Surface modification of contact lenses using adsorption of ethylene oxide branched copolymers

To examine methods for reducing the amount of adsorbed protein on the surface of contact lenses during use, cationic copolymers containing poly(ethylene oxide) units were synthesized and evaluated as surface modifiers. Poly(ethylene oxide) graft‐branched copolymers of composition 70 mol % dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DM) and 30 mol % methoxy polyethylene glycol methacrylate (Mp0G; p = 2, 4, 9; the average number of the ethylene oxide units) were obtained using nonionic monomers containing poly(ethylene oxide) units. The copolymers very efficiently prevented protein adsorption on a contact lens. Contact angle measurements showed that immersion in tear fluid made the lens surface hydrophobic because of adsorption of proteins with hydrophobic residues. The copolymer pretreatment made the lens surface hydrophilic, even after dipping in artificial tear fluid. These results suggest that adsorption of the poly(ethylene oxide) branched copolymer on the contact lens would make the lens surface hydrophilic and prevent protein adsorption. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

A Unique Approach to Characterization of Sol‐Gel‐Derived Rare‐Earth‐Doped Oxyfluoride Glass‐Ceramics

Using the sol‐gel route Nd³⁺‐doped oxyfluoride glass‐ceramics were prepared. LiYF₄ and YF₃ crystals were deposited in the glass‐ceramics and their size, distribution, and amount ratio were varied by changing the compositions and heating temperatures. The incorporation of Nd³⁺ ions into both the fluoride crystals was confirmed by the high‐resolution elemental mapping of the glass‐ceramics. The incorporated Nd³⁺ ions showed up and down conversion photoluminescence whose properties were obviously different among the samples. The preliminary site analysis for Nd³⁺ ions was carried out using a unique approach associated with the Prony series approximation. Finally, the approach was found to be useful for the analysis of materials that are structurally complicating.     

Centrifugal Filter for Aerosol Collection

Air filters collect particles by the mechanical collection mechanisms, namely, inertia, interception, gravitational settling, and Brownian diffusion. There exists the most penetrating particle size (MPPS) in submicron size range for which none of the collection mechanisms work effectively. In this study, we propose a new type of filter named as “centrifugal filter,” which collects aerosol particles by centrifugal force together with the conventional mechanical collection mechanisms. The centrifugal filter proposed in the present work may be rotated by a motor or compressed air. Air passes through the filter in the axial direction of filter rotation. The filter rotates so does the air embedded in the filter, and therefore centrifugal force exerts on particles. In addition to the mechanical collection mechanisms, small migration of particles due to the centrifugal force enhanced the collection efficiency of submicron particles significantly without increasing the pressure drop. The performance tests of centrifugal filter were conducted by changing the fiber diameter, the air flow velocity and the rotation speed. We found that the collection efficiency of filter is enhanced significantly by rotating the filter without increasing the pressure drop and that the filter efficiency is well predicted by the conventional filtration theory accounting for the centrifugal force.

Copyright 2015 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Anatase-Type TiO2 and ZrO2-Doped TiO2 Directly Formed from Titanium(III) Sulfate Solution by Thermal Hydrolysis: Effect of the Presence of Ammonium Peroxodisulfate on their Formation and Properties

Anatase-type TiO₂ powder containing sulfur with absorption in the visible region was directly formed as particles with crystallite in the range 15–88 nm by thermal hydrolysis of titanium(III) sulfate (Ti₂(SO₄)₃) solution at 100°–240°C. Because of the presence of ammonium peroxodisulfate ((NH₄)₂S₂O₈), the yield of anatase-type TiO₂ from Ti₂(SO₄)₃ solution was accelerated, and anatase with fine crystallite was formed. Anatase-type TiO₂ doped with ZrO₂ up to 9.8 mol% was directly precipitated as nanometer-sized particles from the acidic precursor solutions of Ti₂(SO₄)₃ and zirconium sulfate in the presence and the absence of (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ by simultaneous hydrolysis under hydrothermal conditions at 200°C. By doping ZrO₂ into TiO₂ and with increasing ZrO₂ content, the crystallite size of anatase was decreased, and the anatase-to-rutile phase transformation was retarded as much as 200°C. The anatase-type structure of ZrO₂-doped TiO₂ was maintained after heating at 1000°C for 1 h. The favorable effect of doping ZrO₂ to anatase-type TiO₂ on the photocatalytic activity was observed.     

