Multi-pixel Photon Counter in Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (PCS) for Nanometre Particle Sizing

摘要

Photon correlation spectroscopy(PCS) is a very convenient and widely used method for the measurement of nanoparticles in suspensions over the last decades. It is classically performed with a Photomultiplier Tube (PMT)-based system. This system, however, has the problem that it is difficult to obtain high count rates for getting repeatable measurement of diameter with small, weakly scattering particles in PCS experiment. In this work we introduce here results obtained with a multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC)-based PCS system instead of PMT based. The system by MMPC is systematically tested using suspensions of latex spheres of various diameters. Comparing to measurement results by PMT, it has the advantage of high photon detection efficiency, small size, less affected by magnetic field, and less expensive.