纳米微粒对低温保护剂溶液结晶性质的影响

为了研究纳米微粒对低温保护剂溶液结晶性质的影响,实验利用差示扫描量热仪(DSC)测量了加入不同粒径、不同质量分数的HA纳米微粒的乙二醇(EG)低温保护剂溶液的成核温度和结晶焓。实验结果表明:纳米微粒加入EG溶液后,成核温度明显升高,并且随着纳米微粒粒径的和质量浓度的增大而升高显著;加入一定质量浓度(>0.2%)的纳米微粒后,同浓度的低温保护剂溶液的结晶焓稳定地升高。成核温度与结晶焓的升高说明,纳米微粒能够促进低温保护剂溶液的结晶。     

Synthesis of tungsten carbide nanopowder via submerged discharge method

Tungsten carbide nanopowder was prepared via pulsed discharge of bulk tungsten and graphite rods immersed in pure ethanol. The effect of discharge parameters on the characteristics of final products was investigated. Structural and morphological characterization of nanopowder was performed by means of X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy. In order to determine the feasibility of using synthesized material as an electrocatalyst, tungsten carbide nanopowder was tested for hydrogen evolution. A correlation was found between morphology of nanoparticles, their phase composition and electrocatalytic activity.     

Focusing of Fe3O4 nanoparticles using a rotating magnetic field in various environments

The paper shows the application of a new method – Magnetic Nanoparticles Focusing 3D, MNF-3D – for focusing of magnetic nanoparticles at any point in a three-dimensional space between the rotating magnet system. The results of focusing process of nanoparticles in water, human blood, human serum and polyurethane sponge are presented. Additionally, blood flow was also considered. The effectiveness of nanoparticle focusing was monitored optically and quantitatively by electron spin resonance method. The method enabled focusing of magnetic nanoparticles within a few minutes in different environments. A good efficiency of focusing process was observed for all the samples.     

Interactions Between Polymers and Nanoparticles: Formation of “Supermicellar” Hybrid Aggregates

Abstract

When polyelectrolyte‐neutral block copolymers are mixed in solutions to oppositely charged species (e.g., surfactant micelles, macromolecules, proteins, etc.), there is the formation of stable “supermicellar” aggregates combining both components. The resulting colloidal complexes exhibit a core‐shell structure, and the mechanism yielding to their formation is electrostatic self‐assembly. In this contribution, we report on the structural properties of “supermicellar” aggregates made from yttrium‐based inorganic nanoparticles (radius 2 nm) and polyelectrolyte‐neutral block copolymers in aqueous solutions. The yttrium hydroxyacetate particles were chosen as a model system for inorganic colloids, and also for their use in industrial applications as precursors for ceramic and opto‐electronic materials. The copolymers placed under scrutiny are the water‐soluble and asymmetric poly(sodium acrylate)‐b‐poly(acrylamide) diblocks. Using static and dynamical light‐scattering experiments, we demonstrate the analogy between surfactant micelles and nanoparticles in the complexation phenomenon with oppositely charged polymers. We also determine the sizes and the aggregation numbers of the hybrid organic–inorganic complexes. Several additional properties are discussed, such as the remarkable stability of the hybrid aggregates and the dependence of their sizes on the mixing conditions.     

Differentiating bulk nanobubbles from nanodroplets and nanoparticles

History has shown that it is not as easy as one might think to differentiate between bulk nanobubbles and nanodroplets or nanoparticles. It is generally easy to detect colloids (i.e. something that looks different, e.g. scatters light differently than its surrounding solvent), but less easy to determine the nature of these colloids. This has led to misinterpretations in the literature, where nanodroplets or nanoparticles have mistakenly been assumed to be nanobubbles. In this paper, we review a multitude of experimental methods and approaches to prove the existence of bulk nanobubbles. We conclude that combinations of optical detection with physical perturbations such as pressure or ultrasound, or phase-sensitive holographic methods are the most promising and convenient approaches.     

Biomimetic nucleation and growth of hydrophobic vaterite nanoparticles with oleic acid in a methanol solution

Hydrophobic vaterite nanoparticles were prepared via crystallization of CaCO₃ with oleic acid in methanol by mimicking the process of biomineralization. The molar ratio of oleic acid to calcium ion was varied from 0.1 to 0.5. By changing the concentration of the oleic acid, CaCO₃ particles with different shapes and polymorphism were obtained. High concentration of the oleic acid gave stable vaterite crystals, the polymorph of which did not change when the composite was kept in water for more than one week. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and TGA analysis of the obtained product indicated that the oleic acid was bound to the crystalline CaCO₃. The contact angle of the modified vaterite reached 122°. We have succeeded in crystallization of hydrophobic CaCO₃ nanoparticles in situ.     

Electronic properties of nanocrystalline tin oxide dispersed in monolithic mesoporous silica

This paper is devoted to the study of the electrical properties of nanocrystalline tin oxide dispersed in the mesoporous silica. By immersing the silica in precursor solutions with different concentrations and heat-treatment, different samples were obtained. With precursor concentrations increasing from 0.1 to 4.0 M, the resistivities of the samples decrease from 3.15×10⁶ to 2.43×10³ Ω cm. The resistivity changes with the measurement time, and the deviations from Ohm's law in the voltage–current (V–I) measurements illustrate the capacitance property of these nanocomposites. For this new kind of nanocomposites, the obtained results provide experimental evidence of the conducting mechanism for tin oxide nanoparticles.     

Physicochemical characterization of an Indian traditional medicine, Jasada Bhasma: detection of nanoparticles containing non-stoichiometric zinc oxide

Herbs and minerals are the integral parts of traditional systems of medicine in many countries. Herbo-Mineral medicinal preparations called Bhasma are unique to the Ayurvedic and Siddha systems of Indian Traditional Medicine. These preparations have been used since long and are claimed to be the very effective and potent dosage form. However, there is dearth of scientific analytical studies carried out on these products, and even the existing ones suffer from incomplete analysis. Jasada Bhasma is a unique preparation of zinc belonging to this class. This particular preparation has been successfully used by traditional practitioners for the treatment of diabetes and age-related eye diseases. This work presents a first comprehensive physicochemical characterization of Jasada Bhasma using modern state-of-the-art techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), elemental analysis with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our analysis shows that the Jasada Bhasma particles are in oxygen deficient state and a clearly identifiable fraction of particles are in the nanometer size range. These properties like oxygen deficiency and nanosize particles in Jasada Bhasma might impart the therapeutic property of this particular type of medicine. A. C. Joshi: Private Practitioner (Vaidya).     

Synthesis of 10 nm Ag nanoparticle polymer composite pastes for low temperature production of high conductivity films

The conversion of silver nanoparticle (NP) paste films into highly conductive films at low sintering temperature is an important requirement for the developing areas of additive fabrication and printed electronics. Ag NPs with a diameter of ∼10 nm were prepared via an improved chemical process to produce viscous paste with a high wt%. The paste consisted of as-prepared Ag NP and an organic vehicle of ethylcellulose that was deposited on glass and Si substrates using a contact lithographic technique. The morphology and conductivity of the imprinted paste film were measured as a function of sintering temperature, sintering time and the percentage ratio of Ag NP and ethylcellulose. The morphology and conductivity were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a two-point probe electrical conductivity measurement. The results show that the imprinted films were efficiently converted into conducting states when exposed to sintering temperature in the range of 200-240 °C, this temperature is lower than the previously reported values for Ag paste.