液化膜对胶体悬浮液粘度的影响

Viscosity is one of the most important properties of colloids in mixing, transportation, stabilization, energy consumption, and so on. According to Einstein‘s viscosity equation, the viscosity of a colloidal dispersion increases with the increase of particle concentration. And the equation can be applicable to all micro-particle dispersions, because the effect of solvation films coated on particles can be neglectable in that case. But with the decrease of particle size to nano-scale, the formation of solvation films on nano-particles can greatly affect the viscosity of a dispersion, and Einstein‘s equation may not be applicable to this case. In this work, one kind of micro-size silica particle and two kinds of nano-size silica particles were used to investigate the effect of solvation films on dispersion viscosity, dispersed in water and ethyl alcohol solvents, respectively. The results of theoretical calculation and experimental investigation show that the increase of viscosity is contributed from solvation films by more than 95 percent for nano-particle dispersions, while less than 10 percent for micro-particle dispersions.     

Sampling free and particle‐bound chemicals using solid‐phase microextraction and needle trap device simultaneously

The possibility of sampling the free and particle‐bound concentrations of organic compounds was studied using two different sampling techniques at the same time: needle trap device (NTD) and solid‐phase microextraction (SPME). In this study, a mosquito coil was used to produce gaseous (free) and particle‐bound compounds. Allethrin, the active ingredient in mosquito coils, was chosen as the target analyte. Under the same sampling conditions, the amount of allethrin extracted from the mosquito‐coil smoke was higher for the NTD compared to the SPME fiber, while the extracted amounts were almost the same for both devices when sampling gaseous samples of allethrin. These results can be explained by the fact that the SPME fiber can only extract free molecules (based on diffusion), whereas the NTD, an exhaustive sampling device, collects both free and particle‐bound allethrin. Breakthrough for NTD and carryover for both NTD and SPME were negligible under the given sampling and desorption conditions.     

Improvement in gas separation properties of a polymeric membrane through the incorporation of inorganic nano‐particles

The present work tries to introduce a high‐performance nano‐composite membrane by using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as its main polymer matrix to meet some specific requirements in industrial gas separations. Different nano‐composite membranes were synthesized by incorporating various amounts of nano‐sized silica particles into the PDMS matrix. A uniform dispersion of nano‐particles in the host membranes was obtained. The nano‐composite membranes were characterized morphologically by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Separation properties, permeability, and ideal selectivity of C₃H₈, CH₄, and H₂ through the synthesized nano‐composite membranes with different nano‐particle contents (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 wt%) were investigated at different pressures (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 atm) and constant temperature (35°C). It was found out that a 2 wt% loading of nano‐particles into the PDMS matrix is optimal to obtain the best separation performance. Afterwards, sorption experiments for the synthesized nano‐composite membranes were carried out, and diffusion coefficients of the gases were calculated based on solution‐diffusion mechanism. Gas permeation and sorption experiments showed an increase in sorption and a decrease in diffusion coefficients of the gases through the nano‐composite membranes by adding nano‐particles into the host polymer matrix. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

From Extended Nanofluidics to an Autonomous Solar‐Light‐Driven Micro Fuel‐Cell Device

Autonomous micro/nano mechanical, chemical, and biomedical sensors require persistent power sources scaled to their size. Realization of autonomous micro‐power sources is a challenging task, as it requires combination of wireless energy supply, conversion, storage, and delivery to the sensor. Herein, we realized a solar‐light‐driven power source that consists of a micro fuel cell (μFC) and a photocatalytic micro fuel generator (μFG) integrated on a single microfluidic chip. The μFG produces hydrogen by photocatalytic water splitting under solar light. The hydrogen fuel is then consumed by the μFC to generate electricity. Importantly, the by‐product water returns back to the photocatalytic μFG via recirculation loop without losses. Both devices rely on novel phenomena in extended‐nano‐fluidic channels that ensure ultra‐fast proton transport. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate that μFG/μFC source achieves remarkable energy density of ca. 17.2 mWh cm⁻² at room temperature.     