Sonochemical Preparation and Properties of Pt–3Y-TZP Nano-Composites

A uniformly aggregated 3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia nano-powder (3Y-TZP) was prepared using thermal hydrolysis and the ultrasonic deagglomeration technique. The possibility of nano-engineering of Pt–3Y-TZP composite aggregates was studied. The as-synthesized Pt nano-particles (∼2 nm) were impregnated into zirconia nano-aggregates (20–45 nm). The morphology manipulation technique allowed production of the composite zirconia-based aggregates in which a significant fraction of the Pt particles was embedded into the densified zirconia aggregates. Using the colloidal technique and low-temperature (1150°C) sintering, we prepared the Pt-zirconia (0.5–1.5 wt% of platinum) nano-composites with average 3Y-TZP grain sizes of 120 nm, and with the platinum grains size in the range of 20–60 nm. The catalytic properties of composite Pt–3Y-TZP nano-composites were studied and described.     

Photocatalytic microreactor study using TiO2-coated porous ceramics

Two kinds of porous ceramic disks, having through-holes with diameters of 0.1 and 0.05 mm, were coated with TiO₂ using two different starting solutions: titanyl(IV)acetylacetonate and a commercial titania sol (STS-01). The morphology of these porous ceramics before and after TiO₂ coating was observed by SEM. The TiO₂-coated porous ceramics were examined as honeycomb photocatalytic microreactors. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated using the decomposition of methylene blue solution for radiation angles of 0° and 10° with respect to the pore axis. The highest photocatalytic activity was obtained for the porous ceramic having the pore diameter of 0.1 mm, coated with titanyl(IV)acetylacetonate and irradiated with a light angle of 0° with respect to the pore axis.     

Catalytic etching of {100}-oriented diamond coating with Fe, Co, Ni, and Pt nanoparticles under hydrogen

Etching of a highly {100}-oriented diamond coating, {100}HODC, with hydrogen gas using Fe, Co, Ni, and Pt nanoparticles as a catalyst was examined at high temperatures over 700 °C by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The metal atoms vacuum-evaporated onto the {100}HODC formed nanoparticles themselves when heated at high temperatures; e.g. 700 °C, in a flowing gas mixture of H₂ (10%) + N₂ (90%). At 800 °C, short nano-channels and etch pits holding metal nanoparticles were formed by Fe, Co, and Ni. The shapes of the Co and Ni nanoparticles in the etch pits were affected by the shape of the etch pits; reversed pyramidal shape. On the other hand, the top view of the Fe nanoparticles embedded in the etch pits showed a distorted round shape, probably due to the formation of something such as iron carbide, while the carbon content was unknown. Apparently, etching of the {100}HODC by Pt nanoparticles was observed after the treatment at 1000 °C. The difference in the catalytic etching behavior among these metal particles, the potential etching mechanism of diamonds with hydrogen by metal nanoparticles, probably as melted metal nanoparticles, and the formation mechanism of vacant etch pits were discussed.     

Decomposition kinetics and recycle of binary hydrogen‐tetrahydrofuran clathrate hydrate

Decomposition kinetics and recycle of hydrogen–tetrahydrofuran (H₂–THF) clathrate hydrates were investigated with a pressure decay method at temperatures from 265.1 to 273.2 K, at initial pressures from 3.1 to 8.0 MPa, and at stoichiometric THF hydrate concentrations for particle sizes between 250 and 1000 μm. The decomposition was modeled as a two‐step process consisting of H₂ diffusion in the hydrate phase and desorption from the hydrate cage. The adsorption process occurred at roughly two to three times faster than the desorption process, whereas the diffusion process during formation was slightly higher (ca. 20%) than that during decomposition. Successive formation and decomposition cycles showed that occupancy seemed to decrease only slightly with cycling and that there were no large changes in hydrate structure due to cycling. Results provide evidence that the formation and decomposition of H₂ clathrate hydrates occur reversibly and that H₂ clathrate hydrates can be recycled with pressure. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011     

The electrical delivery of a sublimable II–VI compound by vapor transport in carbon nanotubes

Progress in the field of femtogram (10⁻¹⁵ g) mass delivery relies on finding dependable transport vehicles and uncomplicated methods to tailor the deposition of active substances. Here, current-conductive containers consisting of turbostratic carbon nanotubes were used to store a light-emitting ternary alloy and guide its delivery on demand. We found that the electrically-activated delivery process of this sublimable compound, performed inside a transmission electron microscope, was highly dependent on factors such as the substrate type and current injection mode. Furthermore, our observations suggest that the alleged “missing matter” problem is not solely due to surface migration. Besides extending the field of electrical delivery to the realm of functional materials, the extrusion and mass transport of a sublimable II–VI compound demonstrates that it is possible to guide vapor migration using a carbon nanotube support.