Controlled evaporative self-assembly of polymer nanoribbons using oscillating capillary bridges

Evaporative self-assembly (ESA), based on the “coffee-ring” effect, is a versatile technique for assembling particle solutions into mesoscale patterns and structures on different substrates. ESA works with a wide variety of organic and inorganic materials, where the solution is a combination of volatile solvent and nonvolatile solute. Modified ESA methods, such as “stop-and-go flow coating,” use a programmed meniscus “stick–slip” motion to create mesoscale assemblies with controlled shape, size, and architecture. However, current methods are not scalable for increased production volumes or patterning large surface areas. We demonstrate a new ESA method, where an oscillating blade controls the meniscus depinning and drives the evaporative assembly of solutes at the pinned meniscus. Results show that oscillation frequency and substrate speed control time/distance intervals between successive meniscus depinning, and the assembly dimensions depend on solution concentration, oscillation frequency, substrate speed, and meniscus height. We report the mechanism of the meniscus depinning and the control over assembly cross-sectional dimensions. This advance provides a scalable ESA method with faster processing times and maintained advantages. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 1545–1551     

冲击作用下HMX晶体孔洞塌缩热点生成机制的细观数值模拟

热点的形成、点火以及成长过程是理解非均匀炸药冲击起爆的关键.采用离散元法,对冲击作用下含孔洞的HMX晶体进行了细观数值模拟.计算结果表明:在较低冲击作用下,孔洞边缘发生了较大的剪切变形,粘塑性功形成热点;而在较高冲击作用下,孔洞塌缩产生射流,汇聚流动,冲击下游炸药形成热点,并获得了孔洞塌缩和热点生成演化的细观过程.     

Equilibrium of ion-exchange polymeric membrane with aqueous salt solution and its thermodynamic modeling

A thermodynamic model is proposed to describe distribution of the components between a liquid solution and a swollen membrane undergoing structural transformations. Free energy contributions related to formation of solution-filled micro-cavities in the membrane interior are estimated. Formation of the cavities of different shape is accounted for by using the Helfrich expressions for the bending energy of a curved interface. Three adjustable parameters of the model are related to the hydrophobic polymer matrix of the membrane, while the electrostatic contribution is estimated explicitly. Structural changes in the membrane are described as a transition from spherical to cylindrical cavities. Predominance of cavities having definite shape (spheres, cylinders) results in a specific shift of the Donnan equilibrium, which thus, becomes dependent on the structure of the membrane on the mesoscale. The results of model calculations are compared with the experimental data on the distribution of ions (H⁺, Li⁺, Cs⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) between the aqueous solution and the membrane. Different types of predicted thermodynamic behavior of the membrane in the liquid solution, including the hysteresis of ion-exchange equilibrium curves, are discussed. The model takes into account the effect of micro-inhomogeneties and helps to establish a link between molecular characteristics of the perfluoropolymer membrane and its macroscopic behavior in the liquid solution.     

A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF MESOSCALE IRRIGATION OVER ARID LAND ON MESOSCALE CLIMATE

The present study investigated the modification of mesoscale inhomogeneous distribu-tion of soil wetness, resulting from mesoscale irrigation over arid or semiarid lands in mid-latitude in the later summer or early autumn, on mesoscale climate under conditions withand without synoptic flow influence, using an interactive model between soil and atmo-sphere. The simulations indicated that after a mesoscale irrgation, a wet soil breeze circu-lation was thermally forced, which was, in many features, similar to that of the sea breezecirculation. The influence of synoptic flows on the structure of thermally--induced wet soilbreeze circulation was also discussed.     

Macroporous oxide materials with three-dimensionally interconnected pores

Ordered mesoscale hollow spheres (1000 nm diameter) of binary oxides such as TiO₂ and ZrO₂ as well as of ternary oxides such as ferroelectric PbTiO₃ and Pb(ZrTi)O₃ have been prepared by templating against colloidal crystals of polystyrene, by adopting different procedures.     

