Development and certification of a 300 nm monodisperse spherical particle reference material with SI-traceable diameter and mass

Accurate and SI-traceable characterization of particle diameter and mass is essential for improving the reliability of aerosol measurements and powder technologies. In this study, monodisperse spherical polystyrene latex (PSL) particles were developed as the Certified Reference Material of National Metrology Institute of Japan, NMIJ CRM 5722-a. Both the particle diameter and mass were determined using the electro-gravitational aerosol balance (EAB) method, Japan’s primary standard measurement technique. The number-mean volume-equivalent diameter and number-mean particle mass were certified as 307.9 nm ± 3.3 nm and 16.10 fg ± 0.51 fg, respectively, with uncertainties that rigorously account for the effects of sample homogeneity and long-term stability. The relative width of the particle size distribution, expressed as the coefficient of variation (CV), was 0.75 %, which is significantly narrower than that of conventional PSL standards. This CRM provides a unique standard that ensures high precision and reliability in particle diameter and mass measurements across aerosol, nanotechnology, and biomedical applications, and contributes to improving the quality control of fine particle and powder technologies.