Surface characterization of a cross‐linked cytochrome c film on cysteamine‐modified gold electrodes

The aim of the present paper is to characterize a cross‐linked horse heart cytochrome c (HHC) film on cysteamine‐modified gold electrodes. The HHC film was deposited using 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐carbodiimide (EDC) as a coupling agent. Attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR‐IR) spectroscopic analyses were performed to characterize the newly formed surface on a qualitative and conformational level. The film thickness was measured using a noncontact optical surface profiler, while quantitative data and information on the heterogeneity of the film were obtained by means of synchrotron radiation X‐ray micro fluorescence (SR micro‐XRF). Results indicate that, in addition to electrochemical studies, spectroscopic analysis methods are essential to gain insight in the effect of immobilization strategies on protein conformations. The latter is of relevance in the development and optimization of biosensors. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Topology optimization of microfluidic mixers

This paper demonstrates the application of the topology optimization method as a general and systematic approach for microfluidic mixer design. The mixing process is modeled as convection dominated transport in low Reynolds number incompressible flow. The mixer performance is maximized by altering the layout of flow/non‐flow regions subject to a constraint on the pressure drop between inlet and outlet. For a square cross‐sectioned pipe the mixing is increased by 70% compared with a straight pipe at the cost of a 2.5 fold increase in pressure drop. Another example where only the bottom profile of the channel is a design domain results in intricate herring bone patterns that confirm findings from the literature. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高频感应等离子体流动模型与微型电推进器流场特性分析

微型射频离子推力器具有结构简单、工作寿命长、推力动态范围大、性能调节响应灵敏等特点,是国际微电推进领域的研究热点之一.射频离子推力器电离室内的感性耦合放电等离子体特性和推力器的性能密切相关.为此,文章建立了低气压、小尺寸微型射频离子推力器电离室内感性耦合等离子体流体模型,开展了电磁场、流场、化学反应浓度场的多物理场耦合仿真分析,并研究了等离子体放电特征参数随推进剂工质气压、放电吸收功率、射频频率以及线圈匝数等因素的变化规律.结果表明,推进剂工质气压、放电吸收功率是调节微型射频离子推力器性能的主要因素,该研究为综合调控微型射频离子推力器的工作性能奠定了良好的基础.      

Formation of artificial micro‐pits on Al alloy with the photon rupture method and the localized corrosion behavior of the formed pits

An in situ artificial micro‐pit fabrication method with an area selective electrochemical measurement technique was applied to investigate the effect of the geometry of artificially formed pits on their localized corrosion behavior in anodized 1000 series aluminum. This technique enables the fabrication of artificial micro‐pits with different aspect ratios (pit depth/pit diameter) in solutions. The aspect ratios of the fabricated artificial micro‐pits in this experiment could be varied from 0.13 to 1.83 by controlling the irradiation time of the focused pulsed YAG laser beam. By applying a constant potential to the final laser‐beam‐irradiated spot in chloride environments, localized dissolution occurred only at the laser beam irradiated area, because the anodic oxide film acted as an insulator. The corrosion current and charge increase with increasing aspect ratio at any applied potential. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Micro fabrication of microlens arrays by micro dispensing

In this study, master of the microlens arrays is fabricated using micro dispensing technology, and then electroforming technology is employed to replicate the Ni mold insert of the microlens arrays. Finally, micro hot embossing is performed to replicate the molded microlens arrays from the Ni mold insert. The resin material is used as the dispensing material, which is dropped on a glass substrate. The resin is exposed to a 380 W halogen light. It becomes convex under surface tension on the glass substrate. A master for the microlens arrays is then obtained. A 150‐nm‐thick copper layer is sputtered on the master as an electrically conducting layer. The electroforming method replicates the Ni mold insert from the master of the microlens arrays. Finally, micro hot embossing is adopted to replicate the molded microlens arrays. The micro hot embossing experiment employs optical films of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC). The processing parameters of micro hot embossing are processing temperature, embossing pressure, embossing time, and de‐molding temperature. Taguchi's method is applied to optimize the processing parameters of micro hot embossing for molded microlens arrays. An optical microscope and a surface profiler are utilized to measure the surface profile of the master, the Ni mold insert and the molded microlens arrays. AFM is employed to measure the surface roughness of the master, the Ni mold insert and the molded microlens arrays. The sag height and focal length are determined to elucidate the optical characteristics of the molded microlens arrays. Copyright © 2009 John & Sons, Ltd.     

