Dark field microscopic analysis of discrete Au nanostructures: Understanding the correlation of scattering with stoichiometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Guoqing; Bu, Tong; Zako, Tamotsu; Watanabe-Tamaki, Ryoko; Tanaka, Takuo; Maeda, Mizuo

2017-09-01

Due to the potential of gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based trace analysis, the discrimination of small AuNP clusters with different assembling stoichiometry is a subject of fundamental and technological importance. Here we prepare oligomerized AuNPs with controlled stoichiometry through DNA-directed assembly, and demonstrate that AuNP monomers, dimers and trimers can be clearly distinguished using dark field microscopy (DFM). The scattering intensity for of AuNP structures with stoichiometry ranging from 1 to 3 agrees well with our theoretical calculations. This study demonstrates the potential of utilizing the DFM approach in ultra-sensitive detection as well as the use of DNA-directed assembly for plasmonic nano-architectures.

DNA nanotechnology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seeman, Nadrian C.; Sleiman, Hanadi F.

2018-01-01

DNA is the molecule that stores and transmits genetic information in biological systems. The field of DNA nanotechnology takes this molecule out of its biological context and uses its information to assemble structural motifs and then to connect them together. This field has had a remarkable impact on nanoscience and nanotechnology, and has been revolutionary in our ability to control molecular self-assembly. In this Review, we summarize the approaches used to assemble DNA nanostructures and examine their emerging applications in areas such as biophysics, diagnostics, nanoparticle and protein assembly, biomolecule structure determination, drug delivery and synthetic biology. The introduction of orthogonal interactions into DNA nanostructures is discussed, and finally, a perspective on the future directions of this field is presented.

Magnetic field directed assembly of superstructures of ferrite-ferroelectric core-shell nanoparticles and studies on magneto-electric interactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Srinivasan, G., E-mail: srinivas@oakland.edu; Sreenivasulu, G.; Benoit, Crystal

2015-05-07

Composites of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric are of interest for studies on mechanical strain mediated magneto-electric (ME) interactions and for useful technologies. Here, we report on magnetic-field-assisted-assembly of barium titanate (BTO)-nickel ferrite (NFO) core-shell particles into linear chains and 2D/3D arrays and measurements of ME effects in such assemblies. First, we synthesized the core-shell nano-particles with 50–600 nm BTO and 10–200 nm NFO by chemical self-assembly by coating the ferroic particles with complementary coupling groups and allowing them to self-assemble in the presence of a catalyst via the “click” reaction. The core-shell structure was confirmed with electron microscopy and scanning probe microscopy. Wemore » obtained superstructure of the core-shell particles by subjecting them to a magnetic field gradient that exerts an attractive force on the particles and align them toward the regions of high field strengths. At low particle concentration, linear chains were formed and they evolved into 2D and 3D arrays at high particle concentrations. Magnetoelectric characterization on unassembled films and assembled arrays has been performed through measurements of low-frequency ME voltage coefficient (MEVC) by subjecting the sample to a bias magnetic field and an ac magnetic field. The MEVC is higher for field-assembled samples than for unassembled films and is found to be sensitive to field orientation with a higher MEVC for magnetic fields parallel to the array direction than for magnetic fields perpendicular to the array. A maximum MEVC of 20 mV/cm Oe, one of the highest reported for any bulk nanocomposite, is measured across the array thickness. A model is provided for ME coupling in the superstructures of BTO-NFO particulate composites. First, we estimated the MEVC for a free-standing BTO-NFO core-shell particle and then extended the model to include an array of linear chains of the particles. The theoretical estimates are in qualitative agreement with the data.« less

Magnetic field directed assembly of superstructures of ferrite-ferroelectric core-shell nanoparticles and studies on magneto-electric interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srinivasan, G.; Sreenivasulu, G.; Benoit, Crystal; Petrov, V. M.; Chavez, F.

2015-05-01

Composites of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric are of interest for studies on mechanical strain mediated magneto-electric (ME) interactions and for useful technologies. Here, we report on magnetic-field-assisted-assembly of barium titanate (BTO)-nickel ferrite (NFO) core-shell particles into linear chains and 2D/3D arrays and measurements of ME effects in such assemblies. First, we synthesized the core-shell nano-particles with 50-600 nm BTO and 10-200 nm NFO by chemical self-assembly by coating the ferroic particles with complementary coupling groups and allowing them to self-assemble in the presence of a catalyst via the "click" reaction. The core-shell structure was confirmed with electron microscopy and scanning probe microscopy. We obtained superstructure of the core-shell particles by subjecting them to a magnetic field gradient that exerts an attractive force on the particles and align them toward the regions of high field strengths. At low particle concentration, linear chains were formed and they evolved into 2D and 3D arrays at high particle concentrations. Magnetoelectric characterization on unassembled films and assembled arrays has been performed through measurements of low-frequency ME voltage coefficient (MEVC) by subjecting the sample to a bias magnetic field and an ac magnetic field. The MEVC is higher for field-assembled samples than for unassembled films and is found to be sensitive to field orientation with a higher MEVC for magnetic fields parallel to the array direction than for magnetic fields perpendicular to the array. A maximum MEVC of 20 mV/cm Oe, one of the highest reported for any bulk nanocomposite, is measured across the array thickness. A model is provided for ME coupling in the superstructures of BTO-NFO particulate composites. First, we estimated the MEVC for a free-standing BTO-NFO core-shell particle and then extended the model to include an array of linear chains of the particles. The theoretical estimates are in qualitative agreement with the data.

Scalable Directed Assembly of Highly Crystalline 2,7-Dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2- b][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) Films.

PubMed

Chai, Zhimin; Abbasi, Salman A; Busnaina, Ahmed A

2018-05-30

Assembly of organic semiconductors with ordered crystal structure has been actively pursued for electronics applications such as organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Among various film deposition methods, solution-based film growth from small molecule semiconductors is preferable because of its low material and energy consumption, low cost, and scalability. Here, we show scalable and controllable directed assembly of highly crystalline 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2- b][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) films via a dip-coating process. Self-aligned stripe patterns with tunable thickness and morphology over a centimeter scale are obtained by adjusting two governing parameters: the pulling speed of a substrate and the solution concentration. OFETs are fabricated using the C8-BTBT films assembled at various conditions. A field-effect hole mobility up to 3.99 cm 2 V -1 s -1 is obtained. Owing to the highly scalable crystalline film formation, the dip-coating directed assembly process could be a great candidate for manufacturing next-generation electronics. Meanwhile, the film formation mechanism discussed in this paper could provide a general guideline to prepare other organic semiconducting films from small molecule solutions.

Machine learning assembly landscapes from particle tracking data.

PubMed

Long, Andrew W; Zhang, Jie; Granick, Steve; Ferguson, Andrew L

2015-11-07

Bottom-up self-assembly offers a powerful route for the fabrication of novel structural and functional materials. Rational engineering of self-assembling systems requires understanding of the accessible aggregation states and the structural assembly pathways. In this work, we apply nonlinear machine learning to experimental particle tracking data to infer low-dimensional assembly landscapes mapping the morphology, stability, and assembly pathways of accessible aggregates as a function of experimental conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first time that collective order parameters and assembly landscapes have been inferred directly from experimental data. We apply this technique to the nonequilibrium self-assembly of metallodielectric Janus colloids in an oscillating electric field, and quantify the impact of field strength, oscillation frequency, and salt concentration on the dominant assembly pathways and terminal aggregates. This combined computational and experimental framework furnishes new understanding of self-assembling systems, and quantitatively informs rational engineering of experimental conditions to drive assembly along desired aggregation pathways.

Curvature-driven capillary migration and assembly of rod-like particles

PubMed Central

Cavallaro, Marcello; Botto, Lorenzo; Lewandowski, Eric P.; Wang, Marisa; Stebe, Kathleen J.

2011-01-01

Capillarity can be used to direct anisotropic colloidal particles to precise locations and to orient them by using interface curvature as an applied field. We show this in experiments in which the shape of the interface is molded by pinning to vertical pillars of different cross-sections. These interfaces present well-defined curvature fields that orient and steer particles along complex trajectories. Trajectories and orientations are predicted by a theoretical model in which capillary forces and torques are related to Gaussian curvature gradients and angular deviations from principal directions of curvature. Interface curvature diverges near sharp boundaries, similar to an electric field near a pointed conductor. We exploit this feature to induce migration and assembly at preferred locations, and to create complex structures. We also report a repulsive interaction, in which microparticles move away from planar bounding walls along curvature gradient contours. These phenomena should be widely useful in the directed assembly of micro- and nanoparticles with potential application in the fabrication of materials with tunable mechanical or electronic properties, in emulsion production, and in encapsulation. PMID:22184218

Synthesis and Self-Assembly of fcc Phase FePt Nanorods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Min; Pica, Timothy; Jiang, Ying-Bing

2007-05-01

In this paper, we report a synthesis of FePt nanorods by confining decomposition of Fe(CO) 5 and reduction of Pt(caca) 2 in surfactant reverse cylindrical micelles. The controlled nucleation and growth kinetics in confined environment allows easy control over Fe/Pt composition, nanorod uniformity, and nanorod aspect ratio. The FePt nanorods tend to self-assemble into ordered arrays along three-dimensions. Directed assembly under external magnetic field leads to two-dimensional ordered arrays, parallel to the substrate magnetic field. We expect that with optimized external magnetic fields, we should be able to assemble these nanorods into orientated one or two-dimensional arrays, providing a uniformmore » anisotropic magnetic platform for varied applications in enhanced data storage, magneto-electron transport, etc.« less

Coarse grained modeling of directed assembly to form functional nanoporous films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al Khatib, Amir

A coarse-grained (CG) simulation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and Polymethylsilsesquixane nanoparticle (PMSSQ) referred to as (NP) at different sizes and concentrations were done using the Martini coarse-grained (CG) force field. The interactions between CG PEG and CG NP were parameterized from the chemical compound of each molecule and based on Martini force field. NP particles migrates to the surface of the substrate in an agreement with the experimental output at high temperature of 800K. This demonstration of nanoparticles-polymer film to direct it to self-assemble a systematically spatial pattern using the substrate surface energy as the key gating parameter. Validation of the model comparing molecular dynamics simulations with experimental data collected from previous study. NP interaction with the substrate at low interactions energy using Lennard-Johns potential were able to direct the NP to self-assemble in a hexagonal shape up to 4 layers above the substrate. This thesis established that substrate surface energy is a key gating parameter to direct the collective behavior of functional nanoparticles to form thin nanoporous films with spatially predetermined optical/dielectric constants.

Self-assembly of multiferroic core-shell particulate nanocomposites through DNA-DNA hybridization and magnetic field directed assembly of superstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sreenivasulu, Gollapudi; Lochbiler, Thomas A.; Panda, Manashi; Srinivasan, Gopalan; Chavez, Ferman A.

2016-04-01

Multiferroic composites of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric phases are of importance for studies on mechanical strain mediated coupling between the magnetic and electric subsystems. This work is on DNA-assisted self-assembly of superstructures of such composites with nanometer periodicity. The synthesis involved oligomeric DNA-functionalized ferroelectric and ferromagnetic nanoparticles, 600 nm BaTiO3 (BTO) and 200 nm NiFe2O4 (NFO), respectively. Mixing BTO and NFO particles, possessing complementary DNA sequences, resulted in the formation of ordered core-shell heteronanocomposites held together by DNA hybridization. The composites were imaged by scanning electron microscopy and scanning microwave microscopy. The presence of heteroassemblies along with core-shell architecture is clearly observed. The reversible nature of the DNA hybridization allows for restructuring the composites into mm-long linear chains and 2D-arrays in the presence of a static magnetic field and ring-like structures in a rotating-magnetic field. Strong magneto-electric (ME) coupling in as-assembled composites is evident from static magnetic field H induced polarization and low-frequency magnetoelectric voltage coefficient measurements. Upon annealing the nanocomposites at high temperatures, evidence for the formation of bulk composites with excellent cross-coupling between the electric and magnetic subsystems is obtained by H-induced polarization and low-frequency ME voltage coefficient. The ME coupling strength in the self-assembled composites is measured to be much stronger than in bulk composites with randomly distributed NFO and BTO prepared by direct mixing and sintering.

Biotemplated synthesis of inorganic materials: An emerging paradigm for nanomaterial synthesis inspired by nature

DOE PAGES

Krajina, Brad A.; Proctor, Amy C.; Schoen, Alia P.; ...

2017-08-08

Biomineralization, the process by which biological systems direct the synthesis of inorganic structures from organic templates, is an exquisite example of nanomaterial self-assembly in nature. Its products include the shells of mollusks and the bones and teeth of vertebrates. By comparison, conventional inorganic synthesis techniques provide limited control over inorganic nanomaterial architecture. Inspired by biomineralization in nature, over the last two decades, the field of biotemplating has emerged as a new paradigm for inorganic nanomaterial assembly, wherein researchers seek to design novel nano-structures in which inorganic nanomaterial synthesis is directed from an underlying biomolecular template. Here, we review the motivation,more » mechanistic understanding, progress, and challenges for the field of biotemplating. We highlight the interdisciplinary nature of this field, and survey a broad range of examples of bio-templated engineering: ranging from strategies that exploit the inherent capabilities of proteins in nature, to genetically-engineered systems that unlock new capabilities for self-assembly with biomolecules. Here, we illustrate that the use of biological materials as templates for inorganic self-assembly holds tremendous potential for nanomaterial engineering, with applications that range from electronics and energy to medicine.« less

Biotemplated synthesis of inorganic materials: An emerging paradigm for nanomaterial synthesis inspired by nature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Krajina, Brad A.; Proctor, Amy C.; Schoen, Alia P.

Biomineralization, the process by which biological systems direct the synthesis of inorganic structures from organic templates, is an exquisite example of nanomaterial self-assembly in nature. Its products include the shells of mollusks and the bones and teeth of vertebrates. By comparison, conventional inorganic synthesis techniques provide limited control over inorganic nanomaterial architecture. Inspired by biomineralization in nature, over the last two decades, the field of biotemplating has emerged as a new paradigm for inorganic nanomaterial assembly, wherein researchers seek to design novel nano-structures in which inorganic nanomaterial synthesis is directed from an underlying biomolecular template. Here, we review the motivation,more » mechanistic understanding, progress, and challenges for the field of biotemplating. We highlight the interdisciplinary nature of this field, and survey a broad range of examples of bio-templated engineering: ranging from strategies that exploit the inherent capabilities of proteins in nature, to genetically-engineered systems that unlock new capabilities for self-assembly with biomolecules. Here, we illustrate that the use of biological materials as templates for inorganic self-assembly holds tremendous potential for nanomaterial engineering, with applications that range from electronics and energy to medicine.« less

Electric field induced self-assembly of monolayers of gold nanoparticles for surface enhanced Raman scattering applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Suchandra; Musunuri, Naga; Kucheryavy, Pavel; Lockard, Jenny; Fischer, Ian; Singh, Pushpendra; New Jersey Institute of Technology Collaboration; Rutgers University Newark Collaboration

2017-11-01

We present a technique that uses an electric field in the direction normal to the interface for self-assembling monolayers of gold nanoparticles on fluid-liquid interfaces and freezing these monolayers onto the surface of a flexible thin film. The electric field gives rise to dipole-dipole and capillary forces which cause the particles to arrange in a triangular pattern. The technique involves assembling the monolayer on the interface between a UV-curable resin and another fluid by applying an electric field, and then curing the resin by applying UV light. The monolayer becomes embedded on the surface of the solidified resin film. We are using these films for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications. Initial measurements indicate improved performance over commercially available SERS substrates.

Electric field directed assembly of high-density microbead arrays†

PubMed Central

Barbee, Kristopher D.; Hsiao, Alexander P.; Heller, Michael J.; Huang, Xiaohua

2010-01-01

We report a method for rapid, electric field directed assembly of high-density protein-conjugated microbead arrays. Photolithography is used to fabricate an array of micron to sub-micron-scale wells in an epoxy-based photoresist on a silicon wafer coated with a thin gold film, which serves as the primary electrode. A thin gasket is used to form a microfluidic chamber between the wafer and a glass coverslip coated with indium-tin oxide, which serves as the counter electrode. Streptavidin-conjugated microbeads suspended in a low conductance buffer are introduced into the chamber and directed into the wells via electrophoresis by applying a series of low voltage electrical pulses across the electrodes. Hundreds of millions of microbeads can be permanently assembled on these arrays in as little as 30 seconds and the process can be monitored in real time using epifluorescence microscopy. The binding of the microbeads to the gold film is robust and occurs through electrochemically induced gold-protein interactions, which allows excess beads to be washed away or recycled. The well and bead sizes are chosen such that only one bead can be captured in each well. Filling efficiencies greater than 99.9% have been demonstrated across wafer-scale arrays with densities as high as 69 million beads per cm2. Potential applications for this technology include the assembly of DNA arrays for high-throughput genome sequencing and antibody arrays for proteomic studies. Following array assembly, this device may also be used to enhance the concentration-dependent processes of various assays through the accelerated transport of molecules using electric fields. PMID:19865735

Directed block copolymer self-assembly implemented via surface-embedded electrets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Mei-Ling; Wang, Dong; Wan, Li-Jun

2016-02-01

Block copolymer (BCP) nanolithography is widely recognized as a promising complementary approach to circumvent the feature size limits of conventional photolithography. The directed self-assembly of BCP thin film to form ordered nanostructures with controlled orientation and localized pattern has been the key challenge for practical nanolithography applications. Here we show that BCP nanopatterns can be directed on localized surface electrets defined by electron-beam irradiation to realize diverse features in a simple, effective and non-destructive manner. Charged electrets can generate a built-in electric field in BCP thin film and induce the formation of perpendicularly oriented microdomain of BCP film. The electret-directed orientation control of BCP film can be either integrated with mask-based patterning technique or realized by electron-beam direct-writing method to fabricate microscale arbitrary lateral patterns down to single BCP cylinder nanopattern. The electret-directed BCP self-assembly could provide an alternative means for BCP-based nanolithography, with high resolution.

Directed assembly-based printing of homogeneous and hybrid nanorods using dielectrophoresis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chai, Zhimin; Yilmaz, Cihan; Busnaina, Ahmed A.; Lissandrello, Charles A.; Carter, David J. D.

2017-11-01

Printing nano and microscale three-dimensional (3D) structures using directed assembly of nanoparticles has many potential applications in electronics, photonics and biotechnology. This paper presents a reproducible and scalable 3D dielectrophoresis assembly process for printing homogeneous silica and hybrid silica/gold nanorods from silica and gold nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are assembled into patterned vias under a dielectrophoretic force generated by an alternating current (AC) field, and then completely fused in situ to form nanorods. The assembly process is governed by the applied AC voltage amplitude and frequency, pattern geometry, and assembly time. Here, we find out that complete assembly of nanorods is not possible without applying both dielectrophoresis and electrophoresis. Therefore, a direct current offset voltage is used to add an additional electrophoretic force to the assembly process. The assembly can be precisely controlled to print silica nanorods with diameters from 20-200 nm and spacing from 500 nm to 2 μm. The assembled nanorods have good uniformity in diameter and height over a millimeter scale. Besides homogeneous silica nanorods, hybrid silica/gold nanorods are also assembled by sequentially assembling silica and gold nanoparticles. The precision of the assembly process is further demonstrated by assembling a single particle on top of each nanorod to demonstrate an additional level of functionalization. The assembled hybrid silica/gold nanorods have potential to be used for metamaterial applications that require nanoscale structures as well as for plasmonic sensors for biosensing applications.

Emergence of reconfigurable wires and spinners via dynamic self-assembly

DOE PAGES

Kokot, Gasper; Piet, David; Whitesides, George M.; ...

2015-03-26

Dissipative colloidal materials use energy to generate and maintain structural complexity. The energy injection rate, and properties of the environment are important control parameters that influence the outcome of dynamic self-assembly. Here we demonstrate that dispersions of magnetic microparticles confined at the air-liquid interface, and energized by a uniaxial in-plane alternating magnetic field, self-assemble into a variety of structures that range from pulsating clusters and single-particle-thick wires to dynamic arrays of spinners (self-assembled short chains) rotating in either direction. The spinners emerge via spontaneous breaking of the uniaxial symmetry of the energizing magnetic field. Demonstration of the formation and disaggregationmore » of particle assemblies suggests strategies to form new meso-scale structures with the potential to perform functions such as mixing and sensing.« less

Templated electrokinetic directed chemical assembly for the fabrication of close-packed plasmonic metamolecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thrift, W. J.; Darvishzadeh-Varcheie, M.; Capolino, F.; Ragan, R.

2017-08-01

Colloidal self-assembly combined with templated surfaces holds the promise of fabricating large area devices in a low cost facile manner. This directed assembly approach improves the complexity of assemblies that can be achieved with self-assembly while maintaining advantages of molecular scale control. In this work, electrokinetic driving forces, i.e., electrohydrodynamic flow, are paired with chemical crosslinking between colloidal particles to form close-packed plasmonic metamolecules. This method addresses challenges of obtaining uniformity in nanostructure geometry and nanometer scale gap spacings in structures. Electrohydrodynamic flows yield robust driving forces between the template and nanoparticles as well as between nanoparticles on the surface promoting the assembly of close-packed metamolecules. Here, electron beam lithography defined Au pillars are used as seed structures that generate electrohydrodynamic flows. Chemical crosslinking between Au surfaces enables molecular control over gap spacings between nanoparticles and Au pillars. An as-fabricated structure is analyzed via full wave electromagnetic simulations and shown to produce large magnetic field enhancements on the order of 3.5 at optical frequencies. This novel method for directed self-assembly demonstrates the synergy between colloidal driving forces and chemical crosslinking for the fabrication of plasmonic metamolecules with unique electromagnetic properties.

Self-assembly of multiferroic core-shell particulate nanocomposites through DNA-DNA hybridization and magnetic field directed assembly of superstructures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sreenivasulu, Gollapudi; Srinivasan, Gopalan, E-mail: srinivas@oakland.edu, E-mail: chavez@oakland.edu; Lochbiler, Thomas A.

Multiferroic composites of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric phases are of importance for studies on mechanical strain mediated coupling between the magnetic and electric subsystems. This work is on DNA-assisted self-assembly of superstructures of such composites with nanometer periodicity. The synthesis involved oligomeric DNA-functionalized ferroelectric and ferromagnetic nanoparticles, 600 nm BaTiO{sub 3} (BTO) and 200 nm NiFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (NFO), respectively. Mixing BTO and NFO particles, possessing complementary DNA sequences, resulted in the formation of ordered core-shell heteronanocomposites held together by DNA hybridization. The composites were imaged by scanning electron microscopy and scanning microwave microscopy. The presence of heteroassemblies along with core-shellmore » architecture is clearly observed. The reversible nature of the DNA hybridization allows for restructuring the composites into mm-long linear chains and 2D-arrays in the presence of a static magnetic field and ring-like structures in a rotating-magnetic field. Strong magneto-electric (ME) coupling in as-assembled composites is evident from static magnetic field H induced polarization and low-frequency magnetoelectric voltage coefficient measurements. Upon annealing the nanocomposites at high temperatures, evidence for the formation of bulk composites with excellent cross-coupling between the electric and magnetic subsystems is obtained by H-induced polarization and low-frequency ME voltage coefficient. The ME coupling strength in the self-assembled composites is measured to be much stronger than in bulk composites with randomly distributed NFO and BTO prepared by direct mixing and sintering.« less

Magnetically tunable bidirectional locomotion of a self-assembled nanorod-sphere propeller.

PubMed

García-Torres, José; Calero, Carles; Sagués, Francesc; Pagonabarraga, Ignacio; Tierno, Pietro

2018-04-25

Field-driven direct assembly of nanoscale matter has impact in disparate fields of science. In microscale systems, such concept has been recently exploited to optimize propulsion in viscous fluids. Despite the great potential offered by miniaturization, using self-assembly to achieve transport at the nanoscale remains an elusive task. Here we show that a hybrid propeller, composed by a ferromagnetic nanorod and a paramagnetic microsphere, can be steered in a fluid in a variety of modes, from pusher to puller, when the pair is dynamically actuated by a simple oscillating magnetic field. We exploit this unique design to build more complex structures capable of carrying several colloidal cargos as microscopic trains that quickly disassemble at will under magnetic command. In addition, our prototype can be extended to smaller nanorods below the diffraction limit, but still dynamically reconfigurable by the applied magnetic field.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jadav, Mudra; Patel, Rajesh, E-mail: rjp@mkbhavuni.edu.in, E-mail: rpat7@yahoo.co

Here we present a technique using magnetic nanofluid to induce bidispersed suspension of nonmagnetic particles to assemble into colloidal chain, triangle, rectangle, ring-flower configurations. By changing the amplitude and direction of the magnetic field, we could tune the structure of nonmagnetic particles in magnetic nanofluid. The structures are assembled using magneto static interactions between effectively nonmagnetic particles dispersed in magnetizable magnetic nanofluid. The assembly of complex structures out of simple colloidal building blocks is of practical interest in photonic crystals and DNA biosensors.

Self-assembly concepts for multicompartment nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gröschel, André H.; Müller, Axel H. E.

2015-07-01

Compartmentalization is ubiquitous to many biological and artificial systems, be it for the separate storage of incompatible matter or to isolate transport processes. Advancements in the synthesis of sequential block copolymers offer a variety of tools to replicate natural design principles with tailor-made soft matter for the precise spatial separation of functionalities on multiple length scales. Here, we review recent trends in the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers to multicompartment nanostructures (MCNs) under (semi-)dilute conditions, with special emphasis on ABC triblock terpolymers. The intrinsic immiscibility of connected blocks induces short-range repulsion into discrete nano-domains stabilized by a third, soluble block or molecular additive. Polymer blocks can be synthesized from an arsenal of functional monomers directing self-assembly through packing frustration or response to various fields. The mobility in solution further allows the manipulation of self-assembly processes into specific directions by clever choice of environmental conditions. This review focuses on practical concepts that direct self-assembly into predictable nanostructures, while narrowing particle dispersity with respect to size, shape and internal morphology. The growing understanding of underlying self-assembly mechanisms expands the number of experimental concepts providing the means to target and manipulate progressively complex superstructures.

AC electric field for rapid assembly of nanostructured polyaniline onto microsized gap for sensor devices.

PubMed

La Ferrara, Vera; Rametta, Gabriella; De Maria, Antonella

2015-07-01

Interconnected network of nanostructured polyaniline (PANI) is giving strong potential for enhancing device performances than bulk PANI counterparts. For nanostructured device processing, the main challenge is to get prototypes on large area by requiring precision, low cost and high rate assembly. Among processes meeting these requests, the alternate current electric fields are often used for nanostructure assembling. For the first time, we show the assembly of nanostructured PANI onto large electrode gaps (30-60 μm width) by applying alternate current electric fields, at low frequencies, to PANI particles dispersed in acetonitrile (ACN). An important advantage is the short assembly time, limited to 5-10 s, although electrode gaps are microsized. That encouraging result is due to a combination of forces, such as dielectrophoresis (DEP), induced-charge electrokinetic (ICEK) flow and alternate current electroosmotic (ACEO) flow, which speed up the assembly process when low frequencies and large electrode gaps are used. The main achievement of the present study is the development of ammonia sensors created by direct assembling of nanostructured PANI onto electrodes. Sensors exhibit high sensitivity to low gas concentrations as well as excellent reversibility at room temperature, even after storage in air. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Directed Assembly of Cells with Magnetic Nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanase, M.; Hultgren, A.; Chen, C. S.; Reich, D. H.

2003-03-01

We demonstrate the use of magnetic nanowires for assembly and manipulation of mammalian cells. Currently, superparamagnetic beads are used for manipulations of cells, but large field strengths and gradients are required for these to be effective. Unlike the beads, the large remnant magnetization of the nanowires offers the prospect of a variety of low-field manipulation techniques. Ferromagnetic nanowires suspended in fluids can be easily manipulated and assembled using small magnetic field [1]. The wires can be bound to cells, and the dipolar interaction between the nanowires can be used to create self-assembled cell chains. Microfabricated arrays of Py magnets were used to trap single cells or chains of cells bound to Ni nanowires. Possible applications of these techniques include controlled initiation of cell cultures, as well as isolation of individual cells. This work was supported by DARPA/AFOSR Grant No. F49620-02-1-0307 and by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation Grant No. 2001-17715. [1] M. Tanase et.al., Nanoletters 1, 155 (2001), J. Appl. Phys. 91, 8549 (2002).

Printing 1D Assembly Array of Single Particle Resolution for Magnetosensing.

PubMed

Gao, Meng; Kuang, Minxuan; Li, Lihong; Liu, Meijin; Wang, Libin; Song, Yanlin

2018-05-01

Magnetosensing is a ubiquitous ability for many organism species in nature. 1D assembly, especially that arranged in single-particle-resolution regulation, is able to sense the direction of magnetic field depending on the enhanced dipolar interaction in the linear orientation. Inspired by the magnetosome structure in magnetotactic bacteria, a 1D assembly array of single particle resolution with controlled length and well-behaved configuration is prepared via inkjet printing method assisted with magnetic guiding. In the fabrication process, chains in a "tip-to-tip" regulation with the desired number of particles are prepared in a confined tiny inkjet-printed droplet. By adjusting the receding angle of the substrate, the assembled 1D morphology is kept/deteriorated depending on the pinning/depinning behavior during ink evaporation, which leads to the formation of well-behaved 1D assembly/aggregated dot assembly. Owing to the high-aspect-ratio characteristic of the assembled structure, the as-prepared 1D arrays can be used for magnetic field sensing with anisotropic magnetization M // /M ⊥ up to 6.03. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Prototype color field sequential television lens assembly

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1974-01-01

The design, development, and evaluation of a prototype modular lens assembly with a self-contained field sequential color wheel is presented. The design of a color wheel of maximum efficiency, the selection of spectral filters, and the design of a quiet, efficient wheel drive system are included. Design tradeoffs considered for each aspect of the modular assembly are discussed. Emphasis is placed on achieving a design which can be attached directly to an unmodified camera, thus permitting use of the assembly in evaluating various candidate camera and sensor designs. A technique is described which permits maintaining high optical efficiency with an unmodified camera. A motor synchronization system is developed which requires only the vertical synchronization signal as a reference frequency input. Equations and tradeoff curves are developed to permit optimizing the filter wheel aperture shapes for a variety of different design conditions.

Geometry directed self-selection in the coordination-driven self-assembly of irregular supramolecular polygons.

PubMed

Zheng, Yao-Rong; Northrop, Brian H; Yang, Hai-Bo; Zhao, Liang; Stang, Peter J

2009-05-01

The self-assembly of irregular metallo-supramolecular hexagons and parallelograms has been achieved in a self-selective manner upon mixing 120 degrees unsymmetrical dipyridyl ligands with 60 degrees or 120 degrees organoplatinum acceptors in a 1:1 ratio. The polygons have been characterized using (31)P and (1)H multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) as well as X-ray crystallography. Geometric features of the molecular subunits direct the self-selection process, which is supported by molecular force field computations.

Geometry Directed Self-Selection in the Coordination-Driven Self-Assembly of Irregular Supramolecular Polygons

PubMed Central

Zheng, Yao-Rong; Northrop, Brian H; Yang, Hai-Bo; Zhao, Liang; Stang, Peter J.

2009-01-01

The self-assembly of irregular metallo-supramolecular hexagons and parallelograms has been achieved in a self-selective manner upon mixing 120° unsymmetrical dipyridyl ligands with 60° or 120° organoplatinum acceptors in a 1:1 ratio. The polygons have been characterized using 31P and 1H multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), as well as X-ray crystallography. Geometric features of the molecular subunits direct the self-selection process, which is supported by molecular force field computations. PMID:19348444

Investigations of a bearing fault detector for railroad bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, D. S.; Frarey, J. L.

1975-01-01

The laboratory tests are described which were conducted on new and damaged bearings to determine the feasibility of using high-frequency vibration as a diagnostic tool. A high-frequency band pass filter and demodulator was assembled to permit field measurements of the high-frequency vibrations. Field tests were conducted on an actual truck and on an axle assembly run in a grease test rig. These field tests were directed toward demonstration of the suitability and capabilities of the high-frequency technique for field application. Two specific areas of field application were identified as being cost effective for railroad use. One area is the examination of railroad roller bearings at a derailment site, and the second is as a wayside detector to supplement present hot box detectors for defective roller bearings.

Large-area fluidic assembly of single-walled carbon nanotubes through dip-coating and directional evaporation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Pilnam; Kang, Tae June

2017-12-01

We present a simple and scalable fluidic-assembly approach, in which bundles of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are selectively aligned and deposited by directionally controlled dip-coating and solvent evaporation processes. The patterned surface with alternating regions of hydrophobic polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) (height 100 nm) strips and hydrophilic SiO2 substrate was withdrawn vertically at a constant speed ( 3 mm/min) from a solution bath containing SWCNTs ( 0.1 mg/ml), allowing for directional evaporation and subsequent selective deposition of nanotube bundles along the edges of horizontally aligned PDMS strips. In addition, the fluidic assembly was applied to fabricate a field effect transistor (FET) with highly oriented SWCNTs, which demonstrate significantly higher current density as well as high turn-off ratio (T/O ratio 100) as compared to that with randomly distributed carbon nanotube bundles (T/O ratio <10).

Plasmonic-Field Interactions at Nanoparticle Interfaces for Infrared Thermal-Shielding Applications Based on Transparent Oxide Semiconductors.

PubMed

Matsui, Hiroaki; Furuta, Shinya; Hasebe, Takayuki; Tabata, Hitoshi

2016-05-11

This paper describes infrared plasmonic responses in three-dimensional (3D) assembled films of In2O3:Sn nanoparticles (NPs). The introduction of surface modifications to NPs can facilitate the production of electric-field interactions between NPs due to the creation of narrow crevices in the NP interfaces. In particular, the electric-field interactions along the in-plane and out-of-plane directions in the 3D assembled NP films allow for resonant splitting of plasmon excitations to the quadrupole and dipole modes, thereby realizing selective high reflections in the near- and mid-infrared range, respectively. The origins of these plasmonic properties were revealed from electric-field distributions calculated by electrodynamic simulations that agreed well with experimental results. The interparticle gaps and their derived plasmon couplings play an important role in producing high reflective performances in assembled NP films. These 3D assemblies of NPs can be further extended to produce large-size flexible films with high infrared reflectance, which simultaneously exhibit microwave transmittance essential for telecommunications. This study provides important insights for harnessing infrared optical responses using plasmonic technology for the fabrication of infrared thermal-shielding applications.

Multicomponent self-assembly as a tool to harness new properties from peptides and proteins in material design.

PubMed

Okesola, Babatunde O; Mata, Alvaro

2018-05-21

Nature is enriched with a wide variety of complex, synergistic, and highly functional protein-based multicomponent assemblies. As such, nature has served as a source of inspiration for using multicomponent self-assembly as a platform to create highly ordered, complex, and dynamic protein and peptide-based nanostructures. Such an assembly system relies on the initial interaction of distinct individual building blocks leading to the formation of a complex that subsequently assembles into supramolecular architectures. This approach not only serves as a powerful platform for gaining insight into how proteins co-assemble in nature but also offers huge opportunities to harness new properties not inherent in the individual building blocks. In the past decades, various multicomponent self-assembly strategies have been used to extract synergistic properties from proteins and peptides. This review highlights the updates in the field of multicomponent self-assembly of proteins and peptides and summarizes various strategies, including covalent conjugation, ligand-receptor interactions, templated/directed assembly and non-specific co-assembly, for driving the self-assembly of multiple proteins and peptide-based building blocks into functional materials. In particular, we focus on peptide- or protein-containing multicomponent systems that, upon self-assembly, enable the emergence of new properties or phenomena. The ultimate goal of this review is to highlight the importance of multicomponent self-assembly in protein and peptide engineering, and to advocate its growth in the fields of materials science and nanotechnology.

Predicted electric-field-induced hexatic structure in an ionomer membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allahyarov, Elshad; Taylor, Philip L.

2009-08-01

Coarse-grained molecular-dynamics simulations were used to study the morphological changes induced in a Nafion®-like ionomer by the imposition of a strong electric field. We observe the formation of structures aligned along the direction of the applied field. The polar head groups of the ionomer sidechains aggregate into clusters, which then form rodlike formations which assemble into a hexatic array aligned with the direction of the field. Occasionally these lines of sulfonates and protons form a helical structure. Upon removal of the electric field, the hexatic array of rodlike structures persists and has a lower calculated free energy than the original isotropic morphology.

Free-Standing Self-Assemblies of Gallium Nitride Nanoparticles: A Review

DOE PAGES

Lan, Yucheng; Li, Jianye; Wong-Ng, Winnie; ...

2016-08-23

Gallium nitride (GaN) is an III-V semiconductor with a direct band-gap of 3.4eV . GaN has important potentials in white light-emitting diodes, blue lasers, and field effect transistors because of its super thermal stability and excellent optical properties, playing main roles in future lighting to reduce energy cost and sensors to resist radiations. GaN nanomaterials inherit bulk properties of the compound while possess novel photoelectric properties of nanomaterials. The review focuses on self-assemblies of GaN nanoparticles without templates, growth mechanisms of self-assemblies, and potential applications of the assembled nanostructures on renewable energy.

Molecular-dynamics simulations of self-assembled monolayers (SAM) on parallel computers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vemparala, Satyavani

The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the properties of self-assembled monolayers, particularly alkanethiols and Poly (ethylene glycol) terminated alkanethiols. These simulations are based on realistic interatomic potentials and require scalable and portable multiresolution algorithms implemented on parallel computers. Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of self-assembled alkanethiol monolayer systems have been carried out using an all-atom model involving a million atoms to investigate their structural properties as a function of temperature, lattice spacing and molecular chain-length. Results show that the alkanethiol chains tilt from the surface normal by a collective angle of 25° along next-nearest neighbor direction at 300K. At 350K the system transforms to a disordered phase characterized by small tilt angle, flexible tilt direction, and random distribution of backbone planes. With increasing lattice spacing, a, the tilt angle increases rapidly from a nearly zero value at a = 4.7A to as high as 34° at a = 5.3A at 300K. We also studied the effect of end groups on the tilt structure of SAM films. We characterized the system with respect to temperature, the alkane chain length, lattice spacing, and the length of the end group. We found that the gauche defects were predominant only in the tails, and the gauche defects increased with the temperature and number of EG units. Effect of electric field on the structure of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) terminated alkanethiol self assembled monolayer (SAM) on gold has been studied using parallel molecular dynamics method. An applied electric field triggers a conformational transition from all-trans to a mostly gauche conformation. The polarity of the electric field has a significant effect on the surface structure of PEG leading to a profound effect on the hydrophilicity of the surface. The electric field applied anti-parallel to the surface normal causes a reversible transition to an ordered state in which the oxygen atoms are exposed. On the other hand, an electric field applied in a direction parallel to the surface normal introduces considerable disorder in the system and the oxygen atoms are buried inside.

Magnetic field detector consisting of magnetic and semiconducting nanoparticles co-assembled in a liquid crystalline matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amaral, Jose; Rodarte, Andrea; Wan, Jacky; Ferri, Christopher; Quint, Makiko; Pandolfi, Ron; Scheibner, Michael; Hirst, Linda; Ghosh, Sayantani

2015-03-01

An exciting area of research is using nano-constituents to create artificial materials that are multifunctional and allow for modification post-fabrication and in situ. We are investigating the ensemble behavior of iron-oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) when dispersed in an electro-optically active liquid crystalline (LC) matrix. The directed assembly of NPs in the matrix is driven by the temperature-induced transition of the LC from the isotropic to the nematic phase as the NPs are mostly expelled into the isotropic regions, finally ending up clustered around LC defect points when the transition is complete. Our results show a two-fold intensity increase of QD photoluminescence intensity with low magnetic fields (less than 100 mT). We speculate this increase is due to MNP rearrangement which produces a compaction of the clusters, resulting in the detection of increased QD emission. The individual components work together to act as a magnetic field detector and since they are direct assembled in a LC medium, they could potentially be used in a wide range of fluid-based applications. This work was funded by NSF grants DMR-1056860 and ECC-1227034. This work was funded by NSF Grants DMR-1056860 and ECC-1227034.

Orientational control of block copolymer microdomains by sub-tesla magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gopinadhan, Manesh; Choo, Youngwoo; Feng, Xunda; Kawabata, Kohsuke; di, Xiaojun; Osuji, Chinedum

Magnetic fields offer a versatile approach to controlling the orientation of block copolymer (BCP) microdomains during self-assembly. To date however, such control has required the imposition of large magnetic fields (>3T), necessitating the use of complex magnet systems - either superconducting or very large conventional resistive magnets. Here we demonstrate the ability to direct BCP self-assembly using considerably smaller fields (<1T) which are accessible using simple rare-earth permanent magnets. The low field alignment is enabled by the presence of small quantities of mesogenic species that are blended into, and co-assemble with the liquid crystalline (LC) mesophase of the side-chain LC BCP under study. In situ SAXS experiments reveal a pronounced dependence of the critical alignment field strength on the stoichiometry of the blend, and the ability to generate aligned microdomains with orientational distribution coefficients exceeding 0.95 at sub-1 T fields for appropriate stoichiometries. The alignment response overall can be rationalized in terms of increased mobility and grain size due to the presence of the mesogenic additive. We use a permanent magnet to fabricate films with aligned nanopores, and the utility of this approach to generate complex BCP microdomain patterns in thin films by local field screening are highlighted. NSF DMR-1410568 and DMR-0847534.

Craig L. Perkins, Ph.D. | NREL

Science.gov Websites

molecular beam epitaxy systems, two photoemission systems, a field-emission scanning Auger microprobe, a ;Molecular Anchors for Self-Assembled Monolayers on ZnO: A Direct Comparison of the Thiol and Phosphonic Acid

Magnifying image intensifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vine, J.

1977-01-01

Coil assembly for zoom operation produces axial magnetic flux density that decreases in strength from photocathode to target. This results in magnification factor greater than unity. To extend magnification range, field is reversed in direction between object and image planes.

Active turbulence in a gas of self-assembled spinners

PubMed Central

Kokot, Gašper; Das, Shibananda; Winkler, Roland G.; Aranson, Igor S.; Snezhko, Alexey

2017-01-01

Colloidal particles subject to an external periodic forcing exhibit complex collective behavior and self-assembled patterns. A dispersion of magnetic microparticles confined at the air–liquid interface and energized by a uniform uniaxial alternating magnetic field exhibits dynamic arrays of self-assembled spinners rotating in either direction. Here, we report on experimental and simulation studies of active turbulence and transport in a gas of self-assembled spinners. We show that the spinners, emerging as a result of spontaneous symmetry breaking of clock/counterclockwise rotation of self-assembled particle chains, generate vigorous vortical flows at the interface. An ensemble of spinners exhibits chaotic dynamics due to self-generated advection flows. The same-chirality spinners (clockwise or counterclockwise) show a tendency to aggregate and form dynamic clusters. Emergent self-induced interface currents promote active diffusion that could be tuned by the parameters of the external excitation field. Furthermore, the erratic motion of spinners at the interface generates chaotic fluid flow reminiscent of 2D turbulence. Our work provides insight into fundamental aspects of collective transport in active spinner materials and yields rules for particle manipulation at the microscale. PMID:29158382

Galaxy formation

PubMed Central

Peebles, P. J. E.

1998-01-01

It is argued that within the standard Big Bang cosmological model the bulk of the mass of the luminous parts of the large galaxies likely had been assembled by redshift z ∼ 10. Galaxy assembly this early would be difficult to fit in the widely discussed adiabatic cold dark matter model for structure formation, but it could agree with an isocurvature version in which the cold dark matter is the remnant of a massive scalar field frozen (or squeezed) from quantum fluctuations during inflation. The squeezed field fluctuations would be Gaussian with zero mean, and the distribution of the field mass therefore would be the square of a random Gaussian process. This offers a possibly interesting new direction for the numerical exploration of models for cosmic structure formation. PMID:9419326

Electric-Field-Directed Parallel Alignment Architecting 3D Lithium-Ion Pathways within Solid Composite Electrolyte.

PubMed

Liu, Xueqing; Peng, Sha; Gao, Shuyu; Cao, Yuancheng; You, Qingliang; Zhou, Liyong; Jin, Yongcheng; Liu, Zhihong; Liu, Jiyan

2018-05-09

It is of great significance to seek high-performance solid electrolytes via a facile chemistry and simple process for meeting the requirements of solid batteries. Previous reports revealed that ion conducting pathways within ceramic-polymer composite electrolytes mainly occur at ceramic particles and the ceramic-polymer interface. Herein, one facile strategy toward ceramic particles' alignment and assembly induced by an external alternating-current (AC) electric field is presented. It was manifested by an in situ optical microscope that Li 1.3 Al 0.3 Ti 1.7 (PO 4 ) 3 particles and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (LATP@PEGDA@PDMS) assembled into three-dimensional connected networks on applying an external AC electric field. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the ceramic LATP particles aligned into a necklacelike assembly. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirmed that the ionic conductivity of this necklacelike alignment was significantly enhanced compared to that of the random one. It was demonstrated that this facile strategy of applying an AC electric field can be a very effective approach for architecting three-dimensional lithium-ion conductive networks within solid composite electrolyte.

Solvent-free directed patterning of a highly ordered liquid crystalline organic semiconductor via template-assisted self-assembly for organic transistors.

PubMed

Kim, Aryeon; Jang, Kwang-Suk; Kim, Jinsoo; Won, Jong Chan; Yi, Mi Hye; Kim, Hanim; Yoon, Dong Ki; Shin, Tae Joo; Lee, Myong-Hoon; Ka, Jae-Won; Kim, Yun Ho

2013-11-20

Highly ordered organic semiconductor micropatterns of the liquid-crystalline small molecule 2,7-didecylbenzothienobenzothiophene (C10 -BTBT) are fabricated using a simple method based on template-assisted self-assembly (TASA). The liquid crystallinity of C10 -BTBT allows solvent-free fabrication of high-performance printed organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Mapping the force field of a hydrogen-bonded assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sweetman, A. M.; Jarvis, S. P.; Sang, Hongqian; Lekkas, I.; Rahe, P.; Wang, Yu; Wang, Jianbo; Champness, N. R.; Kantorovich, L.; Moriarty, P.

2014-05-01

Hydrogen bonding underpins the properties of a vast array of systems spanning a wide variety of scientific fields. From the elegance of base pair interactions in DNA to the symmetry of extended supramolecular assemblies, hydrogen bonds play an essential role in directing intermolecular forces. Yet fundamental aspects of the hydrogen bond continue to be vigorously debated. Here we use dynamic force microscopy (DFM) to quantitatively map the tip-sample force field for naphthalene tetracarboxylic diimide molecules hydrogen-bonded in two-dimensional assemblies. A comparison of experimental images and force spectra with their simulated counterparts shows that intermolecular contrast arises from repulsive tip-sample interactions whose interpretation can be aided via an examination of charge density depletion across the molecular system. Interpreting DFM images of hydrogen-bonded systems therefore necessitates detailed consideration of the coupled tip-molecule system: analyses based on intermolecular charge density in the absence of the tip fail to capture the essential physical chemistry underpinning the imaging mechanism.

Arrangement for measuring the field angle of a magnetic field as a function of axial position within a magnet bore tube

DOEpatents

Pidcoe, Stephen V.; Zink, Roger A.; Boroski, William N.; McCaw, William R.

1993-01-01

An arrangement for measuring the field angle of a magnetic field as a function of axial position within a magnet bore tube of a magnet such as is used with the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC). The arrangement includes a magnetic field alignment gauge that is carried through the magnet bore tube by a positioning shuttle in predetermined increments. The positioning shuttle includes an extensible body assembly which is actuated by an internal piston arrangement. A pair of spaced inflatable cuffs are carried by the body assembly and are selectively actuated in cooperation with pressurizing of the piston to selectively drive the positioning shuttle in an axial direction. Control of the shuttle is provided by programmed electronic computer means located exteriorly of the bore tube and which controls valves provided pressurized fluid to the inflatable cuss and the piston arrangement.

Tools and Functions of Reconfigurable Colloidal Assembly.

PubMed

Solomon, Michael J

2018-02-19

We review work in reconfigurable colloidal assembly, a field in which rapid, back-and-forth transitions between the equilibrium states of colloidal self-assembly are accomplished by dynamic manipulation of the size, shape, and interaction potential of colloids, as well as the magnitude and direction of the fields applied to them. It is distinguished from the study of colloidal phase transitions by the centrality of thermodynamic variables and colloidal properties that are time switchable; by the applicability of these changes to generate transitions in assembled colloids that may be spatially localized; and by its incorporation of the effects of generalized potentials due to, for example, applied electric and magnetic fields. By drawing upon current progress in the field, we propose a matrix classification of reconfigurable colloidal systems based on the tool used and function performed by reconfiguration. The classification distinguishes between the multiple means by which reconfigurable assembly can be accomplished (i.e., the tools of reconfiguration) and the different kinds of structural transitions that can be achieved by it (i.e., the functions of reconfiguration). In the first case, the tools of reconfiguration can be broadly classed as (i) those that control the colloidal contribution to the system entropy-as through volumetric and/or shape changes of the particles; (ii) those that control the internal energy of the colloids-as through manipulation of colloidal interaction potentials; and (iii) those that control the spatially resolved potential energy that is imposed on the colloids-as through the introduction of field-induced phoretic mechanisms that yield colloidal displacement and accumulation. In the second case, the functions of reconfiguration include reversible: (i) transformation between different phases-including fluid, cluster, gel, and crystal structures; (ii) manipulation of the spacing between colloids in crystals and clusters; and (iii) translation, rotation, or shape-change of finite-size objects self-assembled from colloids. With this classification in hand, we correlate the current limits on the spatiotemporal scales for reconfigurable colloidal assembly and identify a set of future research challenges.

Dynamic-template-directed multiscale assembly for large-area coating of highly-aligned conjugated polymer thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mohammadi, Erfan; Zhao, Chuankai; Meng, Yifei

Solution processable semiconducting polymers have been under intense investigations due to their diverse applications from printed electronics to biomedical devices. However, controlling the macromolecular assembly across length scales during solution coating remains a key challenge, largely due to the disparity in timescales of polymer assembly and high-throughput printing/coating. Herein we propose the concept of dynamic templating to expedite polymer nucleation and the ensuing assembly process, inspired by biomineralization templates capable of surface reconfiguration. Molecular dynamic simulations reveal that surface reconfigurability is key to promoting template–polymer interactions, thereby lowering polymer nucleation barrier. Employing ionic-liquid-based dynamic template during meniscus-guided coating results inmore » highly aligned, highly crystalline donor-acceptor polymer thin films over large area (41cm 2) and promoted charge transport along both the polymer backbone and the π-π stacking direction in field-effect transistors. We further demonstrate that the charge transport anisotropy can be reversed by tuning the degree of polymer backbone alignment.« less

Dynamic-template-directed multiscale assembly for large-area coating of highly-aligned conjugated polymer thin films

PubMed Central

Mohammadi, Erfan; Zhao, Chuankai; Meng, Yifei; Qu, Ge; Zhang, Fengjiao; Zhao, Xikang; Mei, Jianguo; Zuo, Jian-Min; Shukla, Diwakar; Diao, Ying

2017-01-01

Solution processable semiconducting polymers have been under intense investigations due to their diverse applications from printed electronics to biomedical devices. However, controlling the macromolecular assembly across length scales during solution coating remains a key challenge, largely due to the disparity in timescales of polymer assembly and high-throughput printing/coating. Herein we propose the concept of dynamic templating to expedite polymer nucleation and the ensuing assembly process, inspired by biomineralization templates capable of surface reconfiguration. Molecular dynamic simulations reveal that surface reconfigurability is key to promoting template–polymer interactions, thereby lowering polymer nucleation barrier. Employing ionic-liquid-based dynamic template during meniscus-guided coating results in highly aligned, highly crystalline donor–acceptor polymer thin films over large area (>1 cm2) and promoted charge transport along both the polymer backbone and the π–π stacking direction in field-effect transistors. We further demonstrate that the charge transport anisotropy can be reversed by tuning the degree of polymer backbone alignment. PMID:28703136

Dynamic-template-directed multiscale assembly for large-area coating of highly-aligned conjugated polymer thin films

DOE PAGES

Mohammadi, Erfan; Zhao, Chuankai; Meng, Yifei; ...

2017-07-13

Solution processable semiconducting polymers have been under intense investigations due to their diverse applications from printed electronics to biomedical devices. However, controlling the macromolecular assembly across length scales during solution coating remains a key challenge, largely due to the disparity in timescales of polymer assembly and high-throughput printing/coating. Herein we propose the concept of dynamic templating to expedite polymer nucleation and the ensuing assembly process, inspired by biomineralization templates capable of surface reconfiguration. Molecular dynamic simulations reveal that surface reconfigurability is key to promoting template–polymer interactions, thereby lowering polymer nucleation barrier. Employing ionic-liquid-based dynamic template during meniscus-guided coating results inmore » highly aligned, highly crystalline donor-acceptor polymer thin films over large area (41cm 2) and promoted charge transport along both the polymer backbone and the π-π stacking direction in field-effect transistors. We further demonstrate that the charge transport anisotropy can be reversed by tuning the degree of polymer backbone alignment.« less

Low-Power Light Guiding and Localization in Optoplasmonic Chains Obtained by Directed Self-Assembly

PubMed Central

Ahn, Wonmi; Zhao, Xin; Hong, Yan; Reinhard, Björn M.

2016-01-01

Optoplasmonic structures contain plasmonic components embedded in a defined photonic environment to create synergistic interactions between photonic and plasmonic components. Here, we show that chains of optical microspheres containing gold nanoparticles in their evanescent field combine the light guiding properties of a microsphere chain with the light localizing properties of a plasmonic nanoantenna. We implement these materials through template guided self-assembly and investigate their fundamental electromagnetic working principles through combination of electromagnetic simulations and experimental characterization. We demonstrate that optoplasmonic chains implemented by directed self-assembly achieve a significant reduction in guiding losses when compared with conventional plasmonic waveguides and, at the same time, retain the light localizing properties of plasmonic antennas at pre-defined locations. The results reinforce the potential of optoplasmonic structures for realizing low-loss optical interconnects with high bandwidth. PMID:26931149

Directed self-assembly into low-density colloidal liquid crystal phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Yongxiang; Romano, Flavio; Dullens, Roel P. A.; Doye, Jonathan K.; Aarts, Dirk G. A. L.

2018-01-01

Alignment of anisometric particles into liquid crystals (LCs) often results from an entropic competition between their rotational and translational degrees of freedom at dense packings. Here we show that by selectively functionalizing the heads of colloidal rods with magnetic nanoparticles this tendency can be broken to direct the particles into novel, low-density LC phases. Under an external magnetic field, the magnetic heads line up in columns whereas the nonmagnetic tails point out randomly in a plane perpendicular to the columns, forming bottle-brush-like objects; laterally, the bottle brushes are entropically stabilized against coalescence. Experiments and simulations show that upon increasing the particle density the system goes from a dilute gas to a dense two-dimensional liquid of bottle brushes with a density well below the zero-field nematic phase. Our findings offer a strategy for self-assembly into three-dimensional open phases that may find applications in switchable photonics, filtration, and light-weight materials.

Dynamic thermal field-induced gradient soft-shear for highly oriented block copolymer thin films.

PubMed

Singh, Gurpreet; Yager, Kevin G; Berry, Brian; Kim, Ho-Cheol; Karim, Alamgir

2012-11-27

As demand for smaller, more powerful, and energy-efficient devices continues, conventional patterning technologies are pushing up against fundamental limits. Block copolymers (BCPs) are considered prime candidates for a potential solution via directed self-assembly of nanostructures. We introduce here a facile directed self-assembly method to rapidly fabricate unidirectionally aligned BCP nanopatterns at large scale, on rigid or flexible template-free substrates via a thermally induced dynamic gradient soft-shear field. A localized differential thermal expansion at the interface between a BCP film and a confining polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer due to a dynamic thermal field imposes the gradient soft-shear field. PDMS undergoes directional expansion (along the annealing direction) in the heating zone and contracts back in the cooling zone, thus setting up a single cycle of oscillatory shear (maximum lateral shear stress ∼12 × 10(4) Pa) in the system. We successfully apply this process to create unidirectional alignment of BCP thin films over a wide range of thicknesses (nm to μm) and processing speeds (μm/s to mm/s) using both a flat and patterned PDMS layer. Grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering measurements show absolutely no sign of isotropic population and reveal ≥99% aligned orientational order with an angular spread Δθ(fwhm) ≤ 5° (full width at half-maximum). This method may pave the way to practical industrial use of hierarchically patterned BCP nanostructures.

Directed self-assembly of mesoscopic components for led applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tkachenko, Anton

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) constitute a rapidly evolving and fast growing technology that promises to replace incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent lights in many illumination applications. Large-area LED luminaires have a capability to transform lighting by providing a venue for development of smart lighting systems with additional benefits, such as visible light communications, sensing, health and productivity improvement through color temperature control, capability of creating "virtual sky" ceiling, and many others. The objective of this work is to explore directed self-assembly (DSA) approaches suitable for cost-effective assembly of large amount of LEDs and other mesoscopic (i.e. millimeter and sub-millimeter) electronic components and thus to enable manufacturing of smart lighting luminaires. Existing alternative approaches for assembly of semiconductor dies are examined including transfer printing, laser-assisted die transfer, and various directed self-assembly approaches using shape-recognition, magnetic and capillary forces, etc. After comparing their advantages and limitations, we developed two approaches to magnetic force-assisted DSA of LEDs on a large-area substrate in liquid and air medium. The first approach involves pick-up of buoyant and magnetic dies from the liquid surface onto the flexible substrate in a roll-to-roll process. The possibility of high-speed assembly of LED dies is demonstrated, but with a low yield due to the influence of the capillary force of the carrier liquid and the difficulty in ensuring reliable supply of dies to the assembly interface. To overcome the aforementioned challenges this process was modified to assemble the dies by sinking them onto the receiving substrate with a stencil mask on top, demonstrating LED assembly with a very low error rate but at a lower speed. A solder-assisted self-alignment is used to further improve placement precision and to ensure the proper orientation of the dies. The second approach involves self-assembly of dies in an air medium by levitating them in a periodic magnetic field. Using only vibration in z-direction with properly selected waveforms, both high-yield and high-speed DSA was demonstrated. Magnetostatic simulations were used to demonstrate scaling of DSA process with the die size while a model based on a 2D random walk was used to show how the assembly time scales with the number of dies and how this scaling law can be improved. These results indicate that this process can scale well both with the die size and with the number of assembled dies. Through this thesis work, it was demonstrated that assembly in liquid using ferromagnetic dies can be done either with high speed or with high yield, but not with both at the same time. DSA using diamagnetic levitation offers a way to achieve both through a careful design of magnetic field, thickness and quality of diamagnetic material (graphite) as well as proper selection of vibration pattern. This DSA process can enable large-area parallel assembly of millimeter and sub-millimeter components for manufacturing of LED panels, displays and microcell photovoltaics.

Theoretical study of the self-assembly of Janus Bottlebrush Polymers from A-Branch-B Diblock Macromonomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gadelrab, Karim; Alexander-Katz, Alfredo; LaboratoryTheoretical Soft Materials Team

The self-assembly of block copolymers BCP has provided an impressive control over the nanoscale structure of soft matter. While the main focus of the research in the field has been directed towards simple linear diblocks, the development of advanced polymer architecture provided improved performance and access to new structures. In particular, bottlebrush BCPs (BBCPs) have interesting characteristics due to their dense functionality, high molecular weight, low levels of entanglement, and tendency to efficiently undergo rapid bulk phase separation. In this work, we are interested in theoretically studying the self-assembly of Janus-type ``A-branch-B'' BBCPs where A and B blocks can phase separate with the bottlebrush polymer backbone serving as the interface between the two blocks. Hence, the polymer backbone adds an extra constraint on the equilibrium spacing between neighboring linear diblock chains. In this regard, the segment length of the backbone separating the AB junctions has a direct effect of the observed domain spacing and effective segregation strength of the AB blocks. We employ self-consistent field theoretic SCFT simulations to capture the effect of volume fraction of different constituents and construct a phase diagram of the accessible morphologies of these BBCPs.

2012 Gordon Research Conference on Bioinspired Materials - Formal Schedule and Speaker/Poster Program

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chilkoti, Ashutosk

2012-06-29

The emerging, interdisciplinary field of Bioinspired Materials focuses on developing a fundamental understanding of the synthesis, directed self-assembly and hierarchical organization of natural occurring materials, and uses this understanding to engineer new bioinspired artificial materials for diverse applications. The inaugural 2012 Gordon Conference on Bioinspired Materials seeks to capture the excitement of this burgeoning field by a cutting-edge scientific program and roster of distinguished invited speakers and discussion leaders who will address the key issues in the field. The Conference will feature a wide range of topics, such as materials and devices from DNA, reprogramming the genetic code for designmore » of new materials, peptide, protein and carbohydrate based materials, biomimetic systems, complexity in self-assembly, and biomedical applications of bioinspired materials.« less

Controlled Growth of Ultrathin Film of Organic Semiconductors by Balancing the Competitive Processes in Dip-Coating for Organic Transistors.

PubMed

Wu, Kunjie; Li, Hongwei; Li, Liqiang; Zhang, Suna; Chen, Xiaosong; Xu, Zeyang; Zhang, Xi; Hu, Wenping; Chi, Lifeng; Gao, Xike; Meng, Yancheng

2016-06-28

Ultrathin film with thickness below 15 nm of organic semiconductors provides excellent platform for some fundamental research and practical applications in the field of organic electronics. However, it is quite challenging to develop a general principle for the growth of uniform and continuous ultrathin film over large area. Dip-coating is a useful technique to prepare diverse structures of organic semiconductors, but the assembly of organic semiconductors in dip-coating is quite complicated, and there are no reports about the core rules for the growth of ultrathin film via dip-coating until now. In this work, we develop a general strategy for the growth of ultrathin film of organic semiconductor via dip-coating, which provides a relatively facile model to analyze the growth behavior. The balance between the three direct factors (nucleation rate, assembly rate, and recession rate) is the key to determine the growth of ultrathin film. Under the direction of this rule, ultrathin films of four organic semiconductors are obtained. The field-effect transistors constructed on the ultrathin film show good field-effect property. This work provides a general principle and systematic guideline to prepare ultrathin film of organic semiconductors via dip-coating, which would be highly meaningful for organic electronics as well as for the assembly of other materials via solution processes.

Simulation of spectral properties of bundlelike gold nanorods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozaki, Ryotaro; Nagao, Yoshiki; Kadowaki, Kazunori; Kuwahara, Yutaka

2016-03-01

Metal nanoparticles have become increasingly important in fields such as electronics, photonics, and biotechnology. In particular, anisotropic gold nanoparticles, such as gold nanorods, exhibit unique properties owing to their anisotropy. Optical properties of isolated gold nanorods and dimers of gold nanorods have been investigated from both experimental and theoretical points of view. We have reported a method for three-dimensional assembly of anisotropic gold nanoparticles by two-phase transfer in which the morphologies of the assemblies can be controlled by the aspect ratio of nanorods. In this study, we numerically calculate extinction spectra to investigate the plasmonic properties of bundlelike assemblies by the finite-element method. Their plasmonic properties depend on not only the three orthogonal directions but also the alignment of the nanorod assembly.

A Carbon Dioxide Bubble-Induced Vortex Triggers Co-Assembly of Nanotubes with Controlled Chirality.

PubMed

Zhang, Ling; Zhou, Laicheng; Xu, Na; Ouyang, Zhenjie

2017-07-03

It is challenging to prepare co-organized nanotube systems with controlled nanoscale chirality in an aqueous liquid flow field. Such systems are responsive to a bubbled external gas. A liquid vortex induced by bubbling carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) gas was used to stimulate the formation of nanotubes with controlled chirality; two kinds of achiral cationic building blocks were co-assembled in aqueous solution. CO 2 -triggered nanotube formation occurs by formation of metastable intermediate structures (short helical ribbons and short tubules) and by transition from short tubules to long tubules in response to chirality matching self-assembly. Interestingly, the chirality sign of these assemblies can be selected for by the circulation direction of the CO 2 bubble-induced vortex during the co-assembly process. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Magnetic assembly of transparent and conducting graphene-based functional composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le Ferrand, Hortense; Bolisetty, Sreenath; Demirörs, Ahmet F.; Libanori, Rafael; Studart, André R.; Mezzenga, Raffaele

2016-06-01

Innovative methods producing transparent and flexible electrodes are highly sought in modern optoelectronic applications to replace metal oxides, but available solutions suffer from drawbacks such as brittleness, unaffordability and inadequate processability. Here we propose a general, simple strategy to produce hierarchical composites of functionalized graphene in polymeric matrices, exhibiting transparency and electron conductivity. These are obtained through protein-assisted functionalization of graphene with magnetic nanoparticles, followed by magnetic-directed assembly of the graphene within polymeric matrices undergoing sol-gel transitions. By applying rotating magnetic fields or magnetic moulds, both graphene orientation and distribution can be controlled within the composite. Importantly, by using magnetic virtual moulds of predefined meshes, graphene assembly is directed into double-percolating networks, reducing the percolation threshold and enabling combined optical transparency and electrical conductivity not accessible in single-network materials. The resulting composites open new possibilities on the quest of transparent electrodes for photovoltaics, organic light-emitting diodes and stretchable optoelectronic devices.

