Home  About us  Contact
 

Liquid Environment (liquid + environment)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Polymers and Materials Science42%
Physics and Astronomy28%

Selected Abstracts

Chemical, Mechanical, and Antibacterial Properties of Silver Nanocluster,Silica Composite Coatings Obtained by Sputtering,

ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 7 2010
Monica Ferraris
Abstract Silver nanocluster,silica matrix composite coatings have been deposited by radio frequency (RF) co-sputtering on silica substrates. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction spectra of the as deposited and heated samples (150,600,°C) revealed the presence of metal silver nanoclusters, their size depending on the heating treatment. The antibacterial activity of the as deposited and heated samples has been measured in accordance to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, and it has been demonstrated on samples heated up to 450,°C in contact mode and for samples heated at 600,°C in a liquid environment. Their antibacterial activity was still present after gamma ray and ethylene oxide gas (EtO) sterilization of the samples. Silver leaching tests on the as deposited and heated samples has been measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer, revealing an amount ranging from 0.1 to 0.9,µg mm,2, over 28 days. Tape resistance (ASTM D3359-97) and scratch resistance tests have been done on each sample revealing a good adhesion of the coatings on silica. [source]

Anisotropic Particle Synthesis Inside Droplet Templates on Superhydrophobic Surfaces

MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 2 2010
Vinayak Rastogi
Abstract We demonstrate how droplet templates dispensed on superhydrophobic substrates can be used to fabricate both shape-anisotropic ("doughnut") and composition-anisotropic ("patchy magnetic") supraparticles. The macroscopic shape of the closely-packed particle assemblies is guided by the droplet meniscus. Aqueous droplets of monodisperse microsphere suspensions dispensed on the substrates initially acquire near-spherical shape due to a high contact angle. During the solvent evaporation, however, silica suspension droplets undergo shape transitions (concaving) guiding the structure of the final assemblies into doughnut supraparticles. Composition anisotropy is achieved by drying a droplet containing a mixed suspension of latex and magnetic nanoparticles, while exposing it to magnetic field gradients. Depending on the pattern of the magnetic fields, the magnetic nanoparticles segregate into single, bilateral, or trilateral, patched spherical supraparticles. The physical effects leading to the development of anisotropy are discussed. Unlike the conventional wet self-assembly (WSA) methods where the final structures need to be extracted from the liquid environment, this efficient one-step procedure produces ready to use "dry" supraparticles. [source]

Micro-fabrication and monitoring of three-dimensional microstructures based on laser-induced thermoplastic formation

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 10 2009
Leyan Wang
Abstract This article reports a novel laser-induced micro-fabrication method and its monitoring system for three-dimensional (3D) microstructures. The mechanism of the method is that a small zone of thermoplastic material melted by laser heating grows in liquid surrounding environment, solidifying into a convex microstructure, such as micro-dot or micro-pillar. A laser diode (808 nm) with maximum power output of 130 mW is used as power source, and a kind of paraffin mixed with stearic acid and paint serves as the thermoplastic material for 3D microstructure formation experiments. A light microscope system consisting of a charge-coupled device (CCD) and a computer is utilized to realize real-time observation of the micro-fabricating process. The distribution of local temperature rise on material surface created by laser irradiation is simulated. The effects of liquid environment on microstructure formation have been theoretically analyzed and experimentally studied. Experiments are further carried out to investigate the relationship between laser spot and fabricated microstructures. The results indicate that the widths of micro-dots or micro-pillars are mostly determined by the size of focal spot, and their heights increase with the enlargement of laser power density. With this method, a micro-dot array of Chinese characters meaning "China" has been successfully fabricated through computer programming. This method has the advantages of implementing direct, mask-less, real-time and inexpensive 3D microstructure fabrication. Therefore, it would be widely applied in the fields of micro/nano-technology for practical fabrication of different kinds of 3D microstructures. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Dynamic Light Scattering for the Characterization of Polydisperse Fractal Systems: I. Simulation of the Diffusional Behavior

