Simultaneous formation of multiscale hierarchical surface morphologies through sequential wrinkling and folding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yu; Sun, Qingyang; Xiao, Jianliang

2018-02-01

Highly organized hierarchical surface morphologies possess various intriguing properties that could find important potential applications. In this paper, we demonstrate a facile approach to simultaneously form multiscale hierarchical surface morphologies through sequential wrinkling. This method combines surface wrinkling induced by thermal expansion and mechanical strain on a three-layer structure composed of an aluminum film, a hard Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film, and a soft PDMS substrate. Deposition of the aluminum film on hard PDMS induces biaxial wrinkling due to thermal expansion mismatch, and recovering the prestrain in the soft PDMS substrate leads to wrinkling of the hard PDMS film. In total, three orders of wrinkling patterns form in this process, with wavelength and amplitude spanning 3 orders of magnitude in length scale. By increasing the prestrain in the soft PDMS substrate, a hierarchical wrinkling-folding structure was also obtained. This approach can be easily extended to other thin films for fabrication of multiscale hierarchical surface morphologies with potential applications in different areas.

Electrodeposited Ni nanowires-track etched P.E.T. composites as selective solar absorbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lukhwa, R.; Sone, B.; Kotsedi, L.; Madjoe, R.; Maaza, M.

2018-05-01

This contribution reports on the structural, optical and morphological properties of nanostructured flexible solar-thermal selective absorber composites for low temperature applications. The candidate material in the system is consisting of electrodeposited nickel nano-cylinders embedded in track-etched polyethylene terephthalate (PET) host membrane of pore sizes ranging between 0.3-0.8µm supported by conductive nickel thin film of about 0.5µm. PET were irradiated with 11MeV/u high charged xenon (Xe) ions at normal incidence. The tubular and metallic structure of the nickel nano-cylinders within the insulator polymeric host forms a typical ceramic-metal nano-composite "Cermet". The produced material was characterized by the following techniques: X-ray diffraction (XRD) for structural characterization to determine preferred crystallographic structure, and grain size of the materials; Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine surface morphology, particle size, and visual imaging of distribution of structures on the surface of the substrate; Atomic force microscopy (AFM) to characterize surface roughness, surface morphology, and film thickness, and UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer to measure the reflectance, then to determine solar absorption

Structural changes of anodic layer on titanium in sulfate solution as a function of anodization duration in constant current mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komiya, Shinji; Sakamoto, Kouta; Ohtsu, Naofumi

2014-03-01

The present study investigated the effect of anodization time, in constant current mode, on the anodic oxide layer formed on titanium (Ti). Anodization of the Ti substrate was　carried out in a 0.1 M (NH4)2SO4 aqueous solution with reaction times of various durations, after which the characteristics and photocatalytic activity were investigated in detail. The TiO2 layer fabricated in a short duration exhibited comparatively flat surface morphology and an anatase-type crystal structure. This layer acted as a photocatalyst only under ultraviolet light (UV) illumination. Upon prolonging the anodization, the layer structure changed drastically. The surface morphology became rough, and the crystal structure changed to rutile-type TiO2. Furthermore, the layer showed photocatalytic activity both under UV and visible light illumination. Further anodization increased the amount of methylene blue (MB) adsorbed on the surface, but did not cause additional change to the structure of the anodic layer. The surface morphology and crystal structure of the anodic layer were predominantly controlled by the anodization time; thus, the anodization time is an important parameter for controlling the characteristics of the anodic layer.

Correlation between morphology, electron band structure, and resistivity of Pb atomic chains on the Si(5 5 3)-Au surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jałochowski, M.; Kwapiński, T.; Łukasik, P.; Nita, P.; Kopciuszyński, M.

2016-07-01

Structural and electron transport properties of multiple Pb atomic chains fabricated on the Si(5 5 3)-Au surface are investigated using scanning tunneling spectroscopy, reflection high electron energy diffraction, angular resolved photoemission electron spectroscopy and in situ electrical resistance. The study shows that Pb atomic chains growth modulates the electron band structure of pristine Si(5 5 3)-Au surface and hence changes its sheet resistivity. Strong correlation between chains morphology, electron band structure and electron transport properties is found. To explain experimental findings a theoretical tight-binding model of multiple atomic chains interacting on effective substrate is proposed.

Engineering of Nanoscale Antifouling and Hydrophobic Surfaces on Naval Structural Steel HY-80 by Anodizing

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-01

examination of the morphologies of the nanoporous structures and the evaluation of the anodization parameters such as anodization potential, time... sponges , anemones, tunicates, and hydroids, whilst hard fouling comprises invertebrates such as barnacles, mussels, and tubeworms. The specific...of metals by making them more stable and highly resistant, but also to modify the surface by giving it a desired morphology . Ferrous alloys such as

Rutile (β-)MnO2 surfaces and vacancy formation for high electrochemical and catalytic performance.

PubMed

Tompsett, David A; Parker, Stephen C; Islam, M Saiful

2014-01-29

MnO2 is a technologically important material for energy storage and catalysis. Recent investigations have demonstrated the success of nanostructuring for improving the performance of rutile MnO2 in Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors and as a catalyst. Motivated by this we have investigated the stability and electronic structure of rutile (β-)MnO2 surfaces using density functional theory. A Wulff construction from relaxed surface energies indicates a rod-like equilibrium morphology that is elongated along the c-axis, and is consistent with the large number of nanowire-type structures that are obtainable experimentally. The (110) surface dominates the crystallite surface area. Moreover, higher index surfaces than considered in previous work, for instance the (211) and (311) surfaces, are also expressed to cap the rod-like morphology. Broken coordinations at the surface result in enhanced magnetic moments at Mn sites that may play a role in catalytic activity. The calculated formation energies of oxygen vacancy defects and Mn reduction at key surfaces indicate facile formation at surfaces expressed in the equilibrium morphology. The formation energies are considerably lower than for comparable structures such as rutile TiO2 and are likely to be important to the high catalytic activity of rutile MnO2.

Influence of mechanical and chemical surface treatments on the formation of bone-like structure in cpTi for endosseous dental implants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parsikia, Farhang; Amini, Pupak; Asgari, Sirous

2012-10-01

Commercially pure titanium samples were exposed to grit blasting and acid-alkali treatments to obtain a variety of surface compositions and morphologies. Contact roughness test and microstructural studies were employed to study the surface topography of the samples. The nature and chemical composition of surface phases were evaluated using X-ray diffraction and microanalysis techniques. Selected samples first exposed to in vitro environment were then tested to determine the surface morphology and surface microstructure. Based on the data presented in this work, it is suggested that grit blasting process utilized prior to chemical treatment stage, yields a high quality surface morphology. Such a surface morphology is expected to have superior tribological characteristics after osseointegration. Also, it appeared that the reverse sequence of processing resulted in a better biocompatibility of the product manifested by negligible amount of residual alumina on the sample surface.

Nano-scale surface morphology, wettability and osteoblast adhesion on nitrogen plasma-implanted NiTi shape memory alloy.

PubMed

Liu, X M; Wu, S L; Chu, Paul K; Chung, C Y; Chu, C L; Chan, Y L; Lam, K O; Yeung, K W K; Lu, W W; Cheung, K M C; Luk, K D K

2009-06-01

Plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) is an effective method to increase the corrosion resistance and inhibit nickel release from orthopedic NiTi shape memory alloy. Nitrogen was plasma-implanted into NiTi using different pulsing frequencies to investigate the effects on the nano-scale surface morphology, structure, wettability, as well as biocompatibility. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that the implantation depth of nitrogen increases with higher pulsing frequencies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) discloses that the nano-scale surface roughness increases and surface features are changed from islands to spiky cones with higher pulsing frequencies. This variation in the nano surface structures leads to different surface free energy (SFE) monitored by contact angle measurements. The adhesion, spreading, and proliferation of osteoblasts on the implanted NiTi surface are assessed by cell culture tests. Our results indicate that the nano-scale surface morphology that is altered by the implantation frequencies impacts the surface free energy and wettability of the NiTi surfaces, and in turn affects the osteoblast adhesion behavior.

Dependence of Plant Uptake and Diffusion of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on the Leaf Surface Morphology and Micro-structures of Cuticular Waxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qingqing; Li, Yungui; Zhu, Lizhong; Xing, Baoshan; Chen, Baoliang

2017-04-01

The uptake of organic chemicals by plants is considered of great significance as it impacts their environmental transport and fate and threatens crop growth and food safety. Herein, the dependence of the uptake, penetration, and distribution of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the morphology and micro-structures of cuticular waxes on leaf surfaces was investigated. Plant surface morphologies and wax micro-structures were examined by scanning emission microscopy, and hydrophobicities of plant surfaces were monitored through contact angle measurements. PAHs in the cuticles and inner tissues were distinguished by sequential extraction, and the cuticle was verified to be the dominant reservoir for the accumulation of lipophilic pollutants. The interspecies differences in PAH concentrations cannot be explained by normalizing them to the plant lipid content. PAHs in the inner tissues became concentrated with the increase of tissue lipid content, while a generally negative correlation between the PAH concentration in cuticles and the epicuticular wax content was found. PAHs on the adaxial and abaxial sides of a leaf were differentiated for the first time, and the divergence between these two sides can be ascribed to the variations in surface morphologies. The role of leaf lipids was redefined and differentiated.

A Lagrangian cylindrical coordinate system for characterizing dynamic surface geometry of tubular anatomic structures.

PubMed

Lundh, Torbjörn; Suh, Ga-Young; DiGiacomo, Phillip; Cheng, Christopher

2018-03-03

Vascular morphology characterization is useful for disease diagnosis, risk stratification, treatment planning, and prediction of treatment durability. To quantify the dynamic surface geometry of tubular-shaped anatomic structures, we propose a simple, rigorous Lagrangian cylindrical coordinate system to monitor well-defined surface points. Specifically, the proposed system enables quantification of surface curvature and cross-sectional eccentricity. Using idealized software phantom examples, we validate the method's ability to accurately quantify longitudinal and circumferential surface curvature, as well as eccentricity and orientation of eccentricity. We then apply the method to several medical imaging data sets of human vascular structures to exemplify the utility of this coordinate system for analyzing morphology and dynamic geometric changes in blood vessels throughout the body. Graphical abstract Pointwise longitudinal curvature of a thoracic aortic endograft surface for systole and diastole, with their absolute difference.

Coarse-grained molecular simulation of self-assembly for nonionic surfactants on graphene nanostructures.

PubMed

Wu, Dan; Yang, Xiaoning

2012-10-04

Self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules on the surfaces of nanoscale materials has an important application in a variety of nanotechnology. Here, we report a coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation on the structure and morphology of the nonionic surfactant, n-alkyl poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), adsorbed on planar graphene nanostructures. The effects of concentration, surfactant structure, and size of graphene sheet are explored. Because of the finite dimension effect, various morphological hemimicelles can be formed on nanoscale graphene surfaces, which is somewhat different from the self-assembly structures on infinite carbon surfaces. The aggregate morphology is highly dependent on the concentration, the chain lengths, and the size of graphene nanosheets. For the nonionic surfactant, the PEO headgroups show strong dispersion interaction with the carbon surface, leading to a side edge adsorption behavior. This simulation provides insight into the supramolecular self-assembly nanostructures and the adsorption mechanism for the nonionic surfactants aggregated on graphene nanostructures, which could be exploited to guide fabrication of graphene-based nanocomposites.

3D morphology of Au and Au@Ag nanobipyramids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burgin, Julien; Florea, Ileana; Majimel, Jérôme; Dobri, Adam; Ersen, Ovidiu; Tréguer-Delapierre, Mona

2012-02-01

The morphologies of Au and Au@Ag nanobipyramids were investigated using electron tomography. The 3D reconstruction reveals that the Au bipyramids have an irregular six-fold twinning structure with highly stepped dominant {151} facets. These short steps/edges stabilized via surface adsorbed CTAB favor the growth of silver on the lateral facets leading to strong blue shifts in longitudinal plasmon surface resonance.The morphologies of Au and Au@Ag nanobipyramids were investigated using electron tomography. The 3D reconstruction reveals that the Au bipyramids have an irregular six-fold twinning structure with highly stepped dominant {151} facets. These short steps/edges stabilized via surface adsorbed CTAB favor the growth of silver on the lateral facets leading to strong blue shifts in longitudinal plasmon surface resonance. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c2nr11454b

Linking morphology with activity through the lifetime of pretreated PtNi nanostructured thin film catalysts

DOE PAGES

Cullen, David A.; Lopez-Haro, Miguel; Bayle-Guillemaud, Pascale; ...

2015-04-10

In this study, the nanoscale morphology of highly active Pt 3Ni 7 nanostructured thin film fuel cell catalysts is linked with catalyst surface area and activity following catalyst pretreatments, conditioning and potential cycling. The significant role of fuel cell conditioning on the structure and composition of these extended surface catalysts is demonstrated by high resolution imaging, elemental mapping and tomography. The dissolution of Ni during fuel cell conditioning leads to highly complex, porous structures which were visualized in 3D by electron tomography. Quantification of the rendered surfaces following catalyst pretreatment, conditioning, and cycling shows the important role pore structure playsmore » in surface area, activity, and durability.« less

Surface Orientation Affects the Direction of Cone Growth by Leptolyngbya sp. Strain C1, a Likely Architect of Coniform Structures Octopus Spring (Yellowstone National Park)

PubMed Central

Reyes, Kristina; Gonzalez, Nicolas I.; Stewart, Joshua; Ospino, Frank; Nguyen, Dickie; Cho, David T.; Ghahremani, Nahal; Spear, John R.

2013-01-01

Laminated, microbially produced stromatolites within the rock record provide some of the earliest evidence for life on Earth. The chemical, physical, and biological factors that lead to the initiation of these organosedimentary structures and shape their morphology are unclear. Modern coniform structures with morphological features similar to stromatolites are found on the surface of cyanobacterial/microbial mats. They display a vertical element of growth, can have lamination, can be lithified, and observably grow with time. To begin to understand the microbial processes and interactions required for cone formation, we determined the phylogenetic composition of the microbial community of a coniform structure from a cyanobacterial mat at Octopus Spring, Yellowstone National Park, and reconstituted coniform structures in vitro. The 16S rRNA clone library from the coniform structure was dominated by Leptolyngbya sp. Other cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria were present in much lower abundance. The same Leptolyngbya sp. identified in the clone library was also enriched in the laboratory and could produce cones in vitro. When coniform structures were cultivated in the laboratory, the initial incubation conditions were found to influence coniform morphology. In addition, both the angle of illumination and the orientation of the surface affected the angle of cone formation demonstrating how external factors can influence coniform, and likely, stromatolite morphology. PMID:23241986

Structural and morphological modifications of polymer thin film in the presence of nonsolvent

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

Talukdar, Hrishikesh, E-mail: hiasst@yahoo.in; Kundu, Sarathi

Thin films of sodium poly(acrylic acid) salt (Na-PAA) have been investigated to obtain the modification of the out-of-plane structure and surface morphology in the presence of toluene which is considered as nonsolvent for Na-PAA. X-ray reflectivity analysis show that the out-of-plane thickness of the Na-PAA film increases if the film is kept for longer time inside the toluene. For the thicker film the effect of toluene is more pronounced than the thinner one. Surface morphology obtained from the atomic force microscopy shows that the top surface becomes relatively rough after the dipping of the Na-PAA film inside toluene. Although toluenemore » is nonsolvent for Na-PAA molecules, however, the effect of restructuring of the nanometer-thick polymer film cannot be ignored. The reason for such structural modification has been proposed.« less

Characterization of hematite nanoparticles synthesized via two different pathways

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Soumya; Hendry, M. Jim

2014-08-01

Hematite is one of the most common and thermodynamically stable iron oxides found in both natural and anthropogenic systems. Owing to its ubiquity, stability, moderate specific surface area, and ability to sequester metals and metalloids from aquatic systems, it has been the subject of a large number of adsorption studies published during the past few decades. Although preparation techniques are known to affect the surface morphology of hematite nanoparticles, the effects of aging under environmentally relevant conditions have yet to be tested with respect to surface morphology, surface area, and adsorptive capacity. We prepared hematite via two different pathways and aged it under highly alkaline conditions encountered in many mill tailings settings. Crystal habits and morphologies of the hematite nanoparticles were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analyses were also conducted on the hematite nanoparticles before and after aging. The hematite synthesized via an Fe(III) salt solution (average particle size 37 nm) was morphologically and structurally different from the hematite synthesized via ferrihydrite aging (average particle size 144 nm). Overall, our data demonstrate that the crystallinity of hematite produced via ferrihydrite transformation is susceptible to morphological alterations/modifications. In contrast, the hematite formed via hydrolysis of an Fe(III) salt solution remains very stable in terms of structure, size, and morphology even under extreme experimental conditions.

Surface morphology of chitin highly related with the isolated body part of butterfly (Argynnis pandora).

PubMed

Kaya, Murat; Bitim, Betül; Mujtaba, Muhammad; Koyuncu, Turgay

2015-11-01

This study was conducted to understand the differences in the physicochemical properties of chitin samples isolated from the wings and the other body parts except the wings (OBP) of a butterfly species (Argynnis pandora). The same isolation method was used for obtaining chitin specimens from both types of body parts. The chitin content of the wings (22%) was recorded as being much higher than the OBP (8%). The extracted chitin samples were characterized via FT-IR, TGA, XRD, SEM, and elemental analysis techniques. Results of these characterizations revealed that the chitins from both structures (wings and OBP) were very similar, except for their surface morphologies. SEM results demonstrated one type of surface morphology for the wings and four different surface morphologies for the OBP. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that the surface morphology of the chitin is highly related with the body part. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Morphology-Patterned Anisotropic Wetting Surface for Fluid Control and Gas-Liquid Separation in Microfluidics.

PubMed

Wang, Shuli; Yu, Nianzuo; Wang, Tieqiang; Ge, Peng; Ye, Shunsheng; Xue, Peihong; Liu, Wendong; Shen, Huaizhong; Zhang, Junhu; Yang, Bai

2016-05-25

This article shows morphology-patterned stripes as a new platform for directing flow guidance of the fluid in microfluidic devices. Anisotropic (even unidirectional) spreading behavior due to anisotropic wetting of the underlying surface is observed after integrating morphology-patterned stripes with a Y-shaped microchannel. The anisotropic wetting flow of the fluid is influenced by the applied pressure, dimensions of the patterns, including the period and depth of the structure, and size of the channels. Fluids with different surface tensions show different flowing anisotropy in our microdevice. Moreover, the morphology-patterned surfaces could be used as a microvalve, and gas-water separation in the microchannel was realized using the unidirectional flow of water. Therefore, benefiting from their good performance and simple fabrication process, morphology-patterned surfaces are good candidates to be applied in controlling the fluid behavior in microfluidics.

[Corrosion resistant properties of different anodized microtopographies on titanium surfaces].

PubMed

Fangjun, Huo; Li, Xie; Xingye, Tong; Yueting, Wang; Weihua, Guo; Weidong, Tian

2015-12-01

To investigate the corrosion resistant properties of titanium samples prepared by anodic oxidation with different surface morphologies. Pure titanium substrates were treated by anodic oxidation to obtain porous titanium films in micron, submicron, and micron-submicron scales. The surface morphologies, coating cross-sectional morphologies, crystalline structures, and surface roughness of these samples were characterized. Electrochemical technique was used to measure the corrosion potential (Ecorr), current density of corrosion (Icorr), and polarization resistance (Rp) of these samples in a simulated body fluid. Pure titanium could be modified to exhibit different surface morphologies by the anodic oxidation technique. The Tafel curve results showed that the technique can improve the corrosion resistance of pure titanium. Furthermore, the corrosion resistance varied with different surface morphologies. The submicron porous surface sample demonstrated the best corrosion resistance, with maximal Ecorr and Rp and minimal Icorr. Anodic oxidation technology can improve the corrosion resistance of pure titanium in a simulated body fluid. The submicron porous surface sample exhibited the best corrosion resistance because of its small surface area and thick barrier layer.

Mimicking lizard-like surface structures upon ultrashort laser pulse irradiation of inorganic materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermens, U.; Kirner, S. V.; Emonts, C.; Comanns, P.; Skoulas, E.; Mimidis, A.; Mescheder, H.; Winands, K.; Krüger, J.; Stratakis, E.; Bonse, J.

2017-10-01

Inorganic materials, such as steel, were functionalized by ultrashort laser pulse irradiation (fs- to ps-range) to modify the surface's wetting behavior. The laser processing was performed by scanning the laser beam across the surface of initially polished flat sample material. A systematic experimental study of the laser processing parameters (peak fluence, scan velocity, line overlap) allowed the identification of different regimes associated with characteristic surface morphologies (laser-induced periodic surface structures, grooves, spikes, etc.). Analyses of the surface using optical as well as scanning electron microscopy revealed morphologies providing the optimum similarity to the natural skin of lizards. For mimicking skin structures of moisture-harvesting lizards towards an optimization of the surface wetting behavior, additionally a two-step laser processing strategy was established for realizing hierarchical microstructures. In this approach, micrometer-scaled capillaries (step 1) were superimposed by a laser-generated regular array of small dimples (step 2). Optical focus variation imaging measurements finally disclosed the three dimensional topography of the laser processed surfaces derived from lizard skin structures. The functionality of these surfaces was analyzed in view of wetting properties.

Investigation of the surface morphology of biocompatible chitosan-based hydrogels and xerogels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuravleva, Yulia Yu.; Malinkina, Olga N.; Shipovskaya, Anna B.

2018-04-01

Our biocompatible hydrogel systems obtained by the sol-gel technqiue and based on chitosan and silicon polyolates are promising for medical and biological applications. The surface microrelief of these sol-gel materials (hydrogels and xerogels) based on chitosan and silicon tetraglycerolate was explored by AFM and SEM. A significant influence of the component ratio in the mixed system on the morphology and surface profile of the hydrogels and xerogels prepared therefrom was established. An increased content of the structure-forming component (chitosan) in the system was shown to increase the roughness scale of the hydrogel surface and to promote the porosity of the xerogel structure.

Characteristics of hierarchical micro/nano surface structure formation generated by picosecond laser processing in water and air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajab, Fatema H.; Whitehead, David; Liu, Zhu; Li, Lin

2017-12-01

Laser surface texturing or micro/nano surface structuring in the air has been extensively studied. However, until now, there are very few studies on the characteristics of laser-textured surfaces in water, and there was no reported work on picosecond laser surface micro/nano-structuring in water. In this work, the surface properties of picosecond laser surface texturing in water and air were analysed and compared. 316L stainless steel substrates were textured using a picosecond laser. The surface morphology and the chemical composition were characterised using Philips XL30 FEG-SEM, EDX and confocal laser microscopy. The wettability of the textured surfaces was determined using a contact angle analyser FTA 188. Results showed that a variety of hierarchical micro/nano surface patterns could be controlled by a suitable adjustment of laser parameters. Not only surface morphology but also remarkable differences in wettability, optical reflectivity and surface oxygen content were observed for different types of surface textures produced by laser surface texture in water and air. The possible mechanisms of the changes in the behaviour of laser-textured surfaces are discussed.

Morphology of size-selected Ptn clusters on CeO2(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shahed, Syed Mohammad Fakruddin; Beniya, Atsushi; Hirata, Hirohito; Watanabe, Yoshihide

2018-03-01

Supported Pt catalysts and ceria are well known for their application in automotive exhaust catalysts. Size-selected Pt clusters supported on a CeO2(111) surface exhibit distinct physical and chemical properties. We investigated the morphology of the size-selected Ptn (n = 5-13) clusters on a CeO2(111) surface using scanning tunneling microscopy at room temperature. Ptn clusters prefer a two-dimensional morphology for n = 5 and a three-dimensional (3D) morphology for n ≥ 6. We further observed the preference for a 3D tri-layer structure when n ≥ 10. For each cluster size, we quantitatively estimated the relative fraction of the clusters for each type of morphology. Size-dependent morphology of the Ptn clusters on the CeO2(111) surface was attributed to the Pt-Pt interaction in the cluster and the Pt-O interaction between the cluster and CeO2(111) surface. The results obtained herein provide a clear understanding of the size-dependent morphology of the Ptn clusters on a CeO2(111) surface.

Morphology of size-selected Ptn clusters on CeO2(111).

PubMed

Shahed, Syed Mohammad Fakruddin; Beniya, Atsushi; Hirata, Hirohito; Watanabe, Yoshihide

2018-03-21

Supported Pt catalysts and ceria are well known for their application in automotive exhaust catalysts. Size-selected Pt clusters supported on a CeO 2 (111) surface exhibit distinct physical and chemical properties. We investigated the morphology of the size-selected Pt n (n = 5-13) clusters on a CeO 2 (111) surface using scanning tunneling microscopy at room temperature. Pt n clusters prefer a two-dimensional morphology for n = 5 and a three-dimensional (3D) morphology for n ≥ 6. We further observed the preference for a 3D tri-layer structure when n ≥ 10. For each cluster size, we quantitatively estimated the relative fraction of the clusters for each type of morphology. Size-dependent morphology of the Pt n clusters on the CeO 2 (111) surface was attributed to the Pt-Pt interaction in the cluster and the Pt-O interaction between the cluster and CeO 2 (111) surface. The results obtained herein provide a clear understanding of the size-dependent morphology of the Pt n clusters on a CeO 2 (111) surface.

Theory of structure formation in snowfields motivated by penitentes, suncups, and dirt cones.

PubMed

Betterton, M D

2001-05-01

Penitentes and suncups are structures formed as snow melts, typically high in the mountains. When the snow is dirty, dirt cones and other structures can form instead. Building on previous field observations and experiments, this paper presents a theory of ablation morphologies, and the role of surface dirt in determining the structures formed. The glaciological literature indicates that sunlight, heating from air, and dirt all play a role in the formation of structure on an ablating snow surface. The present paper formulates a minimal model for the formation of ablation morphologies as a function of measurable parameters and considers the linear stability of this model. The dependence of ablation morphologies on weather conditions and initial dirt thickness is studied, focusing on the initial growth of perturbations away from a flat surface. We derive a single-parameter expression for the melting rate as a function of dirt thickness, which agrees well with a set of measurements by Driedger. An interesting result is the prediction of a dirt-induced traveling instability for a range of parameters.

Experimental and FDTD study of silicon surface morphology induced by femtosecond laser irradiation at a high substrate temperature.

PubMed

Deng, Guoliang; Feng, Guoying; Zhou, Shouhuan

2017-04-03

Substrate temperature is an important parameter for controlling the properties of femtosecond laser induced surface structures besides traditional ways. The morphology on silicon surface at different temperatures are studied experimentally. Compared to those formed at 300 K, smoother ripples, micro-grooves and nano/micro-holes are formed at 700 K. A two temperature model and FDTD method are used to discuss the temperature dependence of surface structures. The results show that the increased light absorption at elevated temperature leads to the reduction of surface roughness. The type-g feature in the FDTD-η map at 700 K, which corresponds to the energy deposition modulation parallel to the laser polarization with a periodicity bigger than the wavelength, is the origin of the formation of grooves. This work can benefit both surface structures based applications and the study of femtosecond laser-matter interactions.

Surface morphology diagram for cylinder-forming block copolymer thin films.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaohua; Berry, Brian C; Yager, Kevin G; Kim, Sangcheol; Jones, Ronald L; Satija, Sushil; Pickel, Deanna L; Douglas, Jack F; Karim, Alamgir

2008-11-25

We investigate the effect of the ordering temperature (T) and film thickness (h(f)) on the surface morphology of flow-coated block copolymer (BCP) films of asymmetric poly(styrene-block-methyl methacrylate). Morphology transitions observed on the ordered film surface by atomic force microscopy (AFM) are associated with a perpendicular to a parallel cylinder BCP microphase orientation transition with respect to the substrate with increasing h(f). "Hybrid" surface patterns for intermediate h(f) between these limiting morphologies are correspondingly interpreted by a coexistence of these two BCP microphase orientations so that two "transitional" h(f) exist for each T. This explanation of our surface patterns is supported by both neutron reflectivity and rotational SANS measurements. The transitional h(f) values as a function of T define upper and lower surface morphology transition lines, h(fu) (T) and h(fl) (T), respectively, and a surface morphology diagram that should be useful in materials fabrication. Surprisingly, the BCP film surface morphology depends on the method of film formation (flow-coated versus spun-cast films) so that nonequilibrium effects are evidently operative. This morphological variability is attributed primarily to the trapping of residual solvent (toluene) within the film (quantified by neutron reflectivity) due to film vitrification while drying. This effect has significant implications for controlling film structure in nanomanufacturing applications based on BCP templates.

Directional reflectance and milli-scale feather morphology of the African Emerald Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus.

PubMed

Harvey, Todd Alan; Bostwick, Kimberly S; Marschner, Steve

2013-09-06

Diverse plumages have evolved among birds through complex morphological modifications. We investigate how the interplay of light with surface and subsurface feather morphology determines the direction of light propagation, an understudied aspect of avian visual signalling. We hypothesize that milli-scale modifications of feathers produce anisotropic reflectance, the direction of which may be predicted by the orientation of the milli-scale structure. The subject of this study is the African Emerald Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus, noted for its shimmering green iridescent appearance. Using a spherical gantry, we measured the change in the directional reflectance across the feather surface and over a hemisphere of incident lighting directions. Using a microCT scanner, we also studied the morphology of the structural branches of the barb. We tracked the changes in the directional reflectance to the orientation of the structural branches as observed in the CT data. We conclude that (i) the far-field signal of the feather consists of multiple specular components, each associated with a different structural branch and (ii) the direction of each specular component is correlated to the orientation of the corresponding structure.

Directional reflectance and milli-scale feather morphology of the African Emerald Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus

PubMed Central

Harvey, Todd Alan; Bostwick, Kimberly S.; Marschner, Steve

2013-01-01

Diverse plumages have evolved among birds through complex morphological modifications. We investigate how the interplay of light with surface and subsurface feather morphology determines the direction of light propagation, an understudied aspect of avian visual signalling. We hypothesize that milli-scale modifications of feathers produce anisotropic reflectance, the direction of which may be predicted by the orientation of the milli-scale structure. The subject of this study is the African Emerald Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus, noted for its shimmering green iridescent appearance. Using a spherical gantry, we measured the change in the directional reflectance across the feather surface and over a hemisphere of incident lighting directions. Using a microCT scanner, we also studied the morphology of the structural branches of the barb. We tracked the changes in the directional reflectance to the orientation of the structural branches as observed in the CT data. We conclude that (i) the far-field signal of the feather consists of multiple specular components, each associated with a different structural branch and (ii) the direction of each specular component is correlated to the orientation of the corresponding structure. PMID:23825113

Surface Roughness and Morphology Customization of Additive Manufactured Open Porous Ti6Al4V Structures

PubMed Central

Pyka, Grzegorz; Kerckhofs, Greet; Papantoniou, Ioannis; Speirs, Mathew; Schrooten, Jan; Wevers, Martine

2013-01-01

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a production method that enables the building of porous structures with a controlled geometry. However, there is a limited control over the final surface of the product. Hence, complementary surface engineering strategies are needed. In this work, design of experiments (DoE) was used to customize post AM surface treatment for 3D selective laser melted Ti6Al4V open porous structures for bone tissue engineering. A two-level three-factor full factorial design was employed to assess the individual and interactive effects of the surface treatment duration and the concentration of the chemical etching solution on the final surface roughness and beam thickness of the treated porous structures. It was observed that the concentration of the surface treatment solution was the most important factor influencing roughness reduction. The designed beam thickness decreased the effectiveness of the surface treatment. In this case study, the optimized processing conditions for AM production and the post-AM surface treatment were defined based on the DoE output and were validated experimentally. This allowed the production of customized 3D porous structures with controlled surface roughness and overall morphological properties, which can assist in more controlled evaluation of the effect of surface roughness on various functional properties. PMID:28788357

Surface Roughness and Morphology Customization of Additive Manufactured Open Porous Ti6Al4V Structures.

PubMed

Pyka, Grzegorz; Kerckhofs, Greet; Papantoniou, Ioannis; Speirs, Mathew; Schrooten, Jan; Wevers, Martine

2013-10-22

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a production method that enables the building of porous structures with a controlled geometry. However, there is a limited control over the final surface of the product. Hence, complementary surface engineering strategies are needed. In this work, design of experiments (DoE) was used to customize post AM surface treatment for 3D selective laser melted Ti6Al4V open porous structures for bone tissue engineering. A two-level three-factor full factorial design was employed to assess the individual and interactive effects of the surface treatment duration and the concentration of the chemical etching solution on the final surface roughness and beam thickness of the treated porous structures. It was observed that the concentration of the surface treatment solution was the most important factor influencing roughness reduction. The designed beam thickness decreased the effectiveness of the surface treatment. In this case study, the optimized processing conditions for AM production and the post-AM surface treatment were defined based on the DoE output and were validated experimentally. This allowed the production of customized 3D porous structures with controlled surface roughness and overall morphological properties, which can assist in more controlled evaluation of the effect of surface roughness on various functional properties.

Slip as the basic mechanism for formation of deformation relief structural elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lychagin, D. V.; Alfyorova, E. A.

2017-07-01

The experimental results of investigation of the nickel single crystal surface morphology after compression deformation are presented. The quasi-periodic character of the deformation profile, common for shear deformation of different types of relief structural elements, is found. It is demonstrated that the morphological manifestation of these structural elements is determined by local shear systems along octahedral planes. The regularities of the deformation structure in these regions defining the material extrusion and intrusion regions and the specific features of disorientation accumulation are established. If reorientation of local regions takes part in the relief element formation, along with octahedral slip, much stronger growth of the surface area is observed. The possibility of application of two-dimensional and three-dimensional surface roughness parameters for description of deformation relief is considered.

Corn stalks char from fast pyrolysis as precursor material for preparation of activated carbon in fluidized bed reactor.

PubMed

Wang, Zhiqi; Wu, Jingli; He, Tao; Wu, Jinhu

2014-09-01

Corn stalks char from fast pyrolysis was activated by physical and chemical activation process in a fluidized bed reactor. The structure and morphology of the carbons were characterized by N2 adsorption and SEM. Effects of activation time and activation agents on the structure of activation carbon were investigated. The physically activated carbons with CO2 have BET specific surface area up to 880 m(2)/g, and exhibit microporous structure. The chemically activated carbons with H3PO4 have BET specific surface area up to 600 m(2)/g, and exhibit mesoporous structure. The surface morphology shows that physically activated carbons exhibit fibrous like structure in nature with long ridges, resembling parallel lines. Whereas chemically activated carbons have cross-interconnected smooth open pores without the fibrous like structure. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Morphological Properties of Siloxane-Hydrogel Contact Lens Surfaces.

PubMed

Stach, Sebastian; Ţălu, Ştefan; Trabattoni, Silvia; Tavazzi, Silvia; Głuchaczka, Alicja; Siek, Patrycja; Zając, Joanna; Giovanzana, Stefano

2017-04-01

The aim of this study was to quantitatively characterize the micromorphology of contact lens (CL) surfaces using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and multifractal analysis. AFM and multifractal analysis were used to characterize the topography of new and worn siloxane-hydrogel CLs made of Filcon V (I FDA group). CL surface roughness was studied by AFM in intermittent-contact mode, in air, on square areas of 25 and 100 μm 2 , by using a Nanoscope V MultiMode (Bruker). Detailed surface characterization of the surface topography was obtained using statistical parameters of 3-D (three-dimensional) surface roughness, in accordance with ISO 25178-2: 2012. Before wear, the surface was found to be characterized by out-of-plane and sharp structures, whilst after a wear of 8 h, two typical morphologies were observed. One morphology (sharp type) has a similar aspect as the unworn CLs and the other morphology (smooth type) is characterized by troughs and bumpy structures. The analysis of the AFM images revealed a multifractal geometry. The generalized dimension D q and the singularity spectrum f(α) provided quantitative values that characterize the local scale properties of CL surface geometry at nanometer scale. Surface statistical parameters deduced by multifractal analysis can be used to assess the CL micromorphology and can be used by manufacturers in developing CLs with improved surface characteristics. These parameters can also be used in understanding the tribological interactions of the back surface of the CL with the corneal surface and the front surface of the CL with the under-surface of the eyelid (friction, wear, and micro-elastohydrodynamic lubrication at a nanometer scale).

Structure and functions of fungal cell surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nozawa, Y.

1984-01-01

A review with 24 references on the biochemistry, molecular structure, and function of cell surfaces of fungi, especially dermatophytes: the chemistry and structure of the cell wall, the effect of polyene antibiotics on the morphology and function of cytoplasmic membranes, and the chemical structure and function of pigments produced by various fungi are discussed.

