Thermal restructuring of fractal clusters: the case of a strawberry-like core-shell polymer colloid

Thermal restructuring of fractal styrene-acrylate copolymer clusters dispersed in water has been investigated experimentally in the temperature range between 313 and 363 K. The particles constituting the clusters are of strawberry-like core-shell structure with a soft core and a rigid shell grafted on the core polymer chains. Due to the incomplete coverage of the core, the rather soft core may "flow out" through the open areas of the shell, leading to coalescence with the neighboring particles. The clusters were generated under diffusion-limited cluster aggregation conditions, and the restructuring kinetics was monitored by small-angle light scattering. Two sets of thermal restructuring experiments have been performed at various temperatures: (1) restructuring of growing clusters during aggregation and (2) restructuring of preformed clusters in the absence of aggregation. It is found that restructuring occurs only at temperature values above 323 K. In the absence of aggregation, restructuring leads to an increase of the fractal dimension and a decrease of the radius of gyration of the clusters. At sufficiently long times, both quantities reach a plateau value due to the presence of the grafted rigid shell, which constrains the coalescence of the soft core. A simple model, based on coalescence theory of liquid droplets and accounting for the incomplete coalescence and its dependence on temperature, has been developed to interpret the restructuring kinetics in the absence of aggregation. It is found that the proposed model can represent the measured experimental data well.     

Naturally occurring spore particles at planar fluid interfaces and in emulsions

We have investigated the potential of utilizing naturally occurring spore particles of Lycopodium clavatum as sole emulsifiers of oil and water mixtures. The preferred emulsions, prepared from either oil-borne or aqueous-borne dispersions of the monodispersed particles of diameter 30 microm, are oil-in-water. The particles act as efficient stabilizers for oils of different polarity. Droplets as large as several millimeters are stable to coalescence indefinitely, despite the low coverage of interfaces by particles observed microscopically. Consistent with the emulsion findings, we discover that particles spontaneously adsorb to bare oil-water interfaces of single drops from oil dispersions, whereas adsorption is less spontaneous and extensive from aqueous dispersions. Monolayers of the spore particles at both air-water and oil-water planar interfaces contain particles in an aggregated state forming clusters and chains. The influence of particle concentration, oil/water ratio, and additives in the aqueous phase is studied.     

STM observation of Au fine-particles on graphite

Gold particles deposited on graphite in vacuum have been studied by STM observation in air. Liquid-like coalescence between small gold-particles has been observed near room temperature. Preparation of small particles in vacuum is discussed. Small particles are formed in nucleation process if the degree of coalescence of particles is reduced. Over 400 Au particles of 5 nm in diameters with a narrow size-distribution with FWHM 2 nm and a high density of 3×10¹²/cm² is prepared by evaporating gold in a vacuum of about 2×10^?5 Torr and at the substrate (HOPG) temperature of 20°C.     

Spontaneous coalescence in ultrafine metal particle aggregates

In the preparation of ultrafine metal particles (Cu, Ti, Ni or Al) by opposed-targets dc sputtering, a substrate cooled by liquid helium flow was used, on which the metal clusters and argon atoms were condensed simultaneously, forming a solid layer of the mixture. By raising the temperature of the substrate and the argon pressure in the chamber, the solid argon melts and evaporates, remaining the metal-particle aggregates. After complete evaporation of the argon, a phenomenon was observed in which the metal-particle aggregates shrank and suddenly changed their colour from black to bulk-metal colour, followed by an explosion-like noise. We offer an explanation for this phenomenon by the mechanism of spontaneous coalescence due to the large surface energy of the ultrafine particles. From our observation and analysis, we conclude that a certain particle size exists, below which the spontaneous coalescence may occur in a very fast way, leading to melting of the particles. The fast process of coalescence, melting and cooling introduces large internal stress which splits the sintered particle, giving the explosion-like noise. This phenomenon may imply a size limitation in forming nanocrystalline solid materials of pure metals.     