循环流化床内颗粒团流动的研究

循环流化床颗粒相流动具有多尺度效应:单颗粒运动的微尺度、颗粒团运动的介尺度和固相运动的宏尺度。颗粒相流动参数受单颗粒运动和颗粒聚团运动的制约,同时影响气相流动。基于气体分子运动论和颗粒动理学,建立相平均稠密气固两相流流动模型。介尺度模型考虑颗粒团与单颗粒之间、颗粒团与气相之间的动量和能量的传递和耗散。模拟计算颗粒容积份额、速度等参数与实测值相吻合。     

Controlled processing of polymer nanoribbons: Enabling microhelix transformations

Flow‐coated, two‐dimensional polymer ribbon structures undergo a shape‐transformation into a three‐dimensional helix upon their release into a solution. Driven by surface forces and due to geometric asymmetry, the helix radius and spring constant depend upon the ribbon cross‐section dimensions, surface energy, and material elastic modulus. Such spring‐like microhelices offer multiple functionalities combined with mechanical stretching and shape recovery. Fabricating such microhelices requires a sequence of processing steps, beginning with flow‐coating of ribbons on a substrate, followed by etching of a “scum layer” to allow for an independent release into a solution, upon which shape‐transformation occurs. During the deposition‐etch‐release sequence, various control parameters influence the nanoribbon size and geometry, hence the helix properties. The experimental study presented here focuses on the influence of meniscus height, substrate velocity, substrate surface energy, and etch time on nanoribbon size (height and width), scum layer thickness, and helix radius. The results show that meniscus height and contact angle dictate flux toward the meniscus edge and volume available for spatial assembly, allowing control over the aspect ratio of ribbons. We vary the aspect ratio by two orders of magnitude, while maintaining geometric asymmetry needed for helix shape‐transformation. We provide robust scaling for the nanoribbon size and geometry and report the advantages and disadvantages of different parameters, in the control of polymer nanoribbon and helix fabrication. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 1270–1278     

Hard X-ray Spectroscopic Nano-Imaging of Hierarchical Functional Materials at Work

Heterogeneous catalysts often consist of an active metal (oxide) in close contact with a support material and various promoter elements. Although macroscopic properties, such as activity, selectivity and stability, can be assessed with catalyst performance testing, the development of relevant, preferably quantitative structure–performance relationships require the use of advanced characterisation methods. Spectroscopic imaging in the hard X-ray region with nanometer-scale resolution has very recently emerged as a powerful approach to elucidate the hierarchical structure and related chemistry of catalytic solids in action under realistic reaction conditions. This X-ray-based chemical imaging method benefits from the combination of high resolution (∼30 nm) with large X-ray penetration and depth of focus, and the possibility for probing large areas with mosaic imaging. These capabilities make it possible to obtain spatial and temporal information on chemical changes in catalytic solids as well as a wide variety of other functional materials, such as fuel cells and batteries, in their full complexity and integrity. In this concept article we provide details on the method and setup of full-field hard X-ray spectroscopic imaging, illustrate its potential for spatiotemporal chemical imaging by making use of recent showcases, outline the pros and cons of this experimental approach and discuss some future directions for hierarchical functional materials research.     

On the Size of RVE in Finite Elasticity of Random Composites

This paper presents a quantitative study of the size of representative volume element (RVE) of random matrix-inclusion composites based on a scale-dependent homogenization method. In particular, mesoscale bounds defined under essential or natural boundary conditions are computed for several nonlinear elastic, planar composites, in which the matrix and inclusions differ not only in their material parameters but also in their strain energy function representations. Various combinations of matrix and inclusion phases described by either neo-Hookean or Ogden function are examined, and these are compared to those of linear elastic types.     

Promises and Problems of Mesoscale Materials Chemistry or Why Meso?

Manipulation and control of chemical structures on the mesoscale has recently developed to a very promising and also aesthetically appealing area of chemistry. This concept article tries to integrate the views of two experts to delineate the specific principles, approaches, and the novel opportunities for chemistry that arise from the rational control of matter and functionality on that scale.