PARTICLE & PARTICLE SYSTEMS CHARACTERIZATION, Issue 1 2008
Uwe Kätzel
Abstract Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is a method used to size nanoscale and submicron particles by measuring their thermal motion (diffusion) in a liquid environment. The measured diffusion coefficients are related to the hydrodynamic particle size via the Stokes-Einstein equation. This paper addresses the application of DLS for the characterization of diluted suspensions of pyrogenic silica, which consist of polydisperse fractal-like aggregates composed of sintered spherical primary particles. Simulations are employed to establish a relationship between the structural properties of the aggregates and their diffusional behavior. Therefore, an algorithm is developed that enables the generation of aggregates with a tunable fractal dimension and an arbitrary number of primary particles. The results provide evidence that the hydrodynamic radii show a different scaling compared to the structural radius of gyration, which is of great relevance for the interpretation of DLS results. In addition, the influence of rotational diffusion has to be accounted for in the measurements. [source]

Top-down processed silicon nanowire transistor arrays for biosensing

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 3 2009
Xuan Thang Vu
Abstract We describe the fabrication, electrical and electrochemical characterization of silicon nanowire arrays, which were processed in a top-down approach using combined nanoimprint lithography and wet chemical etching. We used the top silicon layer as contact line and observed an influence of implantation and subsequent annealing of these lines to the device performance. In addition we found a subthreshold slope dependence on wire size. When operated in a liquid environment, wires can be utilized as pH sensors. We characterized the pH sensitivity in the linear range and in the subthreshold operation regime. As a first proof-of-principle experiment for the later use of the sensors in bioassays, we monitored the buildup of polyelectrolyte multilayers on the wire surface. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

Experiments on single levitated particles: a novel approach for investigations of electronic properties of structured II-VI-semiconductor nanoparticles in selected environments

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 9 2007
C. Graf
Abstract A novel approach for investigations of the electronic structure of II-VI semiconductor nanoparticles in selected environments is presented. CdSe/ZnS core shell nanoparticles are dispersed in a liquid non-volatile siloxane graft/block copolymer and injected in an electrodynamic trap, where a single liquid microdroplet is stably stored under ultra high vacuum conditions. In this way, it is possible to investigate quantum dots by soft X-ray spectroscopies in a liquid environment, which is not influenced by any outer surface. NEXAFS spectra of stored nanoparticles were recorded at the Zn 2p-, S 2p-, and Cd 3d-edge by measuring X-ray excited optical luminescence or the element-selective charging current of single, trapped microdroplets. The spectra are compared to those of similar CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles, which are dispersed in a controlled way in solid silica colloids as well as to those of matrix materials. An analysis of the data reveals that the electronic structure of the ZnS shell is significantly influenced by the outer functionalization and the dispersive media whereas the electronic structure of the core is shown to be independent from the surroundings. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

Scanning Force Microscopy Based Rapid Force Curve Acquisition on Supported Lipid Bilayers: Experiments and Simulations Using Pulsed Force Mode

CHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 7 2004
Stephanie Krüger Dr.
Abstract In situ pulsed force mode scanning force microscopy (PFM,SFM) images of phase separated solid-supported lipid bilayers are discussed with the help of computer simulations. Simultaneous imaging of material properties and topography in a liquid environment by means of PFM,SFM is severely hampered by hydrodynamic damping of the cantilever. Stiffness and adhesion images of solid-supported membranes consisting of cholesterol, sphingomyelin, and 1,2-dioleyl-phosphatidylcholine obtained in aqueous solution exhibit contrast inversion of adhesion and stiffness images depending on parameters such as driving frequency, amplitude, and trigger setting. Simulations using a simple harmonic oscillator model explain experimental findings and give a deeper insight into the way PFM,SFM experiments have to be performed in order to obtain interpretable results and hence pave the way for reliable material contrast imaging at high speed. [source]