Observation of the binary coalescence and equilibration of micrometer-sized droplets of aqueous aerosol in a single-beam gradient-force optical trap

The binary coalescence of aqueous droplets has been observed in a single-beam gradient-force optical trap. By measuring the time-dependent intensity for elastic scattering of light from the trapping laser, the dynamics of binary coalescence have been examined and the time scale for equilibration of a composite droplet to ambient conditions has been determined. These data are required for modeling the agglomeration of aqueous droplets in dense sprays and atmospheric aerosol. Elastic-light scattering from optically trapped particles has not been used previously to study the time-resolved dynamics of mixing. It is shown to offer a unique opportunity to characterize the binary coalescence of aqueous droplets with radii from 1 to 6 μm. The study of this size regime, which cannot be achieved by conventional imaging methods, is critical for understanding the interactions of droplets in the environment of dense sprays.     

Effect of surfactants on shear-induced gelation and gel morphology of soft strawberry-like particles

The role of surfactant type in the aggregation and gelation of strawberry-like particles induced by intense shear without any electrolyte addition is investigated. The particles are composed of a rubbery core, partially covered by a plastic shell, and well stabilized by fixed (sulfate) charges in the end group of the polymer chains originating from the initiator. In the absence of any surfactant, after the system passes through a microchannel at a Peclet number equal to 220 and a particle volume fraction equal to 0.15, not only shear-induced gelation but also partial coalescence among the particles occurs. The same shear-induced aggregation/gelation process has been carried out in the presence of an ionic (sulfonate) surfactant or a nonionic (Tween 20) steric surfactant. It is found that for both surfactants shear-induced gelation does occur at low surfactant surface density but the conversion of the primary particles to the clusters constituting the gel decreases as the surfactant surface density increases. When the surfactant surface density increases above certain critical values, shear-induced gelation and eventually even aggregation do not occur any longer. For the sulfonate surfactant, this was explained in the literature by the non-DLVO, short-range repulsive hydration forces generated by the adsorbed surfactant layer. In this work, it is shown that the steric repulsion generated by the adsorbed Tween 20 layer can also protect particles from aggregation under intense shear. Moreover, the nonionic steric surfactant can also protect the strawberry-like particles from coalescence. This implies a decrease in the fractal dimension of the clusters constituting the gel from 2.76 to 2.45, which cannot be achieved using the ionic sulfonate surfactant.     

Coalescence of particle-laden drops with a planar oil-water interface

The coalescence mechanism of a particle-laden drop resting at an oil-water interface has been studied. Two mechanisms for drop coalescence are observed; (i) complete coalescence, in which the drop experiences total coalescence in one event, and (ii) partial coalescence, where a drop is observed to separate during coalescence, producing a smaller secondary drop that rebounds and comes to rest at the planar oil-water interface. For particle-laden drops of approximately 4mm in diameter, we show the critical condition for partial to complete coalescence to be dependent on the particle concentration, and the interparticle interaction energy. Colloidal silica spheres dispersed in 10(-4) M KNO(3) electrolyte solution are highly charged and remain dispersed in the drop. By increasing the solids concentration, we measure the transition from partial to complete coalescence at 20 wt.%. However, this critical condition can be reduced by increasing the interparticle interaction energy. In 1 M KNO(3) electrolyte solution, the particle surface charge is sufficiently screened such that particle clusters readily form in the water drop. With particle clustering, transition from partial to complete coalescence is measured at 8 wt.% solids.     

