Characterization of nanometer tungsten powders

Three types of tungsten powders were prepared by hydrogen reduction of three precursor powders at low temperature, which were used as samples, and were then characterized by Brunauer-Emmer-Teller (BET) method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) respectively. The results showed that although BET and SEM could not characterize the particle size of nanometer powders, they were important means of assistance to exclude non-nanometer powders. TEM and FESEM could directly measure the particle size of nanometer powders, but this needs a lot of time, to count the average particle size and particle size distribution. SAXS could not describe the state of agglomeration. By the combination of FESEM and SAXS, the particle size, particle size distribution, and particle shape of nanometer powders could be precisely characterized.