Laser-induced periodic annular surface structures on fused silica surface

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

Liu, Yi; Brelet, Yohann; Forestier, Benjamin

2013-06-24

We report on the formation of laser-induced periodic annular surface structures on fused silica irradiated with multiple femtosecond laser pulses. This surface morphology emerges after the disappearance of the conventional laser induced periodic surface structures, under successive laser pulse irradiation. It is independent of the laser polarization and universally observed for different focusing geometries. We interpret its formation in terms of the interference between the reflected laser field on the surface of the damage crater and the incident laser pulse.

Surface morphological, structural, electrical and optical properties of GaN-based light-emitting diodes using submicron-scaled Ag islands and ITO thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Young-Woong; Reddy, M. Siva Pratap; Kim, Bo-Myung; Park, Chinho

2018-07-01

An ITO-Ag islands complex as a new transparent conducting electrode (TCE) structure (on the 5 nm-thick p-InGaN/90 nm-thick p-GaN) for achieving high-performance and more reliable GaN-based LEDs were fabricated. A normal LED with a conventional ITO TCE was also compared. The surface morphological, structural, electrical and optical properties of fabricated GaN-based light-emitting diodes using a complex electrode of submicron-scaled Ag islands and ITO thin films are explored by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), current-voltage (I-V) and output power-current (L-I) techniques. Surface morphology investigations revealed Ag islands formed uniformly on the p-InGaN/p-GaN surface during rapid thermal annealing at 400 °C for 1 min in N2 ambient. The ohmic properties and overall device-performance of the suggested contact and device structures were superior to those in the conventional ITO contact and normal ITO LED structures. Based on the results of XRD and XPS measurements, the formation of the intermetallic gallide phases (AgGa) is responsible for better performance characteristics of the ITO-Ag islands device. The significant improvements are described in terms of the conducting bridge influence, highly effective micro-mirror effect, and wider photon window via the roughened structure.

Influence of surface phenomena in oxidative desulfurization with WOx/ZrO2 catalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torres-García, E.; Canizal, G.; Velumani, S.; Ramírez-Verduzco, L. F.; Murrieta-Guevara, F.; Ascencio, J. A.

2004-12-01

Oil refinery related catalysis, particularly hydro desulfurization is viewed as a mature technology, but still we view that more efforts have to be made to boost the efficiency of the existing catalysts. So in this article we report the use of WOx/ZrO2 catalysts for the oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) as a more effective material in nanometer scales. The WOx/ZrO2 samples were prepared by solid impregnation of ZrO2-x(OH)2x with ammonium metatungstate solution maintaining the pH at 10. Detailed structural and surface morphological analyses were carried out using Raman spectroscopy and Atomic force microscopy. In order to understand the catalytic activity which is largely influenced by the surface morphology, an interpretation based on the experimental results is given. The results showed an important correlation between the catalytic efficiency with the morphology of the surface which is identified as arrays of planes with steps of around 10 nm with the structures showing faceting with a preferential angle of 90°. It was established that when the number of W atoms in the surface increase the catalytic efficiency also increases. Thus we conclude that the material efficiency as a catalyst is directly related with the surface structure.

Modeling the characteristic etch morphologies along specific crystallographic orientations by anisotropic chemical etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Kun-Dar; Miao, Jin-Ru

2018-02-01

To improve the advanced manufacturing technology for functional materials, a sophisticated control of chemical etching process is highly demanded, especially in the fields of environment and energy related applications. In this study, a phase-field-based model is utilized to investigate the etch morphologies influenced by the crystallographic characters during anisotropic chemical etching. Three types of etching modes are inspected theoretically, including the isotropic, <100> and <111> preferred oriented etchings. Owing to the specific etching behavior along the crystallographic directions, different characteristic surface structures are presented in the simulations, such as the pimple-like, pyramidal hillock and ridge-like morphologies. In addition, the processing parameters affecting the surface morphological formation and evolution are also examined systematically. According to the numerical results, the growth mechanism of surface morphology in a chemical etching is revealed distinctly. While the etching dynamics plays a dominant role on the surface formation, the characteristic surface morphologies corresponding to the preferred etching direction become more apparent. As the atomic diffusion turned into a determinative factor, a smoothened surface would appear, even under the anisotropic etching conditions. These simulation results provide fundamental information to enhance the development and application of anisotropic chemical etching techniques.

Surface Characterization of Mechanochemically Modified Exfoliated Halloysite Nanoscrolls.

PubMed

Zsirka, Balázs; Táborosi, Attila; Szabó, Péter; Szilágyi, Róbert K; Horváth, Erzsébet; Juzsakova, Tatjána; Fertig, Dávid; Kristóf, János

2017-04-11

Surface modifications fundamentally influence the morphology of kaolinite nanostructures as a function of crystallinity and the presence of contaminants. Besides morphology, the catalytic properties of 1:1-type exfoliated aluminosilicates are also influenced by the presence of defect sites that can be generated in a controlled manner by mechanochemical activation. In this work, we investigated exfoliated halloysite nanoparticles with a quasi-homogeneous, scroll-type secondary structure toward developing structural/functional relationships for composition, atomic structure, and morphology. The surface properties of thin-walled nanoscrolls were studied as a function of mechanochemical activation expressed by the duration of dry-grinding. The surface characterizations were carried out using N 2 , NH 3 , and CO 2 adsorption measurements. The effects of grinding on the nanohalloysite structure were followed using thermoanalytical thermogravimetric/derivative thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) and infrared spectroscopic [Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflection (FTIR/ATR)] techniques. Grinding results in partial dehydroxylation with similar changes as those observed for heat treatment above 300 °C. Mechanochemical activation shows a decrease in the dehydroxylation mass loss and the DTG peak temperature, a decrease in the specific surface area and the number of mesopores, an increase in the surface acidity, blue shift of surface hydroxide bands, and a decrease in the intensity of FTIR/ATR bands as a function of the grinding time. The experimental observations were used to guide atomic-scale structural and energetic simulations using realistic molecular cluster models for a nanohalloysite particle. A full potential energy surface description was developed for the mechanochemical activation and/or heating toward nanometahalloysite formation that aids the interpretation of experimental results. The calculated differences upon dehydroxylation show a remarkable agreement with the mass loss values from DTG measurements.

Microstructure of Sinter Deposit Formed at Hot Springs in West Sumatera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Putra, A.; Inanda, D. Y.; Buspa, F.; Salim, A. F.

2018-03-01

Sinter deposit emerged and spread at several hot springs in West Sumatera is divided into three types, they are full silica, half silica-carbonate and full carbonate. This work intends to investigate the characteristic of each type by its crystalline structure and morphology and its correlation to surface temperature. The research is focused on Sapan Maluluang hot spring (full silica), Garara hot spring (half silica-carbonate) and Bawah Kubang hot spring (full carbonate). Crystalline structure is analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) methods, it showed that deposit from Sapan Maluluang has opal-A structure, Garara has opal-CT structure and Bawah Kubang has crystalline structure. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) methods is applied to describe its morphology surface, in which spherical, almost rounded and irregular textured was formed at each deposit, respectively. Surface temperature of hot spring also has given impact on deposit texture.

A novel approach to enhancement of surface properties of CdO films by using surfactant: dextrin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahin, Bünyamin; Bayansal, Fatih; Yüksel, Mustafa

2015-12-01

We studied the effect of an organic surfactant, dextrin, concentration on structural, morphological and optical properties of nanostructured CdO films deposited on glass substrates by using an easy and low-cost SILAR method. Microstructures of the nanostructured CdO films were optimized by adjusting dextrin concentration. XRD, SEM and UV-Vis Spectroscopy were used to study phase structure, surface morphology and optical properties of CdO films. Furthermore, effects of dextrin concentration on the surface roughness characteristics of CdO samples were reported. The results showed that the presence of organic surfactant highly affected the physical properties of CdO nanomaterials.

The morphologic universe of melanoma.

PubMed

Jaimes, Natalia; Marghoob, Ashfaq A

2013-10-01

Differentiating dysplastic nevi from melanoma remains one of the main objectives of dermoscopy. Melanomas tend not to manifest any of the benign patterns described for nevi and instead usually display chaotic dermoscopic morphologies. Melanomas located on the face, chronically sun-damaged skin, volar surfaces, nails, and mucosal surfaces have additional features that can assist in their identification. However, some melanomas lack any defined dermoscopic structures. These so-called featureless melanomas can be identified via digital surveillance. This article reviews the melanoma-specific structures as a function of anatomic location (ie, melanomas on nonglabrous skin, face, volar surfaces, mucosae, and nails). Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of synthesis method on structure, band gap and surface morphology of delafossite oxides, CuAlO2 and CuFeO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shah, Aadil Abass; Azam, Ameer

2018-04-01

In this research work we have reported the synthesis of two different delafossites, CuAlO2 and CuFeO2 by two different synthesis methods viz hydrothermal method and the combustion method. The effect of synthesis on structure, band gap and morphology of the synthesized delafossites was carried out using various techniques. The phase and structure of the synthesized delafossites were studied and confirmed using X-ray diffraction and the crystallite size was calculated. FTIR measurements showed the presence of different stretching modes and functional groups in the synthesized oxides. The surface morphology was studied using the scanning electron microscopy. The band gap of the synthesized delafossite oxides was found to be in the range of 2.8 and 3.3 eV.

Polymer Nanocomposites: Insights from Theory and Molecular Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pani, Rakhee

Advantages of polymer nanocomposites have attracted great industrial attention due to their multifunctionality and innovative technological properties. Addition of small amount of nanoparticle (nanospheres, nanotubes, nanorods, nanoplatelets, or sheets) to polymer matrix cause dramatic improvement in structural and functional properties, which is difficult to attain from those of individual components. The interaction between polymer and nanoparticle create bulk materials dominated by solid state physics at the nanoscale. Furthermore, morphology of nanocomposites depends on structural arrangements of nanoparticles. Thus, for achievement of optimized functionality like electrical, optical, mechanical and thermal properties control over the dispersion of the nanoparticle is essential. However, properties of polymer nanocomposites depend on morphology control and nature of interfacial interactions. In order to control the morphology it is necessary to understand how the processing conditions, shape and size of nanoparticle influence the structure of composite. Molecular simulations can help us to predict the parameters that control the structural changes and we could design polymer nanocomposite entailing their end-use. In this work, we addressed the following research questions: (1) the dependence of nanoparticle ligand corona structure on solvent quality and (2) the role of interfacial energy and interactions on the dispersion of molecules and nanoparticles. Specifically, this research assessed the effect of solvent interactions on the structure of nanoparticles on the example of redox core encapsulating dendrimer and ligand functionalized gold nanoparticles, role of chemical interaction on solubility of glucose in ionic liquids, diffusion of fullerene nanoparticles in polymer matrix and influence of solubility parameters on the compatibility of gold nanoparticles with diblock copolymers. Computational methods allow quantifying the structure and flexibility of the polymer chains, how energetics and surface tension change with chemical composition of the polymer/dendrimer blocks, influence of nanoparticle on structural properties of polymer and factors which may contribute to the phase separation of the polymer from nanoparticle. Interfacial characteristics are not only determined by the size-induced properties, but also the surface chemistry of the particles. Presence of solvent and the resultant interactions with the solvent are known to influence the morphology and prevent or induce aggregation of nanoparticles in polymers. We found that surface chemistry can induce change in the structure of dendrimers encapsulating a redox active core and change the solubility of the nanoparticles. The interactions between nanoparticles and polymers can also influence the morphology. We performed investigation on the role of orientation of fullerene derivatives and surface energy of polymer surface which may induce the aggregation of the fullerene nanoparticles. Furthermore, we used quantitative measurements like cluster analysis to understand the most probable orientation of the fullerene derivative with respect to the polymer chains and the diffusion of the fullerene nanoparticle, which is related to the efficiency of solar cells, can change on presence of regiorandom and regioregular polymer chains. Furthermore, we have also used different solvents based on their Hildebrand solubility parameters to investigate factors governing the morphology of polymer nanocomposite via solvent interactions. We showed that change in solvent interactions affect the compatibility, aggregation/dispersion of the gold nanoparticles, which will directly affect the morphology of polymer matrix and structural aspects which can impact their functionality. Overall, our research indicated that solvent interaction play a role in controlling the morphology of polymer nanocomposite and solubility parameter can help us to predict the resulting morphology.

Surface characterization of carbon fiber polymer composites and aluminum alloys after laser interference structuring

DOE PAGES

Sabau, Adrian S.; Greer, Clayton M.; Chen, Jian; ...

2016-05-03

Here, the increasing use of Carbon Fiber-reinforced Polymer matrix Composites (CFPC) and aluminum alloys as lightweight materials in the automotive and aerospace industries demands enhanced surface preparation and control of surface morphology prior to joining. In this study, surfaces of both composite and aluminum were prepared for joining using an Nd:YAG laser in a two-beam interference setup, enabling the (a) structuring of the AL 5182 surface, (b) removal of the resin layer on top of carbon fibers, and (c) structuring of the carbon fibers. CFPC specimens of T700S carbon fiber, Prepreg - T8 3 epoxy, 5 ply thick, 0/90o plaquesmore » were used. The effect of laser fluence, scanning speed, and number of shots-per-spot was investigated on the removal rate of the resin without an excessive damage of the fibers. Optical micrographs, 3D imaging, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging were used to study the effect of the laser processing on surface morphology.« less

Adsorbate-driven morphological changes on Cu(111) nano-pits

DOE PAGES

Mudiyanselage, K.; Xu, F.; Hoffmann, F. M.; ...

2014-12-09

Adsorbate-driven morphological changes of pitted-Cu(111) surfaces have been investigated following the adsorption and desorption of CO and H. The morphology of the pitted-Cu(111) surfaces, prepared by Ar + sputtering, exposed a few atomic layers deep nested hexagonal pits of diameters from 8 to 38 nm with steep step bundles. The roughness of pitted-Cu(111) surfaces can be healed by heating to 450-500 K in vacuum. Adsorption of CO on the pitted-Cu(111) surface leads to two infrared peaks at 2089-2090 and 2101-2105 cm -1 for CO adsorbed on under-coordinated sites in addition to the peak at 2071 cm -1 for CO adsorbedmore » on atop sites of the close-packed Cu(111) surface. CO adsorbed on under-coordinated sites is thermally more stable than that of atop Cu(111) sites. Annealing of the CO-covered surface from 100 to 300 K leads to minor changes of the surface morphology. In contrast, annealing of a H covered surface to 300 K creates a smooth Cu(111) surface as deduced from infrared data of adsorbed CO and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) imaging. The observation of significant adsorbate-driven morphological changes with H is attributed to its stronger modification of the Cu(111) surface by the formation of a sub-surface hydride with a hexagonal structure, which relaxes into the healed Cu(111) surface upon hydrogen desorption. These morphological changes occur ~150 K below the temperature required for healing of the pitted-Cu(111) surface by annealing in vacuum. In contrast, the adsorption of CO, which only interacts with the top-most Cu layer and desorbs by 160 K, does not significantly change the morphology of the pitted-Cu(111) surface.« less

Stem cell behavior on tailored porous oxide surface coatings.

PubMed

Lavenus, Sandrine; Poxson, David J; Ogievetsky, Nika; Dordick, Jonathan S; Siegel, Richard W

2015-07-01

Nanoscale surface topographies are known to have a profound influence on cell behavior, including cell guidance, migration, morphology, proliferation, and differentiation. In this study, we have observed the behavior of human mesenchymal stem cells cultured on a range of tailored porous SiO2 and TiO2 nanostructured surface coatings fabricated via glancing angle electron-beam deposition. By controlling the physical vapor deposition angle during fabrication, we could control systematically the deposited coating porosity, along with associated topographic features. Immunocytochemistry and image analysis quantitatively revealed the number of adherent cells, as well as their basic cellular morphology, on these surfaces. Signaling pathway studies showed that even with subtle changes in nanoscale surface structures, the behavior of mesenchymal stem cells was strongly influenced by the precise surface structures of these porous coatings. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Morphology-dependent photo-induced polarization recovery in ferroelectric thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J. Y.; Liu, G.; Sando, D.; Nagarajan, V.; Seidel, J.

2017-08-01

We investigate photo-induced ferroelectric domain switching in a series of Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (PZT/LSMO) bilayer thin films with varying surface morphologies by piezoresponse force microscopy under light illumination. We demonstrate that reverse poled ferroelectric regions can be almost fully recovered under laser irradiation of the PZT layer and that the recovery process is dependent on the surface morphology on the nanometer scale. The recovery process is well described by the Kolmogorov-Avrami-Ishibashi model, and the evolution speed is controlled by light intensity, sample thickness, and initial write voltage. Our findings shed light on optical control of the domain structure in ferroelectric thin films with different surface morphologies.

Characterization of the surface properties of MgO using paper spray mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Zheng, Yajun; Zhang, Xiaoling; Bai, Zongquan; Zhang, Zhiping

2016-08-01

Significant advances have been made in the preparation of different morphologies of magnesium oxide (MgO), but the relationship between MgO morphology and its interactions with therapeutic drugs is rarely studied. Herein, we investigated the interactions between different morphologies of MgO and therapeutic drugs using paper spray mass spectrometry. Different morphologies of MgO including trapezoidal, needle-like, flower-like and nest-like structures were prepared through a facile precipitation method. The as-obtained MgO particles were then coated onto the surface of filter paper via vacuum filtration strategy. The coated papers with different morphologies of MgO were used as the substrates for paper spray mass spectrometry to explore the interactions between different MgO and therapeutic drugs. Through investigating the interactions between different morphologies of MgO coated papers and therapeutic drugs, it demonstrated that, in contrast to the trapezoidal, needle-like and nest-like MgO coated papers, different drugs in dried blood spots (DBS) were more favourably eluted off from the paper coated with flower-like MgO due to its weaker surface basicity. Also, the signal intensities of different drugs during paper spray were highly dependent on their elution behaviours. Paper spray mass spectrometry (MS) provides an avenue to elaborate the surface properties of MgO with different structures. The surface basicity of MgO played a crucial role in determining the elution behaviours of therapeutic drugs in DBS, and a more favourable elution behaviour tended to result in a higher MS signal. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Experimental and simulation study of growth of TiO2 films on different substrates and its applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghogare, Trupti T.; Kartha, Moses J.; Kendre, Subhash D.; Pathan, Habib M.

2018-04-01

Monte-Carlo Ballistic Deposition simulations have done on substrates with different initial roughness. The grown films were observed to be porous. The initial growths of the films with seed like initiations are observed for substrate with high initial roughness. In order to confirm this effect TiO2 films were deposited on different substrates using chemical bath deposition. The surface morphological and optical properties were measured using scanning electron microscopy and a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Flower like porous structure are obtained on glass substrate and continuous porous morphology is formed on ITO substrate. The morphology of the surfaces was successfully reconstructed and the surface porosity was calculated after digitalising images and reconstructed the surfaces. The TiO2 film formed on ITO is observed to be 10% more porous than on the film formed on glass substrate. Diffusion Limited Aggregation simulations with multiple seeds confirms that the observed flower like structure formed are due to the screening effects of the diffusing ion by already deposited particles.

Atomic scale morphology, growth behaviour and electronic properties of semipolar {101[overline]3} GaN surfaces.

PubMed

Kioseoglou, J; Kalesaki, E; Lymperakis, L; Karakostas, Th; Komninou, Ph

2013-01-30

First-principles calculations relating to the atomic structure and electronic properties of {101[overline]3} GaN surfaces reveal significant differentiations between the two polarity orientations. The (101[overline]3) surface exhibits a remarkable morphological stability, stabilizing a metallic structure (Ga adlayer) over the entire range of the Ga chemical potential. In contrast, the semiconducting, cleaved surface is favoured on (101[overline]3[overline]) under extremely and moderately N-rich conditions, a Ga bilayer is stabilized under corresponding Ga-rich conditions and various transitions between metallic reconstructions take place in intermediate growth stoichiometries. Efficient growth schemes for smooth, two-dimensional GaN layers and the isolation of {101[overline]3} material from parasitic orientations are identified.

Effects of different substrates on the sprint performance of lizards.

PubMed

Tulli, Maria Jose; Abdala, Virginia; Cruz, Felix B

2012-03-01

The variation in substrate structure is one of the most important determinants of the locomotor abilities of lizards. Lizards are found across a range of habitats, from large rocks to loose sand, each of them with conflicting mechanical demands on locomotion. We examined the relationships among sprint speed, morphology and different types of substrate surfaces in species of lizards that exploit different structural habitats (arboreal, saxicolous, terrestrial and arenicolous) in a phylogenetic context. Our main goals were to assess which processes drive variability in morphology (i.e. phylogeny or adaptation to habitat) in order to understand how substrate structure affects sprint speed in species occupying different habitats and to determine the relationship between morphology and performance. Liolaemini lizards show that most morphological traits are constrained by phylogeny, particularly toe 3, the femur and foot. All ecological groups showed significant differences on rocky surfaces. Surprisingly, no ecological group performed better on the surface resembling its own habitat. Moreover, all groups exhibited significant differences in sprint speed among the three different types of experimental substrates and showed the best performance on sand, with the exception of the arboreal group. Despite the fact that species use different types of habitats, the highly conservative morphology of Liolaemini species and the similar levels of performance on different types of substrates suggest that they confer to the 'jack of all trades and master of none' principle.

A study of thermal properties of sodium titanate nanotubes synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

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

Preda, Silviu, E-mail: predas01@yahoo.co.uk; Rutar, Melita; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana

2015-11-15

Highlights: • The microwave-assisted hydrothermal route was used for titanate nanotubes synthesis. • Conversion to single-phase nanotube morphology completes after 8 h reaction time. • The nanotube morphology is stable up to 600 °C, as determined by in-situ XRD and SEM. • Sodium ions migrate to the surface due to thermal motion and structure condensation. - Abstract: Sodium titanate nanotubes (NaTiNTs) were synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment of commercial TiO{sub 2}, at constant temperature (135 °C) and different irradiation times (15 min, 1, 4, 8 and 16 h). The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electronmore » microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and specific surface area measurements. The irradiation time turned out to be the key parameter for morphological control of the material. Nanotubes were observed already after 15 min of microwave irradiation. The analyses of the products irradiated for 8 and 16 h confirm the complete transformation of the starting TiO{sub 2} powder to NaTiNTs. The nanotubes are open ended with multi-wall structures, with the average outer diameter of 8 nm and specific surface area up to 210 m{sup 2}/g. The morphology, surface area and crystal structure of the sodium titanate nanotubes synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method were similar to those obtained by conventional hydrothermal method.« less

Scale-free networks of the earth’s surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Gang; He, Jing; Luo, Kaitian; Gao, Peichao; Ma, Lei

2016-06-01

Studying the structure of real complex systems is of paramount importance in science and engineering. Despite our understanding of lots of real systems, we hardly cognize our unique living environment — the earth. The structural complexity of the earth’s surface is, however, still unknown in detail. Here, we define the modeling of graph topology for the earth’s surface, using the satellite images of the earth’s surface under different spatial resolutions derived from Google Earth. We find that the graph topologies of the earth’s surface are scale-free networks regardless of the spatial resolutions. For different spatial resolutions, the exponents of power-law distributions and the modularity are both quite different; however, the average clustering coefficient is approximately equal to a constant. We explore the morphology study of the earth’s surface, which enables a comprehensive understanding of the morphological feature of the earth’s surface.

Micro-nano zinc oxide film fabricated by biomimetic mineralization: Designed architectures for SERS substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Fei; Guo, Yue; Wang, Yunxin; Song, Wei; Zhao, Bing

2018-05-01

In this study, we have investigated the effect of the surface morphologies of the zinc oxide (ZnO) substrates on surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). During synthetic process, the self-assembly monolayers (SAMs) with different terminal groups are used as templates to induce the nucleation and growth of Zn(NO3)2·6H2O crystals, then different morphologies micro-nano ZnO powders are obtained by annealing Zn(NO3)2·6H2O crystals at 450 °C. The products obtained at different conditions are characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectra. The as-prepared ZnO micro-sized particles have been used the efficient Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates, and the SERS signals of 4-mercaptopyridine (Mpy) probe molecules are much influenced by the morphologies of the ZnO structures. Results indicated that the more (0001) facets appear in the of ZnO morphology, the greater degree of charge-transfer (PCT) for the SERS enhancement on the surface of semiconductors is achieved. The chemical interaction between ZnO structures and Mpy molecules plays a very important role in the SERS enhancement.

Reticulate Structures Reveal the Significance of Cell Motility in the Morphogenesis of Complex Microbial Structures in Pavilion Lake, British Columbia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shepard, R.

2008-12-01

Microbial communities are architects of incredibly complex and diverse morphological structures. Each morphology is a snapshot that reflects the complex interactions within the microbial community and between the community and its environment. Characterizing morphology as an emergent property of microbial communities is thus relevant to understanding the evolution of multicellularity and complexity in developmental systems, to the identification of biosignatures, and to furthering our understanding of modern and ancient microbial ecology. Recently discovered cyanobacterial mats in Pavilion Lake, British Columbia construct unusual complex architecture on the scale of decimeters that incorporates significant void space. Fundamental mesoscale morphological elements include terraces, arches, bridges, depressions, domes, and pillars. The mats themselves also exhibit several microscale morphologies, with reticulate structures being the dominant example. The reticulate structures exhibit a diverse spectrum of morphologies with endmembers characterized by either angular or curvilinear ridges. In laboratory studies, aggregation into reticulate structures occurs as a result of the random gliding and colliding among motile cyanobacterial filaments. Likewise, when Pavilion reticulate mats were sampled and brought to the surface, cyanobacteria invariably migrated out of the mat onto surrounding surfaces. Filaments were observed to move rapidly in clumps, preferentially following paths of previous filaments. The migrating filaments organized into new angular and ropey reticulate biofilms within hours of sampling, demonstrating that cell motility is responsible for the reticulate patterns. Because the morphogenesis of reticulate structures can be linked to motility behaviors of filamentous cyanobacteria, the Willow Point mats provide a unique natural laboratory in which to elucidate the connections between a specific microbial behavior and the construction of complex microbial community morphology. To this end, we identified and characterized fundamental building blocks of the mesoscale morphologies, including bridges, anchors, and curved edges. These morphological building blocks were compared with the suite of motility behaviors and patterns observed in reticulate morphogenesis. Results of this comparison suggest that cyanobacterial motility plays a significant and often dominant role in the morphogenesis of the entire suite of morphologies observed in the microbial mats of Pavilion Lake.

Effect of alkali treatment on surface morphology of titanium

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

Tan, K. J., E-mail: gd130056@siswa.uthm.edu.my; Wahab, M. A. A., E-mail: cd110006@siswa.uthm.edu.my; Mahmod, S., E-mail: cd110201@siswa.uthm.edu.my

2015-07-22

Alkali and heat treatments were first introduced by Kim et al. to prepare a bioactive surface on titanium. This method has been proven very effective and widely used in other studies to promote titanium osteointegration. This study aims to investigate further the effect of alkali treatment on surface morphology of high purity titanium. High purity titanium foils were immersed in NaOH aqueous solutions of 0.5 M, 5 M and 15 M at 60°C and 80 °C for 1, 3 and 7 days. The surface morphology was examined using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). The obtained phases were analysed usingmore » Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) in the spectra range of 4000-600 cm{sup −1} at 4 cm{sup −1} resolution and 50 scans. At the same soaking temperature and soaking time, a thicker porous network was observed with increasing concentration of NaOH. At the same soaking temperature, a much porous structure was observed with increasing soaking time. At constant alkali concentration, more homogenously distributed porous surface structure was observed with increasing soaking temperature.« less

Morphology-dependent low-frequency Raman scattering in ultrathin spherical, cubic, and cuboid SnO2 nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, L. Z.; Wu, X. L.; Li, T. H.; Xiong, S. J.; Chen, H. T.; Chu, Paul K.

2011-12-01

Nanoscale spherical, cubic, and cuboid SnO2 nanocrystals (NCs) are used to investigate morphology-dependent low-frequency Raman scattering. A double-peak structure in which the linewidths and energy separation between two subpeaks decrease with increasing sizes of cuboid NCs is observed and attributed to the surface acoustic phonon modes confined in three dimensional directions and determined by the surface/interface compositions. The decrease in energy separation is due to weaker coupling between the acoustic modes in different vibration directions. Our experimental and theoretical studies clearly disclose the morphology-dependent surface vibrational behavior in self-assembled NCs.

Collective evolution of submicron hillocks during the early stages of anisotropic alkaline wet chemical etching of Si(1 0 0) surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sana, P.; Vázquez, Luis; Cuerno, Rodolfo; Sarkar, Subhendu

2017-11-01

We address experimentally the large-scale dynamics of Si(1 0 0) surfaces during the initial stages of anisotropic wet (KOH) chemical etching, which are characterized through atomic force microscopy. These systems are known to lead to the formation of characteristic pyramids, or hillocks, of typical sizes in the nanometric/micrometer scales, thus with the potential for a large number of applications that can benefit from the nanotexturing of Si surfaces. The present pattern formation process is very strongly disordered in space. We assess the space correlations in such a type of rough surface and elucidate the existence of a complex and rich morphological evolution, featuring at least three different regimes in just 10 min of etching. Such a complex time behavior cannot be consistently explained within a single formalism for dynamic scaling. The pyramidal structure reveals itself as the basic morphological motif of the surface throughout the dynamics. A detailed analysis of the surface slope distribution with etching time reveals that the texturing process induced by the KOH etching is rather gradual and progressive, which accounts for the dynamic complexity. The various stages of the morphological evolution can be accurately reproduced by computer-generated surfaces composed by uncorrelated pyramidal structures. To reach such an agreement, the key parameters are the average pyramid size, which increases with etching time, its distribution and the surface coverage by the pyramidal structures.

Construction of hydrophobic wood surfaces by room temperature deposition of rutile (TiO2) nanostructures

Treesearch

Rongbo Zheng; Mandla A. Tshabalala; Qingyu Li; Hongyan Wang

2015-01-01

A convenient room temperature approach was developed for growing rutile TiO2 hierarchical structures on the wood surface by direct hydrolysis and crystallization of TiCl3 in saturated NaCl aqueous solution.The morphology and the crystal structure of TiO2 coated on the wood surface were characterized...

Theoretical Investigation of the Structural Stabilities of Ceria Surfaces and Supported Metal Nanocluster in Vapor and Aqueous Phases

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

Ren, Zhibo; Liu, Ning; Chen, Biaohua

Understanding the structural stability and dynamics at the interface between the solid metal oxide and aqueous phase is significant in a variety of industrial applications including heterogeneous catalysis and environmental remediation. In the present work, the stabilities of three low-index ceria (CeO2) surfaces, i.e., (111), (110) and (100) in vapor and aqueous phases were studied using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Gibbs surface free energies as a function of temperature, water partial pressure, and water coverages were calculated using DFT based atomistic thermodynamic approach. On the basis of surface free energies, the morphology andmore » exposed surface structures of the CeO2 nanoparticle were predicted using Wulff construction principle. It is found that the partially hydroxylated (111) and (100) are two major surface structures of CeO2 nanoparticles in vapor phase at ambient temperature (300 K). As the temperature increases, the fully dehydrated (111) surface gradually becomes the most dominant surface structure. While in aqueous phase, the exposed surface of the CeO2 nanoparticle is dominated by the hydroxylated (110) structure at 393 K. Finally, the morphology and stability of a cuboctahedron Pt13 nanocluster supported on CeO2 surfaces in both gas and aqueous phases were investigated. In gas phase, the supported Pt13 nanocluster has the tendency to wetting the CeO2 surface due to the strong metal-support interaction. The calculated interaction energies suggest the CeO2(110) surface provides the best stability for the Pt13 nanocluster. The CeO2 supported Pt13 nanoclusters are oxidized. Compared to the gas phase, the morphology of the CeO2 supported Pt13 nanocluster is less distorted due to the solvation effect provided by surrounding water molecules in aqueous phase. More electrons are transferred from the Pt13 nanocluster to the CeO2 support, implying the supported Pt13 nanocluster is further oxidized in aqueous phase.« less

Formation of nanostructured silicon surfaces by stain etching

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

In this work, we report the fabrication of ordered silicon structures by chemical etching of silicon in vanadium oxide (V2O5)/hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution. The effects of the different etching parameters including the solution concentration, temperature, and the presence of metal catalyst film deposition (Pd) on the morphologies and reflective properties of the etched Si surfaces were studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out to explore the morphologies of the etched surfaces with and without the presence of catalyst. In this case, the attack on the surfaces with a palladium deposit begins by creating uniform circular pores on silicon in which we distinguish the formation of pyramidal structures of silicon. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) demonstrates that the surfaces are H-terminated. A UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer was used to study the reflectance of the structures obtained. A reflectance of 2.21% from the etched Si surfaces in the wavelength range of 400 to 1,000 nm was obtained after 120 min of etching while it is of 4.33% from the Pd/Si surfaces etched for 15 min. PMID:25435830

Bioinspired, cysteamine-catalyzed co-silicification of (1H, 1H, 2H, 2HPerfluorooctyl) triethoxysilane and tetraethyl orthosilicate: formation of superhydrophobic surfaces.

PubMed

Park, Ji Hun; Kim, Ji Yup; Cho, Woo Kyung; Choi, Insung S

2014-03-01

Bioinspired silicification attracts a great deal of interest because of its physiologically relevant, mild conditions for hydrolysis and condensation of silica precursors, which makes the bioinspired approach superior to the conventional sol–gel process, particularly when dealing with biological entities. However, the morphological control of silica structures with incorporation of functional groups in the bioinspired silicilication has been unexplored. In this work, we co-silicificated (1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyl)triethoxysilane and tetraethyl orthosilicate to investigate the morphological evolution of fluorinated silica structures in the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-mediated, cysteamine-catalyzed silicification. The generated micrometer-long wormlike and spherical silica structures display superhydrophobicity after film formation. Interestingly, the measurement of dynamic water contact angles shows that the morphological difference leads to a different wetting state, either the self-cleaning or the pinning state of the superhydrophobic surface.

Different structural morphologies of the two surfaces in some Co-based amorphous ribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bordin, G.; Buttino, G.

1992-12-01

In nearly zero magnetostriction Co-based Metglas amorphous ribbons, the anomalous Hall effect is used to investigate the behaviour of the surfaces (dull or shiny). The electronic transport properties of a double-layer film, where one of the two layers examined is ferromagnetic and amorphous, and the other is a non-magnetic film, are interpreted on the basis of the mean free path method of Bergmann and Fuchs-Sondheimer theory. The results obtained confirm the different structural morphology of the amorphous surfaces (dull or shiny) already observed by means of bending effects on the initial permeability that depends on the way of winding the ribbons in toroidal samples of the same amorphous materials.

Normal age-related brain morphometric changes: nonuniformity across cortical thickness, surface area and gray matter volume?

PubMed

Lemaitre, Herve; Goldman, Aaron L; Sambataro, Fabio; Verchinski, Beth A; Meyer-Lindenberg, Andreas; Weinberger, Daniel R; Mattay, Venkata S

2012-03-01

Normal aging is accompanied by global as well as regional structural changes. While these age-related changes in gray matter volume have been extensively studied, less has been done using newer morphological indexes, such as cortical thickness and surface area. To this end, we analyzed structural images of 216 healthy volunteers, ranging from 18 to 87 years of age, using a surface-based automated parcellation approach. Linear regressions of age revealed a concomitant global age-related reduction in cortical thickness, surface area and volume. Cortical thickness and volume collectively confirmed the vulnerability of the prefrontal cortex, whereas in other cortical regions, such as in the parietal cortex, thickness was the only measure sensitive to the pronounced age-related atrophy. No cortical regions showed more surface area reduction than the global average. The distinction between these morphological measures may provide valuable information to dissect age-related structural changes of the brain, with each of these indexes probably reflecting specific histological changes occurring during aging. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Laser-induced surface modification of biopolymers – micro/nanostructuring and functionalization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stankova, N. E.; Atanasov, P. A.; Nedyalkov, N. N.; Tatchev, Dr; Kolev, K. N.; Valova, E. I.; Armyanov, St. A.; Grochowska, K.; Śliwiński, G.; Fukata, N.; Hirsch, D.; Rauschenbach, B.