Low-power light guiding and localization in optoplasmonic chains obtained by directed self-assembly

DOE PAGES

Ahn, Wonmi; Zhao, Xin; Hong, Yan; ...

2016-03-02

Here, optoplasmonic structures contain plasmonic components embedded in a defined photonic environment to create synergistic interactions between photonic and plasmonic components. Here, we show that chains of optical microspheres containing gold nanoparticles in their evanescent field combine the light guiding properties of a microsphere chain with the light localizing properties of a plasmonic nanoantenna. We implement these materials through template guided self-assembly and investigate their fundamental electromagnetic working principles through combination of electromagnetic simulations and experimental characterization. We demonstrate that optoplasmonic chains implemented by directed self-assembly achieve a significant reduction in guiding losses when compared with conventional plasmonic waveguides and,more » at the same time, retain the light localizing properties of plasmonic antennas at pre-defined locations. The results reinforce the potential of optoplasmonic structures for realizing low-loss optical interconnects with high bandwidth.« less

Influence of topographically patterned angled guidelines on directed self-assembly of block copolymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rebello, Nathan; Sethuraman, Vaidyanathan; Blachut, Gregory; Ellison, Christopher J.; Willson, C. Grant; Ganesan, Venkat

2017-11-01

Single chain in mean-field Monte Carlo simulations were employed to study the self-assembly of block copolymers (BCP) in thin films that use trapezoidal guidelines to direct the orientation and alignment of lamellar patterns. The present study explored the influence of sidewall interactions and geometry of the trapezoidal guidelines on the self-assembly of perpendicularly oriented lamellar morphologies. When both the sidewall and the top surface exhibit preferential interactions to the same block of the BCP, trapezoidal guidelines with intermediate taper angles were found to result in less defective perpendicularly orientated morphologies. Similarly, when the sidewall and top surface are preferential to distinct blocks of the BCP, intermediate tapering angles were found to be optimal in promoting defect free structures. Such results are rationalized based on the energetics arising in the formation of perpendicularly oriented lamella on patterned substrates.

Active turbulence in a gas of self-assembled spinners

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kokot, Gasper; Das, Shibananda; Winkler, Roland G.

Colloidal particles subject to an external periodic forcing exhibit complex collective behavior and self-assembled patterns. A dispersion of magnetic microparticles confined at the air-liquid interface and energized by a uniform uniaxial alternating magnetic field exhibits dynamic arrays of self-assembled spinners rotating in either direction. Here, we report on experimental and simulation studies of active turbulence and transport in a gas of self-assembled spinners. We show that the spinners, emerging as a result of spontaneous symmetry breaking of clock/counterclockwise rotation of self-assembled particle chains, generate vigorous vortical flows at the interface. An ensemble of spinners exhibits chaotic dynamics due to self-generatedmore » advection flows. The same-chirality spinners (clockwise or counterclock-wise) show a tendency to aggregate and form dynamic clusters. Emergent self-induced interface currents promote active diffusion that could be tuned by the parameters of the external excitation field. Furthermore, the erratic motion of spinners at the interface generates chaotic fluid flow reminiscent of 2D turbulence. As a result, our work provides insight into fundamental aspects of collective transport in active spinner materials and yields rules for particle manipulation at the microscale.« less

Active turbulence in a gas of self-assembled spinners

DOE PAGES

Kokot, Gasper; Das, Shibananda; Winkler, Roland G.; ...

2017-11-20

Colloidal particles subject to an external periodic forcing exhibit complex collective behavior and self-assembled patterns. A dispersion of magnetic microparticles confined at the air-liquid interface and energized by a uniform uniaxial alternating magnetic field exhibits dynamic arrays of self-assembled spinners rotating in either direction. Here, we report on experimental and simulation studies of active turbulence and transport in a gas of self-assembled spinners. We show that the spinners, emerging as a result of spontaneous symmetry breaking of clock/counterclockwise rotation of self-assembled particle chains, generate vigorous vortical flows at the interface. An ensemble of spinners exhibits chaotic dynamics due to self-generatedmore » advection flows. The same-chirality spinners (clockwise or counterclock-wise) show a tendency to aggregate and form dynamic clusters. Emergent self-induced interface currents promote active diffusion that could be tuned by the parameters of the external excitation field. Furthermore, the erratic motion of spinners at the interface generates chaotic fluid flow reminiscent of 2D turbulence. As a result, our work provides insight into fundamental aspects of collective transport in active spinner materials and yields rules for particle manipulation at the microscale.« less

Via patterning in the 7-nm node using immersion lithography and graphoepitaxy directed self-assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doise, Jan; Bekaert, Joost; Chan, Boon Teik; Hori, Masafumi; Gronheid, Roel

2017-04-01

Insertion of a graphoepitaxy directed self-assembly process as a via patterning technology into integrated circuit fabrication is seriously considered for the 7-nm node and beyond. At these dimensions, a graphoepitaxy process using a cylindrical block copolymer that enables hole multiplication can alleviate costs by extending 193-nm immersion-based lithography and significantly reducing the number of masks that would be required per layer. To be considered for implementation, it needs to be proved that this approach can achieve the required pattern quality in terms of defects and variability using a representative, aperiodic design. The patterning of a via layer from an actual 7-nm node logic layout is demonstrated using immersion lithography and graphoepitaxy directed self-assembly in a fab-like environment. The performance of the process is characterized in detail on a full 300-mm wafer scale. The local variability in an edge placement error of the obtained patterns (4.0 nm 3σ for singlets) is in line with the recent results in the field and significantly less than of the prepattern (4.9 nm 3σ for singlets). In addition, it is expected that pattern quality can be further improved through an improved mask design and optical proximity correction. No major complications for insertion of the graphoepitaxy directed self-assembly into device manufacturing were observed.

Spacer-Directed Selective Assembly of Copper Square or Hexagon and Ring-Stacks or Coordination Nanotubes.

PubMed

Wu, Xialu; Ding, Nini; Zhang, Wenhua; Xue, Fei; Hor, T S Andy

2015-07-20

The use of simple self-assembly methods to direct or engineer porosity or channels of desirable functionality is a major challenge in the field of metal-organic frameworks. We herein report a series of frameworks by modifying square ring structure of [{Cu2(5-dmpy)2(L1)2(H2O)(MeOH)}2{ClO4}4]·4MeOH (1·4MeOH, 5-dmpy = 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, HL1 = 4-pyridinecarboxylic acid). Use of pyridyl carboxylates as directional spacers in bipyridyl chelated Cu(II) system led to the growth of square unit into other configurations, namely, square ring, square chain, and square tunnel. Another remarkable characteristic is that the novel use of two isomers of pyridinyl-acrylic acid directs selectively to two different extreme tubular forms-aligned stacking of discrete hexagonal rings and crack-free one-dimensional continuum polymers. This provides a unique example of two extreme forms of copper nanotubes from two isomeric spacers. All of the reactions are performed in a one-pot self-assembly process at room temperature, while the topological selectivity is exclusively determined by the skeletal characteristics of the spacers.

Field study of age-differentiated strain for assembly line workers in the automotive industry.

PubMed

Börner, Kerstin; Scherf, Christian; Leitner-Mai, Bianca; Spanner-Ulmer, Birgit

2012-01-01

A field study in an automotive supply industry company was conducted to explore age-differentiated strain of assembly line workers. Subjective and objective data from 23 female workers aged between 27 and 57 years were collected at the workplace belt buckle assembly during morning shifts. Subjects with medication or chronic diseases affecting heart rate and breath rate were excluded. For subjective data generation different questionnaires were used. Before the Work Ability Index and the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire were completed by the subjects. Short questionnaires (strain-ratings, NASA-TLX) directly at begin and end of the work were used for obtaining shift-related data. During the whole shift (6 a.m. - 2.45 p.m.) bodily functions were logged with a wireless chest strap. In addition, the motion of the hand-arm-system was recorded for 30 times, 3 minutes each after a fixed time-schedule. First results show that younger subjects need significant less time for assembly (mean = 14.940 s) compared to older subjects (mean = 17.040 s; t(472.026) = -9.278 , p < 0.01).

Self-Assembled Layering of Magnetic Nanoparticles in a Ferrofluid on Silicon Surfaces.

PubMed

Theis-Bröhl, Katharina; Vreeland, Erika C; Gomez, Andrew; Huber, Dale L; Saini, Apurve; Wolff, Max; Maranville, Brian B; Brok, Erik; Krycka, Kathryn L; Dura, Joseph A; Borchers, Julie A

2018-02-07

This article describes the three-dimensional self-assembly of monodisperse colloidal magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) from a dilute water-based ferrofluid onto a silicon surface and the dependence of the resultant magnetic structure on the applied field. The NPs assemble into close-packed layers on the surface followed by more loosely packed ones. The magnetic field-dependent magnetization of the individual NP layers depends on both the rotational freedom of the layer and the magnetization of the adjacent layers. For layers in which the NPs are more free to rotate, the easy axis of the NP can readily orient along the field direction. In more dense packing, free rotation of the NPs is hampered, and the NP ensembles likely build up quasi-domain states to minimize energy, which leads to lower magnetization in those layers. Detailed analysis of polarized neutron reflectometry data together with model calculations of the arrangement of the NPs within the layers and input from small-angle scattering measurements provide full characterization of the core/shell NP dimensions, degree of chaining, arrangement of the NPs within the different layers, and magnetization depth profile.

High field pulsed microwiggler comprising a conductive tube with periodically space slots

DOEpatents

Warren, R.W.

1992-09-01

A microwiggler assembly produces large magnetic fields for oscillating charged particle beams, particularly electron beams for free electron laser (FEL) application. A tube of electrically conductive material is formed with radial slots axially spaced at the period of the electron beam. The slots have alternate 180[degree] relationships and are formed to a maximum depth of 0.6 to 0.7 times the tube circumference. An optimum slot depth is selected to eliminate magnetic quadrupole fields within the microwiggler as determined from a conventional pulsed wire technique. Suitable slot configurations include single slits, double slits, triple slits, and elliptical slots. An axial electron beam direction is maintained by experimentally placing end slits adjacent entrance and exit portions of the assembly, where the end slit depth is determined by use of the pulsed wire technique outside the tube. 10 figs.

High field pulsed microwiggler comprising a conductive tube with periodically space slots

DOEpatents

Warren, Roger W.

1992-01-01

A microwiggler assembly produces large magnetic fields for oscillating ched particle beams, particularly electron beams for free electron laser (FEL) application. A tube of electrically conductive material is formed with radial slots axially spaced at the period of the electron beam. The slots have alternate 180.degree. relationships and are formed to a maximum depth of 0.6 to 0.7 times the tube circumference. An optimum slot depth is selected to eliminate magnetic quadrupole fields within the microwiggler as determined from a conventional pulsed wire technique. Suitable slot configurations include single slits, double slits, triple slits, and elliptical slots. An axial electron beam direction is maintained by experimentally placing end slits adjacent entrance and exit portions of the assembly, where the end slit depth is determined by use of the pulsed wire technique outside the tube.

Saturn Apollo Program

NASA Image and Video Library

1963-02-01

This image depicts an overall view of the vertical test stand for testing the J-2 engine at Rocketdyne's Propulsion Field Laboratory, in the Santa Susana Mountains, near Canoga Park, California. The J-2 engines were assembled and tested at Rocketdyne under the direction of the Marshall Space Flight Center.

Direction sensitive neutron detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ahlen, Steven; Fisher, Peter; Dujmic, Denis

2017-01-31

A neutron detector includes a pressure vessel, an electrically conductive field cage assembly within the pressure vessel and an imaging subsystem. A pressurized gas mixture of CF.sub.4, .sup.3He and .sup.4He at respective partial pressures is used. The field cage establishes a relatively large drift region of low field strength, in which ionization electrons generated by neutron-He interactions are directed toward a substantially smaller amplification region of substantially higher field strength in which the ionization electrons undergo avalanche multiplication resulting in scintillation of the CF.sub.4 along scintillation tracks. The imaging system generates two-dimensional images of the scintillation patterns and employs track-findingmore » to identify tracks and deduce the rate and direction of incident neutrons. One or more photo-multiplier tubes record the time-profile of the scintillation tracks permitting the determination of the third coordinate.« less

Structural DNA Nanotechnology: State of the Art and Future Perspective

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Over the past three decades DNA has emerged as an exceptional molecular building block for nanoconstruction due to its predictable conformation and programmable intra- and intermolecular Watson–Crick base-pairing interactions. A variety of convenient design rules and reliable assembly methods have been developed to engineer DNA nanostructures of increasing complexity. The ability to create designer DNA architectures with accurate spatial control has allowed researchers to explore novel applications in many directions, such as directed material assembly, structural biology, biocatalysis, DNA computing, nanorobotics, disease diagnosis, and drug delivery. This Perspective discusses the state of the art in the field of structural DNA nanotechnology and presents some of the challenges and opportunities that exist in DNA-based molecular design and programming. PMID:25029570

Examination of the Structural Response of the Orion European Service Module to Reverberant and Direct Field Acoustic Testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McNelis, Mark E.; Hughes, William O.; Larko, Jeffrey M.; Bittinger, Samantha A.; Le-Plenier, Cyprien; Fogt, Vincent A.; Ngan, Ivan; Thirkettle, Anthony C.; Skinner, Mitch; Larkin, Paul

2017-01-01

The NASA Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV), comprised of the Service Module, the Crew Module, and the Launch Abort System, is the next generation human spacecraft designed and built for deep space exploration. Orion will launch on NASAs new heavy-lift rocket, the Space Launch System. The European Space Agency (ESA) is responsible for providing the propulsion sub-assembly of the Service Module to NASA, called the European Service Module (ESM). The ESM is being designed and built by Airbus Safran Launchers for ESA. Traditionally, NASA has utilized reverberant acoustic testing for qualification of spaceflight hardware. The ESM Structural Test Article (E-STA) was tested at the NASA Plum Brook Stations (PBS) Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility in April-May 2016. However, Orion is evaluating an alternative acoustic test method, using direct field acoustic excitation, for the MPCVs Service Module and Crew Module. Lockheed Martin is responsible for the Orion proof-of-concept direct field acoustic test program. The E-STA was exposed to direct field acoustic testing at NASA PBS in February 2017. This paper compares the dynamic response of the E-STA structure and its components to both the reverberant and direct field acoustic test excitations. Advantages and disadvantages of direct field acoustic test excitation method are discussed.

Fuel cell stack with passive air supply

DOEpatents

Ren, Xiaoming; Gottesfeld, Shimshon

2006-01-17

A fuel cell stack has a plurality of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) where each PEFC includes a rectangular membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having a fuel flow field along a first axis and an air flow field along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, where the fuel flow field is long relative to the air flow field. A cathode air flow field in each PEFC has air flow channels for air flow parallel to the second axis and that directly open to atmospheric air for air diffusion within the channels into contact with the MEA.

Designer nanomaterials using chiral self-assembling peptide systems and their emerging benefit for society.

PubMed

Luo, Zhongli; Zhang, Shuguang

2012-07-07

Chirality is absolutely central in chemistry and biology. The recent findings of chiral self-assembling peptides' remarkable chemical complementarity and structural compatibility make it one of the most inspired designer materials and structures in nanobiotechnology. The emerging field of designer chemistry and biology further explores biological and medical applications of these simple D,L- amino acids through producing marvellous nanostructures under physiological conditions. These self-assembled structures include well-ordered nanofibers, nanotubes and nanovesicles. These structures have been used for 3-dimensional tissue cultures of primary cells and stem cells, sustained release of small molecules, growth factors and monoclonal antibodies, accelerated wound-healing in reparative and regenerative medicine as well as tissue engineering. Recent advances in molecular designs have also led to the development of 3D fine-tuned bioactive tissue culture scaffolds. They are also used to stabilize membrane proteins including difficult G-protein coupled receptors for designing nanobiodevices. One of the self-assembling peptides has been used in human clinical trials for accelerated wound-healings. It is our hope that these peptide materials will open doors for more and diverse clinical uses. The field of chiral self-assembling peptide nanobiotechnology is growing in a number of directions that has led to many surprises in areas of novel materials, synthetic biology, clinical medicine and beyond.

Response of multi-panel assembly to noise from a jet in forward motion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bayliss, A.; Maestrello, L.; Mcgreevy, J. L.; Fenno, C. C., Jr.

1995-01-01

A model of the interaction of the noise from a spreading subsonic jet with a 4 panel assembly is studied numerically in two dimensions. The effect of forward motion of the jet is accounted for by considering a uniform flow field superimposed on a mean jet exit profile. The jet is initially excited by a pulse-like source inserted into the flow field. The pulse triggers instabilities associated with the inviscid instability of the jet shear layer. These instabilities generate sound which in turn serves to excite the panels. We compare the sound from the jet, the responses of the panels and the resulting acoustic radiation for the static jet and the jet in forward motion. The far field acoustic radiation, the panel response and sound radiated from the panels are all computed and compared to computations of a static jet. The results demonstrate that for a jet in forward motion there is a reduction in sound in downstream directions and an increase in sound in upstream directions in agreement with experiments. Furthermore, the panel response and radiation for a jet in forward motion exhibits a downstream attenuation as compared with the static case.

24 CFR 3285.601 - Field assembly.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 5 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Field assembly. 3285.601 Section... § 3285.601 Field assembly. Home manufacturers must provide specific installation instructions for the proper field assembly of manufacturer-supplied and shipped loose ducts, plumbing, and fuel supply system...

24 CFR 3285.601 - Field assembly.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 5 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Field assembly. 3285.601 Section... § 3285.601 Field assembly. Home manufacturers must provide specific installation instructions for the proper field assembly of manufacturer-supplied and shipped loose ducts, plumbing, and fuel supply system...

24 CFR 3285.601 - Field assembly.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 5 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Field assembly. 3285.601 Section... § 3285.601 Field assembly. Home manufacturers must provide specific installation instructions for the proper field assembly of manufacturer-supplied and shipped loose ducts, plumbing, and fuel supply system...

24 CFR 3285.601 - Field assembly.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 5 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Field assembly. 3285.601 Section... § 3285.601 Field assembly. Home manufacturers must provide specific installation instructions for the proper field assembly of manufacturer-supplied and shipped loose ducts, plumbing, and fuel supply system...

Oscillatory persistent currents in self-assembled quantum rings.

PubMed

Kleemans, N A J M; Bominaar-Silkens, I M A; Fomin, V M; Gladilin, V N; Granados, D; Taboada, A G; García, J M; Offermans, P; Zeitler, U; Christianen, P C M; Maan, J C; Devreese, J T; Koenraad, P M

2007-10-05

We report the direct measurement of the persistent current carried by a single electron by means of magnetization experiments on self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum rings. We measured the first Aharonov-Bohm oscillation at a field of 14 T, in perfect agreement with our model based on the structural properties determined by cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy measurements. The observed oscillation magnitude of the magnetic moment per electron is remarkably large for the topology of our nanostructures, which are singly connected and exhibit a pronounced shape asymmetry.

Preface: special topic on supramolecular self-assembly at surfaces.

PubMed

Bartels, Ludwig; Ernst, Karl-Heinz; Gao, Hong-Jun; Thiel, Patricia A

2015-03-14

Supramolecular self-assembly at surfaces is one of the most exciting and active fields in Surface Science today. Applications can take advantage of two key properties: (i) versatile pattern formation over a broad length scale and (ii) tunability of electronic structure and transport properties, as well as frontier orbital alignment. It provides a new frontier for Chemical Physics as it uniquely combines the versatility of Organic Synthesis and the Physics of Interfaces. The Journal of Chemical Physics is pleased to publish this Special Topic Issue, showcasing recent advances and new directions.

Biological Activation of Inert Ceramics: Recent Advances Using Tailored Self-Assembled Monolayers on Implant Ceramic Surfaces

PubMed Central

Böke, Frederik; Schickle, Karolina; Fischer, Horst

2014-01-01

High-strength ceramics as materials for medical implants have a long, research-intensive history. Yet, especially on applications where the ceramic components are in direct contact with the surrounding tissue, an unresolved issue is its inherent property of biological inertness. To combat this, several strategies have been investigated over the last couple of years. One promising approach investigates the technique of Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAM) and subsequent chemical functionalization to create a biologically active tissue-facing surface layer. Implementation of this would have a beneficial impact on several fields in modern implant medicine such as hip and knee arthroplasty, dental applications and related fields. This review aims to give a summarizing overview of the latest advances in this recently emerging field, along with thorough introductions of the underlying mechanism of SAMs and surface cell attachment mechanics on the cell side. PMID:28788687

Directed-assembly of ordered nanoparticle arrays exploiting multiple adsorption mechanisms on a self-assembling biological template

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shindel, Matthew M.

Developing processes to fabricate inorganic architectures with designer functionalities at increasingly minute length-scales is of chief concern in the fields of nanotechnology and nanoscience. This enterprise requires assembly mechanisms with the capacity to tailor both the spatial arrangement and material composition of a system's constituent building blocks. To this end, significant advances can be made by turning to biology, as the natural world has evolved the ability to generate intricate nanostructures, which can potentially be employed as templates for inorganic nanosystems. We explore this biotemplating methodology using two-dimensional streptavidin crystals, investigating the ability of the protein lattice to direct the assembly of ordered metallic nanoparticle arrays. We demonstrate that the adsorption of nanoparticles on the protein monolayer can be induced through both electrostatic and molecular recognition (ligand-receptor) interactions. Furthermore, the dynamics of adsorption can be modulated through both environmental factors (e.g. pH), and by tailoring particle surface chemistry. When the characteristic nanoparticle size is on the order of the biotemplate's unit-cell dimension, electrostatically-mediated adsorption occurs in a site-specific manner. The nanoparticles exhibit a pronounced preference for adhering to the areas between protein molecules. The two-dimensional structure of the resultant nanoparticle ensemble consequently conforms to that of the underlying protein crystal. Through theoretical calculations, simulation and experiment, we show that interparticle spacing in the templated array is influenced by the screened-coulombic repulsion between particles, and can thus be tuned by controlling ionic strength during deposition. Templating ordered nanoparticle arrays via ligand-receptor mediated adsorption, and the constrained growth of metallic nanoparticles directly on the protein lattice from ionic precursors are also examined. Overall, this work demonstrates that the streptavidin crystal system possesses unique utility for nanoscale, directed-assembly applications.

Self-Assembly and Crystallization of Hairy (f-Star) and DNA-Grafted Nanocubes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Knorowski, Christopher; Travesset, Alex

Nanoparticle superlattices are key to realizing many of the materials that will solve current technological challenges. Particularly important for their optical, mechanical or catalytic properties are superlattices of anisotropic (nonspherical) nanoparticles. The key challenge is how to program anisotropic nanoparticles to self-assemble into the relevant structures. In this Article, using numerical simulations, we show that “hairy” (f-star) or DNA grafted on nanocubes provides a general framework to direct the self-assembly into phases with crystalline, liquid crystalline, rotator, or noncrystalline phases with both long-range positional and orientational order. We discuss the relevance of these phases for engineering nanomaterials or micromaterials displayingmore » precise orientational order, realization of dry superlattices as well as for the field of programmed self-assembly of anisotropic nanoparticles in general.« less

Facile and controllable one-step fabrication of molecularly imprinted polymer membrane by magnetic field directed self-assembly for electrochemical sensing of glutathione.

PubMed

Zhu, Wanying; Jiang, Guoyi; Xu, Lei; Li, Bingzhi; Cai, Qizhi; Jiang, Huijun; Zhou, Xuemin

2015-07-30

Based on magnetic field directed self-assembly (MDSA) of the ternary Fe3O4@PANI/rGO nanocomposites, a facile and controllable molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor (MIES) was fabricated through a one-step approach for detection of glutathione (GSH). The ternary Fe3O4@PANI/rGO nanocomposites were obtained by chemical oxidative polymerization and intercalation of Fe3O4@PANI into the graphene oxide layers via π-π stacking interaction, followed by reduction of graphene oxide in the presence of hydrazine hydrate. In molecular imprinting process, the pre-polymers, including GSH as template molecule, Fe3O4@PANI/rGO nanocomposites as functional monomers and pyrrole as both cross-linker and co-monomer, was assembled through N-H hydrogen bonds and the electrostatic interaction, and then was rapidly oriented onto the surface of MGCE under the magnetic field induction. Subsequently, the electrochemical GSH sensor was formed by electropolymerization. In this work, the ternary Fe3O4@PANI/rGO nanocomposites could not only provide available functionalized sites in the matrix to form hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction with GSH, but also afford a promoting network for electron transfer. Moreover, the biomimetic sensing membrane could be controlled more conveniently and effectively by adjusting the magnetic field strength. The as-prepared controllable sensor showed good stability and reproducibility for the determination of GSH with the detection limit reaching 3 nmol L(-1) (S/N = 3). In addition, the highly sensitive and selective biomimetic sensor has been successfully used for the clinical determination of GSH in biological samples. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Catalytically powered dynamic assembly of rod-shaped nanomotors and passive tracer particles

PubMed Central

Wang, Wei; Duan, Wentao; Sen, Ayusman; Mallouk, Thomas E.

2013-01-01

Nano- and microscale motors powered by catalytic reactions exhibit collective behavior such as swarming, predator–prey interactions, and chemotaxis that resemble those of biological microorganisms. A quantitative understanding of the catalytically generated forces between particles that lead to these behaviors has so far been lacking. Observations and numerical simulations of pairwise interactions between gold-platinum nanorods in hydrogen peroxide solutions show that attractive and repulsive interactions arise from the catalytically generated electric field. Electrokinetic effects drive the assembly of staggered doublets and triplets of nanorods that are moving in the same direction. None of these behaviors are observed with nanorods composed of a single metal. The motors also collect tracer microparticles at their head or tail, depending on the charge of the particles, actively assembling them into close-packed rafts and aggregates of rafts. These motor–tracer particle interactions can also be understood in terms of the catalytically generated electric field around the ends of the nanorod motors. PMID:24127603

Catalytically powered dynamic assembly of rod-shaped nanomotors and passive tracer particles.

PubMed

Wang, Wei; Duan, Wentao; Sen, Ayusman; Mallouk, Thomas E

2013-10-29

Nano- and microscale motors powered by catalytic reactions exhibit collective behavior such as swarming, predator-prey interactions, and chemotaxis that resemble those of biological microorganisms. A quantitative understanding of the catalytically generated forces between particles that lead to these behaviors has so far been lacking. Observations and numerical simulations of pairwise interactions between gold-platinum nanorods in hydrogen peroxide solutions show that attractive and repulsive interactions arise from the catalytically generated electric field. Electrokinetic effects drive the assembly of staggered doublets and triplets of nanorods that are moving in the same direction. None of these behaviors are observed with nanorods composed of a single metal. The motors also collect tracer microparticles at their head or tail, depending on the charge of the particles, actively assembling them into close-packed rafts and aggregates of rafts. These motor-tracer particle interactions can also be understood in terms of the catalytically generated electric field around the ends of the nanorod motors.

Surface-enabled propulsion and control of colloidal microwheels.

PubMed

Tasci, T O; Herson, P S; Neeves, K B; Marr, D W M

2016-01-04

Propulsion at the microscale requires unique strategies such as the undulating or rotating filaments that microorganisms have evolved to swim. These features however can be difficult to artificially replicate and control, limiting the ability to actuate and direct engineered microdevices to targeted locations within practical timeframes. An alternative propulsion strategy to swimming is rolling. Here we report that low-strength magnetic fields can reversibly assemble wheel-shaped devices in situ from individual colloidal building blocks and also drive, rotate and direct them along surfaces at velocities faster than most other microscale propulsion schemes. By varying spin frequency and angle relative to the surface, we demonstrate that microwheels can be directed rapidly and precisely along user-defined paths. Such in situ assembly of readily modified colloidal devices capable of targeted movements provides a practical transport and delivery tool for microscale applications, especially those in complex or tortuous geometries.

Surface-enabled propulsion and control of colloidal microwheels

PubMed Central

Tasci, T. O.; Herson, P. S.; Neeves, K. B.; Marr, D. W. M.

2016-01-01

Propulsion at the microscale requires unique strategies such as the undulating or rotating filaments that microorganisms have evolved to swim. These features however can be difficult to artificially replicate and control, limiting the ability to actuate and direct engineered microdevices to targeted locations within practical timeframes. An alternative propulsion strategy to swimming is rolling. Here we report that low-strength magnetic fields can reversibly assemble wheel-shaped devices in situ from individual colloidal building blocks and also drive, rotate and direct them along surfaces at velocities faster than most other microscale propulsion schemes. By varying spin frequency and angle relative to the surface, we demonstrate that microwheels can be directed rapidly and precisely along user-defined paths. Such in situ assembly of readily modified colloidal devices capable of targeted movements provides a practical transport and delivery tool for microscale applications, especially those in complex or tortuous geometries. PMID:26725747

Magnetic assembly of transparent and conducting graphene-based functional composites

PubMed Central

Le Ferrand, Hortense; Bolisetty, Sreenath; Demirörs, Ahmet F.; Libanori, Rafael; Studart, André R.; Mezzenga, Raffaele

2016-01-01

Innovative methods producing transparent and flexible electrodes are highly sought in modern optoelectronic applications to replace metal oxides, but available solutions suffer from drawbacks such as brittleness, unaffordability and inadequate processability. Here we propose a general, simple strategy to produce hierarchical composites of functionalized graphene in polymeric matrices, exhibiting transparency and electron conductivity. These are obtained through protein-assisted functionalization of graphene with magnetic nanoparticles, followed by magnetic-directed assembly of the graphene within polymeric matrices undergoing sol–gel transitions. By applying rotating magnetic fields or magnetic moulds, both graphene orientation and distribution can be controlled within the composite. Importantly, by using magnetic virtual moulds of predefined meshes, graphene assembly is directed into double-percolating networks, reducing the percolation threshold and enabling combined optical transparency and electrical conductivity not accessible in single-network materials. The resulting composites open new possibilities on the quest of transparent electrodes for photovoltaics, organic light-emitting diodes and stretchable optoelectronic devices. PMID:27354243

Gas block mechanism for water removal in fuel cells

DOEpatents

Issacci, Farrokh; Rehg, Timothy J.

2004-02-03

The present invention is directed to apparatus and method for cathode-side disposal of water in an electrochemical fuel cell. There is a cathode plate. Within a surface of the plate is a flow field comprised of interdigitated channels. During operation of the fuel cell, cathode gas flows by convection through a gas diffusion layer above the flow field. Positioned at points adjacent to the flow field are one or more porous gas block mediums that have pores sized such that water is sipped off to the outside of the flow field by capillary flow and cathode gas is blocked from flowing through the medium. On the other surface of the plate is a channel in fluid communication with each porous gas block mediums. The method for water disposal in a fuel cell comprises installing the cathode plate assemblies at the cathode sides of the stack of fuel cells and manifolding the single water channel of each of the cathode plate assemblies to the coolant flow that feeds coolant plates in the stack.

Place field assembly distribution encodes preferred locations

PubMed Central

Mamad, Omar; Stumpp, Lars; McNamara, Harold M.; Ramakrishnan, Charu; Deisseroth, Karl; Reilly, Richard B.

2017-01-01

The hippocampus is the main locus of episodic memory formation and the neurons there encode the spatial map of the environment. Hippocampal place cells represent location, but their role in the learning of preferential location remains unclear. The hippocampus may encode locations independently from the stimuli and events that are associated with these locations. We have discovered a unique population code for the experience-dependent value of the context. The degree of reward-driven navigation preference highly correlates with the spatial distribution of the place fields recorded in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. We show place field clustering towards rewarded locations. Optogenetic manipulation of the ventral tegmental area demonstrates that the experience-dependent place field assembly distribution is directed by tegmental dopaminergic activity. The ability of the place cells to remap parallels the acquisition of reward context. Our findings present key evidence that the hippocampal neurons are not merely mapping the static environment but also store the concurrent context reward value, enabling episodic memory for past experience to support future adaptive behavior. PMID:28898248

System and method for heating ferrite magnet motors for low temperatures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reddy, Patel Bhageerath; El-Refaie, Ayman Mohamed Fawzi; Huh, Kum-Kang

A system and method for heating ferrite permanent magnets in an electrical machine is disclosed. The permanent magnet machine includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly, with a plurality of ferrite permanent magnets disposed within the stator assembly or the rotor assembly to generate a magnetic field that interacts with a stator magnetic field to produce a torque. A controller of the electrical machine is programmed to cause a primary field current to be applied to the stator windings to generate the stator magnetic field, so as to cause the rotor assembly to rotate relative to the stator assembly.more » The controller is further programmed to cause a secondary current to be applied to the stator windings to selectively generate a secondary magnetic field, the secondary magnetic field inducing eddy currents in at least one of the stator assembly and the rotor assembly to heat the ferrite permanent magnets.« less

System and method for heating ferrite magnet motors for low temperatures

DOEpatents

Reddy, Patel Bhageerath; El-Refaie, Ayman Mohamed Fawzi; Huh, Kum-Kang

2017-07-04

A system and method for heating ferrite permanent magnets in an electrical machine is disclosed. The permanent magnet machine includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly, with a plurality of ferrite permanent magnets disposed within the stator assembly or the rotor assembly to generate a magnetic field that interacts with a stator magnetic field to produce a torque. A controller of the electrical machine is programmed to cause a primary field current to be applied to the stator windings to generate the stator magnetic field, so as to cause the rotor assembly to rotate relative to the stator assembly. The controller is further programmed to cause a secondary current to be applied to the stator windings to selectively generate a secondary magnetic field, the secondary magnetic field inducing eddy currents in at least one of the stator assembly and the rotor assembly to heat the ferrite permanent magnets.

Inverse dynamic substructuring using the direct hybrid assembly in the frequency domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Ambrogio, Walter; Fregolent, Annalisa

2014-04-01

The paper deals with the identification of the dynamic behaviour of a structural subsystem, starting from the known dynamic behaviour of both the coupled system and the remaining part of the structural system (residual subsystem). This topic is also known as decoupling problem, subsystem subtraction or inverse dynamic substructuring. Whenever it is necessary to combine numerical models (e.g. FEM) and test models (e.g. FRFs), one speaks of experimental dynamic substructuring. Substructure decoupling techniques can be classified as inverse coupling or direct decoupling techniques. In inverse coupling, the equations describing the coupling problem are rearranged to isolate the unknown substructure instead of the coupled structure. On the contrary, direct decoupling consists in adding to the coupled system a fictitious subsystem that is the negative of the residual subsystem. Starting from a reduced version of the 3-field formulation (dynamic equilibrium using FRFs, compatibility and equilibrium of interface forces), a direct hybrid assembly is developed by requiring that both compatibility and equilibrium conditions are satisfied exactly, either at coupling DoFs only, or at additional internal DoFs of the residual subsystem. Equilibrium and compatibility DoFs might not be the same: this generates the so-called non-collocated approach. The technique is applied using experimental data from an assembled system made by a plate and a rigid mass.

Molecular simulations of self-assembling bio-inspired supramolecular systems and their connection to experiments

PubMed Central

Patmanidis, Ilias

2018-01-01

In bionanotechnology, the field of creating functional materials consisting of bio-inspired molecules, the function and shape of a nanostructure only appear through the assembly of many small molecules together. The large number of building blocks required to define a nanostructure combined with the many degrees of freedom in packing small molecules has long precluded molecular simulations, but recent advances in computational hardware as well as software have made classical simulations available to this strongly expanding field. Here, we review the state of the art in simulations of self-assembling bio-inspired supramolecular systems. We will first discuss progress in force fields, simulation protocols and enhanced sampling techniques using recent examples. Secondly, we will focus on efforts to enable the comparison of experimentally accessible observables and computational results. Experimental quantities that can be measured by microscopy, spectroscopy and scattering can be linked to simulation output either directly or indirectly, via quantum mechanical or semi-empirical techniques. Overall, we aim to provide an overview of the various computational approaches to understand not only the molecular architecture of nanostructures, but also the mechanism of their formation. PMID:29688238

Surface-directed molecular assembly of pentacene on monolayer graphene for high-performance organic transistors.

PubMed

Lee, Wi Hyoung; Park, Jaesung; Sim, Sung Hyun; Lim, Soojin; Kim, Kwang S; Hong, Byung Hee; Cho, Kilwon

2011-03-30

Organic electronic devices that use graphene electrodes have received considerable attention because graphene is regarded as an ideal candidate electrode material. Transfer and lithographic processes during fabrication of patterned graphene electrodes typically leave polymer residues on the graphene surfaces. However, the impact of these residues on the organic semiconductor growth mechanism on graphene surface has not been reported yet. Here, we demonstrate that polymer residues remaining on graphene surfaces induce a stand-up orientation of pentacene, thereby controlling pentacene growth such that the molecular assembly is optimal for charge transport. Thus, pentacene field-effect transistors (FETs) using source/drain monolayer graphene electrodes with polymer residues show a high field-effect mobility of 1.2 cm(2)/V s. In contrast, epitaxial growth of pentacene having molecular assembly of lying-down structure is facilitated by π-π interaction between pentacene and the clean graphene electrode without polymer residues, which adversely affects lateral charge transport at the interface between electrode and channel. Our studies provide that the obtained high field-effect mobility in pentacene FETs using monolayer graphene electrodes arises from the extrinsic effects of polymer residues as well as the intrinsic characteristics of the highly conductive, ultrathin two-dimensional monolayer graphene electrodes.

Stereoscopic optical viewing system

DOEpatents

Tallman, C.S.

1986-05-02

An improved optical system which provides the operator with a stereoscopic viewing field and depth of vision, particularly suitable for use in various machines such as electron or laser beam welding and drilling machines. The system features two separate but independently controlled optical viewing assemblies from the eyepiece to a spot directly above the working surface. Each optical assembly comprises a combination of eye pieces, turning prisms, telephoto lenses for providing magnification, achromatic imaging relay lenses and final stage pentagonal turning prisms. Adjustment for variations in distance from the turning prisms to the workpiece, necessitated by varying part sizes and configurations and by the operator's visual accuity, is provided separately for each optical assembly by means of separate manual controls at the operator console or within easy reach of the operator.

A NASA Technician directs loading of the crated SOFIA primary mirror assembly into a C-17 for shipment to NASA Ames Research Center for finish coating

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-05-01

Technicians at NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., loaded the German-built primary mirror assembly of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, onto an Air Force C-17 for shipment to NASA's Ames Research Center on May 1, 2008. In preparation for the final finish coating of the mirror, the more than two-ton mirror assembly had been removed from its cavity in the rear fuselage of the highly modified SOFIA Boeing 747SP two weeks earlier. After arrival at NASA Ames at Moffett Field near Mountain View, Calif., the mirror would receive its aluminized finish coating before being re-installed in the SOFIA aircraft.

Stereoscopic optical viewing system

DOEpatents

Tallman, Clifford S.

1987-01-01

An improved optical system which provides the operator a stereoscopic viewing field and depth of vision, particularly suitable for use in various machines such as electron or laser beam welding and drilling machines. The system features two separate but independently controlled optical viewing assemblies from the eyepiece to a spot directly above the working surface. Each optical assembly comprises a combination of eye pieces, turning prisms, telephoto lenses for providing magnification, achromatic imaging relay lenses and final stage pentagonal turning prisms. Adjustment for variations in distance from the turning prisms to the workpiece, necessitated by varying part sizes and configurations and by the operator's visual accuity, is provided separately for each optical assembly by means of separate manual controls at the operator console or within easy reach of the operator.

Air breathing direct methanol fuel cell

DOEpatents

Ren, Xiaoming; Gottesfeld, Shimshon

2002-01-01

An air breathing direct methanol fuel cell is provided with a membrane electrode assembly, a conductive anode assembly that is permeable to air and directly open to atmospheric air, and a conductive cathode assembly that is permeable to methanol and directly contacting a liquid methanol source. Water loss from the cell is minimized by making the conductive cathode assembly hydrophobic and the conductive anode assembly hydrophilic.

TOOL ASSEMBLY WITH BI-DIRECTIONAL BEARING

DOEpatents

Longhurst, G.E.

1961-07-11

A two-direction motion bearing which is incorporated in a refueling nuclear fuel element trsnsfer tool assembly is described. A plurality of bi- directional bearing assembliesare fixed equi-distantly about the circumference of the transfer tool assembly to provide the tool assembly with a bearing surface- for both axial and rotational motion. Each bi-directional bearing assembly contains a plurality of circumferentially bulged rollers mounted in a unique arrangement which will provide a bearing surface for rotational movement of the tool assembly within a bore. The bi-direc tional bearing assembly itself is capable of rational motion and thus provides for longitudinal movement of the tool assembly.

Feedback Controlled Colloidal Assembly at Fluid Interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bevan, Michael

The autonomous and reversible assembly of colloidal nano- and micro- scale components into ordered configurations is often suggested as a scalable process capable of manufacturing meta-materials with exotic electromagnetic properties. As a result, there is strong interest in understanding how thermal motion, particle interactions, patterned surfaces, and external fields can be optimally coupled to robustly control the assembly of colloidal components into hierarchically structured functional meta-materials. We approach this problem by directly relating equilibrium and dynamic colloidal microstructures to kT-scale energy landscapes mediated by colloidal forces, physically and chemically patterned surfaces, multiphase fluid interfaces, and electromagnetic fields. 3D colloidal trajectories are measured in real-space and real-time with nanometer resolution using an integrated suite of evanescent wave, video, and confocal microscopy methods. Equilibrium structures are connected to energy landscapes via statistical mechanical models. The dynamic evolution of initially disordered colloidal fluid configurations into colloidal crystals in the presence of tunable interactions (electromagnetic field mediated interactions, particle-interface interactions) is modeled using a novel approach based on fitting the Fokker-Planck equation to experimental microscopy and computer simulated assembly trajectories. This approach is based on the use of reaction coordinates that capture important microstructural features of crystallization processes and quantify both statistical mechanical (free energy) and fluid mechanical (hydrodynamic) contributions. Ultimately, we demonstrate real-time control of assembly, disassembly, and repair of colloidal crystals using both open loop and closed loop control to produce perfectly ordered colloidal microstructures. This approach is demonstrated for close packed colloidal crystals of spherical particles at fluid-solid interfaces and is being extended to anisotropic particles and multiphase fluid interfaces.

Near-field photochemical and radiation-induced chemical fabrication of nanopatterns of a self-assembled silane monolayer

PubMed Central

Hentschel, Carsten; Fontein, Florian; Stegemann, Linda; Hoeppener, Christiane; Fuchs, Harald; Hoeppener, Stefanie

2014-01-01

Summary A general concept for parallel near-field photochemical and radiation-induced chemical processes for the fabrication of nanopatterns of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) is explored with three different processes: 1) a near-field photochemical process by photochemical bleaching of a monomolecular layer of dye molecules chemically bound to an APTES SAM, 2) a chemical process induced by oxygen plasma etching as well as 3) a combined near-field UV-photochemical and ozone-induced chemical process, which is applied directly to an APTES SAM. All approaches employ a sandwich configuration of the surface-supported SAM, and a lithographic mask in form of gold nanostructures fabricated through colloidal sphere lithography (CL), which is either exposed to visible light, oxygen plasma or an UV–ozone atmosphere. The gold mask has the function to inhibit the photochemical reactions by highly localized near-field interactions between metal mask and SAM and to inhibit the radiation-induced chemical reactions by casting a highly localized shadow. The removal of the gold mask reveals the SAM nanopattern. PMID:25247126

Ion-beam-spurted dimethyl-sulfate-doped PEDOT:PSS composite-layer-aligning liquid crystal with low residual direct-current voltage

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Yang; Lee, Ju Hwan; Seo, Dae-Shik, E-mail: dsseo@yonsei.ac.kr

2016-09-05

Thin ion-beam (IB)-spurted dimethyl sulfate/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (DMS/PEDOT:PSS) layers with improved electro-optic performance are presented for aligning liquid crystals. IB spurting is effective for enhancing the conductivity of such layers, as well as the anchoring energy of the liquid crystals sandwiched between them. Compared with a commercial twisted-nematic cell assembled with polyimide alignment layers, the same cell assembled with 3.0-keV IB-spurted DMS/PEDOT:PSS alignment layers shows a 38% faster switching and a 93% lower residual direct current. The improved electro-optic performance here is likely due to the enhanced electric field effect and the charge-releasing ability of thin IB-spurted DMS/PEDOT:PSS layers.

Directed assembly of gold nanowires on silicon via reorganization and simultaneous fusion of randomly distributed gold nanoparticles.

PubMed

Reinhardt, Hendrik M; Bücker, Kerstin; Hampp, Norbert A

2015-05-04

Laser-induced reorganization and simultaneous fusion of nanoparticles is introduced as a versatile concept for pattern formation on surfaces. The process takes advantage of a phenomenon called laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) which originates from periodically alternating photonic fringe patterns in the near-field of solids. Associated photonic fringe patterns are shown to reorganize randomly distributed gold nanoparticles on a silicon wafer into periodic gold nanostructures. Concomitant melting due to optical heating facilitates the formation of continuous structures such as periodic gold nanowire arrays. Generated patterns can be converted into secondary structures using directed assembly or self-organization. This includes for example the rotation of gold nanowire arrays by arbitrary angles or their fragmentation into arrays of aligned gold nanoparticles.

Cellular imaging by targeted assembly of hot-spot SERS and photoacoustic nanoprobes using split-fluorescent protein scaffolds.

PubMed

Köker, Tuğba; Tang, Nathalie; Tian, Chao; Zhang, Wei; Wang, Xueding; Martel, Richard; Pinaud, Fabien

2018-02-09

The in cellulo assembly of plasmonic nanomaterials into photo-responsive probes is of great interest for many bioimaging and nanophotonic applications but remains challenging with traditional nucleic acid scaffolds-based bottom-up methods. Here, we address this quandary using split-fluorescent protein (FP) fragments as molecular glue and switchable Raman reporters to assemble gold or silver plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) into photonic clusters directly in live cells. When targeted to diffusing surface biomarkers in cancer cells, the NPs self-assemble into surface-enhanced Raman-scattering (SERS) nanoclusters having hot spots homogenously seeded by the reconstruction of full-length FPs. Within plasmonic hot spots, autocatalytic activation of the FP chromophore and near-field amplification of its Raman fingerprints enable selective and sensitive SERS imaging of targeted cells. This FP-driven assembly of metal colloids also yields enhanced photoacoustic signals, allowing the hybrid FP/NP nanoclusters to serve as contrast agents for multimodal SERS and photoacoustic microscopy with single-cell sensitivity.

The Shrail: A Comparison of a Novel Attachable Rail System With the Current Deployment Operating Table.

PubMed

Dilday, Joshua; Sirkin, Maxwell R; Wertin, Thomas; Bradley, Frances; Hiles, Jason

The current forward surgical team (FST) operating table is heavy and burdensome and hinders essential movement flexibility. A novel attachable rail system, the Shrail, has been developed to overcome these obstacles. The Shrail turns a North Atlantic Treaty Organization litter into a functional operating table. A local FST compared the assembly of the FST operating table with assembling the Shrail. Device weight, storage space, and assembly space were directly measured and compared. The mean assembly time required for the Shrail was significantly less compared with the operating table (23.36 versus 151.6 seconds; p ≤ .01). The Shrail weighs less (6.80kg versus 73.03kg) and requires less storage space (0.019m3 versus 0.323m3) compared with the current FST operating table. The Shrail provides an FST with a faster, lighter surgical table assembly. For these reasons, it is better suited for the demands of an FST and the implementation of prolonged field care. 2018.

Torque undergone by assemblies of single-domain magnetic nanoparticles submitted to a rotating magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carrey, J.; Hallali, N.

2016-11-01

In the last 10 years, it has been shown in various types of experiments that it is possible to induce biological effects in cells using the torque generated by magnetic nanoparticles submitted to an alternating or a rotating magnetic field. In biological systems, particles are generally found under the form of assemblies because they accumulate at the cell membrane, are internalized inside lysosomes, or are synthesized under the form of beads containing several particles. The torque undergone by assemblies of single-domain magnetic nanoparticles has not been addressed theoretically so far and is the subject of the present article. The results shown in the present article have been obtained using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, in which thermal activation is taken into account, so the torque undergone by ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic nanoparticles could both be simulated. The first system under study is a single ferromagnetic particle with its easy axis in the plane of the rotating magnetic field. Then, elements adding complexity to the problem are introduced progressively and the properties of the resulting system presented and analyzed: random anisotropy axes, thermal activation, assemblies, and finally magnetic interactions. The most complex studied systems are particularly relevant for applications and are assemblies of interacting superparamagnetic nanoparticles with randomly oriented anisotropy axes. Whenever it is possible, analytical equations describing the torque properties are provided, as well as their domain of validity. Although the properties of an assembly naturally derive from those of single particles, it is shown here that several of them were unexpected and are particularly interesting with regard to the maximization of torque amplitude in biological applications. In particular, it is shown that, in a given range of parameters, the torque of an assembly increases dramatically in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the rotating magnetic field. This effect results from a breaking of time reversal symmetry when the field is rotated and is comprehensively explained. This strong enhancement occurs only if the magnetic field rotates, not if it oscillates. When this enhancement does not occur, the total torque of an assembly scales with the square root of the number of particles in the assembly. In the enhancement regime, the total torque scales with a power exponent larger than 1/2. It is also found that, in superparamagnetic nanoparticles, this enhancement is induced by the presence of magnetic interactions so that, in a rather large range of parameters, interacting superparamagnetic particles display a much larger torque than otherwise identical ferromagnetic particles. In all cases studied, the conditions required to obtain this enhancement are provided. The concepts presented in this article should help chemists and biologists in synthesizing nano-objects with optimized torque properties. For physicists, it would be interesting to test experimentally the results described in this article. For this purpose, torque measurements on well-characterized assemblies of nanoparticles should be performed and compared with numerical simulations.

Controlled assembly of jammed colloidal shells on fluid droplets.

PubMed

Subramaniam, Anand Bala; Abkarian, Manouk; Stone, Howard A

2005-07-01

Assembly of colloidal particles on fluid interfaces is a promising technique for synthesizing two-dimensional microcrystalline materials useful in fields as diverse as biomedicine, materials science, mineral flotation and food processing. Current approaches rely on bulk emulsification methods, require further chemical and thermal treatments, and are restrictive with respect to the materials used. The development of methods that exploit the great potential of interfacial assembly for producing tailored materials have been hampered by the lack of understanding of the assembly process. Here we report a microfluidic method that allows direct visualization and understanding of the dynamics of colloidal crystal growth on curved interfaces. The crystals are periodically ejected to form stable jammed shells, which we refer to as colloidal armour. We propose that the energetic barriers to interfacial crystal growth and organization can be overcome by targeted delivery of colloidal particles through hydrodynamic flows. Our method allows an unprecedented degree of control over armour composition, size and stability.

Controlled assembly of jammed colloidal shells on fluid droplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subramaniam, Anand Bala; Abkarian, Manouk; Stone, Howard A.

2005-07-01

Assembly of colloidal particles on fluid interfaces is a promising technique for synthesizing two-dimensional microcrystalline materials useful in fields as diverse as biomedicine, materials science, mineral flotation and food processing. Current approaches rely on bulk emulsification methods, require further chemical and thermal treatments, and are restrictive with respect to the materials used. The development of methods that exploit the great potential of interfacial assembly for producing tailored materials have been hampered by the lack of understanding of the assembly process. Here we report a microfluidic method that allows direct visualization and understanding of the dynamics of colloidal crystal growth on curved interfaces. The crystals are periodically ejected to form stable jammed shells, which we refer to as colloidal armour. We propose that the energetic barriers to interfacial crystal growth and organization can be overcome by targeted delivery of colloidal particles through hydrodynamic flows. Our method allows an unprecedented degree of control over armour composition, size and stability.

An Active Approach to Colloidal Self-Assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallory, Stewart A.; Valeriani, Chantal; Cacciuto, Angelo

2018-04-01

In this review, we discuss recent advances in the self-assembly of self-propelled colloidal particles and highlight some of the most exciting results in this field, with a specific focus on dry active matter. We explore this phenomenology through the lens of the complexity of the colloidal building blocks. We begin by considering the behavior of isotropic spherical particles. We then discuss the case of amphiphilic and dipolar Janus particles. Finally, we show how the geometry of the colloids and/or the directionality of their interactions can be used to control the physical properties of the assembled active aggregates, and we suggest possible strategies for how to exploit activity as a tunable driving force for self-assembly. The unique properties of active colloids lend promise to the design of the next generation of functional, environment-sensing microstructures able to perform specific tasks in an autonomous and targeted manner.

Unknown Aspects of Self-Assembly of PbS Microscale Superstructures

PubMed Central

Querejeta-Fernández, Ana; Hernández-Garrido, Juan C.; Yang, Hengxi; Zhou, Yunlong; Varela, Aurea; Parras, Marina; Calvino-Gámez, José J.; González-Calbet, Jose M.; Green, Peter F.; Kotov, Nicholas A.

2012-01-01

A lot of interesting and sophisticated examples of nanoparticle (NP) self-assembly (SA) are known. From both fundamental and technological standpoints this field requires advancements in three principle directions: a) understanding the mechanism and driving forces of three-dimensional (3D) SA with both nano- and micro-levels of organization; b) understanding of disassembly/deconstruction processes; and c) finding synthetic methods of assembly into continuous superstructures without insulating barriers. From this perspective, we investigated the formation of well-known star-like PbS superstructures and found a number of previously unknown or overlooked aspects that can advance the knowledge of NP self-assembly in these three directions. The primary one is that the formation of large seemingly monocrystalline PbS superstructures with multiple levels of octahedral symmetry can be explained only by SA of small octahedral NPs. We found five distinct periods in the formation PbS hyperbranched stars: 1) nucleation of early PbS NPs with an average diameter of 31 nm; 2) assembly into 100–500 nm octahedral mesocrystals; 3) assembly into 1000–2500 nm hyperbranched stars; 4) assembly and ionic recrystallization into six-arm rods accompanied by disappearance of fine nanoscale structure; 5) deconstruction into rods and cubooctahedral NPs. The switches in assembly patterns between the periods occur due to variable dominance of pattern–determining forces that include vander Waals and electrostatic (charge-charge, dipole-dipole, and polarization) interactions. The superstructure deconstruction is triggered by chemical changes in the deep eutectic solvent (DES) used as the media. PbS superstructures can be excellent models for fundamental studies of nanoscale organization and SA manufacturing of (opto)electronics and energy harvesting devices which require organization of PbS components at multiple scales. PMID:22515512

Unknown aspects of self-assembly of PbS microscale superstructures.

PubMed

Querejeta-Fernández, Ana; Hernández-Garrido, Juan C; Yang, Hengxi; Zhou, Yunlong; Varela, Aurea; Parras, Marina; Calvino-Gámez, José J; González-Calbet, Jose M; Green, Peter F; Kotov, Nicholas A

2012-05-22

A lot of interesting and sophisticated examples of nanoparticle (NP) self-assembly (SA) are known. From both fundamental and technological standpoints, this field requires advancements in three principle directions: (a) understanding the mechanism and driving forces of three-dimensional (3D) SA with both nano- and microlevels of organization; (b) understanding disassembly/deconstruction processes; and (c) finding synthetic methods of assembly into continuous superstructures without insulating barriers. From this perspective, we investigated the formation of well-known star-like PbS superstructures and found a number of previously unknown or overlooked aspects that can advance the knowledge of NP self-assembly in these three directions. The primary one is that the formation of large seemingly monocrystalline PbS superstructures with multiple levels of octahedral symmetry can be explained only by SA of small octahedral NPs. We found five distinct periods in the formation PbS hyperbranched stars: (1) nucleation of early PbS NPs with an average diameter of 31 nm; (2) assembly into 100-500 nm octahedral mesocrystals; (3) assembly into 1000-2500 nm hyperbranched stars; (4) assembly and ionic recrystallization into six-arm rods accompanied by disappearance of fine nanoscale structure; (5) deconstruction into rods and cuboctahedral NPs. The switches in assembly patterns between the periods occur due to variable dominance of pattern-determining forces that include van der Waals and electrostatic (charge-charge, dipole-dipole, and polarization) interactions. The superstructure deconstruction is triggered by chemical changes in the deep eutectic solvent (DES) used as the media. PbS superstructures can be excellent models for fundamental studies of nanoscale organization and SA manufacturing of (opto)electronics and energy-harvesting devices which require organization of PbS components at multiple scales.

A research program in magnetogasdynamics utilizing hypervelocity coaxial plasma generators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spight, C.

1976-01-01

A broadly-gauged research program in magnetogasdynamics utilizing hypervelocity coaxial plasma generators is presented. A complete hypervelocity coaxial plasma generator facility was assembled and tested. Significant progress was made in the direction of understanding the important processes in the interaction of hypervelocity MGD flow with transverse applied fields. It is now proposed to utilize the accumulated experimental capability and theoretical analysis in application to the analysis and design parameterization of pulsed magnetogasdynamic direct energy convertor configurations.

Charge patterns as templates for the assembly of layered biomolecular structures.

PubMed

Naujoks, Nicola; Stemmer, Andreas

2006-08-01

Electric fields are used to guide the assembly of biomolecules in predefined geometric patterns on solid substrates. Local surface charges serve as templates to selectively position proteins on thin-film polymeric electret layers, thereby creating a basis for site-directed layered assembly of biomolecular structures. Charge patterns are created using the lithographic capabilities of an atomic force microscope, namely by applying voltage pulses between a conductive tip and the sample. Samples consist of a poly(methyl methacrylate) layer on a p-doped silicon support. Subsequently, the sample is developed in a water-in-oil emulsion, consisting of a dispersed aqueous phase containing biotin-modified immunoglobulinG molecules, and a continuous nonpolar, insulating oil phase. The electrostatic fields cause a net force of (di)electrophoretic nature on the droplet, thereby guiding the proteins to the predefined locations. Due to the functionalization of the immunoglobulinG molecules with biotin-groups, these patterns can now be used to initiate the localized layer-by-layer assembly of biomolecules based on the avidin-biotin mechanism. By binding 40 nm sized biotin-labelled beads to the predefined locations via a streptavidin linker, we verify the functionality of the previously deposited immunoglobulinG-biotin. All assembly steps following the initial deposition of the immunoglobulinG from emulsion can conveniently be conducted in aqueous solutions. Results show that pattern definition is maintained after immersion into aqueous solution.

A Critical Appraisal of RAFT-Mediated Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Recently, polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) has become widely recognized as a robust and efficient route to produce block copolymer nanoparticles of controlled size, morphology, and surface chemistry. Several reviews of this field have been published since 2012, but a substantial number of new papers have been published in the last three years. In this Perspective, we provide a critical appraisal of the various advantages offered by this approach, while also pointing out some of its current drawbacks. Promising future research directions as well as remaining technical challenges and unresolved problems are briefly highlighted. PMID:27019522

Methods of conditioning direct methanol fuel cells

DOEpatents

Rice, Cynthia; Ren, Xiaoming; Gottesfeld, Shimshon

2005-11-08

Methods for conditioning the membrane electrode assembly of a direct methanol fuel cell ("DMFC") are disclosed. In a first method, an electrical current of polarity opposite to that used in a functioning direct methanol fuel cell is passed through the anode surface of the membrane electrode assembly. In a second method, methanol is supplied to an anode surface of the membrane electrode assembly, allowed to cross over the polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly to a cathode surface of the membrane electrode assembly, and an electrical current of polarity opposite to that in a functioning direct methanol fuel cell is drawn through the membrane electrode assembly, wherein methanol is oxidized at the cathode surface of the membrane electrode assembly while the catalyst on the anode surface is reduced. Surface oxides on the direct methanol fuel cell anode catalyst of the membrane electrode assembly are thereby reduced.

IR DirectFET Extreme Environments Evaluation Final Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burmeister, Martin; Mottiwala, Amin

2008-01-01

In 2007, International Rectifier (IR) introduced a new version of its DirectFET metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) packaging. The new version (referred to as 'Version 2') enhances device moisture resistance, makes surface mount (SMT) assembly of these devices to printed wiring boards (PWBs) more repeatable, and subsequent assembly inspection simpler. In the present study, the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), in collaboration with Stellar Microelectronics (Stellar), continued an evaluation of the DirectFET that they started together in 2006. The present study focused on comparing the two versions of the DirectFET and examining the suitability of the DirectFET devices for space applications. This study evaluated both versions of two DirectFET packaged devices that had both been shown in the 2006 study to have the best electrical and thermal properties: the IRF6635 and IRF6644. The present study evaluated (1) the relative electrical and thermal performance of both versions of each device, (2) the performance through high reliability testing, and (3) the performance of these devices in combination with a range of alternate solder alloys in the extreme thermal environments of deep space....

Photosynthetic Machineries in Nano-Systems

PubMed Central

Nagy, László; Magyar, Melinda; Szabó, Tibor; Hajdu, Kata; Giotta, Livia; Dorogi, Márta; Milano, Francesco

2014-01-01

Photosynthetic reaction centres are membrane-spanning proteins, found in several classes of autotroph organisms, where a photoinduced charge separation and stabilization takes place with a quantum efficiency close to unity. The protein remains stable and fully functional also when extracted and purified in detergents thereby biotechnological applications are possible, for example, assembling it in nano-structures or in optoelectronic systems. Several types of bionanocomposite materials have been assembled by using reaction centres and different carrier matrices for different purposes in the field of light energy conversion (e.g., photovoltaics) or biosensing (e.g., for specific detection of pesticides). In this review we will summarize the current status of knowledge, the kinds of applications available and the difficulties to be overcome in the different applications. We will also show possible research directions for the close future in this specific field. PMID:24678673

Managing lifelike behavior in a dynamic self-assembled system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ropp, Chad; Bachelard, Nicolas; Wang, Yuan; Zhang, Xiang

Self-organization can arise outside of thermodynamic equilibrium in a process of dynamic self-assembly. This is observed in nature, for example in flocking birds, but can also be created artificially with non-living entities. Such dynamic systems often display lifelike properties, including the ability to self-heal and adapt to environmental changes, which arise due to the collective and often complex interactions between the many individual elements. Such interactions are inherently difficult to predict and control, and limit the development of artificial systems. Here, we report a fundamentally new method to manage dynamic self-assembly through the direct external control of collective phenomena. Our system consists of a waveguide filled with mobile scattering particles. These particles spontaneously self-organize when driven by a coherent field, self-heal when mechanically perturbed, and adapt to changes in the drive wavelength. This behavior is governed by particle interactions that are completely mediated by coherent wave scattering. Compared to hydrodynamic interactions which lead to compact ordered structures, our system displays sinusoidal degeneracy and many different steady-state geometries that can be adjusted using the external field.

Multi-scale kinetics of a field-directed colloidal phase transition.

PubMed

Swan, James W; Vasquez, Paula A; Whitson, Peggy A; Fincke, E Michael; Wakata, Koichi; Magnus, Sandra H; De Winne, Frank; Barratt, Michael R; Agui, Juan H; Green, Robert D; Hall, Nancy R; Bohman, Donna Y; Bunnell, Charles T; Gast, Alice P; Furst, Eric M

2012-10-02

Polarizable colloids are expected to form crystalline equilibrium phases when exposed to a steady, uniform field. However, when colloids become localized this field-induced phase transition arrests and the suspension persists indefinitely as a kinetically trapped, percolated structure. We anneal such gels formed from magneto-rheological fluids by toggling the field strength at varied frequencies. This processing allows the arrested structure to relax periodically to equilibrium--colloid-rich, cylindrical columns. Two distinct growth regimes are observed: one in which particle domains ripen through diffusive relaxation of the gel, and the other where the system-spanning structure collapses and columnar domains coalesce apparently through field-driven interactions. There is a stark boundary as a function of magnetic field strength and toggle frequency distinguishing the two regimes. These results demonstrate how kinetic barriers to a colloidal phase transition are subverted through measured, periodic variation of driving forces. Such directed assembly may be harnessed to create unique materials from dispersions of colloids.

