Search results for " microscopy"
showing 10 items of 1617 documents
Growth of fibrous aggregates of silica nanoparticles: Fibre growth by mimicking the biogenic silica patterning processes
2009
We describe the self-assembly of discrete SiO2 nanofibers via grafting of silicatein side chains to a polymer backbone. The covalent binding of silicatein to the backbone of the polymer is based on the affinity of the nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) side chain, which serves as a ligand for the immobilization of His-tagged silicatein. The surface charge and the bulkiness of the protein moieties prevent the entropically favoured coil formation of the polymer and force it to adopt an open chain structure after hydrolysis of the silica precursors. The probes were characterized by scanning force microscopy (SFM) and optical light microscopy. Surface complexation of the resulting silica nanoparticles…
Micropatterning of neurons using organic substrates in culture
1997
Abstract In this study, we have used spatially defined surfaces of organic thin films to micropattern the outgrowth of central nervous system neurons in culture. Glass substrates were first chemically modified with synthetic peptides derived from an extra-cellular matrix protein laminin to couple a functionality that promotes a neuron-substrate interaction. The modification procedure was verified using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The functionality of the modified glass surfaces was examined by growing neurons dissociated from mammalian central nervous tissues in culture. Spatially defined surfaces of the peptide were then fabricated by selectively attaching the peptide to coplanar sur…
Photosensitive polyurethanes for optical record
2011
The method of synthesis of photosensitive polyurethanes polymers on glycerine, toluenediisocyanate and Disperse Red 1 base has been described. Two types of polymers with different amount of Disperse Red 1 fragments in macromolecules were compared. Films of the polymers were obtained from solutions in organic solvents on glass substrate. The dry film thickness was in the range of 3,5 - 4.5 μm. The transmission spectrums of the films were studied. Possibility of formation of side product in the process of synthesis was observed. The photobirefringence measurements of polymers films were performed. Surface relief grating (SRG) formation was observed during polarization holographic recording pr…
Enzyme-Mediated Deposition of a TiO2Coating onto Biofunctionalized WS2 Chalcogenide Nanotubes
2009
A chemically specific and facile method for the biofunctionalization of WS2 nanotubes (NT-WS2) is reported. The covalent modification strategy is based on the affinity of the nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) side chain, which serves as a ligand for the surface binding to NT-WS2 and simultaneously as an anchor group for the binding of His-tagged proteins to the polymer backbone. The polymer functionalized WS2 nanotubes can be solubilized either in water or organic solvents; they are stable for at least one week. The probes were characterized by FT-IR and UV-vis spectroscopy. The immobilization of silicatein, a hydrolytic protein encountered in marine sponges, was visualized by scanning force micr…
Towards completely miscible PMMA nanocomposites reinforced by shear-stiff, nano-mica
2014
Abstract Optimizing the reinforcement of polymers with nanoplatelets requires optimization of the aspect ratio and the moduli of the filler while providing a complete stress transfer. Employing a novel shear-stiff, nano-mica with large aspect ratio, we focus on maximizing the interfacial interaction between filler and matrix. External surfaces of the nano-mica were selectively modified by a polycationic macro-initiator and two PMMA-polymer brushes of length below and above critical entanglement length, respectively, and the mechanical properties of the three PMMA nanocomposites were measured. The multiple electrostatic anchoring groups of the macro-initiator not only provide reliable adhesi…
Strategy for good dispersion of well-defined tetrapods in semiconducting polymer matrices.
2014
The morphology or dispersion control in inorganic/organic hybrid systems is studied, which consist of monodisperse CdSe tetrapods (TPs) with grafted semiconducting block copolymers with excess polymers of the same type. Tetrapod arm-length and amount of polymer loading are varied in order to find the ideal morphology for hybrid solar cells. Additionally, polymers without anchor groups are mixed with the TPs to study the effect of such anchor groups on the hybrid morphology. A numerical model is developed and Monte Carlo simulations to study the basis of compatibility or dispersibility of TPs in polymer matrices are performed. The simulations show that bare TPs tend to form clusters in the m…
Functional templates for hybrid materials with orthogonal functionality.
2009
We demonstrate an integrated approach to prepare a nanostructured, multifunctional material with mutually exclusive, orthogonal properties. The hybrid material was obtained within a single step via self-assembly in solution. It consists of TiO(2) as a functional metal oxide and an amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(triphenylamine) (PEO-PTPA). Within the materials' synthesis, the block copolymer not only acts as a templating agent but also adds an electronic functionality to the resulting hybrid material. During the synthesis, a variety of self-assembled morphologies, ranging from spheres to wires, can be created. The obtained morphology depends on the weight fraction o…
Self-Diffusion in Concentrated Colloid Suspensions Studied by Digital Video Microscopy of Core−Shell Tracer Particles
1998
Optical video microscopy and digital image processing have been used to study the self-diffusion of colloidal particles with a hard-sphere potential. The colloid particles consist of cross-linked polymers and are dispersed in a good solvent to avoid aggregation. To investigate single particle motion in highly concentrated dispersions, a host−tracer system, consisting of two different kinds of polymer particles, has been designed: the host particles are made of poly-t-butylacrylate (with ethanedioldiacrylate as cross-linker) and have the same refractive index as the employed solvent, 4-fluorotoluene. The tracer particles have a core−shell structure with a polystyrene core (cross-linked with…
SPM and TOF-SIMS investigation of the physical and chemical modification induced by tip writing of self-assembled monolayers
2003
Abstract The nanoelectrochemical modification of alkyl self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) obtained on hydrogenated silicon surfaces via radical-initiated reactions of 1-octadecene has been investigated. Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) showed that the modification of the organic layer occurs by applying either positive or negative biases to the tip at a threshold of about ±5 V. When the bias absolute value was ≤6 V, the height of the monolayer was only faintly modified, whereas a consistent increase in tip/sample friction force was observed, in agreement with the formation of hydrophilic moieties at the organic surface. In addition to the increase of friction, bias absolute values larger than …
Distribution of molecularly imprinted polymer layers on macroporous silica gel particles by STEM and EDX
2005
Abstract Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in parallel and scanning mode (STEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) the distribution of molecularly imprinted polymer layers covalently grafted on the inner and outer surface of macroporous silica gel particles was observed. The grafting was achieved using a special initiator system ( iniferter ) and applied on a well known model system producing molecularly imprinted layers with l -phenyl alanine analide ( l -PA) as template. By staining the sample with RuO 4 before its embedment in epoxy resin and cutting ultra thin slices it was possible to identify the stained grafted polymer on the silica matrix by EDX. Bas…