Synthesis of Spin‐Crossover Nano‐ and Micro‐objects in Homogeneous Media

New methods are proposed for the synthesis of spin‐crossover nano‐ and micro‐objects. Several nano‐objects that are based upon the spin‐crossover complex [Fe(hptrz)₃](OTs)₂ (hptrz=4‐heptyl‐1,2,4‐triazole, Ts=para‐toluenesulfonyl) were prepared in homogeneous media. The use of various reagents (Triton X‐100, PVP, TOPO, and PEGs of different molecular weights) as stabilizing agents yielded materials of different size (6 nm–2 μm) and morphology (nanorods, nanoplates, small spherical particles, and nano‐ and micro‐crystals). In particular, when Triton X‐100 was used, a variation in the morphology from nanorods to nanoplates was observed by changing the nature of the solvent. Interestingly, the preparation of the nanorods and nanoplates was always accompanied by the formation of small spherical particles. Alternatively, when PEG was used, 200–400 nm crystals of the complex were obtained. In addition, a very promising polymer‐free synthetic method is discussed that was based on the preparation of relatively stable Fe^II–triazole oligomers in CHCl₃. Their specific treatment led to micro‐crystals, small nanoparticles, or gels. The size and morphology of all of these objects were characterized by TEM and by dynamic light scattering (DLS) where possible. Their spin‐crossover behavior was studied by optical and magnetic measurements. The spin‐transition features for large particles (>100 nm) were very similar to that of the bulk material, that is, close to room temperature with a hysteresis width of up to 8 K. The effects of the matrix and/or size‐reduction led to modification of the transition temperature and an abruptness of the spin transition for oligomeric solutions and small nanoparticles of 6 nm in size.     

Time-weighted average sampling of airborne n-valeraldehyde by a solid-phase microextration device

A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) device was used as a time-weighted average sampler for n-valeraldehyde. The SPME device was first modified to improve the wearer's acceptance as a passive sampler. Then a poly(dimethylsiloxane)-divinylbenzene fiber was used and O-2,3,4,5,6-(pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA) was loaded onto the fiber. Vapors of known concentrations around the threshold limit values time-weighted average of n-valeraldehyde and specific relative humidities (RHs) were generated by syringe pumps in a dynamic generation system. n-Valeraldehyde vapors in gas bags were also generated. An exposure chamber was designed to allow measurement of face velocities, temperatures, exposing vapor concentrations, and RHs. Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection was used for sample analysis. The appropriate adsorption time for SPME coating PFBHA was determined to be 2 min and the desorption time for oxime formed after sampling was optimized to be 2 min. The experimental sampling constant was found to be (3.86+/-0.13) x 10(-2) cm3/min and face velocity was not expect to have effect on the sampler.     

Cold fiber solid-phase microextraction device based on thermoelectric cooling of metal fiber

A new cold fiber solid-phase microextraction device was designed and constructed based on thermoelectric cooling. A three-stage thermoelectric cooler (TEC) was used for cooling a copper rod coated with a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) hollow fiber, which served as the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber. The copper rod was mounted on a commercial SPME plunger and exposed to the cold surface of the TEC, which was enclosed in a small aluminum box. A heat sink and a fan were used to dissipate the generated heat at the hot side of the TEC. By applying an appropriate dc voltage to the TEC, the upper part of the copper rod, which was in contact to the cold side of the TEC, was cooled and the hollow fiber reached a lower temperature through heat transfer. A thermocouple was embedded in the cold side of the TEC for indirect measurement of the fiber temperature. The device was applied in quantitative analysis of off-flavors in a rice sample. Hexanal, nonanal, and undecanal were chosen as three off-flavors in rice. They were identified according to their retention times and analyzed by GC-flame ionization detection instrument. Headspace extraction conditions (i.e., temperature and time) were optimized. Standard addition calibration graphs were obtained at the optimized conditions and the concentrations of the three analytes were calculated. The concentration of hexanal was also measured using a conventional solvent extraction method (697+/-143ng/g) which was comparable to that obtained from the cold fiber SPME method (644+/-8). Moreover, the cold fiber SPME resulted in better reproducibility and shorter analysis time. Cold fiber SPME with TEC device can also be used as a portable device for field sampling.     