Wide-field optical detection of nanoparticles using on-chip microscopy and self-assembled nanolenses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mudanyali, Onur; McLeod, Euan; Luo, Wei; Greenbaum, Alon; Coskun, Ahmet F.; Hennequin, Yves; Allier, Cédric P.; Ozcan, Aydogan

2013-03-01

The direct observation of nanoscale objects is a challenging task for optical microscopy because the scattering from an individual nanoparticle is typically weak at optical wavelengths. Electron microscopy therefore remains one of the gold standard visualization methods for nanoparticles, despite its high cost, limited throughput and restricted field-of-view. Here, we describe a high-throughput, on-chip detection scheme that uses biocompatible wetting films to self-assemble aspheric liquid nanolenses around individual nanoparticles to enhance the contrast between the scattered and background light. We model the effect of the nanolens as a spatial phase mask centred on the particle and show that the holographic diffraction pattern of this effective phase mask allows detection of sub-100 nm particles across a large field-of-view of >20 mm2. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we report on-chip detection of individual polystyrene nanoparticles, adenoviruses and influenza A (H1N1) viral particles.

Wide-field optical detection of nanoparticles using on-chip microscopy and self-assembled nanolenses

PubMed Central

Mudanyali, Onur; McLeod, Euan; Luo, Wei; Greenbaum, Alon; Coskun, Ahmet F.; Hennequin, Yves; Allier, Cédric P.; Ozcan, Aydogan

2013-01-01

The direct observation of nanoscale objects is a challenging task for optical microscopy because the scattering from an individual nanoparticle is typically weak at optical wavelengths. Electron microscopy therefore remains one of the gold standard visualization methods for nanoparticles, despite its high cost, limited throughput and restricted field-of-view. Here, we describe a high-throughput, on-chip detection scheme that uses biocompatible wetting films to self-assemble aspheric liquid nanolenses around individual nanoparticles to enhance the contrast between the scattered and background light. We model the effect of the nanolens as a spatial phase mask centred on the particle and show that the holographic diffraction pattern of this effective phase mask allows detection of sub-100 nm particles across a large field-of-view of >20 mm2. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we report on-chip detection of individual polystyrene nanoparticles, adenoviruses and influenza A (H1N1) viral particles. PMID:24358054

Ac-loss measurement of a DyBCO-Roebel assembled coated conductor cable (RACC)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuller, S.; Goldacker, W.; Kling, A.; Krempasky, L.; Schmidt, C.

2007-10-01

Low ac-loss HTS cables for transport currents well above 1 kA are required for application in transformers and generators and are taken into consideration for future generations of fusion reactor coils. Coated conductors (CC) are suitable candidates for high field application at an operation temperature around 50-77 K, which is a crucial precondition for economical cooling costs. We prepared a short length of a Roebel bar cable made of industrial DyBCO coated conductor (Theva Company, Germany). Meander shaped tapes of 4 mm width with a twist pitch of 122 mm were cut from 10 mm wide CC tapes using a specially designed tool. Eleven of these strands were assembled to a cable. The electrical and mechanical connection of the tapes was achieved using a silver powder filled conductive epoxy resin. Ac-losses of a short sample in an external ac field were measured as a function of frequency and field amplitude in transverse and parallel field orientations. In addition, the coupling current time constant of the sample was directly measured.

Externally driven magnetic granular layers at a liquid/air interface: self-organization, flows and magnetic order

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snezhko, Alexey

2007-03-01

Collective dynamics and pattern formation in ensembles of magnetic microparticles suspended at the liquid/air interface and subjected to an alternating magnetic field are studied. Experiments reveal a new type of nontrivially ordered dynamic self-assembled structures (``snakes'') emerging in such systems in a certain range of field magnitudes and frequencies. These remarkable structures are directly related to surface waves in the liquid generated by the collective response of magnetic microparticles to the alternating magnetic field. In addition, a large-scale vortex flows are induced in the vicinity of the dynamic structures. Some features of the self-localized snake structures can be understood in the framework of an amplitude equation for parametric waves coupled to the conservation law equation describing the evolution of the magnetic particle density. Self-assembled snakes have a complex magnetic order: the segments of the snake exhibit long-range antiferromagnetic ordering mediated by the surface wave, while each segment is composed of ferromagnetically aligned chains of microparticles. A phenomenological model describing magnetic behavior of the magnetic snakes in external magnetic fields is proposed.

Geologic field-trip guide to Long Valley Caldera, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hildreth, Wes; Fierstein, Judy

2017-07-26

This guide to the geology of Long Valley Caldera is presented in four parts: (1) An overview of the volcanic geology; (2) a chronological summary of the principal geologic events; (3) a road log with directions and descriptions for 38 field-trip stops; and (4) a summary of the geophysical unrest since 1978 and discussion of its causes. The sequence of stops is arranged as a four-day excursion for the quadrennial General Assembly of the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI), centered in Portland, Oregon, in August 2017. Most stops, however, are written freestanding, with directions that allow each one to be visited independently, in any order selected.

Mid-sized omnidirectional robot with hydraulic drive and steering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wood, Carl G.; Perry, Trent; Cook, Douglas; Maxfield, Russell; Davidson, Morgan E.

2003-09-01

Through funding from the US Army-Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command's (TACOM) Intelligent Mobility Program, Utah State University's (USU) Center for Self-Organizing and Intelligent Systems (CSOIS) has developed the T-series of omni-directional robots based on the USU omni-directional vehicle (ODV) technology. The ODV provides independent computer control of steering and drive in a single wheel assembly. By putting multiple omni-directional (OD) wheels on a chassis, a vehicle is capable of uncoupled translational and rotational motion. Previous robots in the series, the T1, T2, T3, ODIS, ODIS-T, and ODIS-S have all used OD wheels based on electric motors. The T4 weighs approximately 1400 lbs and features a 4-wheel drive wheel configuration. Each wheel assembly consists of a hydraulic drive motor and a hydraulic steering motor. A gasoline engine is used to power both the hydraulic and electrical systems. The paper presents an overview of the mechanical design of the vehicle as well as potential uses of this technology in fielded systems.

3-D sprag ratcheting tool

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wade, Michael O. (Inventor); Poland, Jr., James W. (Inventor)

2003-01-01

A ratcheting device comprising a driver head assembly which includes at least two 3-D sprag elements positioned within a first groove within the driver head assembly such that at least one of the 3-D sprag elements may lockingly engage the driver head assembly and a mating hub assembly to allow for rotation of the hub assembly in one direction with respect to the driver head assembly. This arrangement allows the ratcheting tool to impart torque in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction without having to first rotate the ratcheting tool in the direction opposite the direction in which the torque is applied. This arrangement also allows the ratcheting tool to impart torque in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction while in the neutral position.

Assembly Modulated by Particle Position and Shape: A New Concept in Self-Assembly.

PubMed

Tavacoli, Joe W; Heuvingh, Julien; Du Roure, Olivia

2017-11-10

In this communication we outline how the bespoke arrangements and design of micron-sized superparamagnetic shapes provide levers to modulate their assembly under homogeneous magnetic fields. We label this new approach, 'assembly modulated by particle position and shape' (APPS). Specifically, using rectangular lattices of superparamagnetic micron-sized cuboids, we construct distinct microstructures by adjusting lattice pitch and angle of array with respect to a magnetic field. Broadly, we find two modes of assembly: (1) immediate 2D jamming of the cuboids as they rotate to align with the applied field (rotation-induced jamming) and (2) aggregation via translation after their full alignment (dipole-dipole assembly). The boundary between these two assembly pathways is independent on field strength being solely a function of the cuboid's dimensions, lattice pitch, and array angle with respect to field-a relationship which we capture, along with other features of the assembly process, in a 'phase diagram'. In doing so, we set out initial design rules to build custom made assemblies. Moreover, these assemblies can be made flexible thanks to the hinged contacts of their particle building blocks. This flexibility, combined with the superparamagnetic nature of the architectures, renders our assembly method particularly appropriate for the construction of complex actuators at a scale hitherto not possible.

Flowing Active Liquids in a Pipe: Hysteretic Response of Polar Flocks to External Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morin, Alexandre; Bartolo, Denis

2018-04-01

We investigate the response of colloidal flocks to external fields. We first show that individual colloidal rollers align with external flows, as would a classical spin with magnetic fields. Assembling polar active liquids from colloidal rollers, we experimentally demonstrate their hysteretic response: Confined colloidal flocks can proceed against external flows. We theoretically explain this collective robustness, using an active hydrodynamic description, and show how orientational elasticity and confinement protect the direction of collective motion. Finally, we exploit the intrinsic bistability of confined active flows to devise self-sustained microfluidic oscillators.

Assembly of RNA nanostructures on supported lipid bilayers

PubMed Central

Dabkowska, Aleksandra P.; Michanek, Agnes; Jaeger, Luc; Rabe, Michael; Chworos, Arkadiusz; Höök, Fredrik; Nylander, Tommy; Sparr, Emma

2014-01-01

The assembly of nucleic acid nanostructures with controlled size and shape has large impact in the fields of nanotechnology, nanomedicine and synthetic biology. The directed arrangement of nanostructures at interfaces is important for many applications. In spite of this, the use of laterally mobile lipid bilayers to control RNA three-dimensional nanostructure formation on surfaces remains largely unexplored. Here, we direct the self-assembly of RNA building blocks into three-dimensional structures of RNA on fluid lipid bilayers composed of cationic 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) or mixtures of zwitterionic 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and cationic sphingosine. We demonstrate the stepwise supramolecular assembly of discrete building blocks through specific and selective RNA-RNA interactions, based on results from quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), ellipsometry, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF) experiments. The assembly can be controlled to give a densely packed single layer of RNA polyhedrons at the fluid lipid bilayer surface. We show that assembly of the 3D structure can be modulated by sequence specific interactions, surface charge and changes in the salt composition and concentration. In addition, the tertiary structure of the RNA polyhedron can be controllably switched from an extended structure to one that is dense and compact. The versatile approach to building up three-dimensional structures of RNA does not require modification of the surface or the RNA molecules, and can be used as a bottom-up means of nanofabrication of functionalized bio-mimicking surfaces. PMID:25417592

Air breathing direct methanol fuel cell

DOEpatents

Ren, Xiaoming

2002-01-01

An air breathing direct methanol fuel cell is provided with a membrane electrode assembly, a conductive anode assembly that is permeable to air and directly open to atmospheric air, and a conductive cathode assembly that is permeable to methanol and directly contacting a liquid methanol source.

Improving Self-Assembly by Varying the Temperature Periodically with Time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raz, Oren; Jarzynski, Christopher

Self-assembly (SA) is the process by which basic components organize into a larger structure without external guidance. These processes are common in Nature, and also have technological applications, e.g. growing a crystal with a specific structure. So far, artificial SA processes have been designed mostly using diffusive building blocks with high specificity and directionality. The formation of the self-assembled structures is then driven by free-energy minimization into a thermodynamically stable state. In an alternative approach to SA, macroscopic parameters such as temperature, pressure, pH, magnetic field etc., are varied periodically with time. In this case, the SA structures are the stable periodic states of the driven system. Currently there are no design principles for periodically driven SA, other than in the limits of fast or weak driving. We present guiding ideas for self-assembly under periodic driving. As an example, we show a particular case in which self-assembly errors can be dramatically reduced by varying a system's temperature periodically with time. James S. McDonnell Foundation, and the US National Science Foundation: DMR-1506969.

Directed liquid phase assembly of highly ordered metallic nanoparticle arrays

DOE PAGES

Wu, Yueying; Dong, Nanyi; Fu, Shaofang; ...

2014-04-01

Directed assembly of nanomaterials is a promising route for the synthesis of advanced materials and devices. We demonstrate the directed-assembly of highly ordered two-dimensional arrays of hierarchical nanostructures with tunable size, spacing and composition. The directed assembly is achieved on lithographically patterned metal films that are subsequently pulse-laser melted; during the brief liquid lifetime, the pattened nanostructures assemble into highly ordered primary and secondary nanoparticles, with sizes below that which was originally patterned. Complementary fluid-dynamics simulations emulate the resultant patterns and show how the competition of capillary forces and liquid metal–solid substrate interaction potential drives the directed assembly. Lastly, asmore » an example of the enhanced functionality, a full-wave electromagnetic analysis has been performed to identify the nature of the supported plasmonic resonances.« less

Flow visualization techniques in the Airborne Laser Laboratory program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walterick, R. E.; Vankuren, J. T.

1980-01-01

A turret/fairing assembly for laser applications was designed and tested. Wind tunnel testing was conducted using flow visualization techniques. The techniques used have included the methods of tufting, encapsulated liquid crystals, oil flow, sublimation and schlieren and shadowgraph photography. The results were directly applied to the design of fairing shapes for minimum drag and reduced turret buffet. In addition, the results are of primary importance to the study of light propagation paths in the near flow field of the turret cavity. Results indicate that the flow in the vicinity of the turret is an important factor for consideration in the design of suitable turret/fairing or aero-optic assemblies.

Direct measurement of AC electrokinetics properties and capture frequencies of silicon and silicon-germanium nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merhej, M.; Honegger, T.; Bassani, F.; Baron, T.; Peyrade, D.; Drouin, D.; Salem, B.

2018-01-01

The assembly of semiconductor nanowires with nanoscale precision is crucial for their integration into functional systems. In this work, we propose a novel method to experimentally determine the real part of the Clausius-Mossotti factor (CMF) of silicon and silicon-germanium nanowires. The quantification of this CMF is measured with the nanowires velocities in a pure dielectrophoretic regime. This approach combined with a study on the connected nanowires alignment yield has led to a frequency of capture evaluation. In addition, we have also presented the morphology of nanowires assembly using dielectrophoresis for a wide frequency variation of AC electric fields.

Comparison of three methods for evaluation of work postures in a truck assembly plant.

PubMed

Zare, Mohsen; Biau, Sophie; Brunet, Rene; Roquelaure, Yves

2017-11-01

This study compared the results of three risk assessment tools (self-reported questionnaire, observational tool, direct measurement method) for the upper limbs and back in a truck assembly plant at two cycle times (11 and 8 min). The weighted Kappa factor showed fair agreement between the observational and direct measurement method for the arm (0.39) and back (0.47). The weighted Kappa factor for these methods was poor for the neck (0) and wrist (0) but the observed proportional agreement (P o ) was 0.78 for the neck and 0.83 for the wrist. The weighted Kappa factor between questionnaire and direct measurement showed poor or slight agreement (0) for different body segments in both cycle times. The results revealed moderate agreement between the observational tool and the direct measurement method, and poor agreement between the self-reported questionnaire and direct measurement. Practitioner Summary: This study provides risk exposure measurement by different common ergonomic methods in the field. The results help to develop valid measurements and improve exposure evaluation. Hence, the ergonomist/practitioners should apply the methods with caution, or at least knowing what the issues/errors are.

Robust, directed assembly of fluorescent nanodiamonds.

PubMed

Kianinia, Mehran; Shimoni, Olga; Bendavid, Avi; Schell, Andreas W; Randolph, Steven J; Toth, Milos; Aharonovich, Igor; Lobo, Charlene J

2016-10-27

Arrays of fluorescent nanoparticles are highly sought after for applications in sensing, nanophotonics and quantum communications. Here we present a simple and robust method of assembling fluorescent nanodiamonds into macroscopic arrays. Remarkably, the yield of this directed assembly process is greater than 90% and the assembled patterns withstand ultra-sonication for more than three hours. The assembly process is based on covalent bonding of carboxyl to amine functional carbon seeds and is applicable to any material, and to non-planar surfaces. Our results pave the way to directed assembly of sensors and nanophotonics devices.

Highly stable and finely tuned magnetic fields generated by permanent magnet assemblies.

PubMed

Danieli, E; Perlo, J; Blümich, B; Casanova, F

2013-05-03

Permanent magnetic materials are the only magnetic source that can be used to generate magnetic fields without power consumption or maintenance. Such stand-alone magnets are very attractive for many scientific and engineering areas, but they suffer from poor temporal field stability, which arises from the strong sensitivity of the magnetic materials and mechanical support to temperature variation. In this work, we describe a highly efficient method useful to cancel the temperature coefficient of permanent magnet assemblies in a passive and accurate way. It is based on the combination of at least two units made of magnetic materials with different temperature coefficients arranged in such a way that the ratio of the fields generated by each unit matches the ratio of their effective temperature coefficients defined by both the magnetic and mechanical contributions. Although typically available magnetic materials have negative temperature coefficients, the cancellation is achieved by aligning the fields generated by each unit in the opposite direction. We demonstrate the performance of this approach by stabilizing the field generated by a dipolar Halbach magnet, recently proposed to achieve high field homogeneity. Both the field drift and the homogeneity are monitored via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy experiments. The results demonstrate the compatibility of the thermal compensation approach with existing strategies useful to fine-tune the spatial dependence of the field generated by permanent magnet arrays.

Chemical cross-linking and native mass spectrometry: A fruitful combination for structural biology

PubMed Central

Sinz, Andrea; Arlt, Christian; Chorev, Dror; Sharon, Michal

2015-01-01

Mass spectrometry (MS) is becoming increasingly popular in the field of structural biology for analyzing protein three-dimensional-structures and for mapping protein–protein interactions. In this review, the specific contributions of chemical crosslinking and native MS are outlined to reveal the structural features of proteins and protein assemblies. Both strategies are illustrated based on the examples of the tetrameric tumor suppressor protein p53 and multisubunit vinculin-Arp2/3 hybrid complexes. We describe the distinct advantages and limitations of each technique and highlight synergistic effects when both techniques are combined. Integrating both methods is especially useful for characterizing large protein assemblies and for capturing transient interactions. We also point out the future directions we foresee for a combination of in vivo crosslinking and native MS for structural investigation of intact protein assemblies. PMID:25970732

Creating Quasi Two-Dimensional Cluster-Assembled Materials through Self-Assembly of a Janus Polyoxometalate-Silsesquioxane Co-Cluster.

PubMed

Wu, Han; Zhang, Yu-Qi; Hu, Min-Biao; Ren, Li-Jun; Lin, Yue; Wang, Wei

2017-05-30

Clusters are an important class of nanoscale molecules or superatoms that exhibit an amazing diversity in structure, chemical composition, shape, and functionality. Assembling two types of clusters is creating emerging cluster-assembled materials (CAMs). In this paper, we report an effective approach to produce quasi two-dimensional (2D) CAMs of two types of spherelike clusters, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), and polyoxometalates (POM). To avoid macrophase separation between the two clusters, they are covalently linked to form a POM-POSS cocluster with Janus characteristics and a dumbbell shape. This Janus characteristics enables the cocluster to self-assemble into diverse nanoaggregates, as conventional amphiphilic molecules and macromolecules do, in selective solvents. In our study, we obtained micelles, vesicles, nanosheets, and nanoribbons by tuning the n-hexane content in mixed solvents of acetone and n-hexane. Ordered packing of clusters in the nanosheets and nanoribbons were directly visualized using high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) technique. We infer that the increase of packing order results in the vesicle-to-sheet transition and the change in packing mode causes the sheet-to-ribbon transitions. Our findings have verified the effectivity of creating quasi 2D cluster-assembled materials though the cocluster self-assembly as a new approach to produce novel CAMs.

Magnetic domain formation in monolayer nanoparticle films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maranville, Brian; Krycka, Kathryn; Borchers, Julie; Hogg, Charles; Majetich, Sara; Ijiri, Yumi

2009-03-01

Self-assembled magnetic nanoparticle films offer promise as data storage media, but an understanding of the interactions is missing. Modified Langmuir-Blodgett methods were used to prepare monolayer films of 7 and 11 nm diameter Fe3O4 nanoparticles with large structural domains. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) shows a peak at a wavevector Q corresponding to the particle size and spacing, and scattering at intermediate Q indicating possible long-range correlations. We extend to lower Q with off-specular neutron reflectivity, achieving high intensity by sacrificing resolution along one in-plane direction y while retaining high resolution in the other in-plane direction x and the normal direction z. We measure in saturation and zero field to extract magnetic scattering. In high fields, the specular scattering (Qx=0) is increased, consistent with aligned moments. Preliminary results show weak magnetic scattering for nonzero Qx . Since the maximal Qx roughly corresponds to the lowest Q in SANS, the combination of these techniques allows us to quantify field-dependent magnetic domain size.

Supramolecular assembly/reassembly processes: molecular motors and dynamers operating at surfaces.

PubMed

Ciesielski, Artur; Samorì, Paolo

2011-04-01

Among the many significant advances within the field of supramolecular chemistry over the past decades, the development of the so-called "dynamers" features a direct relevance to materials science. Defined as "combinatorial dynamic polymers", dynamers are constitutional dynamic systems and materials resulting from the application of the principles of supramolecular chemistry to polymer science. Like supramolecular materials in general, dynamers are reversible dynamic multifunctional architectures, capable of modifying their constitution by exchanging, recombining, incorporating components. They may exhibit a variety of novel properties and behave as adaptive materials. In this review we focus on the design of responsive switchable monolayers, i.e. monolayers capable to undergo significant changes in their physical or chemical properties as a result of external stimuli. Scanning tunneling microscopy studies provide direct evidence with a sub-nanometre resolution, on the formation and dynamic response of these self-assembled systems featuring controlled geometries and properties.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Michael Viola, J. Edwards, T. Brown, L. Dudek, R. Ellis, P. Heitzenroeder, R. Strykowsky and Michael Cole

The National Compact Stellarator Experiment (NCSX) was a collaborative effort between ORNL and PPPL. PPPL provided the assembly techniques with guidance from ORNL to meet design criteria. The individual vacuum vessel segments, modular coils, trim coils, and toroidal field coils components were delivered to the Field Period Assembly (FPA) crew who then would complete the component assemblies and then assemble the final three field period assemblies, each consisting of two sets of three modular coils assembled over a 120o vacuum vessel segment with the trim coils and toroidal field coils providing the outer layer. The requirements for positioning the modularmore » coils were found to be most demanding. The assembly tolerances required for accurate positioning of the field coil windings in order to generate sufficiently accurate magnetic fields strained state of the art techniques in metrology and alignment and required constant monitoring of assembly steps with laser trackers, measurement arms, and photogrammetry. The FPA activities were being performed concurrently while engineering challenges were being resolved. For example, it was determined that high friction electrically isolated shims were needed between the modular coil interface joints and low distortion welding was required in the nose region of those joints. This took months of analysis and development yet the assembly was not significantly impacted because other assembly tasks could be performed in parallel with ongoing assembly tasks as well as tasks such as advance tooling setup preparation for the eventual welding tasks. The crew technicians developed unique, accurate time saving techniques and tooling which provided significant cost and schedule savings. Project management displayed extraordinary foresight and every opportunity to gain advanced knowledge and develop techniques was taken advantage of. Despite many risk concerns, the cost and schedule performance index was maintained nearly 1.0 during the assembly phase until project cancellation. In this paper, the assembly logic, the engineering challenges, solutions to those challenges and some of the unique and clever assembly techniques, will be presented.« less

Self-organization and stability of magnetosome chains—A simulation study

PubMed Central

Faivre, Damien; Klumpp, Stefan

2018-01-01

Magnetotactic bacteria orient in magnetic fields with the help of their magnetosome chain, a linear structure of membrane enclosed magnetic nanoparticles (magnetosomes) anchored to a cytoskeletal filament. Here, we use simulations to study the assembly and the stability of magnetosome chains. We introduce a computational model describing the attachment of the magnetosomes to the filament and their magnetic interactions. We show that the filamentous backbone is crucial for the robust assembly of the magnetic particles into a linear chain, which in turn is key for the functionality of the chain in cellular orientation and magnetically directed swimming. In addition, we simulate the response to an external magnetic field that is rotated away from the axis of the filament, an experimental method used to probe the mechanical stability of the chain. The competition between alignment along the filament and alignment with the external fields leads to the rupture of a chain if the applied field exceeeds a threshold value. These observations are in agreement with previous experiments at the population level. Beyond that, our simulations provide a detailed picture of chain rupture at the single cell level, which is found to happen through two abrupt events, which both depend on the field strength and orientation. The re-formation of the chain structure after such rupture is found to be strongly sped up in the presence of a magnetic field parallel to the filament, an observation that may also be of interest for the design of self-healing materials. Our simulations underline the dynamic nature of the magnetosome chain. More generally, they show the rich complexity of self-assembly in systems with competing driving forces for alignment. PMID:29315342

Inlet nozzle assembly

DOEpatents

Christiansen, David W.; Karnesky, Richard A.; Precechtel, Donald R.; Smith, Bob G.; Knight, Ronald C.

1987-01-01

An inlet nozzle assembly for directing coolant into the duct tube of a fuel assembly attached thereto. The nozzle assembly includes a shell for housing separable components including an orifice plate assembly, a neutron shield block, a neutron shield plug, and a diffuser block. The orifice plate assembly includes a plurality of stacked plates of differently configurated and sized openings for directing coolant therethrough in a predesigned flow pattern.

Inlet nozzle assembly

DOEpatents

Christiansen, D.W.; Karnesky, R.A.; Knight, R.C.; Precechtel, D.R.; Smith, B.G.

1985-09-09

An inlet nozzle assembly for directing coolant into the duct tube of a fuel assembly attached thereto. The nozzle assembly includes a shell for housing separable components including an orifice plate assembly, a neutron shield block, a neutron shield plug, and a diffuser block. The orifice plate assembly includes a plurality of stacked plates of differently configurated and sized openings for directing coolant therethrough in a predesigned flow pattern.

Direct view zoom scope with single focal plane and adaptable reticle

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bagwell, Brett

A direct view telescopic sight includes objective lens, eyepiece, and prism erector assemblies. The objective lens assembly is mounted to receive light of an image from an object direction and direct the light along an optical path. The eyepiece assembly is mounted to receive the light along the optical path and to emit the light of the image along an eye-ward direction. The prism erector assembly is positioned between the objective lens and eyepiece assemblies and includes first and second prism elements through which the optical path passes. The first and second prism elements invert the image. A reticle elementmore » is disposed on or adjacent to a surface of one of the first or second prism elements to combine a reticle on the image. The image is brought into focus at only a single focal plane between the objective lens and eyepiece assemblies at a given time.« less

Directed self-assembly of Ge nanostructures on very high index, highly anisotropic Si(hkl) surfaces.

PubMed

Ohmori, Kenji; Foo, Y L; Hong, Sukwon; Wen, J G; Greene, J E; Petrov, I

2005-02-01

Families of very high-index planes, such as those which bifurcate spontaneously to form a hill-and-valley structure composed of opposing facets, provide natural templates for the directed growth of position-controlled self-organized nanostructures with shapes determined by the facet width ratio R. For example, deposition of a few ML of Ge on Si(173 100 373), corresponding to R(113/517) = 1.7, results in a field of 40-nm-wide Ge nanowires along [72 187] with a uniform period of 60 nm.

Microwave-assisted template-free synthesis of butterfly-like CuO through Cu2Cl(OH)3 precursor and the electrochemical sensing property

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Hanjie; Zhu, Lianjie; Zheng, Wenjun; Zhang, Jing; Gao, Fubo; Wang, Yan

2016-11-01

An energy-efficient and environmentally friendly microwave-assisted method was adopted for synthesis of butterfly-like CuO assembled by nanosheets through a Cu2Cl(OH)3 precursor, using no template. Formation mechanism of the butterfly-like CuO was explored and discussed systematically for the first time on the basis of both experimental results and crystal structure transformations in atomic level. The electrochemical sensing properties of the butterfly-like CuO modified electrode to ascorbic acid (AA) were studied for the first time. The results reveal that Cu(OH)2 nanowires were formed once the Cu2+ ions, located in between two CuO4 parallelogram chains of a Cu2Cl(OH)3 precursor, dissolve into the solution as Cu(OH)42- complex ions after ion exchange reactions and simultaneous assemble along a axis. Upon microwave irradiation, the adjacent CuO4 parallelogram chains of the Cu(OH)2 nanowires dehydrate and assemble along c axis, forming CuO nanosheets with (002) as the main exposed facet, which were further assembled to butterfly-like CuO under the action of microwave field, suggesting that microwave field functions like a 'directing agent'. The butterfly-like CuO modified electrode shows good electrochemical sensing properties to AA with a low detecting limit, short response time and wide linear response range.

75 FR 4265 - Airworthiness Directives; Lifesavings Systems Corp., D-Lok Hook Assembly

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-27

... Airworthiness Directives; Lifesavings Systems Corp., D-Lok Hook Assembly AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration... adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Lifesavings Systems Corp., D-Lok Hook assembly... reported surface irregularities and discontinuities on certain D-Lok Hooks because of an unapproved change...

Micropole undulator

DOEpatents

Csonka, P.L.; Tatchyn, R.O.

1989-01-24

Micropole undulators for use in the generation of x-rays from moving charged particles and methods for manufacturing such undulators are disclosed. One type of micropole undulator has two jaws containing rows of spaced apart poles arranged so that each pole produces a magnetic field aligned with all other similar fields. An external biasing field extends through the jaws so that an overall undulator field of substantially sinusoidal shape and substantially zero average value extends along the undulator axis. Preferably, the poles are bars formed of a magnetizable, but unmagnetized, material so that, after the jaws are assembled, all of the bars can be magnetized simultaneously in a uniform magnetic field of suitable strength. Another type of micropole undulator incorporates two parallel layers which have been magnetized to provide rows of alternating magnetic fields extending in opposite directions, the layers being positioned between the pole faces of a highly magnetically permeable material with the south poles of one layer opposite the north poles of the other. Poles in the layers are formed by subjecting successive regions of each layer to oppositely directed and suitably varied magnetizing forces. 16 figs.

Micropole undulator

DOEpatents

Csonka, Paul L.; Tatchyn, Roman O.

1989-01-24

Micropole undulators for use in the generation of x-rays from moving charged particles and methods for manufacturing such undulators are disclosed. One type of micropole undulator has two jaws containing rows of spaced apart poles arranged so that each pole produces a magnetic field aligned with all other similar fields. An external biasing field extends through the jaws so that an overall undulator field of substantially sinusoidal shape and substantially zero average value extends along the undulator axis. Preferably, the poles are bars formed of a magnetizable, but unmagnetized, material so that, after the jaws are assembled, all of the bars can be magnetized simultaneously in a uniform magnetic field of suitable strength. Another type of micropole undulator incorporates two parallel layers which have been magnetized to provide rows of alternating magnetic fields extending in opposite directions, the layers being positioned between the pole faces of a highly magnetically permeable material with the south poles of one layer opposite the north poles of the other. Poles in the layers are formed by subjecting successive regions of each layer to oppositely directed and suitably varied magnetizing forces.

Polyelectrolyte Multilayers in Tissue Engineering

PubMed Central

Detzel, Christopher J.; Larkin, Adam L.

2011-01-01

The layer-by-layer assembly of sequentially adsorbed, alternating polyelectrolytes has become increasingly important over the past two decades. The ease and versatility in assembling polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) has resulted in numerous wide ranging applications of these materials. More recently, PEMs are being used in biological applications ranging from biomaterials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. The ability to manipulate the chemical, physical, surface, and topographical properties of these multilayer architectures by simply changing the pH, ionic strength, thickness, and postassembly modifications render them highly suitable to probe the effects of external stimuli on cellular responsiveness. In the field of regenerative medicine, the ability to sequester growth factors and to tether peptides to PEMs has been exploited to direct the lineage of progenitor cells and to subsequently maintain a desired phenotype. Additional novel applications include the use of PEMs in the assembly of three-dimensional layered architectures and as coatings for individual cells to deliver tunable payloads of drugs or bioactive molecules. This review focuses on literature related to the modulation of chemical and physical properties of PEMs for tissue engineering applications and recent research efforts in maintaining and directing cellular phenotype in stem cell differentiation. PMID:21210759

Titanium dioxide nanowire sensor array integration on CMOS platform using deterministic assembly.

PubMed

Gall, Oren Z; Zhong, Xiahua; Schulman, Daniel S; Kang, Myungkoo; Razavieh, Ali; Mayer, Theresa S

2017-06-30

Nanosensor arrays have recently received significant attention due to their utility in a wide range of applications, including gas sensing, fuel cells, internet of things, and portable health monitoring systems. Less attention has been given to the production of sensor platforms in the μW range for ultra-low power applications. Here, we discuss how to scale the nanosensor energy demand by developing a process for integration of nanowire sensing arrays on a monolithic CMOS chip. This work demonstrates an off-chip nanowire fabrication method; subsequently nanowires link to a fused SiO 2 substrate using electric-field assisted directed assembly. The nanowire resistances shown in this work have the highest resistance uniformity reported to date of 18%, which enables a practical roadmap towards the coupling of nanosensors to CMOS circuits and signal processing systems. The article also presents the utility of optimizing annealing conditions of the off-chip metal-oxides prior to CMOS integration to avoid limitations of thermal budget and process incompatibility. In the context of the platform demonstrated here, directed assembly is a powerful tool that can realize highly uniform, cross-reactive arrays of different types of metal-oxide nanosensors suited for gas discrimination and signal processing systems.

Titanium dioxide nanowire sensor array integration on CMOS platform using deterministic assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gall, Oren Z.; Zhong, Xiahua; Schulman, Daniel S.; Kang, Myungkoo; Razavieh, Ali; Mayer, Theresa S.

2017-06-01

Nanosensor arrays have recently received significant attention due to their utility in a wide range of applications, including gas sensing, fuel cells, internet of things, and portable health monitoring systems. Less attention has been given to the production of sensor platforms in the μW range for ultra-low power applications. Here, we discuss how to scale the nanosensor energy demand by developing a process for integration of nanowire sensing arrays on a monolithic CMOS chip. This work demonstrates an off-chip nanowire fabrication method; subsequently nanowires link to a fused SiO2 substrate using electric-field assisted directed assembly. The nanowire resistances shown in this work have the highest resistance uniformity reported to date of 18%, which enables a practical roadmap towards the coupling of nanosensors to CMOS circuits and signal processing systems. The article also presents the utility of optimizing annealing conditions of the off-chip metal-oxides prior to CMOS integration to avoid limitations of thermal budget and process incompatibility. In the context of the platform demonstrated here, directed assembly is a powerful tool that can realize highly uniform, cross-reactive arrays of different types of metal-oxide nanosensors suited for gas discrimination and signal processing systems.

Directionally Aligned Amorphous Polymer Chains via Electrohydrodynamic-Jet Printing: Analysis of Morphology and Polymer Field-Effect Transistor Characteristics.

PubMed

Kim, Yebyeol; Bae, Jaehyun; Song, Hyun Woo; An, Tae Kyu; Kim, Se Hyun; Kim, Yun-Hi; Park, Chan Eon

2017-11-15

Electrohydrodynamic-jet (EHD-jet) printing provides an opportunity to directly assembled amorphous polymer chains in the printed pattern. Herein, an EHD-jet printed amorphous polymer was employed as the active layer for fabrication of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Under optimized conditions, the field-effect mobility (μ FET ) of the EHD-jet printed OFETs was 5 times higher than the highest μ FET observed in the spin-coated OFETs, and this improvement was achieved without the use of complex surface templating or additional pre- or post-deposition processing. As the chain alignment can be affected by the surface energy of the dielectric layer in EHD-jet printed OFETs, dielectric layers with varying wettability were examined. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure measurements were performed to compare the amorphous chain alignment in OFET active layers prepared by EHD-jet printing and spin coating.

Can an attribution assessment be made for Yellow Rain? Systematic reanalysis in a chemical-and-biological-weapons use investigation.

PubMed

Katz, Rebecca; Singer, Burton

2007-03-01

In intelligence investigations, such as those into reports of chemical- or biological-weapons (CBW) use, evidence may be difficult to assemble and, once assembled, to weigh. We propose a methodology for such investigations and then apply it to a large body of recently declassified evidence to determine the extent to which an attribution can now be made in the Yellow Rain case. Our analysis strongly supports the hypothesis that CBW were used in Southeast Asia and Afghanistan in the late 1970s and early 1980s, although a definitive judgment cannot be made. The proposed methodology, while resource-intensive, allows evidence to be assembled and analyzed in a transparent manner so that assumptions and rationale for decisions can be challenged by external critics. We conclude with a discussion of future research directions, emphasizing the use of evolving information-extraction (IE) technologies, a sub-field of artificial intelligence (AI).

Free energy landscape and localization of nanoparticles at block copolymer model defects.

PubMed

Kim, Yongjoo; Chen, Hsieh; Alexander-Katz, Alfredo

2014-05-14

Nanoparticle localization in block copolymer model defects is studied using self-consistent field theory simulations. In particular we study the nanoparticle free energy landscape for three different model defects: X, T, Y shape defects. Our results indicate that nanoparticles can be strongly bound to certain locations in these defects. The symmetry of the defects affects in a non-trivial fashion the "stiffness of the trap", with the X shape defect displaying the deepest energy well. The T and Y defects exhibit orientations along which the potential energy well is rather shallow. Furthermore, we find that the free energy well is tunable by the size of the nanoparticles. Our results help to explain recent experimental observations in block copolymer templated assembly of nanoparticles. Furthermore, they may open new avenues to assemble arbitrary heterogeneous patterns with precise nanoparticle positions by carefully controlling the morphology of a block copolymer system by using directed self-assembly techniques.

Ultra-capacitor flexible films with tailored dielectric constants using electric field assisted assembly of nanoparticles.

PubMed

Batra, Saurabh; Cakmak, Miko

2015-12-28

In this study, the chaining and preferential alignment of barium titanate nanoparticles (100 nm) through the thickness direction of a polymer matrix in the presence of an electric field is shown. Application of an AC electric field in a well-dispersed solution leads to the formation of chains of nanoparticles in discrete rows oriented with their primary axis in the E-field direction due to dielectrophoresis. The change in the orientation of these chains was quantified through statistical analysis of SEM images and was found to be dependent on E-field, frequency and viscosity. When a DC field is applied a distinct layer consisting of dense particles was observed with micro-computed tomography. These studies show that the increase in DC voltage leads to increase in the thickness of the particle rich layer along with the packing density also increasing. Increasing the mutual interactions between particles due to the formation of particle chains in the "Z"-direction decreases the critical percolation concentration above which substantial enhancement of properties occurs. This manufacturing method therefore shows promise to lower the cost of the products for a range of applications including capacitors by either enhancing the dielectric properties for a given concentration or reduces the concentration of nanoparticles needed for a given property.

On-Chip Chemical Self-Assembly of Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs): Toward Robust and Scale Invariant SWNTs Transistors.

PubMed

Derenskyi, Vladimir; Gomulya, Widianta; Talsma, Wytse; Salazar-Rios, Jorge Mario; Fritsch, Martin; Nirmalraj, Peter; Riel, Heike; Allard, Sybille; Scherf, Ullrich; Loi, Maria A

2017-06-01

In this paper, the fabrication of carbon nanotubes field effect transistors by chemical self-assembly of semiconducting single walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWNTs) on prepatterned substrates is demonstrated. Polyfluorenes derivatives have been demonstrated to be effective in selecting s-SWNTs from raw mixtures. In this work the authors functionalized the polymer with side chains containing thiols, to obtain chemical self-assembly of the selected s-SWNTs on substrates with prepatterned gold electrodes. The authors show that the full side functionalization of the conjugated polymer with thiol groups partially disrupts the s-SWNTs selection, with the presence of metallic tubes in the dispersion. However, the authors determine that the selectivity can be recovered either by tuning the number of thiol groups in the polymer, or by modulating the polymer/SWNTs proportions. As demonstrated by optical and electrical measurements, the polymer containing 2.5% of thiol groups gives the best s-SWNT purity. Field-effect transistors with various channel lengths, using networks of SWNTs and individual tubes, are fabricated by direct chemical self-assembly of the SWNTs/thiolated-polyfluorenes on substrates with lithographically defined electrodes. The network devices show superior performance (mobility up to 24 cm 2 V -1 s -1 ), while SWNTs devices based on individual tubes show an unprecedented (100%) yield for working devices. Importantly, the SWNTs assembled by mean of the thiol groups are stably anchored to the substrate and are resistant to external perturbation as sonication in organic solvents. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

NASA Tech Briefs, September 2008

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

Topics covered include: Nanotip Carpets as Antireflection Surfaces; Nano-Engineered Catalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells; Capillography of Mats of Nanofibers; Directed Growth of Carbon Nanotubes Across Gaps; High-Voltage, Asymmetric-Waveform Generator; Magic-T Junction Using Microstrip/Slotline Transitions; On-Wafer Measurement of a Silicon-Based CMOS VCO at 324 GHz; Group-III Nitride Field Emitters; HEMT Amplifiers and Equipment for their On-Wafer Testing; Thermal Spray Formation of Polymer Coatings; Improved Gas Filling and Sealing of an HC-PCF; Making More-Complex Molecules Using Superthermal Atom/Molecule Collisions; Nematic Cells for Digital Light Deflection; Improved Silica Aerogel Composite Materials; Microgravity, Mesh-Crawling Legged Robots; Advanced Active-Magnetic-Bearing Thrust- Measurement System; Thermally Actuated Hydraulic Pumps; A New, Highly Improved Two-Cycle Engine; Flexible Structural-Health-Monitoring Sheets; Alignment Pins for Assembling and Disassembling Structures; Purifying Nucleic Acids from Samples of Extremely Low Biomass; Adjustable-Viewing-Angle Endoscopic Tool for Skull Base and Brain Surgery; UV-Resistant Non-Spore-Forming Bacteria From Spacecraft-Assembly Facilities; Hard-X-Ray/Soft-Gamma-Ray Imaging Sensor Assembly for Astronomy; Simplified Modeling of Oxidation of Hydrocarbons; Near-Field Spectroscopy with Nanoparticles Deposited by AFM; Light Collimator and Monitor for a Spectroradiometer; Hyperspectral Fluorescence and Reflectance Imaging Instrument; Improving the Optical Quality Factor of the WGM Resonator; Ultra-Stable Beacon Source for Laboratory Testing of Optical Tracking; Transmissive Diffractive Optical Element Solar Concentrators; Delaying Trains of Short Light Pulses in WGM Resonators; Toward Better Modeling of Supercritical Turbulent Mixing; JPEG 2000 Encoding with Perceptual Distortion Control; Intelligent Integrated Health Management for a System of Systems; Delay Banking for Managing Air Traffic; and Spline-Based Smoothing of Airfoil Curvatures.

Biocatalytic Self-Assembly on Magnetic Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Conte, Maria P; Sahoo, Jugal Kishore; Abul-Haija, Yousef M; Lau, K H Aaron; Ulijn, Rein V

2018-01-24

Combining (bio)catalysis and molecular self-assembly provides an effective approach for the production and processing of self-assembled materials by exploiting catalysis to direct the assembly kinetics and hence controlling the formation of ordered nanostructures. Applications of (bio)catalytic self-assembly in biologically interfacing systems and in nanofabrication have recently been reported. Inspired by self-assembly in biological cells, efforts to confine catalysts on flat or patterned surfaces to exert spatial control over molecular gelator generation and nanostructure self-assembly have also emerged. Building on our previous work in the area, we demonstrate in this report the use of enzymes immobilized onto magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) to spatially localize the initiation of peptide self-assembly into nanofibers around NPs. The concept is generalized for both an equilibrium biocatalytic system that forms stable hydrogels and a nonequilibrium system that normally has a preset lifetime. Characterization of the hydrogels shows that self-assembly occurs at the site of enzyme immobilization on the NPs to give rise to gels with a "hub-and-spoke" morphology, where the nanofibers are linked through the enzyme-NP conjugates. This NP-controlled arrangement of self-assembled nanofibers enables both remarkable enhancements in the shear strength of hydrogel systems and a dramatic extension of the hydrogel stability in the nonequilibrium system. We are also able to show that the use of magnetic NPs enables the external control of both the formation of the hydrogel and its overall structure by application of an external magnetic field. We anticipate that the enhanced properties and stimuli-responsiveness of our NP-enzyme system will have applications ranging from nanomaterial fabrication to biomaterials and biosensing.

Dynamics of HIV-1 Assembly and Release

PubMed Central

Ivanchenko, Sergey; Godinez, William J.; Lampe, Marko; Kräusslich, Hans-Georg; Eils, Roland; Rohr, Karl; Bräuchle, Christoph; Müller, Barbara; Lamb, Don C.

2009-01-01

Assembly and release of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) occur at the plasma membrane of infected cells and are driven by the Gag polyprotein. Previous studies analyzed viral morphogenesis using biochemical methods and static images, while dynamic and kinetic information has been lacking until very recently. Using a combination of wide-field and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we have investigated the assembly and release of fluorescently labeled HIV-1 at the plasma membrane of living cells with high time resolution. Gag assembled into discrete clusters corresponding to single virions. Formation of multiple particles from the same site was rarely observed. Using a photoconvertible fluorescent protein fused to Gag, we determined that assembly was nucleated preferentially by Gag molecules that had recently attached to the plasma membrane or arrived directly from the cytosol. Both membrane-bound and cytosol derived Gag polyproteins contributed to the growing bud. After their initial appearance, assembly sites accumulated at the plasma membrane of individual cells over 1–2 hours. Assembly kinetics were rapid: the number of Gag molecules at a budding site increased, following a saturating exponential with a rate constant of ∼5×10−3 s−1, corresponding to 8–9 min for 90% completion of assembly for a single virion. Release of extracellular particles was observed at ∼1,500±700 s after the onset of assembly. The ability of the virus to recruit components of the cellular ESCRT machinery or to undergo proteolytic maturation, or the absence of Vpu did not significantly alter the assembly kinetics. PMID:19893629

Ammonia gas sensors based on chemically reduced graphene oxide sheets self-assembled on Au electrodes

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

We present a useful ammonia gas sensor based on chemically reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets by self-assembly technique to create conductive networks between parallel Au electrodes. Negative graphene oxide (GO) sheets with large sizes (>10 μm) can be easily electrostatically attracted onto positive Au electrodes modified with cysteamine hydrochloride in aqueous solution. The assembled GO sheets on Au electrodes can be directly reduced into rGO sheets by hydrazine or pyrrole vapor and consequently provide the sensing devices based on self-assembled rGO sheets. Preliminary results, which have been presented on the detection of ammonia (NH3) gas using this facile and scalable fabrication method for practical devices, suggest that pyrrole-vapor-reduced rGO exhibits much better (more than 2.7 times with the concentration of NH3 at 50 ppm) response to NH3 than that of rGO reduced from hydrazine vapor. Furthermore, this novel gas sensor based on rGO reduced from pyrrole shows excellent responsive repeatability to NH3. Overall, the facile electrostatic self-assembly technique in aqueous solution facilitates device fabrication, the resultant self-assembled rGO-based sensing devices, with miniature, low-cost portable characteristics and outstanding sensing performances, which can ensure potential application in gas sensing fields. PMID:24917701

Recent advances in large-scale assembly of semiconducting inorganic nanowires and nanofibers for electronics, sensors and photovoltaics.

PubMed

Long, Yun-Ze; Yu, Miao; Sun, Bin; Gu, Chang-Zhi; Fan, Zhiyong

2012-06-21

Semiconducting inorganic nanowires (NWs), nanotubes and nanofibers have been extensively explored in recent years as potential building blocks for nanoscale electronics, optoelectronics, chemical/biological/optical sensing, and energy harvesting, storage and conversion, etc. Besides the top-down approaches such as conventional lithography technologies, nanowires are commonly grown by the bottom-up approaches such as solution growth, template-guided synthesis, and vapor-liquid-solid process at a relatively low cost. Superior performance has been demonstrated using nanowires devices. However, most of the nanowire devices are limited to the demonstration of single devices, an initial step toward nanoelectronic circuits, not adequate for production on a large scale at low cost. Controlled and uniform assembly of nanowires with high scalability is still one of the major bottleneck challenges towards the materials and device integration for electronics. In this review, we aim to present recent progress toward nanowire device assembly technologies, including flow-assisted alignment, Langmuir-Blodgett assembly, bubble-blown technique, electric/magnetic- field-directed assembly, contact/roll printing, planar growth, bridging method, and electrospinning, etc. And their applications in high-performance, flexible electronics, sensors, photovoltaics, bioelectronic interfaces and nano-resonators are also presented.

Colloidal assembly directed by virtual magnetic moulds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demirörs, Ahmet F.; Pillai, Pramod P.; Kowalczyk, Bartlomiej; Grzybowski, Bartosz A.

2013-11-01

Interest in assemblies of colloidal particles has long been motivated by their applications in photonics, electronics, sensors and microlenses. Existing assembly schemes can position colloids of one type relatively flexibly into a range of desired structures, but it remains challenging to produce multicomponent lattices, clusters with precisely controlled symmetries and three-dimensional assemblies. A few schemes can efficiently produce complex colloidal structures, but they require system-specific procedures. Here we show that magnetic field microgradients established in a paramagnetic fluid can serve as `virtual moulds' to act as templates for the assembly of large numbers (~108) of both non-magnetic and magnetic colloidal particles with micrometre precision and typical yields of 80 to 90 per cent. We illustrate the versatility of this approach by producing single-component and multicomponent colloidal arrays, complex three-dimensional structures and a variety of colloidal molecules from polymeric particles, silica particles and live bacteria and by showing that all of these structures can be made permanent. In addition, although our magnetic moulds currently resemble optical traps in that they are limited to the manipulation of micrometre-sized objects, they are massively parallel and can manipulate non-magnetic and magnetic objects simultaneously in two and three dimensions.

75 FR 3141 - Airworthiness Directives; AVOX Systems and B/E Aerospace Oxygen Cylinder Assemblies, as Installed...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-20

... Airworthiness Directives; AVOX Systems and B/E Aerospace Oxygen Cylinder Assemblies, as Installed on Various... directive (AD), which applies to certain AVOX Systems and B/E Aerospace oxygen cylinder assemblies, as installed on various transport airplanes. That AD currently requires removing certain oxygen cylinder...

Effects of electric fields on the photonic crystal formation from block copolymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Taekun; Ju, Jin-wook; Ryoo, Won

2012-03-01

Effects of electric fields on the self-assembly of block copolymers have been investigated for thin films of polystyrene-bpoly( 2-vinyl pyridine); PS-b-P2VP, 52 kg/mol-b-57 kg/mol and 133 kg/mol-b-132 kg/mol. Block copolymers of polystyrene and poly(2-vinyl pyridine) have been demonstrated to form photonic crystals of 1D lamellar structure with optical band gaps that correspond to UV-to-visible light. The formation of lamellar structure toward minimum freeenergy state needs increasing polymer chain mobility, and the self-assembly process is accelerated usually by annealing, that is exposing the thin film to solvent vapor such as chloroform and dichloromethane. In this study, thin films of block copolymers were spin-coated on substrates and placed between electrode arrays of various patterns including pin-points, crossing and parallel lines. As direct or alternating currents were applied to electrode arrays during annealing process, the final structure of thin films was altered from the typical 1D lamellae in the absence of electric fields. The formation of lamellar structure was spatially controlled depending on the shape of electrode arrays, and the photonic band gap also could be modulated by electric field strength. The spatial formation of lamellar structure was examined with simulated distribution of electrical potentials by finite difference method (FDM). P2VP layers in self-assembled film were quaternized with methyl iodide vapor, and the remaining lamellar structure was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The result of this work is expected to provide ways of fabricating functional structures for display devices utilizing photonic crystal array.

Interactions regulating the head-to-tail directed assembly of biological Janus rods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Greene, A. C.; Bachand, M.; Gomez, A.

We can generalize the directed, head-to-tail self-assembly of microtubule filaments in the context of Janus colloidal rods. Specifically, their assembly at the tens of micron-length scale involves a careful balance between long-range electrostatic repulsion and short-range attractive forces. We show that the addition of counterion salts increases the rate of directed assembly by screening the electrostatic forces and enhancing the effectiveness of short-range interactions at the microtubule ends.

Interactions regulating the head-to-tail directed assembly of biological Janus rods

DOE PAGES

Greene, A. C.; Bachand, M.; Gomez, A.; ...

2017-03-31

We can generalize the directed, head-to-tail self-assembly of microtubule filaments in the context of Janus colloidal rods. Specifically, their assembly at the tens of micron-length scale involves a careful balance between long-range electrostatic repulsion and short-range attractive forces. We show that the addition of counterion salts increases the rate of directed assembly by screening the electrostatic forces and enhancing the effectiveness of short-range interactions at the microtubule ends.

76 FR 64795 - Airworthiness Directives; Sicma Aero Seat Passenger Seat Assemblies Installed on Various...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-19

... Airworthiness Directives; Sicma Aero Seat Passenger Seat Assemblies Installed on Various Transport Category..., 91xx, 92xx, 93xx, 95xx, and 96xx series passenger seat assemblies, installed on various transport... seat assemblies identified in Annex 1, Issue 2, dated March 19, 2004, of Sicma Aero Seat Service...

An array of Eiffel-tower-shape AlN nanotips and its field emission properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Yongbing; Cong, Hongtao; Chen, Zhigang; Cheng, Huiming

2005-06-01

An array of Eiffel-tower-shape AlN nanotips has been synthesized and assembled vertically with Si substrate by a chemical vapor deposition method at 700 °C. The single-crystalline AlN nanotips along [001] direction, including sharp tips with 10-100 nm in diameter and submicron-sized bases, are distributed uniformly with density of 106-107tips/cm2. Field emission (FE) measurements show that its turn on field is 4.7 V/μm, which is comparable to that of carbon nanotubes, and the fluctuation of FE current is as small as 0.74% for 4 h. It is revealed this nanostructure is available to optimize the FE properties and make the array a promising field emitter.

Interaction Forces Between Multiple Bodies in a Magnetic Field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Joffe, Benjamin

1996-01-01

Some of the results from experiments to determine the interaction forces between multiple bodies in a magnetic field are presented in this paper. It is shown how the force values and the force directions depend on the configuration of the bodies, their relative positions to each other, and the vector of the primary magnetic field. A number of efficient new automatic loading and assembly machines, as well as manipulators and robots, have been created based on the relationship between bodies and magnetic fields. A few of these patented magnetic devices are presented. The concepts involved open a new way to design universal grippers for robot and other kinds of mechanisms for the manipulation of objects. Some of these concepts can be used for space applications.

Method of reducing multipole content in a conductor assembly during manufacture

DOEpatents

Meinke, Rainer [Melbourne, FL

2011-08-09

A method for manufacture of a conductor assembly. The assembly is of the type which, when conducting current, generates a magnetic field or in which, in the presence of a changing magnetic field, a voltage is induced. In an example embodiment one or more first coil rows are formed. The assembly has multiple coil rows about an axis with outer coil rows formed about inner coil rows. A determination is made of deviations from specifications associated with the formed one or more first coil rows. One or more deviations correspond to a magnitude of a multipole field component which departs from a field specification. Based on the deviations, one or more wiring patterns are generated for one or more second coil rows to be formed about the one or more first coil rows. The one or more second coil rows are formed in the assembly. The magnitude of each multipole field component that departs from the field specification is offset.

Method of reducing multipole content in a conductor assembly during manufacture

DOEpatents

Meinke, Rainer

2013-08-20

A method for manufacture of a conductor assembly. The assembly is of the type which, when conducting current, generates a magnetic field or in which, in the presence of a changing magnetic field, a voltage is induced. In an example embodiment one or more first coil rows are formed. The assembly has multiple coil rows about an axis with outer coil rows formed about inner coil rows. A determination is made of deviations from specifications associated with the formed one or more first coil rows. One or more deviations correspond to a magnitude of a multipole field component which departs from a field specification. Based on the deviations, one or more wiring patterns are generated for one or more second coil rows to be formed about the one or more first coil rows. The one or more second coil rows are formed in the assembly. The magnitude of each multipole field component that departs from the field specification is offset.

Directed self-assembly of block copolymer films on atomically-thin graphene chemical patterns

DOE PAGES

Chang, Tzu-Hsuan; Xiong, Shisheng; Jacobberger, Robert M.; ...

2016-08-16

Directed self-assembly of block copolymers is a scalable method to fabricate well-ordered patterns over the wafer scale with feature sizes below the resolution of conventional lithography. Typically, lithographically-defined prepatterns with varying chemical contrast are used to rationally guide the assembly of block copolymers. The directed self-assembly to obtain accurate registration and alignment is largely influenced by the assembly kinetics. Furthermore, a considerably broad processing window is favored for industrial manufacturing. Using an atomically-thin layer of graphene on germanium, after two simple processing steps, we create a novel chemical pattern to direct the assembly of polystyreneblock-poly(methyl methacrylate). Faster assembly kinetics aremore » observed on graphene/germanium chemical patterns than on conventional chemical patterns based on polymer mats and brushes. This new chemical pattern allows for assembly on a wide range of guiding periods and along designed 90° bending structures. We also achieve density multiplication by a factor of 10, greatly enhancing the pattern resolution. Lastly, the rapid assembly kinetics, minimal topography, and broad processing window demonstrate the advantages of inorganic chemical patterns composed of hard surfaces.« less

The Self- and Directed Assembly of Nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Benjamin David

This thesis explores the self- and directed assembly of nanowires. Specifically, we examine the driving forces behind nanowire self-assembly and the macro-structures that are formed. Particle-dense, oriented nanowire structures show promise in the fields of photonics, energy, sensing, catalysis, and electronics. Arrays of spherical particles have already found uses in electronic inks, sensing arrays, and many other commercial applications; but, it is a challenge to create specific arrays of morphologically and/or compositionally anisotropic particles. The following chapters illuminate the interactions that drive the assembly of anisotropic particles in high density solutions in the absence of applied fields or solution drying. Special emphasis is placed on the structures that are formed. The properties of micro- and nanoparticles and their assembly are introduced in Chapter 1. In particular, the properties of shape and material anisotropic particles are highlighted, while challenges in producing desired arrays are discussed. In this thesis, metallic nanowires of increasing complexity were used to examine the self-assembly behavior of both shape and material anisotropic particles. Nanowires were synthesized through templated electrodeposition. In this process, porous alumina membranes served as a template in which metal salts were reduced to form particles. Upon template dissolution, billions of nominally identical particles were released. We specifically focused on segmented, metallic nanowires 2-13 mum in length and 180 to 350 nm in diameter. Since these particles have strong van der Waals (VDWs) attractions, an electrostatically repulsive coating was necessary to prevent aggregation; we used small molecule, DNA, or amorphous silica coatings. Nanowires and their coatings were characterized by electron microscopy. In order to study self-assembly behavior, particle-dense aqueous suspensions were placed within an assembly chamber defined by a silicone spacer. The nanowires rapidly sedimented due to gravity onto a glass cover slip to concentrate and form a dense film. Particles and assemblies were imaged using inverted optical microscopy. We quantitatively analyzed the images and movies captured in order to track and classify particles and classify the overall arrays formed. We then correlated how particle characteristics, e.g., materials, size, segmentation, etc. changed the ordering and alignment observed. With that knowledge, we hope to be able to form new and interesting structures. We began our studies by examining the assembly of single component nanowires. Chapter 2 describes this work, in which solid Au nanowires measuring 2-7 mum in length and 290 nm in diameter self-assembled into smectic rows. By both experiment and theory, we determined that these rows formed due to a balance of electrostatic repulsions and van der Waals attractions. Final assemblies were stable for at least several days. Monte Carlo methods were used to simulate assemblies and showed structures that mirrored those experimentally observed. Simulations indicated that the smectic phase was preferred over others, i.e., nematic, when an additional small charge was added to the ends of the nanowires. Our particles have rough tips, which might create these additional electrostatic repulsions. To increase the particle and array complexity, two-component, metallic nanowire assembly was explored in Chapter 3. We examined numerous types of nanowires by changing the segment length, ratio, and material, the nanowire length, the surface coating, and the presence of small third segments. These segmented nanowires were generally Au-Ag and also ordered into smectic rows. Segmented wires arranged in rows, however, can be aligned in two possible ways with respect to a neighboring particle. The Au segments on neighboring particles can be oriented in the same direction or opposed to each other. Orientation was quantified in terms of an order parameter that took into account alignment with respect to nearest neighbor particles. All experiments showed order parameters indicating a slight preference for orientational ordering that was relatively insensitive to segment size, nanowire size, and nanowire coating. Monte Carlo simulations pointed towards this alignment as a consequence of small differences in the van der Waals attractions between the segments. Experimentally, ordering might to be limited by the large size of the nanowires, which results in kinetically trapped structures. In an attempt to obtain better ordering within rows, silica coated nanowires with partial Au cores were made. The synthesis involved silica-coating the nanowires and selectively etching a Ag segment. These particles have extremely different VDWs attractions between their segments, as the Au cores are much more attractive than the solvent-filled etched ends. The assembly of these partially etched nanowires (PENs) is detailed in Chapters 4, 5, and 6. When allowed to self-assemble, we observed the formation of either vertically or horizontally oriented arrays depending on PEN composition. The formation of vertically oriented arrays of anisotropic particles is important, since not many methods to produce these structures are currently available for particles of this size. We examined the effects of PEN length, PEN diameter, and the size, number, and location of the core segments. Our findings showed a large etched segment at one end (which resulted in a large offset in the center of mass and concentrated the VDWs attractions to one end of the particle) resulted in the best columnar assemblies. These vertically orientated arrays formed in a two part process. First, after PENs sedimented, they fell flat and oriented parallel to the surface. These PENs then sampled many orientations, including rotating out of the surface plane. When higher surface concentrations of particles built as more PENs fell to the surface of the cover slip, neighboring particles stabilized vertical orientations. Second, particles fell oriented vertically and when the surface concentrations were high, they retained this orientation upon reaching the substrate. Since vertically aligned PENs supported each other, assembly into vertical arrays was highly dependent on the surface concentration. But, oriented arrays could be easily formed on larger or smaller substrates, provided a particle concentration scaled to the substrate were used. The mixing of these particles to form heterogeneous arrays was examined. The overall array structure favored that of particles which sedimented more quickly and/or were present in higher amounts. The semi-automated counting of PENs in images by software is used heavily in Chapters 4 and 5. Appendix A describes the use, development, and validation of macros within Image-Pro. The structure, syntax, and use are specifically examined for three nanowire counting macros. The counting results; including: number of particles in an image, number of horizontally vs. vertically oriented PENs, and PENs in microwells; are compared with manual hand counts. Chapter 7 examines the overall conclusions and future directions for this research. By combining our assembly techniques with known directing forces (e.g., electric or magnetic fields) more specific alignment and/or positioning could be achieved. We have also begun to explore directing assembly through lithographic microwells. Further work needs to explore the integration of arrays into devices and the use of functional materials. Then, high density, oriented arrays could be created for photonic, energy, sensing, catalytic, and electronic applications.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Samant, Saumil; Strzalka, Joseph; Yager, Kevin G.

Dynamic thermal gradient-based processes for directed self-assembly of block copolymer (BCP) thin films such as cold zone annealing (CZA) have demonstrated much potential for rapidly fabricating highly ordered patterns of BCP domains with facile orientation control. As a demonstration, hexagonally packed predominantly vertical cylindrical morphology, technologically relevant for applications such as membranes and lithography, was achieved in 1 μm thick cylinder-forming PS-b-PMMA (cBCP) films by applying sharp thermal gradients (CZA-Sharp) at optimum sample sweep rates. A thorough understanding of the molecular level mechanisms and pathways of the BCP ordering that occur during this CZA-S process is presented, useful to fullymore » exploit the potential of CZA-S for large-scale BCP-based device fabrication. To that end, we developed a customized CZA-S assembly to probe the dynamic structure evolution and ordering of the PS-b-PMMA cBCP film in situ as it undergoes the CZA-S process using the grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) technique. Four distinct regimes of BCP ordering were observed within the gradient that include microphase separation from an “as cast” unordered state (Regime I), evolution of vertical cylinders under a thermally imposed strain gradient (Regime II), reorientation of a fraction of cylinders due to preferential substrate interactions (Regime III), and finally grain-coarsening on the cooling edge (Regime IV). The ordering pathway in the different regimes is further described within the framework of an energy landscape. A novel aspect of this study is the identification of a grain-coarsening regime on the cooling edge of the gradient, previously obscure in zone annealing studies of BCPs. Furthermore, such insights into the development of highly ordered BCP nanostructures under template-free thermal gradient fields can potentially have important ramifications in the field of BCP-directed self-assembly and self-assembling polymer systems more broadly.« less

Ordering pathway of block copolymers under dynamic thermal gradients studied by in situ GISAXS

DOE PAGES

Samant, Saumil; Strzalka, Joseph; Yager, Kevin G.; ...

