Search results for "Microscopy"
showing 10 items of 3390 documents
Biodegradable Polymers for the Production of Nets for Agricultural Product Packaging
2021
It is well known that the need for more environmentally friendly materials concerns, among other fields, the food packaging industry. This regards also, for instance, nets used for agricultural product (e.g., citrus fruits, potatoes) packaging. These nets are typically manufactured by film blowing technique, with subsequent slicing of the films and cold drawing of the obtained strips, made from traditional, non-biodegradable polymer systems. In this work, two biodegradable polymer systems were characterized from rheological, processability, and mechanical points of view, in order to evaluate their suitability to replace polyethylene-based polymer systems typically used for agricultural prod…
Enhanced thermoelectric properties of lightly Nb doped SrTiO3 thin films
2021
Novel thermoelectric materials developed for operation at room temperature must have similar or better performance along with being as ecofriendly as those commercially used, e.g., BiTe, in terms of their toxicity and cost. In this work, we present an in-depth study of the thermoelectric properties of epitaxial Nb-doped strontium titanate (SrTiNbO) thin films as a function of (i) doping concentration, (ii) film thickness and (iii) substrate type. The excellent crystal quality was confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The thermoelectric properties were measured by the three-omega method (thermal conductivity) and van der Pauw method (el…
The structural properties of GaN insertions in GaN/AlN nanocolumn heterostructures.
2009
The strain state of 1 and 2.5 nm thick GaN insertions in GaN/AlN nanocolumn heterostructures has been studied by means of a combination of high resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and theoretical modeling. It is found that 2.5 nm thick GaN insertions are partially relaxed, which has been attributed to the presence of dislocations in the external AlN capping layer, in close relationship with the morphology of GaN insertions and with the AlN capping mechanism. The observed plastic relaxation in AlN is consistent with the small critical thickness expected for GaN/AlN radial heterostructures.
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 …
Polarized multiplex coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering using a picosecond laser and a fiber supercontinuum
2011
International audience; We perform multiplex coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) micro-spectroscopy with a picosecond pulsed laser and a broadband supercontinuum (SC) generated in photonic crystal fiber. CARS signal stability is achieved using an active fiber coupler that avoids thermal and mechanical drifts. We obtain multiplex CARS spectra for test liquids in the 600–2000 cm−1 spectral range. In addition we investigate the polarization dependence of the CARS spectra when rotating the pump beam linear polarization state relative to the linearly polarized broad stokes SC. From these polarization measurements we deduce the Raman depolarization ratio, the resonant versus nonresonant …
Inorganic polymeric phosphate/polyphosphate as an inducer of alkaline phosphatase and a modulator of intracellular Ca2+ level in osteoblasts (SaOS-2 …
2011
Inorganic polymeric phosphate is a physiological polymer that accumulates in bone cells. In the present study osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells were exposed to this polymer, complexed in a 2:1 stoichiometric ratio with Ca(2+), polyP (Ca(2+) salt). At a concentration of 100 μM, polyP (Ca(2+) salt) caused a strong increase in the activity of the alkaline phosphatase and also an induction of the steady-state expression of the gene encoding this enzyme. Comparative experiments showed that polyP (Ca(2+) salt) can efficiently replace β-glycerophosphate in the in vitro hydroxyapatite (HA) biomineralization assay. In the presence of polyP (Ca(2+) salt) the cells extensively form HA crystallites, which r…
Physical-mechanical effects of Nd:YAG laser on the surface of sound dental enamel.
1993
Human dental enamel samples were irradiated using a 5 kHz Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser. An increase in Knoop microhardness and modification of the membrane permselectivity were detached. These results and the changes observed by SEM, can be connected with the fusion of the enamel surface.
Improvements in aggregate-paste interface by the hydration of steelmaking waste in concretes and mortars
2019
[EN] The objective of the experimental work is to study the mechanical properties in self-compacting concretes (SCC) in which part of the limestone aggregate has been replaced by granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) in different percentages ranging from 0% to 60%. The results show that at early ages the SCC with the largest content in slag tend to have lower compressive strengths due to the poor compacting of the aggregates, although in the long-term their strength increases due to the reactivity of the slag. In fact, at the age of 365 days, the mortars made with the substitution of 50% of cement by ground GBFS reach compressive strength similar to that of the mortar made with 100% of cemen…
Design of a reactor operating in supercritical water conditions using CFD simulations. Examples of synthesized nanomaterials
2011
International audience; Direct information about fluids under supercritical water conditions is unfeasible due to the engineering restrictions at high pressure and high temperature. Numerical investigations based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations are widely used in order to get extensive information on the fluid behavior, particularly to help the design of a new reactor. This paper presents the numerical investigations performed on an original supercritical water device, especially in the level of the reactor. CFD calculations allow to design and optimize the present reactor described in this study. Currently, this process produces some nanometric oxide powders in continuou…
Visible photothermal deflection spectroscopy using microcantilevers
2012
International audience; Photothermal deflection spectroscopy based on bi-material cantilevers combines the sensitivity of miniature sensors and the selectivity of optical spectroscopy. In this paper, we report on the photothermal response of the microcantilevers functionalized with nanometer thin organic films in the visible region. Unlike responses in the infrared regime, in the optical region, light absorption by all the cantilever constituents must be considered for extraction of the physical parameters of the organic layer. A model of photothermal deflection for the optical region has been developed for two absorbing layers consisting of a thick metal (>200 nm) and a thin organic film. …