Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Photoinduced Force Microscopy as an Efficient Method Towards the Detection of Nanoplastics

Researchers demonstrated photoinduced force microscopy as an effective method for detecting and chemically characterizing individual nanoplastic particles, overcoming limitations of conventional techniques that lack either sufficient spatial resolution or spectroscopic capability at the nanoscale.

2021 Chemistry - Methods 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Single particle-resolution fluorescence microscopy of nanoplastics

Researchers developed a fluorescence microscopy technique capable of imaging and identifying individual nanoplastic particles. The method enables single-particle resolution detection of nanoplastics, which is a key step toward better quantifying these otherwise invisible particles in environmental samples.

2020 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Spectro‐Microscopic Techniques for Studying Nanoplastics in the Environment and in Organisms

This review examines spectro-microscopic techniques for detecting and characterizing nanoplastics (under 1 um) in environmental and biological matrices, arguing that effective analysis requires combining particle imaging with chemical characterization of the same particles, and highlighting methods capable of simultaneous morphological and chemical identification.

2022 Angewandte Chemie 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Overcoming resolution limitations: Spectroscopy of sub-30 nm nanoplastics

Researchers developed a multi-technique approach combining standard micro-Raman spectroscopy with atomic force microscopy to characterize nanoplastics as small as 25 nm, achieving a mass detection limit of 8.6 attograms and demonstrating the capability to obtain single-particle spectra from sub-30 nm polystyrene nanoparticles.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Overcoming resolution limitations: Spectroscopy of sub-30 nm nanoplastics

Researchers developed a multi-technique approach combining standard micro-Raman spectroscopy with atomic force microscopy to characterize nanoplastics as small as 25 nm, achieving a mass detection limit of 8.6 attograms and demonstrating the capability to obtain single-particle spectra from sub-30 nm polystyrene nanoparticles.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Imaging and identification of single nanoplastic particles and agglomerates

Scientists used a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique to detect and identify individual nanoplastic particles as small as 100 nanometers, a size range that has been extremely difficult to measure with existing methods. The approach can distinguish between single particles and clumps, and works significantly faster than previous imaging techniques. The study represents a meaningful advance in nanoplastic detection that could help researchers better understand the true extent of nanoplastic pollution.

2023 Scientific Reports 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Single-Particle Resolution Fluorescence Microscopy of Nanoplastics

Researchers developed a super-resolution fluorescence microscopy technique that enables single-particle detection and precise localization of nanoplastics in biological tissues and environmental samples. This advancement addresses a major limitation in nanoplastic research, as conventional microscopy lacks the resolution to distinguish individual nanoplastics from background fluorescence or free dye.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Sub-10 nm Nanoparticle Detection Using Multi-Technique-Based Micro-Raman Spectroscopy

Researchers combined standard micro-Raman spectroscopy with atomic force microscopy to detect individual nanoparticles as small as 9 nm — a size range that until now required far more complex and time-consuming instruments. This advance matters for microplastic research because plastics continuously fragment into nanoplastics, and having accessible tools to characterise these ultra-small particles is essential for understanding their environmental distribution and biological uptake.

2023 Polymers 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Fast detection and 3D imaging of nanoplastics and microplastics by stimulated Raman scattering microscopy

Researchers developed a fast imaging technique using stimulated Raman scattering microscopy to detect and create 3D maps of nanoplastics and microplastics at the single-particle level. The method can identify plastic particles as small as 100 nanometers and distinguish between different polymer types without the need for dyes or labels. This technology could help scientists more accurately track tiny plastic particles in environmental and biological samples.

2023 Cell Reports Physical Science 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and visualisation of microplastics/nanoplastics by Raman imaging (i): Down to 100 nm

Researchers developed an advanced Raman imaging technique capable of identifying and visualizing nanoplastics down to 100 nanometers in size. The study addressed a key analytical gap, as nanoplastic research has been limited by the lack of effective characterization methods, and the new approach offers a way to detect these extremely small particles that may pose greater environmental risks due to their high surface area.

2020 Water Research 292 citations
Article Tier 2

Super-resolution Raman imaging towards visualisation of nanoplastics

Super-resolution Raman imaging was evaluated as a method to visualize nanoplastics smaller than the conventional diffraction-limited laser spot size, overcoming a key barrier in nanoplastic characterization. The technique extends confocal Raman capabilities into the nanoscale detection range needed for environmental nanoplastic analysis.

2023 Analytical Methods 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Separation and Identification of Nanoplastics via a Two-Phase System Combined with Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Researchers developed a new method for detecting nanoplastics at extremely low concentrations by combining silver nanoparticle films with a specialized light-scattering technique. The approach could identify polystyrene and PET nanoplastics at trace levels, offering a promising tool for monitoring plastic pollution that is too small for conventional detection methods.

2024 ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Direct Nanoplastics Detection Below the Diffraction Limit Using Micro Raman

Researchers demonstrated that micro-Raman spectroscopy can directly detect polystyrene nanoplastic particles as small as 20 nm — far below the normal diffraction limit. This advances analytical capabilities for detecting the smallest nanoplastic particles in environmental samples.