2018-03-01

The medical-grade polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer is a widely used biomaterial in medicine for preparation of high-tech devices because of its remarkable properties. In this paper, we present experimental results on surface modification of PDMS elastomer by using ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared ns-laser system and investigation of the chemical composition and the morphological structure inside the treated area in dependence on the processing parameters – wavelength, laser fluence and number of pulses. Remarkable chemical transformations and changes of the morphological structure were observed, resulting in the formation of a highly catalytically active surface, which was successfully functionalized via electroless Ni and Pt deposition by a sensitizing-activation free process. The results obtained are very promising in view of applying the methods of laser-induced micro- and nano-structuring and activation of biopolymers’ surface and further electroless metal plating to the preparation of, e.g., multielectrode arrays (MEAs) devices in neural and muscular surface interfacing implantable systems.

Formation and characterization of perpendicular mode Si ripples by glancing angle O{sub 2}{sup +} sputtering at room temperature

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

Mollick, S. A.; Ghose, D.

Off-normal low energy ion beam sputtering of solid surfaces often leads to morphological instabilities resulting in the spontaneous formation of ripple structures in nanometer length scales. In the case of Si surfaces at ambient temperature, ripple formation is found to take place normally at lower incident angles with the wave vector parallel to the ion beam direction. The absence of ripple pattern on Si surface at larger angles is due to the dominance of ion beam polishing effect. We have shown that a gentle chemical roughening of the starting surface morphology can initiate ripple pattern under grazing incidence ion beammore » sputtering (theta>64 deg. with respect to the surface normal), where the ripple wave vector is perpendicular to the ion beam direction. The characteristics of the perpendicular mode ripples are studied as a function of pristine surface roughness (2-30 nm) and projectile fluence (5x10{sup 16}-1.5x10{sup 18} O atoms cm{sup -2}). The quality of the morphological structure is assessed from the analysis of ion induced topological defects.« less

Phase structuring in metal alloys: Ultrasound-assisted top-down approach to engineering of nanostructured catalytic materials.

PubMed

Cherepanov, Pavel V; Andreeva, Daria V

2017-03-01

High intensity ultrasound (HIUS) is a novel and efficient tool for top-down nanostructuring of multi-phase metal systems. Ultrasound-assisted structuring of the phase in metal alloys relies on two main mechanisms including interfacial red/ox reactions and temperature driven solid state phase transformations which affect surface composition and morphology of metals. Physical and chemical properties of sonication medium strongly affects the structuring pathways as well as morphology and composition of catalysts. HIUS can serve as a simple, fast, and effective approach for the tuning of structure and surface properties of metal particles, opening the new perspectives in design of robust and efficient catalysts. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrophoretic deposition of hydroxyapatite-hexagonal boron nitride composite coatings on Ti substrate.

PubMed

Göncü, Yapıncak; Geçgin, Merve; Bakan, Feray; Ay, Nuran

2017-10-01

In this study, commercial pure titanium samples were coated with nano hydroxyapatite-nano hexagonal boron nitride (nano HA-nano hBN) composite by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The effect of process parameters (applied voltage, deposition time and solid concentration) on the coating morphology, thickness and the adhesion behavior were studied systematically and crack free nano hBN-nano HA composite coating production was achieved for developing bioactive coatings on titanium substrates for orthopedic applications. For the examination of structural and morphological characteristics of the coating surfaces, various complementary analysis methods were performed. For the structural characterization, XRD and Raman Spectroscopy were used while, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques were carried out for revealing the morphological characterization. The results showed that nano HA-nano hBN were successfully deposited on Ti surface with uniform, crack-free coating by EPD. The amounts of hBN in suspension are considered to have no effect on coating thickness. By adding hBN into HA, the morphology of HA did not change and hBN has no significant effect on porous structure. These nanostructured surfaces are expected to be suitable for proliferation of cells and have high potential for bioactive materials. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An examination of surface epithelium structures of the embryo across the genus Poeciliopsis (Poeciliidae).

PubMed

Panhuis, Tami M; Fris, Megan; Tuhela, Laura; Kwan, Lucia

2017-12-01

In viviparous, teleost fish, with postfertilization maternal nutrient provisioning, embryonic structures that facilitate maternal-fetal nutrient transfer are predicted to be present. For the family Poeciliidae, only a handful of morphological studies have explored these embryonic specializations. Here, we present a comparative morphological study in the viviparous poeciliid genus, Poeciliopsis. Using microscopy techniques, we examine the embryonic surface epidermis of Poeciliopsis species that vary in their level of postfertilization maternal nutrient provisioning and placentation across two phylogenetic clades and three independent evolutionary origins of placentation. We focus on surface features of the embryo that may facilitate maternal-fetal nutrient transfer. Specifically, we studied cell apical-surface morphology associated with the superficial epithelium that covers the body and sac (yolk and pericardial) of embryos at different developmental stages. Scanning electron microscopy revealed common surface epithelial cells across species, including pavement cells with apical-surface microridges or microvilli and presumed ionocytes and/or mucus-secreting cells. For three species, in the mid-stage embryos, the surface of the body and sac were covered in microvillus epithelium. The remaining species did not display microvillus epithelium at any of the stages examined. Instead, their epithelium of the body and sac were composed of cells with apical-surface microridges. For all species, in the late stage embryos, the surface of the body proper was composed of apical-surface microridges in a "fingerprint-like arrangement." Despite the differences in the surface epithelium of embryos across Poeciliopsis species and embryonic developmental stages, this variation was not associated with the level of postfertilization maternal nutrient provisioning. We discuss these results in light of previous morphological studies of matrotrophic, teleost fish, phylogenetic relationships of Poeciliopsis species, and our earlier comparative microscopy work on the maternal tissue of the Poeciliopsis placenta. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Structural Color Model Based on Surface Morphology of MORPHO Butterfly Wing Scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Zhongjia; Cai, Congcong; Wang, Gang; Zhang, Hui; Huttula, Marko; Cao, Wei

2016-05-01

Color production through structural coloration is created by micrometer and sub-micrometer surface textures which interfere with visible light. The shiny blue of morpho menelaus is a typical example of structural coloring. Modified from morphology of the morpho scale, a structure of regular windows with two side offsets was constructed on glass substrates. Optical properties of the bioinspired structure were studied through numerical simulations of light scattering. Results show that the structure can generate monochromatic light scattering. Wavelength of scattered light is tunable via changing the spacing between window shelves. Compared to original butterfly model, the modified one possesses larger illumination scopes in azimuthal distributions despite being less in polar directions. Present bionic structure is periodically repeated and is easy to fabricate. It is hoped that the computational materials design work can inspire future experimental realizations of such a structure in photonics applications.

Anti-icing property of bio-inspired micro-structure superhydrophobic surfaces and heat transfer model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yan; Li, Xinlin; Jin, Jingfu; Liu, Jiaan; Yan, Yuying; Han, Zhiwu; Ren, Luquan

2017-04-01

Ice accumulation is a thorny problem which may inflict serious damage even disasters in many areas, such as aircraft, power line maintenance, offshore oil platform and locators of ships. Recent researches have shed light on some promising bio-inspired anti-icing strategies to solve this problem. Inspired by typical plant surfaces with super-hydrophobic character such as lotus leaves and rose petals, structured superhydrophobic surface are prepared to discuss the anti-icing property. 7075 Al alloy, an extensively used materials in aircrafts and marine vessels, is employed as the substrates. As-prepared surfaces are acquired by laser processing after being modified by stearic acid for 1 h at room temperature. The surface morphology, chemical composition and wettability are characterized by means of SEM, XPS, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. The morphologies of structured as-prepared samples include round hump, square protuberance and mountain-range-like structure, and that the as-prepared structured surfaces shows an excellent superhydrophobic property with a WCA as high as 166 ± 2°. Furthermore, the anti-icing property of as-prepared surfaces was tested by a self-established apparatus, and the crystallization process of a cooling water on the sample was recorded. More importantly, we introduced a model to analyze heat transfer process between the droplet and the structured surfaces. This study offers an insight into understanding the heat transfer process of the superhydrophobic surface, so as to further research about its unique property against ice accumulation.

Synchrotron studies of top-down grown silicon nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turishchev, S. Yu.; Parinova, E. V.; Nesterov, D. N.; Koyuda, D. A.; Sivakov, V.; Schleusener, A.; Terekhov, V. A.

2018-06-01

Morphology of the top-down grown silicon nanowires obtained by metal-assisted wet-chemical approach on silicon substrates with different resistance were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Obtained arrays of compact grown Si nanowires were a subject for the high resolution electronic structures studies by X-ray absorption near edge structure technique performed with the usage of high intensity synchrotron radiation of the SRC storage ring of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The different oxidation rates were found by investigation of silicon atoms local surrounding specificity of the highly developed surface and near surface layer that is not exceeded 70 nm. Flexibility of the wires arrays surface morphology and its composition is demonstrated allowing smoothly form necessary surface oxidation rate and using Si nanowires as a useful matrixes for a wide range of further functionalization.

Geological-morphological description of the Lakshmi planum (photomap of the Venusian surface sheet B-4)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pronin, A. A.

1987-01-01

The Lakshmi Planum and its surrounding area (together comprising a single structure) are described in morphological terms on the basis of Venera 15 and 16 photomap data. Plume ascent from the planetary interior and subsequent horizontal spreading represent the underlying mechanisms behind structural formation: folding and/or imbricating accompany these processes. In effect, the Laksmi structure can be regarded as a local spreading center. Its structural dimensions attest to the role that asthenospheric currents played in its formation.

Simultaneous tuning of chemical composition and topography of copolymer surfaces: micelles as building blocks.

PubMed

Zhao, Ning; Zhang, Xiaoyan; Zhang, Xiaoli; Xu, Jian

2007-05-14

A simple method is described for controlling the surface chemical composition and topography of the diblock copolymer poly(styrene)-b-poly(dimethylsiloxane)(PS-b-PDMS) by casting the copolymer solutions from solvents with different selectivities. The surface morphology and chemical composition were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively, and the wetting behavior was studied by water contact angle (CA) and sliding angle (SA) and by CA hysteresis. Chemical composition and morphology of the surface depend on solvent properties, humidity of the air, solution concentration, and block lengths. If the copolymer is cast from a common solvent, the resultant surface is hydrophobic, with a flat morphology, and dominated by PDMS on the air side. From a PDMS-selective solvent, the surface topography depends on the morphology of the micelles. Starlike micelles give rise to a featureless surface nearly completely covered by PDMS, while crew-cut-like micelles lead to a rough surface with a hierarchical structure that consists partly of PDMS. From a PS-selective solvent, however, surface segregation of PDMS was restricted, and the surface morphology can be controlled by vapor-induced phase separation. On the basis of the tunable surface roughness and PDMS concentration on the air side, water repellency of the copolymer surface could be tailored from hydrophobic to superhydrophobic. In addition, reversible switching behavior between hydrophobic and superhydrophobic can be achieved by exposing the surface to solvents with different selectivities.

Uniting Superhydrophobic, Superoleophobic and Lubricant Infused Slippery Behavior on Copper Oxide Nano-structured Substrates

PubMed Central

Ujjain, Sanjeev Kumar; Roy, Pritam Kumar; Kumar, Sumana; Singha, Subhash; Khare, Krishnacharya

2016-01-01

Alloys, specifically steel, are considered as the workhorse of our society and are inimitable engineering materials in the field of infrastructure, industry and possesses significant applications in our daily life. However, creating a robust synthetic metallic surface that repels various liquids has remained extremely challenging. The wettability of a solid surface is known to be governed by its geometric nano-/micro structure and the chemical composition. Here, we are demonstrating a facile and economical way to generate copper oxide micro-nano structures with spherical (0D), needle (1D) and hierarchical cauliflower (3D) morphologies on galvanized steel substrates using a simple chemical bath deposition method. These nano/micro textured steel surfaces, on subsequent coating of a low surface energy material display excellent superhydrophobic, superoleophobic and slippery behavior. Polydimethylsiloxane coated textured surfaces illustrate superhydrophobicity with water contact angle about 160°(2) and critical sliding angle ~2°. When functionalized with low-surface energy perfluoroalkylsilane, these surfaces display high repellency for low surface tension oils as well as hydrocarbons. Among them, the hierarchical cauliflower morphology exhibits re-entrant structure thereby showing the best superoleophobicity with contact angle 149° for dodecane. Once infused with a lubricant like silicone oil, they show excellent slippery behavior with low contact angle hysteresis (~ 2°) for water drops. PMID:27752098

Uniting Superhydrophobic, Superoleophobic and Lubricant Infused Slippery Behavior on Copper Oxide Nano-structured Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ujjain, Sanjeev Kumar; Roy, Pritam Kumar; Kumar, Sumana; Singha, Subhash; Khare, Krishnacharya

2016-10-01

Alloys, specifically steel, are considered as the workhorse of our society and are inimitable engineering materials in the field of infrastructure, industry and possesses significant applications in our daily life. However, creating a robust synthetic metallic surface that repels various liquids has remained extremely challenging. The wettability of a solid surface is known to be governed by its geometric nano-/micro structure and the chemical composition. Here, we are demonstrating a facile and economical way to generate copper oxide micro-nano structures with spherical (0D), needle (1D) and hierarchical cauliflower (3D) morphologies on galvanized steel substrates using a simple chemical bath deposition method. These nano/micro textured steel surfaces, on subsequent coating of a low surface energy material display excellent superhydrophobic, superoleophobic and slippery behavior. Polydimethylsiloxane coated textured surfaces illustrate superhydrophobicity with water contact angle about 160°(2) and critical sliding angle ~2°. When functionalized with low-surface energy perfluoroalkylsilane, these surfaces display high repellency for low surface tension oils as well as hydrocarbons. Among them, the hierarchical cauliflower morphology exhibits re-entrant structure thereby showing the best superoleophobicity with contact angle 149° for dodecane. Once infused with a lubricant like silicone oil, they show excellent slippery behavior with low contact angle hysteresis (~ 2°) for water drops.

Synthesis of Bi0.9Nd0.1FeO3 multiferroic nanoceramic by sol-gel method and its structural, surface morphology and dielectric analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, S.; Bera, K. P.; Nath, T. K.

2017-05-01

Synthesis of Nd-doped BFO multiferroic nanoceramic by the conventional sol-gel method has been carried out. HRXRD and FESEM have been used for the structural analysis to confirm the triclinic structure and to obtain the surface morphology showing agglomeration and to find out the size of the nanoparticles. A high precision LCR meter has been used to record the dielectric constants at various temperatures. Several anomalies are observed whose physical explanations have been given. Space charge polarization effect and magnetoelectric coupling have been confirmed in the synthesized Bi0.9Nd0.1FeO3 nanoceramic sample.

In-situ Polymerization of Polyaniline/Polypyrrole Copolymer using Different Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hammad, A. S.; Noby, H.; Elkady, M. F.; El-Shazly, A. H.

2018-01-01

The morphology and surface area of the poly(aniline-co-pyrrole) copolymer (PANPY) are important properties which improve the efficiency of the copolymer in various applications. In this investigation, different techniques were employed to produce PANPY in different morphologies. Aniline and pyrrole were used as monomers, and ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) was used as an oxidizer with uniform molar ratio. Rapid mixing, drop-wise mixing, and supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO2) polymerization techniques were appointed. The chemical structure, crystallinity, porosity, and morphology of the composite were distinguished by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) respectively. The characterization tests indicated that the polyaniline/polypyrrole copolymer was successfully prepared with different morphologies. Based on the obtained TEM, hollow nanospheres were formed using rapid mixing technique with acetic acid that have a diameter of 75 nm and thickness 26 nm approximately. Also, according to the XRD, the produced structures have a semi- crystalline structure. The synthesized copolymer with ScCO2-assisted polymerization technique showed improved surface area (38.1 m2/g) with HCl as dopant.

A study of structural and mechanical properties of nano-crystalline tungsten nitride film synthesis by plasma focus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussnain, Ali; Singh Rawat, Rajdeep; Ahmad, Riaz; Hussain, Tousif; Umar, Z. A.; Ikhlaq, Uzma; Chen, Zhong; Shen, Lu

2015-02-01

Nano-crystalline tungsten nitride thin films are synthesized on AISI-304 steel at room temperature using Mather-type plasma focus system. The surface properties of the exposed substrate against different deposition shots are examined for crystal structure, surface morphology and mechanical properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope, field emission scanning electron microscope and nano-indenter. The XRD results show the growth of WN and WN2 phases and the development of strain/stress in the deposited films by varying the number of deposition shots. Morphology of deposited films shows the significant change in the surface structure with different ion energy doses (number of deposition shots). Due to the effect of different ion energy doses, the strain/stress developed in the deposited film leads to an improvement of hardness of deposited films.

Peculiarities of structure formation of layered metal-oxide system Ti-Ta-(Ti,Ta)xOy during electro-spark alloying and thermally stimulated modification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fomina, Marina A.; Koshuro, Vladimir A.; Fomin, Aleksandr A.; Rodionov, Igor V.; Skaptsov, Aleksandr A.; Zakharevich, Andrey M.; Aman, Alexander; Oseev, Aleksandr; Hirsch, Soeren; Majcherek, Soeren

2016-04-01

The study focuses on high-performance combined electro-spark alloying of titanium and titanium alloy (VT1-0, VT16) surface and porous matrix structure oxidation. The metal-oxide coatings morphology is the result of melt drop transfer, heat treatment, and oxidation. The study establishes the influence of technological regimes of alloying and oxidation on morphological heterogeneity of biocompatible layered metal-oxide system Ti-Ta-(Ti,Ta)xOy. It was found that during electro-spark alloying the concentration of tantalum on the titanium surface ranges from 0.1 to 3.2 at.%. Morphology of the deposited splats is represented by uniformly grown crystals of titanium and tantalum oxides, which increase from nano- to submicron size.

Femtosecond laser-induced blazed periodic grooves on metals.

PubMed

Hwang, Taek Yong; Guo, Chunlei

2011-07-01

In this Letter, we generate laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs) on platinum following femtosecond laser pulse irradiation. For the first time to our knowledge, we study the morphological profile of LIPSSs over a broad incident angular range, and find that the morphological profile of LIPSSs depends significantly on the incident angle of the laser beam. We show that LIPSS grooves become more asymmetric at a larger incident angle, and the morphological profile of LIPSSs formed at an incident angle over 55° eventually resembles that of a blazed grating. Our study suggests that the formation of the blazed groove structures is attributed to the selective ablation of grooves through the asymmetric periodic surface heating following femtosecond pulse irradiation. The blazed grooves are useful for controlling the diffraction efficiency of LIPSSs.

System-morphological approach: Another look at morphology research and geomorphological mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lastochkin, Alexander N.; Zhirov, Andrey I.; Boltramovich, Sergei F.

2018-02-01

A large number of studies require a clear and unambiguous morphological basis. For over thirty years, Russian scientists have been applying a system-morphological approach for the Arctic and Antarctic research, ocean floor investigation, for various infrastructure construction projects (oil and gas, sports, etc.), in landscape and environmental studies. This article is a review aimed to introduce this methodological approach to the international scientific community. The details of the methods and techniques can be found in a series of earlier papers published in the Russian language in 1987-2016. The proposed system-morphological approach includes: 1) partitioning of the Earth surface, i.e. precise identification of linear, point, and areal elements of topography considered as a two-dimensional surface without any geological substance; 2) further identification of larger formations: geomorphological systems and regions; 3) analysis of structural relations and symmetry of topography; and 4) various dynamic (litho- and glaciodynamic, tectonic, etc.) interpretations of the observed morphology. This method can be used to study the morphology of the surface topography as well as less accessible interfaces such as submarine and subglacial ones.

Strike-Slip Faulting Processes on Ganymede: Global Morphological Mapping and Structural Interpretation of Grooved and Transitional Terrains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burkhard, L. M.; Cameron, M. E.; Smith-Konter, B. R.; Seifert, F.; Pappalardo, R. T.; Collins, G. C.

2015-12-01

Ganymede's fractured surface reveals many large-scale, morphologically distinct regions of inferred distributed shear and strike-slip faulting that may be important to the structural development of its surface and in the transition from dark to light (grooved) materials. To better understand the role of strike-slip tectonism in shaping Ganymede's complex icy surface, we perform a detailed mapping of key examples of strike-slip morphologies (i.e., en echelon structures, strike-slip duplexes, laterally offset pre-existing features, and possible strained craters) from Galileo and Voyager images. We focus on complex structures associated with grooved terrain (e.g. Nun Sulcus, Dardanus Sulcus, Tiamat Sulcus, and Arbela Sulcus) and terrains transitional from dark to light terrain (e.g. the boundary between Nippur Sulcus and Marius Regio, including Byblus Sulcus and Philus Sulcus). Detailed structural interpretations suggest strong evidence of strike-slip faulting in some regions (i.e., Nun and Dardanus Sulcus); however, further investigation of additional strike-slip structures is required of less convincing regions (i.e., Byblus Sulcus). Where applicable, these results are synthesized into a global database representing an inferred sense of shear for many of Ganymede's fractures. Moreover, when combined with existing observations of extensional features, these results help to narrow down the range of possible principal stress directions that could have acted at the regional or global scale to produce grooved terrain on Ganymede.

Deposition and melting behaviors for formation of micro/nano structures from nanostructures with femtosecond pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Tong; Wang, Wenjun; Tao, Tao; Mei, Xuesong; Pan, Aifei

2018-04-01

This study reported the fabrication of a large area of micro/nano structures with different morphologies and sizes by the deposition of ablated material and melting of material on silicon through a line-shaped femtosecond laser beam irradiation. The evolution of micro/nano structures on the silicon surface was demonstrated with the laser fluence of 0.64 J/cm2. It was found that the melting of material was responsible for the formation of the micro-protrusions from laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs). Additionally, the deposition fell on the surface of the micro-protrusions in oblique incidence way, causing LIPSSs obscure and even invisible. As a consequence, those micro-protrusions gradually evolved into the micro-spikes with the ladder-like surface. Then, various laser fluences were applied to regulate the deposition and melting behaviors of silicon, to obtain the micro/nano structures with different morphologies and sizes. The formation mechanism of these micro/nano structures was analyzed. On this basis, the optical properties test showed that best anti-reflectivity was referred to the sample full of micro-spikes with the ladder-like surface, and the average reflectance has decreased from ∼38.17% of the planar silicon to∼4.75% in the waveband between 300 and 1000 nm.

Process dependent morphology of the Si/SiO2 interface measured with scanning tunneling microscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hecht, Michael H.; Bell, L. D.; Grunthaner, F. J.; Kaiser, W. J.

1988-01-01

A new experimental technique to determine Si/SiO2 interface morphology is described. Thermal oxides of silicon are chemically removed, and the resulting surface topography is measured with scanning tunneling microscopy. Interfaces prepared by oxidation of Si (100) and (111) surfaces, followed by postoxidation anneal (POA) at different temperatures, have been characterized. Correlations between interface structure, chemistry, and electrical characteristics are described.

Effect of fast mold surface temperature evolution on iPP part morphology gradients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liparoti, Sara; Sorrentino, Andrea; Guzman, Gustavo; Cakmak, Mukerrem; Titomanlio, Giuseppe

2016-03-01

The control of mold surface temperature is an important factor that affects the sample surface morphology as well as the structural gradients (orientation crystal size, and type) as well as cooling stresses. The frozen layer thickness formed during the filling stage also has a very significant effect on the flow resistance and thus on the resulting pressure drop and flow length in thin wall parts. The possibility to have a hot mold during filling and a quick cooling soon afterward is a significant process enhancement particularly for specialized applications such as micro injection molding and for the reproduction of micro structured surfaces. Up to now, several methods (electromagnetic, infrared, hot vapor fleshing etc,) were tried to achieve fast temperature evolution of the mold. Unfortunately, all these methods require a complex balance between thermal and mechanical problems, equipment cost, energy consumption, safety, molding cycle time and part quality achievable. In this work, a thin electrical resistance was designed and used to generate a fast and confined temperature variation on mold surface (by joule effect). Since the whole temperature evolution can take place in a few seconds, one can couple the advantages of a high surface temperature during filling with the advantages of a low mold temperature, fast cooling and low heating dissipation. Some experiments were performed with a commercial iPP resin. The effects of the surface temperature and of the heating time (under constant electric power) on surface finishing and on the final morphology (thickness and structure of the different layers) are explored and discussed.

Effect of fast mold surface temperature evolution on iPP part morphology gradients

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

Liparoti, Sara; Sorrentino, Andrea; Guzman, Gustavo

The control of mold surface temperature is an important factor that affects the sample surface morphology as well as the structural gradients (orientation crystal size, and type) as well as cooling stresses. The frozen layer thickness formed during the filling stage also has a very significant effect on the flow resistance and thus on the resulting pressure drop and flow length in thin wall parts. The possibility to have a hot mold during filling and a quick cooling soon afterward is a significant process enhancement particularly for specialized applications such as micro injection molding and for the reproduction of micromore » structured surfaces. Up to now, several methods (electromagnetic, infrared, hot vapor fleshing etc,) were tried to achieve fast temperature evolution of the mold. Unfortunately, all these methods require a complex balance between thermal and mechanical problems, equipment cost, energy consumption, safety, molding cycle time and part quality achievable. In this work, a thin electrical resistance was designed and used to generate a fast and confined temperature variation on mold surface (by joule effect). Since the whole temperature evolution can take place in a few seconds, one can couple the advantages of a high surface temperature during filling with the advantages of a low mold temperature, fast cooling and low heating dissipation. Some experiments were performed with a commercial iPP resin. The effects of the surface temperature and of the heating time (under constant electric power) on surface finishing and on the final morphology (thickness and structure of the different layers) are explored and discussed.« less

Structure evolution of zinc oxide thin films deposited by unbalance DC magnetron sputtering

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

Aryanto, Didik, E-mail: didi027@lipi.go.id; Materials Research Group, Physics Department, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Gunungpati, Semarang 50229 Jawa Tengah; Marwoto, Putut

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films are deposited on corning glass substrates using unbalanced DC magnetron sputtering. The effect of growth temperature on surface morphology and crystallographic orientation of ZnO thin film is studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The surface morphology and crystallographic orientation of ZnO thin film are transformed against the increasing of growth temperature. The mean grain size of film and the surface roughness are inversely and directly proportional towards the growth temperature from room temperature to 300 °C, respectively. The smaller grain size and finer roughness of ZnO thin film are obtainedmore » at growth temperature of 400 °C. The result of AFM analysis is in good agreement with the result of XRD analysis. ZnO thin films deposited in a series of growth temperatures have hexagonal wurtzite polycrystalline structures and they exhibit transformations in the crystallographic orientation. The results in this study reveal that the growth temperature strongly influences the surface morphology and crystallographic orientation of ZnO thin film.« less

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

Sabau, Adrian S.; Greer, Clayton M.; Chen, Jian

Here, the increasing use of Carbon Fiber-reinforced Polymer matrix Composites (CFPC) and aluminum alloys as lightweight materials in the automotive and aerospace industries demands enhanced surface preparation and control of surface morphology prior to joining. In this study, surfaces of both composite and aluminum were prepared for joining using an Nd:YAG laser in a two-beam interference setup, enabling the (a) structuring of the AL 5182 surface, (b) removal of the resin layer on top of carbon fibers, and (c) structuring of the carbon fibers. CFPC specimens of T700S carbon fiber, Prepreg - T8 3 epoxy, 5 ply thick, 0/90o plaquesmore » were used. The effect of laser fluence, scanning speed, and number of shots-per-spot was investigated on the removal rate of the resin without an excessive damage of the fibers. Optical micrographs, 3D imaging, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging were used to study the effect of the laser processing on surface morphology.« less

Spectromicroscopy measurements of surface morphology and band structure of exfoliated graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knox, Kevin; Locatelli, Andrea; Cvetko, Dean; Mentes, Tevfik; Nino, Miguel; Wang, Shancai; Yilmaz, Mehmet; Kim, Philip; Osgood, Richard; Morgante, Alberto

2011-03-01

Monolayer-thick crystals, such as graphene, are an area of intense interest in condensed matter research. ~However, crystal deformations in these 2D systems are known to adversely affect conductivity and increase local chemical reactivity. Additionally, surface roughness in graphene complicates band-mapping and limits resolution in techniques such as angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), the theory of which was developed for atomically flat surfaces. Thus, an understanding of the surface morphology of graphene is essential to making high quality devices and important for interpreting ARPES results. In this talk, we will describe a non-invasive approach to examining the corrugation in exfoliated graphene using a combination of low energy electron microscopy (LEEM) and micro-spot low energy electron diffraction (LEED). We will also describe how such knowledge of surface roughness can be used in the analysis of ARPES data to improve resolution and extract useful information about the band-structure.

Origin of phase shift in atomic force microscopic investigation of the surface morphology of NR/NBR blend film.

PubMed

Thanawan, S; Radabutra, S; Thamasirianunt, P; Amornsakchai, T; Suchiva, K

2009-01-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study the morphology and surface properties of NR/NBR blend. Blends at 1/3, 1/1 and 3/1 weight ratios were prepared in benzene and formed film by casting. AFM phase images of these blends in tapping mode displayed islands in the sea morphology or matrix-dispersed structures. For blend 1/3, NR formed dispersed phase while in blends 1/1 and 3/1 phase inversion was observed. NR showed higher phase shift angle in AFM phase imaging for all blends. This circumstance was governed by adhesion energy hysteresis between the device tip and the rubber surface rather than surface stiffness of the materials, as proved by force distance measurements in the AFM contact mode.

Solid-State Synthesized Nanostructured Au Dendritic Aggregates Towards Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gentile, A.; Ruffino, F.; D'Andrea, C.; Gucciardi, P. G.; Reitano, R.; Grimaldi, M. G.

2016-06-01

Micrometric Au structures, presenting a dendritic nano-structure, have been fabricated on a Si-based substrate. The fabrication method involves the deposition of a thin Au film on the substrate and a high-temperature annealing (1100°C) using fast heating and cooling ramps. The thermal process produces the growth, from the substrate, of Si micro-pillars whose top surfaces, covered by a crystalline Au layer, present a nanodendritic morphology. In addition to the micro-pillars, the sample surface presents a complex structural and chemical composition including Si3N4 regions due to the silicon-nitrogen intermixing during the heating stage. By studying the kinetic processes at the Au-Si interface during the thermal treatment, we describe the stages involved in the micro-pillars growth, in the dendritic morphology development, and in the Au atoms entrapment at the top of the dendritic surfaces. Finally, we present the analyses of the optical and surface enhanced Raman scattering properties of the Au dendritic aggregates. We show, in particular, that: (1) the Au dendrites aggregates act as effective scattering elements for the electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectral region; and (2) the higher surface area due to the branched dendritic structure is responsible for the improvement in the sensitivity of the surface enhanced Raman scattering activity.

Tensorial Minkowski functionals of triply periodic minimal surfaces

PubMed Central

Mickel, Walter; Schröder-Turk, Gerd E.; Mecke, Klaus

2012-01-01

A fundamental understanding of the formation and properties of a complex spatial structure relies on robust quantitative tools to characterize morphology. A systematic approach to the characterization of average properties of anisotropic complex interfacial geometries is provided by integral geometry which furnishes a family of morphological descriptors known as tensorial Minkowski functionals. These functionals are curvature-weighted integrals of tensor products of position vectors and surface normal vectors over the interfacial surface. We here demonstrate their use by application to non-cubic triply periodic minimal surface model geometries, whose Weierstrass parametrizations allow for accurate numerical computation of the Minkowski tensors. PMID:24098847

URBAN MORPHOLOGY FOR HOUSTON TO DRIVE MODELS-3/CMAQ AT NEIGHBORHOOD SCALES

EPA Science Inventory

Air quality simulation models applied at various horizontal scales require different degrees of treatment in the specifications of the underlying surfaces. As we model neighborhood scales ( 1 km horizontal grid spacing), the representation of urban morphological structures (e....

Effect of surface topological structure and chemical modification of flame sprayed aluminum coatings on the colonization of Cylindrotheca closterium on their surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiuyong; He, Xiaoyan; Suo, Xinkun; Huang, Jing; Gong, Yongfeng; Liu, Yi; Li, Hua

2016-12-01

Biofouling is one of the major problems for the coatings used for protecting marine infrastructures during their long-term services. Regulation in surface structure and local chemistry is usually the key for adjusting antifouling performances of the coatings. In this study, flame sprayed multi-layered aluminum coatings with micropatterned surfaces were constructed and the effects of their surface structure and chemistry on the settlement of typical marine diatoms were investigated. Micropatterned topographical morphology of the coatings was constructed by employing steel mesh as a shielding plate during the coating deposition. A silicone elastomer layer for sealing and interconnection was further brush-coated on the micropatterned coatings. Additional surface modification was made using zwitterionic molecules via DOPA linkage. The surface-modified coatings resist effectively colonization of Cylindrotheca closterium. This is explained by the quantitative examination of a simplified conditioning layer that deteriorated adsorption of bovine calf serum proteins on the zwitterionic molecule-treated samples is revealed. The colonization behaviors of the marine diatoms are markedly influenced by the micropatterned topographical morphology. Either the surface micropatterning or the surface modification by zwitterionic molecules enhances antimicrobial ability of the coatings. However, the combined micropatterned structure and zwitterionic modification do not show synergistic effect. The results give insight into anti-corrosion/fouling applications of the modified aluminum coatings in the marine environment.

Revealing Anisotropic Spinel Formation on Pristine Li- and Mn-Rich Layered Oxide Surface and Its Impact on Cathode Performance

DOE PAGES

Kuppan, Saravanan; Shukla, Alpesh Khushalchand; Membreno, Daniel; ...

2017-01-06

Surface properties of cathode particles play important roles in the transport of ions and electrons and they may ultimately dominate cathode's performance and stability in lithium-ion batteries. Through the use of carefully prepared Li 1.2Ni 0.13Mn 0.54Co 0.13O 2 crystal samples with six distinct morphologies, surface transition-metal redox activities and crystal structural transformation are investigated as a function of surface area and surface crystalline orientation. Complementary depth-profiled core-level spectroscopy, namely, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, are applied in the study, presenting a fine example of combining advanced diagnostic techniques with a well-definedmore » model system of battery materials. Here, we report the following findings: (1) a thin layer of defective spinel with reduced transition metals, similar to what is reported on cycled conventional secondary particles in the literature, is found on pristine oxide surface even before cycling, and (2) surface crystal structure and chemical composition of both pristine and cycled particles are facet dependent. Oxide structural and cycling stabilities improve with maximum expression of surface facets stable against transition-metal reduction. Finally, the intricate relationships among morphology, surface reactivity and structural transformation, electrochemical performance, and stability of the cathode materials are revealed.« less

Morphology, composition and electrical properties of SnO{sub 2}:Cl thin films grown by atomic layer deposition

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

Cheng, Hsyi-En, E-mail: sean@mail.stust.edu.tw; Wen, Chia-Hui; Hsu, Ching-Ming

2016-01-15

Chlorine doped SnO{sub 2} thin films were prepared using atomic layer deposition at temperatures between 300 and 450 °C using SnCl{sub 4} and H{sub 2}O as the reactants. Composition, structure, surface morphology, and electrical properties of the as-deposited films were examined. Results showed that the as-deposited SnO{sub 2} films all exhibited rutile structure with [O]/[Sn] ratios between 1.35 and 1.40. The electrical conductivity was found independent on [O]/[Sn] ratio but dependent on chlorine doping concentration, grain size, and surface morphology. The 300 °C-deposited film performed a higher electrical conductivity of 315 S/cm due to its higher chlorine doping level, larger grain size, andmore » smoother film surface. The existence of Sn{sup 2+} oxidation state was demonstrated to minimize the effects of chlorine on raising the electrical conductivity of films.« less

SILAR derived CdO films: Effect of triethanolamine on the surface morphology and optical bandgap energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahin, B.; Aydin, R.

2018-07-01

Nanostructured CdO films have been successfully synthesized with different ratios of surfactant triethanolamine (TEA) under SILAR condition. The influence of addition of TEA on the physical properties of CdO nanoparticles was studied. The surface morphology of the films was studied by metallurgical microscope and SEM analysis. Surface topography of the film was studied by AFM. The structural properties of the samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD studies confirm that the deposited CdO films has cubic structure (111) preferred orientation with well-crystallinity and purity. The optical bandgap energy was estimated based on the UV-vis spectroscopies which were obtained in the range of 2.16 eV-2.46 eV. Our study is encouraging to get enhanced surface topography by surfactant TEA.

Direct femtosecond laser ablation of copper with an optical vortex beam

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

Anoop, K. K.; Rubano, A.; Marrucci, L.