Monitoring coalescence behavior of soft colloidal particles in water by small-angle light scattering

The fractal dimension (D _f) of the clusters formed during the aggregation of colloidal systems reflects correctly the coalescence extent among the particles (Gauer et al., Macromolecules 42:9103, 2009). In this work, we propose to use the fast small-angle light scattering (SALS) technique to determine the D _f value during the aggregation. It is found that in the diffusion-limited aggregation regime, the D _f value can be correctly determined from both the power law regime of the average structure factor of the clusters and the scaling of the zero angle intensity versus the average radius of gyration. The obtained D _f value is equal to that estimated from the technique proposed in the above work, based on dynamic light scattering (DLS). In the reaction-limited aggregation (RLCA) regime, due to contamination of small clusters and primary particles, the power law regime of the average structure factor cannot be properly defined for the D _f estimation. However, the scaling of the zero angle intensity versus the average radius of gyration is still well defined, thus allowing one to estimate the D _f value, i.e., the coalescence extent. Therefore, when the DLS-based technique cannot be applied in the RLCA regime, one can apply the SALS technique to monitor the coalescence extent. Applicability and reliability of the technique have been assessed by applying it to an acrylate copolymer colloid.     

稳态时剪应力作用下胶体簇团形成/破裂的机理

Population correlation function P(t) has been used to examine the mechanism of breakage and coalescence of clusters at steady-state under shear, the results are in qualitative agreement with experiments. The research indicates that with a weak potential the mechanism of breakage and coalescence of clusters at steady-state under shear is predominately controlled by the particle-particle model, but that with a strong potential the mechanism shifts to that of cluster-cluster for large clusters; for small clusters, however, the mechanism of particle-particle model seems still to remain predominate, further work needs to be done.     

稳态时剪应力作用下肢体簇团形成/破裂的机理

胶体簇团形成／破裂过程机理研究一直是胶体研究中一个十分活跃的领域．因为不同的聚团机理导致胶体不同的物理化学性质：粘度、空隙度、导电性甚至光学特性等，因而使其备受注目．当前，实验研究证明了簇团边缘的胶体颗粒和介质有着频繁的交换’‘’，特别是在受到外力的作用下，这种交换会更加激烈．计算机模拟研究证实了簇团和介质间颗粒交换的机理可以是颗粒一颗粒型的，也可以是簇团一簇团型的”、”．所谓颗粒一颗粒型机理是指（接近或完全）由单个颗粒互相结合，或单个颗粒被结合进大的簇团．在结合期间，被结合的颗粒可以在簇团边缘…     

Two-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations of a polydisperse colloidal dispersion composed of ferromagnetic particles for the case of no external magnetic field

We have investigated the aggregation phenomena in a polydisperse colloidal dispersion composed of ferromagnetic particles by means of the cluster-moving Monte Carlo method. The results have been compared with those for a monodisperse system. The internal structures of aggregates have been analyzed in terms of the radial distribution function in order to clarify the quantitative differences in the internal structures of clusters. In addition, the cluster size distribution and angular distribution function have been investigated. The results obtained in the present study are summarized as follows. In a monodisperse system, open necklacelike clusters are formed and they extend with increasing strength of the magnetic particle-particle interaction. In a polydisperse system with a small standard deviation in the particle size distribution, sigma=0.2, larger necklacelike clusters are formed and some looplike clusters can also be observed. In a polydisperse system with a larger standard deviation, sigma=0.35, clumplike clusters are formed for a weak magnetic particle-particle interaction. For a stronger magnetic interaction, larger size clusters that exhibit a complicated network structure are formed. These complicated cluster formations found in a polydisperse system are mainly due to the effect of the presence of larger particles.     

Coalescence of bubbles covered by particles

The interaction between two bubbles coated with glass particles in the presence of a cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) was studied experimentally. The time taken for two bubbles to coalesce was determined as a function of the fractional coverage of the surface by particles. The results suggested that the coalescence time increases with the bubble surface coverage. Interestingly, it was found that although the particles did not have any physical role in film rupture at low surface coverage, they still added resistance to film drainage. For particle-loaded bubbles, the initial resistance was due to the lateral capillary interactions between particles on the interface, which hold the particles firmly together. The coalescence dynamics of bubbles was also observed to be affected by the presence of attached particles.     

