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BET & DFT

What Is BET Surface Area?

BET surface area is calculated from gas adsorption data (typically nitrogen adsorption) and represents the total accessible surface area per unit mass of a material. It is a key parameter for materials whose behavior depends on surface interactions, such as catalysts, adsorbents, battery materials, and porous powders.

BET answers questions like:

  • Is the surface area within specification?

  • Did processing or milling change surface area?

  • Is batch-to-batch consistency maintained?

  • Does a competitor’s material have higher surface area?

What Is DFT Pore Size Distribution?

DFT pore size distribution uses mathematical modeling of adsorption isotherms to estimate pore sizes and pore volume, especially for porous materials with complex pore shapes. DFT is widely used for analyzing:

  • Micropores (typically < 2 nm)

  • Mesopores (typically 2–50 nm)

DFT helps answer:

  • What is the dominant pore size range?

  • Are pores blocked or collapsed after processing?

  • Did activation or coating change porosity?

  • How does pore distribution relate to adsorption or electrochemical performance?

What BET & DFT Measures

Typical deliverables from BET & DFT analysis include:

  • Specific surface area (BET, m²/g)

  • Adsorption/desorption isotherms

  • Total pore volume (based on selected calculation method)

  • Pore size distribution (DFT)

  • Optional: comparison between batches, suppliers, or “good vs. bad” samples

Typical Application Scenarios

Adsorbents & Filtration Media

  • Activated carbon, zeolites, silica, alumina

  • Pore structure evaluation for adsorption efficiency

  • Quality control for pore volume and distribution

Catalysts & Catalyst Supports

  • Surface area monitoring during synthesis and calcination

  • Pore size control for diffusion and reaction performance

  • Aging and deactivation studies

Battery & Energy Materials

  • Porosity of electrodes, conductive carbons, porous oxides

  • Surface area influence on kinetics and cycling performance

  • Process optimization for coating and thermal treatment

Pharmaceuticals & Chemical Powders

  • Powder performance related to surface interactions

  • Batch consistency and supplier qualification

  • Detect changes caused by drying, granulation, or milling

Advanced Porous Materials

  • MOFs, porous polymers, aerogels, engineered porous solids

  • Structure–property relationship studies for R&D

Sample Types

BET & DFT is commonly applied to:

  • powders and granular solids

  • porous ceramics and oxides

  • activated carbon and adsorbents

  • catalyst supports

  • porous polymers and composites (case-dependent)

If your material is sensitive to heat, moisture, or vacuum, Xinbodi can recommend suitable pretreatment conditions to protect sample integrity while ensuring reliable results.

Why Surface Area & Porosity Matter

Surface area and pore structure strongly influence:

  • adsorption capacity and adsorption rate

  • catalytic activity and selectivity

  • filtration performance and permeability

  • electrochemical kinetics

  • coating adhesion and impregnation behavior

  • moisture uptake and stability

BET & DFT provides measurable parameters that connect material structure to performance.

What You Will Receive

Each project is delivered with a clear, structured report suitable for engineering and quality decisions. A typical report includes:

  • Testing objective and sample information

  • Pretreatment and test conditions (as applicable)

  • BET surface area results and key calculations

  • Isotherm curves (adsorption/desorption)

  • DFT pore size distribution plots

  • Pore volume summary and interpretation

  • Comparison conclusions (batch vs. batch, supplier vs. supplier) when requested

  • Recommendations for optimization or follow-up testing

Why Choose Xinbodi for BET & DFT?

  • Experience with porous materials across multiple industries

  • Method selection aligned with your material type and objective

  • Reliable repeatability and structured quality practices

  • Clear reporting and interpretation, not just raw numbers

  • Support for R&D, process optimization, and QC programs

  • Confidential handling of proprietary materials

FAQs

BET primarily provides specific surface area from adsorption data.
DFT uses modeling of the adsorption isotherm to estimate pore size distribution and pore structure details.

Nitrogen adsorption is most common. Depending on pore structure and requirements, other gases may be considered.

Yes, most samples require degassing or conditioning to remove moisture and volatiles. Pretreatment conditions depend on the material and thermal stability.

Yes, BET can still measure accessible surface area, but pore distribution may not be meaningful if the material has minimal porosity.

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