2016-10-31

Dynamic thermal gradient-based processes for directed self-assembly of block copolymer (BCP) thin films such as cold zone annealing (CZA) have demonstrated much potential for rapidly fabricating highly ordered patterns of BCP domains with facile orientation control. As a demonstration, hexagonally packed predominantly vertical cylindrical morphology, technologically relevant for applications such as membranes and lithography, was achieved in 1 μm thick cylinder-forming PS-b-PMMA (cBCP) films by applying sharp thermal gradients (CZA-Sharp) at optimum sample sweep rates. A thorough understanding of the molecular level mechanisms and pathways of the BCP ordering that occur during this CZA-S process is presented, useful to fullymore » exploit the potential of CZA-S for large-scale BCP-based device fabrication. To that end, we developed a customized CZA-S assembly to probe the dynamic structure evolution and ordering of the PS-b-PMMA cBCP film in situ as it undergoes the CZA-S process using the grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) technique. Four distinct regimes of BCP ordering were observed within the gradient that include microphase separation from an “as cast” unordered state (Regime I), evolution of vertical cylinders under a thermally imposed strain gradient (Regime II), reorientation of a fraction of cylinders due to preferential substrate interactions (Regime III), and finally grain-coarsening on the cooling edge (Regime IV). The ordering pathway in the different regimes is further described within the framework of an energy landscape. A novel aspect of this study is the identification of a grain-coarsening regime on the cooling edge of the gradient, previously obscure in zone annealing studies of BCPs. Furthermore, such insights into the development of highly ordered BCP nanostructures under template-free thermal gradient fields can potentially have important ramifications in the field of BCP-directed self-assembly and self-assembling polymer systems more broadly.« less

One-pot DNA construction for synthetic biology: the Modular Overlap-Directed Assembly with Linkers (MODAL) strategy

PubMed Central

Casini, Arturo; MacDonald, James T.; Jonghe, Joachim De; Christodoulou, Georgia; Freemont, Paul S.; Baldwin, Geoff S.; Ellis, Tom

2014-01-01

Overlap-directed DNA assembly methods allow multiple DNA parts to be assembled together in one reaction. These methods, which rely on sequence homology between the ends of DNA parts, have become widely adopted in synthetic biology, despite being incompatible with a key principle of engineering: modularity. To answer this, we present MODAL: a Modular Overlap-Directed Assembly with Linkers strategy that brings modularity to overlap-directed methods, allowing assembly of an initial set of DNA parts into a variety of arrangements in one-pot reactions. MODAL is accompanied by a custom software tool that designs overlap linkers to guide assembly, allowing parts to be assembled in any specified order and orientation. The in silico design of synthetic orthogonal overlapping junctions allows for much greater efficiency in DNA assembly for a variety of different methods compared with using non-designed sequence. In tests with three different assembly technologies, the MODAL strategy gives assembly of both yeast and bacterial plasmids, composed of up to five DNA parts in the kilobase range with efficiencies of between 75 and 100%. It also seamlessly allows mutagenesis to be performed on any specified DNA parts during the process, allowing the one-step creation of construct libraries valuable for synthetic biology applications. PMID:24153110

Magnetic field alignment of coil-coil diblock copolymers and blends via intrinsic chain anisotropy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rokhlenko, Yekaterina; Majewski, Pawel; Larson, Steven; Yager, Kevin; Gopalan, Padma; Avgeropoulos, Apostolos; Chan, Edwin; Osuji, Chinedum

Magnetic fields can control alignment of self-assembled soft materials such as block copolymers provided there is a suitably large magnetic susceptibility anisotropy present in the system. Recent results have highlighted the existence of a non-trivial intrinsic anisotropy in coil-coil diblock copolymers, specifically in lamellar-forming PS-b-P4VP, which enables alignment at field strengths of a few tesla in systems lacking mesogenic components. Alignment is predicated on correlation in the orientation of end-end vectors implied by the localization of block junctions at the microdomain interface and is observed on cooling across the order-disorder transition in the presence of the field. For appropriate combinations of field strength and grain size, we can leverage intrinsic chain anisotropy to magnetically direct self-assembly of many non-mesogenic systems, including other coil-coil BCPs like PS-b-PDMS and PS-b-PMMA, blends of BCPs of disparate morphologies and MWs, and blends of BCPs with homopolymers. This is noteworthy as blends of PS-b-P4VP with PEO provide a route to form functional materials such as nanoporous films by dissolution of PEO, or aligned ion conduction materials. We survey these various systems using TEM and in-situ X-ray scattering to study the phase behavior and temperature-, time- and field- dependent dynamics of alignment.

Magnetic-Field-Assisted Assembly of Ordered Multifunctional Ceramic Nanocomposites for Extreme Environments

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-01

SUBJECT TERMS carbon nanotubes, composite, electromagnetic shielding , extreme environments, magnetism , fibers, woven composite, boron nitride...AFRL-AFOSR-VA-TR-2016-0158 Magnetic -Field-Assisted Assembly of Ordered Multifunctional Ceramic Nanocomposites for Extreme Environments Konstantin...From - To) 15 Sep 2012 to 14 Nov 2017 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Magnetic -Field-Assisted Assembly of Ordered Multifunctional Ceramic Nanocomposites for

Permanent magnet assembly

DOEpatents

Chell, Jeremy; Zimm, Carl B.

2006-12-12

A permanent magnet assembly is disclosed that is adapted to provide a magnetic field across an arc-shaped gap. Such a permanent magnet assembly can be used, for example, to provide a time-varying magnetic field to an annular region for use in a magnetic refrigerator.

Supramolecular Nanocomposites Under Confinement: Chiral Optically Active Nanoparticle Assemblies and Beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Peter; Yang, Sui; Bao, Wei; Salmeron, Miquel; Zhang, Xiang; Xu, Ting

2015-03-01

Block copolymer-based supramolecules provide a versatile platform to direct the self-assembly of nanoparticles (NPs) into precisely controlled nanostructures in bulk and thin film geometries. A supramolecule, PS-b-P4VP(PDP), composed of the small molecule 3-pentadecylphenol (PDP) hydrogen bonded to a diblock copolymer, polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP), was subjected to 2-D volume confinement in cylindrical anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane pores. TEM and 3-D TEM tomography reveal that the morphologies accessible by the supramolecule and supramolecule/NP composites, such as NP clusters, arrays, stacked rings, and single and double helical ribbons, are significantly different from those in the bulk or thin film. Furthermore, single molecule dark field scattering measurements demonstrate strong chiral optical response of single helical Au NP ribbon nanostructures in the near infrared wavelength regime. These studies demonstrate 2-D confinement to be an effective means to tailor self-assembled NP structure within supramolecule nanocomposites and pave the way for this assembly approach to be applied towards next generation chiral metamaterials and optoelectronic devices.

Nanocoating for biomolecule delivery using layer-by-layer self-assembly

PubMed Central

Keeney, M.; Jiang, X. Y.; Yamane, M.; Lee, M.; Goodman, S.

2016-01-01

Since its introduction in the early 1990s, layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly of films has been widely used in the fields of nanoelectronics, optics, sensors, surface coatings, and controlled drug delivery. The growth of this industry is propelled by the ease of film manufacture, low cost, mild assembly conditions, precise control of coating thickness, and versatility of coating materials. Despite the wealth of research on LbL for biomolecule delivery, clinical translation has been limited and slow. This review provides an overview of methods and mechanisms of loading biomolecules within LbL films and achieving controlled release. In particular, this review highlights recent advances in the development of LbL coatings for the delivery of different types of biomolecules including proteins, polypeptides, DNA, particles and viruses. To address the need for co-delivery of multiple types of biomolecules at different timing, we also review recent advances in incorporating compartmentalization into LbL assembly. Existing obstacles to clinical translation of LbL technologies and enabling technologies for future directions are also discussed. PMID:27099754

Formation of charge-nanopatterned templates with flexible geometry via layer by layer deposition of polyelectrolytes for directed self-assembly of gold nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sayin, Mustafa; Dahint, Reiner

2017-03-01

Nanostructure formation via self-assembly processes offers a fast and cost-effective approach to generate surface patterns on large lateral scale. In particular, if the high precision of lithographic techniques is not required, a situation typical of many biotechnological and biomedical applications, it may be considered as the method of choice as it does not require any sophisticated instrumentation. However, in many cases the variety and complexity of the surface structures accessible with a single self-assembly based technique is limited. Here, we report on a new approach which combines two different self-assembly strategies, colloidal lithography and layer-by-layer deposition of polyelectrolytes, in order to significantly expand the spectrum of accessible patterns. In particular, flat and donut-like charge-patterned templates have been generated, which facilitate subsequent deposition of gold nanoparticles in dot, grid, ring, out-of-ring and circular patch structures. Potential applications are e.g. in the fields of biofunctional interfaces with well-defined lateral dimensions, optical devices with tuned properties, and controlled three-dimensional material growth.

Self-assembly of silica microparticles in magnetic multiphase flows: Experiment and simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiang; Niu, Xiao-Dong; Li, You; Chen, Mu-Feng

2018-04-01

Dynamic self-assembly, especially self-assembly under magnetic field, is vital not only for its marvelous phenomenon but also for its mechanisms. Revealing the underlying mechanisms is crucial for a deeper understanding of self-assembly. In this paper, several magnetic induced self-assembly experiments by using the mixed magnetic multiphase fluids comprised of silica microspheres were carried out. The relations of the strength of external magnetic field, the inverse magnetorheological effect, and the structures of self-assembled particles were investigated. In addition, a momentum-exchanged immersed boundary-based lattice Boltzmann method (MEIB-LBM) for modeling multi-physical coupling multiphase flows was employed to numerically study the magnetic induced self-assembly process in detail. The present work showed that the external magnetic field can be used to control the form of self-assembly of nonmagnetic microparticles in a chain-like structure, and the self-assembly process can be classified into four stages with magnetic hysteresis, magnetization of nonmagnetic microparticles, self-assembly in chain-like structures, and the stable chain state. The combination of experimental and numerical results could offer a method to control the self-assembled nonmagnetic microparticles, which can provide the technical and theoretical support for the design and fabrication of micro/nanomaterials.

Fabrication Procedures and Birefringence Measurements for Designing Magnetically Responsive Lanthanide Ion Chelating Phospholipid Assemblies.

PubMed

Isabettini, Stéphane; Baumgartner, Mirjam E; Fischer, Peter; Windhab, Erich J; Liebi, Marianne; Kuster, Simon

2018-01-03

Bicelles are tunable disk-like polymolecular assemblies formed from a large variety of lipid mixtures. Applications range from membrane protein structural studies by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to nanotechnological developments including the formation of optically active and magnetically switchable gels. Such technologies require high control of the assembly size, magnetic response and thermal resistance. Mixtures of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and its lanthanide ion (Ln 3+ ) chelating phospholipid conjugate, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-ethanolamine-diethylene triaminepentaacetate (DMPE-DTPA), assemble into highly magnetically responsive assemblies such as DMPC/DMPE-DTPA/Ln 3+ (molar ratio 4:1:1) bicelles. Introduction of cholesterol (Chol-OH) and steroid derivatives in the bilayer results in another set of assemblies offering unique physico-chemical properties. For a given lipid composition, the magnetic alignability is proportional to the bicelle size. The complexation of Ln 3+ results in unprecedented magnetic responses in terms of both magnitude and alignment direction. The thermo-reversible collapse of the disk-like structures into vesicles upon heating allows tailoring of the assemblies' dimensions by extrusion through membrane filters with defined pore sizes. The magnetically alignable bicelles are regenerated by cooling to 5 °C, resulting in assembly dimensions defined by the vesicle precursors. Herein, this fabrication procedure is explained and the magnetic alignability of the assemblies is quantified by birefringence measurements under a 5.5 T magnetic field. The birefringence signal, originating from the phospholipid bilayer, further enables monitoring of polymolecular changes occurring in the bilayer. This simple technique is complementary to NMR experiments that are commonly employed to characterize bicelles.

Dovetail spoke internal permanent magnet machine

DOEpatents

Alexander, James Pellegrino [Ballston Lake, NY; EL-Refaie, Ayman Mohamed Fawzi [Niskayuna, NY; Lokhandwalla, Murtuza [Clifton Park, NY; Shah, Manoj Ramprasad [Latham, NY; VanDam, Jeremy Daniel [West Coxsackie, NY

2011-08-23

An internal permanent magnet (IPM) machine is provided. The IPM machine includes a stator assembly and a stator core. The stator core also includes multiple stator teeth. The stator assembly is further configured with stator windings to generate a stator magnetic field when excited with alternating currents and extends along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface defining a cavity. The IPM machine also includes a rotor assembly and a rotor core. The rotor core is disposed inside the cavity and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly further includes a shaft. The shaft further includes multiple protrusions alternately arranged relative to multiple bottom structures provided on the shaft. The rotor assembly also includes multiple stacks of laminations disposed on the protrusions and dovetailed circumferentially around the shaft. The rotor assembly further includes multiple pair of permanent magnets for generating a magnetic field, which magnetic field interacts with the stator magnetic field to produce a torque. The multiple pair of permanent magnets are disposed between the stacks. The rotor assembly also includes multiple middle wedges mounted between each pair of the multiple permanent magnets.

Quantifying colloidal particle bands and their formation in combined electroosmotic and Poiseuille flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yee, Andrew; Cevheri, Necmettin; Yoda, Minami

2015-11-01

Recently, we have shown that suspended radii a = 245 nm particles flowing through a microchannel driven by the combination of a dc electric field and pressure gradient (where the resulting electroosmotic and shear flows are in opposite directions) are attracted to the wall at low electric field magnitude | E | , then assemble into concentrated bands that only exist within a few μm of the wall above a threshold value of | E | , | Ecr | . The ~ 6 μ m wide bands are aligned with the flow direction and are roughly periodic along the cross-stream direction. This talk focuses on quantitative characterization of these bands, for example how | Ecr | , the time required for bands to form after applying the electric field To, and the number of bands depend upon parameters such as particle volume fraction φ, shear rate γ˙ , | E | , and a. The dynamics of the particles within the bands are visualized by imaging a mixture of particles with different fluorescent labels. The visualizations show that the particles are in a liquid state within these bands, and suggest that the particles nearest the wall move in the direction of the electroosmotic flow, while those farther from the wall move in the direction of the shear flow. Supported by NSF.

An artificial elementary eye with optic flow detection and compositional properties.

PubMed

Pericet-Camara, Ramon; Dobrzynski, Michal K; Juston, Raphaël; Viollet, Stéphane; Leitel, Robert; Mallot, Hanspeter A; Floreano, Dario

2015-08-06

We describe a 2 mg artificial elementary eye whose structure and functionality is inspired by compound eye ommatidia. Its optical sensitivity and electronic architecture are sufficient to generate the required signals for the measurement of local optic flow vectors in multiple directions. Multiple elementary eyes can be assembled to create a compound vision system of desired shape and curvature spanning large fields of view. The system configurability is validated with the fabrication of a flexible linear array of artificial elementary eyes capable of extracting optic flow over multiple visual directions. © 2015 The Author(s).

Injection-modulated polarity conversion by charge carrier density control via a self-assembled monolayer for all-solution-processed organic field-effect transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roh, Jeongkyun; Lee, Taesoo; Kang, Chan-Mo; Kwak, Jeonghun; Lang, Philippe; Horowitz, Gilles; Kim, Hyeok; Lee, Changhee

2017-04-01

We demonstrated modulation of charge carrier densities in all-solution-processed organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) by modifying the injection properties with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The all-solution-processed OFETs based on an n-type polymer with inkjet-printed Ag electrodes were fabricated as a test platform, and the injection properties were modified by the SAMs. Two types of SAMs with different dipole direction, thiophenol (TP) and pentafluorobenzene thiol (PFBT) were employed, modifying the work function of the inkjet-printed Ag (4.9 eV) to 4.66 eV and 5.24 eV with TP and PFBT treatments, respectively. The charge carrier densities were controlled by the SAM treatment in both dominant and non-dominant carrier-channel regimes. This work demonstrates that control of the charge carrier densities can be efficiently achieved by modifying the injection property with SAM treatment; thus, this approach can achieve polarity conversion of the OFETs.

Spontaneous assembly of chemically encoded two-dimensional coacervate droplet arrays by acoustic wave patterning

PubMed Central

Tian, Liangfei; Martin, Nicolas; Bassindale, Philip G.; Patil, Avinash J.; Li, Mei; Barnes, Adrian; Drinkwater, Bruce W.; Mann, Stephen

2016-01-01

The spontaneous assembly of chemically encoded, molecularly crowded, water-rich micro-droplets into periodic defect-free two-dimensional arrays is achieved in aqueous media by a combination of an acoustic standing wave pressure field and in situ complex coacervation. Acoustically mediated coalescence of primary droplets generates single-droplet per node micro-arrays that exhibit variable surface-attachment properties, spontaneously uptake dyes, enzymes and particles, and display spatial and time-dependent fluorescence outputs when exposed to a reactant diffusion gradient. In addition, coacervate droplet arrays exhibiting dynamical behaviour and exchange of matter are prepared by inhibiting coalescence to produce acoustically trapped lattices of droplet clusters that display fast and reversible changes in shape and spatial configuration in direct response to modulations in the acoustic frequencies and fields. Our results offer a novel route to the design and construction of ‘water-in-water' micro-droplet arrays with controllable spatial organization, programmable signalling pathways and higher order collective behaviour. PMID:27708286

Natural selection in the colloid world: active chiral spirals.

PubMed

Zhang, Jie; Granick, Steve

2016-10-06

We present a model system in which to study natural selection in the colloid world. In the assembly of active Janus particles into rotating pinwheels when mixed with trace amounts of homogeneous colloids in the presence of an AC electric field, broken symmetry in the rotation direction produces spiral, chiral shapes. Locked into a central rotation point by the centre particle, the spiral arms are found to trail rotation of the overall cluster. To achieve a steady state, the spiral arms undergo an evolutionary process to coordinate their motion. Because all the particles as segments of the pinwheel arms are self-propelled, asymmetric arm lengths are tolerated. Reconfiguration of these structures can happen in various ways and various mechanisms of this directed structural change are analyzed in detail. We introduce the concept of VIP (very important particles) to express that sustainability of active structures is most sensitive to only a few particles at strategic locations in the moving self-assembled structures.

Assembly of RNA nanostructures on supported lipid bilayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dabkowska, Aleksandra P.; Michanek, Agnes; Jaeger, Luc; Rabe, Michael; Chworos, Arkadiusz; Höök, Fredrik; Nylander, Tommy; Sparr, Emma

2014-12-01

The assembly of nucleic acid nanostructures with controlled size and shape has large impact in the fields of nanotechnology, nanomedicine and synthetic biology. The directed arrangement of nano-structures at interfaces is important for many applications. In spite of this, the use of laterally mobile lipid bilayers to control RNA three-dimensional nanostructure formation on surfaces remains largely unexplored. Here, we direct the self-assembly of RNA building blocks into three-dimensional structures of RNA on fluid lipid bilayers composed of cationic 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) or mixtures of zwitterionic 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and cationic sphingosine. We demonstrate the stepwise supramolecular assembly of discrete building blocks through specific and selective RNA-RNA interactions, based on results from quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), ellipsometry, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF) experiments. The assembly can be controlled to give a densely packed single layer of RNA polyhedrons at the fluid lipid bilayer surface. We show that assembly of the 3D structure can be modulated by sequence specific interactions, surface charge and changes in the salt composition and concentration. In addition, the tertiary structure of the RNA polyhedron can be controllably switched from an extended structure to one that is dense and compact. The versatile approach to building up three-dimensional structures of RNA does not require modification of the surface or the RNA molecules, and can be used as a bottom-up means of nanofabrication of functionalized bio-mimicking surfaces.The assembly of nucleic acid nanostructures with controlled size and shape has large impact in the fields of nanotechnology, nanomedicine and synthetic biology. The directed arrangement of nano-structures at interfaces is important for many applications. In spite of this, the use of laterally mobile lipid bilayers to control RNA three-dimensional nanostructure formation on surfaces remains largely unexplored. Here, we direct the self-assembly of RNA building blocks into three-dimensional structures of RNA on fluid lipid bilayers composed of cationic 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) or mixtures of zwitterionic 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and cationic sphingosine. We demonstrate the stepwise supramolecular assembly of discrete building blocks through specific and selective RNA-RNA interactions, based on results from quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), ellipsometry, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF) experiments. The assembly can be controlled to give a densely packed single layer of RNA polyhedrons at the fluid lipid bilayer surface. We show that assembly of the 3D structure can be modulated by sequence specific interactions, surface charge and changes in the salt composition and concentration. In addition, the tertiary structure of the RNA polyhedron can be controllably switched from an extended structure to one that is dense and compact. The versatile approach to building up three-dimensional structures of RNA does not require modification of the surface or the RNA molecules, and can be used as a bottom-up means of nanofabrication of functionalized bio-mimicking surfaces. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Table with sequences of tRNA units used in this study; schematic structures of the RNA polyhedron and its building blocks; gel electrophoresis characterization of the RNA polyhedron and squares; AFM characterization of RNA tectosquare; schematic structures of RNA-9 and RNA-10 and their association with lipid bilayers; QCM-D frequency and dissipation data (as function of time) for adsorption of RNA polyhedrons, RNA squares and RNA9-10 TIRF images of RNA with Gelstar after photobleaching with analysis; Correlation plot in change of shear viscosity for TS3 and TO3-4 models for the stoichiometry of TS; QCM-D dissipation data for the sequential experiment in Fig. 5a; QCM-D and for the assembly of building blocks at the bilayer scaffold at varying bulk concentrations; QCM-D of adsorption of TS3. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr05968a

Direct-Write Printing on Three-Dimensional Geometries for Miniaturized Detector and Electronic Assemblies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paquette, Beth; Samuels, Margaret; Chen, Peng

2017-01-01

Direct-write printing techniques will enable new detector assemblies that were not previously possible with traditional assembly processes. Detector concepts were manufactured using this technology to validate repeatability. Additional detector applications and printed wires on a 3-dimensional magnetometer bobbin will be designed for print. This effort focuses on evaluating performance for direct-write manufacturing techniques on 3-dimensional surfaces. Direct-write manufacturing has the potential to reduce mass and volume for fabrication and assembly of advanced detector concepts by reducing trace widths down to 10 microns, printing on complex geometries, allowing new electronic concept production, and reduced production times of complex those electronics.

Pointing error analysis of Risley-prism-based beam steering system.

PubMed

Zhou, Yuan; Lu, Yafei; Hei, Mo; Liu, Guangcan; Fan, Dapeng

2014-09-01

Based on the vector form Snell's law, ray tracing is performed to quantify the pointing errors of Risley-prism-based beam steering systems, induced by component errors, prism orientation errors, and assembly errors. Case examples are given to elucidate the pointing error distributions in the field of regard and evaluate the allowances of the error sources for a given pointing accuracy. It is found that the assembly errors of the second prism will result in more remarkable pointing errors in contrast with the first one. The pointing errors induced by prism tilt depend on the tilt direction. The allowances of bearing tilt and prism tilt are almost identical if the same pointing accuracy is planned. All conclusions can provide a theoretical foundation for practical works.

Status of the Planet Formation Imager (PFI) concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ireland, Michael J.; Monnier, John D.; Kraus, Stefan; Isella, Andrea; Minardi, Stefano; Petrov, Romain; ten Brummelaar, Theo; Young, John; Vasisht, Gautam; Mozurkewich, David; Rinehart, Stephen; Michael, Ernest A.; van Belle, Gerard; Woillez, Julien

2016-08-01

The Planet Formation Imager (PFI) project aims to image the period of planet assembly directly, resolving structures as small as a giant planet's Hill sphere. These images will be required in order to determine the key mechanisms for planet formation at the time when processes of grain growth, protoplanet assembly, magnetic fields, disk/planet dynamical interactions and complex radiative transfer all interact - making some planetary systems habitable and others inhospitable. We will present the overall vision for the PFI concept, focusing on the key technologies and requirements that are needed to achieve the science goals. Based on these key requirements, we will define a cost envelope range for the design and highlight where the largest uncertainties lie at this conceptual stage.

Cyclodextrin-based supramolecular systems for drug delivery: Recent progress and future perspective

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jianxiang; Ma, Peter X

2013-01-01

The excellent biocompatibility and unique inclusion capability as well as powerful functionalization capacity of cyclodextrins and their derivatives make them especially attractive for engineering novel functional materials for biomedical applications. There has been increasing interest recently to fabricate supramolecular systems for drug and gene delivery based on cyclodextrin materials. This review focuses on state of the art and recent advances in the construction of cyclodextrin-based assemblies and their applications for controlled drug delivery. First, we introduce cyclodextrin materials utilized for self-assembly. The fabrication technologies of supramolecular systems including nanoplatforms and hydrogels as well as their applications in nanomedicine and pharmaceutical sciences are then highlighted. At the end, the future directions of this field are discussed. PMID:23673149

Stochastic dynamics of virus capsid formation: direct versus hierarchical self-assembly

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background In order to replicate within their cellular host, many viruses have developed self-assembly strategies for their capsids which are sufficiently robust as to be reconstituted in vitro. Mathematical models for virus self-assembly usually assume that the bonds leading to cluster formation have constant reactivity over the time course of assembly (direct assembly). In some cases, however, binding sites between the capsomers have been reported to be activated during the self-assembly process (hierarchical assembly). Results In order to study possible advantages of such hierarchical schemes for icosahedral virus capsid assembly, we use Brownian dynamics simulations of a patchy particle model that allows us to switch binding sites on and off during assembly. For T1 viruses, we implement a hierarchical assembly scheme where inter-capsomer bonds become active only if a complete pentamer has been assembled. We find direct assembly to be favorable for reversible bonds allowing for repeated structural reorganizations, while hierarchical assembly is favorable for strong bonds with small dissociation rate, as this situation is less prone to kinetic trapping. However, at the same time it is more vulnerable to monomer starvation during the final phase. Increasing the number of initial monomers does have only a weak effect on these general features. The differences between the two assembly schemes become more pronounced for more complex virus geometries, as shown here for T3 viruses, which assemble through homogeneous pentamers and heterogeneous hexamers in the hierarchical scheme. In order to complement the simulations for this more complicated case, we introduce a master equation approach that agrees well with the simulation results. Conclusions Our analysis shows for which molecular parameters hierarchical assembly schemes can outperform direct ones and suggests that viruses with high bond stability might prefer hierarchical assembly schemes. These insights increase our physical understanding of an essential biological process, with many interesting potential applications in medicine and materials science. PMID:23244740

Simple alignment procedure for a VNIR imaging spectrometer with a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor and a field identifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jun Ho; Hwang, Sunglyoung; Jeong, Dohwan; Hong, Jinsuk; Kim, Youngsoo; Kim, Yeonsoo; Kim, Hyunsook

2017-09-01

We report an innovative simple alignment method for a VNIR spectrometer in the wavelength region of 400-900 nm; this device is later combined with fore-optics (a telescope) to form a f/2.5 hyperspectral imaging spectrometer with a field of view of +/-7.68°. The detector at the final image plane is a 640×480 charge-coupled device with a 24 μm pixel size. We first assembled the fore-optics and the spectrometer separately and then combined them via a slit co-located on the image plane of the fore-optics and the object plane of the spectrometer. The spectrometer was assembled in three steps. In the initial step, the optics was simply assembled with an optical axis guiding He-Ne laser. In the second step, we located a pin-hole on the slit plane and a Shack-Hartmann sensor on the detector plane. The wavefront errors over the full field were scanned simply by moving the point source along the slit direction while the Shack-Hartmann sensor was constantly conjugated to the pin-hole position by a motorized stage. Optimal alignment was then performed based on the reverse sensitivity method. In the final stage, the pin-hole and the Shack-Hartmann sensor were exchanged with an equispaced 10 pin-hole slit called a field identifier and a detector. The light source was also changed from the laser (single wavelength source) to a krypton lamp (discrete multi-wavelength source). We were then easily able to calculate the distortion and keystone on the detector plane without any scanning or moving optical components; rather, we merely calculated the spectral centroids of the 10 pin-holes on the detector. We then tuned the clocking angles of the convex grating and the detector to minimize the distortion and keystone. The final assembly was tested and found to have an RMS WFE < 90 nm over the entire field of view, a keystone of 0.08 pixels, a smile of 1.13 pixels and a spectral resolution of 4.32 nm.

Incremental assembly and prolonged consolidation of Cordilleran magma chambers--Evidence from the Southern Rocky Mountain volcanic field

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lipman, Peter W.

2007-01-01

Plutons thus provide an integrated record of prolonged magmatic evolution, while volcanism offers snapshots of conditions at early stages. Growth of subvolcanic batholiths involved sustained multistage open-system processes. These commonly involved ignimbrite eruptions at times of peak power input, but assembly and consolidation processes continued at diminishing rates long after peak volcanism. Some evidence cited for early incremental pluton assembly more likely records late events during or after volcanism. Contrasts between relatively primitive arc systems dominated by andesitic compositions and small upper-crustal plutons versus more silicic volcanic fields and associated batholiths probably reflect intertwined contrasts in crustal thickness and magmatic power input. Lower power input would lead to a Cascade- or Aleutian-type arc system, where intermediate-composition magma erupts directly from middle- and lower-crustal storage without development of large shallow plutons. Andean and southern Rocky Mountain–type systems begin similarly with intermediate-composition volcanism, but increasing magma production, perhaps triggered by abrupt changes in plate boundaries, leads to development of larger upper-crustal reservoirs, more silicic compositions, large ignimbrites, and batholiths. Lack of geophysical evidence for voluminous eruptible magma beneath young calderas suggests that near-solidus plutons can be rejuvenated rapidly by high-temperature mafic recharge, potentially causing large explosive eruptions with only brief precursors.

Conformation-Directed Formation of Self-Healing Diblock Copolypeptide Hydrogels via Polyion Complexation.

PubMed

Sun, Yintao; Wollenberg, Alexander L; O'Shea, Timothy Mark; Cui, Yanxiang; Zhou, Z Hong; Sofroniew, Michael V; Deming, Timothy J

2017-10-25

Synthetic diblock copolypeptides were designed to incorporate oppositely charged ionic segments that form β-sheet-structured hydrogel assemblies via polyion complexation when mixed in aqueous media. The observed chain conformation directed assembly was found to be required for efficient hydrogel formation and provided distinct and useful properties to these hydrogels, including self-healing after deformation, microporous architecture, and stability against dilution in aqueous media. While many promising self-assembled materials have been prepared using disordered or liquid coacervate polyion complex (PIC) assemblies, the use of ordered chain conformations in PIC assemblies to direct formation of new supramolecular morphologies is unprecedented. The promising attributes and unique features of the β-sheet-structured PIC hydrogels described here highlight the potential of harnessing conformational order derived from PIC assembly to create new supramolecular materials.

Metagenomic assembly through the lens of validation: recent advances in assessing and improving the quality of genomes assembled from metagenomes.

PubMed

Olson, Nathan D; Treangen, Todd J; Hill, Christopher M; Cepeda-Espinoza, Victoria; Ghurye, Jay; Koren, Sergey; Pop, Mihai

2017-08-07

Metagenomic samples are snapshots of complex ecosystems at work. They comprise hundreds of known and unknown species, contain multiple strain variants and vary greatly within and across environments. Many microbes found in microbial communities are not easily grown in culture making their DNA sequence our only clue into their evolutionary history and biological function. Metagenomic assembly is a computational process aimed at reconstructing genes and genomes from metagenomic mixtures. Current methods have made significant strides in reconstructing DNA segments comprising operons, tandem gene arrays and syntenic blocks. Shorter, higher-throughput sequencing technologies have become the de facto standard in the field. Sequencers are now able to generate billions of short reads in only a few days. Multiple metagenomic assembly strategies, pipelines and assemblers have appeared in recent years. Owing to the inherent complexity of metagenome assembly, regardless of the assembly algorithm and sequencing method, metagenome assemblies contain errors. Recent developments in assembly validation tools have played a pivotal role in improving metagenomics assemblers. Here, we survey recent progress in the field of metagenomic assembly, provide an overview of key approaches for genomic and metagenomic assembly validation and demonstrate the insights that can be derived from assemblies through the use of assembly validation strategies. We also discuss the potential for impact of long-read technologies in metagenomics. We conclude with a discussion of future challenges and opportunities in the field of metagenomic assembly and validation. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

A Field Portable Hyperspectral Goniometer for Coastal Characterization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bachmann, Charles M.; Gray, Deric; Abelev, Andrei; Philpot, William; Fusina, Robert A.; Musser, Joseph A.; Vermillion, Michael; Doctor, Katarina; White, Maurice; Georgiev, Georgi

2012-01-01

During an airborne multi-sensor remote sensing experiment at the Virginia Coast Reserve (VCR) Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in June 2011 (VCR '11), first measurements were taken with the new NRL Goniometer for Outdoor Portable Hyperspectral Earth Reflectance (GOPHER). GOPHER measures the angular distribution of hyperspectral reflectance. GOPHER was constructed for NRL by Spectra Vista Corporation (SVC) and the University of Lethbridge through a capital equipment purchase in 2010. The GOPHER spectrometer is an SVC HR -1024, which measures hyperspectral reflectance over the range from 350 -2500 nm, the visible, near infrared, and short-wave infrared. During measurements, the spectrometer travels along a zenith quarter -arc track that can rotate in azimuth, allowing for measurement of the bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) over the whole hemisphere. The zenith arc has a radius of approximately 2m, and the spectrometer scan pattern can be programmed on the fly during calibration and validation efforts. The spectrometer and zenith arc assembly can be raised and lowered along a mast to allow for measurement of uneven terrain or vegetation canopies of moderate height. Hydraulics on the chassis allow for leveling of the instrument in the field. At just over 400 lbs, GOPHER is a field portable instrument and can be transformed into a compact trailer assembly for movement over long distances in the field.

Novel DNA materials and their applications.

PubMed

Yang, Dayong; Campolongo, Michael J; Nhi Tran, Thua Nguyen; Ruiz, Roanna C H; Kahn, Jason S; Luo, Dan

2010-01-01

The last two decades have witnessed the exponential development of DNA as a generic material instead of just a genetic material. The biological function, nanoscale geometry, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and molecular recognition capacity of DNA make it a promising candidate for the construction of novel functional nanomaterials. As a result, DNA has been recognized as one of the most appealing and versatile nanomaterial building blocks. Scientists have used DNA in this way to construct various amazing nanostructures, such as ordered lattices, origami, supramolecular assemblies, and even three-dimensional objects. In addition, DNA has been utilized as a guide and template to direct the assembly of other nanomaterials including nanowires, free-standing membranes, and crystals. Furthermore, DNA can also be used as structural components to construct bulk materials such as DNA hydrogels, demonstrating its ability to behave as a unique polymer. Overall, these novel DNA materials have found applications in various areas in the biomedical field in general, and nanomedicine in particular. In this review, we summarize the development of DNA assemblies, describe the innovative progress of multifunctional and bulk DNA materials, and highlight some real-world nanomedical applications of these DNA materials. We also show our insights throughout this article for the future direction of DNA materials. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meinke, Rainer

A method for manufacture of a conductor assembly. The assembly is of the type which, when conducting current, generates a magnetic field or in which, in the presence of a changing magnetic field, a voltage is induced. In an example embodiment one or more first coil rows are formed. The assembly has multiple coil rows about an axis with outer coil rows formed about inner coil rows. A determination is made of deviations from specifications associated with the formed one or more first coil rows. One or more deviations correspond to a magnitude of a multipole field component which departsmore » from a field specification. Based on the deviations, one or more wiring patterns are generated for one or more second coil rows to be formed about the one or more first coil rows. The one or more second coil rows are formed in the assembly. The magnitude of each multipole field component that departs from the field specification is offset.« less

Controlling Self-Assembly in Al(110) Homoepitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiwary, Yogesh; Fichthorn, Kristen

2010-03-01

Homoepitaxial growth on Al(110) exhibits nanoscale self-assembly into huts with well-defined (100) and (111) facets [1]. Although some of the diffusion mechanisms underlying this kinetic self-assembly were identified and incorporated into a two-dimensional model [2], we used density-functional theory (DFT) to identify many other mechanisms that are needed to describe the three-dimensional assembly seen experimentally [3]. We developed a three-dimensional kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) model of Al(110) homoepitaxy. The inputs to the model were obtained from DFT [3,4]. Our model is in agreement with experimentally observed trends for this system. We used KMC to predict self-assembly under various growth conditions. To achieve precise placement of Al nanohuts, we simulated thermal-field-directed assembly [5]. Our results indicate that this technique can be used to create uniform arrays of nanostructures. [1] F. Buatier de Mongeot, W. Zhu, A. Molle, R. Buzio, C. Boragno, U. Valbusa, E. Wang, and Z. Zhang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 016102 (2003). [2] W. Zhu, F. Buatier de Mongeot, U. Valbusa, E. G. Wang, and Z. Y. Zhang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 106102 (2004). [3] Y. Tiwary and K. A. Fichthorn, submitted to Phys. Rev. B. [4] Y. Tiwary and K. A. Fichthorn, Phys. Rev. B 78, 205418 (2008). [5] C. Zhang and R. Kalyanaraman, Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 4827 (2003).

Innovation in Layer-by-Layer Assembly.

PubMed

Richardson, Joseph J; Cui, Jiwei; Björnmalm, Mattias; Braunger, Julia A; Ejima, Hirotaka; Caruso, Frank

2016-12-14

Methods for depositing thin films are important in generating functional materials for diverse applications in a wide variety of fields. Over the last half-century, the layer-by-layer assembly of nanoscale films has received intense and growing interest. This has been fueled by innovation in the available materials and assembly technologies, as well as the film-characterization techniques. In this Review, we explore, discuss, and detail innovation in layer-by-layer assembly in terms of past and present developments, and we highlight how these might guide future advances. A particular focus is on conventional and early developments that have only recently regained interest in the layer-by-layer assembly field. We then review unconventional assemblies and approaches that have been gaining popularity, which include inorganic/organic hybrid materials, cells and tissues, and the use of stereocomplexation, patterning, and dip-pen lithography, to name a few. A relatively recent development is the use of layer-by-layer assembly materials and techniques to assemble films in a single continuous step. We name this "quasi"-layer-by-layer assembly and discuss the impacts and innovations surrounding this approach. Finally, the application of characterization methods to monitor and evaluate layer-by-layer assembly is discussed, as innovation in this area is often overlooked but is essential for development of the field. While we intend for this Review to be easily accessible and act as a guide to researchers new to layer-by-layer assembly, we also believe it will provide insight to current researchers in the field and help guide future developments and innovation.

Three Dimensional Assembly in Directed Self-assembly of Block Copolymers

DOE PAGES

Segal-Peretz, Tamar; Zhou, Chun; Ren, Jiaxing; ...

2016-09-02

The three-dimensional assembly of poly (styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) in chemoepitaxy and graphoepitaxy directed self-assembly (DSA) was investigated using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) tomography. The tomographic characterization revealed hidden morphologies and defects at the BCP- chemical pattern interface in lamellar DSA, and probed the formation of cylinders at the bottom of cylindrical DSA for contact hole shrink. Lastly, future work will include control over 3D assembly in sub-10 nm processes.

76 FR 27281 - Airworthiness Directives; Dowty Propellers Type R212/4-30-4/22 and R251/4-30-4/49 Propeller...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-11

... Airworthiness Directives; Dowty Propellers Type R212/4-30-4/22 and R251/4-30-4/49 Propeller Assemblies AGENCY.../22 propeller assemblies with hub and driving center assembly part number (P/N) 601022105, 601022211, 601022294, 601021426, 601021858, or 601021859 installed, and type R251/4-30-4/49 propeller assemblies with...

Self-assembly of robotic micro- and nanoswimmers using magnetic nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheang, U. Kei; Kim, Min Jun

2015-03-01

Micro- and nanoscale robotic swimmers are very promising to significantly enhance the performance of particulate drug delivery by providing high accuracy at extremely small scales. Here, we introduce micro- and nanoswimmers fabricated using self-assembly of nanoparticles and control via magnetic fields. Nanoparticles self-align into parallel chains under magnetization. The swimmers exhibit flexibility under a rotating magnetic field resulting in chiral structures upon deformation, thereby having the prerequisite for non-reciprocal motion to move about at low Reynolds number. The swimmers are actuated wirelessly using an external rotating magnetic field supplied by approximate Helmholtz coils. By controlling the concentration of the suspended magnetic nanoparticles, the swimmers can be modulated into different sizes. Nanoscale swimmers are largely influenced by Brownian motion, as observed from their jerky trajectories. The microswimmers, which are roughly three times larger, are less vulnerable to the effects from Brownian motion. In this paper, we demonstrate responsive directional control of micro- and nanoswimmers and compare their respective diffusivities and trajectories to characterize the implications of Brownian disturbance on the motions of small and large swimmers. We then performed a simulation using a kinematic model for the magnetic swimmers including the stochastic nature of Brownian motion.

Rotationally Vibrating Electric-Field Mill

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kirkham, Harold

2008-01-01

A proposed instrument for measuring a static electric field would be based partly on a conventional rotating-split-cylinder or rotating-split-sphere electric-field mill. However, the design of the proposed instrument would overcome the difficulty, encountered in conventional rotational field mills, of transferring measurement signals and power via either electrical or fiber-optic rotary couplings that must be aligned and installed in conjunction with rotary bearings. Instead of being made to rotate in one direction at a steady speed as in a conventional rotational field mill, a split-cylinder or split-sphere electrode assembly in the proposed instrument would be set into rotational vibration like that of a metronome. The rotational vibration, synchronized with appropriate rapid electronic switching of electrical connections between electric-current-measuring circuitry and the split-cylinder or split-sphere electrodes, would result in an electrical measurement effect equivalent to that of a conventional rotational field mill. A version of the proposed instrument is described.

Non-equilibrium supramolecular polymerization.

PubMed

Sorrenti, Alessandro; Leira-Iglesias, Jorge; Markvoort, Albert J; de Greef, Tom F A; Hermans, Thomas M

2017-09-18

Supramolecular polymerization has been traditionally focused on the thermodynamic equilibrium state, where one-dimensional assemblies reside at the global minimum of the Gibbs free energy. The pathway and rate to reach the equilibrium state are irrelevant, and the resulting assemblies remain unchanged over time. In the past decade, the focus has shifted to kinetically trapped (non-dissipative non-equilibrium) structures that heavily depend on the method of preparation (i.e., pathway complexity), and where the assembly rates are of key importance. Kinetic models have greatly improved our understanding of competing pathways, and shown how to steer supramolecular polymerization in the desired direction (i.e., pathway selection). The most recent innovation in the field relies on energy or mass input that is dissipated to keep the system away from the thermodynamic equilibrium (or from other non-dissipative states). This tutorial review aims to provide the reader with a set of tools to identify different types of self-assembled states that have been explored so far. In particular, we aim to clarify the often unclear use of the term "non-equilibrium self-assembly" by subdividing systems into dissipative, and non-dissipative non-equilibrium states. Examples are given for each of the states, with a focus on non-dissipative non-equilibrium states found in one-dimensional supramolecular polymerization.

The combination of direct and paired link graphs can boost repetitive genome assembly

PubMed Central

Shi, Wenyu; Ji, Peifeng

2017-01-01

Abstract Currently, most paired link based scaffolding algorithms intrinsically mask the sequences between two linked contigs and bypass their direct link information embedded in the original de Bruijn assembly graph. Such disadvantage substantially complicates the scaffolding process and leads to the inability of resolving repetitive contig assembly. Here we present a novel algorithm, inGAP-sf, for effectively generating high-quality and continuous scaffolds. inGAP-sf achieves this by using a new strategy based on the combination of direct link and paired link graphs, in which direct link is used to increase graph connectivity and to decrease graph complexity and paired link is employed to supervise the traversing process on the direct link graph. Such advantage greatly facilitates the assembly of short-repeat enriched regions. Moreover, a new comprehensive decision model is developed to eliminate the noise routes accompanying with the introduced direct link. Through extensive evaluations on both simulated and real datasets, we demonstrated that inGAP-sf outperforms most of the genome scaffolding algorithms by generating more accurate and continuous assembly, especially for short repetitive regions. PMID:27924003

Effective Light Directed Assembly of Building Blocks with Microscale Control.

PubMed

Dinh, Ngoc-Duy; Luo, Rongcong; Christine, Maria Tankeh Asuncion; Lin, Weikang Nicholas; Shih, Wei-Chuan; Goh, James Cho-Hong; Chen, Chia-Hung

2017-06-01

Light-directed forces have been widely used to pattern micro/nanoscale objects with precise control, forming functional assemblies. However, a substantial laser intensity is required to generate sufficient optical gradient forces to move a small object in a certain direction, causing limited throughput for applications. A high-throughput light-directed assembly is demonstrated as a printing technology by introducing gold nanorods to induce thermal convection flows that move microparticles (diameter = 40 µm to several hundreds of micrometers) to specific light-guided locations, forming desired patterns. With the advantage of effective light-directed assembly, the microfluidic-fabricated monodispersed biocompatible microparticles are used as building blocks to construct a structured assembly (≈10 cm scale) in ≈2 min. The control with microscale precision is approached by changing the size of the laser light spot. After crosslinking assembly of building blocks, a novel soft material with wanted pattern is approached. To demonstrate its application, the mesenchymal stem-cell-seeded hydrogel microparticles are prepared as functional building blocks to construct scaffold-free tissues with desired structures. This light-directed fabrication method can be applied to integrate different building units, enabling the bottom-up formation of materials with precise control over their internal structure for bioprinting, tissue engineering, and advanced manufacturing. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Enabling complex nanoscale pattern customization using directed self-assembly.

PubMed

Doerk, Gregory S; Cheng, Joy Y; Singh, Gurpreet; Rettner, Charles T; Pitera, Jed W; Balakrishnan, Srinivasan; Arellano, Noel; Sanders, Daniel P

2014-12-16

Block copolymer directed self-assembly is an attractive method to fabricate highly uniform nanoscale features for various technological applications, but the dense periodicity of block copolymer features limits the complexity of the resulting patterns and their potential utility. Therefore, customizability of nanoscale patterns has been a long-standing goal for using directed self-assembly in device fabrication. Here we show that a hybrid organic/inorganic chemical pattern serves as a guiding pattern for self-assembly as well as a self-aligned mask for pattern customization through cotransfer of aligned block copolymer features and an inorganic prepattern. As informed by a phenomenological model, deliberate process engineering is implemented to maintain global alignment of block copolymer features over arbitrarily shaped, 'masking' features incorporated into the chemical patterns. These hybrid chemical patterns with embedded customization information enable deterministic, complex two-dimensional nanoscale pattern customization through directed self-assembly.

Direct Observation of Optical Field Phase Carving in the Vicinity of Plasmonic Metasurfaces.

PubMed

Dagens, B; Février, M; Gogol, P; Blaize, S; Apuzzo, A; Magno, G; Mégy, R; Lerondel, G

2016-07-13

Plasmonic surfaces are mainly used for their optical intensity concentration properties that allow for enhancement of physical interaction like in nonlinear optics, optical sensors, or tweezers. Phase response in plasmonic resonances can also play a major role, especially in a periodic assembly of plasmonic resonators like metasurfaces. Here we show that localized surface plasmons collectively excited by a guided mode in a metallic nanostructure periodic chain present nonmonotonous phase variation along the 1D metasurface, resulting from both selective Bloch mode coupling and dipolar coupling. As shown by near-field measurements, the phase profile of the highly concentrated optical field is carved out in the vicinity of the metallic metasurface, paving the way to unusual local optical functions.

Review: bioprinting: a beginning.

PubMed

Mironov, Vladimir; Reis, Nuno; Derby, Brian

2006-04-01

An increasing demand for directed assembly of biologically relevant materials, with prescribed three-dimensional hierarchical organizations, is stimulating technology developments with the ultimate goal of re-creating multicellular tissues and organs de novo. Existing techniques, mostly adapted from other applications or fields of research, are capable of independently meeting partial requirements for engineering biological or biomimetic structures, but their integration toward organ engineering is proving difficult. Inspired by recent developments in material transfer processes operating at all relevant length scales--from nano to macro--which are amenable to biological elements, a new research field of bioprinting and biopatterning has emerged. Here we present a short review regarding the framework, state of the art, and perspectives of this new field, based on the findings presented at a recent international workshop.

Nanocrystal assembly for bottom-up plasmonic materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tao, Andrea Rae

2007-12-01

Plasmonic materials are emerging as key platforms for applications that rely on the manipulation of light at small length scales. Materials that possess sub-wavelength metallic features support either localized or propagating surface plasmons that can induce huge local electromagnetic fields at the metal surface, facilitating a host of extraordinary optical phenomena. For many of the breakthrough photonic, spectroscopic, and optoelectronic applications of plasmonics, the bottom-up fabrication of these materials from low-dimensional structures has yet to be explored. Because colloidal metal nanostructures can be readily synthesized with controlled shapes and sizes, and because these structures also generate plasmon-mediated evanescent fields near their surfaces when irradiated with light, Ag nanocrystals and nanowires are ideal building blocks for rationally designed plasmonic materials. This dissertation addresses three major challenges: (1) the synthesis of Ag polyhedral nanocrystals and nanowires, (2) the bottom-up organization of these nanostructures into one-, two-, and three-dimensional assemblies, and (3) the application of these assemblies as spectroscopic sensing platforms. Faceted Ag colloids were synthesized in high yield and with remarkable monodispersity using the polyol process, where Ag+ is reduced in the presence of a polymer capping agent that serves to regulate nucleation and crystallographic growth direction. The resulting nanocrystals and nanowires are bound exclusively by {100} and {111} crystal planes, where nanowires possess pentagonal cross-sections and nanocrystals possess octahedral symmetry. Because allowed plasmon modes are explicitly dictated by geometric considerations, each shape exhibits a unique scattering spectrum in the optical wavelengths. These shaped colloidal building blocks were assembled into ordered groupings and superlattices to achieve controlled electromagnetic coupling between individual nanostructures. Of particular note is the use of Langmuir-Blodgett assembly for the construction of two-dimensional nanocrystal superlattices with continuously variable interparticle spacing and density. For the first time, we demonstrate the complete bottom-up fabrication of a macroscopic material with a tunable plasmonic response in the visible wavelengths. Lastly, we show that these nanoscale materials behave as exceptional substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Assemblies of Ag nanowires and nanocrystals facilitate intense electromagnetic field enhancement due to charge localization near the sharp corners, edges, and junctions of the nanocrystals. We not only demonstrate that these assemblies can achieve high chemical sensitivity and specificity, but exhibit their utility as portable field sensors for toxins and explosives. For the first time, we demonstrate that SERS can be employed for the facile detection of low-level arsenic concentrations in ground water. In addition, we show the feasibility of integrating these Ag nanocrystals into microfluidic, multiplexed "lab-on-a-chip" devices, where SERS can be used for the in situ sensing of low-volume analytes.

Self-assembled tunable networks of sticky colloidal particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Demortiere, Arnaud; Snezhko, Oleksiy Alexey; Sapozhnikov, Maksim

Self-assembled tunable networks of microscopic polymer fibers ranging from wavy colloidal "fur" to highly interconnected networks are created from polymer systems and an applied electric field. The networks emerge via dynamic self-assembly in an alternating (ac) electric field from a non-aqueous suspension of "sticky" polymeric colloidal particles with a controlled degree of polymerization. The resulting architectures are tuned by the frequency and amplitude of the electric field and surface properties of the particles.

Driving self-assembly and emergent dynamics in colloidal suspensions by time-dependent magnetic fields

DOE PAGES

Martin, James E.; Snezhko, Alexey

2013-11-05

In this review we discuss recent research on driving self assembly of magnetic particle suspensions subjected to alternating magnetic fields. The variety of structures and effects that can be induced in such systems is remarkably broad due to the large number of variables involved. The alternating field can be uniaxial, biaxial or triaxial, the particles can be spherical or anisometric, and the suspension can be dispersed throughout a volume or confined to a soft interface. In the simplest case the field drives the static or quasi-static assembly of unusual particle structures, such as sheets, networks and open-cell foams. More complex,more » emergent collective behaviors evolve in systems that can follow the time-dependent field vector. In these cases energy is continuously injected into the system and striking °ow patterns and structures can arise. In fluid volumes these include the formation of advection and vortex lattices. At air-liquid and liquid-liquid interfaces striking dynamic particle assemblies emerge due to the particle-mediated coupling of the applied field to surface excitations. These out-of-equilibrium interface assemblies exhibit a number of remarkable phenomena, including self-propulsion and surface mixing. In addition to discussing various methods of driven self assembly in magnetic suspensions, some of the remarkable properties of these novel materials are described.« less

Field-induced assembly of colloidal ellipsoids into well-defined microtubules

PubMed Central

Crassous, Jérôme J.; Mihut, Adriana M.; Wernersson, Erik; Pfleiderer, Patrick; Vermant, Jan; Linse, Per; Schurtenberger, Peter

2014-01-01

Current theoretical attempts to understand the reversible formation of stable microtubules and virus shells are generally based on shape-specific building blocks or monomers, where the local curvature of the resulting structure is explicitly built-in via the monomer geometry. Here we demonstrate that even simple ellipsoidal colloids can reversibly self-assemble into regular tubular structures when subjected to an alternating electric field. Supported by model calculations, we discuss the combined effects of anisotropic shape and field-induced dipolar interactions on the reversible formation of self-assembled structures. Our observations show that the formation of tubular structures through self-assembly requires much less geometrical and interaction specificity than previously thought, and advance our current understanding of the minimal requirements for self-assembly into regular virus-like structures. PMID:25409686

Fracture modes under uniaxial compression in hydroxyapatite scaffolds fabricated by robocasting.

PubMed

Miranda, Pedro; Pajares, Antonia; Saiz, Eduardo; Tomsia, Antoni P; Guiberteau, Fernando

2007-12-01

The fracture modes of hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds fabricated by direct-write assembly (robocasting) are analyzed in this work. Concentrated HA inks with suitable viscoelastic properties were developed to enable the fabrication of prototype structures consisting of a 3-D square mesh of interpenetrating rods. The fracture behavior of these model scaffolds under compressive stresses is determined from in situ uniaxial tests performed in two different directions: perpendicular to the rods and along one of the rod directions. The results are analyzed in terms of the stress field calculated by finite element modeling (FEM). This analysis provides valuable insight into the mechanical behavior of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications fabricated by robocasting. Copyright 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Backward assembly planning with DFA analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Sukhan (Inventor)

1995-01-01

An assembly planning system that operates based on a recursive decomposition of assembly into subassemblies, and analyzes assembly cost in terms of stability, directionality, and manipulability to guide the generation of preferred assembly plans is presented. The planning in this system incorporates the special processes, such as cleaning, testing, labeling, etc. that must occur during the assembly, and handles nonreversible as well as reversible assembly tasks through backward assembly planning. In order to increase the planning efficiency, the system avoids the analysis of decompositions that do not correspond to feasible assembly tasks. This is achieved by grouping and merging those parts that can not be decomposable at the current stage of backward assembly planning due to the requirement of special processes and the constraint of interconnection feasibility. The invention includes methods of evaluating assembly cost in terms of the number of fixtures (or holding devices) and reorientations required for assembly, through the analysis of stability, directionality, and manipulability. All these factors are used in defining cost and heuristic functions for an AO* search for an optimal plan.

Actively controlled vibration welding system and method

DOEpatents

Cai, Wayne W.; Kang, Bongsu; Tan, Chin-An

2013-04-02

A vibration welding system includes a controller, welding horn, an active material element, and anvil assembly. The assembly may include an anvil body connected to a back plate and support member. The element, e.g., a piezoelectric stack or shape memory alloy, is positioned with respect to the assembly. The horn vibrates in a desirable first direction to form a weld on a work piece. The element controls any vibrations in a second direction by applying calibrated response to the anvil body in the second direction. A method for controlling undesirable vibrations in the system includes positioning the element with respect to the anvil assembly, connecting the anvil body to the support member through the back plate, vibrating the horn in a desirable first direction, and transmitting an input signal to the element to control vibration in an undesirable second direction.

Molecular modeling of directed self-assembly of block copolymers: Fundamental studies of processing conditions and evolutionary pattern design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khaira, Gurdaman Singh

Rapid progress in the semi-conductor industry has pushed for smaller feature sizes on integrated electronic circuits. Current photo-lithographic techniques for nanofabrication have reached their technical limit and are problematic when printing features small enough to meet future industrial requirements. "Bottom-up'' techniques, such as the directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCP), are the primary contenders to compliment current "top-down'' photo-lithography ones. For industrial requirements, the defect density from DSA needs to be less than 1 defect per 10 cm by 10 cm. Knowledge of both material synthesis and the thermodynamics of the self-assembly process are required before optimal operating conditions can be found to produce results adequate for industry. The work present in this thesis is divided into three chapters, each discussing various aspects of DSA as studied via a molecular model that contains the essential physics of BCP self-assembly. Though there are various types of guiding fields that can be used to direct BCPs over large wafer areas with minimum defects, this study focuses only on chemically patterned substrates. The first chapter addresses optimal pattern design by describing a framework where molecular simulations of various complexities are coupled with an advanced optimization technique to find a pattern that directs a target morphology. It demonstrates the first ever study where BCP self-assembly on a patterned substrate is optimized using a three-dimensional description of the block-copolymers. For problems pertaining to DSA, the methodology is shown to converge much faster than the traditional random search approach. The second chapter discusses the metrology of BCP thin films using TEM tomography and X-ray scattering techniques, such as CDSAXS and GISAXS. X-ray scattering has the advantage of being able to quickly probe the average structure of BCP morphologies over large wafer areas; however, deducing the BCP morphology from the information in inverse space is a challenging task. Using the optimization techniques and molecular simulations discussed in the first chapter, a methodology to reconstruct BCP morphology from X-ray scattering data is described. It is shown that only a handful of simulation parameters that come directly from experiment are able to describe the morphologies observed from real X-ray scattering experiments. The last chapter focuses on the use of solvents to assist the self-assembly of BCPs. Additional functionality to capture the process of solvent annealing is also discussed. The bulk behavior of solvated mixtures of BCPs with solvents of various affinities is described, and the results are consistent with the experimentally observed behavior of BCPs in the presence of solvents.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ahn, Wonmi; Zhao, Xin; Hong, Yan

Here, optoplasmonic structures contain plasmonic components embedded in a defined photonic environment to create synergistic interactions between photonic and plasmonic components. Here, we show that chains of optical microspheres containing gold nanoparticles in their evanescent field combine the light guiding properties of a microsphere chain with the light localizing properties of a plasmonic nanoantenna. We implement these materials through template guided self-assembly and investigate their fundamental electromagnetic working principles through combination of electromagnetic simulations and experimental characterization. We demonstrate that optoplasmonic chains implemented by directed self-assembly achieve a significant reduction in guiding losses when compared with conventional plasmonic waveguides and,more » at the same time, retain the light localizing properties of plasmonic antennas at pre-defined locations. The results reinforce the potential of optoplasmonic structures for realizing low-loss optical interconnects with high bandwidth.« less

Laser beam soldering of micro-optical components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eberhardt, R.

2003-05-01

MOTIVATION Ongoing miniaturisation and higher requirements within optical assemblies and the processing of temperature sensitive components demands for innovative selective joining techniques. So far adhesive bonding has primarily been used to assemble and adjust hybrid micro optical systems. However, the properties of the organic polymers used for the adhesives limit the application of these systems. In fields of telecommunication and lithography, an enhancement of existing joining techniques is necessary to improve properties like humidity resistance, laserstability, UV-stability, thermal cycle reliability and life time reliability. Against this background laser beam soldering of optical components is a reasonable joining technology alternative. Properties like: - time and area restricted energy input - energy input can be controlled by the process temperature - direct and indirect heating of the components is possible - no mechanical contact between joining tool and components give good conditions to meet the requirements on a joining technology for sensitive optical components. Additionally to the laser soldering head, for the assembly of optical components it is necessary to include positioning units to adjust the position of the components with high accuracy before joining. Furthermore, suitable measurement methods to characterize the soldered assemblies (for instance in terms of position tolerances) need to be developed.

Molecular simulations of self-assembly processes of amphiphiles in dilute solutions: the challenge for quantitative modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jusufi, Arben

2013-11-01

We report on two recent developments in molecular simulations of self-assembly processes of amphiphilic solutions. We focus on the determination of micelle formation of ionic surfactants which exhibit the archetype of self-assembling compounds in solution. The first approach is centred on the challenge in predicting micellisation properties through explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations. Even with a coarse-grained (CG) approach and the use of highly optimised software packages run on graphics processing unit hardware, it remains in many cases computationally infeasible to directly extract the critical micelle concentration (cmc). However, combined with a recently presented theoretical mean-field model this task becomes resolved. An alternative approach to study self-assembly is through implicit solvent modelling of the surfactants. Here we review some latest results and present new ones regarding capabilities of such a modelling approach in determining the cmc, and the aggregate structures in the dilute regime, that is currently not accessible through explicit solvent simulations, neither through atomistic nor through CG approaches. A special focus is put on surfactant concentration effects and surfactant correlations quantified by scattering intensities that are compared to recently published small-angle X-ray scattering data.

76 FR 41669 - Airworthiness Directives; B/E Aerospace, Continuous Flow Passenger Oxygen Mask Assembly, Part...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-15

... Airworthiness Directives; B/E Aerospace, Continuous Flow Passenger Oxygen Mask Assembly, Part Numbers 174006... to prevent the in-line flow indicators of the oxygen mask assembly from fracturing and separating, which could inhibit oxygen flow to the masks. This condition could consequently result in occupants...

Supramolecular organic frameworks: engineering periodicity in water through host-guest chemistry.

PubMed

Tian, Jia; Chen, Lan; Zhang, Dan-Wei; Liu, Yi; Li, Zhan-Ting

2016-05-11

The development of homogeneous, water-soluble periodic self-assembled structures comprise repeating units that produce porosity in two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) spaces has become a topic of growing interest in the field of supramolecular chemistry. Such novel self-assembled entities, known as supramolecular organic frameworks (SOFs), are the result of programmed host-guest interactions, which allows for the thermodynamically controlled generation of monolayer sheets or a diamondoid architecture with regular internal cavities or pores under mild conditions. This feature article aims at propagating the conceptually novel SOFs as a new entry into conventional supramolecular polymers. In the first section, we will describe the background of porous solid frameworks and supramolecular polymers. We then introduce the self-assembling behaviour of several multitopic flexible molecules, which is closely related to the design of periodic SOFs from rigid multitopic building blocks. This is followed by a brief discussion of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8])-encapsulation-enhanced aromatic stacking in water. The three-component host-guest pattern based on this stacking motif has been utilized to drive the formation of most of the new SOFs. In the following two sections, we will highlight the main advances in the construction of 2D and 3D SOFs and the related functional aspects. Finally, we will offer our opinions on future directions for both structures and functions. We hope that this article will trigger the interest of researchers in the field of chemistry, physics, biology and materials science, which should help accelerate the applications of this new family of soft self-assembled organic frameworks.

Experimental protocol for manipulating plant-induced soil heterogeneity.

PubMed

Brandt, Angela J; del Pino, Gaston A; Burns, Jean H

2014-03-13

Coexistence theory has often treated environmental heterogeneity as being independent of the community composition; however biotic feedbacks such as plant-soil feedbacks (PSF) have large effects on plant performance, and create environmental heterogeneity that depends on the community composition. Understanding the importance of PSF for plant community assembly necessitates understanding of the role of heterogeneity in PSF, in addition to mean PSF effects. Here, we describe a protocol for manipulating plant-induced soil heterogeneity. Two example experiments are presented: (1) a field experiment with a 6-patch grid of soils to measure plant population responses and (2) a greenhouse experiment with 2-patch soils to measure individual plant responses. Soils can be collected from the zone of root influence (soils from the rhizosphere and directly adjacent to the rhizosphere) of plants in the field from conspecific and heterospecific plant species. Replicate collections are used to avoid pseudoreplicating soil samples. These soils are then placed into separate patches for heterogeneous treatments or mixed for a homogenized treatment. Care should be taken to ensure that heterogeneous and homogenized treatments experience the same degree of soil disturbance. Plants can then be placed in these soil treatments to determine the effect of plant-induced soil heterogeneity on plant performance. We demonstrate that plant-induced heterogeneity results in different outcomes than predicted by traditional coexistence models, perhaps because of the dynamic nature of these feedbacks. Theory that incorporates environmental heterogeneity influenced by the assembling community and additional empirical work is needed to determine when heterogeneity intrinsic to the assembling community will result in different assembly outcomes compared with heterogeneity extrinsic to the community composition.

External-Stimuli-Assisted Control over Assemblies of Plasmonic Metals.

PubMed

Watanabe, Kanako; Kuroda, Kotaro; Nagao, Daisuke

2018-05-15

Assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) in suspensions is a promising approach for the control of optical and sensing properties that depend on the assembled states of plasmonic NPs. This review focuses on the controlling methods to assemble the NP via external stimuli such as pH, temperature, light, magnetic field, and electric field. External stimuli are introduced as powerful tools to assemble the NPs because of various operational factors, such as the intensity, application time, and frequency, which can be employed. In addition to a summary of recent studies on the controlling methods, a future study on the reversible control over assembled states of the plasmonic NPs via external stimuli is proposed.