Three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations of internal aggregate structures in a colloidal dispersion composed of rod-like particles with magnetic moment normal to the particle axis

We have treated a suspension composed of ferromagnetic rod-like particles with a magnetic moment normal to the particle axis in order to investigate aggregation phenomena of such a suspension by means of cluster-moving Monte Carlo simulations. In the present study, we have considered a three-dimensional mono-dispersed model system composed of such rod-like particles. Internal structures of self-assembled clusters have been discussed quantitatively in terms of radial distribution, pair correlation, orientational pair correlation functions, number distributions of clusters, and order functions. The main results obtained here are summarized as follows. Rod-like particles tend to aggregate to form raft-like clusters along the magnetic moment direction more significantly with magnetic particle-particle interactions. In such raft-like clusters, the direction of each particle axis has a tendency to incline in parallel formation, but is not so parallel as in a two-dimensional dispersion. As the volumetric fraction increases, longer raft-like clusters are formed, but such raft-like clusters do not aggregate further to form thicker clusters, which is in significantly contrast with a dispersion of spherical particles, where thicker chain-like clusters are observed under certain conditions. For the case of strong magnetic particle-particle interactions, sufficiently long raft-like clusters are formed along the magnetic field direction, even if the influence of an external magnetic field is of the same order of that of the thermal energy. However, rod-like particles in such clusters do not necessarily incline in significantly parallel formation along a certain direction. Self-assembled tube-like clusters are formed when magnetic particle-particle interactions are much more dominant than the rotational Brownian motion under circumstances of rod-like particles inclining in a certain direction.     

Growth Mechanism of Large Monodispersed Silica Particles Prepared from Tetraethoxysilane in the Presence of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

Monodispersed silica particles up to ca. 1.2 μm in diameter were prepared by hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The particle size was increased with an increase of SDS added. The geometrical standard deviation of the particles was decreased with an increase of SDS. In the earlier reaction stage, double spherical particles by the coalescence of the particles were frequently observed when large amounts of SDS were added. Particle size was gradually increased after the coalescence occurred and spherical particles were finally obtained. The results of Nielsen’s chronomal analysis suggest that the polynuclear layer growth took place after the coalescence of the particles in the presence of larger amount of SDS.     

Halo-like structures studied by atomic force microscopy

Nanometer-sized clusters of copper have been produced in a hollow cathode sputtering source and deposited on SiO_x. Halo-like structures consisting of micrometer sized protrusions in the silicon oxide surface surrounded by thin rings of smaller particles are observed. The area in between seems to be depleted of particles. We propose that the halo-like structures are a result of electrostatic forces acting between the incoming charged clusters and charged regions on the surface. A simple computer simulation supports this suggestion.     

The influence of Ag+ ions on transformations of silver clusters in polyacrylate aqueous solutions

It is shown that transformations of unstable clusters, intermediates of the borohydride reduction of silver cations, in weakly alkaline polyacrylate aqueous solutions are governed by the competition between the processes of their oxidation, coalescence into larger particles, and reduction of silver cations. Moreover, these processes depend on the loading of a polyanion with cations and can be controlled by the addition of Ag⁺ ions.     

Kinetics of cluster aggregation in competition with a chemical growth reaction

The kinetics of abundances and the distribution in size of clusters at a given time are obtained by numerical simulation in the case where a chemical growth competes with the coalescence of clusters originating from isolated monomers. To take into account the size dependence of cluster reactivity, it is assumed that the chemical reaction occurs only beyond a critical valuen _c . The kinetics of the total cluster concentration are unchanged by addition of the reactant but the size distribution is suddenly perturbed for sizes beyondn _c . The decay of the reactant, the kinetics of a cluster of a given nuclearity and the distribution of sizes at a given time depend on the relative values of the rates of coalescence and of growth due to the reactant. It is shown how the initial conditions control the kinetics and the amplitude or the time of the maximum cluster abundance. The case of an attack by a chemical reactant on clusters, restricted to low values ofn, is also considered. The concentration kinetics (for all size clusters) display much lower amplitudes than for pure coalescence case. No parity effects are observed.     

