Remote Steering of Self‐Propelling Microcircuits by Modulated Electric Field

The principles and design of “active” self‐propelling particles that can convert energy, move directionally on their own, and perform a certain function is an emerging multidisciplinary research field, with high potential for future technologies. A simple and effective technique is presented for on‐demand steering of self‐propelling microdiodes that move electroosmotically on water surface, while supplied with energy by an external alternating (AC) field. It is demonstrated how one can control remotely the direction of diode locomotion by electronically modifying the applied AC signal. The swimming diodes change their direction of motion when a wave asymmetry (equivalent to a DC offset) is introduced into the signal. The data analysis shows that the ability to control and reverse the direction of motion is a result of the electrostatic torque between the asymmetrically polarized diodes and the ionic charges redistributed in the vessel. This novel principle of electrical signal‐coded steering of active functional devices, such as diodes and microcircuits, can find applications in motile sensors, MEMs, and microrobotics.     

Colloidal Synthesis of Hollow Cobalt Sulfide Nanocrystals

Formation of cobalt sulfide hollow nanocrystals through a mechanism similar to the Kirkendall Effect has been investigated in detail. It is found that performing the reaction at > 120 °C leads to fast formation of a single void inside each shell, whereas at room temperature multiple voids are formed within each shell, which can be attributed to strongly temperature‐dependent diffusivities for vacancies. The void formation process is dominated by outward diffusion of cobalt cations; still, the occurrence of significant inward transport of sulfur anions can be inferred as the final voids are smaller in diameter than the original cobalt nanocrystals. Comparison of volume distributions for initial and final nanostructures indicates excess apparent volume in shells, implying significant porosity and/or a defective structure. Indirect evidence for fracture of shells during growth at lower temperatures was observed in shell‐size statistics and transmission electron microscopy images of as‐grown shells. An idealized model of the diffusional process imposes two minimal requirements on material parameters for shell growth to be obtainable within a specific synthetic system.     

高温氨化合成GaN微晶

分别利用Ga2O3粉末和Ga2O3凝胶作为Ga源,采用NH3为N源,在950℃下,分别将两种反应物与流动的NH3反应20 min合成了GaN微晶。用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、选择区电子衍射(SAED)对微晶进行结构、形貌的分析,特别是对两种不同途径合成GaN微晶的XRD进行了分析比较。结果表明,当Ga源温度为950℃时两种不同的合成途径均可得到六方纤锌矿结构的GaN单晶颗粒,在氮化温度为850℃和900℃时,利用Ga2O3粉末作为Ga源,仅有少量的Ga2O3转变为GaN;而采用Ga2O3凝胶作为Ga源,在相同的温度下,大部分凝胶经过高温氨化反应均可转化为GaN。     

Augmentation of boiling heat transfer from horizontal cylinder to liquid by movable particles

This paper presents a series of experimental results on a passive augmentation technique of boiling heat transfer by supplying solid particles in liquid. A cylindrical heater 0.88 mm in diameter is placed in saturated water, in which a lot of mobile particles exist, and the nucleate and film boiling heat transfer characteristics are measured. Particle materials used were alumina, glass, and porous alumina, and the diameter ranged from 0.3 mm to 2.5 mm. Particles are fluidized by the occurrence of boiling without any additive power, and the heat transfer is augmented. The maximum augmentation ratio obtained in this experiment reaches about ten times the heat transfer coefficient obtained in liquid alone. The augmentation ratio is mainly affected by the particle material, diameter, and the height of the particle bed set at no boiling condition. The augmentation mechanism is discussed on the basis of the experimental results. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(1): 28–41, 2002     

Preparation and characterization of chitosan‐based dispersions

Complexation of chitosan in aqueous solutions by low molecular weight electrolytes is one of the simplest methods for the preparation of aqueous chitosan dispersions. In this work, the influence of storage time, sulfate concentration, method of preparation and surfactant content on some properties of the resultant chitosan dispersions (turbidity, viscosity and zeta potential) was analyzed. Turbidimetry was adequate to monitor the formation of particles, while viscometry was suitable to monitor changes in the dispersing phase. An analysis of the properties of these systems, mainly in terms of particle–particle and macromolecule–macromolecule interactions was carried out. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Rheological and drug‐release behaviour of a scleroglucan gel matrix at different drug loadings

The aim of this study was to investigate the drug‐loading effects on release and mechanical properties of a scleroglucan gel, with the intention of considering them in delivery systems formulations. The rheological and kinetic properties of a 2 % w/w scleroglucan gel matrix loaded with 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.2 and 0.4 % w/w of theophylline (Th, used as a model drug) were investigated. Rheological measurements were performed in a controlled‐stress rotational‐shear rheometer under isothermal conditions. For theophylline release from the gel a flat Franz cell was used and the kinetic parameters were derived applying a semi‐empirical power law. The influence of scleroglucan molar weight on kinetic and rheological behaviour was also studied. Results suggest two possible effects of drug loading on the gel network: in the 0.04–0.06 % w/w Th range a plasticizing effect and in the 0.2–0.4 % w/w Th range a rigidization effect. In the first range mentioned, the changes in the gel structural properties tested by means of rheological measurements are coincident with changes in drug‐release kinetics. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation of flexible polyhedral particles via concentrated emulsion templating polymerization

This paper presents recent efforts on the preparation of flexible polyhedral particles via concentrated emulsion templating polymerization in which the hydrophilic monomer (acrylamide) and hydrophobic monomer (butyl acrylate) are polymerized simultaneously in the continuous and dispersed phase, respectively. Such templating polymerization has been enhanced in our systems owing to the introduction of acrylamide monomer and their higher polymerization rate in continuous phase as compared with butyl acrylate in dispersed phase. Diffusion between the different phases was also inhibited. Furthermore, the stability of the concentrated emulsion and the molecular weight of the produced poly(butyl acrylate) were found to be significantly affected by the amount of redox initiator. The morphology of the particles could be controlled by varying the volume fraction of the dispersed phase and the polyhedral particles were achieved at higher volume fraction. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

FeBP非晶态合金超细微粒的合成及其对PH3分解的催化作用

用化学还原法合成了FeBP非晶态合金超细微粒，用电感耦合等离子体光谱（ICP）、X射线粉末衍射（XRD）、透射电子显微镜（TEM）和差热分析（DSC）等手段对其进行了物性表征，并用微型催化反应装置考察了其对PH3分解的催化作用，结果表明，非晶态合金FeBP对PH3的分解具有良好的催化作用，能使PH3的分解温度从800℃以上降到500℃左右。490℃时分解率超过90％，540℃时达100％。     

Terminal velocity of non-spherical particles falling through a Carreau model liquid

A procedure has been proposed for the estimation of the terminal falling velocity of non-spherical particles moving in a Carreau model fluid in the transition flow region. The procedure is based on a modification of the relationship formerly developed for the fall of spherical particles including the particle dynamic shape factor. The suitability of the proposed procedure has been confirmed by good agreement between experimental and calculated terminal falling velocity data. In the experiments, the terminal falling velocity of short cylinders and rectangular prisms in polymer solutions of different measure of shear thinning and elasticity has been measured.