What are the standards for characterizing nanomaterials in Materials Science?

Nanomaterials are materials with at least one dimension in the nanoscale range, typically between 1 and 100 nanometers. They have unique properties and applications in various fields of Materials Science, such as electronics, biomedicine, energy, and catalysis. However, nanomaterials also pose challenges for characterization, as they require specialized techniques and protocols to measure their size, shape, surface, composition, and functionality. In this article, you will learn about the standards for characterizing nanomaterials in Materials Science, and why they are important for ensuring quality, safety, and reliability.

1 Why standards?

Standards are agreed-upon rules or guidelines that define the methods, criteria, and terminology for a specific activity or product. They help to ensure consistency, accuracy, and comparability among different measurements, tests, or evaluations. Standards are especially important for characterizing nanomaterials, as they can reduce the uncertainty and variability that arise from different instruments, operators, or conditions. Standards can also facilitate the communication and exchange of information among researchers, manufacturers, regulators, and consumers of nanomaterials.

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Ali Raza Shaikh

Mechanical Engineer || Academic Researcher || Fluid Mechanist || Materials Scientist || Experimentalist || MSCA ITN Fellow || EU Researcher || Dr.-Ing. Candidate
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Standards are vital in materials science for consistency, reproducibility, and international collaboration. They ensure uniformity in research practices, fostering reliable results and facilitating interoperability. By setting benchmarks for quality and safety, standards enhance innovation while meeting regulatory requirements. In fields like nanotechnology, where risks are prominent, adherence to standards helps manage potential hazards. Moreover, standardized methods instill consumer confidence in commercial products and contribute to efficiency, cost savings, and ethical research practices. Overall, standards play a pivotal role in advancing knowledge, ensuring quality, and promoting responsible applications of emerging technologies.

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2 Types of standards

In Materials Science, there are different types of standards for characterizing nanomaterials, which vary in terms of the level of detail, authority, and scope. Technical specifications are documents that provide detailed descriptions of the characteristics, performance, or quality of a nanomaterial or product and can be used as references or benchmarks for comparison or evaluation. Test methods are procedures that describe how to measure, analyze, or evaluate a nanomaterial or product; they can specify the equipment, conditions, parameters, and calculations to be used. Terminology refers to definitions of terms related to nanomaterials or nanotechnology which help to avoid confusion or ambiguity among different users or disciplines. Data formats are conventions or rules for organizing, storing, or sharing the data obtained from characterizing nanomaterials; they enable interoperability and compatibility among different platforms or systems.

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Ali Raza Shaikh

Mechanical Engineer || Academic Researcher || Fluid Mechanist || Materials Scientist || Experimentalist || MSCA ITN Fellow || EU Researcher || Dr.-Ing. Candidate
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Standards come in various types, serving different purposes across industries. Here are some common types of standards: International Standards (ISO): Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), these standards are globally recognized and provide a common language for international trade and collaboration. National Standards: Each country may have its own set of standards, developed by national standardization bodies. For example, ANSI standards in the United States. Industry Standards: Developed within specific industries to address their unique needs. Examples include ASTM standards for materials and testing. Regional Standards: Applied within a specific geographic region and may encompass multiple countries.

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3 Sources of standards

Standards for characterizing nanomaterials in Materials Science can come from a variety of sources, such as international organizations like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), or national organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States. Professional associations, like the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), also develop and publish standards that are relevant to a field or domain. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the British Standards Institution (BSI), and the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) are other examples of organizations that create standards that are recognized and adopted by multiple countries or regions. Finally, the Materials Research Society (MRS) is a group or network of experts or practitioners that develop standards in their field.

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4 Examples of standards

Characterizing nanomaterials in Materials Science requires the use of various standards, such as ISO/TS 80004, which defines terms and concepts related to nanomaterials and nanotechnology. ISO/TS 10797 is a technical specification for measuring the size and size distribution of nanoparticles in liquid suspensions using dynamic light scattering. ISO/TS 11931 is a technical specification for measuring the surface area of nanoparticles by gas adsorption. ASTM E2834 is a test method for measuring the electrical conductivity of nanomaterials by four-point probe. Additionally, IEC 62607 is a series of test methods for measuring properties and performance of nanomaterials and nanodevices for electronic applications.

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5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Tetiana Parker

PhD Candidate at Drexel Nanomaterials Institute
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Standards are important first of all since we want to avoid unintentional/intentional misleading statements. For established materials and methods there are well known ISOs. If the branch field is new or not well established you can search for reliable Guideline Papers. Sometimes information/properties/nature of material may be misunderstood, and the standards/guidelines help us to avoid that. For example synthesis root should be easy to repeat under any given conditions. Material nature should be easy to confirm with multiple characterization techniques. New discovery should never be claimed without multiple supporting evidence factors. Otherwise you must be very skeptical about the claim.

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What are the standards for characterizing nanomaterials in Materials Science?

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1 Why standards?

2 Types of standards

3 Sources of standards

4 Examples of standards

5 Here’s what else to consider

Materials Science

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