Directed self-assembly of proteins into discrete radial patterns

PubMed Central

Thakur, Garima; Prashanthi, Kovur; Thundat, Thomas

2013-01-01

Unlike physical patterning of materials at nanometer scale, manipulating soft matter such as biomolecules into patterns is still in its infancy. Self-assembled monolayer (SAM) with surface density gradient has the capability to drive biomolecules in specific directions to create hierarchical and discrete structures. Here, we report on a two-step process of self-assembly of the human serum albumin (HSA) protein into discrete ring structures based on density gradient of SAM. The methodology involves first creating a 2-dimensional (2D) polyethylene glycol (PEG) islands with responsive carboxyl functionalities. Incubation of proteins on such pre-patterned surfaces results in direct self-assembly of protein molecules around PEG islands. Immobilization and adsorption of protein on such structures over time evolve into the self-assembled patterns. PMID:23719678

77 FR 70114 - Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-23

... assemblies, which were caused by the fuel return line assembly rubbing against the right steering tube assembly during full rudder pedal actuation. This AD requires you to inspect the fuel return line assembly... the fuel return line assembly and both the right steering tube assembly and the airplane structure...

Magnetic Alignment of Block Copolymer Microdomains by Intrinsic Chain Anisotropy.

PubMed

Rokhlenko, Yekaterina; Gopinadhan, Manesh; Osuji, Chinedum O; Zhang, Kai; O'Hern, Corey S; Larson, Steven R; Gopalan, Padma; Majewski, Paweł W; Yager, Kevin G

2015-12-18

We examine the role of intrinsic chain susceptibility anisotropy in magnetic field directed self-assembly of a block copolymer using in situ x-ray scattering. Alignment of a lamellar mesophase is observed on cooling across the disorder-order transition with the resulting orientational order inversely proportional to the cooling rate. We discuss the origin of the susceptibility anisotropy, Δχ, that drives alignment and calculate its magnitude using coarse-grained molecular dynamics to sample conformations of surface-tethered chains, finding Δχ≈2×10^{-8}. From field-dependent scattering data, we estimate that grains of ≈1.2  μm are present during alignment. These results demonstrate that intrinsic anisotropy is sufficient to support strong field-induced mesophase alignment and suggest a versatile strategy for field control of orientational order in block copolymers.

Molecular Self-Assembly of Short Aromatic Peptides: From Biology to Nanotechnology and Material Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gazit, Ehud

2013-03-01

The formation of ordered amyloid fibrils is the hallmark of several diseases of unrelated origin. In spite of grave clinical consequence, the mechanism of amyloid formation is not fully understood. We have suggested, based on experimental and bioinformatic analysis, that aromatic interactions may provide energetic contribution as well as order and directionality in the molecular-recognition and self-association processes that lead to the formation of these assemblies. This is in line with the well-known central role of aromatic-stacking interactions in self-assembly processes. Our works on the mechanism of aromatic peptide self-assembly, lead to the discovery that the diphenylalanine recognition motif self-assembles into peptide nanotubes with a remarkable persistence length. Other aromatic homodipeptides could self-assemble in nano-spheres, nano-plates, nano-fibrils and hydrogels with nano-scale order. We demonstrated that the peptide nanostructures have unique chemical, physical and mechanical properties including ultra-rigidity as aramides, semi-conductive, piezoelectric and non-linear optic properties. We also demonstrated the ability to use these peptide nanostructures as casting mold for the fabrication of metallic nano-wires and coaxial nano-cables. The application of the nanostructures was demonstrated in various fields including electrochemical biosensors, tissue engineering, and molecular imaging. Finally, we had developed ways for depositing of the peptide nanostructures and their organization. We had use inkjet technology as well as vapour deposition methods to coat surface and from the peptide ``nano-forests''. We recently demonstrated that even a single phenylalanine amino-acid can form well-ordered fibrilar assemblies.

Rotational joint assembly and method for constructing the same

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bandera, Pablo (Inventor); Buchele, Paul (Inventor)

2012-01-01

A rotational joint assembly and a method for constructing a rotational joint assembly are provided. The rotational joint assembly includes a first rotational component, a second rotational component coupled to the first rotational component such that the second rotational component is rotatable relative to the first rotational component in first and second rotational directions about an axis, and a flexure member, being deflectable in first and second deflection directions, coupled to at least one of the first and second rotational components such that when the second rotational component is rotated relative to the first rotational component in each of the first and second rotational directions about the axis, the flexure member is deflected in the first deflection direction and exerts a force on the second rotational component opposing the rotation.

Microfabricated field calibration assembly for analytical instruments

DOEpatents

Robinson, Alex L [Albuquerque, NM; Manginell, Ronald P [Albuquerque, NM; Moorman, Matthew W [Albuquerque, NM; Rodacy, Philip J [Albuquerque, NM; Simonson, Robert J [Cedar Crest, NM

2011-03-29

A microfabricated field calibration assembly for use in calibrating analytical instruments and sensor systems. The assembly comprises a circuit board comprising one or more resistively heatable microbridge elements, an interface device that enables addressable heating of the microbridge elements, and, in some embodiments, a means for positioning the circuit board within an inlet structure of an analytical instrument or sensor system.

Reuse of assembly systems: a great ecological and economical potential for facility suppliers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weule, Hartmut; Buchholz, Carsten

2001-02-01

In addition to the consumer goods, capital goods offer a great potential for ecological and economic optimization. In view of this fact the project WiMonDi (Re-Use of Assembly Systems as new Business Fields), started in September 1998, focuses a marketable Remanufacturing and Re-Use of modules and components of assembly systems by using technically and organizationally continuous concepts. The objective of the closed Facility-Management-System is to prolong the serviceable lifespan of assembly facilities through the organized dismantling, refurbishment and reconditioning of the assembly facilities as well as their components. Therefore, it is necessary to develop easible and methodical strategies to realize a workable Re-Use concept. Within the project the focus is based on the optimization of Re-Use-strategies - the direct Re-Use, the Re-Use including Refurbishment as well as Material Recycling. The decision for an optimal strategy depends on economical (e.g. residual value, cost/benefit of relevant processes, etc.), ecological (e.g. pollutant components /substances), etc.) and technical parameters (e.g. reliability, etc.). For the purpose to integrate the total cost-of-ownership of products or components, WiMonDi integrates the costs of the use of products as well as the Re-Use costs/benefits. To initiate the conception of new distribution and user models between the supplier and the user of assembly facilities the described approach is conducted in close cooperation between Industry and University.

Electric bistability induced by incorporating self-assembled monolayers/aggregated clusters of azobenzene derivatives in pentacene-based thin-film transistors.

PubMed

Tseng, Chiao-Wei; Huang, Ding-Chi; Tao, Yu-Tai

2012-10-24

Composite films of pentacene and a series of azobenzene derivatives are prepared and used as the active channel material in top-contact, bottom-gate field-effect transistors. The transistors exhibit high field-effect mobility as well as large I-V hysteresis as a function of the gate bias history. The azobenzene moieties, incorporated either in the form of self-assembled monolayer or discrete multilayer clusters at the dielectric surface, result in electric bistability of the pentacene-based transistor either by photoexcitation or gate biasing. The direction of threshold voltage shifts, size of hysteresis, response time, and retention characteristics all strongly depend on the substituent on the benzene ring. The results show that introducing a monolayer of azobenzene moieties results in formation of charge carrier traps responsible for slower switching between the bistable states and longer retention time. With clusters of azobenzene moieties as the trap sites, the switching is faster but the retention is shorter. Detailed film structure analyses and correlation with the transistor/memory properties of these devices are provided.

Improved Fibrinolysis Using Magnetically Driven Colloidal Microwheels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Disharoon, Dante; Tasci, Onur; Schoeman, Rogier; Rana, Kuldeepsinh; Herson, Paco; Marr, David; Neeves, Keith

2017-11-01

At the microscale, fluid dynamics are unique because viscous forces dominate over inertial forces, with Reynolds numbers typically less than unity. To move through microscale channels (order 100 μ m) over macroscale distances (>1 cm) devices based on cellular machinery have been developed, but they are slow and difficult to implement within in vivo environments. To address these issues, we report the assembly and translation of magnetically-powered colloidal microwheels (μ wheels) capable of translation at speeds of over 100 μ m/s. In this, superparamagnetic microparticles cluster into wheel-like shapes that spin when subject to an order milliTesla planar rotating magnetic field. By exploiting wet friction between μ wheels and adjacent surfaces, not only can significant μ wheel translation speeds be achieved but also travel direction can be precisely and rapidly controlled. With both assembly and translation manipulated via non-gradient external magnetic fields that do not attenuate in tissue, this method is well-suited for drug delivery. We demonstrate this by showing that μ wheels functionalized with fibrinolytics can dissolve blood clots five-fold faster than soluble fibrinolytics at therapeutic concentrations.

Magnetotaxis as a means for nanofabrication of bioelectronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macwan, Isaac

Self-assembly plays an important role in the formation of different nanostructures either organic or inorganic. Controlled assembly of molecules into higher ordered hierarchical structures on the other hand require a thorough insight into the interactive forces that lie behind such an assembly. The interface between organic and inorganic materials is thus of primary significance when it comes to the tasks of selective deposition and assembly of inorganic molecules through organic agents. One of the bacterial species that belong to the class alpha-proteobacteria called Magnetospirillum magneticum (classified as AMB-1) is investigated in this study and it is found that this species is able to fulfill the requirements that are imposed by the complexity of the selective deposition and controlled assembly tasks. AMB-1 contain single-domain crystals of magnetite (Fe3O4) called magnetosomes that sense the external magnetic field that is further utilized for cellular displacement (magnetotaxis) through lash-like cellular appendages called flagella. The two flagella located at the proximal and distal ends of the cell consists of a protein monomer flagellin. Individual flagellin in turn that are located on the periphery of each of the flagellum's central channel consists of four sub-domains, two inner domains (D0, D1) made up of alpha-helices and two outer domains (D2, D3) made up of beta sheets. However, it is the domain D3 that is exposed to the surrounding micro-environment, thereby interacting with the components to be selectively deposited, in this case, carbon nanotubes (CNT). Based on the electromagnetic and molecular dynamics simulations and the real-time experimental analysis involving optical microscopy utilizing 50 micron diameter conductor (44AWG) magnetic coils as directional magnetic field generation centers to visualize the motion of free as well as loaded AMB-1 as well as electron microscopy (TEM & SEM) to analyze the interactive forces between CNT and AMB-1 flagellum, it is found that once the domain D3 is functionalized with either metallic (m-) or semiconducting (s-) carbon nanotubes (CNT), the AMB-1 cell can be used as an efficient carrier for selective deposition tasks. Two aspects that are of particular interest are the phenomenal control of direction exhibited by AMB-1 using locally generated magnetic field and the efficient interactive forces in the form of short range forces (van der Waals, hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds) and long range forces (electrostatic interactions) between m-CNT or s-CNT and D3. Thus, it is recognized that a compound semiconductor manufacturing technology involving bacterial carriers and carbon-based materials such as carbon nanotubes would be a desirable choice in the future.

Perspectives from the NSF-sponsored workshop on Grand Challenges in Nanomaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hull, Robert

2004-03-01

At an NSF-sponsored workshop in June 2003, about seventy research leaders in the field of nanomaterials met to discuss, explore and identify future new directions and critical needs ("Grand Challenges") for the next decade and beyond. The key pervasive theme that was identified was the need to develop techniques for assembly of nanoscaled materials over multiple lengths scales, at the levels of efficiency, economy, and precision necessary to realize broad new classes of applications in such diverse technologies as electronics, computation, telecommunications, data storage, energy storage / transmission / generation, health care, transportation, civil infrastructure, military applications, national security, and the environment. Elements of this strategy include development of new self-assembly and lithographic techniques; biologically-mediated synthesis; three-dimensional atomic-scale measurement of structure, properties and chemistry; harnessing of the sub-atomic properties of materials such as electron spin and quantum interactions; new computational methods that span all relevant length- and time- scales; a fundamental understanding of acceptable / achievable "fault tolerance" at the nanoscale; and methods for real-time and distributed sensing of nanoscale assembly. A parallel theme was the need to provide education concerning the potential, applications, and benefits of nanomaterials to all components of society and all levels of the educational spectrum. This talk will summarize the conclusions and recommendations from this workshop, and illustrate the future potential of this field through presentation of selected break-through results provided by workshop participants.

Bringing part of the lab to the field: On-site chromium speciation in seawater by electrodeposition of Cr(III)/Cr(VI) on portable coiled-filament assemblies and measurement in the lab by electrothermal, near-torch vaporization sample introduction and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badiei, Hamid R.; McEnaney, Jennifer; Karanassios, Vassili

2012-12-01

A field-deployable electrochemical approach to preconcentration, matrix clean up and selective electrodeposition of Cr(III) and Cr(III) + Cr(VI) in seawater is described. Using portable, battery-operated electrochemical instrumentation, Cr species in seawater were electrodeposited in the field on portable coiled-filament assemblies made from Re. Assemblies with dried residues of Cr(III) or Cr(III) + Cr(VI) on them were transported to the lab for concentration determination by electrothermal, near-torch vaporization (NTV) sample introduction and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Electrodeposition offers selective species deposition, preconcentration and matrix clean up from seawater samples. For selective deposition, free Cr(VI) was electrodeposited at - 0.3 V and Cr(III) + Cr(VI) at - 1.6 V (both vs Ag/AgCl). Interestingly, at 0 V (vs Ag/AgCl) and in the absence of an electrodeposition potential only Cr(VI) was spontaneously and selectively adsorbed on the coil and reasons for this are given. Due to preconcentration afforded by electrodeposition, the detection limits obtained after a 60 s electrodeposition at the voltages stated above using buffered (pH = 4.7) artificial seawater spiked with either Cr(III) or Cr(VI) were 20 pg/mL for Cr(III) and 10 pg/mL for Cr(VI). For comparison, the detection limit for Cr obtained by pipetting directly on the coil 5 μL of diluted standard solution was 500 pg/mL, thus it was concluded that electrodeposition offered 40 to 60 fold improvements. Matrix clean up is required due to the high salt content of seawater and this was addressed by simply rinsing the coil with 18.2 MΩ water without any loss of Cr species. Reasons for this are provided. The method was validated in the lab using buffered artificial seawater and it was used in the field for the first time by sampling seawater, buffering it and immediately electrodepositing Cr species on portable assemblies on-site. Electrodeposition in the field addressed species transformation during sample pre-treatment. Such transformations occur due to sample acidification and may take place during transport and possibly storage prior to analysis. Thus, electrodeposition in the field is more reflective of Cr species concentration at the environmental conditions (e.g., temperature) at the time of sampling. It also opens up the possibility for shipping to the lab portable assemblies with Cr species on them rather than shipping large volumes of sample to the lab, thus also reducing shipping, handling and storage costs.

Watching Nanoscale Self-Assembly Kinetics of Gold Prisms in Liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Juyeong; Ou, Zihao; Jones, Matthew R.; Chen, Qian

We use liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy to watch self-assembly of gold triangular prisms into polymer-like structures. The in situ dynamics monitoring enabled by liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy, single nanoparticle tracking, and the marked conceptual similarity between molecular reactions and nanoparticle self-assembly combined elucidate the following mechanistic understanding: a step-growth polymerization based assembly statistics, kinetic pathways sampling particle curvature dependent energy minima and their interconversions, and directed assembly into polymorphs (linear or cyclic chains) through in situ modulation of the prism bonding geometry. Our study bridges the constituent kinetics on the molecular and nanoparticle length scales, which enriches the design rules in directed self-assembly of anisotropic nanoparticles.

Adjusting the Ion Permeability of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers through Layer-by-Layer Assembly under a High Gravity Field.

PubMed

Jiang, Chao; Luo, Caijun; Liu, Xiaolin; Shao, Lei; Dong, Youqing; Zhang, Yingwei; Shi, Feng

2015-05-27

The layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled multilayer has been widely used as good barrier film or capsule due to the advantages of its flexible tailoring of film permeability and compactness. Although many specific systems have been proposed for film design, developing a versatile strategy to control film compactness remains a challenge. We introduced the simple mechanical energy of a high gravity field to the LbL assembly process to tailor the multilayer permeability through adjusting film compactness. By taking poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and poly{1-4[4-(3-carboxy-4-hydroxyphenylazo)benzenesulfonamido]-1,2-ethanediyl sodium salt} (PAzo) as a model system, we investigated the LbL assembly process under a high gravity field. The results showed that the high gravity field introduced effectively accelerated the multilayer deposition process by 20-fold compared with conventional dipping assembly; the adsorption rate was positively dependent on the rotating speed of the high gravity equipment and the concentration of the building block solutions. More interestingly, the film compactness of the PDDA/PAzo multilayer prepared under the high gravity field increased remarkably with the growing rotational speed of the high gravity equipment, as demonstrated through comparisons of surface morphology, cyclic voltammetry curves, and photoisomerization kinetics of PDDA/PAzo multilayers fabricated through the conventional dipping method and through LbL assembly under a high gravity field, respectively. In this way, we have introduced a simple and versatile external form of mechanical energy into the LbL assembling process to improve film compactness, which should be useful for further applications in controlled ion permeability, anticorrosion, and drug loading.

XMCD and XMCD-PEEM Studies on Magnetic-Field-Assisted Self-Assembled 1D Nanochains of Spherical Ferrite Particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Wen; Wong, Ping Kwan Johnny; Zhang, Dong

Quasi-1D nanochains of spherical magnetic ferrite particles with a homogeneous particle size of ≈200 nm and a micrometer-sized chain length are fabricated in this paper via a self-assembly method under an external magnetic field. This assisting magnetic field (H assist), applied during synthesis, significantly modifies the distribution of the Fe 2+O h, Fe 3+T d, and Fe 3+O h cations in the chains, as demonstrated by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) combined with theoretical analysis. This provides direct evidence of the nontrivial role of external synthetic conditions for defining the crystal chemistry of nanoscale ferrites and in turn their magneticmore » properties, providing an extra degree of freedom for intentional control over the performances of 1D magnetic nanodevices for various applications. Magnetic imaging, performed via XMCD in photoemission electron microscopy, further shows the possibility of creating and trapping a series of adjacent magnetic domain walls in a single chain, suggesting that there is great application potential for these nanochains in 1D magnetic nanodevices, as determined by field- or current-driven domain wall motions. Finally, practical control over the magnetic properties of the nanochains is also achieved by extrinsic dopants of cobalt and zinc, which are observed to occupy the ferrite ionic sites in a selective manner.« less

XMCD and XMCD-PEEM Studies on Magnetic-Field-Assisted Self-Assembled 1D Nanochains of Spherical Ferrite Particles

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Wen; Wong, Ping Kwan Johnny; Zhang, Dong; ...

2017-05-30

Quasi-1D nanochains of spherical magnetic ferrite particles with a homogeneous particle size of ≈200 nm and a micrometer-sized chain length are fabricated in this paper via a self-assembly method under an external magnetic field. This assisting magnetic field (H assist), applied during synthesis, significantly modifies the distribution of the Fe 2+O h, Fe 3+T d, and Fe 3+O h cations in the chains, as demonstrated by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) combined with theoretical analysis. This provides direct evidence of the nontrivial role of external synthetic conditions for defining the crystal chemistry of nanoscale ferrites and in turn their magneticmore » properties, providing an extra degree of freedom for intentional control over the performances of 1D magnetic nanodevices for various applications. Magnetic imaging, performed via XMCD in photoemission electron microscopy, further shows the possibility of creating and trapping a series of adjacent magnetic domain walls in a single chain, suggesting that there is great application potential for these nanochains in 1D magnetic nanodevices, as determined by field- or current-driven domain wall motions. Finally, practical control over the magnetic properties of the nanochains is also achieved by extrinsic dopants of cobalt and zinc, which are observed to occupy the ferrite ionic sites in a selective manner.« less

Directed assembly of hybrid nanostructures using optically resonant nanotweezers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Erickson, David

This represents the final report for this project. Over the course of the project we have made significant progress in photonically driven nano-assembly including: (1) demonstrating the first direct optical tweezer based manipulation of proteins, (2) the ability to apply optical angular torques to microtubuals and other rod-shaped microparticles, (3) direct assembly of hybrid nanostructures comprising of polymeric nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes and, (4) the ability to drive biological reactions (specifically protein aggregation) that are thermodynamically unfavorable by applying localized optical work. These advancements are described in the list of papers provided in section 2.0 of the below. Summary detailsmore » are provided in prior year annual reports. We have two additional papers which will be submitted shortly based on the work done under this award. An updated publication list will be provided to the program manager when those are accepted. In this report, we report on a new advancement made in the final project year, which uses the nanotweezer technology to perform direct measurements of particle-surface interactions. Briefly, these measurements are important for characterizing the stability and behavior of colloidal and nanoparticle suspensions and current techniques are limited in their ability to measure piconewton scale interaction forces on sub-micrometer particles due to signal detection limits and thermal noise. In this project year we developed a new technique called “Nanophotonic Force Microscopy” which uses the localized region of exponentially decaying, near-field, light to confine small particles close to a surface. From the statistical distribution of the light intensity scattered by the particle the technique maps out the potential well of the trap and directly quantify the repulsive force between the nanoparticle and the surface. The major advantage of the technique is that it can measure forces and energy wells below the thermal noise limit, resolving interaction forces smaller than 1 pN on dielectric particles as small as 100 nm in diameter.« less

Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect in a Magnetized Electron Gun

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hardy, Benjamin; Grames, Joseph; CenterInjectors; Sources Team

2016-09-01

Magnetized electron sources have the potential to improve ion beam cooling efficiency. At the Gun Test Stand at Jefferson Lab, a solenoid magnet will be installed adjacent to the photogun to magnetize the electron beam. Due to the photocathode operating in a vacuum chamber, measuring and monitoring the magnetic field at the beam source location with conventional probes is impractical. The Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE) describes the change on polarized light by reflection from a magnetized surface. The reflection from the surface may alter the polarization direction, ellipticity, or intensity, and depends linearly upon the surface magnetization of the sample. By replacing the photocathode with a magnetized sample and reflecting polarized light from the sample surface, the magnetic field at the beam source is inferred. A controlled MOKE system has been assembled to test the magnetic field. Calibration of the solenoid magnet is performed by comparing the MOKE signal with magnetic field measurements. The apparatus will provide a description of the field at electron beam source. The report summarizes the method and results of controlled tests and calibration of the MOKE sample with the solenoid magnet field measurements. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates Award 1359026 and the Department of Energy, Laboratory Directed Research and Development Contract DE-AC05-06OR23177.

DNA Origami Directed Au Nanostar Dimers for Single-Molecule Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering.

PubMed

Tanwar, Swati; Haldar, Krishna Kanta; Sen, Tapasi

2017-12-06

We demonstrate the synthesis of Au nanostar dimers with tunable interparticle gap and controlled stoichiometry assembled on DNA origami. Au nanostars with uniform and sharp tips were immobilized on rectangular DNA origami dimerized structures to create nanoantennas containing monomeric and dimeric Au nanostars. Single Texas red (TR) dye was specifically attached in the junction of the dimerized origami to act as a Raman reporter molecule. The SERS enhancement factors of single TR dye molecules located in the conjunction region in dimer structures having interparticle gaps of 7 and 13 nm are 2 × 10 10 and 8 × 10 9 , respectively, which are strong enough for single analyte detection. The highly enhanced electromagnetic field generated by the plasmon coupling between sharp tips and cores of two Au nanostars in the wide conjunction region allows the accommodation and specific detection of large biomolecules. Such DNA-directed assembled nanoantennas with controlled interparticle separation distance and stoichiometry, and well-defined geometry, can be used as excellent substrates in single-molecule SERS spectroscopy and will have potential applications as a reproducible platform in single-molecule sensing.

Surface compositional profiles of self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum rings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Magri, Rita; Heun, Stefan; Biasiol, Giorgio

2010-01-04

The surface composition profiles of self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum rings (QR) are studied both experimentally and theoretically. By using X-ray Photoemission Electron Microscopy (XPEEM) we obtain a 2D composition mapping of unburied rings, which can be directly related to the QR topography measured by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Top-surface composition mapping allows us to obtain information on structures which cannot be directly accessed with cross-sectional studies since overgrowing the QRs with a thick GaAs film alters both their morphology and composition. The 2D surface maps reveal a non-uniform distribution across the rings with an In richer InGaAs alloy in the centralmore » hole regions. Elastic energy calculations via a Valence Force Field (VFF) approach show that, for a given shape of the rings and a fixed total number of Ga and In atoms, an In enrichment of the alloy in the central hole region, together with an In enrichment of the surface layers, leads to a lowering of the total strain energy.« less

Backward assembly planning with DFA analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Sukhan (Inventor)

1992-01-01

An assembly planning system that operates based on a recursive decomposition of assembly into subassemblies is presented. The planning system analyzes assembly cost in terms of stability, directionality, and manipulability to guide the generation of preferred assembly plans. The planning in this system incorporates the special processes, such as cleaning, testing, labeling, etc., that must occur during the assembly. Additionally, the planning handles nonreversible, as well as reversible, assembly tasks through backward assembly planning. In order to decrease the planning efficiency, the system avoids the analysis of decompositions that do not correspond to feasible assembly tasks. This is achieved by grouping and merging those parts that can not be decomposable at the current stage of backward assembly planning due to the requirement of special processes and the constraint of interconnection feasibility. The invention includes methods of evaluating assembly cost in terms of the number of fixtures (or holding devices) and reorientations required for assembly, through the analysis of stability, directionality, and manipulability. All these factors are used in defining cost and heuristic functions for an AO* search for an optimal plan.

Hydro lazy tongs energy booster

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lamonica, M.

1987-06-09

An apparatus is described for converting hydraulic power to rotational power. The apparatus comprises: a support base; a source of hydraulic fluid; a pair of piston and cylinder assemblies in communication with the source of hydraulic fluid and mounted to the support base such that the pistons thereof are generally parallel with one another but extending substantially opposite directions; means for alternating directly hydraulic fluid to each of the piston and cylinder assemblies; lazy tong assemblies comprising a first lazy tong assembly, a last lazy tong assembly and an intermediate lazy tong assembly. Each lazy tong assembly comprises at leastmore » one block slidably mounted in proximity to the support base and at least one pair of lazy tongs with each lazy tong having a pair of opposed ends.« less

Micropatterning stretched and aligned DNA using microfluidics and surface patterning for applications in hybridization-mediated templated assembly of nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carbeck, Jeffrey; Petit, Cecilia

2004-03-01

Current efforts in nanotechnology use one of two basic approaches: top-down fabrication and bottom-up assembly. Top-down strategies use lithography and contact printing to create patterned surfaces and microfluidic channels that, in turn, can corral and organize nanoscale structures. Bottom-up approaches use templates to direct the assembly of atoms, molecules, and nanoparticles through molecular recognition. The goal of this work is to integrate these strategies by first patterning and orienting DNA molecules through top-down tools so that single DNA chains can then serve as templates for the bottom-up construction of hetero-structures composed of proteins and nanoparticles, both metallic and semi-conducting. The first part of this talk focuses on the top-down strategies used to create microscopic patterns of stretched and aligned molecules of DNA. Specifically, it presents a new method in which molecular combing -- a process by which molecules are deposited and stretched onto a surface by the passage of an air-water interface -- is performed in microchannels. This approach demonstrates that the shape and motion of this interface serve as an effective local field directing the chains dynamically as they are stretched onto the surface. The geometry of the microchannel directs the placement of the DNA molecules, while the geometry of the air-water interface directs the local orientation and curvature of the molecules. This ability to control both the placement and orientation of chains has implication for the use of this technique in genetic analysis and in the bottom up approach to nanofabrication.The second half of this talk presents our bottom-up strategy, which allows placement of nanoparticles along individual DNA chains with a theoretical resolution of less than 1 nm. Specifically, we demonstrate the sequence-specific patterning of nanoparticles via the hybridization of functionalized complementary probes to surface-bound chains of double-stranded DNA. Using this technique, we demonstrate the ability to assemble metals, semiconductors, and a composite of both on a single molecule.

DNA-templated photonic arrays and assemblies: design principles and future opportunities.

PubMed

Su, Wu; Bonnard, Vanessa; Burley, Glenn A

2011-07-11

Molecular photonics is a rapidly developing and multi-disciplinary field of research involving the construction of molecular assemblies comprising photoactive building blocks that are responsive to a light stimulus. A salient challenge in this field is the controlled assembly of these building blocks with nanoscale precision. DNA exhibits considerable promise as an architecture for the templated assembly of photoactive materials. In this Concept Article we describe the progress that has been made in the area of DNA photonics, in which DNA acts as a platform for the construction of optoelectronic assemblies, thin films and devices. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Fuel cell assembly unit for promoting fluid service and electrical conductivity

DOEpatents

Jones, Daniel O.

1999-01-01

Fluid service and/or electrical conductivity for a fuel cell assembly is promoted. Open-faced flow channel(s) are formed in a flow field plate face, and extend in the flow field plate face between entry and exit fluid manifolds. A resilient gas diffusion layer is located between the flow field plate face and a membrane electrode assembly, fluidly serviced with the open-faced flow channel(s). The resilient gas diffusion layer is restrained against entering the open-faced flow channel(s) under a compressive force applied to the fuel cell assembly. In particular, a first side of a support member abuts the flow field plate face, and a second side of the support member abuts the resilient gas diffusion layer. The support member is formed with a plurality of openings extending between the first and second sides of the support member. In addition, a clamping pressure is maintained for an interface between the resilient gas diffusion layer and a portion of the membrane electrode assembly. Preferably, the support member is spikeless and/or substantially flat. Further, the support member is formed with an electrical path for conducting current between the resilient gas diffusion layer and position(s) on the flow field plate face.

Dynamic Nanoparticles Assemblies

PubMed Central

WANG, LIBING; XU, LIGUANG; KUANG, HUA; XU, CHUANLAI; KOTOV, NICHOLAS A.

2012-01-01

CONSPECTUS Importance Although nanoparticle (NP) assemblies are at the beginning of their development, their unique geometrical shapes and media-responsive optical, electronic and magnetic properties have attracted significant interest. Nanoscale assembly bridges multiple sizes of materials: individual nanoparticles, discrete molecule-like or virus-like nanoscale agglomerates, microscale devices, and macroscale materials. The capacity to self-assemble can greatly facilitate the integration of nanotechnology with other technologies and, in particular, with microscale fabrication. In this Account, we describe developments in the emerging field of dynamic NP assemblies, which are spontaneously formed superstructures containing more than two inorganic nanoscale particles that display ability to change their geometrical, physical, chemical, and other attributes. In many ways, dynamic assemblies can represent a bottleneck in the ‘bottom-up’ fabrication of NP-based devices because they can produce a much greater variety of assemblies, but they also provide a convenient tool for variation of geometries and dimensions of nanoparticle assemblies. Classification Superstructures of NPs (and those held together by similar intrinsic forces) are classified into two groups: Class 1 where media and external fields can alter shape, conformation, and order of stable superstructures with a nearly constant number same. The future development of successful dynamic assemblies requires understanding the equilibrium in dynamic NP systems. The dynamic nature of Class 1 assemblies is associated with the equilibrium between different conformations of a superstructure and is comparable to the isomerization in classical chemistry. Class 2 assemblies involve the formation and/or breakage of linkages between the NPs, which is analogous to the classical chemical equilibrium for the formation of a molecule from atoms. Finer classification of NP assemblies in accord with established conventions in the field may include different size dimensionalities: discrete assemblies (artificial molecules), one-dimensional (spaced chains) and two-dimensional (sheets) and three-dimensional (superlattices, twisted structures) assemblies. Notably, these dimensional attributes must be regarded as primarily topological in nature because all of these superstructures can acquire complex three-dimensional shapes. Preparation We discuss three primary strategies used to prepare NP superstructures: (1) anisotropy-based assemblies utilizing either intrinsic force field anisotropy around NPs or external anisotropy associated with templates and/or applied fields; (2) assembly methods utilizing uniform NPs with isotropic interactions; and (3) methods based on mutual recognition of biomolecules, such as DNA and antigen-antibody interactions. Applications We consider optical, electronic, and magnetic properties of dynamic superstructures, focusing primarily on multiparticle effects in NP superstructures as represented by surface plasmon resonance, NP-NP charge transport, and multibody magnetization. Unique properties of NP superstructures are being applied to biosensing, drug delivery, and nanoelectronics. For both Class 1 and Class 2 dynamic assemblies, biosensing is the most dominant and well-developed area of dynamic nanostructures being successfully transitioned into practice. We can foresee the rapid development of dynamic NP assemblies toward applications in harvesting of dissipated energy, photonics, and electronics. The final part of the review is devoted to the fundamental questions facing dynamic assemblies of NPs in the future. PMID:22449243

Deployment Operation Procedures for the WHOI Ice-Tethered Profiler

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-05-01

mooring which would be pre-wound on a reel. These requirements led to the selection of a winch with a modular mooring reel and a disc -type brake for...lb * Brake Absorbed Power: 0.59 HP * Brake Rotor Diameter 24 in (chosen based on Drum OD) 6 Figure 2. Top: a photo of the winch frame, drum and shaft...shaft for field assembly. Studs welded into the drum , engage keyhole slots in the brake rotor, allowing drum torque to be transferred directly to the

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bartels, Ludwig; Ernst, Karl-Heinz; Gao, Hong-Jun

Supramolecular self-assembly at surfaces is one of the most exciting and active fields in Surface Science today. Applications can take advantage of two key properties: (i) versatile pattern formation over a broad length scale and (ii) tunability of electronic structure and transport properties, as well as frontier orbital alignment. It provides a new frontier for Chemical Physics as it uniquely combines the versatility of Organic Synthesis and the Physics of Interfaces. The Journal of Chemical Physics is pleased to publish this Special Topic Issue, showcasing recent advances and new directions.

Spectrometry and filtering with high rejection of stray light

DOEpatents

Ferrell, Thomas L.; Thundat, Thomas G.

2004-12-14

A microoptoelectromechanical integrated spectrometer with a photonic element assembly having metal foil removably disposed on a first transparent substrate surface, the substrate having no foil on any other surface. A means is provided for directing source photons that are reflected from or transmitted through a sample, over a range of angles of incidence, into the transparent substrate and onto the metal foil such that source photons are incident at the Brewsters angle. A means is also provided for detecting an induced exponential field in the metal foil. A means is also provided for relating the induced exponential field to a known exponential field for the sample and determining the identity of the sample. The spectrometer performs ultraviolet-to-visible-to-infrared spectroscopy using photon tunneling and surface plasmon excitation.

Assessing tropical rainforest growth traits: Data - Model fusion in the Congo basin and beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pietsch, Stephan

2017-04-01

Virgin forest ecosystems resemble the key reference level for natural tree growth dynamics. The mosaic cycle concept describes such dynamics as local disequilibria driven by patch level succession cycles of breakdown, regeneration, juvenescence and old growth. These cycles, however, may involve different traits of light demanding and shade tolerant species assemblies. In this work a data model fusion concept will be introduced to assess the differences in growth dynamics of the mosaic cycle of the Western Congolian Lowland Rainforest ecosystem. Field data from 34 forest patches located in an ice age forest refuge, recently pinpointed to the ground and still devoid of direct human impact up to today - resemble the data base. A 3D error assessment procedure versus BGC model simulations for the 34 patches revealed two different growth dynamics, consistent with observed growth traits of pioneer and late succession species assemblies of the Western Congolian Lowland rainforest. An application of the same procedure to Central American Pacific rainforests confirms the strength of the 3D error field data model fusion concept to Central American Pacific rainforests confirms the strength of the 3D error field data model fusion concept to assess different growth traits of the mosaic cycle of natural forest dynamics.

Electrochemical deposition onto self-assembled monolayers: new insights into micro- and nanofabrication.

PubMed

Schilardi, Patricia L; Dip, Patricio; dos Santos Claro, Paula C; Benítez, Guillermo A; Fonticelli, Mariano H; Azzaroni, Omar; Salvarezza, Roberto C

2005-12-16

Pattern transfer with high resolution is a frontier topic in the emerging field of nanotechnologies. Electrochemical molding is a possible route for nanopatterning metal, alloys and oxide surfaces with high resolution in a simple and inexpensive way. This method involves electrodeposition onto a conducting master covered by a self-assembled alkanethiolate monolayer (SAMs). This molecular film enables direct surface-relief pattern transfer from the conducting master to the inner face of the electrodeposit, and also allows an easy release of the electrodeposited film due their excellent anti-adherent properties. Replicas of the original conductive master can be also obtained by a simple two-step procedure. SAM quality and stability under electrodeposition conditions combined with the formation of smooth electrodeposits are crucial to obtain high-quality pattern transfer with sub-50 nm resolution.

DIRECT-CYCLE, BOILING-WATER NUCLEAR REACTOR

DOEpatents

Harrer, J.M.; Fromm, L.W. Jr.; Kolba, V.M.

1962-08-14

A direct-cycle boiling-water nuclear reactor is described that employs a closed vessel and a plurality of fuel assemblies, each comprising an outer tube closed at its lower end, an inner tube, fuel rods in the space between the tubes and within the inner tube. A body of water lying within the pressure vessel and outside the fuel assemblies is converted to saturated steam, which enters each fuel assembly at the top and is converted to superheated steam in the fuel assembly while it is passing therethrough first downward through the space between the inner and outer tubes of the fuel assembly and then upward through the inner tube. (AEC)

When lithography meets self-assembly: a review of recent advances in the directed assembly of complex metal nanostructures on planar and textured surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hughes, Robert A.; Menumerov, Eredzhep; Neretina, Svetlana

2017-07-01

One of the foremost challenges in nanofabrication is the establishment of a processing science that integrates wafer-based materials, techniques, and devices with the extraordinary physicochemical properties accessible when materials are reduced to nanoscale dimensions. Such a merger would allow for exacting controls on nanostructure positioning, promote cooperative phenomenon between adjacent nanostructures and/or substrate materials, and allow for electrical contact to individual or groups of nanostructures. With neither self-assembly nor top-down lithographic processes being able to adequately meet this challenge, advancements have often relied on a hybrid strategy that utilizes lithographically-defined features to direct the assembly of nanostructures into organized patterns. While these so-called directed assembly techniques have proven viable, much of this effort has focused on the assembly of periodic arrays of spherical or near-spherical nanostructures comprised of a single element. Work directed toward the fabrication of more complex nanostructures, while still at a nascent stage, has nevertheless demonstrated the possibility of forming arrays of nanocubes, nanorods, nanoprisms, nanoshells, nanocages, nanoframes, core-shell structures, Janus structures, and various alloys on the substrate surface. In this topical review, we describe the progress made in the directed assembly of periodic arrays of these complex metal nanostructures on planar and textured substrates. The review is divided into three broad strategies reliant on: (i) the deterministic positioning of colloidal structures, (ii) the reorganization of deposited metal films at elevated temperatures, and (iii) liquid-phase chemistry practiced directly on the substrate surface. These strategies collectively utilize a broad range of techniques including capillary assembly, microcontact printing, chemical surface modulation, templated dewetting, nanoimprint lithography, and dip-pen nanolithography and employ a wide scope of chemical processes including redox reactions, alloying, dealloying, phase separation, galvanic replacement, preferential etching, template-mediated reactions, and facet-selective capping agents. Taken together, they highlight the diverse toolset available when fabricating organized surfaces of substrate-supported nanostructures.

High speed internal permanent magnet machine and method of manufacturing the same

DOEpatents

Alexander, James Pellegrino [Ballston Lake, NY; EL-Refaie, Ayman Mohamed Fawzi [Niskayuna, NY; Lokhandwalla, Murtuza [Clifton Park, NY; Shah, Manoj Ramprasad [Latham, NY; VanDam, Jeremy Daniel [West Coxsackie, NY

2011-09-13

An internal permanent magnet (IPM) machine is provided. The IPM machine includes a stator assembly and a stator core. The stator core also includes multiple stator teeth. The stator assembly is further configured with stator windings to generate a magnetic field when excited with alternating currents and extends along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface defining a cavity. The IPM machine also includes a rotor assembly and a rotor core. The rotor core is disposed inside the cavity and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly further includes a shaft. The shaft further includes multiple protrusions alternately arranged relative to multiple bottom structures provided on the shaft. The rotor assembly also includes multiple stacks of laminations disposed on the protrusions and dovetailed circumferentially around the shaft. The rotor assembly further includes multiple permanent magnets for generating a magnetic field, which interacts with the stator magnetic field to produce torque. The permanent magnets are disposed between the stacks. The rotor assembly also includes multiple bottom wedges disposed on the bottom structures of the shaft and configured to hold the multiple stacks and the multiple permanent magnets.

Analysis of an adjustable field permanent magnet solenoid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burris-Mog, T.; Burns, M.; Chavez, A.; Schillig, J.

2017-10-01

A feasibility study has been performed on an adjustable-field permanent magnet (PM) solenoid concept in an effort to reduce the dependence that linear induction accelerators have on large direct current power supplies and associated cooling systems. The concept relies on the ability to reorient sections of the PMs and thus redirect their magnetization vector to either add to or subtract from the on-axis magnetic field. This study concentrated on the focal strengths and emittance growths for two different designs, both with 19 cm bore diameters extending 53 cm in length. The first design is expected to produce peak magnetic fields ranging from 260 to 900 G (0.026 to 0.09 T) while the second design is expected to produce peak magnetic fields ranging from 580 to 2100 G (0.058 to 0.21 T). Although the PM configuration generates a variable magnetic field and the torques acting on PMs within the assembly appear manageable, the emittance growth is larger than that of a DC solenoid.

Superlattices assembled through shape-induced directional binding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Fang; Yager, Kevin G.; Zhang, Yugang; Xin, Huolin; Gang, Oleg

2015-04-01

Organization of spherical particles into lattices is typically driven by packing considerations. Although the addition of directional binding can significantly broaden structural diversity, nanoscale implementation remains challenging. Here we investigate the assembly of clusters and lattices in which anisotropic polyhedral blocks coordinate isotropic spherical nanoparticles via shape-induced directional interactions facilitated by DNA recognition. We show that these polyhedral blocks--cubes and octahedrons--when mixed with spheres, promote the assembly of clusters with architecture determined by polyhedron symmetry. Moreover, three-dimensional binary superlattices are formed when DNA shells accommodate the shape disparity between nanoparticle interfaces. The crystallographic symmetry of assembled lattices is determined by the spatial symmetry of the block's facets, while structural order depends on DNA-tuned interactions and particle size ratio. The presented lattice assembly strategy, exploiting shape for defining the global structure and DNA-mediation locally, opens novel possibilities for by-design fabrication of binary lattices.

Superlattices assembled through shape-induced directional binding

DOE PAGES

Lu, Fang; Yager, Kevin G.; Zhang, Yugang; ...

2015-04-23

Organization of spherical particles into lattices is typically driven by packing considerations. Although the addition of directional binding can significantly broaden structural diversity, nanoscale implementation remains challenging. Here we investigate the assembly of clusters and lattices in which anisotropic polyhedral blocks coordinate isotropic spherical nanoparticles via shape-induced directional interactions facilitated by DNA recognition. We show that these polyhedral blocks—cubes and octahedrons—when mixed with spheres, promote the assembly of clusters with architecture determined by polyhedron symmetry. Moreover, three-dimensional binary superlattices are formed when DNA shells accommodate the shape disparity between nanoparticle interfaces. The crystallographic symmetry of assembled lattices is determined bymore » the spatial symmetry of the block’s facets, while structural order depends on DNA-tuned interactions and particle size ratio. Lastly, the presented lattice assembly strategy, exploiting shape for defining the global structure and DNA-mediation locally, opens novel possibilities for by-design fabrication of binary lattices.« less

Power module assembly with reduced inductance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ward, Terence G.; Stancu, Constantin C.; Jaksic, Marko

A power module assembly has a plurality of electrically conducting layers, including a first layer and a third layer. One or more electrically insulating layers are operatively connected to each of the plurality of electrically conducting layers. The electrically insulating layers include a second layer positioned between and configured to electrically isolate the first and the third layers. The first layer is configured to carry a first current flowing in a first direction. The third layer is configured to carry a second current flowing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, thereby reducing an inductance of the assembly.more » The electrically insulating layers may include a fourth layer positioned between and configured to electrically isolate the third layer and a fifth layer. The assembly results in a combined substrate and heat sink structure. The assembly eliminates the requirements for connections between separate substrate and heat sink structures.« less

Direct methanol feed fuel cell with reduced catalyst loading

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kindler, Andrew (Inventor)

1999-01-01

Improvements to direct feed methanol fuel cells include new protocols for component formation. Catalyst-water repellent material is applied in formation of electrodes and sintered before application of ionomer. A membrane used in formation of an electrode assembly is specially pre-treated to improve bonding between catalyst and membrane. The improved electrode and the pre-treated membrane are assembled into a membrane electrode assembly.

Scalable Directed Self-Assembly Using Ultrasound Waves

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-04

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: We aim to understand how ultrasound waves can be used to create organized patterns of nanoparticles in a host medium such...as a polymer matrix material. The critical difference between the ultrasound technology studied in this project, and other directed self-assembly...of nanoparticles dispersed in a host medium are assembled by means of standing ultrasound waves. Additionally, we have obtained experimental

Magnetic alignment of block copolymer microdomains by intrinsic chain anisotropy

DOE PAGES

Rokhlenko, Yekaterina; Yager, Kevin G.; Gopinadhan, Manesh; ...

2015-12-18

We examine the role of intrinsic chain susceptibility anisotropy in magnetic field directed self-assembly of a block copolymer using in situ x-ray scattering. Alignment of a lamellar mesophase is observed on cooling across the disorder-order transition with the resulting orientational order inversely proportional to the cooling rate. We discuss the origin of the susceptibility anisotropy, Δ χ, that drives alignment and calculate its magnitude using coarse-grained molecular dynamics to sample conformations of surface-tethered chains, finding Δ χ ≈ 2×10 –8. From field-dependent scattering data, we estimate that grains of ≈ 1.2 μm are present during alignment. Furthermore, these results demonstratemore » that intrinsic anisotropy is sufficient to support strong field-induced mesophase alignment and suggest a versatile strategy for field control of orientational order in block copolymers.« less

Self-induced polar order of active Brownian particles in a harmonic trap.

PubMed

Hennes, Marc; Wolff, Katrin; Stark, Holger

2014-06-13

Hydrodynamically interacting active particles in an external harmonic potential form a self-assembled fluid pump at large enough Péclet numbers. Here, we give a quantitative criterion for the formation of the pump and show that particle orientations align in the self-induced flow field in surprising analogy to ferromagnetic order where the active Péclet number plays the role of inverse temperature. The particle orientations follow a Boltzmann distribution Φ(p) ∼ exp(Ap(z)) where the ordering mean field A scales with the active Péclet number and polar order parameter. The mean flow field in which the particles' swimming directions align corresponds to a regularized Stokeslet with strength proportional to swimming speed. Analytic mean-field results are compared with results from Brownian dynamics simulations with hydrodynamic interactions included and are found to capture the self-induced alignment very well.

Magneto-optical properties of biogenic photonic crystals in algae

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Iwasaka, M., E-mail: iwasaka-m@umin.ac.jp; Japan Science and Technology Agency, PRESTO, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi 332-0012 Saitama; Mizukawa, Y.

In the present study, the effects of strong static magnetic fields on the structural colors of the cell covering crystals on a microalgae, coccolithophore, were investigated. The coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi, generates a precise assembly of calcite crystals called coccoliths by biomineralization. The coccoliths attached to the cells exhibited structural colors under side light illumination, and the colors underwent dynamic transitions when the magnetic fields were changed between 0 T and 5 T, probably due to diamagnetically induced changes of their inclination under the magnetic fields. The specific light-scattering property of individual coccoliths separated from the cells was also observed. Light scattering frommore » a condensed suspension of coccoliths drastically decreased when magnetic fields of more than 4 T were applied parallel to the direction of observation. The magnetically aligned cell-covering crystals of the coccolithophores exhibited the properties of both a photonic crystal and a minimum micromirror.« less

Magnetic alignment of block copolymer microdomains by intrinsic chain anisotropy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rokhlenko, Yekaterina; Yager, Kevin G.; Gopinadhan, Manesh

We examine the role of intrinsic chain susceptibility anisotropy in magnetic field directed self-assembly of a block copolymer using in situ x-ray scattering. Alignment of a lamellar mesophase is observed on cooling across the disorder-order transition with the resulting orientational order inversely proportional to the cooling rate. We discuss the origin of the susceptibility anisotropy, Δ χ, that drives alignment and calculate its magnitude using coarse-grained molecular dynamics to sample conformations of surface-tethered chains, finding Δ χ ≈ 2×10 –8. From field-dependent scattering data, we estimate that grains of ≈ 1.2 μm are present during alignment. Furthermore, these results demonstratemore » that intrinsic anisotropy is sufficient to support strong field-induced mesophase alignment and suggest a versatile strategy for field control of orientational order in block copolymers.« less

Hydrogen bonding directed self-assembly of small-molecule amphiphiles in water.

PubMed

Xu, Jiang-Fei; Niu, Li-Ya; Chen, Yu-Zhe; Wu, Li-Zhu; Tung, Chen-Ho; Yang, Qing-Zheng

2014-08-01

Compounds comprising one or two quadruply hydrogen bonding units, 2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone (UPy) and tris(tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether) moieties, were reported to form highly stable hydrogen-bonded assemblies in water. Compound 1, containing one UPy, assembles into vesicles, and compound 2, containing two UPy units, forms micelles. The aggregates disassemble reversibly when the solution pH is raised to 9.0 or above. The results demonstrate the utility of hydrogen bonding to direct the self-assembly of small-molecule building blocks in aqueous media.

A molecular design principle of lyotropic liquid-crystalline conjugated polymers with directed alignment capability for plastic electronics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Bong-Gi; Jeong, Eun Jeong; Chung, Jong Won

Conjugated polymers with a one-dimensional p-orbital overlap exhibit optoelectronic anisotropy. Their unique anisotropic properties can be fully realized in device applications only when the conjugated chains are aligned. Here, we report a molecular design principle of conjugated polymers to achieve concentration-regulated chain planarization, self-assembly, liquid-crystal-like good mobility and non-interdigitated side chains. As a consequence of these intra- and intermolecular attributes, chain alignment along an applied flow field occurs. This liquid-crystalline conjugated polymer was realized by incorporating intramolecular sulphur–fluorine interactions and bulky side chains linked to a tetrahedral carbon having a large form factor. By optimizing the polymer concentration and themore » flow field, we could achieve a high dichroic ratio of 16.67 in emission from conducting conjugated polymer films. Two-dimensional grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction was performed to analyse a well-defined conjugated polymer alignment. Thin-film transistors built on highly aligned conjugated polymer films showed more than three orders of magnitude faster carrier mobility along the conjugated polymer alignment direction than the perpendicular direction.« less

Directed Self-Assembly of Gradient Concentric Carbon Nanotube Rings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Suck Won; Jeong, Wonje; Ko, Hyunhyub; Tsukruk, Vladimir; Kessler, Michael; Lin, Zhiqun

2008-03-01

Hundreds of gradient concentric rings of linear conjugated polymer, (poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4- phenylenevinylene], i.e., MEH-PPV) with remarkable regularity over large areas were produced by controlled, repetitive ``stick- slip'' motions of the contact line in a confined geometry consisting of a sphere on a flat substrate (i.e., sphere-on-flat geometry). Subsequently, MEH-PPV rings exploited as template to direct the formation of gradient concentric rings of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with controlled density. This method is simple, cost effective, and robust, combining two consecutive self-assembly processes, namely, evaporation-induced self- assembly of polymers in a sphere-on-flat geometry, followed by subsequent directed self-assembly of MWNTs on the polymer- templated surfaces.

USAF Minor Surgery Field Assembly,

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-10-01

Brooks Air Force Base, Texas 78235 rs or 11 s0 036 .; :._,. ,. . . . . ... NOTICES This review was submitted by personnel of the Dental Investigation...Field equipment, dental Disaster-medicine eauipment 20. ABSTRACT (Condihis on revere* side It necessar end identify by block mmbe) -The history of...24 Field Assembly Handpieces ..... . . . . . .. . 24 Other Items of Equipment and Supplies . . . . .... .... 24 B!BLIOGRAPHY

Chiral quantum optics.

PubMed

Lodahl, Peter; Mahmoodian, Sahand; Stobbe, Søren; Rauschenbeutel, Arno; Schneeweiss, Philipp; Volz, Jürgen; Pichler, Hannes; Zoller, Peter

2017-01-25

Advanced photonic nanostructures are currently revolutionizing the optics and photonics that underpin applications ranging from light technology to quantum-information processing. The strong light confinement in these structures can lock the local polarization of the light to its propagation direction, leading to propagation-direction-dependent emission, scattering and absorption of photons by quantum emitters. The possibility of such a propagation-direction-dependent, or chiral, light-matter interaction is not accounted for in standard quantum optics and its recent discovery brought about the research field of chiral quantum optics. The latter offers fundamentally new functionalities and applications: it enables the assembly of non-reciprocal single-photon devices that can be operated in a quantum superposition of two or more of their operational states and the realization of deterministic spin-photon interfaces. Moreover, engineered directional photonic reservoirs could lead to the development of complex quantum networks that, for example, could simulate novel classes of quantum many-body systems.

75 FR 12710 - Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-400 Series Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-17

... for the main landing gear lock actuator assembly, retraction actuator assembly rod end and piston, and... for the main landing gear lock actuator assembly, retraction actuator assembly rod end and piston, and..., retraction actuator assembly rod end and piston, and the upper bearing in the main landing gear shock strut...

Guided self-assembly of nanostructured titanium oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Baoxiang; Rozynek, Zbigniew; Fossum, Jon Otto; Knudsen, Kenneth D.; Yu, Yingda

2012-02-01

A series of nanostructured titanium oxide particles were synthesized by a simple wet chemical method and characterized by means of small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS)/wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS), atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), thermal analysis, and rheometry. Tetrabutyl titanate (TBT) and ethylene glycol (EG) can be combined to form either TiOx nanowires or smooth nanorods, and the molar ratio of TBT:EG determines which of these is obtained. Therefore, TiOx nanorods with a highly rough surface can be obtained by hydrolysis of TBT with the addition of cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant in an EG solution. Furthermore, TiOx nanorods with two sharp ends can be obtained by hydrolysis of TBT with the addition of salt (LiCl) in an EG solution. The AFM results show that the TiOx nanorods with rough surfaces are formed by the self-assembly of TiOx nanospheres. The electrorheological (ER) effect was investigated using a suspension of titanium oxide nanowires or nanorods dispersed in silicone oil. Oil suspensions of titanium oxide nanowires or nanorods exhibit a dramatic reorganization when submitted to a strong DC electric field and the particles aggregate to form chain-like structures along the direction of applied electric field. Two-dimensional SAXS images from chains of anisotropically shaped particles exhibit a marked asymmetry in the SAXS patterns, reflecting the preferential self-assembly of the particles in the field. The suspension of rough TiOx nanorods shows stronger ER properties than that of the other nanostructured TiOx particles. We find that the particle surface roughness plays an important role in modification of the dielectric properties and in the enhancement of the ER effect.

Guided self-assembly of nanostructured titanium oxide.

PubMed

Wang, Baoxiang; Rozynek, Zbigniew; Fossum, Jon Otto; Knudsen, Kenneth D; Yu, Yingda

2012-02-24

A series of nanostructured titanium oxide particles were synthesized by a simple wet chemical method and characterized by means of small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS)/wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS), atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), thermal analysis, and rheometry. Tetrabutyl titanate (TBT) and ethylene glycol (EG) can be combined to form either TiO(x) nanowires or smooth nanorods, and the molar ratio of TBT:EG determines which of these is obtained. Therefore, TiO(x) nanorods with a highly rough surface can be obtained by hydrolysis of TBT with the addition of cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant in an EG solution. Furthermore, TiO(x) nanorods with two sharp ends can be obtained by hydrolysis of TBT with the addition of salt (LiCl) in an EG solution. The AFM results show that the TiO(x) nanorods with rough surfaces are formed by the self-assembly of TiO(x) nanospheres. The electrorheological (ER) effect was investigated using a suspension of titanium oxide nanowires or nanorods dispersed in silicone oil. Oil suspensions of titanium oxide nanowires or nanorods exhibit a dramatic reorganization when submitted to a strong DC electric field and the particles aggregate to form chain-like structures along the direction of applied electric field. Two-dimensional SAXS images from chains of anisotropically shaped particles exhibit a marked asymmetry in the SAXS patterns, reflecting the preferential self-assembly of the particles in the field. The suspension of rough TiO(x) nanorods shows stronger ER properties than that of the other nanostructured TiO(x) particles. We find that the particle surface roughness plays an important role in modification of the dielectric properties and in the enhancement of the ER effect.

Demonstration of Hole Transport and Voltage Equilibration in Self-Assembled π-Conjugated Peptide Nanostructures Using Field-Effect Transistor Architectures.

PubMed

Besar, Kalpana; Ardoña, Herdeline Ann M; Tovar, John D; Katz, Howard E

2015-12-22

π-Conjugated peptide materials are attractive for bioelectronics due to their unique photophysical characteristics, biofunctional interfaces, and processability under aqueous conditions. In order to be relevant for electrical applications, these types of materials must be able to support the passage of current and the transmission of applied voltages. Presented herein is an investigation of both the current and voltage transmission activities of one-dimensional π-conjugated peptide nanostructures. Observations of the nanostructures as both semiconducting and gate layers in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) were made, and the effect of systematic changes in amino acid composition on the semiconducting/conducting functionality of the nanostructures was investigated. These molecular variations directly impacted the hole mobility values observed for the nanomaterial active layers over 3 orders of magnitude (∼0.02 to 5 × 10(-5) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)) when the nanostructures had quaterthiophene cores and the assembled peptide materials spanned source and drain electrodes. Peptides without the quaterthiophene core were used as controls and did not show field-effect currents, verifying that the transport properties of the nanostructures rely on the semiconducting behavior of the π-electron core and not just ionic rearrangements. We also showed that the nanomaterials could act as gate electrodes and assessed the effect of varying the gate dielectric layer thickness in devices where the conventional organic semiconductor pentacene spanned the source and drain electrodes in a top-contact OFET, showing an optimum performance with 35-40 nm dielectric thickness. This study shows that these peptides that self-assemble in aqueous environments can be used successfully to transmit electronic signals over biologically relevant distances.

Non-equilibrium supramolecular polymerization

PubMed Central

Sorrenti, Alessandro; Leira-Iglesias, Jorge; Markvoort, Albert J.

2017-01-01

Supramolecular polymerization has been traditionally focused on the thermodynamic equilibrium state, where one-dimensional assemblies reside at the global minimum of the Gibbs free energy. The pathway and rate to reach the equilibrium state are irrelevant, and the resulting assemblies remain unchanged over time. In the past decade, the focus has shifted to kinetically trapped (non-dissipative non-equilibrium) structures that heavily depend on the method of preparation (i.e., pathway complexity), and where the assembly rates are of key importance. Kinetic models have greatly improved our understanding of competing pathways, and shown how to steer supramolecular polymerization in the desired direction (i.e., pathway selection). The most recent innovation in the field relies on energy or mass input that is dissipated to keep the system away from the thermodynamic equilibrium (or from other non-dissipative states). This tutorial review aims to provide the reader with a set of tools to identify different types of self-assembled states that have been explored so far. In particular, we aim to clarify the often unclear use of the term “non-equilibrium self-assembly” by subdividing systems into dissipative, and non-dissipative non-equilibrium states. Examples are given for each of the states, with a focus on non-dissipative non-equilibrium states found in one-dimensional supramolecular polymerization. PMID:28349143

Electric-Field-Oriented Growth of Long Hair-Like Silica Microfibrils and Derived Functional Monolithic Solids

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu, Michael Z.; DePaoli, David W.; Kuritz, Tanya

We present a “bottom-up” fabrication approach to first grow a new class of inorganic (silica) long hair-like microfibers or microwires and then to form monolithic solid pellet that contains parallel arrays of bundled microfibers with a controlled orientation. During the sol-gel solution processing, reactive precursor species are utilized as molecular “building blocks” for the field-directed assembly growth of microfibers driven by an electric field of pulsed direct current (dc) with controlled frequency. In principle, this reactive electrofibrilation process that combines an external field with a solid-phase nucleation and growth process has no limitation on reactions (such as the one heremore » that involves sol-gel reaction chemistry) and on materials compositions (such as the example silica oxide), thus will enable bulk production of long microfibers of wide variety of inorganic materials (other oxides or metals). Furthermore, we have fabricated uniquely architectured monolithic solid materials containing aligned microfibers by “wet press” of the in-situ grown microfiber structure in the electric field. The consolidated monolithic slabs (1 cm x 1 cm x 3 mm) have shown anisotropic properties and desirable retention of DNA molecule fragments, thus, could serve as a platform stationary-phase materials for future development of capillary electrochromatography for biomolecule separations.« less

Electric-Field-Oriented Growth of Long Hair-Like Silica Microfibrils and Derived Functional Monolithic Solids

DOE PAGES

Hu, Michael Z.; DePaoli, David W.; Kuritz, Tanya; ...

2017-09-11

We present a “bottom-up” fabrication approach to first grow a new class of inorganic (silica) long hair-like microfibers or microwires and then to form monolithic solid pellet that contains parallel arrays of bundled microfibers with a controlled orientation. During the sol-gel solution processing, reactive precursor species are utilized as molecular “building blocks” for the field-directed assembly growth of microfibers driven by an electric field of pulsed direct current (dc) with controlled frequency. In principle, this reactive electrofibrilation process that combines an external field with a solid-phase nucleation and growth process has no limitation on reactions (such as the one heremore » that involves sol-gel reaction chemistry) and on materials compositions (such as the example silica oxide), thus will enable bulk production of long microfibers of wide variety of inorganic materials (other oxides or metals). Furthermore, we have fabricated uniquely architectured monolithic solid materials containing aligned microfibers by “wet press” of the in-situ grown microfiber structure in the electric field. The consolidated monolithic slabs (1 cm x 1 cm x 3 mm) have shown anisotropic properties and desirable retention of DNA molecule fragments, thus, could serve as a platform stationary-phase materials for future development of capillary electrochromatography for biomolecule separations.« less

Metal-directed design of supramolecular protein assemblies

PubMed Central

Bailey, Jake B.; Subramanian, Rohit H.; Churchfield, Lewis A.

2016-01-01

Owing to their central roles in cellular signaling, construction, and biochemistry, protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and protein self-assembly have become a major focus of molecular design and synthetic biology. In order to circumvent the complexity of constructing extensive non-covalent interfaces, which are typically involved in natural PPIs and protein self-assembly, we have developed two design strategies, Metal-Directed Protein Self-Assembly (MDPSA) and Metal-Templated Interface Redesign (MeTIR). These strategies, inspired by both the proposed evolutionary roles of metals and their prevalence in natural PPIs, take advantage of the favorable properties of metal coordination (bonding strength, directionality, and reversibility) to guide protein self-assembly with minimal design and engineering. Using a small, monomeric protein (cytochrome cb562) as a model building block, we employed MDPSA and MeTIR to create a diverse array of functional supramolecular architectures which range from structurally tunable oligomers to metalloprotein complexes that can properly self-assemble in living cells into novel metalloenzymes. The design principles and strategies outlined herein should be readily applicable to other protein systems with the goal of creating new PPIs and protein assemblies with structures and functions not yet produced by natural evolution. PMID:27586336

Electrical control of cell polarization in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

PubMed

Minc, Nicolas; Chang, Fred

2010-04-27

Electric signals surround tissues and cells and have been proposed to participate in directing cell polarity in processes such as development, wound healing, and host invasion [1, 2]. The application of exogenous electric fields (EFs) can direct cell polarization in cell types ranging from bacteria and fungi to neurons and neutrophils [3-7]. The mechanisms by which EFs modulate cell polarity, however, remain poorly understood. Here we introduce the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a model organism to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this process. In these rod-shaped cells, an exogenous EF reorients cell growth in a direction orthogonal to the field, producing cells with a bent morphology. A candidate genetic screen identifies conserved factors involved in this process: an integral membrane proton ATPase pma1p that regulates intracellular pH, the small GTPase cdc42p, and the formin for3p that assembles actin cables. Interestingly, mutants in these genes still respond to the EF but orient in a different direction, toward the anode. In addition, EFs also cause electrophoretic movement of cell wall synthase complex proteins toward the anode. These data suggest molecular models for how the EF reorients cell polarization by modulating intracellular pH and steering cell polarity factors in multiple directions. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Wind turbine having a direct-drive drivetrain

DOEpatents

Bevington, Christopher M.; Bywaters, Garrett L.; Coleman, Clint C.; Costin, Daniel P.; Danforth, William L.; Lynch, Jonathan A.; Rolland, Robert H.

2011-02-22

A wind turbine comprising an electrical generator that includes a rotor assembly. A wind rotor that includes a wind rotor hub is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle via a bearing assembly. The wind rotor hub includes an opening having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret supported by a tower. Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

Direct patterning of a cyclotriveratrylene derivative for directed self-assembly of C60

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osner, Zachary R.; Nyamjav, Dorjderem; Holz, Richard C.; Becker, Daniel P.