Laser surface structuring of copper is induced by laser ablation with a femtosecond optical vortex beam generated via spin-to-orbital conversion of the angular momentum of light by using a q-plate. The variation of the produced surface structures is studied as a function of the number of pulses, N, and laser fluence, F. After the first laser pulse (N=1), the irradiated surface presents an annular region characterized by a corrugated morphology made by a rather complex network of nanometer-scale ridges, wrinkles, pores, and cavities. Increasing the number of pulses (21000) and a deep crater is formed. The nanostructure variation with themore » laser fluence, F, also evidences an interesting dependence, with a coarsening of the structure morphology as F increases. Our experimental findings demonstrate that direct femtosecond laser ablation with optical vortex beams produces interesting patterns not achievable by the more standard beams with a Gaussian intensity profile. They also suggest that appropriate tuning of the experimental conditions (F, N) can allow generating micro- and/or nano-structured surface for any specific application.« less

Bubble structure evaluation method of sponge cake by using image morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kato, Kunihito; Yamamoto, Kazuhiko; Nonaka, Masahiko; Katsuta, Yukiyo; Kasamatsu, Chinatsu

2007-01-01

Nowadays, many evaluation methods for food industry by using image processing are proposed. These methods are becoming new evaluation method besides the sensory test and the solid-state measurement that have been used for the quality evaluation recently. The goal of our research is structure evaluation of sponge cake by using the image processing. In this paper, we propose a feature extraction method of the bobble structure in the sponge cake. Analysis of the bubble structure is one of the important properties to understand characteristics of the cake from the image. In order to take the cake image, first we cut cakes and measured that's surface by using the CIS scanner, because the depth of field of this type scanner is very shallow. Therefore the bubble region of the surface has low gray scale value, and it has a feature that is blur. We extracted bubble regions from the surface images based on these features. The input image is binarized, and the feature of bubble is extracted by the morphology analysis. In order to evaluate the result of feature extraction, we compared correlation with "Size of the bubble" of the sensory test result. From a result, the bubble extraction by using morphology analysis gives good correlation. It is shown that our method is as well as the subjectivity evaluation.

Agarose template for the fabrication of macroporous metal oxide structures.

PubMed

Zhou, Jingfang; Zhou, Meifang; Caruso, Rachel A

2006-03-28

Agarose gels have been applied as templates for the formation of macroporous metal oxide structures. The preparation of the agarose template is extremely simple, and with variation of the agarose content, control over morphology is demonstrated: The average pore size decreases from 180 to 55 nm and the surface area increases from 238 to 271 m2 g(-1) with increasing agarose content in the gel. The gelling temperature was also found to influence the final template morphology. Conducting sol-gel chemistry within the template structure followed by removal of the template by heating to 450 degrees C gives porous inorganic oxides. The technique has been demonstrated for the oxides of titanium, zirconium, niobium, and tin. The final morphology of the metal oxide is homogeneous and results from a coating of the agarose structure. The pore diameter decreased and the specific surface area of the titanium dioxide materials increased from 28 to 66 m2 g(-1) as the agarose content in the template is increased from 0.5 to 5.0 wt%. The overall pore size and surface area are lower than the original gel due to shrinkage occurring with the sol-gel process, as well as crystallization and a loss of microporosity in the final material.

Construction of Zinc Oxide into Different Morphological Structures to Be Utilized as Antimicrobial Agent against Multidrug Resistant Bacteria

PubMed Central

Elkady, M. F.; Shokry Hassan, H.; Hafez, Elsayed E.; Fouad, Ahmed

2015-01-01

Nano-ZnO has been successfully implemented in particles, rods, and tubes nanostructures via sol-gel and hydrothermal techniques. The variation of the different preparation parameters such as reaction temperature, time, and stabilizer agents was optimized to attain different morphological structures. The influence of the microwave annealing process on ZnO crystallinity, surface area, and morphological structure was monitored using XRD, BET, and SEM techniques, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of zinc oxide produced in nanotubes structure was examined against four different multidrug resistant bacteria: Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) strains. The activity of produced nano-ZnO was determined by disc diffusion technique and the results revealed that ZnO nanotubes recorded high activity against the studied strains due to their high surface area equivalent to 17.8 m2/g. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ZnO nanotubes showed that the low concentrations of ZnO nanotubes could be a substitution for the commercial antibiotics when approached in suitable formula. Although the annealing process of ZnO improves the degree of material crystallinity, however, it declines its surface area and consequently its antimicrobial activity. PMID:26451136

Influence of surface morphology on adsorption of potassium stearate molecules on diamond-like carbon substrate: A molecular dynamics study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Shusen; Cao, Yongzhi; Sun, Tao; Zhang, Junjie; Gu, Le; Zhang, Chuanwei; Xu, Zhiqiang

2018-05-01

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to provide insights into the influence of nano-scale surface morphology on adsorptive behavior of Potassium stearate molecules on diamond-like carbon (DLC) substrates. Particular focus was given to explain that how the distinctive geometric properties of different surface morphologies affect the equilibrium structures and substrate-molecules interactions of monolayers, which was achieved through adsorptive analysis methods including adsorptive process, density profile, density distribution and surface potential energy. Analysis on surface potential energy demonstrated that the adsorptivity of amorphous smooth substrate is uniformly distributed over the surface, while DLC substrates with different surface morphologies appear to be more potentially corrugated, which improves the adsorptivity significantly. Because of the large distance of molecules from carbon atoms located at the square groove bottom, substrate-molecules interactions vanish significantly, and thus potassium stearate molecules cannot penetrate completely into the square groove. It can be observed that the equilibrium substrate-molecules interactions of triangle groove and semi-circle groove are much more powerful than that of square groove due to geometrically advantageous properties. These findings provided key information of optimally design of solid substrates with controllable adsorptivity.

Characterization of retrieved orthodontic miniscrew implants.

PubMed

Eliades, Theodore; Zinelis, Spiros; Papadopoulos, Moschos A; Eliades, George

2009-01-01

The purposes of this study were to characterize the morphologic, structural, and compositional alterations and to assess any hardness changes in used orthodontic miniscrew implants. Eleven miniscrew implants (Aarhus Anchorage System, Medicon eG, Tuttlingen, Germany) placed in 5 patients were retrieved after successful service of 3.5 to 17.5 months; none showed signs of mobility or failure. These implants, and brand-, type-, and size-matched specimens as controls, were subjected to multi-technique characterization. Optical microscopy indicated loss of gloss with variable discoloration. Scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis showed morphologic alteration of the miniscrew implant surfaces with integuments formed on the surface. The materials precipitated on the surfaces were sodium, potassium, chlorine, iron, calcium, and phosphorus from the contact of the implant with biologic fluids such as blood and exudates, forming sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and calcium-phosphorus precipitates. The composition of the implant was similar to that of a titanium alloy. X-ray microtomography analysis showed no bulk structure alterations. Vickers microhardness testing showed no increased bulk or surface hardness of the retrieved specimens compared with the controls, excluding the possibility of strain-hardening phenomena as a result of self-tapping and self-drilling placement and related loading conditions. Used titanium-alloy miniscrew implants have morphologic and surface structural alterations including adsorption of an integument that is calcified as a result of contact of the implants with biologic fluids. Randomly organized osseointegration islets on these smooth titanium-alloy miniscrew surfaces might be enhanced by the extended period of retention in alveolar bone in spite of the smooth surface and immediate loading pattern of these implants.

Synthesis and Characterization of Bionanoparticle-Silica Composites and Mesoporous Silica with Large Pores

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

Niu, Z.; Yang, L.; Kabisatpathy, S.

2009-03-24

A sol-gel process has been developed to incorporate bionanoparticles, such as turnip yellow mosaic virus, cowpea mosaic virus, tobacco mosaic virus, and ferritin into silica, while maintaining the integrity and morphology of the particles. The structures of the resulting materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, small angle X-ray scattering, and N{sub 2} adsorption-desorption analysis. The results show that the shape and surface morphology of the bionanoparticles are largely preserved after being embedded into silica. After removal of the bionanoparticles by calcination, mesoporous silica with monodisperse pores, having the shape and surface morphology of the bionanoparticles replicated inside the silica,more » was produced,. This study is expected to lead to both functional composite materials and mesoporous silica with structurally well-defined large pores.« less

Impact of x-Linkable Polymer Blends on Phase Morphology and Adhesion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chun; Wan, Grace; Keene, Ellen; Harris, Joseph; Zhang, Sipei; Anderson, Stephanie; Li Pi Shan, Colin

Adhesion to dissimilar substrate is highly important to multiple industrial applications such as automotive adhesives, food packaging, transportation etc. Adhesive design has to include components that are affinity to both substrates, e.g. high surface energy polar and low surface non-polar substrates. Typically, these adhesive components are thermodynamically incompatible with each other, leading to macrophase separation and thus adhesive failure. By using functional adhesive components plus some additives, the adhesive can be in-situ cross-linked to prevent the macrophase separation with controlled phase morphology. Herein, we present the study on a cross-linkable adhesive formulation consisting of acrylic emulsion and polyolefin aqueous dispersion with additives for enhancing cross-linking and controlled phase morphologies. Contact angle measurement and ATR-IR spectroscopy are used to characterize the properties of adhesive surface. DMA is used to study the mechanical property of adhesive before and after cross-linking. The detailed phase morphologies are revealed by AFM, SEM and TEM. The resulting adhesive morphologies are correlated with the adhesive performance to establish structure-property relationship.

Surface chemical structure for soft contact lenses as a function of polymer processing.

PubMed

Grobe, G L; Valint, P L; Ammon, D M

1996-09-01

The surface chemistry and topography of cast-molded Etafilcon-A and doubled-sided lathed Etafilcon-A soft contact lenses were determined to be significantly different. The variations in surface chemical and morphologic structure between the two lenses were the result of contact lens manufacturing methods. The surface of the cast-molded Etafilcon-A had a consistently less rough surface compared to the doubled sided lathed Etafilcon-A as determined by atomic force microscopy. The surface of the doubled sided lathed Etafilcon-A contained primarily silicone and wax contamination in addition to minute amounts of HEMA. The cast-molded Etafilcon-A had an elemental and chemical content which was consistent with the polymer stoichiometry. Contact angle wettability profiles revealed inherent wettability differences between the two lenses types. The cast-molded Etafilcon-A had an inherently greater water wettability, polarity, and critical surface tension. This means that these two lenses cannot be compared as similar or identical lens materials in terms of surface composition. The manufacturing method used to produce a soft contact lens directly determines the surface elemental and chemical structure as well as the morphology of the finished lens material. These results suggest possible differences in the clinical comfort, spoilage, and lubricity felt during patient wear.

Structure of metal-oxide Ti-Ta-(Ti,Ta)xOy coatings during spark alloying and induction-thermal oxidation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koshuro, V.; Fomin, A.; Fomina, M.; Rodionov, I.; Brzhozovskii, B.; Martynov, V.; Zakharevich, A.; Aman, A.; Oseev, A.; Majcherek, S.; Hirsch, S.

2016-08-01

The study focuses on combined spark alloying of titanium and titanium alloy surface and porous matrix structure oxidation. The metal-oxide coatings morphology is the result of melt drop transfer, heat treatment, and oxidation. The study establishes the influence of technological regimes of alloying and oxidation on morphological heterogeneity of metal- oxide system Ti-Ta-(Ti,Ta)xOy.

Improved electrochemical properties of morphology-controlled titania/titanate nanostructures prepared by in-situ hydrothermal surface modification of self-source Ti substrate for high-performance supercapacitors.

PubMed

Banerjee, Arghya Narayan; Anitha, V C; Joo, Sang W

2017-10-16

Ti substrate surface is modified into two-dimensional (2D) TiO 2 nanoplatelet or one-dimensional (1D) nanorod/nanofiber (or a mixture of both) structure in a controlled manner via a simple KOH-based hydrothermal technique. Depending on the KOH concentration, different types of TiO 2 nanostructures (2D platelets, 1D nanorods/nanofibers and a 2D+1D mixed sample) are fabricated directly onto the Ti substrate surface. The novelty of this technique is the in-situ modification of the self-source Ti surface into titania nanostructures, and its direct use as the electrochemical microelectrode without any modifications. This leads to considerable improvement in the interfacial properties between metallic Ti and semiconducting TiO 2 . Since interfacial states/defects have profound effect on charge transport properties of electronic/electrochemical devices, therefore this near-defect-free interfacial property of Ti-TiO 2 microelectrode has shown high supercapacitive performances for superior charge-storage devices. Additionally, by hydrothermally tuning the morphology of titania nanostructures, the electrochemical properties of the electrodes are also tuned. A Ti-TiO 2 electrode comprising of a mixture of 2D-platelet+1D-nanorod structure reveals very high specific capacitance values (~7.4 mF.cm -2 ) due to the unique mixed morphology which manifests higher active sites (hence, higher utilization of the active materials) in terms of greater roughness at the 2D-platelet structures and higher surface-to-volume-ratio in the 1D-nanorod structures.

A molecular dynamics simulation of solvent effects on the crystal morphology of HMX.

PubMed

Duan, Xiaohui; Wei, Chunxue; Liu, Yonggang; Pei, Chonghua

2010-02-15

The solvent has a large effect on the crystal morphology of the organic explosive compound octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX, C(4)H(8)N(8)O(8)). The attachment energy calculations predict a growth morphology in vacuum dominated by (020), (011), (102 ), (111 ) and (100) crystal forms. Molecular dynamics simulations are performed for these crystal faces of HMX in contact with acetone solvent. A corrected attachment energy model, accounting for the surface chemistry and the associated topography (step structure) of the habit crystal plane, is applied to predict the morphological importance of a crystal surface in solvent. From the solvent-effected attachment energy calculations it follows that the (100) face becomes morphologically more important compared with that in vacuum, while the (020) and (102 ) are not visible at all. This agrees well with the observed experimental HMX morphology grown from the acetone solution.

Dry etching of copper phthalocyanine thin films: effects on morphology and surface stoichiometry.

PubMed

Van Dijken, Jaron G; Brett, Michael J

2012-08-24

We investigate the evolution of copper phthalocyanine thin films as they are etched with argon plasma. Significant morphological changes occur as a result of the ion bombardment; a planar surface quickly becomes an array of nanopillars which are less than 20 nm in diameter. The changes in morphology are independent of plasma power, which controls the etch rate only. Analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that surface concentrations of copper and oxygen increase with etch time, while carbon and nitrogen are depleted. Despite these changes in surface stoichiometry, we observe no effect on the work function. The absorbance and X-ray diffraction spectra show no changes other than the peaks diminishing with etch time. These findings have important implications for organic photovoltaic devices which seek nanopillar thin films of metal phthalocyanine materials as an optimal structure.

Morphological priming by itself: a study of Portuguese conjugations.

PubMed

Veríssimo, João; Clahsen, Harald

2009-07-01

Does the language processing system make use of abstract grammatical categories and representations that are not directly visible from the surface form of a linguistic expression? This study examines stem-formation processes and conjugation classes, a case of 'pure' morphology that provides insight into the role of grammatical structure in language processing. We report results from a cross-modal priming experiment examining 1st and 3rd conjugation verb forms in Portuguese. Although items were closely matched with respect to a range of non-morphological factors, distinct priming patterns were found for 1st and 3rd conjugation stems. We attribute the observed priming patterns to different representations of conjugational stems, combinatorial morphologically structured ones for 1st conjugation and un-analyzed morphologically unstructured ones for 3rd conjugation stems. Our findings underline the importance of morphology for language comprehension indicating that morphological analysis goes beyond the identification of grammatical morphemes.

Theoretical approach for determining the relation between the morphology and surface magnetism of Co3O4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ribeiro, R. A. P.; de Lazaro, S. R.; Gracia, L.; Longo, E.; Andrés, J.

2018-05-01

Precisely controlling the different aspects of the morphology and magnetic properties of metal oxides are fundamental to materials design. A theoretical approach, based on the Wulff construction and magnetization density (M) index, is presented to clarify the relation between the morphology and surface magnetism. The M index allows us to evaluate the uncompensated spins at the (1 0 0), (1 1 0), (1 1 1) and (1 1 2) surfaces of Co3O4 with a spinel structure. The investigated morphologies show an excellent agreement with the experimental results, with the main contribution coming from the (1 0 0) and (1 1 1) magnetic planes. The present results are also helpful in clarifying the intriguing magnetic properties reported for Co3O4 nanoparticles, suggesting that the same technique may serve as a guide for the study of shape-oriented magnetic materials.

Heterointerface engineering of broken-gap InAs/GaSb multilayer structures.

PubMed

Liu, Jheng-Sin; Zhu, Yan; Goley, Patrick S; Hudait, Mantu K

2015-02-04

Broken-gap InAs/GaSb strain balanced multilayer structures were grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and their structural, morphological, and band alignment properties were analyzed. Precise shutter sequence during the MBE growth process, enable to achieve the strain balanced structure. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy exhibited sharp heterointerfaces, and the lattice line extended from the top GaSb layer to the bottom InAs layer. X-ray analysis further confirmed a strain balanced InAs/GaSb multilayer structure. A smooth surface morphology with surface roughness of ∼0.5 nm was demonstrated. The effective barrier height -0.15 eV at the GaSb/InAs heterointerface was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and it was further corroborated by simulation. These results are important to demonstrate desirable characteristics of mixed As/Sb material systems for high-performance and low-power tunnel field-effect transistor applications.

Physical activity alters limb bone structure but not entheseal morphology.

PubMed

Wallace, Ian J; Winchester, Julia M; Su, Anne; Boyer, Doug M; Konow, Nicolai

2017-06-01

Studies of ancient human skeletal remains frequently proceed from the assumption that individuals with robust limb bones and/or rugose, hypertrophic entheses can be inferred to have been highly physically active during life. Here, we experimentally test this assumption by measuring the effects of exercise on limb bone structure and entheseal morphology in turkeys. Growing females were either treated with a treadmill-running regimen for 10 weeks or served as controls. After the experiment, femoral cortical and trabecular bone structure were quantified with μCT in the mid-diaphysis and distal epiphysis, respectively, and entheseal morphology was quantified in the lateral epicondyle. The results indicate that elevated levels of physical activity affect limb bone structure but not entheseal morphology. Specifically, animals subjected to exercise displayed enhanced diaphyseal and trabecular bone architecture relative to controls, but no significant difference was detected between experimental groups in entheseal surface topography. These findings suggest that diaphyseal and trabecular structure are more reliable proxies than entheseal morphology for inferring ancient human physical activity levels from skeletal remains. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tuning structure of oppositely charged nanoparticle and protein complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Sugam; Aswal, V. K.; Callow, P.

2014-04-01

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) has been used to probe the structures of anionic silica nanoparticles (LS30) and cationic lyszyme protein (M.W. 14.7kD, I.P. ˜ 11.4) by tuning their interaction through the pH variation. The protein adsorption on nanoparticles is found to be increasing with pH and determined by the electrostatic attraction between two components as well as repulsion between protein molecules. We show the strong electrostatic attraction between nanoparticles and protein molecules leads to protein-mediated aggregation of nanoparticles which are characterized by fractal structures. At pH 5, the protein adsorption gives rise to nanoparticle aggregation having surface fractal morphology with close packing of nanoparticles. The surface fractals transform to open structures of mass fractal morphology at higher pH (7 and 9) on approaching isoelectric point (I.P.).

Influences of MAA on the porous morphology of P(St-MAA) latex particles produced by batch soap-free emulsion polymerization followed by stepwise alkali/acid post-treatment.

PubMed

Deng, Wei; Li, Ronglong; Zhang, Mengjun; Gong, Lixiang; Kan, Chengyou

2010-09-01

Soap-free P(St-MAA) latex particles with variable styrene (St)/methacrylic acid (MAA) ratio were synthesized by batch emulsion copolymerization at 70 degrees C for 7h, and the particles with porous structure were obtained after stepwise alkali/acid post-treatment. The effects of MAA amount on the particle morphologies after the alkali and the stepwise alkali/acid post-treatments were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicated that the alkali-treated latex particles showed anomalous structure with rough surface, and no hollow was clearly identified inside them. When these alkali-treated particles were further treated with acid solution, the particle surface became much smoother, and porous morphology appeared. It was found that when the MAA amount was less than or equal to 4mol%, no obvious morphological variation was observed; while the latex particles showed clearly porous structure as the MAA amount increased to 6mol%; with the further increase of MAA amount to 8mol%, the pore size decreased distinctly. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Investigations of morphological features of picosecond dual-wavelength laser ablation of stainless steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Wanqin; Wang, Wenjun; Mei, Xuesong; Jiang, Gedong; Liu, Bin

2014-06-01

Investigations on the morphological features of holes and grooves ablated on the surface of stainless steel using the picosecond dual-wavelength laser system with different powers combinations are presented based on the scarce researches on morphology of dual-wavelength laser ablation. The experimental results show the profiles of holes ablated by the visible beam appear V-shaped while those for the near-infrared have large openings and display U-shaped, which are independent of the ablation mechanism of ultrafast laser. For the dual-wavelength beam (a combination of visible beam and near-infrared), the holes resemble sunflower-like structures and have smoother ring patterns on the bottom. In general, the holes ablated by the dual-wavelength beam appear to have much flatter bottoms, linearly sloped side-walls and spinodal structures between the bottoms of the holes and the side-walls. Furthermore, through judiciously combining the powers of the dual-wavelength beam, high-quality grooves could be obtained with a flat worm-like structure at the bottom surface and less resolidified melt ejection edges. This study provides insight into optimizing ultrafast laser micromachining in order to obtain desired morphology.

Morphological Aspects of Oral Denticles in the Sharpnose Shark Rhizoprionodon lalandii (Müller and Henle, 1839) (Elasmobranchii, Carcharhinidae).

PubMed

Ciena, A P; de S Rangel, B; Bruno, C E M; Miglino, M A; de Amorim, A F; Rici, R E G; Watanabe, I

2016-04-01

The oral denticles of some elasmobranchs are found on the surface of the oral cavity and are homologous to those on the body surface, being well developed, independent and non-growing, with varying morphology and distribution depending on the species. The structural and three-dimensional characteristics of oral denticles from the rostro-ventral surface of the sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon lalandii were described following imaging by both light and scanning electron microscopy. The light microscopy results showed that the triangular shape of the denticles consisted of a base and an apex. Picrosirius staining showed the arrangement of collagen fibres and oral denticles, and a predominance of type-I collagen was found in both structures under polarized light. There was a broad homogeneous distribution of denticles on the ventral surface, forming a leaf-like shape with the cusp facing the caudal region. Interlocking, hexagonal, geometric structures on its rostral side and ridges on the rostral side of the oral denticles were observed under increased magnification. We concluded that the denticle morphology found in R. lalandii differ of others analysed species, and the descriptions of these structures therefore provide important information for the classification of the species. In this species, the main functions can be assigned to help reduce hydrodynamic drag, particularly by this being a species that uses ram ventilation, and to protect the epithelium of the oropharynx of abrasion and parasites. © 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Preparation of poly(L-lactic acid) nanofiber scaffolds with a rough surface by phase inversion using supercritical carbon dioxide.

PubMed

Yang, Ding-Zhu; Chen, Ai-Zheng; Wang, Shi-Bin; Li, Yi; Tang, Xiao-Lin; Wu, Yong-Jing

2015-06-24

Phase inversion using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) has been widely used in the development of tissue engineering scaffolds, and particular attention has been given to obtaining desired morphology without additional post-treatments. However, the main challenge of this technique is the difficulty in generating a three-dimensional (3D) nanofiber structure with a rough surface in one step. Here, a poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) 3D nanofiber scaffold with a rough surface is obtained via phase inversion using SC-CO2 by carefully choosing fabrication conditions and porogens. It is found that this method can effectively modulate the structure morphology, promote the crystallization process of semicrystalline polymer, and induce the formation of rough structures on the surface of nanofibers. Meanwhile, the porogen of ammonium bicarbonate (AB) can produce a 3D structure with large pores, and porogen of menthol can improve the interconnectivity between the micropores of nanofibers. A significant increase in the fiber diameter is observed as the menthol content increases. Furthermore, the menthol may affect the mutual transition between the α' and α crystals of PLLA during the phase separation process. In addition, the results of protein adsorption, cell adhesion, and proliferation assays indicate that cells tend to have higher viability on the nanofiber scaffold. This process combines the characteristic properties of SC-CO2 and the solubility of menthol to tailor the morphology of polymeric scaffolds, which may have potential applications in tissue engineering.

Imaging the surface morphology, chemistry and conductivity of LiNi 1/3 Fe 1/3 Mn 4/3 O 4 crystalline facets using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy

DOE PAGES

Zhou, Jigang; Wang, Jian; Cutler, Jeffrey; ...

2016-07-26

We have employed scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) using the X-ray fluorescence mode in order to elucidate the chemical structures at Ni, Fe, Mn and O sites from the (111) and (100) facets of micron-sized LiNi 1/3Fe 1/3Mn 4/3O 4 energy material particles. Furthermore, STXM imaging using electron yield mode has mapped out the surface conductivity of the crystalline particles. Our study presents a novel approach that visualizes local element segregation, chemistry and conductivity variation among different crystal facets, which will assist further tailoring of the morphology and surface structure of this high voltage spinel lithium ion battery cathode material.

Darkening effect on AZ31B magnesium alloy surface induced by nanosecond pulse Nd:YAG laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Y. C.; Zhou, W.; Zheng, H. Y.; Li, Z. L.

2013-09-01

Permanent darkening effect was achieved on surface of AZ31B Mg alloy irradiated with nanosecond pulse Nd:YAG laser, and special attention was made to examine how surface structure as well as oxidation affect the darkening effect. Experiments were carried out to characterize morphological evolution and chemical composition of the irradiated areas by optical reflection spectrometer, Talysurf surface profiler, SEM, EDS, and XPS. The darkening effect was found to be occurred at the surface under high laser energy. Optical spectra showed that the induced darkening surface was uniform over the spectral range from 200 nm to 1100 nm. SEM and surface profiler showed that surface morphology of darkening areas consisted of large number of micron scale cauliflower-like clusters and protruding particles. EDS and XPS showed that compared to non-irradiated area, oxygen content at the darkening areas increased significantly. It was proposed a mechanism that involved trapping of light in the surface morphology and chemistry variation of irradiated areas to explain the laser-induced darkening effect on AZ31B Mg alloy.

Facile method for preparing superoleophobic surfaces with hierarchical microcubic/nanowire structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwak, Wonshik; Hwang, Woonbong

2016-02-01

To facilitate the fabrication of superoleophobic surfaces having hierarchical microcubic/nanowire structures (HMNS), even for low surface tension liquids including octane (surface tension = 21.1 mN m-1), and to understand the influences of surface structures on the oleophobicity, we developed a convenient method to achieve superoleophobic surfaces on aluminum substrates using chemical acid etching, anodization and fluorination treatment. The liquid repellency of the structured surface was validated through observable experimental results the contact and sliding angle measurements. The etching condition required to ensure high surface roughness was established, and an optimal anodizing condition was determined, as a critical parameter in building the superoleophobicity. The microcubic structures formed by acid etching are essential for achieving the formation of the hierarchical structure, and therefore, the nanowire structures formed by anodization lead to an enhancement of the superoleophobicity for low surface tension liquids. Under optimized morphology by microcubic/nanowire structures with fluorination treatment, the contact angle over 150° and the sliding angle less than 10° are achieved even for octane.

Plateau-Rayleigh Crystal Growth of Nanowire Heterostructures: Strain-Modified Surface Chemistry and Morphological Control in One, Two, and Three Dimensions.

PubMed

Day, Robert W; Mankin, Max N; Lieber, Charles M

2016-04-13

One-dimensional (1D) structures offer unique opportunities for materials synthesis since crystal phases and morphologies that are difficult or impossible to achieve in macroscopic crystals can be synthesized as 1D nanowires (NWs). Recently, we demonstrated one such phenomenon unique to growth on a 1D substrate, termed Plateau-Rayleigh (P-R) crystal growth, where periodic shells develop along a NW core to form diameter-modulated NW homostructures with tunable morphologies. Here we report a novel extension of the P-R crystal growth concept with the synthesis of heterostructures in which Ge (Si) is deposited on Si (Ge) 1D cores to generate complex NW morphologies in 1, 2, or 3D. Depositing Ge on 50 nm Si cores with a constant GeH4 pressure yields a single set of periodic shells, while sequential variation of GeH4 pressure can yield multimodulated 1D NWs with two distinct sets of shell periodicities. P-R crystal growth on 30 nm cores also produces 2D loop structures, where Ge (Si) shells lie primarily on the outside (inside) of a highly curved Si (Ge) core. Systematic investigation of shell morphology as a function of growth time indicates that Ge shells grow in length along positive curvature Si cores faster than along straight Si cores by an order of magnitude. Short Ge deposition times reveal that shells develop on opposite sides of 50 and 100 nm Si cores to form straight 1D morphologies but that shells develop on the same side of 20 nm cores to produce 2D loop and 3D spring structures. These results suggest that strain mediates the formation of 2 and 3D morphologies by altering the NW's surface chemistry and that surface diffusion of heteroatoms on flexible freestanding 1D substrates can facilitate this strain-mediated mechanism.

A Statistical Analysis of Brain Morphology Using Wild Bootstrapping

PubMed Central

Ibrahim, Joseph G.; Tang, Niansheng; Rowe, Daniel B.; Hao, Xuejun; Bansal, Ravi; Peterson, Bradley S.

2008-01-01

Methods for the analysis of brain morphology, including voxel-based morphology and surface-based morphometries, have been used to detect associations between brain structure and covariates of interest, such as diagnosis, severity of disease, age, IQ, and genotype. The statistical analysis of morphometric measures usually involves two statistical procedures: 1) invoking a statistical model at each voxel (or point) on the surface of the brain or brain subregion, followed by mapping test statistics (e.g., t test) or their associated p values at each of those voxels; 2) correction for the multiple statistical tests conducted across all voxels on the surface of the brain region under investigation. We propose the use of new statistical methods for each of these procedures. We first use a heteroscedastic linear model to test the associations between the morphological measures at each voxel on the surface of the specified subregion (e.g., cortical or subcortical surfaces) and the covariates of interest. Moreover, we develop a robust test procedure that is based on a resampling method, called wild bootstrapping. This procedure assesses the statistical significance of the associations between a measure of given brain structure and the covariates of interest. The value of this robust test procedure lies in its computationally simplicity and in its applicability to a wide range of imaging data, including data from both anatomical and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Simulation studies demonstrate that this robust test procedure can accurately control the family-wise error rate. We demonstrate the application of this robust test procedure to the detection of statistically significant differences in the morphology of the hippocampus over time across gender groups in a large sample of healthy subjects. PMID:17649909

Annealing induced low coercivity, nanocrystalline Co-Fe-Si thin films exhibiting inverse cosine angular variation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hysen, T.; Al-Harthi, Salim; Al-Omari, I. A.; Geetha, P.; Lisha, R.; Ramanujan, R. V.; Sakthikumar, D.; Anantharaman, M. R.

2013-09-01

Co-Fe-Si based films exhibit high magnetic moments and are highly sought after for applications like soft under layers in perpendicular recording media to magneto-electro-mechanical sensor applications. In this work the effect of annealing on structural, morphological and magnetic properties of Co-Fe-Si thin films was investigated. Compositional analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectroscopy revealed a native oxide surface layer consisting of oxides of Co, Fe and Si on the surface. The morphology of the as deposited films shows mound like structures conforming to the Volmer-Weber growth model. Nanocrystallisation of amorphous films upon annealing was observed by glancing angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The evolution of magnetic properties with annealing is explained using the Herzer model. Vibrating sample magnetometry measurements carried out at various angles from 0° to 90° to the applied magnetic field were employed to study the angular variation of coercivity. The angular variation fits the modified Kondorsky model. Interestingly, the coercivity evolution with annealing deduced from magneto-optical Kerr effect studies indicates a reverse trend compared to magetisation observed in the bulk. This can be attributed to a domain wall pinning at native oxide layer on the surface of thin films. The evolution of surface magnetic properties is correlated with morphology evolution probed using atomic force microscopy. The morphology as well as the presence of the native oxide layer dictates the surface magnetic properties and this is corroborated by the apparent difference in the bulk and surface magnetic properties.

Optical properties and surface morphology studies of palladium contacts on mercuric iodide single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

George, M. A.; Azoulay, M.; Burger, A.; Biao, Y.; Silberman, E.; Nason, D.

1993-04-01

Palladium is chemically suitable for electric contacts on mercuric iodide detectors for photon and nuclear radiation detection, so the understanding of palladium contacts is important for fundamental and practical scientific purposes. A study has been conducted on the surface morphology of evaporated contacts using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical transmission and reflection. Evaporated palladium coatings are typically nonuniform and may deposit selectively on mercuric iodide surface defects. Reflection measurements show that coating thickness and surface treatment affect intensity, position, and shape of a reflected peak characteristic of the mercuric iodide structure. Results indicate that the band gap energy in the surface of the mercuric iodide is lowered by palladium contacts.

Active microwave remote sensing research program plan. Recommendations of the Earth Resources Synthetic Aperture Radar Task Force. [application areas: vegetation canopies, surface water, surface morphology, rocks and soils, and man-made structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

A research program plan developed by the Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications to provide guidelines for a concentrated effort to improve the understanding of the measurement capabilities of active microwave imaging sensors, and to define the role of such sensors in future Earth observations programs is outlined. The focus of the planned activities is on renewable and non-renewable resources. Five general application areas are addressed: (1) vegetation canopies, (2) surface water, (3) surface morphology, (4) rocks and soils, and (5) man-made structures. Research tasks are described which, when accomplished, will clearly establish the measurement capabilities in each area, and provide the theoretical and empirical results needed to specify and justify satellite systems using imaging radar sensors for global observations.

Surface analysis of Fe-Co-Mo electrolytic coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yar-Mukhamedova, G. Sh; Sakhnenko, N. D.; Ved', M. V.; Yermolenko, I. Yu; Zyubanova, S. I.

2017-06-01

Coatings Fe-Co-Mo with a composition of 47 at.% iron, 28 at.% Cobalt and 25 at.% Molybdenum were deposited from citrate electrolyte using pulse electrolysis mode. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopy have established the surface morphology and topography. It was identified the parts with a globular structure which have an average size of 0.2-0.5μm and singly located sharp grains. Within the same scan area sites with developed surface were detected the topography of which is identical to the crystal structure of cobalt with the crystallites size of 0.2-1.75μm. The parameters Ra and Rq for parts with different morphology as well as average characteristics of coatings demonstrated the low roughness of the surface. It is found that the coercive force of Fe-Co-Mo films is 7-10 Oe, which allow us to classify the Fe-Co-Mo coatings as soft magnetic materials.

Two-dimensional and three-dimensional evaluation of the deformation relief

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alfyorova, E. A.; Lychagin, D. V.

2017-12-01

This work presents the experimental results concerning the research of the morphology of the face-centered cubic single crystal surface after compression deformation. Our aim is to identify the method of forming a quasiperiodic profile of single crystals with different crystal geometrical orientation and quantitative description of deformation structures. A set of modern methods such as optical and confocal microscopy is applied to determine the morphology of surface parameters. The results show that octahedral slip is an integral part of the formation of the quasiperiodic profile surface starting with initial strain. The similarity of the formation process of the surface profile at different scale levels is given. The size of consistent deformation regions is found. This is 45 µm for slip lines ([001]-single crystal) and 30 µm for mesobands ([110]-single crystal). The possibility of using two- and three-dimensional roughness parameters to describe the deformation structures was shown.

High-Aspect-Ratio Ridge Structures Induced by Plastic Deformation as a Novel Microfabrication Technique.

PubMed

Takei, Atsushi; Jin, Lihua; Fujita, Hiroyuki; Takei, A; Fujita, H; Jin, Lihua

2016-09-14

Wrinkles on thin film/elastomer bilayer systems provide functional surfaces. The aspect ratio of these wrinkles is critical to their functionality. Much effort has been dedicated to creating high-aspect-ratio structures on the surface of bilayer systems. A highly prestretched elastomer attached to a thin film has recently been shown to form a high-aspect-ratio structure, called a ridge structure, due to a large strain induced in the elastomer. However, the prestretch requirements of the elastomer during thin film attachment are not compatible with conventional thin film deposition methods, such as spin coating, dip coating, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Thus, the fabrication method is complex, and ridge structure formation is limited to planar surfaces. This paper presents a new and simple method for constructing ridge structures on a nonplanar surface using a plastic thin film/elastomer bilayer system. A plastic thin film is attached to a stress-free elastomer, and the resulting bilayer system is highly stretched one- or two-dimensionally. Upon the release of the stretch load, the deformation of the elastomer is reversible, while the plastically deformed thin film stays elongated. The combination of the length mismatch and the large strain induced in the elastomer generates ridge structures. The morphology of the plastic thin film/elastomer bilayer system is experimentally studied by varying the physical parameters, and the functionality and the applicability to a nonplanar surface are demonstrated. Finally, we simulate the effect of plasticity on morphology. This study presents a new technique for generating microscale high-aspect-ratio structures and its potential for functional surfaces.

