Search results for "1.11"
showing 10 items of 957 documents
Bio-imaging with the helium-ion microscope: A review
2021
Scanning helium-ion microscopy (HIM) is an imaging technique with sub-nanometre resolution and is a powerful tool to resolve some of the tiniest structures in biology. In many aspects, the HIM resembles a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), but the use of helium ions rather than electrons provides several advantages, including higher surface sensitivity, larger depth of field, and a straightforward charge-compensating electron flood gun, which enables imaging of non-conductive samples, rendering HIM a promising high-resolution imaging technique for biological samples. Starting with studies focused on medical research, the last decade has seen some particularly spectacular …
Brookite, the Least Known TiO2 Photocatalyst
2013
Brookite is the least studied TiO2 photocatalyst due to the difficulties usually encountered in order to obtain it as a pure phase. In this review, a comprehensive survey of the different methods available for preparing brookite powders and films is reported. Attention has been paid both to the most traditional methods, such as hydrothermal processes at high temperatures and pressures, and to environmentally benign syntheses using water soluble compounds and water as the solvent. Papers reporting the photocatalytic activity of pure and brookite-based samples have been reviewed.
Mechanical properties of sol–gel derived SiO2 nanotubes
2014
The mechanical properties of thick-walled SiO2 nanotubes (NTs) prepared by a sol–gel method while using Ag nanowires (NWs) as templates were measured by using different methods. In situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) cantilever beam bending tests were carried out by using a nanomanipulator equipped with a force sensor in order to investigate plasticity and flexural response of NTs. Nanoindentation and three point bending tests of NTs were performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) under ambient conditions. Half-suspended and three-point bending tests were processed in the framework of linear elasticity theory. Finite element method simulations were used to extract Young’s modulus values…
Hybrid catalysts for CO 2 conversion into cyclic carbonates
2019
The conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals such as cyclic carbonates is an appealing topic for the scientific community due to the possibility of valorizing waste into an inexpensive, available, nontoxic, and renewable carbon feedstock. In this regard, last-generation heterogeneous catalysts are of great interest owing to their high catalytic activity, robustness, and easy recovery and recycling. In the present review, recent advances on CO 2 cycloaddition to epoxide mediated by hybrid catalysts through organometallic or organo-catalytic species supported onto silica-, nanocarbon-, and metal-organic framework (MOF)-based heterogeneous materials, are highlighted and discussed.
Highly Active Hydrogenation Catalysts Based on Pd Nanoparticles Dispersed along Hierarchical Porous Silica Covered with Polydopamine as Interfacial G…
2020
New catalysts based on Pd(0) nanoparticles (Pd NPs) on a bimodal porous silica of the UVM-7/polydopamine (PDA) support have been synthesized following two preparative strategies based on the sequential or joint incorporation of two components of the composite (Pd and PDA). We analyzed the role played by the PDA as &lsquo
Acoustic Emission-Based Condition Monitoring and Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Hydraulic Cylinder Rod Seals
2021
The foremost reason for unscheduled maintenance of hydraulic cylinders in industry is caused by wear of the hydraulic seals. Therefore, condition monitoring and subsequent estimation of remaining useful life (RUL) methods are highly sought after by the maintenance professionals. This study aimed at investigating the use of acoustic emission (AE) sensors to identify the early stages of external leakage initiation in hydraulic cylinders through run to failure studies (RTF) in a test rig. In this study, the impact of sensor location and rod speeds on the AE signal were investigated using both time- and frequency-based features. Furthermore, a frequency domain analysis was conducted to investig…
Charge-transfer interactions between fullerenes and a mesoporous tetrathiafulvalene-based metal–organic framework
2019
The design of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) incorporating electroactive guest molecules in the pores has become a subject of great interest in order to obtain additional electrical functionalities within the framework while maintaining porosity. Understanding the charge-transfer (CT) process between the framework and the guest molecules is a crucial step towards the design of new electroactive MOFs. Herein, we present the encapsulation of fullerenes (C60) in a mesoporous tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-based MOF. The CT process between the electron-acceptor C60 guest and the electron-donor TTF ligand is studied in detail by means of different spectroscopic techniques and density functional theor…
Mammalian cell growth on gold nanoparticle-decorated substrates is influenced by the nanoparticle coating
2014
In this work, we study epithelial cell growth on substrates decorated with gold nanorods that are functionalized either with a positively charged cytotoxic surfactant or with a biocompatible polymer exhibiting one of two different end groups, resulting in a neutral or negative surface charge of the particle. Upon observation of cell growth for three days by live cell imaging using optical dark field microscopy, it was found that all particles supported cell adhesion while no directed cell migration and no significant particle internalization occurred. Concerning cell adhesion and spreading as compared to cell growth on bare substrates after 3 days of incubation, a reduction by 45% and 95%, …
Mechanical properties of MDCK II cells exposed to gold nanorods
2015
Background: The impact of gold nanoparticles on cell viability has been extensively studied in the past. Size, shape and surface functionalization including opsonization of gold particles ranging from a few nanometers to hundreds of nanometers are among the most crucial parameters that have been focussed on. Cytoxicity of nanomaterial has been assessed by common cytotoxicity assays targeting enzymatic activity such as LDH, MTT and ECIS. So far, however, less attention has been paid to the mechanical parameters of cells exposed to gold particles, which is an important reporter on the cellular response to external stimuli.Results: Mechanical properties of confluent MDCK II cells exposed to go…
Biocalcite, a multifunctional inorganic polymer: Building block for calcareous sponge spicules and bioseed for the synthesis of calcium phosphate-bas…
2014
Calcium carbonate is the material that builds up the spicules of the calcareous sponges. Recent results revealed that the calcium carbonate/biocalcite-based spicular skeleton of these animals is formed through an enzymatic mechanism, such as the skeleton of the siliceous sponges, evolutionarily the oldest animals that consist of biosilica. The enzyme that mediates the calcium carbonate deposition has been identified as a carbonic anhydrase (CA) and has been cloned from the calcareous sponge species Sycon raphanus. Calcium carbonate deposits are also found in vertebrate bones besides the main constituent, calcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite (HA). Evidence has been presented that during the init…