Search results for "Surface properties"
showing 10 items of 421 documents
Reactions at Interfaces: Oxygenation of n-Butyl Ligands Anchored on Silica Surfaces with Methyl(trifluoromethyl)dioxirane
2011
The oxygenation of n-butyl and n-butoxy chains bonded to silica with methyl(trifluoromethyl)dioxirane (1) revealed the ability of the silica matrix to release electron density toward the reacting C(2)-H σ-bond through the Si-C(1) and Si-O(1) σ-bonds connecting the alkyl chain to the surface (silicon β-effect). The silica surface impedes neither the alkyl chain adopting the conformation required for the silicon β-effect nor dioxirane 1 approaching the reactive C(2) methylene group. Reaction regioselectivity is insensitive to changes in the solvation of the reacting system, the location of organic ligands on the silica surface, and the H-bonding character of the silica surface. Reaction rates…
First principles investigations of Pd-on-Au nanostructures for trichloroethene catalytic removal from groundwater
2010
Catalytic groundwater remediation from chlorinated organic solvents like trichloroethene (TCE) has been found to be more effective and sustainable than traditional non-destructive methods. Among the experimentally studied catalyst materials, Pd-decorated Au nanoparticles show the highest activity and selectivity combined with the best resistance towards poisoning by chemicals present in groundwater. In this study the thermochemistry and adsorption geometries of TCE and its hydrodechlorination products are investigated via density functional theory calculations. Various model systems for Pd-supported Au nanoparticles are addressed. The adsorption of TCE is endothermic on bare Au(111), almost…
Self-cleaning antimicrobial surfaces by bio-enabled growth of SnO2 coatings on glass.
2013
Conventional vapor-deposition techniques for coatings require sophisticated equipment and/or high-temperature resistant substrates. Therefore bio-inspired techniques for the fabrication of inorganic coatings have been developed in recent years. Inspired by the biology behind the formation of the intricate skeletons of diatoms orchestrated by a class of cationic polyamines (silaffins) we have used surface-bound spermine, a naturally occurring polyamine, to promote the fast deposition of homogeneous, thin and transparent biomimetic SnO2 coatings on glass surfaces. The bio-enabled SnO2 film is highly photoactive, i.e. it generates superoxide radicals (O2˙(-)) upon sunlight exposure resulting i…
Probing ensemble polymorphism and single aggregate structural heterogeneity in insulin amyloid self-assembly.
2020
Ensembles of protein aggregates are characterized by a nano- and micro-scale heterogeneity of the species. This diversity translates into a variety of effects that protein aggregates may have in biological systems, both in connection to neurodegenerative diseases and immunogenic risk of protein drug products. Moreover, this naturally occurring variety offers unique opportunities in the field of protein-based biomaterials. In the above-mentioned fields, the isolation and structural analysis of the different amyloid types within the same ensemble remain a priority, still representing a significant experimental challenge. Here we address such complexity in the case of insulin for its relevance…
Formation and transformation of carbon nanoparticles under electron irradiation.
2004
This article reviews the phenomena occurring during irradiation of graphitic nanoparticles with high–energy electrons. A brief introduction to the physics of the interaction between energetic electrons and solids is given with particular emphasis on graphitic materials. Irradiation effects are discussed, starting from microscopic mechanisms that lead to structural alterations of the graphite lattice. It is shown how random displacements of the atoms and their subsequent rearrangements eventually lead to topological changes of the nanoparticles. Examples are the formation of carbon onions, morphological changes of carbon nanotubes, or the coalescence of fullerenes or nanotubes under electron…
Mathematical analysis of the stimulus for the lateral line organ
1985
Behavioral studies have shown that a blind fish is capable of detecting and recognizing stationary objects in its surroundings. It is proposed that the displacement of water caused by the fish as it moves is the basis for this detection capability. Alterations in the displacement of water around the fish, caused by the obstacle, act as stimuli for the lateral line organ. The question of how these stimuli acting on the skin of the fish, image the environment and what information is thus made available to the fish is the concern of this paper. The stimuli for the lateral line organ are derived mathematically. Two cases are treated: that of a fish gliding past an obstacle and that of one appro…
Relevance of Interactions between Starch-based Coatings and Plum Fruit Surfaces: A Physical-Chemical Analysis
2019
In order to extend the shelf life of the fruit, improve appearance, and to keep all nutrition properties of the plum from diminishing, edible coatings comprised of wheat starch and wheat starch&ndash
Eco-scalable baicalin loaded vesicles developed by combining phospholipid with ethanol, glycerol, and propylene glycol to enhance skin permeation and…
2019
Abstract A new class of biocompatible and scalable phospholipid vesicles was developed, aiming at improving the efficacy of baicalin on the skin. Phosphatidylcholine and baicalin (a natural polyphenol) were hydrated in two steps with a mixture of ethanol, glycerol, and propylene glycol at different ratios, and a low amount of water (4%). Hence, water was almost completely replaced by the co-solvents, which were never used before as predominant dispersing medium of phospholipid vesicles. The vesicles appeared three-dimensionally structured, forming a network that conferred a high viscosity to the dispersions. The vesicles were unilamellar, small in size (∼100 nm), and stable during 12 months…
Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Nanostructures Fabricated from Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembled Multilayers of Hyperbranched Polyglycerols and Phosphorus Dendr…
2007
Multilayer thin films of cationic phosphorous dendrimers and anionic hyperbranched polyglycerols were fabricated by electrostatic layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly (SA). The film formation was monitored by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy, and it was found that the stepwise, alternating deposition results in a linear growth up to four bilayers. Hybrid organic-TiO2 nanostructures were generated by exposing the supramolecular multilayers to TiCl4 precursors. The amounts of TiO2 incorporated inside the scaffolds could be tuned by controlling the porosity of the multilayers with the addition of a small amount of salts. The resulting hybrid films exhibit …
Effect of plasticizers (water and glycerol) on the diffusion of a small molecule in iota-carrageenan biopolymer films for edible coating application.
2006
Translational diffusion of a fluorescein probe has been measured in iota-carrageenan edible films containing different amounts of glycerol (0, 15, 30, and 45%), using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments. The effects of this plasticizer as well as the plasticizing effect of water on the diffusion of fluorescein have been studied in this edible coating mainly composed of natural biopolymer. Diffusion coefficients of about 10(-13) m2 s(-1) have been measured in these films for water activity (aw) lower than 0.7. Above this water content threshold, fluorescein translational diffusion coefficient increases up to 10(-12) m2 s(-1). Another interesting information obtained…