BET surface area analysis

BET surface area analysis measures the total surface area of a material by assessing how much gas, usually nitrogen, can adhere to its surface. When nitrogen is introduced at low temperatures, it molecules attach to the material's surface, forming a thin layer. The amount of gas that adsorbs correlates with the surface area, allowing scientists to calculate how much of the material is made up of surface. This technique is crucial in understanding properties like reactivity and porosity, which impact the material's performance in applications such as catalysis, absorption, or filtration.