The relationship between substrate morphology and biological performances of nano-silver-loaded dopamine coatings on titanium surfaces

PubMed Central

Zhang, Weibo; Wang, Shuang; Ge, Shaohua; Ji, Ping

2018-01-01

Biomedical device-associated infection (BAI) and lack of osseointegration are the main causes of implant failure. Therefore, it is imperative for implants not only to depress microbial activity and biofilm colonization but also to prompt osteoblast functions and osseointegration. As part of the coating development for implants, the interest of in vitro studies on the interaction between implant substrate morphology and the coating's biological performances is growing. In this study, by harnessing the adhesion and reactivity of bioinspired polydopamine, nano-silver was successfully anchored onto micro/nanoporous as well as smooth titanium surfaces to analyse the effect of substrate morphology on biological performances of the coatings. Compared with the smooth surface, a small size of nano-silver and high silver content was found on the micro/nanoporous surface. More mineralization happened on the coating on the micro/nanoporous structure than on the smooth surface, which led to a more rapid decrease of silver release from the micro/nanoporous surface. Antimicrobial tests indicated that both surfaces with resulting coating inhibit microbial colonization on them and growth around them, indicating that the coating eliminates the shortcoming of the porous structure which render the implant extremely susceptible to BAI. Besides, the multiple osteoblast responses of nano-silver-loaded dopamine coatings on both surfaces, i.e. attachment, proliferation and differentiation, have deteriorated, however the mineralized surfaces of these coatings stimulated osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, especially for the micro/nanoporous surface. Therefore, nano-silver-loaded dopamine coatings on micro/nanoporous substratum may not only reduce the risk of infection but also facilitate mineralization during the early post-operative period and then promote osseointegration owing to the good osteoblast-biocompatibility of the mineralized surface. These results clearly highlight the influence of the substrate morphology on the biological performances of implant coating. PMID:29765680

Morphomechanics of bacterial biofilms undergoing anisotropic differential growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Cheng; Li, Bo; Huang, Xiao; Ni, Yong; Feng, Xi-Qiao

2016-10-01

Growing bacterial biofilms exhibit a number of surface morphologies, e.g., concentric wrinkles, radial ridges, and labyrinthine networks, depending on their physiological status and nutrient access. We explore the mechanisms underlying the emergence of these greatly different morphologies. Ginzburg-Landau kinetic method and Fourier spectral method are integrated to simulate the morphological evolution of bacterial biofilms. It is shown that the morphological instability of biofilms is triggered by the stresses induced by anisotropic and heterogeneous bacterial expansion, and involves the competition between membrane energy and bending energy. Local interfacial delamination further enriches the morphologies of biofilms. Phase diagrams are established to reveal how the anisotropy and spatial heterogeneity of growth modulate the surface patterns. The mechanics of three-dimensional microbial morphogenesis may also underpin self-organization in other development systems and provide a potential strategy for engineering microscopic structures from bacterial aggregates.

Non-native three-dimensional block copolymer morphologies

DOE PAGES

Rahman, Atikur; Majewski, Pawel W.; Doerk, Gregory; ...

2016-12-22

Self-assembly is a powerful paradigm, wherein molecules spontaneously form ordered phases exhibiting well-defined nanoscale periodicity and shapes. However, the inherent energy-minimization aspect of self-assembly yields a very limited set of morphologies, such as lamellae or hexagonally packed cylinders. Here, we show how soft self-assembling materials—block copolymer thin films—can be manipulated to form a diverse library of previously unreported morphologies. In this iterative assembly process, each polymer layer acts as both a structural component of the final morphology and a template for directing the order of subsequent layers. Specifically, block copolymer films are immobilized on surfaces, and template successive layers throughmore » subtle surface topography. As a result, this strategy generates an enormous variety of three-dimensional morphologies that are absent in the native block copolymer phase diagram.« less

Non-native three-dimensional block copolymer morphologies

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

Rahman, Atikur; Majewski, Pawel W.; Doerk, Gregory

Self-assembly is a powerful paradigm, wherein molecules spontaneously form ordered phases exhibiting well-defined nanoscale periodicity and shapes. However, the inherent energy-minimization aspect of self-assembly yields a very limited set of morphologies, such as lamellae or hexagonally packed cylinders. Here, we show how soft self-assembling materials—block copolymer thin films—can be manipulated to form a diverse library of previously unreported morphologies. In this iterative assembly process, each polymer layer acts as both a structural component of the final morphology and a template for directing the order of subsequent layers. Specifically, block copolymer films are immobilized on surfaces, and template successive layers throughmore » subtle surface topography. As a result, this strategy generates an enormous variety of three-dimensional morphologies that are absent in the native block copolymer phase diagram.« less

Biomimetic surface structuring using cylindrical vector femtosecond laser beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skoulas, Evangelos; Manousaki, Alexandra; Fotakis, Costas; Stratakis, Emmanuel

2017-03-01

We report on a new, single-step and scalable method to fabricate highly ordered, multi-directional and complex surface structures that mimic the unique morphological features of certain species found in nature. Biomimetic surface structuring was realized by exploiting the unique and versatile angular profile and the electric field symmetry of cylindrical vector (CV) femtosecond (fs) laser beams. It is shown that, highly controllable, periodic structures exhibiting sizes at nano-, micro- and dual- micro/nano scales can be directly written on Ni upon line and large area scanning with radial and azimuthal polarization beams. Depending on the irradiation conditions, new complex multi-directional nanostructures, inspired by the Shark’s skin morphology, as well as superhydrophobic dual-scale structures mimicking the Lotus’ leaf water repellent properties can be attained. It is concluded that the versatility and features variations of structures formed is by far superior to those obtained via laser processing with linearly polarized beams. More important, by exploiting the capabilities offered by fs CV fields, the present technique can be further extended to fabricate even more complex and unconventional structures. We believe that our approach provides a new concept in laser materials processing, which can be further exploited for expanding the breadth and novelty of applications.

Facile and rapid synthesis of Pd nanodendrites for electrocatalysis and surface-enhanced Raman scattering applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kannan, Palanisamy; Dolinska, Joanna; Maiyalagan, Thandavarayan; Opallo, Marcin

2014-09-01

Numerous properties from metal nanostructures can be tuned by controlling both their size and shape. In particular, the latter is extremely important because the type of crystalline surface affects the surface electronic density. This paper describes a simple approach to the synthesis of highly-structured, anisotropic palladium nanostructured dendrites. They were obtained using an eco-friendly biomolecule 5-hydroxytryptophan, which acts as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The growth mechanism is proposed for the evolution of dendrites morphology. It was found that the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptophan played a vital role on the morphology of the nanostructured Pd dendrites. This nanomaterial shows enhanced electrocatalytic performance towards the oxidation of formic acid, and it exhibits surface-enhanced Raman scattering properties towards the prostate specific antigen. These properties may be explored in fuel cells and biosensors, respectively.Numerous properties from metal nanostructures can be tuned by controlling both their size and shape. In particular, the latter is extremely important because the type of crystalline surface affects the surface electronic density. This paper describes a simple approach to the synthesis of highly-structured, anisotropic palladium nanostructured dendrites. They were obtained using an eco-friendly biomolecule 5-hydroxytryptophan, which acts as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The growth mechanism is proposed for the evolution of dendrites morphology. It was found that the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptophan played a vital role on the morphology of the nanostructured Pd dendrites. This nanomaterial shows enhanced electrocatalytic performance towards the oxidation of formic acid, and it exhibits surface-enhanced Raman scattering properties towards the prostate specific antigen. These properties may be explored in fuel cells and biosensors, respectively. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr02896a

Facial Structure Analysis Separates Autism Spectrum Disorders into Meaningful Clinical Subgroups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Obafemi-Ajayi, Tayo; Miles, Judith H.; Takahashi, T. Nicole; Qi, Wenchuan; Aldridge, Kristina; Zhang, Minqi; Xin, Shi-Qing; He, Ying; Duan, Ye

2015-01-01

Varied cluster analysis were applied to facial surface measurements from 62 prepubertal boys with essential autism to determine whether facial morphology constitutes viable biomarker for delineation of discrete Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) subgroups. Earlier study indicated utility of facial morphology for autism subgrouping (Aldridge et al. in…

Morphological Priming by Itself: A Study of Portuguese Conjugations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Verissimo, Joao; Clahsen, Harald

2009-01-01

Does the language processing system make use of abstract grammatical categories and representations that are not directly visible from the surface form of a linguistic expression? This study examines stem-formation processes and conjugation classes, a case of "pure" morphology that provides insight into the role of grammatical structure in…

Surface Characterization of Carbon Fiber Polymer Composites and Aluminum Alloys After Laser Interference Structuring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabau, Adrian S.; Greer, Clayton M.; Chen, Jian; Warren, Charles D.; Daniel, Claus

2016-07-01

The increasing use of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites (CFPC) and aluminum alloys as lightweight materials in the automotive and aerospace industries demands enhanced surface preparation and control of surface morphology prior to joining. In this study, surfaces of both composite and aluminum were prepared for joining using an Nd:YAG laser in a two-beam interference setup, enabling the (1) structuring of the AL 5182 surface, (2) removal of the resin layer on top of carbon fibers, and (3) structuring of the carbon fibers. CFPC specimens of T700S carbon fiber, Prepreg—T83 epoxy, 5 ply thick, 0°/90° plaques were used. The effects of laser fluence, scanning speed, and number of shots-per-spot were investigated on the removal rate of the resin without an excessive damage of the fibers. Optical micrographs, 3D imaging, and scanning electron microscope imaging were used to study the effect of the laser processing on the surface morphology. It was found that an effective resin ablation and a low density of broken fibers for CFPC specimens was attained using laser fluences of 1-2 J/cm2 and number of 2-4 pulses per spot. A relatively large area of periodic line structures due to energy interference were formed on the aluminum surface at laser fluences of 12 J/cm2 and number of 4-6 pulses per spot.

Single- and multi-pulse formation of surface structures under static femtosecond irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guillermin, M.; Garrelie, F.; Sanner, N.; Audouard, E.; Soder, H.

2007-07-01

Femtosecond surface structure modifications are investigated under irradiation with laser pulses of 150 fs at 800 nm, on copper and silicon. We report sub-wavelength periodic structures formation (ripples) with a periodicity of 500 nm for both materials. These ripples are perpendicular to the laser polarization and can be obtained with only one pulse. The formation of these ripples corresponds to a fluence threshold of 1 J/cm 2 for copper and 0.15 J/cm 2 for silicon. We find several morphologies when more pulses are applied: larger ripples parallel to the polarization are formed with a periodicity of 1 μm and degenerate into a worm-like morphology with a higher number of pulses. In addition, walls of deep holes also show sub-wavelength and large ripples.

Microscopic structure and properties changes of cassava stillage residue pretreated by mechanical activation.

PubMed

Liao, Zhengda; Huang, Zuqiang; Hu, Huayu; Zhang, Yanjuan; Tan, Yunfang

2011-09-01

This study has focused on the pretreatment of cassava stillage residue (CSR) by mechanical activation (MA) using a self-designed stirring ball mill. The changes in surface morphology, functional groups and crystalline structure of pretreated CSR were examined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) under reasonable conditions. The results showed that MA could significantly damage the crystal structure of CSR, resulting in the variation of surface morphology, the increase of amorphous region ratio and hydrogen bond energy, and the decrease in crystallinity and crystalline size. But no new functional groups generated during milling, and the crystal type of cellulose in CSR still belonged to cellulose I after MA. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of nano-structure tungsten nitride thin films on silicon using Mather-type plasma focus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussnain, A.; Rawat, R. S.; Ahmad, R.; Umar, Z. A.; Hussain, T.; Lee, P.; Chen, Z.

2015-07-01

Nano-structure thin film of tungsten nitride was deposited onto Si-substrate at room temperature using Mather-type plasma focus (3.3 kJ) machine. Substrate was exposed against 10, 20, 30, and 40 deposition shots and its corresponding effect on structure, morphology, conductivity and nano-hardness has been systematically studied. The X-ray diffractormeter spectra of the exposed samples show the presence of various phases of WN and WN2 that depends on number of deposition shots. Surface morphological study revealed the uniform distribution of nano-sized grains on deposited film surface. Hardness and conductivity of exposed substrate improved with higher deposition shots. X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy survey scan of 40 deposition shots confirmed the elemental presence of W and N on Si-substrate.

The effect of environmentally friendly hot-dipping auxiliary on the morphology of alloy coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Suhong; Guo, Kai; Zhu, Yi; Gao, Feng; Han, Zhijun

2017-10-01

Zn-Al-Mg-RE hot-dip alloy coatings which prepared by the environmentally friendly plating auxiliary were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM analysis and salt spray measurement. Significant variation in coating surface morphology and element content are observed with increasing content of Al and Mg in this paper. A reinforced ternary eutectic Zn-Al-MgZn2 is confirmed which attribute to improvement metallographic structure derived from certain ternary eutectic reaction in alloy solidification. For Mg-containing coatings, the enhanced corrosion resistance is observed by corrosion resistance test in salt spray at 35°C with 5% NaCl in terms of corrosion weight changes. It is found that the incorporation of 3 wt.% Mg and 0.1 wt.% rare earth element in to Zn-Al-Mg-RE bath caused structural refinement of the crystal and also helped to achieve excellent surface morphology.

Droplet sliding on inclined superhydrophobic surfaces: the effect of anisotropic contact line

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Youhua; Cao, Lile; Guo, Zongqi; Choi, Chang-Hwan

2017-11-01

Although the effects of solid structures on droplet retention on superhydrophobic surfaces have been studied extensively, the investigation has been restricted to the sessile droplets on horizontal surfaces where the contact line motions are axisymmetric or isotropic (either advancing or receding). In the droplet retention on inclined surfaces, the contact line motions are asymmetric or anisotropic; the advancing and receding motions coexist. In this study, we investigate the correlation between the droplet boundary pinning and the surface morphology on inclined superhydrophobic surfaces. The evolution of the droplet contact angle and width show contrary behaviors between pillar- and pore-structured surfaces due to the distinctive microscopic contact line motions. Therefore, the visualizations of the contact line motions at different locations of the boundary on inclined superhydrophobic surfaces are performed and the averaged contact line density of the boundary is quantified. The result shows that the droplet retentive force monotonously increase with the increase in contact line density, regardless of the surface morphological types, dimensions, or the direction of contact line motion (advancing, receding, or both). The result indicates that the droplet retentive force on superhydrophobic surfaces is mainly determined by the contact line density, regardless of the isotropy of the contact line.

Light emitting diode with high aspect ratio submicron roughness for light extraction and methods of forming

DOEpatents

Li, Ting [Ventura, CA

2011-04-26

The surface morphology of an LED light emitting surface is changed by applying a reactive ion etch (RIE) process to the light emitting surface. High aspect ratio, submicron roughness is formed on the light emitting surface by transferring a thin film metal hard-mask having submicron patterns to the surface prior to applying a reactive ion etch process. The submicron patterns in the metal hard-mask can be formed using a low cost, commercially available nano-patterned template which is transferred to the surface with the mask. After subsequently binding the mask to the surface, the template is removed and the RIE process is applied for time duration sufficient to change the morphology of the surface. The modified surface contains non-symmetric, submicron structures having high aspect ratio which increase the efficiency of the device.

Synthesis of P(AM-co-MAA)/AEM composite microspheres with lichi-like surface structure using porous microgel as template.

PubMed

Yang, Juxiang; Hu, Daodao; Xue, Min; Yang, Xing

2014-03-15

The P(AM-co-MAA)/AEM composite microspheres with lichi-like structure were synthesized by the hydrolysis and condensation of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecyl-ammonium chloride (AEM) located within porous poly(acrylamide-co-methylacrylic acid) (P(AM-co-MAA)) microgels in an ammonia water atmosphere. The morphology and composition of the composite microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FI-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The results indicated that the composite microspheres with lichi-like surface structure could be obtained by controlling the loaded amount of AEM, the hydrolysis-condensation time of AEM, and the cross-linking degree of the porous P(AM-co-MAA) microgels. On the basis of the results, the mechanism on the formation of the microspheres with lichi-like surface structure was proposed. The multiple factors play a role in the formation of the specific surface morphology. The pores of the porous microgels make AEM behavior localized; the migration of AEM along with solvent evaporation leads to the structural change; the hydrolysis-condensation of AEM brings the temporarily structural solidification; the surface tension of hydrophobic AEM in hydrophilic atmosphere induces AEM liquid membrane constriction. Although the mechanism is complicated, the method is very simple. Based on the analogous principle, other composite materials with lichi-like structure could be constructed by altering precursor and porous template. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Metagenomic analysis of microbial communities yields insight into impacts of nanoparticle design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Metch, Jacob W.; Burrows, Nathan D.; Murphy, Catherine J.; Pruden, Amy; Vikesland, Peter J.

2018-01-01

Next-generation DNA sequencing and metagenomic analysis provide powerful tools for the environmentally friendly design of nanoparticles. Herein we demonstrate this approach using a model community of environmental microbes (that is, wastewater-activated sludge) dosed with gold nanoparticles of varying surface coatings and morphologies. Metagenomic analysis was highly sensitive in detecting the microbial community response to gold nanospheres and nanorods with either cetyltrimethylammonium bromide or polyacrylic acid surface coatings. We observed that the gold-nanoparticle morphology imposes a stronger force in shaping the microbial community structure than does the surface coating. Trends were consistent in terms of the compositions of both taxonomic and functional genes, which include antibiotic resistance genes, metal resistance genes and gene-transfer elements associated with cell stress that are relevant to public health. Given that nanoparticle morphology remained constant, the potential influence of gold dissolution was minimal. Surface coating governed the nanoparticle partitioning between the bioparticulate and aqueous phases.

Analyzing surface features on icy satellites using a new two-layer analogue model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morales, K. M.; Leonard, E. J.; Pappalardo, R. T.; Yin, A.

2017-12-01

The appearance of similar surface morphologies across many icy satellites suggests potentially unified formation mechanisms. Constraining the processes that shape the surfaces of these icy worlds is fundamental to understanding their rheology and thermal evolution—factors that have implications for potential habitability. Analogue models have proven useful for investigating and quantifying surface structure formation on Earth, but have only been sparsely applied to icy bodies. In this study, we employ an innovative two-layer analogue model that simulates a warm, ductile ice layer overlain by brittle surface ice on satellites such as Europa and Enceladus. The top, brittle layer is composed of fine-grained sand while the ductile, lower viscosity layer is made of putty. These materials were chosen because they scale up reasonably to the conditions on Europa and Enceladus. Using this analogue model, we investigate the role of the ductile layer in forming contractional structures (e.g. folds) that would compensate for the over-abundance of extensional features observed on icy satellites. We do this by simulating different compressional scenarios in the analogue model and analyzing whether the resulting features resemble those on icy bodies. If the resulting structures are similar, then the model can be used to quantify the deformation by calculating strain. These values can then be scaled up to Europa or Enceladus and used to quantity the observed surface morphologies and the amount of extensional strain accommodated by certain features. This presentation will focus on the resulting surface morphologies and the calculated strain values from several analogue experiments. The methods and findings from this work can then be expanded and used to study other icy bodies, such as Triton, Miranda, Ariel, and Pluto.

Atomic-scale analysis of deposition and characterization of a-Si:H thin films grown from SiH radical precursor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sriraman, Saravanapriyan; Aydil, Eray S.; Maroudas, Dimitrios

2002-07-01

Growth of hydrogenated amorphous silicon films (a-Si:H) on an initial H-terminated Si(001)(2 x1) substrate at T=500 K was studied through molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of repeated impingement of SiH radicals to elucidate the effects of reactive minority species on the structural quality of the deposited films. The important reactions contributing to film growth were identified through detailed visualization of radical-surface interaction trajectories. These reactions include (i) insertion of SiH into Si-Si bonds, (ii) adsorption onto surface dangling bonds, (iii) surface H abstraction by impinging SiH radicals through an Eley-Rideal mechanism, (iv) surface adsorption by penetration into subsurface layers or dissociation leading to interstitial atomic hydrogen, (v) desorption of interstitial hydrogen into the gas phase, (vi) formation of higher surface hydrides through the exchange of hydrogen, and (vii) dangling-bond-mediated dissociation of surface hydrides into monohydrides. The MD simulations of a-Si:H film growth predict an overall surface reaction probability of 95% for the SiH radical that is in good agreement with experimental measurements. Structural and chemical characterization of the deposited films was based on the detailed analysis of evolution of the films' structure, surface morphology and roughness, surface reactivity, and surface composition. The analysis revealed that the deposited films exhibit high dangling bond densities and rough surface morphologies. In addition, the films are abundant in voids and columnar structures that are detrimental to producing device-quality a-Si:H thin films.

Structural and Morphological Properties of Carbon Supports: Effect of Catalyst degradation, ECS Transactions 33(1), 425 (2010)

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

A. Patel; K. Artyushkova; P. Atanassov

The object of this work was to identify correlations between performance losses of Pt electrocatalysts on carbon support materials and the chemical and morphological parameters that describe them. Accelerated stress testing, with an upper potential of 1.2 V, was used to monitor changes to cathode properties, including kinetic performance and effective platinum surface area losses. The structure and chemical compositions were studied using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Digital Image Processing. As this is an ongoing study, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions, though a trend between support surface area overall performance loss was foundmore » to exist.« less

Effect of thermal treatment on Zn nanodisks

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

Acuña-Avila, Pedro E., E-mail: pacunaa004@alumno.uaemex.mx; López, Roberto; Vigueras-Santiago, Enrique

2015-06-15

Metallic Zn nanodisks with hexagonal morphology were obtained onto glass substrate under vacuum thermal evaporation. A thermal characterization of Zn nanodiks showed a lower oxidation temperature than source powder Zn. Different thermal treatment on Zn nanodisks played an important role on the morphology, crystal size and surface vibrational modes of ZnO. The growth of ZnO nanoneedles started at the edge of metallic zinc hexagonal structures according with SEM images, the higher temperature the longer needles were grown. XRD diffractogram confirmed the wurtzite structure of ZnO with metallic nuclei. A wide band between 530 and 580 cm{sup −1} of Raman scatteringmore » corresponded at surface vibrational modes not observed at higher temperature.« less

Structural and Morphological Properties of Carbon Supports: Effect on Catalyst Degradation

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

Patel, Anant; Artyushkova, Kateryna; Atanassov, Plamen

2010-07-01

The object of this work was to identify correlations between performance losses of Pt electrocatalysts on carbon support materials and the chemical and morphological parameters that describe them. Accelerated stress testing, with an upper potential of 1.2 V, was used to monitor changes to cathode properties, including kinetic performance and effective platinum surface area losses. The structure and chemical compositions were studied using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Digital Image Processing. As this is an ongoing study, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions, though a trend between support surface area overall performance loss was foundmore » to exist.« less

Advanced light-scattering materials: Double-textured ZnO:B films grown by LP-MOCVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Addonizio, M. L.; Spadoni, A.; Antonaia, A.

2013-12-01

Double-textured ZnO:B layers with enhanced optical scattering in both short and long wavelength regions have been successfully fabricated using MOCVD technique through a three step process. Growth of double-textured structures has been induced by wet etching on polycrystalline ZnO surface. Our double-layer structure consists of a first ZnO:B layer wet etched and subsequently used as substrate for a second ZnO:B layer deposition. Polycrystalline ZnO:B layers were etched by utilizing diluted solutions of fluoridic acid (HF), chloridric acid (HCl) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and their effect on surface morphology modification was systematically investigated. The morphology of the second deposited ZnO layer strongly depended on the surface properties of the etched ZnO first layer. Growth of cauliflower-like texture was induced by protrusions presence on the HCl etched surface. Optimized double-layer structure shows a cauliflower-like double texture with higher RMS roughness and increased spectral haze values in both short and long wavelength regions, compared to conventional pyramidal-like single texture. Furthermore, this highly scattering structure preserves excellent optical and electrical properties.

Thermal decomposition of fullerene nanowhiskers protected by amorphous carbon mask

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Hongxuan; Wang, Chengxiang; Miyazawa, Kun'Ichi; Wang, Hongxin; Masuda, Hideki; Fujita, Daisuke

2016-12-01

Fullerene nanostructures are well known for their unique morphology, physical and mechanical properties. The thermal stability of fullerene nanostructures, such as their sublimation at high temperature is also very important for studying their structures and applications. In this work, We observed fullerene nanowhiskers (FNWs) in situ with scanning helium ion microscopy (HIM) at elevated temperatures. The FNWs exhibited different stabilities with different thermal histories during the observation. The pristine FNWs were decomposed at the temperatures higher than 300 °C in a vacuum environment. Other FNWs were protected from decomposition with an amorphous carbon (aC) film deposited on the surface. Based on high spacial resolution, aC film with periodic structure was deposited by helium ion beam induced deposition (IBID) on the surface of FNWs. Annealed at the high temperature, the fullerene molecules were selectively sublimated from the FNWs. The periodic structure was formed on the surface of FNWs and observed by HIM. Monte Carlo simulation and Raman characterization proved that the morphology of the FNWs was changed by helium IBID at high temperature. This work provides a new method of fabricating artificial structure on the surface of FNWs with periodic aC film as a mask.

Reduction of structural defects in thick 4H-SiC epitaxial layers grown on 4° off-axis substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yazdanfar, M.; Ivanov, I. G.; Pedersen, H.; Kordina, O.; Janzén, E.

2013-06-01

By carefully controlling the surface chemistry of the chemical vapor deposition process for silicon carbide (SiC), 100 μm thick epitaxial layers with excellent morphology were grown on 4° off-axis SiC substrates at growth rates exceeding 100 μm/h. In order to reduce the formation of step bunching and structural defects, mainly triangular defects, the effect of varying parameters such as growth temperature, C/Si ratio, Cl/Si ratio, Si/H2 ratio, and in situ pre-growth surface etching time are studied. It was found that an in-situ pre growth etch at growth temperature and pressure using 0.6% HCl in hydrogen for 12 min reduced the structural defects by etching preferentially on surface damages of the substrate surface. By then applying a slightly lower growth temperature of 1575 °C, a C/Si ratio of 0.8, and a Cl/Si ratio of 5, 100 μm thick, step-bunch free epitaxial layer with a minimum triangular defect density and excellent morphology could be grown, thus enabling SiC power device structures to be grown on 4° off axis SiC substrates.

High resolution structural characterization of giant magnetoresistance structures containing a nano-oxide layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

You, C. Y.; Cerezo, A.; Clifton, P. H.; Folks, L.; Carey, M. J.; Petford-Long, A. K.

2007-07-01

The microstructure and chemistry of a current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance structure containing a nano-oxide layer (NOL) have been studied using a combination of high resolution transmission electron microscopy and three-dimensional atom probe analysis. It was found that the morphology of the NOL changes from a planar layer to discrete particles on annealing, indicating the dominance of surface energy on the morphology evolution. Direct evidence was obtained for significant Mn diffusion from the IrMn antiferromagnetic layer and partitioning to the oxide region during annealing.

Quantitative evaluation method of the bubble structure of sponge cake by using morphology image processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tatebe, Hironobu; Kato, Kunihito; Yamamoto, Kazuhiko; Katsuta, Yukio; Nonaka, Masahiko

2005-12-01

Now a day, many evaluation methods for the food industry by using image processing are proposed. These methods are becoming new evaluation method besides the sensory test and the solid-state measurement that are using for the quality evaluation. An advantage of the image processing is to be able to evaluate objectively. The goal of our research is structure evaluation of sponge cake by using image processing. In this paper, we propose a feature extraction method of the bobble structure in the sponge cake. Analysis of the bubble structure is one of the important properties to understand characteristics of the cake from the image. In order to take the cake image, first we cut cakes and measured that's surface by using the CIS scanner. Because the depth of field of this type scanner is very shallow, the bubble region of the surface has low gray scale values, and it has a feature that is blur. We extracted bubble regions from the surface images based on these features. First, input image is binarized, and the feature of bubble is extracted by the morphology analysis. In order to evaluate the result of feature extraction, we compared correlation with "Size of the bubble" of the sensory test result. From a result, the bubble extraction by using morphology analysis gives good correlation. It is shown that our method is as well as the subjectivity evaluation.

The effect of the morphology of supported subnanometer Pt clusters on the first and key step of CO 2 photoreduction [Morphology effect of supported subnanometer Pt clusters on first and key step of CO 2 photoreduction

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

Yang, Chi -Ta; Wood, Brandon C.; Bhethanabotla, Venkat R.

2015-09-04

In this study, using density functional theory calculations, we investigate the influence of size-dependent cluster morphology on the synergistic catalytic properties of anatase TiO 2(101) surfaces decorated with subnanometer Pt clusters. Focusing on the formation of the key precursor in the CO 2 photoreduction reaction (bent CO 2 –), we find that flatter (2D-like) Pt clusters that “wet” the TiO 2 surface offer significantly less benefit than 3D-like Pt clusters. We attribute the differences to three factors. First, the 3D clusters provide a greater number of accessible Pt–TiO 2 interfacial sites with geometries that can aid CO 2 bond bendingmore » and charge transfer processes. Second, binding competition among each Pt–CO 2 bonding interaction mitigates maximum orbital overlaps, leading to insufficient CO 2 binding. Third and also most interestingly, the 3D clusters tend to possess higher structural fluxionality than the flatter clusters, which is shown to correlate positively with CO2 binding strength. The preferred morphology adopted by the clusters depends on several factors, including the cluster size and the presence of oxygen vacancies on the TiO 2 surface; this suggests a strategy for optimizing the synergistic effect between Pt clusters and TiO 2 surfaces for CO 2 photocatalysis. Clusters of ~6–8 atoms should provide the largest benefit, since they retain the desired 3D morphology, yet are small enough to exhibit high structural fluxionality. Electronic structure analysis provides additional insight into the electronic motivations for the enhanced binding of CO 2 on TiO 2-supported 3D Pt clusters, as well as suppressed binding on flattened, 2D-like clusters.« less

Substrate dependent hierarchical structures of RF sputtered ZnS films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chalana, S. R.; Mahadevan Pillai, V. P.

2018-05-01

RF magnetron sputtering technique was employed to fabricate ZnS nanostructures with special emphasis given to study the effect of substrates (quartz, glass and quartz substrate pre-coated with Au, Ag, Cu and Pt) on the structure, surface evolution and optical properties. Type of substrate has a significant influence on the crystalline phase, film morphology, thickness and surface roughness. The present study elucidates the suitability of quartz substrate for the deposition of stable and highly crystalline ZnS films. We found that the role of metal layer on quartz substrate is substantial in the preparation of hierarchical ZnS structures and these structures are of great importance due to its high specific area and potential applications in various fields. A mechanism for morphological evolution of ZnS structures is also presented based on the roughness of substrates and primary nonlocal effects in sputtering. Furthermore, the findings suggest that a controlled growth of hierarchical ZnS structures may be achieved with an ordinary RF sputtering technique by changing the substrate type.

Insight into Evolution, Processing and Performance of Multi-length-scale Structures in Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells.

PubMed

Huang, Yu-Ching; Tsao, Cheng-Si; Cho, Yi-Ju; Chen, Kuan-Chen; Chiang, Kai-Ming; Hsiao, Sheng-Yi; Chen, Chang-Wen; Su, Chun-Jen; Jeng, U-Ser; Lin, Hao-Wu

2015-09-04

The structural characterization correlated to the processing control of hierarchical structure of planar heterojunction perovskite layer is still incomplete due to the limitations of conventional microscopy and X-ray diffraction. This present study performed the simultaneously grazing-incidence small-angle scattering and wide-angle scattering (GISAXS/GIWAXS) techniques to quantitatively probe the hierarchical structure of the planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells. The result is complementary to the currently microscopic study. Correlation between the crystallization behavior, crystal orientation, nano- and meso-scale internal structure and surface morphology of perovskite film as functions of various processing control parameters is reported for the first time. The structural transition from the fractal pore network to the surface fractal can be tuned by the chloride percentage. The GISAXS/GIWAXS measurement provides the comprehensive understanding of concurrent evolution of the film morphology and crystallization correlated to the high performance. The result can provide the insight into formation mechanism and rational synthesis design.

Insight into Evolution, Processing and Performance of Multi-length-scale Structures in Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yu-Ching; Tsao, Cheng-Si; Cho, Yi-Ju; Chen, Kuan-Chen; Chiang, Kai-Ming; Hsiao, Sheng-Yi; Chen, Chang-Wen; Su, Chun-Jen; Jeng, U.-Ser; Lin, Hao-Wu

2015-09-01

The structural characterization correlated to the processing control of hierarchical structure of planar heterojunction perovskite layer is still incomplete due to the limitations of conventional microscopy and X-ray diffraction. This present study performed the simultaneously grazing-incidence small-angle scattering and wide-angle scattering (GISAXS/GIWAXS) techniques to quantitatively probe the hierarchical structure of the planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells. The result is complementary to the currently microscopic study. Correlation between the crystallization behavior, crystal orientation, nano- and meso-scale internal structure and surface morphology of perovskite film as functions of various processing control parameters is reported for the first time. The structural transition from the fractal pore network to the surface fractal can be tuned by the chloride percentage. The GISAXS/GIWAXS measurement provides the comprehensive understanding of concurrent evolution of the film morphology and crystallization correlated to the high performance. The result can provide the insight into formation mechanism and rational synthesis design.

Identification of Characteristic Macromolecules of Escherichia coli Genotypes by Atomic Force Microscope Nanoscale Mechanical Mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Alice Chinghsuan; Liu, Bernard Haochih

2018-02-01

The categorization of microbial strains is conventionally based on the molecular method, and seldom are the morphological characteristics in the bacterial strains studied. In this research, we revealed the macromolecular structures of the bacterial surface via AFM mechanical mapping, whose resolution was not only determined by the nanoscale tip size but also the mechanical properties of the specimen. This technique enabled the nanoscale study of membranous structures of microbial strains with simple specimen preparation and flexible working environments, which overcame the multiple restrictions in electron microscopy and label-enable biochemical analytical methods. The characteristic macromolecules located among cellular surface were considered as surface layer proteins and were found to be specific to the Escherichia coli genotypes, from which the averaged molecular sizes were characterized with diameters ranging from 38 to 66 nm, and the molecular shapes were kidney-like or round. In conclusion, the surface macromolecular structures have unique characteristics that link to the E. coli genotype, which suggests that the genomic effects on cellular morphologies can be rapidly identified using AFM mechanical mapping. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Carabelli's trait revisited: an examination of mesiolingual features at the enamel-dentine junction and enamel surface of Pan and Homo sapiens upper molars.

PubMed

Ortiz, Alejandra; Skinner, Matthew M; Bailey, Shara E; Hublin, Jean-Jacques

2012-10-01

Carabelli's trait is a morphological feature that frequently occurs on the mesiolingual aspect of Homo sapiens upper molars. Similar structures also referred to as Carabelli's trait have been reported in apes and fossil hominins. However, the morphological development and homology of these mesiolingual structures among hominoids are poorly understood. In this study, we employ micro-computed tomography to image the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) and outer enamel surface (OES) of Pan (n = 48) and H. sapiens (n = 52) upper molars. We investigate the developmental origin of mesiolingual features in these taxa and establish the relative contribution of the EDJ and enamel cap to feature expression. Results demonstrate that mesiolingual features of H. sapiens molars develop at the EDJ and are similarly expressed at the OES. Morphological variation at both surfaces in this taxon can satisfactorily be assessed using standards for Carabelli's trait developed by the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System (ASUDAS). Relative to H. sapiens, Pan has an even greater degree of correspondence in feature expression between the EDJ and OES. Morphological manifestations in Pan molars are not necessarily limited to the protocone and are best characterized by a lingual cingulum that cannot be captured by the ASUDAS. Cusp-like structures, similar to those seen in marked Carabelli's trait expressions in H. sapiens, were not found in Pan. This study provides a foundation for further analyses on the evolutionary history of mesiolingual dental traits within the hominoid lineage. It also highlights the wealth of morphological data that can be obtained at the EDJ for understanding tooth development and for characterizing tooth crown variation in worn fossil teeth. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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

Atanasov, Petar A., E-mail: paatanas@ie.bas.bg; Nedyalkov, Nikolay N.; Valova, Eugenia I.

