Real-time measurements of sliding friction and elastic properties of ZnO nanowires inside a scanning electron microscope

A real-time nanomanipulation technique inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM) has been used to investigate the elastic and frictional (tribological) properties of zinc oxide nanowires (NWs). A NW was translated over a surface of an oxidised silicon wafer using a nanomanipulator with a glued atomic-force microscopic tip. The shape of the NW elastically deformed during the translation was used to determine the distributed kinetic friction force. The same NW was then positioned half-suspended on edges of trenches cut by a focused ion beam through a silicon wafer. In order to measure Young’s modulus, the NW was bent by pushing it at the free end with the tip, and the interaction force corresponding to the visually observed bending angle was measured with a quartz tuning fork force sensor.     

Electrostatic powder spraying process for the fabrication of stable superhydrophobic surfaces

Nano-sized Al₂O₃ particles were modified by heptadecafluorodecyl trimethoxysilane and 2,3-epoxy propoxy propyl trimethoxysilicane to make it both hydrophobic and reactive. The reactive nano-particles were mixed with polyester resin containing curing agents and electrostatic sprayed on stainless steel substrates to obtain stable superhydrophobic coatings after curing. The water contact angle (WCA) on the hybrid coating is influenced by the content of Al₂O₃ particles in the coating. As the Al₂O₃ concentration in the coating was increased from 0% to 8%, WCA increased from 68° to 165°. Surface topography of the coatings was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nano-particles covered on the coating surface formed continuous film with greatly enhanced roughness, which was found to be responsible for the superhydrophobicity. The method is simple and cost effective and can be used for preparing self-cleaning superhydrophobic coating on large areas.     

Structural features of natural and acids modified chrysotile nanotubes

The structural features of the natural chrysotile have been studied by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, thermogravimetric and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption techniques. The chrysotile fibers are present as nanotubes of cylindrical morphology of various forms (rectilinear cylinders, cylinders with cup-like ends, tube twins, cylinder-in-cylinder and cone-in-cone tubes) with the outer diameters of 15-30 nm and the inner ones of 2-6 nm. The surface areas of the raw and the acid leached chrysotile samples obtained by nitrogen adsorption are 15.3 and 63.6 m²/g with the average pore diameter 9.8 and 3.9 nm, respectively. The inner and the outer surfaces of the chrysotile nanotubes are evaluated by the geometric method as 16 and 80 m²/g. The thermogravimetric analysis reveals two main phases of mass loss associated with dehydration and dehydroxylation (with two overlaying steps) processes. The first phase is attributed to the dehydration reaction at low temperature range 293-450 K with activation energy in the range 22-32 kJ/mol. The second phase occurs between 798 and 985 K with activation energy 249-298 kJ/mol for the raw sample and 130-146 kJ/mole for the acid treated one.     

Clay induced aggregation of a tetra-cationic metalloporphyrin in Layer by Layer self assembled film

Porphyrins have a general tendency to form aggregates in ultrathin films. Also electrostatic adsorption of cationic porphyrins onto anionic nano clay platelets results in the flattening of porphyrin moieties. The flattening is evidenced by the red-shifting of Soret band with respect to the aqueous solution. In the present communication, we have studied the clay induced aggregation behaviour of a tetra-cationic metalloporphyrin Manganese (III) 5, 10, 15, 20-tetra (4 pyridyl)-21 H, 23 H-porphine chloride tetrakis (methochloride) (MnTMPyP) in Layer-by-Layer (LbL) self assembled film. The adsorption of dye molecules onto nano clay platelets resulted in the flattening of the meso substituent groups of the dye chromophore. In Layer-by-Layer ultrathin film, the flattened porphyrin molecules tagged nano clay platelets were further associated to form porphyrin aggregates. This has been clearly demonstrated from the UV–vis absorption spectroscopic studies. Atomic Force Microscopic (AFM) studies gave visual evidence of the association of organo-clay hybrid molecules in the LbL film.     

Collection method for chemical particulates on surfaces with detection using thermal desorption-ion trap mass spectrometry

Successful analysis of particulate/low vapor pressure analytes such as explosives and toxic chemicals, and commercial pesticides require new sampling tools that enable detection of these analytes using current vapor phase detection instruments. We describe a sampling approach that uses stainless steel screens coated with a sticky polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) coating to capture particulates from surfaces. Preliminary results for the collection of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) sorbed onto silica gel (SG) particulates (DMMP/SG) from a surface with subsequent analysis by thermal desorption-cylindrical ion trap mass spectrometry (TD-CITMS) are reported.     

Spin modes and layer magnetization for surface and impurity layer embedded in a ferromagnet

A theoretical study is made for the role of an impurity layer embedded within a semi-infinite ferromagnet in determining the spectra of (0 0 1) surface spin waves and the layer magnetization for the surface and impurity layer. The calculations are described using simultaneously a closed form of the spin-wave Green's function and the matching procedure in the random-phase approximation. Analytic expressions for the Green's functions are also derived in a low-temperature spin-wave approximation. The theoretical approach determines the bulk and evanescent spin fluctuation fields in the two-dimensional plane normal to the surface. The results are used to calculate the energies of localized modes associated with the impurity layer as well as with the surface. Numerical examples of the modes are given and they are found to exhibit various effects due to the interplay between the impurity layer and surface modes. The results derived from the dynamic correlation functions between a pair of spin operators at any two sites are employed to evaluate the spin deviation in the ferromagnet due to the localized modes associated with the surface and with the impurity layer obtained by means of the matching procedure. The correlation functions and the layer magnetization are then illustrated as function of the impurity layer distance from the surface for a given temperature.