Dual crosslinked pH‐ and temperature‐sensitive hydrogel beads for intestine‐targeted controlled release

Novel drug‐loaded hydrogel beads for intestine‐targeted controlled release were developed by using pH‐ and temperature‐sensitive carboxymethyl chitosan‐graft‐poly(N,N‐diethylacrylamide) (CMCTS‐g‐PDEA) hydrogel as carriers and vitamin B₂ (VB₂) as a model drug. The hydrogel beads were prepared based on Ca²⁺ ionic crosslinking in acidic solution and formed dual crosslinked network structure. The structure of hydrogel and morphology of drug‐loaded beads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study about swelling characteristics of hydrogel beads indicated that the beads had obvious pH‐ and temperature‐sensitivity. In vitro release studies of drug‐loaded beads were carried out in pH 1.2 HCl buffer solution and pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution at 37°C, respectively. The results indicated that the dual crosslinked method could effectively control the drug release rate under gastrointestinal tract (GIT) conditions, which was superior to traditional single crosslinked beads. In addition, the effects of grafting percentage, pH value, and temperature on the release behavior of the VB₂ were investigated. The drug release mechanism of CMCTS‐g‐PDEA drug‐loaded beads was analyzed by Peppa's potential equation. According to this study, the dual crosslinked hydrogel beads based on CMCTS‐g‐PDEA could serve as suitable candidate for drug site‐specific carrier in intestine. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

微型气相色谱仪热导检测器放大电路设计

Agilent公司生产的Agilent 3000+系列色谱仪是微型气相色谱仪(micro GC)的典型代表,其热导检测器的信号放大电路和模数转换器(analog-to-digital convertor, ADC)存在功耗大、工作温度过高等不足.文中分析了micro GC电路的功能需求,从选用低噪声的24 bit Δ-Σ ADC ADS1255入手,设计了高共模电压容限、低噪声的全差分放大电路及其他外围电路,并且对全差分放大电路建立了噪声模型,计算了其噪声理论值,优化了系统设计参数.另外,还设计了一个测试平台,对所设计的全差分放大电路和ADC的性能进行了全面的测试评估,结果表明新设计的热导检测器放大电路与ADC的总噪声(以美国材料与试验协会(ASTM)标准值计)仅为1.25 μV,总功耗降低了3.7 W,满足micro GC的功能需求,而且可靠性高、体积小、结构简单,可用于新一代micro GC的研发和生产.     

Effect of indium content and rapid solidification on microhardness and micro‐creep of Sn‐Zn eutectic lead free solder alloy

The Sn‐Zn alloys have been considered as lead‐free solders. In this paper, the effect of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt.% Indium as ternary additions on melting temperature, structure, microhardness and micro‐creep of the Sn‐9Zn lead‐free solders were investigated. It is shown that the alloying additions of Indium to the Sn‐Zn binary system result in a suppression of the melting point to 187.9 °C. From x‐ray diffraction analysis, a new intermetallic compound phase, designated β‐In₃Sn is detected. The formation of an intermetallic compound phase causes a pronounced increase in the electrical resistivity and mechanical strength. Also, an interesting connection between dynamic Young's modulus and the axial ratio (c/a) of the unit cell of the β‐Sn was found in which Young's modulus increases with increasing the axial ratio (c/a). The ternary Sn‐9Zn‐xIn exhibits creep resistance superior to Sn‐9Zn binary alloy. The better creep resistance of the ternary alloy is attributed to solid solution effect and precipitation of In₃Sn in the Sn matrix. The addition of small amounts of In is found to refine the effective grain size and consequently, improves hardness. The 89%Sn‐9%Zn‐2%In alloy is a lead‐free solder designed for possible drop‐in replacement of Pb‐Sn solders. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

双棱镜干涉实验课堂教学演示的可视化研究

传统的双棱镜干涉实验是通过测微目镜来观测实验现象的,其视场很小,不利于课堂教学演示。针对这一问题进行课堂教学演示的可视化研究,引入摄像头观测,增强了课堂教学演示的直观性,提高了课堂教学演示的效率和质量。     

微纳尺度光纤布拉格光栅折射率传感的理论研究

亚波长直径微纳光纤强倏逝场传输的光学特性,使其对周围介质折射率的变化具有极高的灵敏度.本文提出一种基于微纳尺度光纤布拉格光栅(MNFBG)的折射率传感器,结合微纳光纤倏逝场传输和光纤布拉格光栅(FBG)强波长选择的特性来实现高精度折射率传感,对其制备可行性进行了讨论.论文中对MNFBG折射率传感机理进行了深入的理论分析,并使用OptiGrating软件进行了数值模拟,模拟数据显示MNFBG折射率测量的灵敏度随着光纤半径的减小而增加,其中光纤半径为400 nm的MNFBG灵敏度可达到993 nm/RIU,相比于包层蚀刻的FBG灵敏度增加了170倍,说明MNFBG对发展微型化、高灵敏度折射率传感器具有良好的应用前景. 关键词： 微纳光纤 光纤布拉格光栅 折射率传感