An emulsifier‐free core–shell polyacrylate/diacetone acrylamide emulsion with nano‐SiO2 for room temperature curable waterborne coatings

An emulsifier‐free core–shell polyacrylate emulsion, containing nano‐SiO₂ nanoparticles in the core and diacetone acrylamide (DAAM) in the shell, has been successfully prepared by emulsifier‐free seeded emulsion polymerization. The effects of reaction temperature, dropping time, nano‐SiO₂ and initiator contents, and variation of the composition of core monomers on the amount of coagulum, particle size, and monomer conversion have been investigated. The particle morphology and the distribution of emulsion particles have been measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering. The keto‐carbonyl groups on the surface of the polyacrylate emulsion nanoparticles reacted with adipic dihydrazide (ADH) to form a film with a cross‐linked network structure at room temperature. Therefore, the emulsifier‐free core–shell emulsion could be used as a two‐component room temperature curable waterborne coating. It was also found that the properties of the coating were clearly superior after using the cross‐linker. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of nano/micro‐mixed ceramic fillers on the dielectric and thermal properties of epoxy polymer composites

Nano/micro ceramic‐filled epoxy composite materials have been processed with various percentage additions of SiO₂, Al₂O₃ ceramic fillers as reinforcements selected from the nano and micro origin sources. Different types of filler combinations, viz. only nano, only micro, nano/micro, and micro/micro particles, were designed to investigate their influence on the thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, and dielectric properties of epoxy polymers. Thermal expansion studies were conducted using thermomechanical analysis that revealed a two‐step expansion pattern consecutively before and after vitreous transition temperatures. The presence of micro fillers have shown vitreous transition temperature in the range 70–80°C compared with that of nano structured composites in which the same was observed as ~90°C. Similarly, the bulk thermal conductivity is found to increase with increasing percentage of micron‐size Al₂O₃. It was established that the addition of micro fillers lead to epoxy composite materials that exhibited lower thermal expansion and higher thermal conductivity compared with nano fillers. Moreover, nano fillers have a significantly decisive role in having low bulk dielectric permittivity. In this study, epoxy composites with a thermal expansion coefficient of 2.5 × 10^?5/K, thermal conductivity of 1.18 W/m · K and dielectric permittivity in the range 4–5 at 1 kHz have been obtained. The study confirms that although the micro fillers seem to exhibit good thermal conductivity and low expansion coefficient, the nano‐size ceramic fillers are candidate as cofillers for low dielectric permittivity. However, a suitable proportion of nano/micro‐mixed fillers is necessary for achieving epoxy composites with promising thermal conductivity, controlled coefficient of thermal expansion and dielectric permittivity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Time-weighted average water sampling with a diffusion-based solid-phase microextraction device

A new diffusion-based solid-phase microextraction (SPME) time-weighted average (TWA) field water sampling device was developed and investigated by field trial. The sampler is constructed with copper tube and caps and a commercial SPME fiber assembly. The device possesses all advantages of SPME; it is solvent-free, reusable, combines sampling, isolation and enrichment into one step, and the fiber can be directly injected into a gas chromatograph for analysis with a commercial SPME fiber holder, without further treatment. Field trials in Laurel Creek (Waterloo, Ont., Canada) and Hamilton Harbour (Hamilton, Ont., Canada) illustrated that the device is durable, easy to deploy, and the mass uptake of the device is independent of the face velocity. The device provides good precision [relative standard deviations (RSDs) are less than 20%] and the data obtained with this device are quite comparable to those obtained with the spot sampling method, which demonstrates that the newly developed SPME water sampling device is suitable for long-term monitoring of organic pollutants in water.     

