Three-dimensional metrology and fractal analysis of dendritic nanostructures

Three-dimensional quantification and fractal dimension analysis are performed on a nanoscale dendrite, grown by precipitation as a crystal from a glass matrix. In order to process the entire three-dimensional (3D) volume and surface properties, a reconstruction from multiple projections has been achieved using electron tomography. Digital evaluation of the 3D volume and surface of the reconstructed dendritic nanoparticle allows quantifying its surface-volume ratio, convexity, solidity, and fractal dimension. The structure is found fractal across much of the nanoscale, with a fractal dimension estimated to 2.4.