2023
Article Tier 2

Correlative SEM-Raman microscopy to reveal nanoplastics in complex environments

Researchers developed a correlative approach combining scanning electron microscopy and Raman microscopy to detect and identify nanoplastics as small as 100 nanometers in complex environmental samples. The method was tested on various matrices and successfully identified individual plastic nanoparticles that would be missed by conventional techniques. The study represents a significant advance in analytical capability for studying the smallest and most challenging size fraction of plastic pollution.

2021 Micron 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of microplastics and nanoplastics: Are Raman tweezers and enhanced Raman methods the solution for sub 20 μm particles?

Raman tweezers — devices that use a laser beam to trap and analyze individual particles — combined with plasmonic enhancement techniques can detect and characterize nanoplastics and microplastics smaller than 20 µm, a size range that defeats most conventional filtration-based detection methods. Improving detection sensitivity for the smallest plastic particles is critical because nanoplastics are thought to be the most biologically active fraction, capable of crossing cell membranes and accumulating in tissues.

2024 EPJ Web of Conferences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of Sub-Micro- and Nanoplastic Particles on Gold Nanoparticle-Based Substrates through Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Spectroscopy

Gold nanoparticle-based SERS substrates were used to detect sub-micro and nanoplastic particles including polystyrene, PET, and PVC, demonstrating that this technique can identify plastic particles below the size threshold of conventional Raman microscopy.

2021 Nanomaterials 96 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and visualisation of microplastics/ nanoplastics by Raman imaging (ii): Smaller than the diffraction limit of laser?

Researchers examined whether confocal Raman microscopy can identify and visualize nanoplastics smaller than the diffraction limit of the laser, analyzing the lateral intensity distribution of Raman signals from nanoplastics ranging from approximately 30 to 600 nm in diameter. The study found that while imaging resolution is limited by diffraction, chemical identification of sub-diffraction-limit nanoplastics remains possible.

2020 Water Research 112 citations
Article Tier 2

Super-resolution imaging of micro- and nanoplastics using confocal Raman with Gaussian surface fitting and deconvolution

Researchers used confocal Raman imaging with Gaussian surface fitting to achieve super-resolution visualization of micro- and nanoplastics beyond the optical diffraction limit, enabling identification and imaging of nanoplastic particles smaller than conventional Raman microscopy can resolve.

2023 Talanta 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics prepared with uniformly distributed metal-tags: a novel approach to quantify size distribution and particle number concentration of polydisperse nanoplastics by single particle ICP-MS

Researchers developed a new method for creating nanoplastic test particles with embedded metal tags, allowing scientists to precisely measure the size and number of nanoplastics using single-particle mass spectrometry. The particles have realistic irregular shapes and varied sizes, unlike the uniform spheres typically used in lab studies. This tool will help researchers more accurately study how nanoplastics behave in environmental and health experiments.

2023 Environmental Science Nano 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Automatic Identification of Individual Nanoplastics by Raman Spectroscopy Based on Machine Learning

Researchers combined highly reflective substrates with machine learning to accurately identify individual nanoplastic particles using Raman spectroscopy, a technique that traditionally struggles with particles this small. Their approach achieved over 97 percent accuracy in distinguishing between different types of nanoplastics including polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyethylene. The method represents a significant advance in the ability to detect and monitor nanoplastic pollution at the individual particle level.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 107 citations
Article Tier 2

Physicochemical characterization and quantification of nanoplastics: applicability, limitations and complementarity of batch and fractionation methods

Researchers evaluated a suite of techniques for measuring the size, shape, and chemical makeup of nanoplastics — plastic particles smaller than 1 micrometer — and found that no single method works for all sample types, especially when particles vary in size or clump together. Combining multiple complementary techniques is essential for reliable nanoplastic characterization, particularly in complex environmental or biological samples.

2023 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of Very Low Concentrations of Colloids with Light Scattering Applied to Micro(Nano)Plastics in Seawater

Researchers evaluated static and dynamic light scattering techniques for detecting and quantifying colloidal microplastic and nanoplastic particles (0.1-0.8 micron diameter) at very low concentrations in marine water, demonstrating their potential as rapid, non-destructive monitoring tools.

2023 Microplastics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

A Novel Approach for Identifying Nanoplastics by Assessing Deformation Behavior with Scanning Electron Microscopy

Researchers adapted scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to identify nanoplastics by observing how different polymer types deform under an electron beam — a distinctive behavior that distinguishes plastics from common environmental materials like clay and algae. This novel detection method, enhanced by a computer vision algorithm, could help overcome one of the biggest obstacles in nanoplastic research: identifying particles too small to characterize with standard analytical tools.

2023 Micromachines 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-Self-Assembled Monolayer Enables Sensitive SERS Detection of Nanoplastics via Spontaneous Hotspot Entrapment

Researchers developed a new detection method that can identify and measure nanoplastics at concentrations as low as 0.01 micrograms per milliliter by trapping the tiny particles within a single layer of silver nanoparticles. The technique uses surface-enhanced Raman scattering, which amplifies the chemical signal of nanoplastics that are spontaneously captured in the detection hotspots. This approach offers a faster and more sensitive way to monitor nanoplastic pollution in water compared to existing methods.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 10 citations