A simple calibration procedure for volatile organic compounds sampling in air with adsorptive solid-phase microextraction fibres

Adsorptive solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibres have proven to be a reliable means of sampling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air. In this work, polydimethylsiloxane/carboxen (PDMS/CAR) fibres were used to test a new approach of air sampling strategy with SPME in the lab which could lighten calibration procedure and enhance the use of this already rapid, simple, convenient and cost effective sampling technique. Indeed, only one curve can be used whatever the extraction time chosen by the analyst under constant conditions of air velocity and temperature. Ficks' law of diffusion was used to model SPME grab sampling when the fibre was totally exposed to the air sample. Experimental sampling rates were then determined by GC-FID for different sampling conditions, i.e. in a flowing air stream of known velocity ("dynamic mode") and in a stagnant air ("static mode"). These sampling rates were found to be 3.50 and 17.80 mL min(-1) for acetone, 4.06 and 21.20 mL min(-1) for 1,2-dichloroethane, 5.10 and 27.80 mL min(-1) for toluene and 5.36 and 30.80 mL min(-1) for butyl acetate, for static and dynamic sampling modes respectively. Deviation from linearity of the calibration curves, indicating that a significant fraction of the adsorption sites are occupied, were determined. They were found to be approximately equal to 0.9, 1.57, 3.82 and 4.37 nmol for acetone, dichloroethane, toluene and butyl acetate, respectively. Experimentally determined sampling rates of these isolated compounds were also valid when a complex equimolar gaseous mixture was investigated, but deviation from linearity appears earlier. Then, for a given application, sampling times should be chosen very carefully to avoid competitive adsorption and hence, bad quantitative analysis results.     

Solid phase microextraction as a powerful alternative for screening of secondary metabolites in actinomycetes

Actinobacteria are one of the most promising producers of medically and industrially relevant secondary metabolites. However, screening of such compounds in actinobacteria growth demands simple, fast, and efficient extraction procedures that enable detection and precise quantification of biologically active compounds. In this regard, solid phase microextraction (SPME) emerges as an ideal extraction technique for screening of secondary metabolites in bacteria culture due to its non‐exhaustive, minimally invasive, and non‐destructive nature: its integrated sample preparation workflow; balanced coverage feature; metabolism quenching capabilities; and superior cleanup, as well as its versatility in configuration, which enables automation and high throughput applications. The current work provides a comparison of micro‐scale and direct immersion SPME (DI‐SPME) for screening of secondary metabolites, describes the optimization of the developed DI‐SPME method, and introduces the developed technique for mapping of target secondary metabolites as well as its direct coupling to mass spectrometry for such applications. The optimized DI‐SPME method provided higher amounts of extracted ions and intensity signals, yielding superior extraction and desorption efficiency as compared with micro‐scale extraction. Studied compounds presented stability on the coating for 24 h at room temperature. The DI‐SPME mapping approach revealed that lysolipin I and the lienomycin analog are distributed along the center and edges of the colony, respectively. Direct coupling of SPME to MS provided a similar ions profile as SPME‐LC‐MS while enabling a significant decrease in analysis time, demonstrating its suitability for such applications. DI‐SPME is herein presented as an alternative to micro‐scale extraction for screening of secondary metabolites in actinobacteria solid medium, as well as a feasible alternative to DESI‐IMS for mapping of biologic radial distribution of secondary metabolites and cell life cycle studies. Lastly, the direct coupling of DI‐SPME to MS is presented as a fast, powerful technique for high throughput analysis of secondary metabolites in this medium.     

A microfluidic chip with a staircase pH gradient generator,a packed column and a fraction collector for chromatofocusing of proteins

A microfluidic device for pH gradient chromatofocusing is presented, which performs creation of a micro‐column, pH gradient generation, and fraction collection in a single device. Using a sieve micro‐valve, anion exchange particles were packed into a microchannel in order to realize a solid‐phase absorption column. To fractionate proteins according to their isoelectric points, elution buffer solutions with a stepwise pH gradient were prepared in 16 parallel mixing reactors and flowed through the micro‐column, wherein a protein mixture was previously loaded. The volume of the column is only 20 nL, hence it allows extremely low sample consumption and fast analysis compared with a conventional system. We demonstrated separation of two proteins, albumin–fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate (FITC‐BSA) and R‐Phycoerythrin (R‐PE), by using a microcolumn of commercial charged polymeric particles (Source 15Q). The microfluidic device can be used as a rapid diagnostic tool to analyse crude mixtures of proteins or nucleic acids and determine adsorption/desorption characteristics of various biochemical products, which can be helpful for scientific fundamental understanding as well as instrumental in various industrial applications, especially in early stage screening and process development.     