2011-07-01

A novel apex-modified cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) derivative with an attached thiolane-containing lipoic acid linker was directly patterned onto gold substrates via dip-pen nanolithography (DPN). The addition of a dithiolane-containing linker to the apex of CTV provides a molecule that can adhere to a gold surface with its bowl-shaped cavity directed away from the surface, thereby providing a surface-bound CTV host that can be used for the directed assembly of guest molecules. Subsequent exposure of these CTV microarrays to C60 in toluene resulted in the directed assembly of predesigned, spatially controlled, high-density microarrays of C60. The molecular recognition capabilities of this CTV template toward C60 provides proof-of-concept that supramolecular CTV scaffolds can be directly patterned onto surfaces providing a foundation for the development of organic electronic and optoelectronic materials.

On the BV formalism of open superstring field theory in the large Hilbert space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsunaga, Hiroaki; Nomura, Mitsuru

2018-05-01

We construct several BV master actions for open superstring field theory in the large Hilbert space. First, we show that a naive use of the conventional BV approach breaks down at the third order of the antifield number expansion, although it enables us to define a simple "string antibracket" taking the Darboux form as spacetime antibrackets. This fact implies that in the large Hilbert space, "string fields-antifields" should be reassembled to obtain master actions in a simple manner. We determine the assembly of the string anti-fields on the basis of Berkovits' constrained BV approach, and give solutions to the master equation defined by Dirac antibrackets on the constrained string field-antifield space. It is expected that partial gauge-fixing enables us to relate superstring field theories based on the large and small Hilbert spaces directly: reassembling string fields-antifields is rather natural from this point of view. Finally, inspired by these results, we revisit the conventional BV approach and construct a BV master action based on the minimal set of string fields-antifields.

Trapping effect of metal nanoparticle mono- and multilayer in the organic field-effect transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Keanchuan; Weis, Martin; Lin, Jack; Taguchi, Dai; Majková, Eva; Manaka, Takaaki; Iwamoto, Mitsumasa

2011-03-01

The effect of silver nanoparticles self-assembled monolayer (Ag NPs SAM) on charge transport in pentacene organic field-effect transistors (OFET) was investigated by both steady-state and transient-state methods, which are current-voltage measurements in steady-state and time-resolved microscopic (TRM) second harmonic generation (SHG) in transient-state, respectively. The analysis of electronic properties revealed that OFET with SAM exhibited significant charge trapping effect due to the space-charge field formed by immobile charges. Lower transient-state mobility was verified by the direct probing of carrier motion by TRM-SHG technique. It was shown that the trapping effect rises together with increase of SAM layers suggesting the presence of traps in the bulk of NP films. The model based on the electrostatic charge barrier is suggested to explain the phenomenon.

Carbon nanotubes as templates for polymerized lipid assemblies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thauvin, Cédric; Rickling, Stéphane; Schultz, Patrick; Célia, Hervé; Meunier, Stéphane; Mioskowski, Charles

2008-12-01

Amphiphilic molecules-molecules that have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties-can self-assemble in water to form diverse structures such as micelles, vesicles and tubes, and these nanostructures can be used for delivering drugs, stabilizing membrane proteins or as nanoreactors. We have previously shown that lipids can self-organize on the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes into regular ring-shaped assemblies. Here we show that these lipid assemblies can be polymerized and isolated from the nanotube template by application of an electric field. We also demonstrate that these assemblies are monodispersed, water-soluble, and can dissolve various hydrophobic rylene dyes, fullerenes and membrane proteins. The stability of these constructs and their diverse applications will be useful in the fields of cosmetics, medicine and material sciences.

Three-stage nucleation and growth of Ge self-assembled quantum dots grown on partially relaxed SiGe buffer layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, H. J.; Zhao, Z. M.; Xie, Y. H.

2003-11-01

Three-stage nucleation and growth of Ge self-assembled quantum dots (SAQDs) on a relaxed SiGe buffer layer has been studied. Plastic relaxation of the SiGe buffer layer is associated with a network of buried 60° dislocations leading to an undulating strain field. As a result, the surface possesses three different types of sites for the nucleation and growth of Ge SAQDs: over the intersection of two perpendicular buried dislocations, over a single dislocation line, and in the region beyond one diffusion length away from any dislocation. Ge SAQDs are observed to nucleate exclusively over the dislocation intersections first, followed by over single dislocation lines, and finally in the region far away from dislocations. By increasing the Ge coverage at a slow rate, the prenucleation stage at the various sites is observed. It appears that the varying strain field has a significant effect on both the diffusion of Ge adatoms before SAQD nucleation, as well as the shape evolution of the SAQDs after they form. Moreover, two distinctly different self-assembly mechanisms are observed at different sites. There exist denuded zones free of Ge SAQDs adjacent to dislocation lines. The width of the denuded zone can be used to make direct determination of the Ge adatom diffusion lengths. The partially relaxed substrate provides a useful experimental vehicle for the in-depth understanding of the formation mechanism of SAQDs grown epitaxially in the Stranski-Krastanov growth mode.

Electric-field-induced assembly and propulsion of chiral colloidal clusters.

PubMed

Ma, Fuduo; Wang, Sijia; Wu, David T; Wu, Ning

2015-05-19

Chiral molecules with opposite handedness exhibit distinct physical, chemical, or biological properties. They pose challenges as well as opportunities in understanding the phase behavior of soft matter, designing enantioselective catalysts, and manufacturing single-handed pharmaceuticals. Microscopic particles, arranged in a chiral configuration, could also exhibit unusual optical, electric, or magnetic responses. Here we report a simple method to assemble achiral building blocks, i.e., the asymmetric colloidal dimers, into a family of chiral clusters. Under alternating current electric fields, two to four lying dimers associate closely with a central standing dimer and form both right- and left-handed clusters on a conducting substrate. The cluster configuration is primarily determined by the induced dipolar interactions between constituent dimers. Our theoretical model reveals that in-plane dipolar repulsion between petals in the cluster favors the achiral configuration, whereas out-of-plane attraction between the central dimer and surrounding petals favors a chiral arrangement. It is the competition between these two interactions that dictates the final configuration. The theoretical chirality phase diagram is found to be in excellent agreement with experimental observations. We further demonstrate that the broken symmetry in chiral clusters induces an unbalanced electrohydrodynamic flow surrounding them. As a result, they rotate in opposite directions according to their handedness. Both the assembly and propulsion mechanisms revealed here can be potentially applied to other types of asymmetric particles. Such kinds of chiral colloids will be useful for fabricating metamaterials, making model systems for both chiral molecules and active matter, or building propellers for microscale transport.

The Self-Assembly of Nanogold for Optical Metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nidetz, Robert A.

2011-12-01

Optical metamaterials are an emerging field that enables manipulation of light like never before. Producing optical metamaterials requires sub-wavelength building blocks. The focus here was to develop methods to produce building blocks for metamaterials from nanogold. Electron-beam lithography was used to define an aminosilane patterned chemical template in order to electrostatically self-assemble citrate-capped gold nanoparticles. Equilibrium self-assembly was achieved in 20 minutes by immersing chemical templates into gold nanoparticle solutions. The number of nanoparticles that self-assembled on an aminosilane dot was controlled by manipulating the diameters of the dots and nanoparticles. Adding salt to the nanoparticle solution enabled the nanoparticles to self-assemble in greater numbers on the same sized dot. However, the preparation of the nanoparticle solution containing salt was sensitive to spikes in the salt concentration which led to aggregation of the nanoparticles and non-specific deposition. Gold nanorods were also electrostatically self-assembled. Polyelectrolyte-coated gold nanorods were patterned with limited success. A polyelectrolyte chemical template also patterned gold nanorods, but the gold nanorods preferred to pattern on the edges of the pattern. Ligand-exchanged gold nanorods displayed the best self-assembly, but suffered from slow kinetics. Self-assembled gold nanoparticles were cross-linked with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride). The poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) allowed additional nanoparticles to pattern on top of the already patterned nanoparticles. Cross-linked nanoparticles were lifted-off of the substrate by sonication in a sodium hydroxide solution. The presence of van der Waals forces and/or amine bonding prevent the nanogold from lifting-off without sonication. A good-solvent evaporation process was used to self-assemble poly(styrene) coated gold nanoparticles into spherical microbead assemblies. The use of larger nanoparticles and larger poly(styrene) ligands resulted in larger and smaller assemblies, respectively. Stirring the solution resulted in a wider size distribution of microbead assemblies due to the stirring's shear forces. Two undeveloped methods to self-assemble nanogold were investigated. One method used block-copolymer thin films as chemical templates to direct the electrostatic self-assembly of nanogold. Another method used gold nanorods that are passivated with different ligands on different faces. The stability of an alkanethiol ligand in different acids and bases was investigated to determine which materials could be used to produce Janus nanorods.

MYBPH inhibits NM IIA assembly via direct interaction with NMHC IIA and reduces cell motility

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hosono, Yasuyuki; Usukura, Jiro; Yamaguchi, Tomoya

2012-11-09

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer MYBPH inhibits NMHC IIA assembly and cell motility. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer MYBPH interacts to assembly-competent NM IIA. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer MYBPH inhibits RLC and NMHC IIA, independent components of NM IIA. -- Abstract: Actomyosin filament assembly is a critical step in tumor cell migration. We previously found that myosin binding protein H (MYBPH) is directly transactivated by the TTF-1 lineage-survival oncogene in lung adenocarcinomas and inhibits phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) of non-muscle myosin IIA (NM IIA) via direct interaction with Rho kinase 1 (ROCK1). Here, we report that MYBPH also directly interacts with an additional molecule, non-muscle myosinmore » heavy chain IIA (NMHC IIA), which was found to occur between MYBPH and the rod portion of NMHC IIA. MYBPH inhibited NMHC IIA assembly and reduced cell motility. Conversely, siMYBPH-induced increased motility was partially, yet significantly, suppressed by blebbistatin, a non-muscle myosin II inhibitor, while more profound effects were attained by combined treatment with siROCK1 and blebbistatin. Electron microscopy observations showed well-ordered paracrystals of NMHC IIA reflecting an assembled state, which were significantly less frequently observed in the presence of MYBPH. Furthermore, an in vitro sedimentation assay showed that a greater amount of NMHC IIA was in an unassembled state in the presence of MYBPH. Interestingly, treatment with a ROCK inhibitor that impairs transition of NM IIA from an assembly-incompetent to assembly-competent state reduced the interaction between MYBPH and NMHC IIA, suggesting that MYBPH has higher affinity to assembly-competent NM IIA. These results suggest that MYBPH inhibits RLC and NMHC IIA, independent components of NM IIA, and negatively regulates actomyosin organization at 2 distinct steps, resulting in firm inhibition of NM IIA assembly.« less

Direction-dependent force-induced dissociation dynamics of an entropic-driven lock-and-key assembly.

PubMed

Chen, Yen-Fu; Chen, Hsuan-Yi; Sheng, Yu-Jane; Tsao, Heng-Kwong

2017-09-01

The unbinding dynamics of a nanosized sphere-and-cavity assembly under the pulling of constant force and constant loading rate is explored by dissipative particle dynamics simulations. The formation of this matched lock-and-key pair in a polymer solution is driven by the depletion attraction. The two-dimensional free energy landscape U(x,z) associated with this assembly is constructed. Our results indicate that the unbinding pathway along the orientation of the assembly is unfavorable due to the relatively high energy barrier compared to that along the tortuous minimum path whose energy barrier is not high. It is also found that the dissociation rate depends on the direction of the external force (θ) with respect to the assembly orientation. The presence of the force component perpendicular to the assembly orientation can reduce the bond lifetime significantly by driving the key particle to approach the minimum path. Moreover, the dissociation dynamics can be facilitated even by a pushing force compared to the spontaneous dissociation (without forces). To elucidate the effective pathway under pulling, the escaping position is analyzed and its mean direction with respect to the assembly orientation rises generally with increasing θ, revealing that the presence of the force component along the minimum pathway is helpful. The importance of the direction of the external pulling has been demonstrated in our simple system. Therefore, this effect should be considered in more complicated unbinding experiments.

Direction-dependent force-induced dissociation dynamics of an entropic-driven lock-and-key assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yen-Fu; Chen, Hsuan-Yi; Sheng, Yu-Jane; Tsao, Heng-Kwong

2017-09-01

The unbinding dynamics of a nanosized sphere-and-cavity assembly under the pulling of constant force and constant loading rate is explored by dissipative particle dynamics simulations. The formation of this matched lock-and-key pair in a polymer solution is driven by the depletion attraction. The two-dimensional free energy landscape U (x ,z ) associated with this assembly is constructed. Our results indicate that the unbinding pathway along the orientation of the assembly is unfavorable due to the relatively high energy barrier compared to that along the tortuous minimum path whose energy barrier is not high. It is also found that the dissociation rate depends on the direction of the external force (θ ) with respect to the assembly orientation. The presence of the force component perpendicular to the assembly orientation can reduce the bond lifetime significantly by driving the key particle to approach the minimum path. Moreover, the dissociation dynamics can be facilitated even by a pushing force compared to the spontaneous dissociation (without forces). To elucidate the effective pathway under pulling, the escaping position is analyzed and its mean direction with respect to the assembly orientation rises generally with increasing θ , revealing that the presence of the force component along the minimum pathway is helpful. The importance of the direction of the external pulling has been demonstrated in our simple system. Therefore, this effect should be considered in more complicated unbinding experiments.

Self-assembly of active amphiphilic Janus particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallory, S. A.; Alarcon, F.; Cacciuto, A.; Valeriani, C.

2017-12-01

In this article, we study the phenomenology of a two dimensional dilute suspension of active amphiphilic Janus particles. We analyze how the morphology of the aggregates emerging from their self-assembly depends on the strength and the direction of the active forces. We systematically explore and contrast the phenomenologies resulting from particles with a range of attractive patch coverages. Finally, we illustrate how the geometry of the colloids and the directionality of their interactions can be used to control the physical properties of the assembled active aggregates and suggest possible strategies to exploit self-propulsion as a tunable driving force for self-assembly.

Effect of intentional abutment disconnection on the micro-movements of the implant-abutment assembly: a 3D digital image correlation analysis.

PubMed

Messias, Ana; Rocha, Salomão; Calha, Nuno; Neto, Maria Augusta; Nicolau, Pedro; Guerra, Fernando

2017-01-01

Implant-abutment assembly stability is critical for the success of implant-supported rehabilitation. The intentional removal of the prosthetic components may hamper the achievement of the essential stability due to preload reduction in the screw joint and implant-screw mating surface changes. To evaluate the effect of intentional abutment disconnection and reconnection in the stability of internal locking hex implants and corresponding abutments using the method of 3D digital image correlation. Ten conical shape and internal hexagon connection implants were embedded in acrylic resin and assembled to prosthetic abutments with 30 Ncm torque and assigned to two groups: group 1 - tested for static load-bearing capacity at 30° off-axis for two times and group 2 - underwent intentional disconnection and reconnection between tests. Micro-movements were captured with two high-speed photographic cameras and analyzed with video correlation system in three spacial axes U, V and W. Screw abutment and internal implant thread morphology was observed with a field-emission scanning electron microscopy. After the intentional disconnection of the abutment, group 2 showed generally higher maximum displacements for U and V directions. Under 50N load, mean difference was 24.7 μm (P = 0.008) for U direction and -7.7 μm (P = 0.008) for V direction. No significant differences were found for maximum and minimum displacements in the W direction. Mean displacement of the speckle surface presented was statistically different in the two groups (P = 0.016). SEM revealed non-homogenous screw surfaces with scoring on group 2 plus striations and debris in the implant threads. Micro-movements were higher for the group submitted to intentional disconnection and reconnection of the abutment, particularly under average bite forces. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Micro to Nanoscale Engineering of Surface Precipitates Using Reconfigurable Contact Lines.

PubMed

Kabi, Prasenjit; Chaudhuri, Swetaprovo; Basu, Saptarshi

2018-02-06

Nanoscale engineering has traditionally adopted the chemical route of synthesis or optochemical techniques such as lithography requiring large process times, expensive equipment, and an inert environment. Directed self-assembly using evaporation of nanocolloidal droplet can be a potential low-cost alternative across various industries ranging from semiconductors to biomedical systems. It is relatively simple to scale and reorient the evaporation-driven internal flow field in an evaporating droplet which can direct dispersed matter into functional agglomerates. The resulting functional precipitates not only exhibit macroscopically discernible changes but also nanoscopic variations in the particulate assembly. Thus, the evaporating droplet forms an autonomous system for nanoscale engineering without the need for external resources. In this article, an indigenous technique of interfacial re-engineering, which is both simple and inexpensive to implement, is developed. Such re-engineering widens the horizon for surface patterning previously limited by the fixed nature of the droplet interface. It involves handprinting hydrophobic lines on a hydrophilic substrate to form a confinement of any selected geometry using a simple document stamp. Droplets cast into such confinements get modulated into a variety of shapes. The droplet shapes control the contact line behavior, evaporation dynamics, and complex internal flow pattern. By exploiting the dynamic interplay among these variables, we could control the deposit's macro- as well as nanoscale assembly not possible with simple circular droplets. We provide a detailed mechanism of the coupling at various length scales enabling a predictive capability in custom engineering, particularly useful in nanoscale applications such as photonic crystals.

Altered Actin Centripetal Retrograde Flow in Physically Restricted Immunological Synapses

PubMed Central

Yu, Cheng-han; Wu, Hung-Jen; Kaizuka, Yoshihisa; Vale, Ronald D.; Groves, Jay T.

2010-01-01

Antigen recognition by T cells involves large scale spatial reorganization of numerous receptor, adhesion, and costimulatory proteins within the T cell-antigen presenting cell (APC) junction. The resulting patterns can be distinctive, and are collectively known as the immunological synapse. Dynamical assembly of cytoskeletal network is believed to play an important role in driving these assembly processes. In one experimental strategy, the APC is replaced with a synthetic supported membrane. An advantage of this configuration is that solid structures patterned onto the underlying substrate can guide immunological synapse assembly into altered patterns. Here, we use mobile anti-CD3ε on the spatial-partitioned supported bilayer to ligate and trigger T cell receptor (TCR) in live Jurkat T cells. Simultaneous tracking of both TCR clusters and GFP-actin speckles reveals their dynamic association and individual flow patterns. Actin retrograde flow directs the inward transport of TCR clusters. Flow-based particle tracking algorithms allow us to investigate the velocity distribution of actin flow field across the whole synapse, and centripetal velocity of actin flow decreases as it moves toward the center of synapse. Localized actin flow analysis reveals that, while there is no influence on actin motion from substrate patterns directly, velocity differences of actin are observed over physically trapped TCR clusters. Actin flow regains its velocity immediately after passing through confined TCR clusters. These observations are consistent with a dynamic and dissipative coupling between TCR clusters and viscoelastic actin network. PMID:20686692

Analysis of an Adjustable Field Permanent Magnet Solenoid

DOE PAGES

Burris-Mog, Trevor John; Burns, Michael James; Chavez, Mark Anthony; ...

2017-07-12

A feasibility study has been performed on an adjustable-field permanent magnet (PM) solenoid concept in an effort to reduce the dependence that linear induction accelerators have on large direct current power supplies and associated cooling systems. The concept relies on the ability to reorient sections of the PMs and thus redirect their magnetization vector to either add to or subtract from the on-axis magnetic field. This study concentrated on the focal strengths and emittance growths for two different designs, both with 19 cm bore diameters extending 53 cm in length. The first design is expected to produce peak magnetic fieldsmore » ranging from 260 to 900 G (0.026 to 0.09 T) while the second design is expected to produce peak magnetic fields ranging from 580 to 2100 G (0.058 to 0.21 T). Finally, although the PM configuration generates a variable magnetic field and the torques acting on PMs within the assembly appear manageable, the emittance growth is larger than that of a DC solenoid.« less

Modeling the Earth's magnetospheric magnetic field confined within a realistic magnetopause

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsyganenko, N. A.

1995-01-01

Empirical data-based models of the magnetosphereic magnetic field have been widely used during recent years. However, the existing models (Tsyganenko, 1987, 1989a) have three serious deficiencies: (1) an unstable de facto magnetopause, (2) a crude parametrization by the K(sub p) index, and (3) inaccuracies in the equatorial magnetotail B(sub z) values. This paper describes a new approach to the problem; the essential new features are (1) a realistic shape and size of the magnetopause, based on fits to a large number of observed crossing (allowing a parametrization by the solar wind pressure), (2) fully controlled shielding of the magnetic field produced by all magnetospheric current systems, (3) new flexible representations for the tail and ring currents, and (4) a new directional criterion for fitting the model field to spacecraft data, providing improved accuracy for field line mapping. Results are presented from initial efforts to create models assembled from these modules and calibrated against spacecraft data sets.

Direct Electron Transfer of Enzymes in a Biologically Assembled Conductive Nanomesh Enzyme Platform.

PubMed

Lee, Seung-Woo; Lee, Ki-Young; Song, Yong-Won; Choi, Won Kook; Chang, Joonyeon; Yi, Hyunjung

2016-02-24

Nondestructive assembly of a nanostructured enzyme platform is developed in combination of the specific biomolecular attraction and electrostatic coupling for highly efficient direct electron transfer (DET) of enzymes with unprecedented applicability and versatility. The biologically assembled conductive nanomesh enzyme platform enables DET-based flexible integrated biosensors and DET of eight different enzyme with various catalytic activities. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Conducting nanowires built by controlled self-assembly of amyloid fibers and selective metal deposition.

PubMed

Scheibel, Thomas; Parthasarathy, Raghuveer; Sawicki, George; Lin, Xiao-Min; Jaeger, Heinrich; Lindquist, Susan L

2003-04-15

Recent research in the field of nanometer-scale electronics has focused on the operating principles of small-scale devices and schemes to realize useful circuits. In contrast to established "top-down" fabrication techniques, molecular self-assembly is emerging as a "bottom-up" approach for fabricating nanostructured materials. Biological macromolecules, especially proteins, provide many valuable properties, but poor physical stability and poor electrical characteristics have prevented their direct use in electrical circuits. Here we describe the use of self-assembling amyloid protein fibers to construct nanowire elements. Self-assembly of a prion determinant from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the N-terminal and middle region (NM) of Sup35p, produced 10-nm-wide protein fibers that were stable under a wide variety of harsh physical conditions. Their lengths could be roughly controlled by assembly conditions in the range of 60 nm to several hundred micrometers. A genetically modified NM variant that presents reactive, surface-accessible cysteine residues was used to covalently link NM fibers to colloidal gold particles. These fibers were placed across gold electrodes, and additional metal was deposited by highly specific chemical enhancement of the colloidal gold by reductive deposition of metallic silver and gold from salts. The resulting silver and gold wires were approximately 100 nm wide. These biotemplated metal wires demonstrated the conductive properties of a solid metal wire, such as low resistance and ohmic behavior. With such materials it should be possible to harness the extraordinary diversity and specificity of protein functions to nanoscale electrical circuitry.

Laser-directed hierarchical assembly of liquid crystal defects and control of optical phase singularities

PubMed Central

Ackerman, Paul J.; Qi, Zhiyuan; Lin, Yiheng; Twombly, Christopher W.; Laviada, Mauricio J.; Lansac, Yves; Smalyukh, Ivan I.

2012-01-01

Topological defect lines are ubiquitous and important in a wide variety of fascinating phenomena and theories in many fields ranging from materials science to early-universe cosmology, and to engineering of laser beams. However, they are typically hard to control in a reliable manner. Here we describe facile erasable “optical drawing” of self-assembled defect clusters in liquid crystals. These quadrupolar defect clusters, stabilized by the medium's chirality and the tendency to form twisted configurations, are shaped into arbitrary two-dimensional patterns, including reconfigurable phase gratings capable of generating and controlling optical phase singularities in laser beams. Our findings bridge the studies of defects in condensed matter physics and optics and may enable applications in data storage, singular optics, displays, electro-optic devices, diffraction gratings, as well as in both optically- and electrically-addressed pixel-free spatial light modulators. PMID:22679553

Laser-Directed Hierarchical Assembly of Liquid Crystal Defects and Control of Optical Phase Singularities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ackerman, P. J.; Qi, Z. Y.; Lin, Y. H.

2012-06-07

Topological defect lines are ubiquitous and important in a wide variety of fascinating phenomena and theories in many fields ranging from materials science to early-universe cosmology, and to engineering of laser beams. However, they are typically hard to control in a reliable manner. Here we describe facile erasable 'optical drawing' of self-assembled defect clusters in liquid crystals. These quadrupolar defect clusters, stabilized by the medium's chirality and the tendency to form twisted configurations, are shaped into arbitrary two-dimensional patterns, including reconfigurable phase gratings capable of generating and controlling optical phase singularities in laser beams. Our findings bridge the studies ofmore » defects in condensed matter physics and optics and may enable applications in data storage, singular optics, displays, electro-optic devices, diffraction gratings, as well as in both optically- and electrically-addressed pixel-free spatial light modulators.« less

Decoration of vertical graphene with aerosol nanoparticles for gas sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Shumao; Guo, Xiaoru; Ren, Ren; Zhou, Guihua; Chen, Junhong

2015-08-01

A facile method was demonstrated to decorate aerosol Ag nanoparticles onto vertical graphene surfaces using a mini-arc plasma reactor. The vertical graphene was directly grown on a sensor electrode using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. The aerosol Ag nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple vapor condensation process using a mini-arc plasma source. Then, the nanoparticles were assembled on the surface of vertical graphene through the assistance of an electric field. Based on our observation, nonagglomerated Ag nanoparticles formed in the gas phase and were assembled onto vertical graphene sheets. Nanohybrids of Ag nanoparticle-decorated vertical graphene were characterized for ammonia gas detection at room temperature. The vertical graphene served as the conductance channel, and the conductance change upon exposure to ammonia was used as the sensing signal. The sensing results show that Ag nanoparticles significantly improve the sensitivity, response time, and recovery time of the sensor.

P-type sub-tungsten-oxide based urchin-like nanostructure for superior room temperature alcohol sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Yao; Yin, Mingli; Yan, Junqing; Liu, Shengzhong (Frank)

2018-05-01

Nanowires assembled sub-WO3 urchin-like nanostructures have been fabricated via a solvothermal method. The detailed structure and morphology features were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results reveal that the individual nanowires are grown along the [0 0 1] direction, and assembled together to form an urchin-like nanostructure. Sensing performance of the sub-WO3 was investigated toward alcohol vapor. At room temperature, the sensor devices based on the WO3-x exhibit significantly higher sensitivity comparing to that of the stoichiometric WO3. The superior sensing performance of this WO3-x sensor is ascribed to the large specific surface area and abundant oxygen vacancies. The obvious enhancement of the gas sensing property can be very useful for the future design and development of room temperature gas sensors for other volatile organic compounds.

Formation of printable granular and colloidal chains through capillary effects and dielectrophoresis

PubMed Central

Rozynek, Zbigniew; Han, Ming; Dutka, Filip; Garstecki, Piotr; Józefczak, Arkadiusz; Luijten, Erik

2017-01-01

One-dimensional conductive particle assembly holds promise for a variety of practical applications, in particular for a new generation of electronic devices. However, synthesis of such chains with programmable shapes outside a liquid environment has proven difficult. Here we report a route to simply ‘pull' flexible granular and colloidal chains out of a dispersion by combining field-directed assembly and capillary effects. These chains are automatically stabilized by liquid bridges formed between adjacent particles, without the need for continuous energy input or special particle functionalization. They can further be deposited onto any surface and form desired conductive patterns, potentially applicable to the manufacturing of simple electronic circuits. Various aspects of our route, including the role of particle size and the voltages needed, are studied in detail. Looking towards practical applications, we also present the possibility of two-dimensional writing, rapid solidification of chains and methods to scale up chain production. PMID:28497791

Formation of printable granular and colloidal chains through capillary effects and dielectrophoresis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rozynek, Zbigniew; Han, Ming; Dutka, Filip; Garstecki, Piotr; Józefczak, Arkadiusz; Luijten, Erik

2017-05-01

One-dimensional conductive particle assembly holds promise for a variety of practical applications, in particular for a new generation of electronic devices. However, synthesis of such chains with programmable shapes outside a liquid environment has proven difficult. Here we report a route to simply `pull' flexible granular and colloidal chains out of a dispersion by combining field-directed assembly and capillary effects. These chains are automatically stabilized by liquid bridges formed between adjacent particles, without the need for continuous energy input or special particle functionalization. They can further be deposited onto any surface and form desired conductive patterns, potentially applicable to the manufacturing of simple electronic circuits. Various aspects of our route, including the role of particle size and the voltages needed, are studied in detail. Looking towards practical applications, we also present the possibility of two-dimensional writing, rapid solidification of chains and methods to scale up chain production.

Nanoscale chemical imaging by photoinduced force microscopy

PubMed Central

Nowak, Derek; Morrison, William; Wickramasinghe, H. Kumar; Jahng, Junghoon; Potma, Eric; Wan, Lei; Ruiz, Ricardo; Albrecht, Thomas R.; Schmidt, Kristin; Frommer, Jane; Sanders, Daniel P.; Park, Sung

2016-01-01

Correlating spatial chemical information with the morphology of closely packed nanostructures remains a challenge for the scientific community. For example, supramolecular self-assembly, which provides a powerful and low-cost way to create nanoscale patterns and engineered nanostructures, is not easily interrogated in real space via existing nondestructive techniques based on optics or electrons. A novel scanning probe technique called infrared photoinduced force microscopy (IR PiFM) directly measures the photoinduced polarizability of the sample in the near field by detecting the time-integrated force between the tip and the sample. By imaging at multiple IR wavelengths corresponding to absorption peaks of different chemical species, PiFM has demonstrated the ability to spatially map nm-scale patterns of the individual chemical components of two different types of self-assembled block copolymer films. With chemical-specific nanometer-scale imaging, PiFM provides a powerful new analytical method for deepening our understanding of nanomaterials. PMID:27051870

Aligned 1-D nanorods of a π-gelator exhibit molecular orientation and excitation energy transport different from entangled fiber networks.

PubMed

Sakakibara, Keita; Chithra, Parayalil; Das, Bidisa; Mori, Taizo; Akada, Misaho; Labuta, Jan; Tsuruoka, Tohru; Maji, Subrata; Furumi, Seiichi; Shrestha, Lok Kumar; Hill, Jonathan P; Acharya, Somobrata; Ariga, Katsuhiko; Ajayaghosh, Ayyappanpillai

2014-06-18

Linear π-gelators self-assemble into entangled fibers in which the molecules are arranged perpendicular to the fiber long axis. However, orientation of gelator molecules in a direction parallel to the long axes of the one-dimensional (1-D) structures remains challenging. Herein we demonstrate that, at the air-water interface, an oligo(p-phenylenevinylene)-derived π-gelator forms aligned nanorods of 340 ± 120 nm length and 34 ± 5 nm width, in which the gelator molecules are reoriented parallel to the long axis of the rods. The orientation change of the molecules results in distinct excited-state properties upon local photoexcitation, as evidenced by near-field scanning optical microscopy. A detailed understanding of the mechanism by which excitation energy migrates through these 1-D molecular assemblies might help in the design of supramolecular structures with improved charge-transport properties.

Solid phase microextraction field kit

DOEpatents

Nunes, Peter J.; Andresen, Brian D.

2005-08-16

A field kit for the collection, isolation and concentration of trace amounts of high explosives (HE), biological weapons (BW) and chemical weapons (CW) residues in air, soil, vegetation, swipe, and liquid samples. The field kit includes a number of Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) fiber and syringe assemblies in a hermetically sealed transportation container or tubes which includes a sampling port, a number of extra SPME fiber and syringe assemblies, the fiber and syringe assemblies including a protective cap for the fiber, and an extractor for the protective cap, along with other items including spare parts, protective glove, and an instruction manual, all located in an airtight container.

Direct assembling methodologies for high-throughput bioscreening

PubMed Central

Rodríguez-Dévora, Jorge I.; Shi, Zhi-dong; Xu, Tao

2012-01-01

Over the last few decades, high-throughput (HT) bioscreening, a technique that allows rapid screening of biochemical compound libraries against biological targets, has been widely used in drug discovery, stem cell research, development of new biomaterials, and genomics research. To achieve these ambitions, scaffold-free (or direct) assembly of biological entities of interest has become critical. Appropriate assembling methodologies are required to build an efficient HT bioscreening platform. The development of contact and non-contact assembling systems as a practical solution has been driven by a variety of essential attributes of the bioscreening system, such as miniaturization, high throughput, and high precision. The present article reviews recent progress on these assembling technologies utilized for the construction of HT bioscreening platforms. PMID:22021162

Influence of the Helicopter Time Domain Electromagnetic System Off-Time Response by the Transmitter Assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vetrov, A.; Mejzr, I.

2010-12-01

While developing a new Helicopter Time Domain Electromagnetic system (P-THEM), Pico Envirotec Inc (PEI) has studied the effect of the transmitter assembly on the acquired data. The P-THEM system consists of a loop-transmitter assembly, powered by a motor generator, 3-axis coil receiver attached at the midpoint of a tow cable and an additional Z-axis (dB/dt) receiver installed on the rear section of the transmitter loop. The system is towed by a helicopter on a 230 foot long tow cable. The transmitter loop is designed to produce a peak magnetic moment of approximately 250,000 NIA with a base frequency of 30 Hz (adjustable to 25Hz) and a quarter length duty cycle (4 ms on-time). The secondary field acquired with a dB/dt receiver coil consists of a ground response and a system response: SF=Rg+Rsys, where SF - the secondary field, Rg - ground response, Rsys - system response. The system itself, especially the transmitter assembly, being a conductor in an induced magnetic field, creates a magnetic anomaly. The influence of the transmitter assembly anomaly on the received signal depends on the position of the receiver coil against the transmitter, the intensity of on-time pulse and transmitter electro-magnetic properties. At the same time, the ground response acquired with a receiver coil depends on the length and the moment of transmitter pulse, as well as the position and distance of the receiver coil from the ground. This can be for vertical field (Z) receiver coil described as RXz(t)=e(t)pz(t)Rgz(t)+d(t)k(t)j(t)TXz(t), where RXz(t) - receiver response, e(t) - elevation of the receiver over the ground, pz(t) - horizontal projection of the receiver coil, Rgz(t) - vertical component of ground response, d(t) - distance (elevation) between the receiver coil and the transmitter loop, k(t) - the position of the receiver in the transmitter field, j(t) - the transmitter assembly electromagnetic properties, TXz(t) -transmitter field (Primary field on-time, and transmitter assembly response off-time). Changes in the electromagnetic properties of the transmitter loop and mechanical vibrations of the transmitter and receiver are much lower frequency in comparison with the base frequency and can be omitted from consideration of a one cycle length period. The transmitter assembly response has to be subtracted from acquired off-time decay for a correct interpretation of ground response. The transmitter influence is very low when the receiving coil is placed far away. However, the transmitter influence is very important when the receiver is close to the transmitter assembly due to the transmitter anomaly decay which then becomes greater than the ground response. The transmitter assembly off-time response can be registered when the system is flown at a sufficiently high altitude and it is not affected by ground conductors. A number of experiments were conducted to determine the transmitter influence content in the acquired data. The secondary dB/dt receiver installed at different elevations over the transmitter loop in test flights It showed the influence change of the transmitter assembly on the acquired secondary field (OFF-time) dependent upon the distance between the transmitter assembly and the receiver loop.

Assessing tropical rainforest growth traits: Data - Model fusion in the Congo basin and beyond.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pietsch, S.

2016-12-01

Virgin forest ecosystems resemble the key reference level for natural tree growth dynamics. The mosaic cycle concept describes such dynamics as local disequilibria driven by patch level succession cycles of breakdown, regeneration, juvenescence and old growth. These cycles, however, may involve different traits of light demanding and shade tolerant species assemblies. In this work a data model fusion concept will be introduced to assess the differences in growth dynamics of the mosaic cycle of the Western Congolian Lowland Rainforest ecosystem. Field data from 34 forest patches located in an ice age forest refuge, recently pinpointed to the ground and still devoid of direct human impact up to today - resemble the data base. A 3D error assessment procedure versus BGC model simulations for the 34 patches revealed two different growth dynamics, consistent with observed growth traits of pioneer and late succession species assemblies of the Western Congolian Lowland rainforest. An application of the same procedure to Central American Pacific rainforests confirms the strength of the 3D error field data model fusion concept to assess different growth traits of the mosaic cycle of natural forest dynamics.

Flow-driven Assembly of Microcapsule Towers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shum, Henry; Balazs, Anna

2016-11-01

Large populations of the slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum, are able to aggregate over a surface and collectively form a long, vertical stalk. Inspired by this biological behavior, we develop a synthetic mechanism for assembling tower-like structures using microcapsules as the building blocks. We accomplish this in simulations by generating a fluid flow field that draws microcapsules together along a surface and lifts them up at a central point. We considered a fluid flow generated by the local release of a chemical species from a patch on the surface. The concentration gradient of the diffusing chemical species causes radial diffusioosmotic flow along the solid surface toward the patch. Adhesive interactions keep the microcapsules attached to the surface as they are drawn together above the patch. To build a tower-like structure, some of the microcapsules must detach from the surface but remain attached to the rest of the cluster. The upward directed fluid flow above the patch then draws out the cluster into a tower shape. The final morphology of the aggregate structure depends on the flow field, the adhesive capsule-capsule and capsule-surface interaction strengths, and the sedimentation force on the capsules. Tuning these factors changes the structures that are produced.

Cryo-electron tomography of bacterial viruses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guerrero-Ferreira, Ricardo C.; Wright, Elizabeth R., E-mail: erwrigh@emory.edu

2013-01-05

Bacteriophage particles contain both simple and complex macromolecular assemblages and machines that enable them to regulate the infection process under diverse environmental conditions with a broad range of bacterial hosts. Recent developments in cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) make it possible to observe the interactions of bacteriophages with their host cells under native-state conditions at unprecedented resolution and in three-dimensions. This review describes the application of cryo-ET to studies of bacteriophage attachment, genome ejection, assembly and egress. Current topics of investigation and future directions in the field are also discussed.

77 FR 35306 - Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Helicopters

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-13

... assemblies (power cable assemblies). This proposed AD is prompted by the determination that the power cable assembly connector (connector) can deteriorate, causing a short in the connector that may lead to a fire. This AD would require replacing the power cable assemblies and their associated parts, and performing...

75 FR 61999 - Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 767 Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-07

..., for certain airplanes, reworking the bonding jumper assemblies on the drain tube assemblies of the... inspections of the drain tube assemblies of the slat track housing of the wings to find discrepancies... would also require replacing the drain tube assemblies. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would...

76 FR 9984 - Airworthiness Directives; B/E Aerospace, Continuous Flow Passenger Oxygen Mask Assembly, Part...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-23

..., Continuous Flow Passenger Oxygen Mask Assembly, Part Numbers 174006-(), 174080-(), 174085-(), 174095... manufacturer and part number of the oxygen mask assemblies installed, an inspection to determine the manufacturing date and modification status if certain oxygen mask assemblies are installed, and corrective...

Portable instrument for inspecting irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies

DOEpatents

Nicholson, Nicholas; Dowdy, Edward J.; Holt, David M.; Stump, Jr., Charles J.

1985-01-01

A portable instrument for measuring induced Cerenkov radiation associated with irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies in a water-filled storage pond is disclosed. The instrument includes a photomultiplier tube and an image intensifier which are operable in parallel and simultaneously by means of a field lens assembly and an associated beam splitter. The image intensifier permits an operator to aim and focus the apparatus on a submerged fuel assembly. Once the instrument is aimed and focused, an illumination reading can be obtained with the photomultiplier tube. The instrument includes a lens cap with a carbon-14/phosphor light source for calibrating the apparatus in the field.

Radiography by selective detection of scatter field velocity components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dugan, Edward T. (Inventor); Jacobs, Alan M. (Inventor); Shedlock, Daniel (Inventor)

2007-01-01

A reconfigurable collimated radiation detector, system and related method includes at least one collimated radiation detector. The detector has an adjustable collimator assembly including at least one feature, such as a fin, optically coupled thereto. Adjustments to the adjustable collimator selects particular directions of travel of scattered radiation emitted from an irradiated object which reach the detector. The collimated detector is preferably a collimated detector array, where the collimators are independently adjustable. The independent motion capability provides the capability to focus the image by selection of the desired scatter field components. When an array of reconfigurable collimated detectors is provided, separate image data can be obtained from each of the detectors and the respective images cross-correlated and combined to form an enhanced image.

Real-space mapping of the strongly coupled plasmons of nanoparticle dimers.

PubMed

Kim, Deok-Soo; Heo, Jinhwa; Ahn, Sung-Hyun; Han, Sang Woo; Yun, Wan Soo; Kim, Zee Hwan

2009-10-01

We carried out the near-field optical imaging of isolated and dimerized gold nanocubes to directly investigate the strong coupling between two adjacent nanoparticles. The high-resolution (approximately 10 nm) local field maps (intensities and phases) of self-assembled nanocube dimers reveal antisymmetric plasmon modes that are starkly different from a simple superposition of two monomeric dipole plasmons, which is fully reproduced by the electrodynamics simulations. The result decisively proves that, for the closely spaced pair of nanoparticles (interparticle distance/particle size approximately 0.04), the strong Coulombic attraction between the charges at the interparticle gap dominates over the intraparticle charge oscillations, resulting in a hybridized dimer plasmon mode that is qualitatively different from those expected from a simple dipole-dipole coupling model.

Novel motor design for rotating anode x-ray tubes operating in the fringe field of a magnetic resonance imaging system

PubMed Central

Lillaney, Prasheel; Shin, Mihye; Hinshaw, Waldo; Bennett, N. Robert; Pelc, Norbert; Fahrig, Rebecca

2013-01-01

Purpose: Using hybrid x-ray/MR (XMR) systems for image guidance during interventional procedures could enhance the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic, oncologic, cardiovascular, and other disorders. The authors propose a close proximity hybrid system design in which a C-arm fluoroscopy unit is placed immediately adjacent to the solenoid magnet of a MR system with a minimum distance of 1.2 m between the x-ray and MR imaging fields of view. Existing rotating anode x-ray tube designs fail within MR fringe field environments because the magnetic fields alter the electron trajectories in the x-ray tube and act as a brake on the induction motor, reducing the rotation speed of the anode. In this study the authors propose a novel motor design that avoids the anode rotation speed reduction. Methods: The proposed design replaces the permanent magnet stator found in brushed dc motors with the radial component of the MR fringe field. The x-ray tube is oriented such that the radial component of the MR fringe field is orthogonal to the cathode-anode axis. Using a feedback position sensor and the support bearings as electrical slip rings, the authors use electrical commutation to eliminate the need for mechanical brushes and commutators. A vacuum compatible prototype of the proposed motor design was assembled, and its performance was evaluated at various operating conditions. The prototype consisted of a 3.1 in. diameter anode rated at 300 kHU with a ceramic rotor that was 5.6 in. in length and had a 2.9 in. diameter. The material chosen for all ceramic components was MACOR, a machineable glass ceramic developed by Corning Inc. The approximate weight of the entire assembly was 1750 g. The maximum rotation speed, angular acceleration, and acceleration time of the motor design were investigated, as well as the dependence of these parameters on rotor angular offset, magnetic field strength, and field orientation. The resonance properties of the authors’ assembly were also evaluated to determine its stability during acceleration, and a pulse width modulation algorithm was implemented to control the rotation speed of the motor. Results: At a magnetic flux density of 41 mT orthogonal to the axis of rotation (on the lower end of the expected flux density in the MR suite) the maximum speed of the motor was found to be 5150 revolutions per minute (rpm). The acceleration time necessary to reach 3000 rpm was found to be approximately 10 s at 59 mT. The resonance frequency of the assembly with the anode attached was 1310 rpm (21.8 Hz) which is far below the desired operating speeds. Pulse width modulation provides an effective method to control the speed of the motor with a resolution of 100 rpm. Conclusions: The proposed design can serve as a direct replacement to the conventional induction motor used in rotating anode x-ray tubes. It does not suffer from a reduced rotation speed when operating in a MR environment. The presence of chromic steel bearings in the prototype prevented testing at the higher field strengths, and future iterations of the design could eliminate this shortcoming. The prototype assembly demonstrates proof of concept of the authors’ design and overcomes one of the major obstacles for a MR compatible rotating anode x-ray tube. PMID:23387764

Novel motor design for rotating anode x-ray tubes operating in the fringe field of a magnetic resonance imaging system.

PubMed

Lillaney, Prasheel; Shin, Mihye; Hinshaw, Waldo; Bennett, N Robert; Pelc, Norbert; Fahrig, Rebecca

2013-02-01

Using hybrid x-ray∕MR (XMR) systems for image guidance during interventional procedures could enhance the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic, oncologic, cardiovascular, and other disorders. The authors propose a close proximity hybrid system design in which a C-arm fluoroscopy unit is placed immediately adjacent to the solenoid magnet of a MR system with a minimum distance of 1.2 m between the x-ray and MR imaging fields of view. Existing rotating anode x-ray tube designs fail within MR fringe field environments because the magnetic fields alter the electron trajectories in the x-ray tube and act as a brake on the induction motor, reducing the rotation speed of the anode. In this study the authors propose a novel motor design that avoids the anode rotation speed reduction. The proposed design replaces the permanent magnet stator found in brushed dc motors with the radial component of the MR fringe field. The x-ray tube is oriented such that the radial component of the MR fringe field is orthogonal to the cathode-anode axis. Using a feedback position sensor and the support bearings as electrical slip rings, the authors use electrical commutation to eliminate the need for mechanical brushes and commutators. A vacuum compatible prototype of the proposed motor design was assembled, and its performance was evaluated at various operating conditions. The prototype consisted of a 3.1 in. diameter anode rated at 300 kHU with a ceramic rotor that was 5.6 in. in length and had a 2.9 in. diameter. The material chosen for all ceramic components was MACOR, a machineable glass ceramic developed by Corning Inc. The approximate weight of the entire assembly was 1750 g. The maximum rotation speed, angular acceleration, and acceleration time of the motor design were investigated, as well as the dependence of these parameters on rotor angular offset, magnetic field strength, and field orientation. The resonance properties of the authors' assembly were also evaluated to determine its stability during acceleration, and a pulse width modulation algorithm was implemented to control the rotation speed of the motor. At a magnetic flux density of 41 mT orthogonal to the axis of rotation (on the lower end of the expected flux density in the MR suite) the maximum speed of the motor was found to be 5150 revolutions per minute (rpm). The acceleration time necessary to reach 3000 rpm was found to be approximately 10 s at 59 mT. The resonance frequency of the assembly with the anode attached was 1310 rpm (21.8 Hz) which is far below the desired operating speeds. Pulse width modulation provides an effective method to control the speed of the motor with a resolution of 100 rpm. The proposed design can serve as a direct replacement to the conventional induction motor used in rotating anode x-ray tubes. It does not suffer from a reduced rotation speed when operating in a MR environment. The presence of chromic steel bearings in the prototype prevented testing at the higher field strengths, and future iterations of the design could eliminate this shortcoming. The prototype assembly demonstrates proof of concept of the authors' design and overcomes one of the major obstacles for a MR compatible rotating anode x-ray tube.

Multiferroic Core-Shell Nanofibers, Assembly in a Magnetic Field, and Studies on Magneto-Electric Interactions

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jitao; Zhang, Ru; Popov, Maksym

2017-01-01

Ferromagnetic–ferroelectric nanocomposites are of interest for realizing strong strain-mediated coupling between electric and magnetic subsystems due to a high surface area-to-volume ratio. This report is on the synthesis of nickel ferrite (NFO)–barium titanate (BTO) core–shell nanofibers, magnetic field assisted assembly into superstructures, and studies on magneto-electric (ME) interactions. Electrospinning techniques were used to prepare coaxial fibers of 0.5–1.5 micron in diameter. The core–shell structure of annealed fibers was confirmed by electron microscopy and scanning probe microscopy. The fibers were assembled into discs and films in a uniform magnetic field or in a field gradient. Studies on ME coupling in the assembled films and discs were done by magnetic field (H)-induced polarization, magneto–dielectric effects at low frequencies and at 16–24 GHz, and low-frequency ME voltage coefficients (MEVC). We measured ~2–7% change in remnant polarization and in the permittivity for H = 7 kOe, and a MEVC of 0.4 mV/cm Oe at 30 Hz. A model has been developed for low-frequency ME effects in an assembly of fibers and takes into account dipole–dipole interactions between the fibers and fiber discontinuity. Theoretical estimates for the low-frequency MEVC have been compared with the data. These results indicate strong ME coupling in superstructures of the core–shell fibers. PMID:29295512

Directed-assembled multi-band moiré plasmonic metasurfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagavalli Yogeesh, Maruthi; Wu, Zilong; Li, Wei; Akinwande, Deji; Zheng, Yuebing

With the large number of component sets and high rotational symmetry, plasmonic metamaterials with moiré patterns can support multiple plasmonic modes for multi-functional applications. Herein, we introduce moiré plasmonic metasurfaces using both gold and graphene, by a recently developed directed-assembled method known as moiré nanosphere lithography (MNSL). The graphene moiré metasurfaces show multiple and tunable resonance modes in the mid-infrared wavelength regime. The number and wavelength of the resonance modes can be tuned by controlling the moiré patterns, which can be easily achieved by changing the relative in-plane rotation angle during MNSL. Furthermore, we have designed a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) patch structure with a thin Au moiré metasurface layer and an optically thick Au layer separated by a dielectric spacer layer. Benefiting from the combination of moiré patterns and field enhancement from the MIM configuration, the moiré metasurface patch exhibits strong broadband absorption in the NIR ( 1.3 μm) and MIR ( 5 μm) range. The dual-band optical responses make moiré metasurface patch a multi-functional platform for surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy, optical capture and patterning of bacteria, and photothermal denaturation of proteins.

Photon Upconversion and Molecular Solar Energy Storage by Maximizing the Potential of Molecular Self-Assembly.

PubMed

Kimizuka, Nobuo; Yanai, Nobuhiro; Morikawa, Masa-Aki

2016-11-29

The self-assembly of functional molecules into ordered molecular assemblies and the fulfillment of potentials unique to their nanotomesoscopic structures have been one of the central challenges in chemistry. This Feature Article provides an overview of recent progress in the field of molecular self-assembly with the focus on the triplet-triplet annihilation-based photon upconversion (TTA-UC) and supramolecular storage of photon energy. On the basis of the integration of molecular self-assembly and photon energy harvesting, triplet energy migration-based TTA-UC has been achieved in varied molecular systems. Interestingly, some molecular self-assemblies dispersed in solution or organogels revealed oxygen barrier properties, which allowed TTA-UC even under aerated conditions. The elements of molecular self-assembly were also introduced to the field of molecular solar thermal fuel, where reversible photoliquefaction of ionic crystals to ionic liquids was found to double the molecular storage capacity with the simultaneous pursuit of switching ionic conductivity. A future prospect in terms of innovating molecular self-assembly toward molecular systems chemistry is also discussed.

Thermal Test Verification of Emission Control through Directional Baffles for the James Webb Space Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garrison, Matthew; Rashford, Robert; Switzer, Timothy; Shaw, David; White, Bryant; Lynch, Michael; Huber, Frank; Bachtell, Neal

2009-01-01

The thermal performance of NASA s planned James Webb Space Telescope is highly reliant on a collection of directional baffles that are part of the Integrated Science Instrument Module Electronics Compartment. In order to verify the performance of the baffle concept, two test assemblies were recently fabricated and tested at the Goddard Space Flight Center. The centerpiece of the testing was a fixture that used bolometers to measure the emission field through the baffles while the radiator panels and baffles ran a flight-like temperature. Although not all test goals were able to be met due to facility malfunctions, the test was able to prove the design viability enough to gain approval to begin manufacturing the flight article.

Role of topographical defects in organic film growth of 4,4' -biphenyldicarboxylic acid on graphene: A low-energy electron microscopy study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khokhar, Fawad S.; van Gastel, Raoul; Poelsema, Bene

2010-11-01

We have used low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM) to study the formation of self-assembled molecular networks on graphene sheets. 4,4' -biphenyldicarboxylic acid (BDA) molecular networks were grown using organic molecular beam epitaxy. LEEM images provide direct insight in the growth dynamics and show that defects in the graphene play a crucial role in the final morphology of the molecular film that forms. BDA is demonstrated to form hydrogen bond-stabilized chains on graphene. Dark-field LEEM images reveal that the same defects that determine the morphology of the film, also direct the orientation of the domains, highlighting the importance of understanding the role of defects in epitaxial processes on graphene.

Nanostructures and functional materials fabricated by interferometric lithography.

PubMed

Xia, Deying; Ku, Zahyun; Lee, S C; Brueck, S R J

2011-01-11

Interferometric lithography (IL) is a powerful technique for the definition of large-area, nanometer-scale, periodically patterned structures. Patterns are recorded in a light-sensitive medium, such as a photoresist, that responds nonlinearly to the intensity distribution associated with the interference of two or more coherent beams of light. The photoresist patterns produced with IL are a platform for further fabrication of nanostructures and growth of functional materials and are building blocks for devices. This article provides a brief review of IL technologies and focuses on various applications for nanostructures and functional materials based on IL including directed self-assembly of colloidal nanoparticles, nanophotonics, semiconductor materials growth, and nanofluidic devices. Perspectives on future directions for IL and emerging applications in other fields are presented.

30 CFR 28.4 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., assembles, or fabricates, or controls the design, manufacture, assembly, or fabrication of a fuse, and who... means a device, no less effective than an automatic circuit breaker, for use with direct current which... MINING PRODUCTS FUSES FOR USE WITH DIRECT CURRENT IN PROVIDING SHORT-CIRCUIT PROTECTION FOR TRAILING...

30 CFR 28.4 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., assembles, or fabricates, or controls the design, manufacture, assembly, or fabrication of a fuse, and who... means a device, no less effective than an automatic circuit breaker, for use with direct current which... MINING PRODUCTS FUSES FOR USE WITH DIRECT CURRENT IN PROVIDING SHORT-CIRCUIT PROTECTION FOR TRAILING...

30 CFR 28.4 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., assembles, or fabricates, or controls the design, manufacture, assembly, or fabrication of a fuse, and who... means a device, no less effective than an automatic circuit breaker, for use with direct current which... MINING PRODUCTS FUSES FOR USE WITH DIRECT CURRENT IN PROVIDING SHORT-CIRCUIT PROTECTION FOR TRAILING...

Planning Assembly Of Large Truss Structures In Outer Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

De Mello, Luiz S. Homem; Desai, Rajiv S.

1992-01-01

Report dicusses developmental algorithm used in systematic planning of sequences of operations in which large truss structures assembled in outer space. Assembly sequence represented by directed graph called "assembly graph", in which each arc represents joining of two parts or subassemblies. Algorithm generates assembly graph, working backward from state of complete assembly to initial state, in which all parts disassembled. Working backward more efficient than working forward because it avoids intermediate dead ends.

The One-Pot Directed Assembly of Cylinder-Forming Block Copolymer on Adjacent Chemical Patterns for Bimodal Patterning.

PubMed

Chang, Tzu-Hsuan; Xiong, Shisheng; Liu, Chi-Chun; Liu, Dong; Nealey, Paul F; Ma, Zhenqiang

2017-09-01

The direct self-assembly of cylinder-forming poly(styrene-block-methyl-methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) block copolymer is successfully assembled into two orientations, according to the underlying guiding pattern in different areas. Lying-down and perpendicular cylinders are formed, respectively, depending on the design of chemical pattern: sparse line/space pattern or hexagonal dot array. The first chemical pattern composed of prepatterned cross-linked polystyrene (XPS) line/space structure has a period (L S ) equal to twice the intercylinder period of the block copolymer (L 0 ). The PS-b-PMMA thin film on the prepared chemical template after thermal annealing forms a lying-down cylinder morphology when the width of the PS strips is less than the width of PS block in the PS-b-PMMA block copolymer. The morphology is only applicable at the discrete thickness of the PS-b-PMMA film. In addition to forming the lying-down cylinders directly on the XPS guiding pattern, the cylinder-forming block copolymer can also be assembled in a perpendicular way on the second guiding pattern (the hexagonal dot array). The block copolymer films are registered into two orientations in a single directed self-assembly process. The features of the assembled patterns are successfully transferred down to the silicon oxide substrate. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Directed Self-Assembly of Diblock Copolymer Thin Films on Prepatterned Metal Nanoarrays.

PubMed

Chang, Tongxin; Huang, Haiying; He, Tianbai

2016-01-01

The sequential layer by layer self-assembly of block copolymer (BCP) nanopatterns is an effective approach to construct 3D nanostructures. Here large-scale highly ordered metal nano-arrays prepared from solvent annealed thin films of polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) diblock copolymer are used to direct the assembly of the same BCP. The influence of initial loading concentration of metal precursor, the type of metal nanoparticle (gold, platinum, and silver), and the nanoparticle-substrate interaction on the directed assembly behavior of the upper BCP layer have been focused. It is found that the upper BCP film can be completely directed by the gold nanoarray with P2VP domain exclusively located between two adjacent gold nanowires or nanodots, which behaves the same way as on the platinum nanoarray. While the silver nanoarray can be destroyed during the upper BCP self-assembly with the silver nanoparticles assembled into the P2VP domain. Based on the discussions of the surface energy of nanoparticles and the interplay between nanoparticle-substrate interaction and nanoparticle-polymer interaction, it is concluded that the effect of immobilization of nanoparticles on the substrate, together with entropy effect to minimize the energetically unfavorable chain stretching contributes to the most effective alignment between each layer. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Programmable self-assembly of three-dimensional nanostructures from 104 unique components

PubMed Central

Ong, Luvena L.; Hanikel, Nikita; Yaghi, Omar K.; Grun, Casey; Strauss, Maximilian T.; Bron, Patrick; Lai-Kee-Him, Josephine; Schueder, Florian; Wang, Bei; Wang, Pengfei; Kishi, Jocelyn Y.; Myhrvold, Cameron A.; Zhu, Allen; Jungmann, Ralf

2017-01-01

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are widely used to construct nanoscale structures with ever increasing complexity1–14 for possible applications in fields as diverse as structural biology, biophysics, synthetic biology and photonics. The nanostructures are formed through one-pot self-assembly, with early examples typically containing on the order of 10 unique DNA strands. The introduction of DNA origami4, which uses many staple strands to fold one long scaffold strand into a desired structure, gave access to kilo- to mega-dalton nanostructures containing about 102 unique DNA strands6,7,10,13 . Aiming for even larger DNA origami structures is in principle possible15,16, but faces the challenge of having to manufacture and route an increasingly long scaffold strand. An alternative and in principle more readily scalable approach uses DNA brick assembly8,9, which doesn’t need a scaffold and instead uses hundreds of short DNA brick strands that self-assemble according to specific inter-brick interactions. First-generation bricks used to create 3D structures are 32-nt long with four 8-nt binding domains that directed 102 distinct bricks into well-formed assemblies, but attempts to create larger structures encountered practical challenges and had limited success.9 Here we show that a new generation of DNA bricks with longer binding domains makes it possible to self-assemble 0.1 – 1 giga-dalton three-dimensional nanostructures from 104 unique components, including a 0.5 giga-dalton cuboid containing 30,000 unique bricks and a 1 giga-dalton rotationally symmetric tetramer. We also assemble a cuboid containing 10,000 bricks and 20,000 uniquely addressable ‘nano-voxels’ that serves as a molecular canvas for three-dimensional sculpting, with introduction of sophisticated user-prescribed 3D cavities yielding structures such as letters, a complex helicoid and a teddy bear. We anticipate that, with further optimization, even larger assemblies might be accessible and prove useful as scaffolds or for positioning functional components. PMID:29219968

Understanding electric field-enhanced transport for the measurement of nanoparticles and their assembly on surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsai, De-Hao

The goal of this dissertation is to understand the synthesis, characterization, and integration of nanoparticles and nanoparticle-based devices by electric field-enhanced transport of nanoparticles. Chapter I describes the factors used for determining particle trajectories and found that electric fields provide the directional electrostatic force to overcome other non-directional influences on particle trajectories. This idea is widely applied in the nanoparticle classification, characterization, and assembly onto substrate surfaces as investigated in the following chapters. Chapter 2 presents a new assembly method to position metal nanoparticles delivered from the gas phase onto surfaces using the electrostatic force generated by biased p-n junction patterned substrates. Aligned deposition patterns of metal nanoparticles were observed, and the patterning selectivity quantified. A simple model accounting for the generated electric field, and the electrostatic, van der Waals, and image forces was used to explain the observed results. Chapter 2.2 describes a data set for particle size resolved deposition, from which a Brownian dynamics model for the process can be evaluated. Brownian motion and fluid convection of nanoparticles, as well as the interactions between the charged nanoparticles and the patterned substrate, including electrostatic force, image force and van der Waals force, are accounted for in the simulation. Using both experiment and simulation the effects of the particle size, electric field intensity, and the convective flow on coverage selectivity have been investigated. Coverage selectivity is most sensitive to electric field, which is controlled by the applied reverse bias voltage across the p-n junction. A non-dimensional analysis of the competition between the electrostatic and diffusion force is found to provide a means to collapse a wide range of process operating conditions and an effective indicator or process performance. Directed assembly of size-selected nanoparticles has been applied in the study of nanoparticle enhanced fluorescence (NEF) bio-sensing devices. Chapter 3 presents results of a systematic examination of funct onalized gold nanoparticles by electrospray-differential mobility analysis (ES-DMA). Formation of selfassembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkylthiol molecules and singly stranded DNA (ssDNA) on the Au-NP surface was detected from a change in particle mobility, which could be modeled to extract the surface packing density. A gas-phase temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) kinetic study of SAMs on the Au-NP found the data to be consistent with a second order Arrhenius based rate law, yielding an Arrhenius-factor of 1x1011s -1 and an activation energy ˜105 kJ/mol. This study suggests that the ES-DMA can be added to the tool set of characterization methods being employed and developed to study the structure and properties of coated nanoparticles. Chapter 3.2 demonstrates this ES-DMA as a new method to investigate colloidal aggregation and the parameters that govern it. Nanoparticle suspensions were characterized by sampling a Au nanoparticle (Au-NP) colloidal solution via electrospray (ES), followed by differential ion-mobility analysis (DMA) to determine the mobility distribution, and thus the aggregate distribution. By sampling at various times, the degree of flocculation and the flocculation rate are determined and found to be inversely proportional to the ionic strength and proportional to the residence time. A stability ratio at different ionic strengths, the critical concentration, and surface potential or surface charge density of Au-NPs are obtained from these data. This method should be a generically useful tool to probe the early stages of colloidal aggregation. Study of ES-DMA is extended to include the characterizations of a variety of materials. Biologically interested materials such as viruses and antibodies could also be characterized. These results show ES-DMA provides a general way to characterize the colloidal materials as well as aerosolized particles.

Field-induced self-assembly of iron oxide nanoparticles investigated using small-angle neutron scattering.

PubMed

Fu, Zhendong; Xiao, Yinguo; Feoktystov, Artem; Pipich, Vitaliy; Appavou, Marie-Sousai; Su, Yixi; Feng, Erxi; Jin, Wentao; Brückel, Thomas

2016-11-03

The magnetic-field-induced assembly of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) provides a unique and flexible strategy in the design and fabrication of functional nanostructures and devices. We have investigated the field-induced self-assembly of core-shell iron oxide NPs dispersed in toluene by means of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The form factor of the core-shell NPs was characterized and analyzed using SANS with polarized neutrons. Large-scale aggregates of iron oxide NPs formed above 0.02 T as indicated by very-small-angle neutron scattering measurements. A three-dimensional long-range ordered superlattice of iron oxide NPs was revealed under the application of a moderate magnetic field. The crystal structure of the superlattice has been identified to be face-centred cubic.

Chlorophyll J-aggregates: from bioinspired dye stacks to nanotubes, liquid crystals, and biosupramolecular electronics.