C60衍生物与C60混合物中富勒烯的生长研究

富勒烯分子生长方面的研究，对于富勒烯的基础研究以及潜在应用有着重要的意义，因此引起了科学界的广泛兴趣和研究，Yeretzian[1]、Campbell[2],Rao[3]等人相继用不同的实验方法对C60的融合作了详细研究，但C60的生长动力学过程依然是个悬而未决的问题．我们实验室已对C60的正负离子解离以及C60加成衍生物中C60的解离和生长作了较深入的研究：发现C60正负离子解离时电荷具有不同的转移通道，即C朋解离时电荷留在碳笼上，而C60解离时电荷易转移到小碳簇上，且C60解离以较缓慢的笼子收缩过程进行间．衍生物基团（如节基、薛基）对C。。…     

用原位液体池透射电镜技术表征金属钯在球形金纳米颗粒表面的异质沉积

采用原位液体池透射电镜技术,在扫描透射电子显微镜(STEM)中,实时观察溶液中金属钯(Pd)在金(Au)纳米颗粒及团簇周围的异质沉积过程。通过对该动态过程的定量分析,结合高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM)对样品进行形貌与结构表征,研究异质沉积的机理。结果表明,电子束辐照下Au-Pd异质结构纳米颗粒的形成存在两种主要机制:第一种机制中,Pd在Au纳米颗粒表面的生长是以岛状沉积开始,随着时间推移,出现Pd岛的结构弛豫和沿着Au颗粒表面的迁移扩展。伴随Pd的不断沉积和弛豫,Au-Pd复合颗粒的外接圆直径表现为震荡生长,而Au表面的Pd覆盖率显示出随时间单调增加的趋势。第二种机制中,由于Pd单体在Au纳米颗粒上的沉积位点有限,使部分被还原的Pd在Au颗粒以外区域进行同质形核与生长形成Pd团簇,之后再与Au颗粒上的Pd岛合并。进一步的结果分析显示,Au颗粒外围的Pd沉积体为多晶结构,由随机取向的Pd纳米晶粒构成。     

Nanoparticles of varying hydrophobicity at the emulsion droplet-water interface: adsorption and coalescence stability

The coalescence stability of poly(dimethylsiloxane) emulsion droplets in the presence of silica nanoparticles ( approximately 50 nm) of varying contact angles has been investigated. Nanoparticle adsorption isotherms were determined by depletion from solution. The coalescence kinetics (determined under coagulation conditions at high salt concentration) and the physical structure of coalesced droplets were determined from optical microscopy. Fully hydrated silica nanoparticles adsorb with low affinity, reaching a maximum surface coverage that corresponds to a close packed monolayer, based on the effective particle radius and controlled by the salt concentration. Adsorbed layers of hydrophilic nanoparticles introduce a barrier to coalescence of approximately 1 kT, only slightly reduce the coalescence kinetics, and form kinetically unstable networks at high salt concentrations. Chemically hydrophobized silica nanoparticles, over a wide range of contact angles (25 to >90 degrees ), adsorb at the droplet interface with high affinity and to coverages equivalent to close-packed multilayers. Adsorption isotherms are independent of the contact angle, suggesting that hydrophobic attraction overcomes electrostatic repulsion in all cases. The highly structured and rigid adsorbed layers significantly reduce coalescence kinetics: at or above monolayer surface coverage, stable flocculated networks of droplets form and, regardless of their wettability, particles are not detached from the interface during coalescence. At sub-monolayer nanoparticle coverages, limited coalescence is observed and interfacial saturation restricts the droplet size increase. When the nanoparticle interfacial coverage is >0.7 and <1.0, mesophase-like microstructures have been noted, the physical form and stability of which depends on the contact angle. Adsorbed nanoparticle layers at monolayer coverage and composed of a mixture of nanoparticles with different hydrophobisation levels form stable networks of droplets, whereas mixtures of hydrophobized and hydrophilic nanoparticles do not effectively stabilize emulsion droplets.