MicroRNA Delivery with Bioreducible Polyethylenimine as a Non‐Viral Vector for Breast Cancer Gene Therapy

Polyethylenimines (PEIs) are outstanding macromolecules belonging to the polycations used in gene transfection. The transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity of PEIs increase with the increase in their molecular weight. To break up the correlation between transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity for non‐viral gene delivery, disulfide cross‐linked polyethylenimine (PEI‐SS) has been widely employed as highly efficient gene vectors for DNA/siRNA delivery in numerous efforts. In this work, PEI‐SS is described as a non‐viral vector for miRNA delivery for the first time. PEI‐SS is synthesized via cross‐linking using disulfide bonds as the cross‐linker from low molecular weight PEI. PEI‐SS can efficiently bind anti‐miR‐155 to form the polyplex with nano‐sized spherical structures in the size range of 10–100 nm. The polyplex is degraded by glutathione (GSH, a reducing agent) in cancer cells. Anti‐miR‐155 is then released to efficiently inhibit tumor growth.     

Evaporative characteristics of sessile nanofluid droplet on micro‐structured heated surface

Micro‐structure patterned substrates attract our attention due to the special and programmable wettabilities. The interaction between the liquid and micro/nano structures gives rise to controllable spreading and thus evaporation. For exploration of the application versatility, the introduction of nanoparticles in liquid droplet results in interaction among particles, liquid and microstructures. In addition, temperature of the substrates strongly affects the spreading of the contact line and the evaporative property. The evaporation of sessile droplets of nanofluids on a micro‐grooved solid surface is investigated in terms of liquid and surface properties. The patterned nickel surface used in the experiments is designed and fabricated with circular and rectangular shaped pillars whose size ratios between interval and pillars is fixed at 5. The behavior is firstly compared between nanofluid and pure liquid on substrates at room temperature. For pure water droplet, the drying time is relatively longer due to the receding of contact line which slows down the liquid evaporation. Higher concentrations of nanoparticles tend to increase the total evaporation time. With varying concentrations of graphite at nano scale from 0.02% to 0.18% with an interval at 0.04% in water droplets and the heating temperature from 22 to 85°C, the wetting and evaporation of the sessile droplets are systematically studied with discussion on the impact parameters and the resulted liquid dynamics as well as the stain. The interaction among the phases together with the heating strongly affects the internal circulation inside the droplet, the evaporative rate and the pattern of particles deposition.     

Determination of ethylene oxide by solid-phase microextraction device with on-fiber derivatization

The solid-phase microextraction (SPME) device was used as a time-weighted average (TWA) sampler for ethylene oxide. Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS) fiber was used and hydrogen bromide (HBr) was loaded onto the fiber. The SPME fiber assembly was then inserted into PTFE tubing to improve the wearer's acceptance as a diffusive sampler. Known concentrations of ethylene oxide around the threshold limit values (TLVs)/time-weighted average and specific relative humidities (RHs) were generated by syringe pumps in a dynamic generation system. Ethylene oxide in gas bags were also generated. An exposure chamber was designed to allow measurement of face velocities, temperatures, exposing vapor concentrations, and RHs. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for sample analysis. The appropriate adsorption time for SPME coating HBr was found to be 30 s and the desorption time for 2-bromothanol formed after sampling was determined to be 5 min. The experimental sampling constant of the sampler was found to be (2.96 +/- 0.09) x 10(-2) cm3/min, while face velocity (0-0.25 m/s) as well as RHs (10-80%) were not expected to have effects on the sampler.     