PubMed

Sengupta, Sanchita; Würthner, Frank

2013-11-19

Among the natural light-harvesting (LH) systems, those of green sulfur and nonsulfur photosynthetic bacteria are exceptional because they lack the support of a protein matrix. Instead, these so-called chlorosomes are based solely on "pigments". These are self-assembled bacteriochlorophyll c, d, and e derivatives, which consist of a chlorophyll skeleton bearing a 3(1)-hydroxy functional group. Chemists consider the latter as an essential structural unit to direct the formation of light-harvesting self-assembled dye aggregates with J-type excitonic coupling. The intriguing properties of chlorosomal J-type aggregates, particularly narrow red-shifted absorption bands, compared with monomers and their ability to delocalize and migrate excitons, have inspired intense research activities toward synthetic analogues in this field. The ultimate goal of this research field is the development of (opto-)electronic devices based on the architectural principle of chlorosomal LH systems. In this regard, the challenge is to develop small, functional building blocks with appropriate substituents that are preprogrammed to self-assemble across different length scales and to emulate functions of natural LH systems or to realize entirely new functions beyond those found in nature. In this Account, we highlight our achievements in the past decade with semisynthetic zinc chlorins (ZnChls) as model compounds of bacteriochlorophylls obtained from the naturally most abundant chlorin precursor: chlorophyll a. To begin, we explore how supramolecular strategies involving π-stacking, hydrogen bonding, and metal-oxygen coordination can be used to design ZnChl-based molecular stack, tube, and liquid crystalline assemblies conducive to charge and energy transport. Our design principle is based on the bioinspired functionalization of the 3(1)-position of ZnChl with a hydroxy or methoxy group; the former gives rise to tubular assemblies, whereas the latter induces stack assemblies. Functionalization of the 17(2)-position with esterified hydrophilic or hydrophobic chains, dendron-wedge substituents, and chromophores having complementary optical properties such as naphthalene bisimides (NBIs) is used to modulate the self-assembly of ZnChl dyes. The resulting assemblies exhibit enhanced charge transport and energy transfer abilities. We have used UV/vis, circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) for the characterization of these assemblies in solution. In addition, we have studied assembly morphologies by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and cryogenic-TEM. Crystallographic techniques such as powder X-ray and solid-state NMR have been used to explain the precise long- and short-range packing of dyes in these assemblies. Finally, functional properties such as charge and energy transport have been explored by pulse radiolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity (PR-TRMC), conductive AFM, and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The design principles discussed in this Account are important steps toward the utilization of these materials in biosupramolecular electronics and photonics in the future.

Fluid driven reciprocating apparatus

DOEpatents

Whitehead, J.C.

1997-04-01

An apparatus is described comprising a pair of fluid driven pump assemblies in a back-to-back configuration to yield a bi-directional pump. Each of the pump assemblies includes a piston or diaphragm which divides a chamber therein to define a power section and a pumping section. An intake-exhaust valve is connected to each of the power sections of the pump chambers, and function to direct fluid, such as compressed air, into the power section and exhaust fluid therefrom. At least one of the pistons or diaphragms is connected by a rod assembly which is constructed to define a signal valve, whereby the intake-exhaust valve of one pump assembly is controlled by the position or location of the piston or diaphragm in the other pump assembly through the operation of the rod assembly signal valve. Each of the pumping sections of the pump assemblies are provided with intake and exhaust valves to enable filling of the pumping section with fluid and discharging fluid therefrom when a desired pressure has been reached. 13 figs.

Fluid driven recipricating apparatus

DOEpatents

Whitehead, John C.

1997-01-01

An apparatus comprising a pair of fluid driven pump assemblies in a back-to-back configuration to yield a bi-directional pump. Each of the pump assemblies includes a piston or diaphragm which divides a chamber therein to define a power section and a pumping section. An intake-exhaust valve is connected to each of the power sections of the pump chambers, and function to direct fluid, such as compressed air, into the power section and exhaust fluid therefrom. At least one of the pistons or diaphragms is connected by a rod assembly which is constructed to define a signal valve, whereby the intake-exhaust valve of one pump assembly is controlled by the position or location of the piston or diaphragm in the other pump assembly through the operation of the rod assembly signal valve. Each of the pumping sections of the pump assemblies are provided with intake and exhaust valves to enable filling of the pumping section with fluid and discharging fluid therefrom when a desired pressure has been reached.

Wind turbine having a direct-drive drivetrain

DOEpatents

Bevington, Christopher M.; Bywaters, Garrett L.; Coleman, Clint C.; Costin, Daniel P.; Danforth, William L.; Lynch, Jonathan A.; Rolland, Robert H.

2008-10-07

A wind turbine (100) comprising an electrical generator (108) that includes a rotor assembly (112). A wind rotor (104) that includes a wind rotor hub (124) is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle (160) via a bearing assembly (180). The wind rotor hub includes an opening (244) having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity (380) inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret (140) supported by a tower (136). Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity (172, 176, 368) that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system (276) for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

Genome assembly from synthetic long read clouds

PubMed Central

Kuleshov, Volodymyr; Snyder, Michael P.; Batzoglou, Serafim

2016-01-01

Motivation: Despite rapid progress in sequencing technology, assembling de novo the genomes of new species as well as reconstructing complex metagenomes remains major technological challenges. New synthetic long read (SLR) technologies promise significant advances towards these goals; however, their applicability is limited by high sequencing requirements and the inability of current assembly paradigms to cope with combinations of short and long reads. Results: Here, we introduce Architect, a new de novo scaffolder aimed at SLR technologies. Unlike previous assembly strategies, Architect does not require a costly subassembly step; instead it assembles genomes directly from the SLR’s underlying short reads, which we refer to as read clouds. This enables a 4- to 20-fold reduction in sequencing requirements and a 5-fold increase in assembly contiguity on both genomic and metagenomic datasets relative to state-of-the-art assembly strategies aimed directly at fully subassembled long reads. Availability and Implementation: Our source code is freely available at https://github.com/kuleshov/architect. Contact: kuleshov@stanford.edu PMID:27307620

Self-assembling biomolecular catalysts for hydrogen production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jordan, Paul C.; Patterson, Dustin P.; Saboda, Kendall N.; Edwards, Ethan J.; Miettinen, Heini M.; Basu, Gautam; Thielges, Megan C.; Douglas, Trevor

2016-02-01

The chemistry of highly evolved protein-based compartments has inspired the design of new catalytically active materials that self-assemble from biological components. A frontier of this biodesign is the potential to contribute new catalytic systems for the production of sustainable fuels, such as hydrogen. Here, we show the encapsulation and protection of an active hydrogen-producing and oxygen-tolerant [NiFe]-hydrogenase, sequestered within the capsid of the bacteriophage P22 through directed self-assembly. We co-opted Escherichia coli for biomolecular synthesis and assembly of this nanomaterial by expressing and maturing the EcHyd-1 hydrogenase prior to expression of the P22 coat protein, which subsequently self assembles. By probing the infrared spectroscopic signatures and catalytic activity of the engineered material, we demonstrate that the capsid provides stability and protection to the hydrogenase cargo. These results illustrate how combining biological function with directed supramolecular self-assembly can be used to create new materials for sustainable catalysis.

Infrared Thermal Testing Of Mechanical Assemblies At The Military Depot And Field Level: A Progress Report

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaplan, Herbert

1988-01-01

Based on encouraging results on the Army's programs for infrared mass screening of printed circuit boards at the depot level, the US Army CECOM (Communication-Electronics Command) undertook a one-year investigation of the applicability of similar techniques to screening and diagnostics of mechanical assemblies. These included tanks, helicopters, transport vehicles and their major subassemblies (transmissions, engines, axles, etc.) at field and depot levels. Honeyhill Technical Company was tasked to classify candidate assemblies and perform preliminary measurements using Army-owned general-purpose thermal imaging equipment. The investigations yielded positive results, and it was decided to pursue a comprehensive measurements program using field-mobile equipment specifically procured for the program. This paper summarizes the results of the investigations, outlines the measurements techniques utilized, describes the classification and selection of candidate assemblies, and reports on progress toward the goals of the program.

Colloidal suspensions in external rotating electric field: experimental studies and prospective applications in physics, material science, and biomedicine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yakovlev, Egor V.; Troshina, Anna V.; Korsakova, Sofia A.; Andronik, Mikhail; Rodionov, Ilya A.; Aliev, Ismail N.; Zaytsev, Kirill I.; Cherkasova, Olga P.; Tuchin, Valery V.; Yurchenko, Stanislav O.

2018-04-01

Colloidal suspensions and tunable self-assembly of colloidal particles attract a great interest in recent years. In this paper, we propose a new setup and technology for studies of self-assembly of colloidal particles, interection of which between themselves is tuned by external rotating electric fields. We reveal wide prospectives of electric field employment for tunable self-assembly, from suspensions of inorganic particles to ensembles of biological cells. These results make enable particle-resolved studies of various collective phenomena and fundamental processes in many-particle systems in equilibrium state and far from it, while the dynamics can be resolved at the level of individual particles using video microscopy. For the first time, we demonstrate that, apart from ability to prepare photonic crystalline films of inorganic silica particles, the tunable self-assembly provides a novel technological way for manipulation with ensembles of biological cells by control of interactions between them.

Mechanisms Underlying the Active Self-Assembly of Microtubule Rings and Spools.

PubMed

VanDelinder, Virginia; Brener, Stephanie; Bachand, George D

2016-03-14

Active self-assembly offers a powerful route for the creation of dynamic multiscale structures that are presently inaccessible with standard microfabrication techniques. One such system uses the translation of microtubule filaments by surface-tethered kinesin to actively assemble nanocomposites with bundle, ring, and spool morphologies. Attempts to observe mechanisms involved in this active assembly system have been hampered by experimental difficulties with performing observation during buffer exchange and photodamage from fluorescent excitation. In the present work, we used a custom microfluidic device to remove these limitations and directly study ring/spool formation, including the earliest events (nucleation) that drive subsequent nanocomposite assembly. Three distinct formation events were observed: pinning, collisions, and induced curvature. Of these three, collisions accounted for the majority of event leading to ring/spool formation, while the rate of pinning was shown to be dependent on the amount of photodamage in the system. We further showed that formation mechanism directly affects the diameter and rotation direction of the resultant rings and spools. Overall, the fundamental understanding described in this work provides a foundation by which the properties of motor-driven, actively assembled nanocomposites may be tailored toward specific applications.

Mechanisms underlying the active self-assembly of microtubule rings and spools

DOE PAGES

VanDelinder, Virginia; Brener, Stephanie; Bachand, George D.

2016-02-04

Here, active self-assembly offers a powerful route for the creation of dynamic multiscale structures that are presently inaccessible with standard microfabrication techniques. One such system uses the translation of microtubule filaments by surface-tethered kinesin to actively assemble nanocomposites with bundle, ring, and spool morphologies. Attempts to observe mechanisms involved in this active assembly system have been hampered by experimental difficulties with performing observation during buffer exchange and photodamage from fluorescent excitation. In the present work, we used a custom microfluidic device to remove these limitations and directly study ring/spool formation, including the earliest events (nucleation) that drive subsequent nanocomposite assembly.more » Three distinct formation events were observed: pinning, collisions, and induced curvature. Of these three, collisions accounted for the majority of event leading to ring/spool formation, while the rate of pinning was shown to be dependent on the amount of photodamage in the system. We further showed that formation mechanism directly affects the diameter and rotation direction of the resultant rings and spools. Overall, the fundamental understanding described in this work provides a foundation by which the properties of motor-driven, actively assembled nanocomposites may be tailored toward specific applications.« less

Direct-write assembly of microperiodic planar and spanning ITO microelectrodes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ahn, Bok Y; Lorang, David J; Duoss, Eric B.

2010-01-01

Printed Sn-doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} (ITO) microelectrodes are fabricated by direct-write assembly of sol–gel inks with varying concentration. This maskless, non-lithographic approach provides a facile route to patterning transparent conductive features in planar arrays and spanning architectures.

78 FR 19093 - Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-29

... doing a general visual inspection of the housing assembly of the packboard release mechanism to determine if its surface treatment has been sealed, and if the surface of the housing assembly is unsealed, replacing the housing assembly with a new or serviceable housing assembly. We are issuing this AD to detect...

Driven assembly with multiaxial fields: Creating a soft mode in assemblies of anisometric induced dipoles

DOE PAGES

Martin, James E.; Swol, Frank Van

2015-07-10

We show that multiaxial fields can induce time-averaged, noncentrosymmetric interactions between particles having polarization anisotropy, yet the multiaxial field itself does not exert either a force or a torque on an isolated particle. These induced interactions lead to particle assemblies whose energy is strongly dependent on both the translational and orientational degrees of freedom of the system. The situation is similar to a collection of permanent dipoles, but the symmetry of the time-averaged interaction is quite distinct, and the scale of the system energy can be dynamically controlled by the magnitude of the applied multiaxial field. In our paper, themore » case of polarizable rods is considered in detail, and it is suggested that collections of rods embedded in spheres can be used to create a material with a dynamically tunable magnetic permeability or dielectric permittivity. We report on Monte Carlo simulations performed to investigate the behavior of assemblies of both multiaxial-field induced dipoles and permanent dipoles arranged onto two-dimensional lattices. Lastly, the ground state of the induced dipoles is an orientational soft mode of aligned dipoles, whereas that of the permanent dipoles is a vortex state.« less

Combined measurement of directional Raman scattering and surface-plasmon-polariton cone from adsorbates on smooth planar gold surfaces

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nyamekye, Charles K. A.; Weibel, Stephen C.; Bobbitt, Jonathan M.

Directional-surface-plasmon-coupled Raman scattering (directional RS) has the combined benefits of surface plasmon resonance and Raman spectroscopy, and provides the ability to measure adsorption and monolayer-sensitive chemical information. Directional RS is performed by optically coupling a 50-nm gold film to a Weierstrass prism in the Kretschmann configuration and scanning the angle of the incident laser under total internal reflection. The collected parameters on the prism side of the interface include a full surface-plasmon-polariton cone and the full Raman signal radiating from the cone as a function of incident angle. An instrument for performing directional RS and a quantitative study of themore » instrumental parameters are herein reported. To test the sensitivity and quantify the instrument parameters, self-assembled monolayers and 10 to 100-nm polymer films are studied. The signals are found to be well-modeled by two calculated angle-dependent parameters: three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain calculations of the electric field generated in the sample layer and projected to the far-field, and Fresnel calculations of the reflected light intensity. This is the first report of the quantitative study of the full surface-plasmon-polariton cone intensity, cone diameter, and directional Raman signal as a function of incident angle. We propose that directional RS is a viable alternative to surface plasmon resonance when added chemical information is beneficial.« less

Combined measurement of directional Raman scattering and surface-plasmon-polariton cone from adsorbates on smooth planar gold surfaces

DOE PAGES

Nyamekye, Charles K. A.; Weibel, Stephen C.; Bobbitt, Jonathan M.; ...

2017-09-15

Directional-surface-plasmon-coupled Raman scattering (directional RS) has the combined benefits of surface plasmon resonance and Raman spectroscopy, and provides the ability to measure adsorption and monolayer-sensitive chemical information. Directional RS is performed by optically coupling a 50-nm gold film to a Weierstrass prism in the Kretschmann configuration and scanning the angle of the incident laser under total internal reflection. The collected parameters on the prism side of the interface include a full surface-plasmon-polariton cone and the full Raman signal radiating from the cone as a function of incident angle. An instrument for performing directional RS and a quantitative study of themore » instrumental parameters are herein reported. To test the sensitivity and quantify the instrument parameters, self-assembled monolayers and 10 to 100-nm polymer films are studied. The signals are found to be well-modeled by two calculated angle-dependent parameters: three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain calculations of the electric field generated in the sample layer and projected to the far-field, and Fresnel calculations of the reflected light intensity. This is the first report of the quantitative study of the full surface-plasmon-polariton cone intensity, cone diameter, and directional Raman signal as a function of incident angle. We propose that directional RS is a viable alternative to surface plasmon resonance when added chemical information is beneficial.« less

Electrostatic quadrupole focused particle accelerating assembly with laminar flow beam

DOEpatents

Maschke, A.W.

1984-04-16

A charged particle accelerating assembly provided with a predetermined ratio of parametric structural characteristics and with related operating voltages applied to each of its linearly spaced focusing and accelerating quadrupoles, thereby to maintain a particle beam traversing the electrostatic fields of the quadrupoles in the assembly in an essentially laminar flow through the assembly.

Electrostatic quadrupole focused particle accelerating assembly with laminar flow beam

DOEpatents

Maschke, Alfred W.

1985-01-01

A charged particle accelerating assembly provided with a predetermined ratio of parametric structural characteristics and with related operating voltages applied to each of its linearly spaced focusing and accelerating quadrupoles, thereby to maintain a particle beam traversing the electrostatic fields of the quadrupoles in the assembly in an essentially laminar flow throughout the assembly.

Micro-Masonry: Construction of 3D Structures by Mesoscale Self-Assembly

PubMed Central

Fernandez, Javier G.; Khademhosseini, Ali

2010-01-01

A general method for construction of three dimensional structures by directed assembly of microscale polymeric sub-units is presented. Shape-controlled microgels are directed to assemble into different shapes by limiting their movement onto a molded substrate. The capillary forces, resulting from the presence of a liquid polymer, assemble the microgels in close contact with the rest of the units and with the free surface, the latter imposing the final geometry of the resulting construct. The result is a freestanding structure composed of one or multiple layers of sub-units assembled in a tightly packed conformation. The applicability of the technique for the construction of scaffolds with cell-laden sub-units is demonstrated. In addition, scaffolds formed by the sequential aggregation of sub-units are produced. PMID:20440697

A 2 Tesla Full Scale High Performance Periodic Permanent Magnet Model for Attractive (228 KN) and repulsive Maglev

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stekly, Z. J. J.; Gardner, C.; Domigan, P.; Baker, J.; Hass, M.; McDonald, C.; Wu, C.; Farrell, R. A.

1996-01-01

Two 214.5 cm. long high performance periodic (26 cm period) permanent magnet half-assemblies were designed and constructed for use as a wiggler using Nd-B-Fe and vanadium permendur as hard and soft magnetic materials by Field Effects, a division of Intermagnetics General Corporation. Placing these assemblies in a supporting structure with a 2.1 cm pole to pole separation resulted in a periodic field with a maximum value of 2.04 T. This is believed to be the highest field ever achieved by this type of device. The attractive force between the two 602 kg magnet assemblies is 228 kN, providing enough force for suspension of a 45,500 kg vehicle. If used in an attractive maglev system with an appropriate flat iron rail, one assembly will generate the same force with a gap of 1.05 cm leading to a lift to weight ratio of 38.6, not including the vehicle attachment structure. This permanent magnet compares well with superconducting systems which have lift to weight ratios in the range of 5 to 10. This paper describes the magnet assemblies and their measured magnetic performance. The measured magnetic field and resulting attractive magnetic force have a negative spring characteristic. Appropriate control coils are necessary to provide stable operation. The estimated performance of the assemblies in a stable repulsive mode, with eddy currents in a conducting guideway, is also discussed.

Assembly vs. direct launch of transfer vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Katzberg, Stephen J.; Pritchard, E. Brian

1990-01-01

A top level assessment is performed of the relative impacts of on-orbit assembly of the lunar or Mars transfer vehicles versus direct launch. The objective is to identify the major option paths for the Earth-to-orbit, ETO, transportation systems. Heavy lift launch vehicles, if large enough, could reduce or eliminate on-orbit assembly. However, with every new approach, there are always counter-balancing considerations and it is the objective to begin the delineation of the necessary follow-on trade study issues.

Surface-Directed Assembly of Sequence-Defined Synthetic Polymers into Networks of Hexagonally Patterned Nanoribbons with Controlled Functionalities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Chun-Long; Zuckermann, Ronald N.; DeYoreo, James J.

The exquisite self-assembly of proteins and peptides in nature into highly ordered functional materials has inspired innovative approaches to biomimetic materials design and synthesis. Here we report the assembly of peptoids—a class of highly stable sequence-defined synthetic polymers—into biomimetic materials on mica surfaces. The assembling 12-mer peptoid contains alternating acidic and aromatic residues, and the presence of Ca2+ cations creates peptoid-peptoid and peptoid-mica interactions that drive assembly. In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) shows that peptoids first assemble into discrete nanoparticles, these particles then transform into hexagonally-patterned nanoribbons on mica surfaces. AFM-based dynamic force spectroscopy (DFS) studies show that peptoid-micamore » interactions are much stronger than peptoidpeptoid interactions in the presence of Ca2+, illuminating the physical parameters that drive peptoid assembly. We further demonstrate the display of functional groups at the N-terminus of assembling peptoid sequence to produce biomimetic materials with similar hierarchical structures. This research demonstrates that surface-directed peptoid assembly can be used as a robust platform to develop biomimetic coating materials for applications.« less

Oligonucleotide-Functionalized Anisotropic Gold Nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, Matthew Robert

In this thesis, we describe the properties of oligonucleotide-functionalized gold colloids under the unique set of conditions where the particles are geometrically anisotropic and have nanometer-scale dimensions. While nearly two decades of previous work elucidated numerous unexpected and emergent phenomena arising from the combination of inorganic nanoparticles with surface-bound DNA strands, virtually nothing was known about how these properties are altered when the shape of the nanoparticle core is chosen to be non-spherical. In particular, we are interested in understanding, and ultimately controlling, the ways in which these DNA-conjugated anisotropic nanostructures interact when their attraction is governed by programmable DNA hybridization events. Chapter 1 introduces the field of DNA-based materials assembly by discussing how nanoscale building blocks which present rigid, directional interactions can be thought of as possessing artificial versions of the familiar chemical principles of "bonds" and "valency". In chapter 2 we explore the fundamental interparticle binding thermodynamics of DNA-functionalized spherical and anisotropic nanoparticles, which reveals enormous preferences for collective ligand interactions occurring between flat surfaces over those that occur between curved surfaces. Using these insights, chapter 3 demonstrates that when syntheses produce mixtures of different nanoparticle shapes, the tailorable nature of DNA-mediated interparticle association can be used to selectively crystallize and purify the desired anisotropic nanostructure products, leaving spherical impurity particles behind. Chapter 4 leverages the principle that the flat facets of anisotropic particles generate directional DNA-based hybridization interactions to assemble a variety of tailorable nanoparticle superlattices whose symmetry and dimensionality are a direct consequence of the shape of the nanoparticle building block used in their construction. Chapter 5 explores a useful application of having thermally labile DNA duplexes bound to anisotropic nanoparticles -- the selective photothermal heating and release of hybridized oligonucleotides via a plasmon excitation-based mechanism. The final chapter presents a brief summary of the seminal findings of this thesis and provides an outlook covering future directions and remaining challenges for the field. A comprehensive review covering methods to synthesize and assemble noble metal nanostructures is included in the appendix as an additional resource. All experimental chapters are organized similarly; they begin with an abstract or introduction to motivate and contextualize the work, present the main results and discussion with brief experimental details, and conclude with more detailed, supplementary information for the interested reader. As a whole, this work establishes fundamental understanding and new experimental methods for exploiting nanoscale shape anisotropy to manipulate the chemical and physical properties of matter.

Non-equilibrium behaviour in coacervate-based protocells under electric-field-induced excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Yudan; Niu, Lin; Zhu, Xiaocui; Zhao, Meiping; Zhang, Zexin; Mann, Stephen; Liang, Dehai

2016-02-01

Although numerous strategies are now available to generate rudimentary forms of synthetic cell-like entities, minimal progress has been made in the sustained excitation of artificial protocells under non-equilibrium conditions. Here we demonstrate that the electric field energization of coacervate microdroplets comprising polylysine and short single strands of DNA generates membrane-free protocells with complex, dynamical behaviours. By confining the droplets within a microfluidic channel and applying a range of electric field strengths, we produce protocells that exhibit repetitive cycles of vacuolarization, dynamical fluctuations in size and shape, chaotic growth and fusion, spontaneous ejection and sequestration of matter, directional capture of solute molecules, and pulsed enhancement of enzyme cascade reactions. Our results highlight new opportunities for the study of non-equilibrium phenomena in synthetic protocells, provide a strategy for inducing complex behaviour in electrostatically assembled soft matter microsystems and illustrate how dynamical properties can be activated and sustained in microcompartmentalized media.

Superparamagnetic microbead transport induced by a magnetic field on large-area magnetic antidot arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ouk, Minae; Beach, Geoffrey S. D.

2017-12-01

A method is presented for directed transport of superparamagnetic microbeads (SPBs) on magnetic antidot patterned substrates by applying a rotating elliptical magnetic field. We find a critical frequency for transport, beyond which the bead dynamics transitions from stepwise locomotion to local oscillation. We also find that the out-of-plane (HOOP) and in-plane (HIP) field magnitudes play crucial roles in triggering bead motion. Namely, we find threshold values in HOOP and HIP that depend on bead size, which can be used to independently and remotely address specific bead populations in a multi-bead mixture. These behaviors are explained in terms of the dynamic potential energy lansdscapes computed from micromagnetic simulations of the substrate magnetization configuration. Finally, we show that large-area magnetic patterns suitable for particle transport and sorting can be fabricated through a self-assembly lithography technique, which provides a simple, cost-effective means to integrate magnetic actuation into microfluidic systems.

Globally optimal superconducting magnets part II: symmetric MSE coil arrangement.

PubMed

Tieng, Quang M; Vegh, Viktor; Brereton, Ian M

2009-01-01

A globally optimal superconducting magnet coil design procedure based on the Minimum Stored Energy (MSE) current density map is outlined. The method has the ability to arrange coils in a manner that generates a strong and homogeneous axial magnetic field over a predefined region, and ensures the stray field external to the assembly and peak magnetic field at the wires are in acceptable ranges. The outlined strategy of allocating coils within a given domain suggests that coils should be placed around the perimeter of the domain with adjacent coils possessing alternating winding directions for optimum performance. The underlying current density maps from which the coils themselves are derived are unique, and optimized to possess minimal stored energy. Therefore, the method produces magnet designs with the lowest possible overall stored energy. Optimal coil layouts are provided for unshielded and shielded short bore symmetric superconducting magnets.

Non-equilibrium behaviour in coacervate-based protocells under electric-field-induced excitation

PubMed Central

Yin, Yudan; Niu, Lin; Zhu, Xiaocui; Zhao, Meiping; Zhang, Zexin; Mann, Stephen; Liang, Dehai

2016-01-01

Although numerous strategies are now available to generate rudimentary forms of synthetic cell-like entities, minimal progress has been made in the sustained excitation of artificial protocells under non-equilibrium conditions. Here we demonstrate that the electric field energization of coacervate microdroplets comprising polylysine and short single strands of DNA generates membrane-free protocells with complex, dynamical behaviours. By confining the droplets within a microfluidic channel and applying a range of electric field strengths, we produce protocells that exhibit repetitive cycles of vacuolarization, dynamical fluctuations in size and shape, chaotic growth and fusion, spontaneous ejection and sequestration of matter, directional capture of solute molecules, and pulsed enhancement of enzyme cascade reactions. Our results highlight new opportunities for the study of non-equilibrium phenomena in synthetic protocells, provide a strategy for inducing complex behaviour in electrostatically assembled soft matter microsystems and illustrate how dynamical properties can be activated and sustained in microcompartmentalized media. PMID:26876162

Active structuring of colloidal armour on liquid drops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dommersnes, Paul; Rozynek, Zbigniew; Mikkelsen, Alexander; Castberg, Rene; Kjerstad, Knut; Hersvik, Kjetil; Otto Fossum, Jon

2013-06-01

Adsorption and assembly of colloidal particles at the surface of liquid droplets are at the base of particle-stabilized emulsions and templating. Here we report that electrohydrodynamic and electro-rheological effects in leaky-dielectric liquid drops can be used to structure and dynamically control colloidal particle assemblies at drop surfaces, including electric-field-assisted convective assembly of jammed colloidal ‘ribbons’, electro-rheological colloidal chains confined to a two-dimensional surface and spinning colloidal domains on that surface. In addition, we demonstrate the size control of ‘pupil’-like openings in colloidal shells. We anticipate that electric field manipulation of colloids in leaky dielectrics can lead to new routes of colloidosome assembly and design for ‘smart armoured’ droplets.

Portable instrument for inspecting irradiated nuclear-fuel assemblies in a water-filled storage pond by measurement of induced Cerenkov radiation

DOEpatents

Nicholson, N.; Dowdy, E.J.; Holt, D.M.; Stump, C.J. Jr.

1982-05-13

A portable instrument for measuring induced Cerenkov radiation associated with irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies in a water-filled storage pond is disclosed. The instrument includes a photomultiplier tube and an image intensifier which are operable in parallel and simultaneously by means of a field lens assembly and an associated beam splitter. The image intensifier permits an operator to aim and focus the apparatus on a submerged fuel assembly. Once the instrument is aimed and focused, an illumination reading can be obtained with the photomultiplier tube. The instrument includes a lens cap with a carbon-14/phosphor light source for calibrating the apparatus in the field.

Methods of fabricating a conductor assembly having a curvilinear arcuate shape

DOEpatents

Meinke, Rainer [Melbourne, FL

2011-08-23

A method for manufacture of a conductor assembly along a curvilinear axis. The assembly may be of the type which, when conducting current, generates a magnetic field or in which, in the presence of a changing magnetic field, a voltage is induced. In one example, the assembly includes a structure having a curved shape extending along the axis. A surface of the structure is positioned for formation of a channel along the curved shape. The structure is rotated about a second axis. While rotating the structure, a channel is formed in the surface that results in a helical shape in the structure. The channel extends both around and along the first axis.

Active structuring of colloidal armour on liquid drops.

PubMed

Dommersnes, Paul; Rozynek, Zbigniew; Mikkelsen, Alexander; Castberg, Rene; Kjerstad, Knut; Hersvik, Kjetil; Otto Fossum, Jon

2013-01-01

Adsorption and assembly of colloidal particles at the surface of liquid droplets are at the base of particle-stabilized emulsions and templating. Here we report that electrohydrodynamic and electro-rheological effects in leaky-dielectric liquid drops can be used to structure and dynamically control colloidal particle assemblies at drop surfaces, including electric-field-assisted convective assembly of jammed colloidal 'ribbons', electro-rheological colloidal chains confined to a two-dimensional surface and spinning colloidal domains on that surface. In addition, we demonstrate the size control of 'pupil'-like openings in colloidal shells. We anticipate that electric field manipulation of colloids in leaky dielectrics can lead to new routes of colloidosome assembly and design for 'smart armoured' droplets.

Colloidal polymers with controlled sequence and branching constructed from magnetic field assembled nanoparticles.

PubMed

Bannwarth, Markus B; Utech, Stefanie; Ebert, Sandro; Weitz, David A; Crespy, Daniel; Landfester, Katharina

2015-03-24

The assembly of nanoparticles into polymer-like architectures is challenging and usually requires highly defined colloidal building blocks. Here, we show that the broad size-distribution of a simple dispersion of magnetic nanocolloids can be exploited to obtain various polymer-like architectures. The particles are assembled under an external magnetic field and permanently linked by thermal sintering. The remarkable variety of polymer-analogue architectures that arises from this simple process ranges from statistical and block copolymer-like sequencing to branched chains and networks. This library of architectures can be realized by controlling the sequencing of the particles and the junction points via a size-dependent self-assembly of the single building blocks.

Correction: An unsymmetrical non-fullerene acceptor: synthesis via direct heteroarylation, self-assembly, and utility as a low energy absorber in organic photovoltaic cells.

PubMed

Payne, Abby-Jo; Li, Shi; Dayneko, Sergey V; Risko, Chad; Welch, Gregory C

2017-09-21

Correction for 'An unsymmetrical non-fullerene acceptor: synthesis via direct heteroarylation, self-assembly, and utility as a low energy absorber in organic photovoltaic cells' by Abby-Jo Payne et al., Chem. Commun., 2017, 53, 10168-10171.

Change the Collective Behaviors of Colloidal Motors by Tuning Electrohydrodynamic Flow at the Subparticle Level.

PubMed

Yang, Xingfu; Wu, Ning

2018-01-23

As demonstrated in biological systems, breaking the symmetry of surrounding hydrodynamic flow is the key to achieve autonomous locomotion of microscopic objects. In recent years, a variety of synthetic motors have been developed based on different propulsion mechanisms. Most work, however, focuses on the propulsion of individual motors. Here, we study the collective behaviors of colloidal dimers actuated by a perpendicularly applied AC electric field, which controls the electrohydrodynamic flow at subparticle levels. Although these motors experience strong dipolar repulsion from each other and are highly active, surprisingly, they assemble into a family of stable planar clusters with handedness. We show that this type of unusual structure arises from the contractile hydrodynamic flow around small lobes but extensile flow around the large lobes. We further reveal that the collective behavior, assembled structure, and assembly dynamics of these motors all depend on the specific directions of electrohydrodynamic flow surrounding each lobe of the dimers. By fine-tuning the surface charge asymmetry on particles and salt concentration in solution, we demonstrate the ability to control their collective behaviors on demand. This novel type of active assembly via hydrodynamic interactions has the potential to grow monodisperse clusters in a self-limiting fashion. The underlying concept revealed in this work should also apply to other types of active and asymmetric particles.

Hydrogel Actuation by Electric Field Driven Effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morales, Daniel Humphrey

Hydrogels are networks of crosslinked, hydrophilic polymers capable of absorbing and releasing large amounts of water while maintaining their structural integrity. Polyelectrolyte hydrogels are a subset of hydrogels that contain ionizable moieties, which render the network sensitive to the pH and the ionic strength of the media and provide mobile counterions, which impart conductivity. These networks are part of a class of "smart" material systems that can sense and adjust their shape in response to the external environment. Hence, the ability to program and modulate hydrogel shape change has great potential for novel biomaterial and soft robotics applications. We utilized electric field driven effects to manipulate the interaction of ions within polyelectrolyte hydrogels in order to induce controlled deformation and patterning. Additionally, electric fields can be used to promote the interactions of separate gel networks, as modular components, and particle assemblies within gel networks to develop new types of soft composite systems. First, we present and analyze a walking gel actuator comprised of cationic and anionic gel legs attached by electric field-promoted polyion complexation. We characterize the electro-osmotic response of the hydrogels as a function of charge density and external salt concentration. The gel walkers achieve unidirectional motion on flat elastomer substrates and exemplify a simple way to move and manipulate soft matter devices in aqueous solutions. An 'ionoprinting' technique is presented with the capability to topographically structure and actuate hydrated gels in two and three dimensions by locally patterning ions induced by electric fields. The bound charges change the local mechanical properties of the gel to induce relief patterns and evoke localized stress, causing rapid folding in air. The ionically patterned hydrogels exhibit programmable temporal and spatial shape transitions which can be tuned by the duration and/or strength of the applied electric field. We extend the use of ionoprinting to develop multi-responsive bilayer gel systems capable of more complex shape transformation. The localized crosslinked regions determine the bending axis as the gel responds to the external environment. The bending can be tuned to reverse direction isothermally by changing the solvent quality or by changing the temperature at a fixed concentration. The multi-responsive behavior is caused by the volume transitions of a non-ionic, thermos-sensitive hydrogel coupled with a superabsorbent ionic hydrogel. Lastly, electric field driven microparticle assembly, using dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces, organized colloidal microparticles within a hydrogel matrix. The use of DEP forces enables rapid, efficient and precise control over the colloidal distribution. The resulting supracolloidal endoskeleton structures impart directional bending as the hydrogel shrinks. We compare the ordered particles structures to random particle distributions in affecting the hydrogel sheet bending response. This study demonstrates a universal technique for imparting directional properties in hydrogels towards new generations of hybrid soft materials.

Band-to-Band Misregistration of the Images of MODIS On-Board Calibrators and Its Impact to Calibration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Zhipeng; Xiong, Xiaoxiong

2017-01-01

The MODIS instruments aboard Terra and Aqua satellites are radiometrically calibrated on-orbit with a set of onboard calibrators (OBC) including a solar diffuser (SD), a blackbody (BB) and a space view (SV) port through which the detectors can view the dark space. As a whisk-broom scanning spectroradiometer, thirty-six MODIS spectral bands are assembled in the along-scan direction on four focal plane assemblies (FPA). These bands capture images of the same target sequentially with the motion of a scan mirror. Then the images are co-registered on board by delaying appropriate band dependent amount of time depending on the band locations on the FPA. While this co-registration mechanism is functioning well for the "far field" remote targets such as Earth view (EV) scenes or the Moon, noticeable band-to-band misregistration in the along-scan direction has been observed for near field targets, in particular the OBCs. In this paper, the misregistration phenomenon is presented and analyzed. It is concluded that the root cause of the misregistration is that the rotating element of the instrument, the scan mirror, is displaced from the focus of the telescope primary mirror. The amount of the misregistration is proportional to the band location on the FPA and is inversely proportional to the distance between the target and the scan mirror. The impact of this misregistration to the calibration of MODIS bands is discussed. In particular, the calculation of the detector gain coefficient m1 of bands 8-16 (412 nm 870 nm) is improved by up to 1.5% for Aqua MODIS.

Band-to-Band Misregistration of the Images of MODIS Onboard Calibrators and Its Impact on Calibration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Zhipeng; Xiong, Xiaoxiong

2017-01-01

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments aboard Terra and Aqua satellites are radiometrically calibrated on-orbit with a set of onboard calibrators (OBCs), including a solar diffuser, a blackbody, and a space view port through which the detectors can view the dark space. As a whisk-broom scanning spectroradiometer, thirty-six MODIS spectral bands are assembled in the along-scan direction on four focal plane assemblies (FPAs). These bands capture images of the same target sequentially with the motion of a scan mirror. Then the images are coregistered onboard by delaying the appropriate band-dependent amount of time, depending on the band locations on the FPA. While this coregistration mechanismis functioning well for the far-field remote targets such as earth view scenes or the moon, noticeable band-to-band misregistration in the along-scan direction has been observed for near field targets, particularly in OBCs. In this paper, the misregistration phenomenon is presented and analyzed. It is concluded that the root cause of the misregistration is that the rotating element of the instrument, the scan mirror, is displaced from the focus of the telescope primary mirror. The amount of the misregistrationis proportional to the band location on the FPA and is inversely proportional to the distance between the target and the scan mirror. The impact of this misregistration on the calibration of MODIS bands is discussed. In particular, the calculation of the detector gain coefficient m1of bands 8-16 (412 nm 870 nm) is improved by up to 1.5% for Aqua MODIS.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lillaney, Prasheel; Pelc, Norbert; Shin Mihye

Purpose: Using hybrid x-ray/MR (XMR) systems for image guidance during interventional procedures could enhance the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic, oncologic, cardiovascular, and other disorders. The authors propose a close proximity hybrid system design in which a C-arm fluoroscopy unit is placed immediately adjacent to the solenoid magnet of a MR system with a minimum distance of 1.2 m between the x-ray and MR imaging fields of view. Existing rotating anode x-ray tube designs fail within MR fringe field environments because the magnetic fields alter the electron trajectories in the x-ray tube and act as a brake on the inductionmore » motor, reducing the rotation speed of the anode. In this study the authors propose a novel motor design that avoids the anode rotation speed reduction. Methods: The proposed design replaces the permanent magnet stator found in brushed dc motors with the radial component of the MR fringe field. The x-ray tube is oriented such that the radial component of the MR fringe field is orthogonal to the cathode-anode axis. Using a feedback position sensor and the support bearings as electrical slip rings, the authors use electrical commutation to eliminate the need for mechanical brushes and commutators. A vacuum compatible prototype of the proposed motor design was assembled, and its performance was evaluated at various operating conditions. The prototype consisted of a 3.1 in. diameter anode rated at 300 kHU with a ceramic rotor that was 5.6 in. in length and had a 2.9 in. diameter. The material chosen for all ceramic components was MACOR, a machineable glass ceramic developed by Corning Inc. The approximate weight of the entire assembly was 1750 g. The maximum rotation speed, angular acceleration, and acceleration time of the motor design were investigated, as well as the dependence of these parameters on rotor angular offset, magnetic field strength, and field orientation. The resonance properties of the authors' assembly were also evaluated to determine its stability during acceleration, and a pulse width modulation algorithm was implemented to control the rotation speed of the motor. Results: At a magnetic flux density of 41 mT orthogonal to the axis of rotation (on the lower end of the expected flux density in the MR suite) the maximum speed of the motor was found to be 5150 revolutions per minute (rpm). The acceleration time necessary to reach 3000 rpm was found to be approximately 10 s at 59 mT. The resonance frequency of the assembly with the anode attached was 1310 rpm (21.8 Hz) which is far below the desired operating speeds. Pulse width modulation provides an effective method to control the speed of the motor with a resolution of 100 rpm. Conclusions: The proposed design can serve as a direct replacement to the conventional induction motor used in rotating anode x-ray tubes. It does not suffer from a reduced rotation speed when operating in a MR environment. The presence of chromic steel bearings in the prototype prevented testing at the higher field strengths, and future iterations of the design could eliminate this shortcoming. The prototype assembly demonstrates proof of concept of the authors' design and overcomes one of the major obstacles for a MR compatible rotating anode x-ray tube.« less

Magnetic assembly of nonmagnetic particles into photonic crystal structures.

PubMed

He, Le; Hu, Yongxing; Kim, Hyoki; Ge, Jianping; Kwon, Sunghoon; Yin, Yadong

2010-11-10

We report the rapid formation of photonic crystal structures by assembly of uniform nonmagnetic colloidal particles in ferrofluids using external magnetic fields. Magnetic manipulation of nonmagnetic particles with size down to a few hundred nanometers, suitable building blocks for producing photonic crystals with band gaps located in the visible regime, has been difficult due to their weak magnetic dipole moment. Increasing the dipole moment of magnetic holes has been limited by the instability of ferrofluids toward aggregation at high concentration or under strong magnetic field. By taking advantage of the superior stability of highly surface-charged magnetite nanocrystal-based ferrofluids, in this paper we have been able to successfully assemble 185 nm nonmagnetic polymer beads into photonic crystal structures, from 1D chains to 3D assemblies as determined by the interplay of magnetic dipole force and packing force. In a strong magnetic field with large field gradient, 3D photonic crystals with high reflectance (83%) in the visible range can be rapidly produced within several minutes, making this general strategy promising for fast creation of large-area photonic crystals using nonmagnetic particles as building blocks.

Influences of different parameters on the microstructure of magnetic-field-induced self-assembled film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dan, X.; Yang, J. J.

2016-07-01

Self-assembled films with needle-like microarrays were fabricated using a mixture of cobalt and fluorocarbon resin under a magnetic field. The various influences of magnetic powder content, viscosity and size distribution on the structure of the self-assembled films were investigated. The self-assembled film morphologies were characterized by stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopy. Experimental results indicate that an increase in magnetic powder content results in greater unit height and diameter, and that a reduction in viscosity results in increasing array density and decreasing unit width. Additionally, particles with narrow size distribution were able to attain more regular microarray structures. The structural alterations were closely related to numerous effects such as van der Waals forces, dipole-dipole interactions, and external-dipole interactions. The self-assembled film demonstrated magnetic anisotropy, as identified by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM).

Design optimization of the sensor spatial arrangement in a direct magnetic field-based localization system for medical applications.

PubMed

Marechal, Luc; Shaohui Foong; Zhenglong Sun; Wood, Kristin L

2015-08-01

Motivated by the need for developing a neuronavigation system to improve efficacy of intracranial surgical procedures, a localization system using passive magnetic fields for real-time monitoring of the insertion process of an external ventricular drain (EVD) catheter is conceived and developed. This system operates on the principle of measuring the static magnetic field of a magnetic marker using an array of magnetic sensors. An artificial neural network (ANN) is directly used for solving the inverse problem of magnetic dipole localization for improved efficiency and precision. As the accuracy of localization system is highly dependent on the sensor spatial location, an optimization framework, based on understanding and classification of experimental sensor characteristics as well as prior knowledge of the general trajectory of the localization pathway, for design of such sensing assemblies is described and investigated in this paper. Both optimized and non-optimized sensor configurations were experimentally evaluated and results show superior performance from the optimized configuration. While the approach presented here utilizes ventriculostomy as an illustrative platform, it can be extended to other medical applications that require localization inside the body.

Angular tuning of the magnetic birefringence in rippled cobalt films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arranz, Miguel A., E-mail: MiguelAngel.Arranz@uclm.es; Colino, José M.

We report the measurement of magnetically induced birefringence in rippled Co films. For this purpose, the magneto-optical properties of ion beam eroded ferromagnetic films were studied using Kerr magnetometry and magnetic birefringence in the transmitted light intensity. Upon sufficient ion sculpting, these ripple surface nanostructures developed a defined uniaxial anisotropy in the in-plane magnetization, finely tuning the magnetic birefringence effect. We have studied its dependence on the relative orientation between the ripple direction and the magnetic field, and found this effect to be dramatically correlated with the capability to neatly distinguish the mechanisms for the in-plane magnetization reversal, i.e., rotationmore » and nucleation. This double refraction corresponds univocally to the two magnetization axes, parallel and perpendicular to the ripples direction. We have also observed that tuned birefringence in stack assemblies of rippled Co films, which enables us to technically manipulate the number and direction of refraction axes.« less

Reductionist Approach in Peptide-Based Nanotechnology.

PubMed

Gazit, Ehud

2018-06-20

The formation of ordered nanostructures by molecular self-assembly of proteins and peptides represents one of the principal directions in nanotechnology. Indeed, polyamides provide superior features as materials with diverse physical properties. A reductionist approach allowed the identification of extremely short peptide sequences, as short as dipeptides, which could form well-ordered amyloid-like β-sheet-rich assemblies comparable to supramolecular structures made of much larger proteins. Some of the peptide assemblies show remarkable mechanical, optical, and electrical characteristics. Another direction of reductionism utilized a natural noncoded amino acid, α-aminoisobutryic acid, to form short superhelical assemblies. The use of this exceptional helix inducer motif allowed the fabrication of single heptad repeats used in various biointerfaces, including their use as surfactants and DNA-binding agents. Two additional directions of the reductionist approach include the use of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) and coassembly techniques. The diversified accomplishments of the reductionist approach, as well as the exciting future advances it bears, are discussed.

76 FR 36395 - Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-24, PA-24-250, and PA-24-260 Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-22

... stabilator horn assembly or repetitive inspection of the stabilator horn assembly for corrosion or cracks with replacement of the stabilator horn assembly if any corrosion or cracks are found. This proposed AD... to detect and correct corrosion or cracks in the stabilator horn assembly. Corrosion or cracks could...

Safety Evaluation of Self-assembling Peptide Gel after Intracranial Administration to Rats Using the Open Field Test.

PubMed

Tsunoda, Masashi; Sugaya, Chiemi; Sugiura, Yumiko; Nagai, Yusuke; Sakanishi, Kotaro

2016-01-01

Self-assembling peptides have been developed as clinical materials, which could scaffold to regenerate nerve cells and hemostatic materials in vivo. However, there has not been enough information for their in vivo application. The safety of self-assembling peptides for the application on the brain was examined using behavioral tests for each rat in this study. Self-assembling peptide gel was administered to the surface of the brain at a volume of 20 µL at 1.5%. After 2 months, the open field test and the prepulse inhibition (PPI) test were performed. There were no significant differences between the peptide gel and the control groups in locomotor distances and in %PPIs in the PPI test. The mean values of the percentage of time the rats stayed in the central area of the open field during the first 5 min and instances of center rearing or face washing in the peptide gel group were significantly higher than those in the control. There were amorphous substance in the subarachnoid region, and infiltrations of mononuclear cells were also observed in the self-assembling peptide gel group. Although the meaning of the effects observed in this study was not fully elucidated, the self-assembling gel produced marginal but significant behavioral and histological effects.

Square and Rectangular Arrays from Directed Assembly of Sphere-forming Diblock Copolymers in Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Shengxiang; Nagpal, Umang; Liao, Wen; de Pablo, Juan; Nealey, Paul

2010-03-01

Patterns of square and rectangular arrays with nanoscale dimensions are scientifically and technologically important. Fabrication of square array patterns in thin films has been demonstrated by directed assembly of cylinder-forming diblock copolymers on chemically patterned substrates, supramolecular assembly of diblock copolymers, and self-assembly of triblock terpolymers. However, a macroscopic area of square array patterns with long-range order has not been achieved, and the fabrication of rectangular arrays has not been reported so far. Here we report a facile approach for fabricating patterns of square and rectangular arrays by directing the assembly of sphere-forming diblock copolymers on chemically patterned substrates. On stripe patterns, a square arrangement of half spheres, corresponding to the (100) plane of the body-centred cubic (BCC) lattice, formed on film surfaces. When the underlying pattern periods mismatched with the copolymer period, the square pattern could be stretched (up to ˜60%) or compressed (˜15%) to form rectangular arrays. Monte Carlo simulations have been further used to verify the experimental results and the 3-dimensional arrangements of spheres.

Self-assembled templates for the generation of arrays of 1-dimensional nanostructures: from molecules to devices.

PubMed

Farrell, Richard A; Petkov, Nikolay; Morris, Michael A; Holmes, Justin D

2010-09-15

Self-assembled nanoscale porous architectures, such as mesoporous silica (MPS) films, block copolymer films (BCP) and porous anodic aluminas (PAAs), are ideal hosts for templating one dimensional (1D) nano-entities for a wide range of electronic, photonic, magnetic and environmental applications. All three of these templates can provide scalable and tunable pore diameters below 20 nm [1-3]. Recently, research has progressed towards controlling the pore direction, orientation and long-range order of these nanostructures through so-called directed self-assembly (DSA). Significantly, the introduction of a wide range of top-down chemically and physically pre-patterning substrates has facilitated the DSA of nanostructures into functional device arrays. The following review begins with an overview of the fundamental aspects of self-assembly and ordering processes during the formation of PAAs, BCPs and MPS films. Special attention is given to the different ways of directing self-assembly, concentrating on properties such as uni-directional alignment, precision placement and registry of the self-assembled structures to hierarchal or top-down architectures. Finally, to distinguish this review from other articles we focus on research where nanostructures have been utilised in part to fabricate arrays of functioning devices below the sub 50 nm threshold, by subtractive transfer and additive methods. Where possible, we attempt to compare and contrast the different templating approaches and highlight the strengths and/or limitations that will be important for their potential integration into downstream processes. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ball Screw Actuator Including an Axial Soft Stop

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Forrest, Steven Talbert (Inventor); Woessner, George (Inventor); Abel, Steve (Inventor); Wingett, Paul T. (Inventor); Hanlon, Casey (Inventor)

2016-01-01

An actuator includes an actuator housing, a ball screw, and an axial soft stop assembly. The ball screw extends through the actuator housing and has a first end and a second end. The ball screw is coupled to receive a drive force and is configured, upon receipt of the drive force, to selectively move in a retract direction and an extend direction. The axial soft stop assembly is disposed within the actuator housing. The axial soft stop assembly is configured to be selectively engaged by the ball screw and, upon being engaged thereby, to translate, with compliance, a predetermined distance in the extend direction, and to prevent further movement of the ball screw upon translating the predetermined distance.

Direct atomic force microscopy observation of DNA tile crystal growth at the single-molecule level.

PubMed

Evans, Constantine G; Hariadi, Rizal F; Winfree, Erik

2012-06-27

While the theoretical implications of models of DNA tile self-assembly have been extensively researched and such models have been used to design DNA tile systems for use in experiments, there has been little research testing the fundamental assumptions of those models. In this paper, we use direct observation of individual tile attachments and detachments of two DNA tile systems on a mica surface imaged with an atomic force microscope (AFM) to compile statistics of tile attachments and detachments. We show that these statistics fit the widely used kinetic Tile Assembly Model and demonstrate AFM movies as a viable technique for directly investigating DNA tile systems during growth rather than after assembly.

Self-assembly of smallest magnetic particles

PubMed Central

Mehdizadeh Taheri, Sara; Michaelis, Maria; Friedrich, Thomas; Förster, Beate; Drechsler, Markus; Römer, Florian M.; Bösecke, Peter; Narayanan, Theyencheri; Weber, Birgit; Rehberg, Ingo; Rosenfeldt, Sabine; Förster, Stephan

2015-01-01

The assembly of tiny magnetic particles in external magnetic fields is important for many applications ranging from data storage to medical technologies. The development of ever smaller magnetic structures is restricted by a size limit, where the particles are just barely magnetic. For such particles we report the discovery of a kind of solution assembly hitherto unobserved, to our knowledge. The fact that the assembly occurs in solution is very relevant for applications, where magnetic nanoparticles are either solution-processed or are used in liquid biological environments. Induced by an external magnetic field, nanocubes spontaneously assemble into 1D chains, 2D monolayer sheets, and large 3D cuboids with almost perfect internal ordering. The self-assembly of the nanocubes can be elucidated considering the dipole–dipole interaction of small superparamagnetic particles. Complex 3D geometrical arrangements of the nanodipoles are obtained under the assumption that the orientation of magnetization is freely adjustable within the superlattice and tends to minimize the binding energy. On that basis the magnetic moment of the cuboids can be explained. PMID:26554000

Superconducting levitating bearing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moon, Francis C. (Inventor)

1996-01-01

A superconducting bearing assembly includes a coil field source that may be superconducting and a superconducting structure. The coil field source assembly and superconducting structure are positioned so as to enable relative rotary movement therebetween. The structure and coil field source are brought to a supercooled temperature before a power supply induces a current in the coil field source. A Meissner-like effect is thereby obtained and little or no penetration of the field lines is seen in the superconducting structure. Also, the field that can be obtained from the superconducting coil is 2-8 times higher than that of permanent magnets. Since the magnetic pressure is proportioned to the square of the field, magnetic pressures from 4 to 64 times higher are achieved.

A Coarse-grained Model of Stratum Corneum Lipids: Free Fatty Acids and Ceramide NS

PubMed Central

Moore, Timothy C.; Iacovella, Christopher R.; Hartkamp, Remco; Bunge, Annette L.; McCabe, Clare

2017-01-01

Ceramide (CER)-based biological membranes are used both experimentally and in simulations as simplified model systems of the skin barrier. Molecular dynamics studies have generally focused on simulating preassembled structures using atomistically detailed models of CERs, which limit the system sizes and timescales that can practically be probed, rendering them ineffective for studying particular phenomena, including self-assembly into bilayer and lamellar superstructures. Here, we report on the development of a coarse-grained (CG) model for CER NS, the most abundant CER in human stratum corneum. Multistate iterative Boltzmann inversion is used to derive the intermolecular pair potentials, resulting in a force field that is applicable over a range of state points and suitable for studying ceramide self-assembly. The chosen CG mapping, which includes explicit interaction sites for hydroxyl groups, captures the directional nature of hydrogen bonding and allows for accurate predictions of several key structural properties of CER NS bilayers. Simulated wetting experiments allow the hydrophobicity of CG beads to be accurately tuned to match atomistic wetting behavior, which affects the whole system since inaccurate hydrophobic character is found to unphysically alter the lipid packing in hydrated lamellar states. We find that CER NS can self-assemble into multilamellar structures, enabling the study of lipid systems more representative of the multilamellar lipid structures present in the skin barrier. The coarse-grained force field derived herein represents an important step in using molecular dynamics to study the human skin barrier, which gives a resolution not available through experiment alone. PMID:27564869

Gradient isolator for flow field of fuel cell assembly

DOEpatents

Ernst, W.D.

1999-06-15

Isolator(s) include isolating material and optionally gasketing material strategically positioned within a fuel cell assembly. The isolating material is disposed between a solid electrolyte and a metal flow field plate. Reactant fluid carried by flow field plate channel(s) forms a generally transverse electrochemical gradient. The isolator(s) serve to isolate electrochemically a portion of the flow field plate, for example, transversely outward from the channel(s), from the electrochemical gradient. Further, the isolator(s) serve to protect a portion of the solid electrolyte from metallic ions. 4 figs.

Gradient isolator for flow field of fuel cell assembly

DOEpatents

Ernst, William D.

1999-01-01

Isolator(s) include isolating material and optionally gasketing material strategically positioned within a fuel cell assembly. The isolating material is disposed between a solid electrolyte and a metal flow field plate. Reactant fluid carried by flow field plate channel(s) forms a generally transverse electrochemical gradient. The isolator(s) serve to isolate electrochemically a portion of the flow field plate, for example, transversely outward from the channel(s), from the electrochemical gradient. Further, the isolator(s) serve to protect a portion of the solid electrolyte from metallic ions.

Electrochemical assembly of organic molecules by the reduction of iodonium salts

DOEpatents

Dirk, Shawn M [Albuquerque, NM; Howell, Stephen W [Albuquerque, NM; Wheeler, David R [Albuquerque, NM

2009-06-23

Methods are described for the electrochemical assembly of organic molecules on silicon, or other conducting or semiconducting substrates, using iodonium salt precursors. Iodonium molecules do not assemble on conducting surfaces without a negative bias. Accordingly, the iodonium salts are preferred for patterning applications that rely on direct writing with negative bias. The stability of the iodonium molecule to acidic conditions allows them to be used with standard silicon processing. As a directed assembly process, the use of iodonium salts provides for small features while maintaining the ability to work on a surface and create structures on a wafer level. Therefore, the process is amenable for mass production. Furthermore, the assembled monolayer (or multilayer) is chemically robust, allowing for subsequent chemical manipulations and the introduction of various molecular functionalities for various chemical and biological applications.

Engine balance apparatus and accessory drive device

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Egleston, Robert W. (Inventor)

2002-01-01

A balancing mechanism for an engine that has a rotating crankshaft and reciprocating pistons. The balancing mechanism comprises a primary balance mass assembly non-rotatably and removably affixed to the crankshaft. The primary mass assembly comprises a primary mass affixed to a primary hub portion and a primary cap portion removably affixed to the primary hub portion to clamp a portion of the crankshaft therebetween. A secondary balance mass assembly may be rotatably and removably supported on the crankshaft. A driver assembly is affixed to the crankshaft to cause the secondary balance mass to rotate in a direction that is opposite to the direction in which the crank shaft is rotating. The driver assembly may include auxiliary gears configured to transport rotary power to auxiliary components. The gears are readily detachable from the apparatus to facilitate inspection and repair operations.

77 FR 52205 - Airworthiness Directives; Univair Aircraft Corporation Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-29

... balance assembly and ailerons for cracks and excessive looseness of associated parts with the required... Applicability section; require inspections of the ailerons, aileron balance assembly, and aileron rigging for... the Applicability section; require inspections of the ailerons, aileron balance assembly, and aileron...

Modeling the self-assembly of functionalized fullerenes on solid surfaces using Monte Carlo simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bubnis, Gregory J.

Since their discovery 25 years ago, carbon fullerenes have been widely studied for their unique physicochemical properties and for applications including organic electronics and photovoltaics. For these applications it is highly desirable for crystalline fullerene thin films to spontaneously self-assemble on surfaces. Accordingly, many studies have functionalized fullerenes with the aim of tailoring their intermolecular interactions and controlling interactions with the solid substrate. The success of these rational design approaches hinges on the subtle interplay of intermolecular forces and molecule-substrate interactions. Molecular modeling is well-suited to studying these interactions by directly simulating self-assembly. In this work, we consider three different fullerene functionalization approaches and for each approach we carry out Monte Carlo simulations of the self-assembly process. In all cases, we use a "coarse-grained" molecular representation that preserves the dominant physical interactions between molecules and maximizes computational efficiency. The first approach we consider is the traditional gold-thiolate SAM (self-assembled monolayer) strategy which tethers molecules to a gold substrate via covalent sulfur-gold bonds. For this we study an asymmetric fullerene thiolate bridged by a phenyl group. Clusters of 40 molecules are simulated on the Au(111) substrate at different temperatures and surface coverage densities. Fullerenes and S atoms are found to compete for Au(111) surface sites, and this competition prevents self-assembly of highly ordered monolayers. Next, we investigate self-assembled monolayers formed by fullerenes with hydrogen-bonding carboxylic acid substituents. We consider five molecules with different dimensions and symmetries. Monte Carlo cooling simulations are used to find the most stable solid structures of clusters adsorbed to Au(111). The results show cases where fullerene-Au(111) attraction, fullerene close-packing, and hydrogen-bonding interactions can cooperate to guide self-assembly or compete to hinder it. Finally, we consider three bis-fullerene molecules, each with a different "bridging group" covalently joining two fullerenes. To effectively study the competing "standing-up" and "lying-down" morphologies, we use Monte Carlo simulations in conjunction with replica exchange and force field biasing methods. For clusters adsorbed to smooth model surfaces, we determine free energy landscapes and demonstrate their utility for rationalizing and predicting self-assembly.

19 CFR 10.197 - Direct costs of processing operations performed in a beneficiary country or countries.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... merchandise: (1) All actual labor costs involved in the growth, production, manufacture or assembly of the... the growth, production, manufacture, or assembly of the merchandise, such as administrative salaries... costs either directly incurred in, or which can be reasonably allocated to, the growth, production...

Electrical assembly having heat sink protrusions

DOEpatents

Rinehart, Lawrence E.; Romero, Guillermo L.

2009-04-21

An electrical assembly, comprising a heat producing semiconductor device supported on a first major surface of a direct bond metal substrate that has a set of heat sink protrusions supported by its second major surface. In one preferred embodiment the heat sink protrusions are made of the same metal as is used in the direct bond copper.

Adenomatous polyposis coli nucleates actin assembly to drive cell migration and microtubule-induced focal adhesion turnover

PubMed Central

Eskin, Julian A.; Jaiswal, Richa

2017-01-01

Cell motility depends on tight coordination between the microtubule (MT) and actin cytoskeletons, but the mechanisms underlying this MT–actin cross talk have remained poorly understood. Here, we show that the tumor suppressor protein adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), which is a known MT-associated protein, directly nucleates actin assembly to promote directed cell migration. By changing only two residues in APC, we generated a separation-of-function mutant, APC (m4), that abolishes actin nucleation activity without affecting MT interactions. Expression of full-length APC carrying the m4 mutation (APC (m4)) rescued cellular defects in MT organization, MT dynamics, and mitochondrial distribution caused by depletion of endogenous APC but failed to restore cell migration. Wild-type APC and APC (m4) localized to focal adhesions (FAs), and APC (m4) was defective in promoting actin assembly at FAs to facilitate MT-induced FA turnover. These results provide the first direct evidence for APC-mediated actin assembly in vivo and establish a role for APC in coordinating MTs and actin at FAs to direct cell migration. PMID:28663347

Spatially-Interactive Biomolecular Networks Organized by Nucleic Acid Nanostructures

PubMed Central

Fu, Jinglin; Liu, Minghui; Liu, Yan; Yan, Hao

2013-01-01

Conspectus Living systems have evolved a variety of nanostructures to control the molecular interactions that mediate many functions including the recognition of targets by receptors, the binding of enzymes to substrates, and the regulation of enzymatic activity. Mimicking these structures outside of the cell requires methods that offer nanoscale control over the organization of individual network components. Advances in DNA nanotechnology have enabled the design and fabrication of sophisticated one-, two- and three-dimensional (1D, 2D and 3D) nanostructures that utilize spontaneous and sequence specific DNA hybridization. Compared to other self-assembling biopolymers, DNA nanostructures offer predictable and programmable interactions, and surface features to which other nanoparticles and bio-molecules can be precisely positioned. The ability to control the spatial arrangement of the components while constructing highly-organized networks will lead to various applications of these systems. For example, DNA nanoarrays with surface displays of molecular probes can sense noncovalent hybridization interactions with DNA, RNA, and proteins and covalent chemical reactions. DNA nanostructures can also align external molecules into well-defined arrays, which may improve the resolution of many structural determination methods, such as X-ray diffraction, cryo-EM, NMR, and super-resolution fluorescence. Moreover, by constraining target entities to specific conformations, self-assembled DNA nanostructures can serve as molecular rulers to evaluate conformation-dependent activities. This Account describes the most recent advances in the DNA nanostructure directed assembly of biomolecular networks and explores the possibility of applying this technology to other fields of study. Recently, several reports have demonstrated the DNA nanostructure directed assembly of spatially-interactive biomolecular networks. For example, researchers have constructed synthetic multi-enzyme cascades by organizing the position of the components using DNA nanoscaffolds in vitro, or by utilizing RNA matrices in vivo. These structures display enhanced efficiency compared to the corresponding unstructured enzyme mixtures. Such systems are designed to mimic cellular function, where substrate diffusion between enzymes is facilitated and reactions are catalyzed with high efficiency and specificity. In addition, researchers have assembled multiple choromophores into arrays using a DNA nanoscaffold that optimizes the relative distance between the dyes and their spatial organization. The resulting artificial light harvesting system exhibits efficient cascading energy transfers. Finally, DNA nanostructures have been used as assembly templates to construct nanodevices that execute rationally-designed behaviors, including cargo loading, transportation and route control. PMID:22642503

Systems and methods for creation of conducting networks of magnetic particles through dynamic self-assembly process

DOEpatents

Snezhko, Oleksiy [Woodridge, IL; Aronson, Igor [Darien, IL; Kwok, Wai-Kwong [Downers Grove, IL

2011-01-25

Self-assembly of magnetic microparticles in AC magnetic fields. Excitation of the system by an AC magnetic field provides a variety of patterns that can be controlled by adjusting the frequency and the amplitude of the field. At low particle densities the low-frequency magnetic excitation favors cluster phase formation, while high frequency excitation favors chains and netlike structures. For denser configurations, an abrupt transition to the network phase was obtained.