We present an experimental analysis on surface structuring of polydimethylsiloxane films with UV (263 nm) femtosecond laser pulses, in air. Laser processed areas are analyzed by optical microscopy, SEM, and μ-Raman spectroscopy. The laser-treated sample shows the formation of a randomly nanostructured surface morphology. μ-Raman spectra, carried out at both 514 and 785 nm excitation wavelengths, prior and after laser treatment allow evidencing the changes in the sample structure. The influence of the laser fluence on the surface morphology is studied. Finally, successful electro-less metallization of the laser-processed sample is achieved, even after several months from the laser-treatment contrary to previous observationmore » with nanosecond pulses. Our findings address the effectiveness of fs-laser treatment and chemical metallization of polydimethylsiloxane films with perspective technological interest in micro-fabrication devices for MEMS and nano-electromechanical systems.« less

A computation study on the interplay between surface morphology and electrochemical performance of patterned thin film electrodes for Li-ion batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gur, Sourav; Frantziskonis, George N.; Aifantis, Katerina E.

2017-08-01

Recent experiments illustrate that the morphology of the electrode surface impacts the voltage - capacity curves and long term cycling performance of Li-ion batteries. The present study systematically explores the role of the electrode surface morphology and uncertainties in the reactions that occur during electrochemical cycling, by performing kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulations using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). This allows encoding of the inherent stochasticity at discrete microscale reaction events over the deterministic mean field reaction dynamics that occur in Li-ion cells. The electrodes are taken to be dense thin films whose surfaces are patterned with conical, trapezoidal, dome-shaped, or pillar-shaped structures. It is shown that the inherent perturbations in the reactions together with the characteristics of the electrode surface configuration can significantly improve battery performance, mainly because patterned surfaces, as opposed to flat surfaces, result in a smaller voltage drop. The most efficient pattern was the trapezoidal, which is consistent with experimental evidence on Si patterned electrodes.

Surface study of irradiated sapphires from Phrae Province, Thailand using AFM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monarumit, N.; Jivanantaka, P.; Mogmued, J.; Lhuaamporn, T.; Satitkune, S.

2017-09-01

The irradiation is one of the gemstone enhancements for improving the gem quality. Typically, there are many varieties of irradiated gemstones in the gem market such as diamond, topaz, and sapphire. However, it is hard to identify the gemstones before and after irradiation. The aim of this study is to analyze the surface morphology for classifying the pristine and irradiated sapphires using atomic force microscope (AFM). In this study, the sapphire samples were collected from Phrae Province, Thailand. The samples were irradiated by high energy electron beam for a dose of ionizing radiation at 40,000 kGy. As the results, the surface morphology of pristine sapphires shows regular atomic arrangement, whereas, the surface morphology of irradiated sapphires shows the nano-channel observed by the 2D and 3D AFM images. The atomic step height and root mean square roughness have changed after irradiation due to the micro-structural defect on the sapphire surface. Therefore, this study is a frontier application for sapphire identification before and after irradiation.

Synthesis and characterization of carbon nanospheres obtained by hydrothermal carbonization of wood-derived and other saccharides

Treesearch

Qiangu Yan; Rui Li; Hossein Toghiani; Zhiyong Cai; Jilei Zhang

2015-01-01

Carbon nanospheres were synthesized by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of four different carbon sources: xylose, glucose, sucrose, and pine wood derived saccharides. The obtained carbon nanospheres were characterized for particle morphology and size, and surface functional groups. Morphological and structural differences among these saccharides derived HTC carbons...

Structural, morphological and optical studies of F doped SnO2 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chandel, Tarun; Thakur, Vikas; Dwivedi, Shailendra Kumar; Zaman, M. Burhanuz; Rajaram, Poolla

2018-05-01

Highly conducting and transparent FTO (flourine doped tin Oxide) thin films were grown on the glass substrates using a low cost spray pyrolysis technique. The films were characterized for their structural, morphological and optical studies using XRD, SEM and UV-Vis spectroscopy. XRD studies show that the FTO films crystallize in Tetragonal cassiterite structure. Morphological analysis using SEM show that the films are uniformly covered with spherical grains albeit high in surface roughness. The average optical transmission greater than 80% in the visible region along with the appearance of interference fringes in the transmission curves confirms the high quality of the films. Electrical studies show that the films exhibit sheet resistance below 10 Ω ϒ-1.

Effect of tissue scaffold topography on protein structure monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy.

PubMed

Portugal, Carla A M; Truckenmüller, Roman; Stamatialis, Dimitrios; Crespo, João G

2014-11-10

The impact of surface topography on the structure of proteins upon adhesion was assessed through non-invasive fluorescence monitoring. This study aimed at obtaining a better understanding about the role of protein structural status on cell-scaffold interactions. The changes induced upon adsorption of two model proteins with different geometries, trypsin (globular conformation) and fibrinogen (rod-shaped conformation) on poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffolds with different surface topographies, flat, fibrous and surfaces with aligned nanogrooves, were assessed by fluorescence spectroscopy monitoring, using tryptophan as structural probe. Hence, the maximum emission blue shift and the increase of fluorescence anisotropy observed after adsorption of globular and rod-like shaped proteins on surfaces with parallel nanogrooves were ascribed to more intense protein-surface interactions. Furthermore, the decrease of fluorescence anisotropy observed upon adsorption of proteins to scaffolds with fibrous morphology was more significant for rod-shaped proteins. This effect was associated to the ability of these proteins to adjust to curved surfaces. The additional unfolding of proteins induced upon adsorption on scaffolds with a fibrous morphology may be the reason for better cell attachment there, promoting an easier access of cell receptors to initially hidden protein regions (e.g. RGDS sequence), which are known to have a determinant role in cell attaching processes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

TiO2 nanowire-templated hierarchical nanowire network as water-repelling coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hang, Tian; Chen, Hui-Jiuan; Xiao, Shuai; Yang, Chengduan; Chen, Meiwan; Tao, Jun; Shieh, Han-ping; Yang, Bo-ru; Liu, Chuan; Xie, Xi

2017-12-01

Extraordinary water-repelling properties of superhydrophobic surfaces make them novel candidates for a great variety of potential applications. A general approach to achieve superhydrophobicity requires low-energy coating on the surface and roughness on nano- and micrometre scale. However, typical construction of superhydrophobic surfaces with micro-nano structure through top-down fabrication is restricted by sophisticated fabrication techniques and limited choices of substrate materials. Micro-nanoscale topographies templated by conventional microparticles through surface coating may produce large variations in roughness and uncontrollable defects, resulting in poorly controlled surface morphology and wettability. In this work, micro-nanoscale hierarchical nanowire network was fabricated to construct self-cleaning coating using one-dimensional TiO2 nanowires as microscale templates. Hierarchical structure with homogeneous morphology was achieved by branching ZnO nanowires on the TiO2 nanowire backbones through hydrothermal reaction. The hierarchical nanowire network displayed homogeneous micro/nano-topography, in contrast to hierarchical structure templated by traditional microparticles. This hierarchical nanowire network film exhibited high repellency to both water and cell culture medium after functionalization with fluorinated organic molecules. The hierarchical structure templated by TiO2 nanowire coating significantly increased the surface superhydrophobicity compared to vertical ZnO nanowires with nanotopography alone. Our results demonstrated a promising strategy of using nanowires as microscale templates for the rational design of hierarchical coatings with desired superhydrophobicity that can also be applied to various substrate materials.

TiO2 nanowire-templated hierarchical nanowire network as water-repelling coating

PubMed Central

Hang, Tian; Chen, Hui-Jiuan; Xiao, Shuai; Yang, Chengduan; Chen, Meiwan; Tao, Jun; Shieh, Han-ping; Yang, Bo-ru; Liu, Chuan

2017-01-01

Extraordinary water-repelling properties of superhydrophobic surfaces make them novel candidates for a great variety of potential applications. A general approach to achieve superhydrophobicity requires low-energy coating on the surface and roughness on nano- and micrometre scale. However, typical construction of superhydrophobic surfaces with micro-nano structure through top-down fabrication is restricted by sophisticated fabrication techniques and limited choices of substrate materials. Micro-nanoscale topographies templated by conventional microparticles through surface coating may produce large variations in roughness and uncontrollable defects, resulting in poorly controlled surface morphology and wettability. In this work, micro-nanoscale hierarchical nanowire network was fabricated to construct self-cleaning coating using one-dimensional TiO2 nanowires as microscale templates. Hierarchical structure with homogeneous morphology was achieved by branching ZnO nanowires on the TiO2 nanowire backbones through hydrothermal reaction. The hierarchical nanowire network displayed homogeneous micro/nano-topography, in contrast to hierarchical structure templated by traditional microparticles. This hierarchical nanowire network film exhibited high repellency to both water and cell culture medium after functionalization with fluorinated organic molecules. The hierarchical structure templated by TiO2 nanowire coating significantly increased the surface superhydrophobicity compared to vertical ZnO nanowires with nanotopography alone. Our results demonstrated a promising strategy of using nanowires as microscale templates for the rational design of hierarchical coatings with desired superhydrophobicity that can also be applied to various substrate materials. PMID:29308265

Effects of Molar Ratios and Sintering Times on Crystal Structures and Surface Morphology of Nd1+xFeO3 Oxide Alloy Prepared by using Solid Reaction Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sujiono, E. H.; Agus, J.; Samnur, S.; Triyana, K.

2018-05-01

The effects of molar ratios and sintering times on crystal structures and surface morphology on NdFeO3 oxide alloy have been studied. NdFeO3 oxide alloy formed by chemical preparation with solid reaction method using raw oxide Fe2O3 (99.9 %) and Nd2O3 (99.9 %) powders. In this article we reported the effects of molar ratios x = (–0.1, –0.2 and –0.3) and sintering times for 15 h and 20 h on crystal structures and surface morphology of Nd1+xFeO3 synthesized by solid-state reaction method. The results indicate that variation of molar ratio and sintering time has influenced the FWHM, crystalline size and grain size. The Nd1+xFeO3 have a major phase is NdFeO3, and other minor phases are Fe2O3, Nd2O3 and Nd(OH)3. The dominant intensity of hkl (121) with a value in FWHM, crystallite size, and grain size an indication the results will be applied as a gas sensor material as the focus of the further study.

The study of changes in structural properties of Cu films under ionizing radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaliekperov, M.; Kozlovskiy, A.; Shlimas, D.; Kenzhina, I.; Ivanov, I.; Kozin, S.; Aleksandrenko, V.; Kurakhmedov, A.; Sambaev, E.; Seitbaev, A.; Zdorovets, M.; Kadyrzhanov, K.

2018-05-01

In this paper, we present the results of studies of the irradiation effect with low-energy He+2 ions with an energy of 30 keV (15 keV per charge) on the structural properties of Cu films. Using SEM, EDS, and x-ray diffraction analysis, the surface morphology and structural properties of samples before and after irradiation were studied. As a result of irradiation of initial samples with He+2 ions with a dose of 1·1016 ion cm‑2, a change in the Cu surface morphology of films is observed, and the formation of nanoscale inclusions of hexagonal shape is observed. An increase in the irradiation dose to 1·1017 ion cm‑2 and higher leads to the formation of cracks and amorphous oxide inclusions on the sample surface. It is established that an increase in the irradiation dose leads to a decrease in the degree of crystallinity and a change in the basic crystallographic characteristics. The effect of irradiation on the strength characteristics was estimated.

Geological History of the Tyre Region of Europa: A Regional Perspective on Europan Surface Features and Ice Thickness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kadel, Steven D.; Chuang, Frank C.; Greeley, Ronald; Moore, Jeffrey M.

2000-01-01

Galileo images of the Tyre Macula region of Europa at regional (170 m/pixel) and local (approx. 40 m/pixel) scales allow mapping and understanding of surface processes and landforms. Ridged plains, doublet and complex ridges, shallow pits, domes, "chaos" areas. impact structures, tilted blocks and massifs, and young fracture systems indicate a complex history of surface deformation on Europa. Regional and local morphologies of the Tyre region of Europa suggest that an impactor penetrated through several kilometers of water ice tc a mobile layer below. The surface morphology was initially dominated by formation of ridged plains, followed by development of ridge bands and doublet ridges, with chaos and fracture formation dominating the latter part of the geologic history of the Tyre region. Two distinct types of chaos have been identified which, along with upwarped dome materials, appear to represent a continuum of features (domes-play chaos-knobby chaos) resulting from increasing degree of surface disruption associated with local lithospheric heating and thinning. Local and regional stratigraphic relationships, block heights, and the morphology of the Tyre impact structure suggest the presence of low-viscosity ice or liquid water beneath a thin (severa1 kilometers) surface ice shell at the time of the impact. The very low impact crater density on the surface of Europa suggests that this thin shell has either formed or been thoroughly resurfaced in the very recent past.

Morphological, structural, and chemical effects in response of novel carbide derived carbon sensor to NH3, N2O, and air.

PubMed

Adu, Kofi W; Li, Qixiu; Desai, Sharvil C; Sidorov, Anton N; Sumanasekera, Gamini U; Lueking, Angela D

2009-01-06

The response of two carbide derived carbons (CDCs) films to NH(3), N(2)O, and room air is investigated by four probe resistance at room temperature and pressures up to 760 Torr. The two CDC films were synthesized at 600 (CDC-600) and 1000 degrees C (CDC-1000) to vary the carbon morphology from completely amorphous to more ordered, and determine the role of structure, surface area, and porosity on sensor response. Sensor response time followed kinetic diameter and indicated a more ordered carbon structure slowed response due to increased tortuosity caused by the formation of graphitic layers at the particle fringe. Steady state sensor response was greater for the less-ordered material, despite its decreased surface area, decreased micropore volume, and less favorable surface chemistry, suggesting carbon structure is a stronger predictor of sensor response than surface chemistry. The lack of correlation between adsorption of the probe gases and sensor response suggests chemical interaction (charge transfer) drive sensor response within the material; N(2)O response, in particular, did not follow simple adsorption behavior. Based on Raman and FTIR characterization, carbon morphology (disorder) appeared to be the determining factor in overall sensor response, likely due to increased charge transfer between gases and carbon defects of amorphous or disordered regions. The response of the amorphous CDC-600 film to NH(3) was 45% without prior oxidation, showing amorphous CDCs have promise as chemical sensors without additional pretreatment common to other carbon sensors.

Laser-induced periodic surface structures nanofabricated on poly(trimethylene terephthalate) spin-coated films.

PubMed

Martín-Fabiani, I; Rebollar, E; Pérez, S; Rueda, D R; García-Gutiérrez, M C; Szymczyk, A; Roslaniec, Z; Castillejo, M; Ezquerra, T A

2012-05-22

Here we present a precise morphological description of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) nanofabricated on spin-coated poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) films by irradiation with 266 nm, 6 ns laser pulses and by using a broad range of fluences and number of pulses. By accomplishing real and reciprocal space measurements by means of atomic force microscopy and grazing incidence wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering respectively on LIPSS samples, the range of optimum structural order has been established. For a given fluence, an increase in the number of pulses tends to improve LIPSS in PTT. However, as the pulse doses increase above a certain limit, a distortion of the structures is observed and a droplet-like morphology appears. It is proposed that this effect could be related to a plausible decrease of the molecular weight of PTT due to laser-induced chain photo-oxidation by irradiation with a high number of pulses. A concurrent decrease in viscosity enables destabilization of LIPSS by the formation of droplets in a process similar to surface-limited dewetting.

Ant-cave structured MnCO3/Mn3O4 microcubes by biopolymer-assisted facile synthesis for high-performance pseudocapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chandra Sekhar, S.; Nagaraju, Goli; Yu, Jae Su

2018-03-01

Porous and ant-cave structured MnCO3/Mn3O4 microcubes (MCs) were facilely synthesized via a biopolymer-assisted hydrothermal approach. Herein, chitosan was used as a natural biopolymer, which greatly controls the surface morphology and size of the prepared composite. The amino and hydroxyl group-functionalized chitosan engraves the outer surface of MCs during the hydrothermal process, which designs the interesting morphology of nanopath ways on the surface of MCs. When used as an electrode material for pseudocapacitors, the ant-cave structured MnCO3/Mn3O4 MCs showed superior energy storage values compared to the material prepared without chitosan in aqueous electrolyte solution. Precisely, the prepared ant-cave structured MnCO3/Mn3O4 MCs exhibited a maximum specific capacitance of 116.2 F/g at a current density of 0.7 A/g with an excellent cycling stability of 73.86% after 2000 cycles. Such facile and low-cost synthesis of pseudocapacitive materials with porous nanopaths is favorable for the fabrication of high-performance energy storage devices.

Structural, morphological and optical properties of pulsed laser deposited ZnSe/ZnSeO3 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassan, Syed Ali; Bashir, Shazia; Zehra, Khushboo; Salman Ahmed, Qazi

2018-04-01

The effect of varying laser pulses on structural, morphological and optical behavior of Pulsed Laser Deposited (PLD) ZnSe/ZnSeO3 thin films has been investigated. The films were grown by employing Excimer laser (100 mJ, 248 nm, 18 ns, 30 Hz) at various number of laser pulses i.e. 3000, 4000, 5000 and 6000 with elevated substrate temperature of 300 °C. One film was grown at Room Temperature (RT) by employing 3000 number of laser pulses. In order to investigate the structural analysis of deposited films, XRD analysis was performed. It was observed that the room temperature is not favorable for the growth of crystalline film. However, elevated substrate temperature to 300°C, two phases with preferred orientation of ZnSeO3 (2 1 2) and ZnSe (3 3 1) were identified. AFM and SEM analysis were performed to explore the surface morphology of grown films. Morphological analysis also confirmed the non-uniform film growth at room temperature. At elevated substrate temperature (300 °C), the growth of dendritic rods and cubical crystalline structures are observed for lower number of laser pulses i.e. 3000 and 4000 respectively. With increased number of pulses i.e. 5000 and 6000, the films surface morphology becomes smooth which is confirmed by measurement of surface RMS roughness. Number of grains, skewness, kurtosis and other parameters have been evaluated by statistical analysis. In order to investigate the thickness, and optical properties of deposited films, ellipsometery and UV–Vis spectroscopy techniques were employed. The estimated band gap energy is 2.67 eV for the film grown at RT, whereas band gap values varies from 2.80 eV to 3.01 eV for the films grown at 300 °C with increasing number of laser pulses.

Simulation and Implementation of a Morphology-Tuned Gold Nano-Islands Integrated Plasmonic Sensor

PubMed Central

Ozhikandathil, Jayan; Packirisamy, Muthukumaran

2014-01-01

This work presents simulation, analysis and implementation of morphology tuning of gold nano-island structures deposited by a novel convective assembly technique. The gold nano-islands were simulated using 3D Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) techniques to investigate the effect of morphological changes and adsorption of protein layers on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties. Gold nano-island structures were deposited on glass substrates by a novel and low-cost convective assembly process. The structure formed by an uncontrolled deposition method resulted in a nano-cluster morphology, which was annealed at various temperatures to tune the optical absorbance properties by transforming the nano-clusters to a nano-island morphology by modifying the structural shape and interparticle separation distances. The dependence of the size and the interparticle separation distance of the nano-islands on the LSPR properties were analyzed in the simulation. The effect of adsorption of protein layer on the nano-island structures was simulated and a relation between the thickness and the refractive index of the protein layer on the LSPR peak was presented. Further, the sensitivity of the gold nano-island integrated sensor against refractive index was computed and compared with the experimental results. PMID:24932868

Some aspects of lithological and exogenic control of sandstone morphology, the Świętokrzyskie (Holy Cross) Mts. case study, Poland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urban, Jan; Górnik, Marek

2017-10-01

Various morphologies of cliffs built of different quartzose rocks in the Świętokrzyskie (Holy Cross) Mts. (upland region, central Poland) - from Cambrian quartzites and Devonian quartzitic sandstones to Triassic and Jurassic porous sandstones - were described in order to examine the constraints of their lithological and spatial occurrence. The quantitative study of the occurrence of these morphologies on cliffs makes it possible to distinguish two principal groups of morphologies: angular relief produced by rock splitting (crumbling), typical of quartzites indurated in silica and of open porosity less than 1.5%, and morphologies developed due to granular disintegration and exfoliation of sandstones of open porosity higher than 1.5%. Among the relief types of this second group, morphology reflecting sedimentary and diagenetic structures as well as smooth surfaces are the most common and are referred to sandstones of a wide range of porosity, whereas honeycombs and surfaces suffering fast granular decay and scaling are characteristic of rocks of specific porosity (respectively: 5-8% and 3.5-8%). The occurrence of honeycombs on rock surfaces is also conditioned by exogenic factors: sun, wind and rain, since this morphology tends to occur on cliffs with aspects ranging from south-east, through south, to west-north-west.

Complex and oriented ZnO nanostructures.

PubMed

Tian, Zhengrong R; Voigt, James A; Liu, Jun; McKenzie, Bonnie; McDermott, Matthew J; Rodriguez, Mark A; Konishi, Hiromi; Xu, Huifang

2003-12-01

Extended and oriented nanostructures are desirable for many applications, but direct fabrication of complex nanostructures with controlled crystalline morphology, orientation and surface architectures remains a significant challenge. Here we report a low-temperature, environmentally benign, solution-based approach for the preparation of complex and oriented ZnO nanostructures, and the systematic modification of their crystal morphology. Using controlled seeded growth and citrate anions that selectively adsorb on ZnO basal planes as the structure-directing agent, we prepared large arrays of oriented ZnO nanorods with controlled aspect ratios, complex film morphologies made of oriented nanocolumns and nanoplates (remarkably similar to biomineral structures in red abalone shells) and complex bilayers showing in situ column-to-rod morphological transitions. The advantages of some of these ZnO structures for photocatalytic decompositions of volatile organic compounds were demonstrated. The novel ZnO nanostructures are expected to have great potential for sensing, catalysis, optical emission, piezoelectric transduction, and actuations.

[Hybrid 3-D rendering of the thorax and surface-based virtual bronchoscopy in surgical and interventional therapy control].

PubMed

Seemann, M D; Gebicke, K; Luboldt, W; Albes, J M; Vollmar, J; Schäfer, J F; Beinert, T; Englmeier, K H; Bitzer, M; Claussen, C D

2001-07-01

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the possibilities of a hybrid rendering method, the combination of a color-coded surface and volume rendering method, with the feasibility of performing surface-based virtual endoscopy with different representation models in the operative and interventional therapy control of the chest. In 6 consecutive patients with partial lung resection (n = 2) and lung transplantation (n = 4) a thin-section spiral computed tomography of the chest was performed. The tracheobronchial system and the introduced metallic stents were visualized using a color-coded surface rendering method. The remaining thoracic structures were visualized using a volume rendering method. For virtual bronchoscopy, the tracheobronchial system was visualized using a triangle surface model, a shaded-surface model and a transparent shaded-surface model. The hybrid 3D visualization uses the advantages of both the color-coded surface and volume rendering methods and facilitates a clear representation of the tracheobronchial system and the complex topographical relationship of morphological and pathological changes without loss of diagnostic information. Performing virtual bronchoscopy with the transparent shaded-surface model facilitates a reasonable to optimal, simultaneous visualization and assessment of the surface structure of the tracheobronchial system and the surrounding mediastinal structures and lesions. Hybrid rendering relieve the morphological assessment of anatomical and pathological changes without the need for time-consuming detailed analysis and presentation of source images. Performing virtual bronchoscopy with a transparent shaded-surface model offers a promising alternative to flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

High-Crystallinity Urchin-like VS4 Anode for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Storage.

PubMed

Yang, Guang; Zhang, Bowei; Feng, Jianyong; Wang, Huanhuan; Ma, Mingbo; Huang, Kang; Liu, Jilei; Madhavi, Srinivasan; Shen, Zexiang; Huang, Yizhong

2018-05-02

VS 4 anode materials with controllable morphologies from hierarchical microflower, octopus-like structure, seagrass-like structure to urchin-like structure have been successfully synthesized by a facile solvothermal synthesis approach using different alcohols as solvents. Their structures and electrochemical properties with various morphologies are systematically investigated, and the structure-property relationship is established. Experimental results reveal that Li + ion storage behavior in VS 4 significantly depends on physical features such as the morphology, crystallite size, and specific surface area. According to this study, electrochemical performance degrades on the order of urchin-like VS 4 > octopus-like VS 4 > seagrass-like VS 4 > flower-like VS 4 . Among them, urchin-like VS 4 demonstrates the best electrochemical performance benefiting from its peculiar structure which possesses large surface area that accommodates the volume change to a certain extent, and single-crystal thorns that provide fast electron transportation. Kinetic parameters derived from EIS spectra and sweep-rate-dependent CV curves, such as charge-transfer resistances, Li + ion apparent diffusion coefficients and stored charge ratio of capacitive and intercalation contributions, both support this claim well. In addition, the EIS measurement was conducted during the first discharge/charge process to study the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) formation on urchin-like VS 4 and kinetics behavior of Li + ion diffusion. A better fundamental understanding on Li + storage behavior in VS 4 is promoted, which is applicable to other vanadium-based materials as well. This study also provides invaluable guidance for morphology-controlled synthesis tailored for optimal electrochemical performance.

Ag films deposited on Si and Ti: How the film-substrate interaction influences the nanoscale film morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruffino, F.; Torrisi, V.

2017-11-01

Submicron-thick Ag films were sputter deposited, at room temperature, on Si, covered by the native SiO2 layer, and on Ti, covered by the native TiO2 layer, under normal and oblique deposition angle. The aim of this work was to study the morphological differences in the grown Ag films on the two substrates when fixed all the other deposition parameters. In fact, the surface diffusivity of the Ag adatoms is different on the two substrates (higher on the SiO2 surface) due to the different Ag-SiO2 and Ag-TiO2 atomic interactions. So, the effect of the adatoms surface diffusivity, as determined by the adatoms-substrate interaction, on the final film morphology was analyzed. To this end, microscopic analyses were used to study the morphology of the grown Ag films. Even if the homologous temperature prescribes that the Ag film grows on both substrates in the zone I described by the structure zone model some significant differences are observed on the basis of the supporting substrate. In the normal incidence condition, on the SiO2/Si surface a dense close-packed Ag film exhibiting a smooth surface is obtained, while on the TiO2/Ti surface a more columnar film morphology is formed. In the oblique incidence condition the columnar morphology for the Ag film occurs both on SiO2/Si and TiO2/Ti but a higher porous columnar film is obtained on TiO2/Ti due to the lower Ag diffusivity. These results indicate that the adatoms diffusivity on the substrate as determined by the adatom-surface interaction (in addition to the substrate temperature) strongly determines the final film nanostructure.

Light emitting diode with high aspect ratio submicron roughness for light extraction and methods of forming

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

Li, Ting

The surface morphology of an LED light emitting surface is changed by applying a reactive ion etch (RIE) process to the light emitting surface. High aspect ratio, submicron roughness is formed on the light emitting surface by transferring a thin film metal hard-mask having submicron patterns to the surface prior to applying a reactive ion etch process. The submicron patterns in the metal hard-mask can be formed using a low cost, commercially available nano-patterned template which is transferred to the surface with the mask. After subsequently binding the mask to the surface, the template is removed and the RIE processmore » is applied for time duration sufficient to change the morphology of the surface. The modified surface contains non-symmetric, submicron structures having high aspect ratio which increase the efficiency of the device.« less

Surface Termination of the Metal-Organic Framework HKUST-1: A Theoretical Investigation.

PubMed

Amirjalayer, Saeed; Tafipolsky, Maxim; Schmid, Rochus

2014-09-18

The surface morphology and termination of metal-organic frameworks (MOF) is of critical importance in many applications, but the surface properties of these soft materials are conceptually different from those of other materials like metal or oxide surfaces. Up to now, experimental investigations are scarce and theoretical simulations have focused on the bulk properties. The possible surface structure of the archetypal MOF HKUST-1 is investigated by a first-principles derived force field in combination with DFT calculations of model systems. The computed surface energies correctly predict the [111] surface to be most stable and allow us to obtain an unprecedented atomistic picture of the surface termination. Entropic factors are identified to determine the preferred surface termination and to be the driving force for the MOF growth. On the basis of this, reported strategies like employing "modulators" during the synthesis to tailor the crystal morphology are discussed.

Effects of morphological control on the characteristics of vertical-type OTFTs using Alq3.

PubMed

Kim, Young Do; Park, Jong Wook; Kang, In Nam; Oh, Se Young

2008-09-01

We have fabricated vertical-type organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) using tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq(3)) as an n-type active material. Vertical-type OTFT using Alq(3) has a layered structure of Al(source electrode)/Alq(3)(active layer)/Al(gate electrode)/Alq(3)(active layer)/ITO glass(drain electrode). Alq(3) thin films containing various surface morphologies could be obtained by the control of evaporation rate and substrate temperature. The effects of the morphological control of Alq(3) thin layer on the grain size and the flatness of film surface were investigated. The characteristics of vertical-type OTFT significantly influenced the growth condition of Alq(3) layer.

Subsurface Grain Morphology Reconstruction by Differential Aperture X-ray Microscopy

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

Eisenlohr, Philip; Shanthraj, Pratheek; Vande Kieft, Brendan R.

A multistep, non-destructive grain morphology reconstruction methodology that is applicable to near-surface volumes is developed and tested on synthetic grain structures. This approach probes the subsurface crystal orientation using differential aperture x-ray microscopy on a sparse grid across the microstructure volume of interest. Resulting orientation data are clustered according to proximity in physical and orientation space and used as seed points for an initial Voronoi tessellation to (crudely) approximate the grain morphology. Curvature-driven grain boundary relaxation, simulated by means of the Voronoi implicit interface method, progressively improves the reconstruction accuracy. The similarity between bulk and readily accessible surface reconstruction errormore » provides an objective termination criterion for boundary relaxation.« less

Martian impact craters - Correlations of ejecta and interior morphologies with diameter, latitude, and terrain

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barlow, Nadine G.; Bradley, Tracy L.

1990-01-01

An effort is made to establish the ability of a correlation between crater morphology and latitude, diameter, and terrain, to discriminate among the effects of impact energy, atmosphere, and subsurface volatiles in 3819 larger-than-8 km diameter craters distributed over the Martian surface. It is noted that changes in ejecta and interior morphology correlate with increases in crater diameter, and that while many of the interior structures exhibit distributions interpretable as terrain-dependent, central peak and peak ring interior morphologies exhibit minimal relationships with planetary properties.

Surface morphological properties of Ag-Al2O3 nanocermet layers using dip-coating technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muhammad, Nor Adhila; Suhaimi, Siti Fatimah; Zubir, Zuhana Ahmad; Daud, Sahhidan

2017-12-01

Ag-Al2O3 nanocermet layer was deposited on Cu coated glass substrate using dip-coating technique. The aim of this study was to observe the surface morphology properties of Ag-Al2O3 nanocermet layers after annealing process at 350°C in H2. The surface morphology of Ag-Al2O3 nanocermet will be characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), respectively. The results show that nearly isolated Ag particles having a large and small size were present in the Al2O3 dielectric matrix after annealing process. The face centered cubic crystalline structure of Ag nanoparticles inclusion in the amorphous alumina dielectric matrix was confirmed using XRD pattern and supported by EDX spectra analysis.

Morphological Evolution of Gyroid-Forming Block Copolymer Thin Films with Varying Solvent Evaporation Rate.

PubMed

Wu, Yi-Hsiu; Lo, Ting-Ya; She, Ming-Shiuan; Ho, Rong-Ming

2015-08-05

In this study, we aim to examine the morphological evolution of block copolymer (BCP) nanostructured thin films through solvent evaporation at different rates for solvent swollen polystyrene-block-poly(l-lactide) (PS-PLLA). Interesting phase transitions from disorder to perpendicular cylinder and then gyroid can be found while using a partially selective solvent for PS to swell PS-PLLA thin film followed by solvent evaporation. During the transitions, gyroid-forming BCP thin film with characteristic crystallographic planes of (111)G, (110)G, and (211)G parallel to air surface can be observed, and will gradually transform into coexisting (110)G and (211)G planes, and finally transforms to (211)G plane due to the preferential segregation of constituted block to the surface (i.e., the thermodynamic origin for self-assembly) that affects the relative amount of each component at the air surface. With the decrease on the evaporation rate, the disorder phase will transform to parallel cylinder and then directly to (211)G without transition to perpendicular cylinder phase. Most importantly, the morphological evolution of PS-PLLA thin films is strongly dependent upon the solvent removal rate only in the initial stage of the evaporation process due to the anisotropy of cylinder structure. Once the morphology is transformed back to the isotropic gyroid structure after long evaporation, the morphological evolution will only relate to the variation of the surface composition. Similar phase transitions at the substrate can also be obtained by controlling the ratio of PLLA-OH to PS-OH homopolymers to functionalize the substrate. As a result, the fabrication of well-defined nanostructured thin films with controlled orientation can be achieved by simple swelling and deswelling with controlled evaporation rate.

Biomimetic surface structuring using cylindrical vector femtosecond laser beams

PubMed Central

Skoulas, Evangelos; Manousaki, Alexandra; Fotakis, Costas; Stratakis, Emmanuel

2017-01-01

We report on a new, single-step and scalable method to fabricate highly ordered, multi-directional and complex surface structures that mimic the unique morphological features of certain species found in nature. Biomimetic surface structuring was realized by exploiting the unique and versatile angular profile and the electric field symmetry of cylindrical vector (CV) femtosecond (fs) laser beams. It is shown that, highly controllable, periodic structures exhibiting sizes at nano-, micro- and dual- micro/nano scales can be directly written on Ni upon line and large area scanning with radial and azimuthal polarization beams. Depending on the irradiation conditions, new complex multi-directional nanostructures, inspired by the Shark’s skin morphology, as well as superhydrophobic dual-scale structures mimicking the Lotus’ leaf water repellent properties can be attained. It is concluded that the versatility and features variations of structures formed is by far superior to those obtained via laser processing with linearly polarized beams. More important, by exploiting the capabilities offered by fs CV fields, the present technique can be further extended to fabricate even more complex and unconventional structures. We believe that our approach provides a new concept in laser materials processing, which can be further exploited for expanding the breadth and novelty of applications. PMID:28327611

Effect of mechanical activation on structure changes and reactivity in further chemical modification of lignin.

PubMed

Zhao, Xiaohong; Zhang, Yanjuan; Hu, Huayu; Huang, Zuqiang; Yang, Mei; Chen, Dong; Huang, Kai; Huang, Aimin; Qin, Xingzhen; Feng, Zhenfei

2016-10-01

Lignin was treated by mechanical activation (MA) in a customized stirring ball mill, and the structure and reactivity in further esterification were studied. The chemical structure and morphology of MA-treated lignin and the esterified products were analyzed by chemical analysis combined with UV/vis spectrometer, FTIR,NMR, SEM and particle size analyzer. The results showed that MA contributed to the increase of aliphatic hydroxyl, phenolic hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl groups but the decrease of methoxyl groups. Moreover, MA led to the decrease of particle size and the increase of specific surface area and roughness of surface in lignin. The reactivity of lignin was enhanced significantly for the increase of hydroxyl content and the improvement of mass transfer in chemical reaction caused by the changes of molecular structure and morphological structure. The process of MA is green and simple, and is an effective method for enhancing the reactivity of lignin. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The neural correlates of morphological complexity processing: Detecting structure in pseudowords.

PubMed

Schuster, Swetlana; Scharinger, Mathias; Brooks, Colin; Lahiri, Aditi; Hartwigsen, Gesa

2018-06-01

Morphological complexity is a highly debated issue in visual word recognition. Previous neuroimaging studies have shown that speakers are sensitive to degrees of morphological complexity. Two-step derived complex words (bridging through bridge N  > bridge V  > bridging) led to more enhanced activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus than their 1-step derived counterparts (running through run V  > running). However, it remains unclear whether sensitivity to degrees of morphological complexity extends to pseudowords. If this were the case, it would indicate that abstract knowledge of morphological structure is independent of lexicality. We addressed this question by investigating the processing of two sets of pseudowords in German. Both sets contained morphologically viable two-step derived pseudowords differing in the number of derivational steps required to access an existing lexical representation and therefore the degree of structural analysis expected during processing. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, we found lexicality effects to be distinct from processing signatures relating to structural analysis in pseudowords. Semantically-driven processes such as lexical search showed a more frontal distribution while combinatorial processes related to structural analysis engaged more parietal parts of the network. Specifically, more complex pseudowords showed increased activation in parietal regions (right superior parietal lobe and left precuneus) relative to pseudowords that required less structural analysis to arrive at an existing lexical representation. As the two sets were matched on cohort size and surface form, these results highlight the role of internal levels of morphological structure even in forms that do not possess a lexical representation. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

THE SKIN | Functional morphology of the integumentary system in fishes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Elliott, D.G.; Farrell, Anthony P.