Considerations on Static and Dynamic Sorptive and Adsorptive Sampling to Monitor Volatiles Emitted by Living Plants

Static and dynamic headspace sampling have been applied for the enrichment of volatiles emitted by living plants. For solid phase microextraction (SPME) the sorptive fibers polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyacrylate (PA) have been compared and, in accordance with the like‐like principle, polar compounds exhibit more affinity for the PA fiber while apolar solutes favor the PDMS fiber. For dynamic sampling, tubes packed with PDMS particles show greater inertness than Tenax; some Tenax decomposition products, e.g. benzaldehyde and acetophenone, interfere with the analyses. With PDMS particles operated in the breakthrough mode, the obtained profiles are similar to those obtained by SPME on the PA fiber. Recoveries relative to a packed PDMS bed are 85% for Tenax, 2.4% for SPME‐PDMS, and 6.2% for SPME‐PA.     

以聚乙二醇-b-聚四乙烯基吡啶为模板制备聚联苯胺微/纳米颗粒及其电容特性

以两亲性嵌段共聚物聚乙二醇-b-聚四乙烯基吡啶(PEO-b-P4VP)为模板制备聚联苯胺微/纳米颗粒,调节模板剂胶束溶液pH,得到了一系列形貌和尺寸可控的聚联苯胺微/纳米颗粒。利用红外光谱、核磁共振、透射电镜、循环伏安、恒电流放电、交流阻抗等测试对材料的结构和性能进行了表征。模板法合成的聚联苯胺为平均直径小于200nm的亚微米至纳米级棒状颗粒,其直径随着模板剂胶束溶液pH的降低而增加。所得聚联苯胺颗粒均显示了一定的电化学活性,当电流密度为1A/g时,聚联苯胺的比电容量达到306.3F/g,经过长时间的充放电测试,不同条件下合成的聚联苯胺的容量衰减率均很小,表现出良好的循环稳定性且各样品电化学性能呈现出随着直径的减小而增强的趋势。     

Development of an in-cell SPME method to determine the chemical resistance of polymeric membranes to permeation by organic solvents

A stainless steel cell with an in-cell solid-phase microextraction (SPME) sampling device is proposed to investigate the permeation of dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, and benzene through a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) membrane. The advantage of using SPME as a direct sampling device in the collection chamber is that it is a simple and sensitive means to monitor the concentrations of organic compounds in the collection medium for a closed-loop test system. Compared with the permeation results for an ASTM F739 cell, the standardized breakthrough times were shorter and the permeability coefficients were greater using the alternative cell. Although the optimum SPME sampling parameters should be obtained in advance, the in-cell SPME method can be an appropriate approach to determine the resistance of polymeric membranes to permeation by organic solvents.     

Effects of microscale calcium carbonate and nanoscale calcium carbonate on the fusion,thermal, and mechanical characterizations of rigid poly(vinyl chloride)/calcium carbonate composites

A Haake torque rheometer equipped with an internal mixer has been used to study the influence of microscale calcium carbonate (micro‐CaCO₃) and nanoscale calcium carbonate (nano‐CaCO₃) on the fusion, thermal, and mechanical characteristics of rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/micro‐CaCO₃ and PVC/nano‐CaCO₃ composites, respectively. The fusion characteristics discussed in this article include the fusion time, fusion temperature, fusion torque, and fusion percolation threshold (FPT). The fusion time, fusion temperature, and FPT of rigid PVC/calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) composites increase with an increase in the addition of micro‐CaCO₃ or nano‐CaCO₃. In contrast, the fusion torque of rigid PVC/CaCO₃ composites decreases with an increase in the addition of micro‐CaCO₃ or nano‐CaCO₃. The results of thermal analysis show that the first thermal degradation onset temperature (T_onset) of rigid PVC/micro‐CaCO₃ is 7.5 °C lower than that of PVC. Meanwhile, the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of rigid PVC/micro‐CaCO₃ is similar to that of PVC. However, T_onset and T_g of PVC/nano‐CaCO₃ composites can be increased by up to 30 and 4.4%, respectively, via blending with 10 phr nano‐CaCO₃. Mechanical testing results for PVC/micro‐CaCO₃ composites with the addition of 5–15 phr micro‐CaCO₃ and PVC/nano‐CaCO₃ composites with the addition of 5–20 phr nano‐CaCO₃ are better than those of PVC. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 451–460, 2006