bimodel samples, Z-Average is not useful information. Zeta Potential Measurement (under zeta category): Select Zeta Potential, Zeta quality report and Expert Advice to view the data and evaluate the data quality

Viewing D Vi i Data
Size Measurement (under size category): Make sure the unit of Z-Ave is d.nm (diameter) rather than r.nm (radius). To change it, click on the Z-Ave tab, and select d.nm.

Editing Data Edi i D

To change the material, dispersant and data processing setting after collecting data, highlight data in Records View, right click and select Edit Results.

Exporting Data
Option 1: raw data o Select the category of NRF NRF o Highlight data that will be exported in Record View

Exporting Data
Option 1: raw data o Click on the Raw Data (NRF) tab Raw (NRF) o Open Edit Copy Size Statistics Table to copy the raw data o Paste the raw data to EXCEL or ORIGIN to plot a curve p

Exporting Data
Get number-based PSD data o Default raw data are in intensity-based format intensity based o Right click on the table o Select Number for number-based PSD

Exporting Data
Option 2: graphic Open another application such as Excel, drag and drop a graph or table into the application by holding the Ctrl key

Shut-down
Close the software Zetasizer Take off the sample, and clean the cells with DI water Turn off the power of equipment