2011-01-01

The integument that covers the outer surface of a fish’s body and fins is a multifunctional organ, with morphological features highly adapted to carry out these functions. The integument consists of two layers. The outer layer, the epidermis, is essentially cellular in structure, comprised of a multilayered epithelium that usually includes specialized cells. The inner layer, the dermis, is primarily a fibrous structure with relatively few cells, although it may contain scales, nerves, blood vessels, adipose tissue, and pigment cells.

Australian Multiexperimental Assessment of SIR-B (AMAS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richards, J. A.; Forster, B. C.; Milne, A. K.; Taylor, G. R.; Trinder, J. C.

1984-01-01

The utility of SIR-B data for analysis of surface properties and subsurface morphology in three arid regions of Australia is investigated. This study area is located in western New South Wales. It contains extensive aeolian and alluvially derived depositional plains and is the site of the University's Arid Zone Research Station; it is well-mapped and surveyed. Radar backscatter is mapped and evaluated against known terrain conditions. Relative components of surface and subsurface return are determined with a view to identifying structural properties of surface and subsurface morphology. The capability of microwave remote sensing in locating likely groundwater sources in the Bancannia Basin, near Fowler's Gap is assessed.

Fabrication of superhydrophobic polyaniline films with rapidly switchable wettability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Xiaoyan; Zhang, Zhaozhu; Men, Xuehu; Yang, Jin; Xu, Xianghui; Zhu, Xiaotao; Xue, Qunji

2011-10-01

A superhydrophobic polyaniline (PANI) film has been fabricated by using a facile one-step spraying method. The PANI was synthesized via in situ doping polymerization in the presence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as the dopant. The water contact angle of this superhydrophobic surface reaches to 156°. Both the surface chemical compositions and morphological structures were analyzed. A granular morphology of PANI with a moderate amount of nanofibers was obtained. Moreover, a rapid surface wettability transition between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity can be observed when it is doped with PFOA and de-doped with base. The mechanism for this tunable wettability has been discussed in detail.

Effects of polymer surface energy on morphology and properties of silver nanowire fabricated via nanoimprint and E-beam evaporation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Zhi-Jun; Hwang, Soon Hyoung; Jeon, Sohee; Jung, Joo-Yun; Lee, Jihye; Choi, Dae-Geun; Choi, Jun-Hyuk; Park, Sang-Hu; Jeong, Jun-Ho

2017-10-01

In this paper, we demonstrate that use of different nanoimprint resins as a polymer pattern has a significant effect on the morphology of silver (Ag) nanowires deposited via an E-beam evaporator. RM-311 and Ormo-stamp resins are chosen as a polymer pattern to form a line with dimensions of width (100 nm) × space (100 nm) × height (120 nm) by using nanoimprint lithography (NIL). Their contact angles are then measured to evaluate their surface energies. In order to compare the properties of the Ag nanowires deposited on the various polymer patterns with different surface energies, hydrophobic surface treatment of the polymer pattern surface is implemented using self-assembled monolayers. In addition, gold and aluminum nanowires are fabricated for comparison with the Ag nanowires, with the differences in the nanowire morphologies being determined by the different atomic properties. The monocrystalline and polycrystalline structures of the various Ag nanowire formations are observed using transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the melting temperatures and optical properties of four kinds of Ag nanowire morphologies deposited on various polymer patterns are evaluated using a hot plate and an ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrometer, respectively. The results indicate that the morphology of the Ag nanowire determines the melting temperature and the transmission. We believe that these findings will greatly aid the development of NIL, along with physical evaporation and chemical deposition techniques, and will be widely employed in optics, biology, and surface wettability applications.

Raman-atomic force microscopy of the ommatidial surfaces of Dipteran compound eyes.

PubMed

Anderson, Mark S; Gaimari, Stephen D

2003-06-01

The ommatidial lens surfaces of the compound eyes in several species of files (Insecta: Diptera) and a related order (Mecoptera) were analyzed using a recently developed Raman-atomic force microscope. We demonstrate in this work that the atomic force microscope (AFM) is a potentially useful instrument for gathering phylogenetic data and that the newly developed Raman-AFM may extend this application by revealing nanometer-scale surface chemistry. This is the first demonstration of apertureless near-field Raman spectroscopy on an intact biological surface. For Chrysopilus testaceipes Bigot (Rhagionidae), this reveals unique cerebral cortex-like surface ridges with periodic variation in height and surface chemistry. Most other Brachyceran flies, and the "Nematoceran" Sylvicola fenestralis (Scopoli) (Anisopodidae), displayed the same morphology, while other taxa displayed various other characteristics, such as a nodule-like (Tipula (Triplicitipula) sp. (Tipulidae)) or coalescing nodule-like (Tabanus punctifer Osten Sacken (Tabanidae)) morphology, a smooth morphology with distinct pits and grooves (Dilophus orbatus (Say) (Bibionidae)), or an entirely smooth surface (Bittacus chlorostigma MacLachlan (Mecoptera: Bittacidae)). The variation in submicrometer structure and surface chemistry provides a new information source of potential phylogenetic importance, suggesting the Raman-atomic force microscope could provide a new tool useful to systematic and evolutionary inquiry.

Raman-atomic force microscopy of the ommatidial surfaces of Dipteran compound eyes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, Mark S.; Gaimari, Stephen D.

2003-01-01

The ommatidial lens surfaces of the compound eyes in several species of files (Insecta: Diptera) and a related order (Mecoptera) were analyzed using a recently developed Raman-atomic force microscope. We demonstrate in this work that the atomic force microscope (AFM) is a potentially useful instrument for gathering phylogenetic data and that the newly developed Raman-AFM may extend this application by revealing nanometer-scale surface chemistry. This is the first demonstration of apertureless near-field Raman spectroscopy on an intact biological surface. For Chrysopilus testaceipes Bigot (Rhagionidae), this reveals unique cerebral cortex-like surface ridges with periodic variation in height and surface chemistry. Most other Brachyceran flies, and the "Nematoceran" Sylvicola fenestralis (Scopoli) (Anisopodidae), displayed the same morphology, while other taxa displayed various other characteristics, such as a nodule-like (Tipula (Triplicitipula) sp. (Tipulidae)) or coalescing nodule-like (Tabanus punctifer Osten Sacken (Tabanidae)) morphology, a smooth morphology with distinct pits and grooves (Dilophus orbatus (Say) (Bibionidae)), or an entirely smooth surface (Bittacus chlorostigma MacLachlan (Mecoptera: Bittacidae)). The variation in submicrometer structure and surface chemistry provides a new information source of potential phylogenetic importance, suggesting the Raman-atomic force microscope could provide a new tool useful to systematic and evolutionary inquiry.

3D Numerical simulation of bed morphological responses to complex in-streamstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Y.; Liu, X.

2017-12-01

In-stream structures are widely used in stream restoration for both hydraulic and ecologicalpurposes. The geometries of the structures are usually designed to be extremely complex andirregular, so as to provide nature-like physical habitat. The aim of this study is to develop anumerical model to accurately predict the bed-load transport and the morphological changescaused by the complex in-stream structures. This model is developed in the platform ofOpenFOAM. In the hydrodynamics part, it utilizes different turbulence models to capture thedetailed turbulence information near the in-stream structures. The technique of immersedboundary method (IBM) is efficiently implemented in the model to describe the movable bendand the rigid solid body of in-stream structures. With IBM, the difficulty of mesh generation onthe complex geometry is greatly alleviated, and the bed surface deformation is able to becoupled in to flow system. This morphodynamics model is firstly validated by simple structures,such as the morphology of the scour in log-vane structure. Then it is applied in a more complexstructure, engineered log jams (ELJ), which consists of multiple logs piled together. Thenumerical results including turbulence flow information and bed morphological responses areevaluated against the experimental measurement within the exact same flow condition.

Morphological and performance measures of polyurethane foams using X-ray CT and mechanical testing.

PubMed

Patterson, Brian M; Henderson, Kevin; Gilbertson, Robert D; Tornga, Stephanie; Cordes, Nikolaus L; Chavez, Manuel E; Smith, Zachary

2014-08-01

Meso-scale structure in polymeric foams determines the mechanical properties of the material. Density variations, even more than variations in the anisotropic void structure, can greatly vary the compressive and tensile response of the material. With their diverse use as both a structural material and space filler, polyurethane (PU) foams are widely studied. In this manuscript, quantitative measures of the density and anisotropic structure are provided by using micro X-ray computed tomography (microCT) to better understand the results of mechanical testing. MicroCT illustrates the variation in the density, cell morphology, size, shape, and orientation in different regions in blown foam due to the velocity profile near the casting surface. "Interrupted" in situ imaging of the material during compression of these sub-regions indicates the pathways of the structural response to the mechanical load and the changes in cell morphology as a result. It is found that molded PU foam has a 6 mm thick "skin" of higher density and highly eccentric morphological structure that leads to wide variations in mechanical performance depending upon sampling location. This comparison is necessary to understand the mechanical performance of the anisotropic structure.

RNA nanopatterning on graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Q.; Froning, J. P.; Pykal, M.; Zhang, S.; Wang, Z.; Vondrák, M.; Banáš, P.; Čépe, K.; Jurečka, P.; Šponer, J.; Zbořil, R.; Dong, M.; Otyepka, M.

2018-07-01

Graphene-based materials enable the sensing of diverse biomolecules using experimental approaches based on electrochemistry, spectroscopy, or other methods. Although basic sensing was achieved, it had until now not been possible to understand and control biomolecules’ structural and morphological organization on graphene surfaces (i.e. their stacking, folding/unfolding, self-assembly, and nano-patterning). Here we present the insight into structural and morphological organization of biomolecules on graphene in water, using an RNA hairpin as a model system. We show that the key parameters governing the RNA’s behavior on the graphene surface are the number of graphene layers, RNA concentration, and temperature. At high concentrations, the RNA forms a film on the graphene surface with entrapped nanobubbles. The density and the size of the bubbles depend on the number of graphene layers. At lower concentrations, unfolded RNA stacks on the graphene and forms molecular clusters on the surface. Such a control over the conformational behavior of interacting biomolecules at graphene/water interfaces would facilitate new applications of graphene derivatives in biotechnology and biomedicine.

Fractal characterization and wettability of ion treated silicon surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, R. P.; Kumar, Tanuj; Baranwal, V.; Vandana, Kumar, Manvendra; Priya, P. K.; Pandey, S. N.; Mittal, A. K.

2017-02-01

Fractal characterization of surface morphology can be useful as a tool for tailoring the wetting properties of solid surfaces. In this work, rippled surfaces of Si (100) are grown using 200 keV Ar+ ion beam irradiation at different ion doses. Relationship between fractal and wetting properties of these surfaces are explored. The height-height correlation function extracted from atomic force microscopic images, demonstrates an increase in roughness exponent with an increase in ion doses. A steep variation in contact angle values is found for low fractal dimensions. Roughness exponent and fractal dimensions are found correlated with the static water contact angle measurement. It is observed that after a crossover of the roughness exponent, the surface morphology has a rippled structure. Larger values of interface width indicate the larger ripples on the surface. The contact angle of water drops on such surfaces is observed to be lowest. Autocorrelation function is used for the measurement of ripple wavelength.

Imaging and Laser Spectroscopy Investigation of Insect Wings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiver, Tegan; Lawhead, Carlos; Anderson, Josiah; Cooper, Nathan; Ujj, Laszlo; Pall Life Sciences Collaboration

2014-03-01

Measuring the surface morphology and chemical composition of insect wings is important to understand the extreme mechanical properties and the biophysical functionalities of the wings. We have measured the image of the membrane of the cicada (genus Tibicen) wing with the help of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results confirm the existing periodic structure of the wing measured previously. The SEM imaging can be used to measure the surface morphology of any insect species wings. The physical surface structure of the cicada wing is an example of a new class of biomaterials that can kill bacteria on contact. In order to identify the chemical composition of the wing, we have measured the vibrational spectra of the wing's membrane (Raman and CARS). The measured spectra are consistent with the original assumption that the wing membrane is composed of protein, wax, and chitin. The results of these studies can be used to make artificial materials in the future.

Effect of nitric acid treatment on activated carbon derived from oil palm shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allwar, Allwar; Hartati, Retno; Fatimah, Is

2017-03-01

The primary object of this work is to study the effect of nitric acid on the porous and morphology structure of activated carbon. Production of activated carbon from oil palm shell was prepared with pyrolysis process at temperature 900°C and by introduction of 10 M nitric acid. Determination of surface area, pore volume and pore size distribution of activated carbon was conducted by the N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm at 77 K. Morphology structure and elemental micro-analysis of activated carbon were estimated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), respectively. The result shows that activated carbon after treating with nitric acid proved an increasing porous characteristics involving surface area, pore volume and pore size distribution. It also could remove the contaminants including metals and exhibit an increasing of pores and crevices all over the surface.

The morphology and nature of the East Arctic ocean acoustic basement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rekant, Pavel

2017-04-01

As the result of the thorough interpretation and cross-correlation of the large seismic dataset (>150000 km and >600 seismic lines), the depth structure map of the acoustic basement was constrained. Tectonic framework, basement surface morphology and linkage of the deep basin structures with shelves ones, was significantly clarified based on the map. It becomes clear that most morphostructures presently located within deep-water basin are tectonically connected with shelf structures. Acoustic basement contains a number of pre-Cambrian, Caledonian and Mesozoic consolidated blocks. The basement heterogeneity is highlighted by faults framework and basement surface morphology differences, as well thickness and stratigraphy of the sediment cover. The deepest basins of the East Arctic - Hanna Trough, North Chukchi and Podvodnikov Basins form a united mega-depression, wedged between pre-Cambrian continental blocks (Chukchi Borderland - Mendeleev Rise - Toll Saddle) from the north and the Caledonian deformation front from the south. The basement age/origin speculations are consistent with paleontological and U-Pb zircon ages from dredged rock samples. Most of morphological boundaries in the modern Arctic differ considerably from the tectonic framework. Only part of the Arctic morphostructures is constrained by tectonic boundaries. They are: eastern slope of the Lomonosov Ridge, continental slope in the Laptev Sea, upper continental slope in the Podvodnikov Basin, southern slope of the North Chukchi Basin and borders of the Chukchi Borderland. The rest significant part of modern morphological boundaries are caused by sedimentation processes.

Temperature-assisted morphological transition in CuPc thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bae, Yu Jeong; Pham, Thi Kim Hang; Kim, Tae Hee

2016-05-01

Ex-situ and in-situ morphological analyses were performed for Cu-phthalocyanine (CuPc) organic semiconductor films by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). The focus was the effects of post-annealing on the structural characteristics of CuPc films grown on MgO(001) layers by using an ultra-high-vacuum thermal evaporator. Sphere-to-nanofibril and 2-D to 3-D morphological transitions were observed with increasing CuPc thickness beyond 3 nm. The surface morphology and the crystallinity were drastically improved after an additional cooling of the post-annealed CuPc films thinner than 3 nm. Our results highlight that molecular orientation and structural ordering can be effectively controlled by using different temperature treatments and a proper combination of material, film thickness, and substrate.

Bubbles and Dust: Dissolution Rates of Unhydrated Volcanic Ash as a Function of Morphology, Composition, and Particle Size

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wygel, C. M.; Sahagian, D. L.

2017-12-01

Volcanic eruptions are natural hazards due to their explosive nature and widespread transportation and deposition of ash particles. After deposition and subsequent leaching in soils or water bodies, ash deposition positively (nutrients) and negatively (contaminants) impacts the health of flora and fauna, including humans. The effects of ash leachates have been difficult to replicate in field and laboratory studies due to the many complexities and differences between ash particles. Ash morphology is characteristic for each eruption, dependent upon eruption energy, and should play a critical role in determining leaching rates. Morphology reflects overall particle surface area, which is strongly influenced by the presence of surface dust. In addition, ash composition, which in part controls morphology and particle size, may also affect leaching rates. This study determines the extent to which ash morphology, surface area, composition, and particle size control ash dissolution rates. Further, it is necessary to determine whether compound vesicular ash particles permit water into their interior structures to understand if both the internal and external surface areas are available for leaching. To address this, six fresh, unhydrated ash samples from diverse volcanic environments and a large range in morphology, from Pele's spheres to vesicular compound ash, are tested in the laboratory. Ash morphology was characterized on the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) before and after leaching and surface area was quantified by Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) analysis and with geometric calculations. Column Leachate Tests (CLT) were conducted to compare leaching rates over a range of basaltic to silicic ashes as a function of time and surface area, to recreate the effects of ash deposition in diverse volcanic environments. After the CLT, post-leaching water analyses were conducted by Ion Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Ion Chromatography (IC). We find that leaching rates are correlated to characteristic surface area of ash particles.

Surface alloying in Sn/Au(111) at elevated temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadhukhan, Pampa; Singh, Vipin Kumar; Rai, Abhishek; Bhattacharya, Kuntala; Barman, Sudipta Roy

2018-04-01

On the basis of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we show that when Sn is deposited on Au(111) single crystal surface at a substrate temperature TS=373 K, surface alloying occurs with the formation of AuSn phase. The evolution of the surface structure and the surface morphology has been studied by low energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy, respectively as a function of Sn coverage and substrate temperatures.

Vertical and lateral morphology effects on solar cell performance for a thiophene–quinoxaline copolymer:PC 70BM blend

DOE PAGES

Hansson, Rickard; Ericsson, Leif K. E.; Holmes, Natalie P.; ...

2015-02-13

The distribution of electron donor and acceptor in the active layer is known to strongly influence the electrical performance of polymer solar cells for most of the high performance polymer:fullerene systems. The formulation of the solution from which the active layer is spincoated plays an important role in the quest for morphology control. We have studied how the choice of solvent and the use of small amounts of a low vapour pressure additive in the coating solution influence the film morphology and the solar cell performance for blends of poly[2,3-bis-(3-octyloxyphenyl)quinoxaline-5,8-diyl-alt-thiophene-2,5-diyl] (TQ1) and [6,6]-phenyl C 71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 70BM).more » We have investigated the lateral morphology using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), the vertical morphology using dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (d-SIMS) and variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), and the surface composition using near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS). The lateral phase-separated domains observed in films spincoated from single solvents, increase in size with increasing solvent vapour pressure and decreasing PC 70BM solubility, but are not observed when 1-chloronaphthalene (CN) is added. A strongly TQ1-enriched surface layer is formed in all TQ1:PC 70BM blend films and rationalized by surface energy differences. The photocurrent and power conversion efficiency strongly increased upon the addition of CN, while the leakage current decreased by one to two orders of magnitude. The higher photocurrent correlates with the finer lateral structure and stronger TQ1-enrichment at the interface with the electron-collecting electrode. This indicates that the charge transport and collection are not hindered by this polymer-enriched surface layer. Neither the open-circuit voltage nor the series resistance of the devices are sensitive to the differences in morphology.« less

Manipulation of surface morphology of flower-like Ag/ZnO nanorods to enhance photocatalytic performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

U-thaipan, Kasira; Tedsree, Karaked

2018-06-01

The surface morphology of flower-like Ag/ZnO nanorod can be manipulated by adopting different synthetic routes and also loading different levels of Ag in order to alter their surface structures to achieve the maximum photocatalytic efficiency. In a single-step preparation method Ag/ZnO was prepared by heating directly a mixture of Zn2+ and Ag+ precursors in an aqueous NaOH-ethylene glycol solution, while in the two-step preparation method an intermediate of flower-shaped ZnO nanorod was obtained by a hydrothermal process before depositing Ag particles on the ZnO surfaces by chemical reduction. The structure, morphology and optical properties of the synthesized samples were characterized using TEM, SEM, XRD, DRS and PL techniques. The sample prepared by single-step method are characterized with agglomeration of Ag atoms as clusters on the surface of ZnO, whereas in the sample prepared by two-step method Ag atoms are found uniformly dispersed and deposited as discrete Ag nanoparticles on the surface of ZnO. A significant enhancement in the adsorption of visible light was evident for Ag/ZnO samples prepared by two-step method especially with low Ag content (0.5 mol%). The flower-like Ag/ZnO nanorod prepared with 0.5 mol% Ag by two-step process was found to be the most efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of phenol, which can decompose 90% of phenol within 120 min.

Sputtering of rough surfaces: a 3D simulation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von Toussaint, U.; Mutzke, A.; Manhard, A.

2017-12-01

The lifetime of plasma-facing components is critical for future magnetic confinement fusion power plants. A key process limiting the lifetime of the first-wall is sputtering by energetic ions. To provide a consistent modeling of the sputtering process of realistic geometries, the SDTrimSP-code has been extended to enable the processing of analytic as well as measured arbitrary 3D surface morphologies. The code has been applied to study the effect of varying the impact angle of ions on rough surfaces on the sputter yield as well as the influence of the aspect ratio of surface structures on the 2D distribution of the local sputtering yields. Depending on the surface morphologies reductions of the effective sputter yields to less than 25% have been observed in the simulation results.

Surface oxidation of GaN(0001): Nitrogen plasma-assisted cleaning for ultrahigh vacuum applications

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

Gangopadhyay, Subhashis; Schmidt, Thomas, E-mail: tschmidt@ifp.uni-bremen.de; Kruse, Carsten

The cleaning of metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxial GaN(0001) template layers grown on sapphire has been investigated. Different procedures, performed under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, including degassing and exposure to active nitrogen from a radio frequency nitrogen plasma source have been compared. For this purpose, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, reflection high-energy electron diffraction, and scanning tunneling microscopy have been employed in order to assess chemical as well as structural and morphological surface properties. Initial degassing at 600 °C under ultrahigh vacuum conditions only partially eliminates the surface contaminants. In contrast to plasma assisted nitrogen cleaning at temperatures as low as 300 °C, active-nitrogen exposure at temperaturesmore » as high as 700 °C removes the majority of oxide species from the surface. However, extended high-temperature active-nitrogen cleaning leads to severe surface roughening. Optimum results regarding both the removal of surface oxides as well as the surface structural and morphological quality have been achieved for a combination of initial low-temperature plasma-assisted cleaning, followed by a rapid nitrogen plasma-assisted cleaning at high temperature.« less

Emphasizing the role of surface chemistry on hydrophobicity and cell adhesion behavior of polydimethylsiloxane/TiO2 nanocomposite films.

PubMed

Yousefi, Seyedeh Zahra; Tabatabaei-Panah, Pardis-Sadat; Seyfi, Javad

2018-07-01

Improving the bioinertness of materials is of great importance for developing biomedical devices that contact human tissues. The main goal of this study was to establish correlations among surface morphology, roughness and chemistry with hydrophobicity and cell adhesion in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) nanocomposites loaded with titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles. Firstly, wettability results showed that the nanocomposite loaded with 30 wt.% of TiO 2 exhibited a superhydrophobic behavior; however, the morphology and roughness analysis proved that there was no discernible difference between the surface structures of samples loaded with 20 and 30 wt.% of nanoparticles. Both cell culture and MTT assay experiments showed that, despite the similarity between the surface structures, the sample loaded with 30 wt.% nanoparticles exhibits the greatest reduction in the cell viability (80%) as compared with the pure PDMS film. According to the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results, the remarkable reduction in cell viability of the superhydrophobic sample could be majorly attributed to the role of surface chemistry. The obtained results emphasize the importance of adjusting the surface properties especially surface chemistry to gain the optimum cell adhesion behavior. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of electrode surface structure on the mechanoelectrical transduction of IPMC sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palmre, Viljar; Pugal, David; Kim, Kwang

2014-03-01

This study investigates the effects of electrode surface structure on the mechanoelectrical transduction of IPMC sensors. A physics-based mechanoelectrical transduction model was developed that takes into account the electrode surface profile (shape) by describing the polymer-electrode interface as a Koch fractal structure. Based on the model, the electrode surface effects were experimentally investigated in case of IPMCs with Pd-Pt electrodes. IPMCs with different electrode surface structures were fabricated through electroless plating process by appropriately controlling the synthesis parameters and conditions. The changes in the electrode surface morphology and the corresponding effects on the IPMC mechanoelectrical transduction were examined. Our experimental results indicate that increasing the dispersion of Pd particles near the membrane surface, and thus the polymer-electrode interfacial area, leads to a higher peak mechanoelectrically induced voltage of IPMC. However, the overall effect of the electrode surface structure is relatively low compared to the electromechanical transduction, which is in good agreement with theoretical prediction.

Solvent-induced synthesis of nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres with tunable surface morphology for supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Feng; Yuan, Ren-Lu; Zhang, Ning; Ke, Chang-Ce; Ma, Shao-Xia; Zhang, Ru-Liang; Liu, Lei

2018-04-01

Nitrogen doped hollow carbon spheres (NHCSs) with tunable surface morphology have been prepared through one-pot carbonization method by using melamine-formaldehyde spheres as template and resorcinol-based resin as carbon precursor in ethanol-water solution. Well-dispersed NHCSs with particle size of 800 nm were obtained and the surface of NHCSs turn from smooth to tough, wrinkled, and finally concave by increasing the ethanol concentration. The fabricated NHCSs possessed high nitrogen content (3.99-4.83%) and hierarchical micro-dual mesoporous structure with surface area range of 265-405 m2 g-1 and total pore volume of 0.18-0.29 cm3 g-1, which contributed to high specific capacitance, excellent rate capability and long cycle life.

Molecular beam epitaxy of graphene on ultra-smooth nickel: growth mode and substrate interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wofford, J. M.; Oliveira, M. H., Jr.; Schumann, T.; Jenichen, B.; Ramsteiner, M.; Jahn, U.; Fölsch, S.; Lopes, J. M. J.; Riechert, H.

2014-09-01

Graphene is grown by molecular beam epitaxy using epitaxial Ni films on MgO(111) as substrates. Raman spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy reveal the graphene films to have few crystalline defects. While the layers are ultra-smooth over large areas, we find that Ni surface features lead to local non-uniformly thick graphene inclusions. The influence of the Ni surface structure on the position and morphology of these inclusions strongly suggests that multilayer graphene on Ni forms at the interface of the first complete layer and metal substrate in a growth-from-below mechanism. The interplay between Ni surface features and graphene growth behavior may facilitate the production of films with spatially resolved multilayer inclusions through engineered substrate surface morphology.

Spallation-induced roughness promoting high spatial frequency nanostructure formation on Cr

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abou-Saleh, A.; Karim, E. T.; Maurice, C.; Reynaud, S.; Pigeon, F.; Garrelie, F.; Zhigilei, L. V.; Colombier, J. P.

2018-04-01

Interaction of ultrafast laser pulses with metal surfaces in the spallation regime can result in the formation of anisotropic nanoscale surface morphology commonly referred to as laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) or ripples. The surface structures generated by a single pulse irradiation of monocrystalline Cr samples are investigated experimentally and computationally for laser fluences that produce high spatial frequency nanostructures in the multi-pulse irradiation regime. Electron microscopy reveals distinct response of samples with different crystallographic surface orientations, with (100) surfaces exhibiting the formation of more refined nanostructure by a single pulse irradiation and a more pronounced LIPSS after two laser pulses as compared to (110) surfaces. A large-scale molecular dynamics simulation of laser interaction with a (100) Cr target provides detailed information on processes responsible for spallation of a liquid layer, redistribution of molten material, and rapid resolidification of the target. The nanoscale roughness of the resolidified surface predicted in the simulation features elongated frozen nanospikes, nanorims and nanocavities with dimensions and surface density similar to those in the surface morphology observed for (100) Cr target with atomic force microscopy. The results of the simulation suggest that the types, sizes and dimensions of the nanoscale surface features are defined by the competition between the evolution of transient liquid structures generated in the spallation process and the rapid resolidification of the surface region of the target. The spallation-induced roughness is likely to play a key role in triggering the generation of high-frequency LIPSS upon irradiation by multiple laser pulses.

Graphene-Like 2D Porous Carbon Nanosheets Derived from Cornstalk Pith for Energy Storage Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Kezheng; Niu, Qingyuan; Tang, Qiheng; Guo, Yaqing; Wang, Lizhen

2018-01-01

Biomass materials from different organisms or different parts (even different periods) of the same organism have different microscopic morphologies, hierarchical pore structures and even elemental compositions. Therefore, carbon materials inheriting the unique hierarchical microstructure of different biomass materials may exhibit significantly different electrochemical properties. Cornstalk pith and cornstalk skin (dried by freeze-drying) exhibit significantly different microstructures due to their different biological functions. The cornstalk skin-based carbon (S-carbon) exhibits a thick planar morphology, and the Barrett-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area is only about 332.07 m2 g-1. However, cornstalk pith-based carbon (P-carbon) exhibits a graphene-like 2D porous nanosheet structure with a rough, wrinkled morphology, and the BET surface area is about 805.17 m2 g-1. In addition, a P-carbon supercapacitor exhibits much higher specific capacitance and much better rate capability than an S-carbon supercapacitor in 6 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte.

Morphology of Nano and Micro Fiber Structures in Ultrafine Particles Filtration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kimmer, Dusan; Vincent, Ivo; Fenyk, Jan; Petras, David; Zatloukal, Martin; Sambaer, Wannes; Zdimal, Vladimir

2011-07-01

Selected procedures permitting to prepare homogeneous nanofibre structures of the desired morphology by employing a suitable combination of variables during the electrospinning process are presented. A comparison (at the same pressure drop) was made of filtration capabilities of planar polyurethane nanostructures formed exclusively by nanofibres, space polycarbonate nanostructures having bead spacers, structures formed by a combination of polymethyl methacrylate micro- and nanofibres and polypropylene meltblown microstructures, through which ultrafine particles of ammonium sulphate 20-400 nm in size were filtered. The structures studied were described using a new digital image analysis technique based on black and white images obtained by scanning electron microscopy. More voluminous structures modified with distance microspheres and having a greater thickness and mass per square area of the material, i.e. structures possessing better mechanical properties, demanded so much in nanostructures, enable preparation of filters having approximately the same free volume fraction as flat nanofibre filters but an increased effective fibre surface area, changed pore size morphology and, consequently, a higher filter quality.

SHI irradiation effect on pure and Mn doped ZnO thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khawal, H. A.; Raskar, N. D.; Dole, B. N.

2017-05-01

Investigated the structural, surface, electrical and modifications induced by Swift Heavy Ions (SHI) irradiation on pure and Mn substituted ZnO thin films were observed. Thin films of Zn1-xMnxO (x = 0.00, 0.04) were synthesized using the dip coating technique. All thin films irradiated by Li3+ swift heavy ions with fluence 5 × 1013 ions/cm2. The XRD peak reveals that all the samples exhibit wurtzite structures. Surface morphology of samples was investigated by SEM, it was observed that pristine samples of ZnO thin film shows spherical shape but for 4 % Mn substituted ZnO thin film with 5 × 1013 ions/cm2 fluence, it reveals that big grain spherical morphology like structure respectively. I-V characteristics were recorded in the voltage range -5 to 5 V. All curves were passed through origin and nearly linear exhibit ohmic in nature for the films.

Preparation and Electrochemical Characterization of Mesoporous Polyaniline-Silica Nanocomposites as an Electrode Material for Pseudocapacitors

PubMed Central

Zu, Lei; Cui, Xiuguo; Jiang, Yanhua; Hu, Zhongkai; Lian, Huiqin; Liu, Yang; Jin, Yushun; Li, Yan; Wang, Xiaodong

2015-01-01

Mesoporous polyaniline-silica nanocomposites with a full interpenetrating structure for pseudocapacitors were synthesized via the vapor phase approach. The morphology and structure of the nanocomposites were deeply investigated by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis and nitrogen adsorption-desorption tests. The results present that the mesoporous nanocomposites possess a uniform particle morphology and full interpenetrating structure, leading to a continuous conductive polyaniline network with a large specific surface area. The electrochemical performances of the nanocomposites were tested in a mixed solution of sulfuric acid and potassium iodide. With the merits of a large specific surface area and suitable pore size distribution, the nanocomposite showed a large specific capacitance (1702.68 farad (F)/g) due to its higher utilization of the active material. This amazing value is almost three-times larger than that of bulk polyaniline when the same mass of active material was used. PMID:28788006

Effect of deposition parameters on the structural properties of ZnO nanopowders prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis.

PubMed

Caglar, Yasemin; Gorgun, Kamuran; Aksoy, Seval

2015-03-05

ZnO nanopowders were synthesized via microwave-assisted hydrothermal method at different deposition (microwave irradiation) times and pH values. The effects of pH and deposition (microwave irradiation) time on the crystalline structure and orientation of the ZnO nanopowders have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) study. XRD observations showed that the crystalline quality of ZnO nanopowders increased with increasing pH value. The crystallite size and texture coefficient values of ZnO nanopowders were calculated. The structural quality of ZnO nanopowder was improved by deposition parameters. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) was used to analyze the surface morphology of the ZnO nanopowders. Microwave irradiation time and pH value showed a significant effect on the surface morphology. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Deposition and characterization of ZnSe nanocrystalline thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Temel, Sinan; Gökmen, F. Özge; Yaman, Elif; Nebi, Murat

2018-02-01

ZnSe nanocrystalline thin films were deposited at different deposition times by using the Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) technique. Effects of deposition time on structural, morphological and optical properties of the obtained thin films were characterized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to study the structural properties of ZnSe nanocrystalline thin films. It was found that ZnSe thin films have a cubic structure with a preferentially orientation of (111). The calculated average grain size value was about 28-30 nm. The surface morphology of these films was studied by the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). The surfaces of the thin films were occurred from small stacks and nano-sized particles. The band gap values of the ZnSe nanocrystalline thin films were determined by UV-Visible absorption spectrum and the band gap values were found to be between 2.65-2.86 eV.

Modelling Internal Heterogeneities in Debris-Covered Glaciers: the Potential to Link Morphology and Climate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stuurman, C. M.; Holt, J.; Levy, J.

2016-12-01

On Earth and Mars, debris-covered glaciers (DCGs) often exhibit arcuate ridges transverse to the flow direction. Additionally, there exists some evidence linking internal structure (which is controlled in part by climate) in DCGs with surface microtopography. A better understanding of the relationship between englacial debris bands, compressional stresses, and debris-covered glacier microtopography will augment understanding of formational environments and mechanisms for terrestrial and martian DCGs. In order to better understand relationships between DCG surface morphology and internal debris bands, we combine field observations with finite-element modeling techniques to relate internal structure of DCGs to their surface morphologies. A geophysical survey including time-domain electromagnetic and ground-penetrating radar techniques of the Galena Creek Rock Glacier, WY was conducted over two field seasons in 2015/2016. Geomorphic analysis by surface observation and photogrammetry, including examination of a cirque-based thermokarst, was used to guide and complement geophysical sounding methods. Very clean ice below a 1 m thick layer of debris was directly observed on the walls of a 40 m diameter thermokarst pond near the accumulation zone. An englacial debris band 0.7 m thick dipping 30o intersected the wall of the pond. Transverse ridges occur at varying ridge-to-ridge wavelengths at different locations on the glacier. The GPR data supports the idea that surface ridges correlate with the intersection of debris layers and the surface. Modelling evidence is consistent with the observation of ridges at debris-layer/surface intersections, with compressional stresses buckling ice up-stream of the debris band.

Surface morphology and structure of Ge layer on Si(111) after solid phase epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshida, Ryoma; Tosaka, Aki; Shigeta, Yukichi

2018-05-01

The surface morphology change of a Ge layer on a Si(111) surface formed by solid phase epitaxy has been investigated with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The Ge film was deposited at room temperature and annealed at 400 °C or 600 °C. The STM images of the sample surface after annealing at 400 °C show a flat wetting layer (WL) with small three-dimensional islands on the WL. After annealing at 600 °C, the STM images show a surface roughening with large islands. From the relation between the average height of the roughness and the deposited layer thickness, it is confirmed that the diffusion of Ge atoms becomes very active at 600 °C. The Si crystal at the interface is reconstructed and the intermixing occurs over 600 °C. However, the intermixing is fairly restricted in the solid phase epitaxy growth at 400 °C. The surface morphology changes with the crystallization at 400 °C are discussed by the shape of the islands formed on the WL surface. It is shown that the diffusion of the Ge atoms in the amorphous phase is active even at 400 °C.