Dynamics assembly of magnetic microparticles suspended in moving droplets under the influence of magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strey, Helmut; Brouzes, Eric; Kruse, Travis

2013-03-01

Droplet microfluidics has experienced tremendous growth, particularly since it is well suited for single-cell manipulation and analysis. As mature methods for high throughput droplet manipulation have been developed a technological bottleneck of current droplet microfluidics is that because droplets are separated, sequential chemical reactions are more difficult to achieve. For example, it is very difficult to concentrate target molecules, especially since every reaction step adds volume to the droplets. Our solution to this problem is to employ functionalized magnetic beads inside droplets. The basic idea is that an external magnetic field could be used to concentrate the magnetic beads in one part of the droplet and those could then be extracted by splitting the droplet. Here we present an experimental study of the self-assembly of superparamagnetic microparticles that are suspended in moving droplets and experience a combination of forces due to the internal fluid flow fields and external magnetic fields. We observed that this interplay of flow fields coupled to the formation of particle assemblies leads to the formations of stable patterns depending on the flow speed and magnetic field strength. An understanding of this dynamic assembly is critical in employing external forces for applications in separation and sorting. Funding through NYSTAR, Center for Advanced Technology and a grant from NIH-NHGRI (1 R21 HG006206-01).

4Pi microscopy of the nuclear pore complex.

PubMed

Kahms, Martin; Hüve, Jana; Peters, Reiner

2015-01-01

4Pi microscopy is a far-field fluorescence microscopy technique, in which the wave fronts of two opposing illuminating beams are adjusted to constructively interfere in a common focus. This yields a diffraction pattern in the direction of the optical axis, which essentially consists of a main focal spot accompanied by two smaller side lobes. At optimal conditions, the main peak of this so-called point spread function has a full width at half maximum: fixed phrase of 100 nm in the direction of the optical axis, and thus is 6-7-fold smaller than that of a confocal microscope. In this chapter, we describe the basic features of 4Pi microscopy and its application to cell biology using the example of the nuclear pore complex, a large protein assembly spanning the nuclear envelope.

Metal Ion-Assembled Micro-Collagen Heterotrimers

PubMed Central

LeBruin, Lyndelle Toni; Banerjee, Sunandan; O'Rourke, Bruce Delany; Case, Martin Ashley

2011-01-01

Collagen mimetic peptides (CMPs) provide critical insight into the assembly, stability and structure of the triple helical collagen protein. The majority of natural fibrous collagens are aab or abc heterotrimers, yet few examples of heterotrimeric CMPs have been reported. Previously CMP heterotrimers have only been accessible by total syntheses or by introducing complementary interstrand electrostatic or steric interactions. Here we describe an abc CMP heterotrimer in which each contributing CMP consists of only three amino acids: glycine, proline and 4-hydroxyproline. Assembly of the heterotrimeric triple helix is directed by a combination of metal-ion coordination to set the relative register of the CMPs, and minimization of valence frustration to direct heterotrimerization. Assembly of the four-component mixture is facile and extremely rapid, and equilibration to the abc heterotrimer occurs within a few hours at modestly elevated temperatures. The melting temperatures of the metal-assembled collagen trimers are higher by some 30 °C than the apopeptide assemblies. Two iterations of the design are described, and the outcomes suggest possibilities for designing self-assembling abc and abb heterotrimers. PMID:21590759

Active structuring of colloidal armour on liquid drops

PubMed Central

Dommersnes, Paul; Rozynek, Zbigniew; Mikkelsen, Alexander; Castberg, Rene; Kjerstad, Knut; Hersvik, Kjetil; Otto Fossum, Jon

2013-01-01

Adsorption and assembly of colloidal particles at the surface of liquid droplets are at the base of particle-stabilized emulsions and templating. Here we report that electrohydrodynamic and electro-rheological effects in leaky-dielectric liquid drops can be used to structure and dynamically control colloidal particle assemblies at drop surfaces, including electric-field-assisted convective assembly of jammed colloidal ‘ribbons’, electro-rheological colloidal chains confined to a two-dimensional surface and spinning colloidal domains on that surface. In addition, we demonstrate the size control of ‘pupil’-like openings in colloidal shells. We anticipate that electric field manipulation of colloids in leaky dielectrics can lead to new routes of colloidosome assembly and design for ‘smart armoured’ droplets. PMID:23811716

Flexible, Symmetry-Directed Approach To Assembling Protein Cages (Publisher’s Version Open Access)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-01

widespread in nature and confers new biological properties. Engineered protein assemblies have potential applica- tions in nanotechnology and medicine...and nanotechnology in designing novel self-assembling proteins and adapting natural protein assem- blies for a range of applications broadly

EVALUATION OF A MULTIFUNCTIONAL VALVE ASSEMBLY IN A DIRECT EXPANSION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM REPORT

EPA Science Inventory

The report describes the performance, including energy consumption, of a refrigeration system incorporating a multifunctional valve (MXV assembly). The MXV assembly (consisting of additional liquid line, an XTC valve, and a larger thermostatic expansion valve) was installed on al...

Lock and Key Colloids through Polymerization-Induced Buckling of Monodispersed Silicon Oil Droplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sacanna, Stefano; Irvine, William T. M.; Chaikin, Paul M.; Pine, David J.

2010-03-01

Colloidal particles can spontaneously associate into larger structured aggregates when driven by selective and directional interactions. Colloidal organization can be programmed by engineering shapes and interactions of basic building blocks in a manner similar to molecular self-assembly. Examples of successful strategies that allow non-trivial assembly of particles include template-directed patterning, capillary forces and, most commonly, the functionalization of the particle surfaces with ``sticky patches'' of biological or synthetic molecules. The level of complexity of the realizable assemblies, increases when particles with well defined shape anisotropies are used. In particular depletion forces and specific surface treatments in combination with non spherical particles have proven to be powerful tools to self-assembly complex microstructures. We describe a simple, high yield, synthetic pathway to fabricate monodisperse hybrid silica spheres with well defined cavities. Because the particle morphologies are reproducible and tunable with precision, the resulting particles can be used as basic building blocks in the assembly of larger monodisperse clusters. This is demonstrated using depletion to drive the self-assembly.

KSC VAB Aeroacoustic Hazard Assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oliveira, Justin M.; Yedo, Sabrina; Campbell, Michael D.; Atkinson, Joseph P.

2010-01-01

NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) carried out an analysis of the effects of aeroacoustics produced by stationary solid rocket motors in processing areas at KSC. In the current paper, attention is directed toward the acoustic effects of a motor burning within the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The analysis was carried out with support from ASRC Aerospace who modeled transmission effects into surrounding facilities. Calculations were done using semi-analytical models for both aeroacoustics and transmission. From the results it was concluded that acoustic hazards in proximity to the source of ignition and plume can be severe; acoustic hazards in the far-field are significantly lower.

Influence of cluster-assembly parameters on the field emission properties of nanostructured carbon films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ducati, C.; Barborini, E.; Piseri, P.; Milani, P.; Robertson, J.

2002-11-01

Supersonic cluster beam deposition has been used to produce films with different nanostructures by controlling the deposition parameters such as the film thickness, substrate temperature and cluster mass distribution. The field emission properties of cluster-assembled carbon films have been characterized and correlated to the evolution of the film nanostructure. Threshold fields ranging between 4 and 10 V/mum and saturation current densities as high as 0.7 mA have been measured for samples heated during deposition. A series of voltage ramps, i.e., a conditioning process, was found to initiate more stable and reproducible emission. It was found that the presence of graphitic particles (onions, nanotube embryos) in the films substantially enhances the field emission performance. Films patterned on a micrometer scale have been conditioned spot by spot by a ball-tip anode, showing that a relatively high emission site density can be achieved from the cluster-assembled material.

Magnetically Driven Swimming of Nanoscale Colloidal Assemblies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breidenich, Jennifer; Benkoski, Jason; Baird, Lance; Deacon, Ryan; Land, H. Bruce; Hayes, Allen; Keng, Pei; Pyun, Jeffrey

2009-03-01

At microscopic length scales, locomotion can only be generated through asymmetric conformation changes, such as the undulating flagellum employed by protozoa. This simple yet elegant design is optimized according to the dueling needs of miniaturization and the fluid dynamics of the low Reynolds number environment. In this study, we fabricate nanoscale colloidal assemblies that mimic the head + tail structure of flagellates. The assemblies consist of two types of magnetic colloids: 25 nm polystyrene-coated Co nanoparticles, and 250 nm polyethylene glycol coated magnetite nanoparticles. When mixed together in N-dimethylformamide, the Co nanoparticles assemble into flexible, segmented chains ranging in length from 1 - 5 μm. These chains then attach at one end to the larger magnetic beads due to magnetic attraction. This head + tail structure aligns with an external uniform magnetic field and is actuated by an oscillating transverse field. We examine the effects of Co nanoparticle concentration, magnetite bead concentration, magnetic field strength, and oscillation frequency on the formation of swimmers and the speed of locomotion.

Flow field survey near the rotational plane of an advanced design propeller on a JetStar airplane

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walsh, K. R.

1985-01-01

An investigation was conducted to obtain upper fuselage surface static pressures and boundary layer velocity profiles below the centerline of an advanced design propeller. This investigation documents the upper fuselage velocity flow field in support of the in-flight acoustic tests conducted on a JetStar airplane. Initial results of the boundary layer survey show evidence of an unusual flow disturbance, which is attributed to the two windshield wiper assemblies on the aircraft. The assemblies were removed, eliminating the disturbances from the flow field. This report presents boundary layer velocity profiles at altitudes of 6096 and 9144 m (20,000 and 30,000 ft) and Mach numbers from 0.6 to 0.8, and it investigated the effects of windshield wiper assemblies on these profiles. Because of the unconventional velocity profiles that were obtained with the assemblies mounted, classical boundary layer parameters, such as momentum and displacement thicknesses, are not presented. The effects of flight test variables (Mach number and angles of attack and sideslip) and an advanced design propeller on boundary layer profiles - with the wiper assemblies mounted and removed - are presented.

Conformation and structural changes of diblock copolymers with octopus-like micelle formation in the presence of external stimuli

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dammertz, K.; Saier, A. M.; Marti, O.; Amirkhani, M.

2014-04-01

External stimuli such as vapours and electric fields can be used to manipulate the formation of AB-diblock copolymers on surfaces. We study the conformational variation of PS-b-PMMA (polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate)), PS and PMMA adsorbed on mica and their response to saturated water or chloroform atmospheres. Using specimens with only partial polymer coverage, new unanticipated effects were observed. Water vapour, a non-solvent for all three polymers, was found to cause high surface mobility. In contrast, chloroform vapour (a solvent for all three polymers) proved to be less efficient. Furthermore, the influence of an additional applied electric field was investigated. A dc field oriented parallel to the sample surface induces the formation of polymer islands which assemble into wormlike chains. Moreover, PS-b-PMMA forms octopus-like micelles (OLMs) on mica. Under the external stimuli mentioned above, the wormlike formations of OLMs are able to align in the direction of the external electric field. In the absence of an electric field, the OLMs disaggregate and exhibit phase separated structures under chloroform vapour.

A versatile rotary-stage high frequency probe station for studying magnetic films and devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Shikun; Meng, Zhaoliang; Huang, Lisen; Yap, Lee Koon; Zhou, Tiejun; Panagopoulos, Christos

2016-07-01

We present a rotary-stage microwave probe station suitable for magnetic films and spintronic devices. Two stages, one for field rotation from parallel to perpendicular to the sample plane (out-of-plane) and the other intended for field rotation within the sample plane (in-plane) have been designed. The sample probes and micro-positioners are rotated simultaneously with the stages, which allows the field orientation to cover θ from 0∘ to 90∘ and φ from 0∘ to 360∘. θ and φ being the angle between the direction of current flow and field in a out-of-plane and an in-plane rotation, respectively. The operation frequency is up to 40 GHz and the magnetic field up to 1 T. The sample holder vision system and probe assembly are compactly designed for the probes to land on a wafer with diameter up to 3 cm. Using homemade multi-pin probes and commercially available high frequency probes, several applications including 4-probe DC measurements, the determination of domain wall velocity, and spin transfer torque ferromagnetic resonance are demonstrated.

Physics of nanoplatforms and their applications in nanomanufacturing and nanomedicine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gultepe, Evin

Nanoplatforms are nanoscale structures designed as general platforms for multifunctional nanotechnology applications. Applications of nanotechnology cover broad spectrum of research fields and require true interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary studies. It also requires a fundamental understanding of physical principles in nanoscale since nanomaterials exhibit different properties and experience distinct forces compared to the materials in macroscale. In this thesis, we studied two different nanoplatforms, namely nanoporous oxide coatings and superparamagnetic nanoparticles. We analyzed their physical properties and illustrated their applications in two different fields, nanomanufacturing and nanomedicine. The first nanoplatform we studied is ordered nanoporous arrays of aluminum and titanium oxide. We investigated their fabrication as well as their applications in both nanomanufacturing and nanomedicine. We addressed the question of assembling spherical and cylindrical elements into porous holes - all in the same nanoscale. To investigate the assembly of nanoelements, one has to have an understanding of forces in nanoscale. In this length scale, the electronic and magnetic forces are the dominant forces whereas some macroscale forces like gravity has none to little effect. We demonstrated 3D directed assembly of nanobeads as well as single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) into nanoholes by means of electrophoresis and dielectrophoresis at ambient temperatures. For nanobead assembly, SEM images were sufficient to demonstrate 100% assembly of loaded nanobeads. For SWNT, the connection through assembled nanotubes were used to prove the success of the assembly. The I-V measurements clearly showed that strong Si-SWNT interconnects carrying currents on the order of 1 mA were established inside the nanoholes. This assembly technique is particularly useful for large-scale, rapid, 3D assembly of 106 SWNT over a centimeter square area under mild conditions for nanoscale semiconductor electronics applications. We also demonstrated that nanoporous oxide coatings can be utilized as noneroding sustained drug release platforms for up to weeks of elution. The release kinetics was explained in two main regions: burst and sustained release. The sustained release kinetics for nanoporous coatings was characterized as an activated surface density dependent desorption model in form of df/dt = alphafexp(--beta f2/kBT). Nanoporous inorganic coatings were proved to be well suited to provide improved efficacy and integration of implants in a variety of therapeutic situations like drug eluting stents or antibiotic coated hip replacements. The second type of nanoplatform we investigated is magnetic nanoparticles. Magnetic properties differ in nanoscale due to the increasing role of the surface spins as the particle size is decreased, leading very interesting phenomenon like superparamagnetism. We studied magnetic properties of nanoparticles, namely superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION). Magnetic properties of SPION was studied through superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetization as well as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy measurements. We showed that SPION can be successfully encapsulated inside micelle and liposome structures to create versatile theranostic nanoplatforms for enhanced drug delivery and monitoring of cancer treatment. The ability to incorporate SPION cargo renders these nanoplatforms to be highly susceptible to guidance by external magnetic fields, as well as making them exceptional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, enabling visualization of their distribution in vivo. The efficacy of using magnetic immuno-micelles (MIM) and magnetic cationic liposomes (MCL) for magnetic targeting and as MRI contrast agents was investigated using in vitro NMR and in-vivo MRI studies. For micelle study, human breast carcinoma cells were incubated with specific anti-body attached MIM. NMR measurements showed not only MIM affect T2 relaxation time of the sample, but also the cell binding of MIM was higher with specific (2C5) anti-body compared to non-specific anti-body or control groups. For liposome study, metastatic melanoma tumor was grown in the right flank of SCID mice. Magnetic targeting was employed by placing a disk magnet on top of the tumor of the animal after administration of MCL for one hour. Pre-injection and post-injection MR images were used to assess response to magnetic targeting effects. Hypointense areas in MR images, decreased signal intensity, and lower T*2 relaxation times all directly correlated to MCL accumulation. We showed that with the help of magnetic targeting the accumulation and retention of MCL was 2-fold higher in the tumor side compared to control groups.

Shifting the Phase Boundary with Electric Fields to Jump In and Out of the Phase Diagram at Constant Temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roth, Connie B.; Kriisa, Annika

Understanding the phase behavior of polymer blends and block copolymers under the presence of electric fields is important for advanced applications containing electrodes such as organic photovoltaics and batteries, as well as for field-directed assembly and alignment of domains. We have recently demonstrated that electric fields enhance the miscibility of polystyrene (PS) / poly(vinyl methyl ether blends) (PVME) blends, shifting the phase separation temperature Ts(E) up by 13.5 +/- 1.4 K for electric field strengths of E = 1.7 MV/m. Experimentally this effect is much larger than the traditional predictions from adding the standard electrostatic energy term for mixtures to the free energy of mixing. However, accounting for the energy penalty of dielectric interfaces between domains created during phase separation, the primary factor that drives alignment of domains, may also be responsible for the change in miscibility. Here we investigate the dynamics of repeatedly jumping the system from the one-phase to the two-phase region and demonstrate that this can be done at a constant temperature simply by turning the electric field on and off, illustrating electric-field-induced remixing in the two-phase region.

On-orbit assembly of a team of flexible spacecraft using potential field based method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Ti; Wen, Hao; Hu, Haiyan; Jin, Dongping

2017-04-01

In this paper, a novel control strategy is developed based on artificial potential field for the on-orbit autonomous assembly of four flexible spacecraft without inter-member collision. Each flexible spacecraft is simplified as a hub-beam model with truncated beam modes in the floating frame of reference and the communication graph among the four spacecraft is assumed to be a ring topology. The four spacecraft are driven to a pre-assembly configuration first and then to the assembly configuration. In order to design the artificial potential field for the first step, each spacecraft is outlined by an ellipse and a virtual leader of circle is introduced. The potential field mainly depends on the attitude error between the flexible spacecraft and its neighbor, the radial Euclidian distance between the ellipse and the circle and the classical Euclidian distance between the centers of the ellipse and the circle. It can be demonstrated that there are no local minima for the potential function and the global minimum is zero. If the function is equal to zero, the solution is not a certain state, but a set. All the states in the set are corresponding to the desired configurations. The Lyapunov analysis guarantees that the four spacecraft asymptotically converge to the target configuration. Moreover, the other potential field is also included to avoid the inter-member collision. In the control design of the second step, only small modification is made for the controller in the first step. Finally, the successful application of the proposed control law to the assembly mission is verified by two case studies.

77 FR 38470 - Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-28

..., performing a detailed inspection for individual play between the elevator pushrod assembly and degradation of... R20990 elevator pushrod assemblies [for individual play between the elevator pushrod assembly and... between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among...

Towards neat methanol operation of direct methanol fuel cells: a novel self-assembled proton exchange membrane.

PubMed

Li, Jing; Cai, Weiwei; Ma, Liying; Zhang, Yunfeng; Chen, Zhangxian; Cheng, Hansong

2015-04-18

We report here a novel proton exchange membrane with remarkably high methanol-permeation resistivity and excellent proton conductivity enabled by carefully designed self-assembled ionic conductive channels. A direct methanol fuel cell utilizing the membrane performs well with a 20 M methanol solution, very close to the concentration of neat methanol.

76 FR 31796 - Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A Helicopters

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-02

... new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Sikorsky Model S-92A helicopters. This AD requires a... (MGB) upper housing assembly rib on the left, right, and forward MGB mounting foot at specified... prompted by a report of a crack found on the MGB upper housing assembly left mounting foot forward rib that...

Selective directed self-assembly of coexisting morphologies using block copolymer blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stein, A.; Wright, G.; Yager, K. G.; Doerk, G. S.; Black, C. T.

2016-08-01

Directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers is an emergent technique for nano-lithography, but is limited in the range of structures possible in a single fabrication step. Here we expand on traditional DSA chemical patterning. A blend of lamellar- and cylinder-forming block copolymers assembles on specially designed surface chemical line gratings, leading to the simultaneous formation of coexisting ordered morphologies in separate areas of the substrate. The competing energetics of polymer chain distortions and chemical mismatch with the substrate grating bias the system towards either line/space or dot array patterns, depending on the pitch and linewidth of the prepattern. This is in contrast to the typical DSA, wherein assembly of a single-component block copolymer on chemical templates generates patterns of either lines/spaces (lamellar) or hexagonal dot arrays (cylinders). In our approach, the chemical template encodes desired local spatial arrangements of coexisting design motifs, self-assembled from a single, sophisticated resist.

Assembly of bipolar microtubule structures by passive cross-linkers and molecular motors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johann, D.; Goswami, D.; Kruse, K.

2016-06-01

During cell division, sister chromatids are segregated by the mitotic spindle, a bipolar assembly of interdigitating antiparallel polar filaments called microtubules. The spindle contains the midzone, a stable region of overlapping antiparallel microtubules, that is essential for maintaining bipolarity. Although a lot is known about the molecular players involved, the mechanism underlying midzone formation and maintenance is still poorly understood. We study the interaction of polar filaments that are cross-linked by molecular motors moving directionally and by passive cross-linkers diffusing along microtubules. Using a particle-based stochastic model, we find that the interplay of motors and passive cross-linkers can generate a stable finite overlap between a pair of antiparallel polar filaments. We develop a mean-field theory to study this mechanism in detail and investigate the influence of steric interactions between motors and passive cross-linkers on the overlap dynamics. In the presence of interspecies steric interactions, passive cross-linkers mimic the behavior of molecular motors and stable finite overlaps are generated even for non-cross-linking motors. Finally, we develop a mean-field theory for a bundle of aligned polar filaments and show that they can self-organize into a spindlelike pattern. Our work suggests possible ways as to how cells can generate spindle midzones and control their extensions.

Laser Range and Bearing Finder for Autonomous Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Granade, Stephen R.

2004-01-01

NASA has recently re-confirmed their interest in autonomous systems as an enabling technology for future missions. In order for autonomous missions to be possible, highly-capable relative sensor systems are needed to determine an object's distance, direction, and orientation. This is true whether the mission is autonomous in-space assembly, rendezvous and docking, or rover surface navigation. Advanced Optical Systems, Inc. has developed a wide-angle laser range and bearing finder (RBF) for autonomous space missions. The laser RBF has a number of features that make it well-suited for autonomous missions. It has an operating range of 10 m to 5 km, with a 5 deg field of view. Its wide field of view removes the need for scanning systems such as gimbals, eliminating moving parts and making the sensor simpler and space qualification easier. Its range accuracy is 1% or better. It is designed to operate either as a stand-alone sensor or in tandem with a sensor that returns range, bearing, and orientation at close ranges, such as NASA's Advanced Video Guidance Sensor. We have assembled the initial prototype and are currently testing it. We will discuss the laser RBF's design and specifications. Keywords: laser range and bearing finder, autonomous rendezvous and docking, space sensors, on-orbit sensors, advanced video guidance sensor

Block copolymer systems: from single chain to self-assembled nanostructures.

PubMed

Giacomelli, Cristiano; Schmidt, Vanessa; Aissou, Karim; Borsali, Redouane

2010-10-19

Recent advances in the field of macromolecular engineering applied to the fabrication of nanostructured materials using block copolymer chains as elementary building blocks are described in this feature article. By highlighting some of our work in the area and accounting for the contribution of other groups, we discuss the relationship between the physical-chemical properties of copolymer chains and the characteristics of nano-objects originating from their self-assembly in solution and in bulk, with emphasis on convenient strategies that allow for the control of composition, functionality, and topology at different levels of sophistication. In the case of micellar nanoparticles in solution, in particular, we present approaches leading to morphology selection via macromolecular architectural design, the functionalization of external solvent-philic shells with biomolecules (polysaccharides and proteins), and the maximization of micelle loading capacity by the suitable choice of solvent-phobic polymer segments. The fabrication of nanomaterials mediated by thin block copolymer films is also discussed. In this case, we emphasize the development of novel polymer chain manipulation strategies that ultimately allow for the preparation of precisely positioned nanodomains with a reduced number of defects via block-selective chemical reactivity. The challenges facing the soft matter community, the urgent demand to convert huge public and private investments into consumer products, and future possible directions in the field are also considered herein.

Fano coil-type resonances: a plasmonic tool for the magnetic field manipulation (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panaro, Simone; Proietti Zaccaria, Remo; Toma, Andrea

2017-02-01

Spintronics and spin-based technology rely on the ultra-fast unbalance of the electronic spin population in quite localized spatial regions. However, as a matter of fact, the low susceptibility of conventional materials at high frequencies strongly limits these phenomena, rendering the efficiency of magnetically active devices insufficient for application purposes. Among the possible strategies which can be envisaged, plasmonics offers a direct approach to increase the effect of local electronic unbalancing processes. By confining and enhancing free radiation in nm-size spatial regions, plasmonic nano-assemblies have demonstrated to support very intense electric and magnetic hot-spots. In particular, very recent studies have proven the fine control of magnetic fields in Fano resonance condition. The near-field-induced out-of-phase oscillation of localized surface plasmons has manifested itself with the arising of magnetic sub-diffractive hot-spots. Here, we show how this effect can be further boosted in the mid-infrared regime via the introduction of higher order plasmonic modes. The investigated system, namely Moon Trimer Resonator (MTR), combines the high efficiency of a strongly coupled nano-assembly in Fano interferential condition with the elevated tunability of the quadrupolar resonance supported by a moon-like geometry. The fine control of the apical gap in this unique nanostructure, characterizes a plasmonic device able to tune its resonance without any consequence on the magnetic hot-spot size, thus enabling an efficient squeezing in the infrared.

Field repair of AH-16 helicopter window cutting assemblies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bement, L. J.

1984-01-01

The U.S. Army uses explosively actuated window cutting assemblies to provide emergency crew ground egress. Gaps between the system's explosive cords and acrylic windows caused a concern about functional reliability for a fleet of several hundred aircraft. A field repair method, using room temperature vulcanizing silicone compound (RTV), was developed and demonstrated to fill gaps as large as 0.250 inch.

Neural tissue engineering: Bioresponsive nanoscaffolds using engineered self-assembling peptides.

PubMed

Koss, K M; Unsworth, L D

2016-10-15

Rescuing or repairing neural tissues is of utmost importance to the patient's quality of life after an injury. To remedy this, many novel biomaterials are being developed that are, ideally, non-invasive and directly facilitate neural wound healing. As such, this review surveys the recent approaches and applications of self-assembling peptides and peptide amphiphiles, for building multi-faceted nanoscaffolds for direct application to neural injury. Specifically, methods enabling cellular interactions with the nanoscaffold and controlling the release of bioactive molecules from the nanoscaffold for the express purpose of directing endogenous cells in damaged or diseased neural tissues is presented. An extensive overview of recently derived self-assembling peptide-based materials and their use as neural nanoscaffolds is presented. In addition, an overview of potential bioactive peptides and ligands that could be used to direct behaviour of endogenous cells are categorized with their biological effects. Finally, a number of neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory drugs are described and discussed. Smaller therapeutic molecules are emphasized, as they are thought to be able to have less potential effect on the overall peptide self-assembly mechanism. Options for potential nanoscaffolds and drug delivery systems are suggested. Self-assembling nanoscaffolds have many inherent properties making them amenable to tissue engineering applications: ease of synthesis, ease of customization with bioactive moieties, and amenable for in situ nanoscaffold formation. The combination of the existing knowledge on bioactive motifs for neural engineering and the self-assembling propensity of peptides is discussed in specific reference to neural tissue engineering. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Highly Stable Sr-Free Cobaltite-Based Perovskite Cathodes Directly Assembled on a Barrier-Layer-Free Y2 O3 -ZrO2 Electrolyte of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

PubMed

Ai, Na; Li, Na; Rickard, William D A; Cheng, Yi; Chen, Kongfa; Jiang, San Ping

2017-03-09

Direct assembly is a newly developed technique in which a cobaltite-based perovskite (CBP) cathode can be directly applied to a barrier-layer-free Y 2 O 3 -ZrO 2 (YSZ) electrolyte with no high-temperature pre-sintering steps. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) based on directly assembled CBPs such as La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3-δ show high performance initially but degrade rapidly under SOFC operation conditions at 750 °C owing to Sr segregation and accumulation at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Herein, the performance and interface of Sr-free CBPs such as LaCoO 3-δ (LC) and Sm 0.95 CoO 3-δ (SmC) and their composite cathodes directly assembled on YSZ electrolyte was studied systematically. The LC electrode underwent performance degradation, most likely owing to cation demixing and accumulation of La on the YSZ electrolyte under polarization at 500 mA cm -2 and 750 °C. However, the performance and stability of LC electrodes could be substantially enhanced by the formation of LC-gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) composite cathodes. Replacement of La by Sm increased the cell stability, and doping of 5 % Pd to form Sm 0.95 Co 0.95 Pd 0.05 O 3-δ (SmCPd) significantly improved the electrode activity. An anode-supported YSZ-electrolyte cell with a directly assembled SmCPd-GDC composite electrode exhibited a peak power density of 1.4 W cm -2 at 750 °C, and an excellent stability at 750 °C for over 240 h. The higher stability of SmC as compared to that of LC is most likely a result of the lower reactivity of SmC with YSZ. This study demonstrates the new opportunities in the design and development of intermediate-temperature SOFCs based on the directly assembled high-performance and durable Sr-free CBP cathodes. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Drosophila homologues of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and the formin diaphanous collaborate by a conserved mechanism to stimulate actin filament assembly.

PubMed

Jaiswal, Richa; Stepanik, Vince; Rankova, Aneliya; Molinar, Olivia; Goode, Bruce L; McCartney, Brooke M

2013-05-10

Vertebrate APC collaborates with Dia through its Basic domain to assemble actin filaments. Despite limited sequence homology between the vertebrate and Drosophila APC Basic domains, Drosophila APC1 collaborates with Dia to stimulate actin assembly in vitro. The mechanism of actin assembly is highly conserved over evolution. APC-Dia collaborations may be crucial in a wide range of animal cells. Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is a large multidomain protein that regulates the cytoskeleton. Recently, it was shown that vertebrate APC through its Basic domain directly collaborates with the formin mDia1 to stimulate actin filament assembly in the presence of nucleation barriers. However, it has been unclear whether these activities extend to homologues of APC and Dia in other organisms. Drosophila APC and Dia are each required to promote actin furrow formation in the syncytial embryo, suggesting a potential collaboration in actin assembly, but low sequence homology between the Basic domains of Drosophila and vertebrate APC has left their functional and mechanistic parallels uncertain. To address this question, we purified Drosophila APC1 and Dia and determined their individual and combined effects on actin assembly using both bulk fluorescence assays and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. Our data show that APC1, similar to its vertebrate homologue, bound to actin monomers and nucleated and bundled filaments. Further, Drosophila Dia nucleated actin assembly and protected growing filament barbed ends from capping protein. Drosophila APC1 and Dia directly interacted and collaborated to promote actin assembly in the combined presence of profilin and capping protein. Thus, despite limited sequence homology, Drosophila and vertebrate APCs exhibit highly related activities and mechanisms and directly collaborate with formins. These results suggest that APC-Dia interactions in actin assembly are conserved and may underlie important in vivo functions in a broad range of animal phyla.

Photoinduced electron transfer through peptide-based self-assembled monolayers chemisorbed on gold electrodes: directing the flow-in and flow-out of electrons through peptide helices.

PubMed

Venanzi, Mariano; Gatto, Emanuela; Caruso, Mario; Porchetta, Alessandro; Formaggio, Fernando; Toniolo, Claudio

2014-08-21

Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) experiments have been carried out on peptide self-assembled monolayers (SAM) chemisorbed on a gold substrate. The oligopeptide building block was exclusively formed by C(α)-tetrasubstituted α-aminoisobutyric residues to attain a helical conformation despite the shortness of the peptide chain. Furthermore, it was functionalized at the C-terminus by a pyrene choromophore to enhance the UV photon capture cross-section of the compound and by a lipoic group at the N-terminus for linking to gold substrates. Electron transfer across the peptide SAM has been studied by photocurrent generation experiments in an electrochemical cell employing a gold substrate modified by chemisorption of a peptide SAM as a working electrode and by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence experiments in solution and on a gold-coated glass. The results show that the electronic flow through the peptide bridge is strongly asymmetric; i.e., PET from the C-terminus to gold is highly favored with respect to PET in the opposite direction. This effect arises from the polarity of the Au-S linkage (Au(δ+)-S(δ-), junction effect) and from the electrostatic field generated by the peptide helix.

Superior visible light hydrogen evolution of Janus bilayer junctions via atomic-level charge flow steering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jie; Zhan, Guangming; Yu, Ying; Zhang, Lizhi

2016-05-01

Although photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) is ideal for solar-to-fuel conversion, it remains challenging to construct a highly efficient PHE system by steering the charge flow in a precise manner. Here we tackle this challenge by assembling 1T MoS2 monolayers selectively and chemically onto (Bi12O17) end-faces of Bi12O17Cl2 monolayers to craft two-dimensional (2D) Janus (Cl2)-(Bi12O17)-(MoS2) bilayer junctions, a new 2D motif different from van der Waals heterostructure. Electrons and holes from visible light-irradiated Bi12O17Cl2 are directionally separated by the internal electric field to (Bi12O17) and (Cl2) end-faces, respectively. The separated electrons can further migrate to MoS2 via Bi-S bonds formed between (Bi12O17) and MoS2 monolayers. This atomic-level directional charge separation endows the Janus bilayers with ultralong carrier lifetime of 3,446 ns and hence a superior visible-light PHE rate of 33 mmol h-1 g-1. Our delineated Janus bilayer junctions on the basis of the oriented assembly of monolayers presents a new design concept to effectively steer the charge flow for PHE.

Steep-Slope Assembly Testing of Clay and Concrete Tile With and Without Cool Pigmented Colors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miller, William A

Cool color pigments and sub-tile venting of clay and concrete tile roofs significantly impact the heat flow crossing the roof deck of a steep-slope roof. Field measures for the tile roofs revealed a 70% drop in the peak heat flow crossing the deck as compared to a direct-nailed asphalt shingle roof. The Tile Roofing Institute (TRI) and its affiliate members are keenly interested in documenting the magnitude of the drop for obtaining solar reflectance credits with state and federal "cool roof" building efficiency standards. Tile roofs are direct-nailed or are attached to a deck with batten or batten and counter-battenmore » construction. S-Misson clay and concrete tile roofs, a medium-profile concrete tile roof, and a flat slate tile roof were installed on fully nstrumented attic test assemblies. Temperature measures of the roof, deck, attic, and ceiling, heat flows, solar reflectance, thermal emittance, and the ambient weather were recorded for each of the tile roofs and also on an adjacent attic cavity covered with a conventional pigmented and directnailed asphalt shingle roof. ORNL measured the tile's underside temperature and the bulk air temperature and heat flows just underneath the tile for batten and counter-batten tile systems and compared the results to the conventional asphalt shingle.« less

Microfluidic device for the assembly and transport of microparticles

DOEpatents

James, Conrad D [Albuquerque, NM; Kumar, Anil [Framingham, MA; Khusid, Boris [New Providence, NJ; Acrivos, Andreas [Stanford, CA

2010-06-29

A microfluidic device comprising independently addressable arrays of interdigitated electrodes can be used to assembly and transport large-scale microparticle structures. The device and method uses collective phenomena in a negatively polarized suspension exposed to a high-gradient strong ac electric field to assemble the particles into predetermined locations and then transport them collectively to a work area for final assembly by sequentially energizing the electrode arrays.

Massively Parallel Nanostructure Assembly Strategies for Sensing and Information Technology. Phase 2

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-25

field. This work has focused on the synthesis of new functional materials and the development of high-throughput, facile methods to assemble...Hong (Seoul National University, Korea). Specifically, gapped nanowires (GNW) were identified as candidate materials for synthesis and assembly as...Throughout the course of this grant, we reported major accomplishments both in the synthesis and assembly of such structures. Synthetically, we report three

A dual-rating method for evaluating impact noise isolation of floor-ceiling assemblies.

PubMed

LoVerde, John J; Dong, D Wayland

2017-01-01

Impact Insulation Class (IIC), the single-number rating for evaluating the impact noise insulation of a floor-ceiling assembly, and the associated field testing ratings, are unsatisfactory because they do not have strong correlation with subjective reaction nor provide suitable detailed information for evaluation or design of floor-ceiling assemblies. Various proposals have been made for improving the method, but the data presented indicate that no single-number rating can adequately characterize the impact noise isolation of an assembly. For realistic impact noise sources and floor-ceiling assembly types, there are two frequency domains for impact noise, and the impact noise levels in the two domains can vary independently. Therefore, two ratings are required in order to satisfactorily evaluate the impact isolation provided by a floor-ceiling assembly. Two different ratings are introduced for measuring field impact isolation in the two frequency domains, using the existing impact source and measurement method. They are named low-frequency impact rating (LIR) and high-frequency impact rating (HIR). LIR and HIR are proposed to improve the current method for design and evaluation of floor-ceiling assemblies and also provide a better method for predicting subjective reaction.

49 CFR 571.207 - Standard No. 207; Seating systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... standard establishes requirements for seats, their attachment assemblies, and their installation to... longitudinal direction; (c) For a seat belt assembly attached to the seat—the force specified in paragraph (a... applied simultaneously with the forces imposed on the seat by the seat belt assembly when it is loaded in...

76 FR 63571 - Airworthiness Directives; Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. Airplanes Equipped With Pratt & Whitney Canada...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-13

... design change for the combustion chamber liner assembly. This proposed AD would retain the requirements... design change to the combustion chamber liner assembly. The current design of the combustion chamber liner assembly is a one- piece configuration. The new design change involves replacing the combustion...

78 FR 9796 - Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-12

... against the right steering tube assembly during rudder pedal actuation. This AD requires you to install... between the fuel return line assembly and the steering tube assembly and clearance between the fuel return...://www.cessnasupport.com . You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Small...

77 FR 50054 - Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-20

... rubbing against the right steering tube assembly during full rudder pedal actuation. This proposed AD would require you to inspect the fuel return line assembly for chafing; replace the fuel return line... right steering tube assembly and the airplane structure; and adjustment as necessary. We are proposing...

77 FR 72250 - Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-05

... rubbing against the right steering tube assembly during rudder pedal actuation. This proposed AD would require you to install the forward and aft fuel return line support clamps and brackets; inspect for a minimum clearance between the fuel return line assembly and the steering tube assembly and clearance...

77 FR 65613 - Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-30

... related reaction link assembly, and replacing the rudder PCU and its related reaction link assembly if... substrate because of the use of liquid nitrogen during installation of the bushing into the reaction link... identify the condition of its related reaction link assembly, and replacing the rudder PCU and its related...

77 FR 37829 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-25

... assemblies of the left- and right-hand thrust reversers. Since we issued that AD, the manufacturer has issued new life limits on certain thrust reverser C-duct assemblies. This proposed AD would require removing certain C-duct assemblies of the left- and right-hand thrust reversers from service at certain designated...

Directed assembly of colloidal particles for micro/nano photonics (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Yuebing

2017-02-01

Bottom-up fabrication of complex structures with chemically synthesized colloidal particles as building blocks pave an efficient and cost-effective way towards micro/nano photonics with unprecedented functionality and tunability. Novel properties can arise from quantum effects of colloidal particles, as well as inter-particle interactions and spatial arrangement in particle assemblies. Herein, I discuss our recent developments and applications of three types of techniques for directed assembly of colloidal particles: moiré nanosphere lithography (MNSL), bubble-pen lithography (BPL), and optothermal tweezers (OTTs). Specifically, MNSL provides an efficient approach towards creating moiré metasurface with tunable and multiband optical responses from visible to mid-infrared regime. Au moiré metasurfaces have been applied for surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy, optical capture and patterning of bacteria, and photothermal denaturation of proteins. BPL is developed to pattern a variety of colloidal particles on plasmonic substrates and two-dimensional atomic-layer materials in an arbitrary manner. The laser-directed microbubble captures and immobilizes nanoparticles through coordinated actions of Marangoni convection, surface tension, gas pressure, and substrate adhesion. OTTs are developed to create dynamic nanoparticle assemblies at low optical power. Such nanoparticle assemblies have been used for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for molecular analysis in their native environments.

Self Assembled Bi-functional Peptide Hydrogels with Biomineralization-Directing Peptides

PubMed Central

Gungormus, Mustafa; Branco, Monica; Fong, Hanson; Schneider, Joel P.; Tamerler, Candan; Sarikaya, Mehmet

2014-01-01

A peptide-based hydrogel has been designed that directs the formation of hydroxyapatite. MDG1, a twenty-seven residue peptide, undergoes triggered folding to form an unsymmetrical β-hairpin that self-assembles in response to an increase in solution ionic strength to yield a mechanically rigid, self supporting hydrogel. The C-terminal portion of MDG1 contains a heptapeptide (MLPHHGA) capable of directing the mineralization process. Circular dichroism spectroscopy indicates that the peptide folds and assembles to form a hydrogel network rich in β-sheet secondary structure. Oscillatory rheology indicates that the hydrogel is mechanical rigid (G′ ∼ 2500 Pa) before mineralization. In separate experiments, mineralization was induced both biochemically and with cementoblast cells. Mineralization-domain had little effect on the mechanical rigidity of the gel. SEM and EDS show that MDG1 gels are capable of directing the formation of hydroxapatite. Control hydrogels, prepared by peptides either lacking the mineral-directing portion or reversing its sequence, indicated that the heptapeptide is necessary and its actions are sequence specific. PMID:20591477

Cold denaturation induces inversion of dipole and spin transfer in chiral peptide monolayers

PubMed Central

Eckshtain-Levi, Meital; Capua, Eyal; Refaely-Abramson, Sivan; Sarkar, Soumyajit; Gavrilov, Yulian; Mathew, Shinto P.; Paltiel, Yossi; Levy, Yaakov; Kronik, Leeor; Naaman, Ron

2016-01-01

Chirality-induced spin selectivity is a recently-discovered effect, which results in spin selectivity for electrons transmitted through chiral peptide monolayers. Here, we use this spin selectivity to probe the organization of self-assembled α-helix peptide monolayers and examine the relation between structural and spin transfer phenomena. We show that the α-helix structure of oligopeptides based on alanine and aminoisobutyric acid is transformed to a more linear one upon cooling. This process is similar to the known cold denaturation in peptides, but here the self-assembled monolayer plays the role of the solvent. The structural change results in a flip in the direction of the electrical dipole moment of the adsorbed molecules. The dipole flip is accompanied by a concomitant change in the spin that is preferred in electron transfer through the molecules, observed via a new solid-state hybrid organic–inorganic device that is based on the Hall effect, but operates with no external magnetic field or magnetic material. PMID:26916536

Synaptogenesis in the CNS: An Odyssey from Wiring Together to Firing Together

PubMed Central

Munno, David W; Syed, Naweed I

2003-01-01

To acquire a better comprehension of nervous system function, it is imperative to understand how synapses are assembled during development and subsequently altered throughout life. Despite recent advances in the fields of neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity, relatively little is known about the mechanisms that guide synapse formation in the central nervous system (CNS). Although many structural components of the synaptic machinery are pre-assembled prior to the arrival of growth cones at the site of their potential targets, innumerable changes, central to the proper wiring of the brain, must subsequently take place through contact-mediated cell-cell communications. Identification of such signalling molecules and a characterization of various events underlying synaptogenesis are pivotal to our understanding of how a brain cell completes its odyssey from ‘wiring together to firing together’. Here we attempt to provide a comprehensive overview that pertains directly to the cellular and molecular mechanisms of selection, formation and refinement of synapses during the development of the CNS in both vertebrates and invertebrates. PMID:12897180

79/81Br nuclear quadrupole resonance spectroscopic characterization of halogen bonds in supramolecular assemblies.

PubMed

Cerreia Vioglio, P; Szell, P M J; Chierotti, M R; Gobetto, R; Bryce, D L

2018-05-28

Despite the applicability of solid-state NMR to study the halogen bond, the direct NMR detection of 79/81 Br covalently bonded to carbon remains impractical due to extremely large spectral widths, even at ultra-high magnetic fields. In contrast, nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) offers comparatively sharp resonances. Here, we demonstrate the abilities of 79/81 Br NQR to characterize the electronic changes in the C-Br···N halogen bonding motifs found in supramolecular assemblies constructed from 1,4-dibromotetrafluorobenzene and nitrogen-containing heterocycles. An increase in the bromine quadrupolar coupling constant is observed, which correlates linearly with the halogen bond distance ( d Br···N ). Notably, 79/81 Br NQR is able to distinguish between two symmetry-independent halogen bonds in the same crystal structure. This approach offers a rapid and reliable indication for the occurrence of a halogen bond, with experimental times limited only by the observation of 79/81 Br NQR resonances.

Cold denaturation induces inversion of dipole and spin transfer in chiral peptide monolayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eckshtain-Levi, Meital; Capua, Eyal; Refaely-Abramson, Sivan; Sarkar, Soumyajit; Gavrilov, Yulian; Mathew, Shinto P.; Paltiel, Yossi; Levy, Yaakov; Kronik, Leeor; Naaman, Ron

2016-02-01

Chirality-induced spin selectivity is a recently-discovered effect, which results in spin selectivity for electrons transmitted through chiral peptide monolayers. Here, we use this spin selectivity to probe the organization of self-assembled α-helix peptide monolayers and examine the relation between structural and spin transfer phenomena. We show that the α-helix structure of oligopeptides based on alanine and aminoisobutyric acid is transformed to a more linear one upon cooling. This process is similar to the known cold denaturation in peptides, but here the self-assembled monolayer plays the role of the solvent. The structural change results in a flip in the direction of the electrical dipole moment of the adsorbed molecules. The dipole flip is accompanied by a concomitant change in the spin that is preferred in electron transfer through the molecules, observed via a new solid-state hybrid organic-inorganic device that is based on the Hall effect, but operates with no external magnetic field or magnetic material.

Networks of gold nanoparticles and bacteriophage as biological sensors and cell-targeting agents

PubMed Central

Souza, Glauco R.; Christianson, Dawn R.; Staquicini, Fernanda I.; Ozawa, Michael G.; Snyder, Evan Y.; Sidman, Richard L.; Miller, J. Houston; Arap, Wadih; Pasqualini, Renata

2006-01-01

Biological molecular assemblies are excellent models for the development of nanoengineered systems with desirable biomedical properties. Here we report an approach for fabrication of spontaneous, biologically active molecular networks consisting of bacteriophage (phage) directly assembled with gold (Au) nanoparticles (termed Au–phage). We show that when the phage are engineered so that each phage particle displays a peptide, such networks preserve the cell surface receptor binding and internalization attributes of the displayed peptide. The spontaneous organization of these targeted networks can be manipulated further by incorporation of imidazole (Au–phage–imid), which induces changes in fractal structure and near-infrared optical properties. The networks can be used as labels for enhanced fluorescence and dark-field microscopy, surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection, and near-infrared photon-to-heat conversion. Together, the physical and biological features within these targeted networks offer convenient multifunctional integration within a single entity with potential for nanotechnology-based biomedical applications. PMID:16434473

Dual-axis resonance testing of wind turbine blades

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hughes, Scott; Musial, Walter; White, Darris

An apparatus (100) for fatigue testing test articles (104) including wind turbine blades. The apparatus (100) includes a test stand (110) that rigidly supports an end (106) of the test article (104). An actuator assembly (120) is attached to the test article (104) and is adapted for substantially concurrently imparting first and second forcing functions in first and second directions on the test article (104), with the first and second directions being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis. A controller (130) transmits first and second sets of displacement signals (160, 164) to the actuator assembly (120) at two resonant frequencies ofmore » the test system (104). The displacement signals (160, 164) initiate the actuator assembly (120) to impart the forcing loads to concurrently oscillate the test article (104) in the first and second directions. With turbine blades, the blades (104) are resonant tested concurrently for fatigue in the flapwise and edgewise directions.« less

Ultrasonically-assisted Thermal Stir Welding System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ding, R. Jeffrey (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A welding head assembly has a work piece disposed between its containment plates' opposing surfaces with the work piece being maintained in a plastic state thereof at least in a vicinity of the welding head assembly's stir rod as the rod is rotated about its longitudinal axis. The welding head assembly and the work piece experience relative movement there between in a direction perpendicular to the rod's longitudinal axis as the work piece is subjected to a compressive force applied by the containment plates. A first source coupled to the first containment plate applies a first ultrasonic wave thereto such that the first ultrasonic wave propagates parallel to the direction of relative movement. A second source coupled to the second containment plate applies a second ultrasonic wave thereto such that the second ultrasonic wave propagates parallel to the direction of relative movement.propagates parallel to the direction of relative movement.

Alignment of SWNTs by protein-ligand interaction of functionalized magnetic particles under low magnetic fields.

PubMed

Park, Tae Jung; Park, Jong Pil; Lee, Seok Jae; Jung, Dae-Hwan; Ko, Young Koan; Jung, Hee-Tae; Lee, Sang Yup

2011-05-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted considerable attention for applications using their superior mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. A simple method to controllably align single-walled CNTs (SWNTs) by using magnetic particles embedded with superparamagnetic iron oxide as an accelerator under the magnetic field was developed. The functionalization of SWNTs using biotin, interacted with streptavidin-coupled magnetic particles (micro-to-nano in diameter), and layer-by-layer assembly were performed for the alignment of a particular direction onto the clean silicon and the gold substrate at very low magnetic forces (0.02-0.89 T) at room temperature. The successful alignment of the SWNTs with multi-layer film was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). By changing the orientation and location of the substrates, crossed-networks of SWNTs-magnetic particle complex could easily be fabricated. We suggest that this approach, which consists of a combination of biological interaction among streptavidin-biotin and magnetite particles, should be useful for lateral orientation of individual SWNTs with controllable direction.

Coarse Grained Modeling of Block Copolymer Lithography: The Effects of Pattern Design on the Thermodynamics and Kinetics of the Directed Self Assembly of Block Copolymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garner, Grant Parker

The directed self assembly of block copolymers is an exciting complimentary technique for the fabrication of nanoscale structures for lithographic applications. Typically a directed self assembly process is driven through substrates with chemical (chemoepitaxy) or topographical (graphoepitaxy) guiding features. These patterning strategies have led to the ability to assemble structures with a high degree of perfection over large areas. However, a guiding pattern has not been created which assembles the desired features with a defect density that is commensurate with industrial standards of 1 defect/100cm 2. This work focuses on using molecular simulations on the Theoretically Informed Coarse Grained model to provide design rules for substrate patterns which drive the assembly of desired, device-oriented morphologies. Prior to the work presented in Chapter 2, the TICG model has been used in conjunction with a chemical pattern that is approximated as a hard-impenetrable surface. As many experimental systems use polymer brushes to help guide the polymer melt deposited on the substrate, this work analyzes the consequences of such an assumption by comparing a model where the polymer brush is explicitly implemented to the hard-wall substrate used in the past. Then, a methodology which utilizes a evolutionary optimization method is used to map the parameters of the more detailed model to the hard-surface model. This provides a qualitative understanding of how to interpret the model parameters used in previous works in the context of real experimental pattern designs. Chapter 3 discuss the concept of competitive assemblies in regards to defining a thermodynamic processing window in design space for assembling lines-and-spaces. The most competitive assembly to the desired orientation of the lamella is defined as a rotation of assembled lamella to the underlying pattern. Thermodynamic integration is used to calculate the free-energy difference between these assemblies over chemical patterns with varied design parameters. Local maximums in the free-energy difference are observed over pattern designs that are in qualitatively agreement with the pattern designs which produce the most perfect assemblies in experiments. The analysis is extended to study how choice of chemistry impacts this thermodynamic selection for the desired morphology. Finally, Chapter 4 provides insight into the kinetics of patterned directed self-assembly by investigating cylinder forming block copolymers within cylindrical confinements. Through the use of the string method, the minimum free-energy path between a defective state and the desired assembled morphology is calculated and clear transition states are highlighted. The effects of key parameters of the confinement design on the calculated minimum free energy path are calculated to identify design rules which should lead to a better understanding of optimal connement design for eliminating defects. In addition, a specific modification to existing cylindrical confinements is discussed as a possibility for tackling the problem of placement accuracy for a cylinder that is assembled within the confinement.

Research to Assembly Scheme for Satellite Deck Based on Robot Flexibility Control Principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Tao; Hu, Ruiqin; Xiao, Zhengyi; Zhao, Jingjing; Fang, Zhikai

2018-03-01

Deck assembly is critical quality control point in final satellite assembly process, and cable extrusion and structure collision problems in assembly process will affect development quality and progress of satellite directly. Aimed at problems existing in deck assembly process, assembly project scheme for satellite deck based on robot flexibility control principle is proposed in this paper. Scheme is introduced firstly; secondly, key technologies on end force perception and flexible docking control in the scheme are studied; then, implementation process of assembly scheme for satellite deck is described in detail; finally, actual application case of assembly scheme is given. Result shows that compared with traditional assembly scheme, assembly scheme for satellite deck based on robot flexibility control principle has obvious advantages in work efficiency, reliability and universality aspects etc.

Nano-soldering of magnetically aligned three-dimensional nanowire networks.

PubMed

Gao, Fan; Gu, Zhiyong

2010-03-19

It is extremely challenging to fabricate 3D integrated nanostructures and hybrid nanoelectronic devices. In this paper, we report a simple and efficient method to simultaneously assemble and solder nanowires into ordered 3D and electrically conductive nanowire networks. Nano-solders such as tin were fabricated onto both ends of multi-segmented nanowires by a template-assisted electrodeposition method. These nanowires were then self-assembled and soldered into large-scale 3D network structures by magnetic field assisted assembly in a liquid medium with a high boiling point. The formation of junctions/interconnects between the nanowires and the scale of the assembly were dependent on the solder reflow temperature and the strength of the magnetic field. The size of the assembled nanowire networks ranged from tens of microns to millimeters. The electrical characteristics of the 3D nanowire networks were measured by regular current-voltage (I-V) measurements using a probe station with micropositioners. Nano-solders, when combined with assembling techniques, can be used to efficiently connect and join nanowires with low contact resistance, which are very well suited for sensor integration as well as nanoelectronic device fabrication.

X-ray diffraction diagnostic design for the National Ignition Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmed, Maryum F.; House, Allen; Smith, R. F.; Ayers, Jay; Lamb, Zachary S.; Swift, David W.

2013-09-01

This paper describes the design considerations for Target Diffraction In-Situ (TARDIS), an x-ray diffraction diagnostic at the National Ignition Facility. A crystal sample is ramp-compressed to peak pressures between 10 and 30 Mbar and, during a pressure hold period, is probed with quasi-monochromatic x-rays emanating from a backlighter source foil. The crystal spectrography diffraction lines are recorded onto image plates. The crystal sample, filter, and image plates are packaged into one assembly, allowing for accurate and repeatable target to image plate registration. Unconverted laser light impinges upon the device, generating debris, the effects of which have been mitigated. Dimpled blast shields, high strength steel alloy, and high-z tungsten are used to shield and protect the image plates. A tapered opening was designed to provide adequate thickness of shielding materials without blocking the drive beams or x-ray source from reaching the crystal target. The high strength steel unit serves as a mount for the crystal target and x-ray source foil. A tungsten body contains the imaging components. Inside this sub-assembly, there are three image plates: a 160 degree field of view curved plate directly opposite the target opening and two flat plates for the top and bottom. A polycarbonate frame, coated with the appropriate filter material and embedded with registration features for image plate location, is inserted into the diagnostic body. The target assembly is metrologized and then the diagnostic assembly is attached.

Synthesis and functionalization of gold nanorods for probing plasmonic enhancement mechanisms in organic photovoltaic active layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wadams, Robert Christopher

DNA nanotechnology is one of the most flourishing interdisciplinary research fields. Through the features of programmability and predictability, DNA nanostructures can be designed to self-assemble into a variety of periodic or aperiodic patterns of different shapes and length scales, and more importantly, they can be used as scaffolds for organizing other nanoparticles, proteins and chemical groups. By leveraging these molecules, DNA nanostructures can be used to direct the organization of complex bio-inspired materials that may serve as smart drug delivery systems and in vitro or in vivo bio-molecular computing and diagnostic devices. In this dissertation I describe a systematic study of the thermodynamic properties of complex DNA nanostructures, including 2D and 3D DNA origami, in order to understand their assembly, stability and functionality and inform future design endeavors. It is conceivable that a more thorough understanding of DNA self-assembly can be used to guide the structural design process and optimize the conditions for assembly, manipulation, and functionalization, thus benefiting both upstream design and downstream applications. As a biocompatible nanoscale motif, the successful integration, stabilization and separation of DNA nanostructures from cells/cell lysate suggests its potential to serve as a diagnostic platform at the cellular level. Here, DNA origami was used to capture and identify multiple T cell receptor mRNA species from single cells within a mixed cell population. This demonstrates the potential of DNA nanostructure as an ideal nano scale tool for biological applications.

Simulation Study on the Controllable Dielectrophoresis Parameters of Graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Jian-Long; Liu, Ya-Li; Ge, Yang; Xie, Sheng-Dong; Zhang, Xi; Sang, Sheng-Bo; Jian, Ao-Qun; Duan, Qian-Qian; Zhang, Qiang; Zhang, Wen-Dong

2017-03-01

The method of using dielectrophoresis (DEP) to assemble graphene between micro-electrodes has been proven to be simple and efficient. We present an optimization method for the kinetic formula of graphene DEP, and discuss the simulation of the graphene assembly process based on the finite element method. The simulated results illustrate that the accelerated motion of graphene is in agreement with the distribution of the electric field squared gradient. We also conduct research on the controllable parameters of the DEP assembly such as the alternating current (AC) frequency, the shape of micro-electrodes, and the ratio of the gap between electrodes to the characteristic/geometric length of graphene (λ). The simulations based on the Clausius-Mossotti factor reveal that both graphene velocity and direction are influenced by the AC frequency. When graphene is close to the electrodes, the shape of micro-electrodes will exert great influence on the velocity of graphene. Also, λ has a great influence on the velocity of graphene. Generally, the velocity of graphene would be greater when λ is in the range of 0.4-0.6. The study is of a theoretical guiding significance in improving the precision and efficiency of the graphene DEP assembly. Supported by the Basic Research Project of Shanxi Province under Grant No 2015021092, the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 61471255, 61474079, 61501316, 51505324 and 51622507, and the National High-Technology Research and Development Program of China under Grant No 2015AA042601.

Carbon-rich supramolecular metallacycles and metallacages

PubMed Central

Northrop, Brian H.; Chercka, Dennis; Stang, Peter J.

2008-01-01

Coordination-driven self-assembly via the directional-bonding approach utilizes rigid transition metal acceptors and electron-rich donors to allow for complex, nanoscale 2D polygons and 3D polyhedra to be prepared under mild conditions and in high yields. To ensure proper rigidity and directionality, many acceptor and donor precursors contain largely carbon-rich aromatic and/or acetylenic moieties. This article introduces self-assembly as an alternative means of synthesizing carbon-rich materials and discusses the development, design, synthesis, and applications of carbon-rich supramolecular metallacycles and metallacages as well as the self-assembly of new diastereomeric carbon-rich supramolecular triangles. PMID:20011029

Automated glycan assembly of galactosylated xyloglucan oligosaccharides and their recognition by plant cell wall glycan-directed antibodies.

PubMed

Dallabernardina, Pietro; Ruprecht, Colin; Smith, Peter J; Hahn, Michael G; Urbanowicz, Breeanna R; Pfrengle, Fabian

2017-12-06

We report the automated glycan assembly of oligosaccharides related to the plant cell wall hemicellulosic polysaccharide xyloglucan. The synthesis of galactosylated xyloglucan oligosaccharides was enabled by introducing p-methoxybenzyl (PMB) as a temporary protecting group for automated glycan assembly. The generated oligosaccharides were printed as microarrays, and the binding of a collection of xyloglucan-directed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the oligosaccharides was assessed. We also demonstrated that the printed glycans can be further enzymatically modified while appended to the microarray surface by Arabidopsis thaliana xyloglucan xylosyltransferase 2 (AtXXT2).

Programmable self-assembly of three-dimensional nanostructures from 10,000 unique components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ong, Luvena L.; Hanikel, Nikita; Yaghi, Omar K.; Grun, Casey; Strauss, Maximilian T.; Bron, Patrick; Lai-Kee-Him, Josephine; Schueder, Florian; Wang, Bei; Wang, Pengfei; Kishi, Jocelyn Y.; Myhrvold, Cameron; Zhu, Allen; Jungmann, Ralf; Bellot, Gaetan; Ke, Yonggang; Yin, Peng

2017-12-01

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are widely used to construct nanometre-scale structures with ever increasing complexity, with possible application in fields such as structural biology, biophysics, synthetic biology and photonics. The nanostructures are formed through one-pot self-assembly, with early kilodalton-scale examples containing typically tens of unique DNA strands. The introduction of DNA origami, which uses many staple strands to fold one long scaffold strand into a desired structure, has provided access to megadalton-scale nanostructures that contain hundreds of unique DNA strands. Even larger DNA origami structures are possible, but manufacturing and manipulating an increasingly long scaffold strand remains a challenge. An alternative and more readily scalable approach involves the assembly of DNA bricks, which each consist of four short binding domains arranged so that the bricks can interlock. This approach does not require a scaffold; instead, the short DNA brick strands self-assemble according to specific inter-brick interactions. First-generation bricks used to create three-dimensional structures are 32 nucleotides long, consisting of four eight-nucleotide binding domains. Protocols have been designed to direct the assembly of hundreds of distinct bricks into well formed structures, but attempts to create larger structures have encountered practical challenges and had limited success. Here we show that DNA bricks with longer, 13-nucleotide binding domains make it possible to self-assemble 0.1-1-gigadalton, three-dimensional nanostructures from tens of thousands of unique components, including a 0.5-gigadalton cuboid containing about 30,000 unique bricks and a 1-gigadalton rotationally symmetric tetramer. We also assembled a cuboid that contains around 10,000 bricks and about 20,000 uniquely addressable, 13-base-pair ‘voxels’ that serves as a molecular canvas for three-dimensional sculpting. Complex, user-prescribed, three-dimensional cavities can be produced within this molecular canvas, enabling the creation of shapes such as letters, a helicoid and a teddy bear. We anticipate that with further optimization of structure design, strand synthesis and assembly procedure even larger structures could be accessible, which could be useful for applications such as positioning functional components.

Facile Site-Directed Mutagenesis of Large Constructs Using Gibson Isothermal DNA Assembly.

PubMed

Yonemoto, Isaac T; Weyman, Philip D

2017-01-01

Site-directed mutagenesis is a commonly used molecular biology technique to manipulate biological sequences, and is especially useful for studying sequence determinants of enzyme function or designing proteins with improved activity. We describe a strategy using Gibson Isothermal DNA Assembly to perform site-directed mutagenesis on large (>~20 kbp) constructs that are outside the effective range of standard techniques such as QuikChange II (Agilent Technologies), but more reliable than traditional cloning using restriction enzymes and ligation.

The Self-Assembly of Particles with Multipolar Interactions

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-01-01

the LATEX template in which this thesis has been written. I also thank Kevin Van Workum and Jack Douglas for contributing simulation work and some...of the computational expense of simulating such complex self-assembly systems at the molecular level and a desire to understand the self-assembly at...Dissertation directed by: Professor Wolfgang Losert Department of Physics In this thesis , we describe results from investigations of the self-assembly of

Electrical power system WP-04

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nored, Donald L.

Viewgraphs on Space Station Freedom Electrical Power System (EPS) WP-40 are presented. Topics covered include: key EPS technical requirements; photovoltaic power module systems; solar array assembly; blanket containment box and box positioning subassemblies; solar cell; bypass diode assembly; Kapton with atomic oxygen resistant coating; sequential shunt unit; gimbal assembly; energy storage subsystem; thermal control subsystem; direct current switching unit; integrated equipment assembly; PV cargo element; PMAD system; and PMC and AC architecture.

Electrical power system WP-04

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nored, Donald L.

1990-01-01

Viewgraphs on Space Station Freedom Electrical Power System (EPS) WP-40 are presented. Topics covered include: key EPS technical requirements; photovoltaic power module systems; solar array assembly; blanket containment box and box positioning subassemblies; solar cell; bypass diode assembly; Kapton with atomic oxygen resistant coating; sequential shunt unit; gimbal assembly; energy storage subsystem; thermal control subsystem; direct current switching unit; integrated equipment assembly; PV cargo element; PMAD system; and PMC and AC architecture.

Direct hierarchical assembly of nanoparticles

DOEpatents

Xu, Ting; Zhao, Yue; Thorkelsson, Kari

2014-07-22

The present invention provides hierarchical assemblies of a block copolymer, a bifunctional linking compound and a nanoparticle. The block copolymers form one micro-domain and the nanoparticles another micro-domain.

78 FR 59293 - Airworthiness Directives; Continental Motors, Inc. Reciprocating Engines

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-26

... Engineering Corporation parts manufacturer approval replacement cylinder assemblies installed. The replacement cylinder assemblies are marketed by Engine Components International Division. DATES: The comment period for...

Low-voltage self-assembled monolayer field-effect transistors on flexible substrates.

PubMed

Schmaltz, Thomas; Amin, Atefeh Y; Khassanov, Artoem; Meyer-Friedrichsen, Timo; Steinrück, Hans-Georg; Magerl, Andreas; Segura, Juan José; Voitchovsky, Kislon; Stellacci, Francesco; Halik, Marcus

2013-08-27

Self-assembled monolayer field-effect transistors (SAMFETs) of BTBT functionalized phosphonic acids are fabricated. The molecular design enables device operation with charge carrier mobilities up to 10(-2) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) and for the first time SAMFETs which operate on rough, flexible PEN substrates even under mechanical substrate bending. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.