Synthesis of ultrabright nanoporous fluorescent silica discoids using an inorganic silica precursor

The templated sol-gel synthesis of ultrabright fluorescent nanoporous silica particles based on the use of organic silica sources has previously been reported. The use of organosilanes as the main silica precursors has a number of issues, in particular, the low robustness of the synthesis due to instability of the organic silica source. Here we report on a novel synthesis of ultrabright fluorescent nanoporous silica discoids (a specific shape in-between the sphere and disk) of 3.1 ± 0.7 microns in size, which were prepared using a stable inorganic sodium silicate silica source. Organic fluorescent dye Rhodamine 6G (R6G) was physically (non-covalently) entrapped inside cylindrical nanochannels of ～4-5 nm in diameter. In contrast to the synthesis with organic silica precursors, the obtained particles showed an excessive leakage of dye. To prevent this leakage, we modified the synthesis by adding a small amount of a secondary silica source. The synthesized particles show virtually no leakage, high photostability, and a brightness equivalent to the fluorescence of up to 7 × 10(7) free R6G molecules. This is about 7 times higher than the fluorescent brightness of particles of the same size made of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots, and 420 times higher than the brightness of the same volume of aqueous solution of free R6G dye.     

Joining with electrochemical support (ECUF): Cold pressure welding of copper

Joining metals using electrochemical support (ECUF) is a new process for cold pressure welding sheets and parts. This new process is based on an electrochemical in-line surface treatment followed by incremental pilger rolling. The ECUF process intends to cold pressure weld materials under optimized conditions. Oxide layers on metal surfaces are known to inhibit the formation of cold pressure welds. The in-line electrochemical treatment will be used to remove these surface oxides for specific engineering metals and alloys. Hence, an improved pressure weld formation at lower forces and smaller reduction ratios is expected for the electrochemically treated surfaces. Using a more flexible pressure welding process, the number of applications could be greatly improved. First tests with copper were performed to analyse the efficiency of the proposed electrochemical surface treatments. Two electrochemical treatments, the cathodic oxide-reduction and cyclovoltammetric oxide-reduction, were compared with conventional treatments (degreasing and scratch brushing) regarding their influence on the cold pressure welding process of copper. The weld strength of lap welds has been investigated as well as the necessary reduction threshold to form a weld. It was found that the electrochemical oxide reduction resulted in higher weld strength. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDX) indicate that surface oxides were successfully removed by the electrochemical surface treatments.     

Critical Assesment 37: Harmonic-structure materials - idea,status and perspectives

ABSTRACT

Recent efforts in engineering metals with high structural efficiency have resulted in developing a new category of artificial materials with heterogeneous microstructures architected across multiple scales. In this critical assessment, a relatively new concept of heterogeneous bimodal harmonic-structure (bHS) materials is introduced and analysed. It is shown that the bHS concept is applicable to a large variety of metallic materials and is most efficient in scenarios where changes in the chemical composition of materials are restricted for some reason. Basic principles, weaknesses and advantages along with present development status and perspectives are discussed. The overview of critical performance characteristics of various bHS materials is provided, and interesting directions for future research, development and applications are proposed.     

A Novel Imaging Technique to Investigate the Influence of Atomization Air Pressure on Film–Tablet Interfacial Thickness

A novel X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) technique combined with principal component analysis of spectra-to-image datasets was employed to study the effects of atomization air pressure used during the coating process on film–tablet interfacial thickness. Placebo tablet cores were prepared and coated with Eudragit^® RL 30 D. Atomization air pressure was varied from 10 to 20 psi, whereas all other processing parameters were held constant. Higher air pressures generally produced thinner interfaces, although the interfacial region was not uniform across the tablet surface and was dependent on the sampling location. These results demonstrate the suitability of this XPS technique to study the coating–tablet interface. Moreover, the variability in the interfacial thickness illustrates the need to further study such systems.     

Standing arrays of gold nanorods end-tethered with polymer ligands

Nanomaterials with vectoral electromagnetic properties have potential applications in solar cells, plasmonic cavity resonators, light polarizers, and biosensing. Here a new, simple, solution-based method for producing nanomaterials comprising vertically aligned standing arrays of gold nanorods (NRs) end-functionalized with polymer ligands is reported. The method utilizes the side-by-side assembly of the NRs into large 2D superlattices, followed by the precipitation of the lattices on a solid substrate. The critical design rules for the self-assembly of superlattices are demonstrated, and they show the generality of the method by forming standing arrays from the NRs end-tethered with poly(N-vinylcarbazole) or with polystyrene molecules.     

Detritylation by silicic acid boric acid column chromatography

Chromatography on silicic acid-boric acid columns permits detritylation of ester lipids, essentially without acyl migration, and simultaneous separation of the reaction products. Described is the preparation of the column and its application for the synthesis of diacyl-sn-glycerols and 2-acyl-1,2-propaneiols. Presented in part at the Canadian Federation of Biological Societies Annual Meeting in Toronto, June 1971.     

Toughness control of boron carbide obtained by spark plasma sintering in nitrogen atmosphere

Boron carbide ceramic was prepared by reactive Spark Plasma Sintering under N₂-atmosphere and for different heating times and maximum pressure regimes. Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB), indentation, XRD and microscopy measurements were performed for samples characterization. It is shown that SHPB toughness control depending on SPS regime is possible and the main reason is introduction of nitrogen into B₄C ceramic. Complex relationships between processing conditions, sintering mechanism, material's specifics, static and dynamic mechanical properties are discussed. Improvement of dynamic toughness is through mechanisms resembling those working for static load conditions such as cracks deflection and pull out, but there are also significant differences.     

用于蓝宝石光盘的数字化数据存储

为了解决长时数据存储的难题,开展了以数字格式在蓝宝石光盘表面写入数据的研究工作。根据艾林方程,分析了利用常用无机材料进行数据存储的数据失效时间。描述了在蓝宝石材料为基底的光盘上以数字格式记录数据的基本工艺流程,重点介绍了用于蓝宝石光盘的离子束刻蚀系统。实验结果显示,蓝宝石光盘表面刻蚀的信息坑宽度为0.6μm,深度为0.2μm,磁道节距为1.6μm,符合ISO/IEC 10149:1995规定的CD-ROM格式数据存储要求,表明采用本文提出的方法实现蓝宝石光盘的数字化数据存储是可行的。此外,这种基本工艺流程不仅适用于蓝宝石光盘,同样适用于其它以高度稳定的材料(如石英玻璃)作为基底的光盘。