A study on different morphological structures of zinc oxide nanostructures for humidity sensing application

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

Ismail, A. S., E-mail: kyrin-samaxi@yahoo.com; Mamat, M. H., E-mail: mhmamat@salam.uitm.edu.my; Rusop, M., E-mail: rusop@salam.uitm.my

2016-07-06

Effects of different morphological structures of ZnO to the performance of the device in the humidity sensing have been studied. Two different kinds of nanostructures were obtained which are nanords and nanoflakes. From the surface morphology image, the ZnO nanoflakes has lower diameter size of 100 nm compared to ZnO nanorods of 250 nm. The ZnO nanoflakes are not aligned and has low porous structure compared to ZnO nanorods. The humidity sensor performance of ZnO nanorods has superior performance compared to ZnO nanoflakes. The sensitivity of the ZnO nanorods sensor is 3.20 which are almost two times higher than themore » ZnO nanoflakes of 1.65. The structural properties of the samples have been characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) electrical properties has been characterized using current voltage (I-V) measurement.« less

Influence of N2 annealing on TiO2 tubes structure and its photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiaoxiang; Pan, Zhanchang; Yu, Ke; Xiao, Jun; Wu, Shoukun; Li, Jinghong; Chen, Chun; Lin, Yingsheng; Hu, Guanghui; Xu, Yanbin

2018-02-01

In this work, the TiO2 tubes (TBs) were prepared by solvothermal method. The morphology and phase structure of TiO2 TBs is significantly affected by N2 annealing temperature. XRD was used to characterize the phase structure of the as-prepared samples. The morphology and surface areas were characterized by SEM and N2 adsorption-desorption, which show that the tubes were assembled with about 100-nm nanosheets and small ball particles under 400 and 600 °C N2 annealing; when temperature reached 800 °C, the surface of tubes appeared a lot of collapse and many large holes. In addition, the surface areas of 400 °C TiO2, 600 °C TiO2, and 800 °C TiO2 TBs were significantly affected by N2 annealing. Most importantly, the UV-vis and electrochemical tests demonstrate 600 °C TiO2 TBs exhibit higher absorption intensity and photocurrent; thus, it possess on better photocatalytic activity. Therefore, the photocatalytic performance for TiO2 TBs is significantly co-affected by surface area and mix-phase. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Study the target effect on the structural, surface and optical properties of TiO2 thin film fabricated by RF sputtering method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vyas, Sumit; Tiwary, Rohit; Shubham, Kumar; Chakrabarti, P.

2015-04-01

The effect of target (Ti metal target and TiO2 target) on Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) thin films grown on ITO coated glass substrate by RF magnetron sputtering has been investigated. A comparative study of both the films was done in respect of crystalline structure, surface morphology and optical properties by using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) studies and ellipsometric measurements. The XRD results confirmed the crystalline structure and indicated that the deposited films have the intensities of anatase phase. The surface morphology and roughness values indicated that the film using Ti metal target has a smoother surface and densely packed with grains as compared to films obtained using TiO2 target. A high transmission in the visible region, and direct band gap of 3.67 eV and 3.75 eV for films derived by using Ti metal and TiO2 target respectively and indirect bandgap of 3.39 eV for the films derived from both the targets (Ti metal and TiO2 target) were observed by the ellipsometric measurements.

Structure, composition and morphology of bioactive titanate layer on porous titanium surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jinshan; Wang, Xiaohua; Hu, Rui; Kou, Hongchao

2014-07-01

A bioactive coating was produced on pore surfaces of porous titanium samples by an amendatory alkali-heat treatment method. Porous titanium was prepared by powder metallurgy and its porosity and average size were 45% and 135 μm, respectively. Coating morphology, coating structure and phase constituents were examined by SEM, XPS and XRD. It was found that a micro-network structure with sizes of <200 nm mainly composed of bioactive sodium titanate and rutile phases of TiO2 covered the interior and exterior of porous titanium cells, and redundant Ca ion was detected in the titanate layer. The concentration distribution of Ti, O, Ca and Na in the coating showed a compositional gradient from the intermediate layer toward the outer surface. These compositional gradients indicate that the coating bonded to Ti substrate without a distinct interface. After immersion into the SBF solution for 3 days, a bone-like carbonate-hydroxylapatite showing a good biocompatibility was detected on the coating surface. And the redundant Ca advanced the bioactivity of the coating. Thus, the present modification is expected to allow the use of the bioactive porous titanium as artificial bones even under load-bearing conditions.

Concurrent segregation and erosion effects in medium-energy iron beam patterning of silicon surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Redondo-Cubero, A.; Lorenz, K.; Palomares, F. J.; Muñoz, A.; Castro, M.; Muñoz-García, J.; Cuerno, R.; Vázquez, L.

2018-07-01

We have bombarded crystalline silicon targets with a 40 keV Fe+ ion beam at different incidence angles. The resulting surfaces have been characterized by atomic force, current-sensing and magnetic force microscopies, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We have found that there is a threshold angle smaller than 40° for the formation of ripple patterns, which is definitely lower than those frequently reported for noble gas ion beams. We compare our observations with estimates of the value of the critical angle and of additional basic properties of the patterning process, which are based on a continuum model whose parameters are obtained from binary collision simulations. We have further studied experimentally the ripple structures and measured how the surface slopes change with the ion incidence angle. We explore in particular detail the fluence dependence of the pattern for an incidence angle value (40°) close to the threshold. Initially, rimmed holes appear randomly scattered on the surface, which evolve into large, bug-like structures. Further increasing the ion fluence induces a smooth, rippled background morphology. By means of microscopy techniques, a correlation between the morphology of these structures and their metal content can be unambiguously established.

AFM imaging of natural optical structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dallaeva, Dinara; Tománek, Pavel; Prokopyeva, Elena; Kaspar, Pavel; Grmela, Lubomír.; Škarvada, Pavel

2015-01-01

The colors of some living organisms assosiated with the surface structure. Irridesence butterfly wings is an example of such coloration. Optical effects such as interference, diffraction, polarization are responsible for physical colors appearance. Alongside with amazing beauty this structure represent interest for design of optical devices. Here we report the results of morphology investigation by atomic force microscopy. The difference in surface structure of black and blue wings areas is clearly observed. It explains the angle dependence of the wing blue color, since these micrometer and sub-micrometer quasiperiodical structures could control the light propagation, absorption and reflection.

Characterization of virus-like particles by atomic force microscopy in ambient conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oropesa, Reinier; Ramos, Jorge R.; Falcón, Viviana; Felipe, Ariel

2013-06-01

Recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) are attractive candidates for vaccine design since they resemble native viroids in size and morphology, but they are non-infectious due to the absence of a viral genome. The visualization of surface morphologies and structures can be used to deepen the understanding of physical, chemical, and biological phenomena. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a useful tool for the visualization of soft biological samples in a nanoscale resolution. In this work we have investigated the morphology of recombinant surface antigens of hepatitis B (rHBsAg) VLPs from Cuban vaccine against hepatitis B. The rHBsAg VLPs sizes estimated by AFM between 15 and 30 nm are similar to those reported on previous transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies.

Structural modifications induced in dentin by femtosecond laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le, Quang-Tri; Bertrand, Caroline; Vilar, Rui

2016-12-01

The structural and chemical modifications induced in dentin by ultrafast laser ablation were studied. The laser experiments were performed with a Yb:KYW chirped-pulse-regenerative amplification laser system (560-fs pulse duration, 1030-nm radiation wavelength), fluences in the range 2 to 14 J/cm2, 1-kHz pulse repetition rate, and 5-mm/s scanning speed. The ablation surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The ablation surfaces produced with 2 J/cm2 presented an irregular morphology with exposed dentinal tubules and no evidence of thermal effects. For 7 and 14 J/cm2, the ablation surfaces were covered by a layer of redeposited ablation debris, consisting mainly of amorphous calcium phosphate. This layer is weakly adherent to the underlying tissue and can be easily removed by ultrasonication, revealing a surface with a morphology similar to the one obtained with 2 J/cm2. The constitution of the dentin ablation surfaces is similar to the constitution of pristine dentin, showing that, within this fluence range, the laser treatment does not significantly modify the structure and constitution of dentin. The results achieved suggest an ablation mechanism where collagen is preferentially decomposed by the laser radiation, reducing the tissue cohesive strength and leading, ultimately, to its ablation.

Designing robust alumina nanowires-on-nanopores structures: superhydrophobic surfaces with slippery or sticky water adhesion.

PubMed

Peng, Shan; Tian, Dong; Miao, Xinrui; Yang, Xiaojun; Deng, Wenli

2013-11-01

Hierarchical alumina surfaces with different morphologies were fabricated by a simple one-step anodization method. These alumina films were fabricated by a new raw material: silica gel plate (aluminum foil with a low purity of 97.17%). The modulation of anodizing time enabled the formation of nanowires-on-nanopores hybrid nanostructures having controllable nanowires topographies through a self-assembly process. The resultant structures were demonstrated to be able to achieve superhydrophobicity without any hydrophobic coating layer. More interestingly, it is found that the as-prepared superhydrophobic alumina surfaces exhibited high contrast water adhesion. Hierarchical alumina film with nanowire bunches-on-nanopores (WBOP) morphology presents extremely slippery property which can obtain a sliding angle (SA) as low as 1°, nanowire pyramids-on-nanopores (WPOP) structure shows strongly sticky water adhesion with the adhesive ability to support 15 μL inverted water droplet at most. The obtained superhydrophobic alumina surfaces show remarkable mechanical durability even treated by crimping or pressing without impact on the water-repellent performance. Moreover, the created surfaces also show excellent resistivity to ice water, boiling water, high temperature, organic solvent and oil contamination, which could expand their usefulness and efficacy in harsh conditions. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of copper concentration in the electrolyte on the surface morphology and the microstructure of CuInSe2 films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hung, Pin-Kun; Kuo, Ting-Wei; Huang, Kuo-Chan; Wang, Na-Fu; Hsieh, Po-Tsung; Houng, Mau-Phon

2012-07-01

The surface morphology and the microstructure of CuInSe2 precursor films have been investigated by co-electrodeposition with different [Cu2+] concentrations from 2 mM to 4 mM. The characteristic of the precursor films was examined using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), glancing incidence angle X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and micro-Raman spectrometer, respectively. The surface morphology of the precursor films become more smoother and compact with choice of appropriate [Cu2+] concentration (3-3.5 mM) in the electrolyte. The relation between surface morphology and [Cu2+] concentration is also considered in terms of electrodeposition nucleation mechanisms using the mathematical models of Scharifker and Hills. It is suggested that the higher [Cu2+] concentrations can provide more numbers of nucleation sites on the surface of the electrode. Results simulated from the Rietveld refinement method suggest that decreasing dCusbnd Se is related to charge transfer from interstitial copper atoms and can affect the film microstructure. Micro-Raman spectrum also shows that the excess Cu atoms in the precursor films does not contribute significantly to large amounts of secondary phases but rather exists in the crystallite structure as other defect types.

Quantitative Correlation of 7B04 Aluminum Alloys Pitting Corrosion Morphology Characteristics with Stress Concentration Factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhiguo; Yan, Guangyao; Mu, Zhitao; Li, Xudong

2018-01-01

The accelerated pitting corrosion test of 7B04 aluminum alloy specimen was carried out according to the spectrum which simulated airport environment, and the corresponding pitting corrosion damage was obtained and was defined through three parameters A and B and C which respectively denoted the corrosion pit surface length and width and corrosion pit depth. The ratio between three parameters could determine the morphology characteristics of corrosion pits. On this basis the stress concentration factor of typical corrosion pit morphology under certain load conditions was quantitatively analyzed. The research shows that the corrosion pits gradually incline to be ellipse in surface and moderate in depth, and most value of B/A and C/A lies in 1 between 4 and few maximum exceeds 4; The stress concentration factor Kf of corrosion pits is obviously affected by the its morphology, the value of Kf increases with corrosion pits depth increasement under certain corrosion pits surface geometry. Also, the value of Kf decreases with surface width increasement under certain corrosion pits depth. The research conclusion can set theory basis for corrosion fatigue life analysis of aircraft aluminum alloy structure.

The effects of engine operating conditions on CCD chemistry and morphology

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

Yeh, S.W.; Moore, S.M.; Sabourin, E.T.

1996-10-01

The effects of engine driving cycle and engine coolant temperature on combustion chamber deposit (CCD) surface chemistry and morphology were assessed by the use of XPS and scanning electron micrographs. A 3.1L V6 test cell engine was used to generate a six test matrix that compared deposit surface chemistry and morphology under two distinctly different driving cycles, each cycle being evaluated at three separate engine coolant temperatures. Deposit material for each respective test was collected by removable combustion chamber sample probes that were subjected to XPS surface analysis and SEM evaluation. Discernible trends were observed in surface chemistry and depositmore » amounts with respect to changes in both driving cycle and coolant temperature. However, much more pronounced were deposit morphological changes recorded by SEM in different engine coolant temperature regimes for both of the utilized driving cycles. Deposit nodules formed in one temperature regime were seen to be typically much larger in size, highly irregular in shape, and appeared to be porous in structure. At a different operating temperature, the deposit nodules were observed to be extremely uniform and more tightly packed.« less

Tailoring the nanoscale morphology of HKUST-1 thin films via codeposition and seeded growth

PubMed Central

Brower, Landon J; Gentry, Lauren K; Napier, Amanda L

2017-01-01

Integration of surface-anchored metal-organic frameworks (surMOFs) within hierarchical architectures is necessary for potential sensing, electronic, optical, or separation applications. It is important to understand the fundamentals of film formation for these surMOFs in order to develop strategies for their incorporation with nanoscale control over lateral and vertical dimensions. This research identified processing parameters to control the film morphology for surMOFs of HKUST-1 fabricated by codeposition and seeded deposition. Time and temperature were investigated to observe film formation, to control film thickness, and to tune morphology. Film thickness was investigated by ellipsometry, while film structure and film roughness were characterized by atomic force microscopy. Films formed via codeposition resulted in nanocrystallites anchored to the gold substrate. A dynamic process at the interface was observed with a low density of large particulates (above 100 nm) initially forming on the substrate; and over time these particulates were slowly replaced by the prevalence of smaller crystallites (ca. 10 nm) covering the substrate at a high density. Elevated temperature was found to expedite the growth process to obtain the full range of surface morphologies with reasonable processing times. Seed crystals formed by the codeposition method were stable and nucleated growth throughout a subsequent layer-by-layer deposition process. These seed crystals templated the final film structure and tailor the features in lateral and vertical directions. Using codeposition and seeded growth, different surface morphologies with controllable nanoscale dimensions can be designed and fabricated for integration of MOF systems directly into device architectures and sensor platforms. PMID:29181287

Tailoring the nanoscale morphology of HKUST-1 thin films via codeposition and seeded growth.

PubMed

Brower, Landon J; Gentry, Lauren K; Napier, Amanda L; Anderson, Mary E

2017-01-01

Integration of surface-anchored metal-organic frameworks (surMOFs) within hierarchical architectures is necessary for potential sensing, electronic, optical, or separation applications. It is important to understand the fundamentals of film formation for these surMOFs in order to develop strategies for their incorporation with nanoscale control over lateral and vertical dimensions. This research identified processing parameters to control the film morphology for surMOFs of HKUST-1 fabricated by codeposition and seeded deposition. Time and temperature were investigated to observe film formation, to control film thickness, and to tune morphology. Film thickness was investigated by ellipsometry, while film structure and film roughness were characterized by atomic force microscopy. Films formed via codeposition resulted in nanocrystallites anchored to the gold substrate. A dynamic process at the interface was observed with a low density of large particulates (above 100 nm) initially forming on the substrate; and over time these particulates were slowly replaced by the prevalence of smaller crystallites (ca. 10 nm) covering the substrate at a high density. Elevated temperature was found to expedite the growth process to obtain the full range of surface morphologies with reasonable processing times. Seed crystals formed by the codeposition method were stable and nucleated growth throughout a subsequent layer-by-layer deposition process. These seed crystals templated the final film structure and tailor the features in lateral and vertical directions. Using codeposition and seeded growth, different surface morphologies with controllable nanoscale dimensions can be designed and fabricated for integration of MOF systems directly into device architectures and sensor platforms.

Carbon decorative coatings by dip-, spin-, and spray-assisted layer-by-layer assembly deposition.

PubMed

Hong, Jinkee; Kang, Sang Wook

2011-09-01

We performed a comparative surface analysis of all-carbon nano-objects (multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) or graphene oxide (GO) sheets) based multilayer coatings prepared using three widely used nanofilm fabrication methods: dip-, spin-, and spray-assisted layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition. The resultant films showed a marked difference in their growth mechanisms and surface morphologies. Various carbon decorative coatings were synthesized with different surface roughness values, despite identical preparation conditions. In particular, smooth to highly rough all-carbon surfaces, as determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were readily obtained by manipulating the LbL deposition methods. As was confirmed by the AFM and SEM analyses, this finding indicated the fundamental morphological evolution of one-dimensional nano-objects (MWNT) and two-dimensional nano-objects (GO) by control of the surface roughness through the deposition method. Therefore, an analysis of the three LbL-assembly methods presented herein may offer useful information about the industrial use of carbon decorative coatings and provide an insight into ways to control the structures of multilayer coatings by tuning the morphologies of carbon nano-objects.

White light emission of monolithic InGaN/GaN grown on morphology-controlled, nanostructured GaN templates.

PubMed

Song, Keun Man; Kim, Do-Hyun; Kim, Jong-Min; Cho, Chu-Young; Choi, Jehyuk; Kim, Kahee; Park, Jinsup; Kim, Hogyoug

2017-06-02

We demonstrated an InGaN/GaN-based, monolithic, white light-emitting diode (LED) without phosphors by using morphology-controlled active layers formed on multi-facet GaN templates containing polar and semipolar surfaces. The nanostructured surface morphology was controlled by changing the growth time, and distinct multiple photoluminescence peaks were observed at 360, 460, and 560 nm; these features were caused by InGaN/GaN-based multiple quantum wells (MQWs) on the nanostructured facets. The origin of each multi-peak was related to the different indium (In) compositions in the different planes of the quantum wells grown on the nanostructured GaN. The emitting units of MQWs in the LED structures were continuously connected, which is different from other GaN-based nanorod or nanowire LEDs. Therefore, the suggested structure had a larger active area. From the electroluminescence spectrum of the fabricated LED, monolithic white light emission with CIE color coordinates of x = 0.306 and y = 0.333 was achieved via multi-facet control combined with morphology control of the metal organic chemical vapor deposition-selective area growth of InGaN/GaN MQWs.

White light emission of monolithic InGaN/GaN grown on morphology-controlled, nanostructured GaN templates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Keun Man; Kim, Do-Hyun; Kim, Jong-Min; Cho, Chu-Young; Choi, Jehyuk; Kim, Kahee; Park, Jinsup; Kim, Hogyoug

2017-06-01

We demonstrated an InGaN/GaN-based, monolithic, white light-emitting diode (LED) without phosphors by using morphology-controlled active layers formed on multi-facet GaN templates containing polar and semipolar surfaces. The nanostructured surface morphology was controlled by changing the growth time, and distinct multiple photoluminescence peaks were observed at 360, 460, and 560 nm; these features were caused by InGaN/GaN-based multiple quantum wells (MQWs) on the nanostructured facets. The origin of each multi-peak was related to the different indium (In) compositions in the different planes of the quantum wells grown on the nanostructured GaN. The emitting units of MQWs in the LED structures were continuously connected, which is different from other GaN-based nanorod or nanowire LEDs. Therefore, the suggested structure had a larger active area. From the electroluminescence spectrum of the fabricated LED, monolithic white light emission with CIE color coordinates of x = 0.306 and y = 0.333 was achieved via multi-facet control combined with morphology control of the metal organic chemical vapor deposition-selective area growth of InGaN/GaN MQWs.

Morphological, anatomical, and ultrastructural changes (visualized through scanning electron microscopy) induced in Triticum aestivum by Pb²⁺ treatment.

PubMed

Kaur, Gurpreet; Singh, Harminder Pal; Batish, Daizy Rani; Kohli, Ravinder Kumar

2014-11-01

Lead (Pb) causes severe damage to crops, ecosystems, and humans, and alters the physiology and biochemistry of various plant species. It is hypothesized that Pb-induced metabolic alterations could manifest as structural variations in the roots of plants. In light of this, the morphological, anatomical, and ultrastructural variations (through scanning electron microscopy, SEM) were studied in 4-day-old seedlings of Triticum aestivum grown under Pb stress (0, 8, 16, 40, and 80 mg Pb(2+) l(-1); mild to highly toxic). The toxic effect was more pronounced in radicle growth than on the plumule growth. The SEM of the root of T. aestivum depicted morphological alterations and surface ultrastructural changes. Compared to intact and uniform surface cells in the control roots, cells were irregular and desiccated in Pb(2+)-treated roots. In Pb(2+)-treated roots, the number of root hairs increased manifold, showing dense growth, and these were apparently longer. Apart from the deformity in surface morphology and anatomy of the roots in response to Pb(2+) toxicity, considerable anatomical alterations were also observed. Pb(2+)-treated root exhibited signs of injury in the form of cell distortion, particularly in the cortical cells. The endodermis and pericycle region showed loss of uniformity post Pb(2+) exposure (at 80 mg l(-1) Pb(2+)). The cells appeared to be squeezed with greater depositions observed all over the tissue. The study concludes that Pb(2+) treatment caused structural anomalies and induced anatomical and surface ultrastructural changes in T. aestivum.

SnO2 Nanostructures: Effect of Processing Parameters on Their Structural and Functional Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dontsova, Tetiana A.; Nagirnyak, Svitlana V.; Zhorov, Vladyslav V.; Yasiievych, Yuriy V.

2017-05-01

Zero- and 1D (one-dimensional) tin (IV) oxide nanostructures have been synthesized by thermal evaporation method, and a comparison of their morphology, crystal structure, sorption properties, specific surface area, as well as electrical characteristics has been performed. Synthesized SnO2 nanomaterials were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), N2 sorption/desorption technique, IR spectroscopy and, in addition, their current-voltage characteristics have also been measured. The single crystalline structures were obtained both in case of 0D (zero-dimensional) SnO2 powders and in case of 0D nanofibers, as confirmed by electron diffraction of TEM. It was found that SnO2 synthesis parameters significantly affect materials' properties by contributing to the difference in morphology, texture formation, changes in IR spectra of 1D structure as compared to 0D powders, increases in the specific surface area of nanofibers, and the alteration of current-voltage characteristics 0D and 1D SnO2 nanostructures. It was established that gas sensors utilizing of 1D nanofibers significantly outperform those based on 0D powders by providing higher specific surface area and ohmic I-V characteristics.

Selected Topics on the Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

PubMed Central

Stoner, B.R.; Brown, B.; Glass, J.T.

2014-01-01

Summary In summary, MWCNTs have been examined for a variety of electronic applications due to their unique structure and chemistry. Electrodes for field emission, energy and sensor applications hold particular interest. MWCNTs provide a very high surface area, relatively easy methods of surface modification, controllable and high concentration of reactive surface sites, and high specific capacitance. Combining MWCNTs with graphene structures, oxide and metal nanoparticles and certain polymers extends their performance and functionality. Such hybrid structures have been produced in situ during CNT growth and in two-step processes. Excellent progress on understanding the mechanisms of CNT growth has enabled numerous growth methods to all yield MWCNT structures in a variety of morphologies. PMID:24910503

A nanoforest structure for practical surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seol, Myeong-Lok; Choi, Sung-Jin; Baek, David J.; Park, Tae Jung; Ahn, Jae-Hyuk; Lee, Sang Yup; Choi, Yang-Kyu

2012-03-01

A nanoforest structure for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrates is fabricated and analyzed. The detailed morphology of the resulting structure can be easily controlled by modifying the process parameters such as initial gold layer thickness and etching time. The applicability of the nanoforest substrate as a label-free SERS immunosensor is demonstrated using influenza A virus subtype H1N1. Selective binding of the H1N1 surface antigen and the anti-H1 antibody is directly detected by the SERS signal differences. Simple fabrication and high throughput with strong in-plane hot-spots imply that the nanoforest structure can be a practical sensing component of a chip-based SERS sensing system.

Photo-induced self-cleaning and sterilizing activity of Sm3+ doped ZnO nanomaterials.

PubMed

Saif, M; Hafez, H; Nabeel, A I

2013-01-01

Highly active samarium doped zinc oxide self-cleaning and biocidal surfaces (x mol% Sm(3+)/ZnO where x=0, 1, 2 and 4 mol%) with crystalline porous structures were synthesized by hydrothermal method. Sm(3+)/ZnO thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopic (EDS), UV-visible diffuse reflectance and fluorescence (FL) spectroscopy. The combination between doping and hydrothermal treatments significantly altered the morphology of ZnO into rod and plate-like nanoshapes structure and enhanced its absorption and emission of ultraviolet radiation. The photo-activity in term of quantitative determination of the active oxidative species (()OH) produced on the thin film surfaces was evaluated using fluorescent probe method. The results showed that, the hydrothermally treated 2.0 mol% Sm(3+)/ZnO film (S2) is the highly active one. The optical, structural, morphology and photo-activity properties of the highly active thin film (S2) make it promising surface for self-cleaning and sterilizing applications. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of surface morphology on drag and roughness sublayer in flows over regular roughness elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Placidi, Marco; Ganapathisubramani, Bharathram

2014-11-01

The effects of systematically varied roughness morphology on bulk drag and on the spatial structure of turbulent boundary layers are examined by performing a series of wind tunnel experiments. In this study, rough surfaces consisting of regularly and uniformly distributed LEGO™ bricks are employed. Twelve different patterns are adopted in order to methodically examine the individual effects of frontal solidity (λF, frontal area of the roughness elements per unit wall-parallel area) and plan solidity (λP, plan area of roughness elements per unit wall-parallel area), on both the bulk drag and the turbulence structure. A floating element friction balance based on Krogstad & Efros (2010) was designed and manufactured to measure the drag generated by the different surfaces. In parallel, high resolution planar and stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was applied to investigate the flow features. This talk will focus on the effects of each solidity parameter on the bulk drag and attempt to relate the observed trends to the flow structures in the roughness sublayer. Currently at City University London.

Self-organized microstructures induced by MeV ion beam on silicon surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Muthanna

2017-02-01

Micro patterning of self organized structure on silicon surface is induced by ion implantation of energetic (MeV) copper ions. This work reports for the first time the ability of using energetic ions for producing highly ordered ripples and dots of micro sizes. The experiments are realized at the Tandem ion beam accelerator (3 MV) at the IBA laboratory of the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria. Similarly to nano patterning formed by slow ions, the formation of micro patterned structures dots and ripples is observed to be depending on the angle of ion beam incidence, energy and ion fluence. The observation of such microstructures formation is limited to a range of ion energies (few MeV) at fluence higher than 1.75 × 1017 ion cm-2. The patterned surface layer is completely amorphousized by the ion implantation. Shadowing effect is observed in the formation of microripples and superstructures in the top of ripples. The superstructure develops new morphology that is not observed before. This morphology has butterfly shape with symmetry in its structure.

Replication of Leaf Surface Structures for Light Harvesting

PubMed Central

Huang, Zhongjia; Yang, Sai; Zhang, Hui; Zhang, Meng; Cao, Wei

2015-01-01

As one of the most important hosts of natural light harvesting, foliage normally has complicated surface structures to capture solar radiances. Bio-mimicking leaf surface structures can provide novel designs of covers in photovoltaic systems. In this article, we reported on replicating leaf surface structures on poly-(methyl methacrylate) polymers to prompt harvesting efficiencies. Prepared via a double transfer process, the polymers were found to have high optical transparencies and transmission hazes, with both values exceeding 80% in some species. Benefiting from optical properties and wrinkled surfaces, the biomimetic polymers brought up to 17% gains to photovoltaic efficiencies. Through Monte-Carlo simulations of light transport, ultrahigh haze values and low reflections were attributed to lightwave guidance schemes lead by the nano- and micro-morphologies which are inherited from master leaves. Thus, leaf surface bio-mimicking can be considered as a strategic direction to design covers of light harvesting systems. PMID:26381702

Superhydrophobic alumina surface based on stearic acid modification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Libang; Zhang, Hongxia; Mao, Pengzhi; Wang, Yanping; Ge, Yang

2011-02-01

A novel superhydrophobic alumina surface is fabricated by grafting stearic acid layer onto the porous and roughened aluminum film. The chemical and phase structure, morphology, and the chemical state of the atoms at the superhydrophobic surface were investigated by techniques as FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, and XPS, respectively. Results show that a super water-repellent surface with a contact angle of 154.2° is generated. The superhydrophobic alumina surface takes on an uneven flowerlike structure with many nanometer-scale hollows distribute in the nipple-shaped protrusions, and which is composed of boehmite crystal and γ-Al2O3. Furthermore, the roughened and porous alumina surface is coated with a layer of hydrophobic alkyl chains which come from stearic acid molecules. Therefore, both the roughened structure and the hydrophobic layer endue the alumina surface with the superhydrophobic behavior.

Impact of plasma treatment under atmospheric pressure on surface chemistry and surface morphology of extruded and injection-molded wood-polymer composites (WPC)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hünnekens, Benedikt; Avramidis, Georg; Ohms, Gisela; Krause, Andreas; Viöl, Wolfgang; Militz, Holger

2018-05-01

The influence of plasma treatment performed at atmospheric pressure and ambient air as process gas by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) on the morphological and chemical surface characteristics of wood-polymer composites (WPC) was investigated by applying several surface-sensitive analytical methods. The surface free energy showed a distinct increase after plasma treatment for all tested materials. The analyzing methods for surface topography-laser scanning microscopy (LSM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM)-revealed a roughening induced by the treatment which is likely due to a degradation of the polymeric surface. This was accompanied by the formation of low-molecular-weight oxidized materials (LMWOMs), appearing as small globular structures. With increasing discharge time, the nodules increase in size and the material degradation proceeds. The surface degradation seems to be more serious for injection-molded samples, whereas the formation of nodules became more apparent and were evenly distributed on extruded surfaces. These phenomena could also be confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, differences between extruded and injection-molded surfaces could be observed. Besides the morphological changes, the chemical composition of the substrates' surfaces was affected by the plasma discharge. Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated the formation of new oxygen containing polar groups on the modified surfaces.

Gold surface plasmon crystal structure based-on polystyrene template for biosensor application.

PubMed

Cheng, Min-Zhuo; Zhang, Jing; Bao, Dequan; Huang, Xiwei

2018-05-21

In this communication, we assembled ordered polystyrene (PS) microsphere array as a template with the drop-coating method, and the oxygen plasma was used to etch the template to adjust the spacing between the PS microspheres. Nano-triangular gold array and silver nano-pyramid array were obtained by ion beam sputtering to deposit precious metal gold and silver. We observed the surface morphology of Au and Au/Ag composite films by scanning electron microscope and characterized the films by X-ray diffraction and ultraviolet/visible light spectrophotometer. The results show that the etching time of oxygen plasma has an obvious effect in adjusting the spacing between PSs and has a significant effect on the morphology of Au structure. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Surface Engineering of Triboelectric Nanogenerator with an Electrodeposited Gold Nanoflower Structure.

PubMed

Park, Sang-Jae; Seol, Myeong-Lok; Jeon, Seung-Bae; Kim, Daewon; Lee, Dongil; Choi, Yang-Kyu

2015-09-14

A triboelectric nanogenerator composed of gold nanoflowers is demonstrated. The proposed triboelectric nanogenerator creates electricity by contact-separation-based electrification between an anodic metal and a cathodic polymer. For the improvement of output power via the enlargement of the effective surface area in the anodic metal, gold nanoflowers that produce a hierarchical morphology at a micro-to-nano scale by electrodeposition are utilized. The hierarchical morphology is controlled by the applied voltage and deposition time. Even though the triboelectric coefficient of gold is inferior to those of other metals, gold is very attractive to make a flower-like structure by electrodeposition. Moreover, gold is stable against oxidation by oxygen in air. From a reliability and practicality point of view, the aforementioned stability against oxidation is preferred.

Y2O3:Eu phosphor particles prepared by spray pyrolysis from a solution containing citric acid and polyethylene glycol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roh, H. S.; Kang, Y. C.; Park, H. D.; Park, S. B.

Y2O3:Eu phosphor particles were prepared by large-scale spray pyrolysis. The morphological control of Y2O3:Eu particles in spray pyrolysis was attempted by adding polymeric precursors to the spray solution. The effect of composition and amount of polymeric precursors on the morphology, crystallinity and photoluminescence characteristics of Y2O3:Eu particles was investigated. Particles prepared from a solution containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) with an average molecular weight of 200 had a hollow structure, while those prepared from solutions containing adequate amounts of citric acid (CA) and PEG had a spherical shape, filled morphology and clean surfaces after post-treatment at high temperature. Y2O3:Eu particles prepared from an aqueous solution with no polymeric precursors had a hollow structure and rough surfaces after post-treatment. The phosphor particles prepared from solutions with inadequate amounts of CA and/or PEG also had hollow and/or fragmented structures. The particles prepared from the solution containing 0.3 M CA and 0.3 M PEG had the highest photoluminescence emission intensity, which was 56% higher than that of the particles prepared from aqueous solution without polymeric precursors.

Influence of Under-layer Morphology on Structural and Magnetic Properties of Sputtered Co81Pd19 Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ponchaiya, Pairin; Rattanasakulthong, Watcharee

2017-09-01

Sputtered Co81Pd19 films with thickness of about 60 nm were deposited on various under-layers (Co, Ni, Cr and Al) and on glass substrate. Structural, morphological and magnetic properties of Co81Pd19 films were investigated. All of prepared Co81Pd19 film showed CoPd-FCC phase in (111) direction on CoO-FCC (111), NiO-FCC (200), Cr-BCC (200) and (201) and AlO-FCC (200) phases of Co, Ni, Cr and Al under-layer, respectively. AFM images revealed that the film on Cr under-layers and glass substrate exhibited the maximum roughness with the highest grain size and the minimum roughness with the continuous grain size, respectively. Both parallel and perpendicular maximum coercive field were found in the film on glass under-layer and the film on Co-under-layer film showed the highest saturation magnetization from both in-plane and out-of-plane measurements. These results confirmed that the structural and magnetic properties of sputtered Co81Pd19 films were affected by under-layer surface roughness and morphology by the virtue of particle size and distribution on the under-layer film surface.

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

Hou, Kun; Gao, Ziwei, E-mail: zwgao@snnu.edu.cn; Da, Min

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Highly oriented and well-defined ZnO urchin-like crystals were successfully fabricated by a facile and effective hydrotherm method. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Polyvinylpyrrolidone- and hydrogen peroxide-assisted synthesis of ZnO could optimize its crystalline quality and the obtained ZnO have smooth surface, radial growth of morphology, obvious crystal edges and decreased defects. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The physicochemical properties of samples were studied by analysis of its structure, morphology, surface and optical properties. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer This study represented a multistep mechanism based on [Zn(OH){sub 4}]{sup 2-} growth units about formation such urchin-like structure. -- Abstract: The urchin-like ZnO microcrystals with high crystallinity decomposed from [Zn(OH){sub 4}]{sup 2-}more » directly were obtained via a hydrothermal method. The morphology, particle size, crystalline structure and fluorescence of the as-prepared ZnO were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) analyses. The results demonstrated that the urchin-like ZnO crystals with wurtzite structure had a narrow distribution in size, which could be adjusted in the range of 30-80 {mu}m by varying reaction time. Broad visible light emission peak was also observed in the PL spectra of the synthesized ZnO products. A multistep growth process about how to form such a structure was proposed.« less

Super-resolution optical microscopy resolves network morphology of smart colloidal microgels.

PubMed

Bergmann, Stephan; Wrede, Oliver; Huser, Thomas; Hellweg, Thomas

2018-02-14

We present a new method to resolve the network morphology of colloidal particles in an aqueous environment via super-resolution microscopy. By localization of freely diffusing fluorophores inside the particle network we can resolve the three dimensional structure of one species of colloidal particles (thermoresponsive microgels) without altering their chemical composition through copolymerization with fluorescent monomers. Our approach utilizes the interaction of the fluorescent dye rhodamine 6G with the polymer network to achieve an indirect labeling. We calculate the 3D structure from the 2D images and compare the structure to previously published models for the microgel morphology, e.g. the fuzzy sphere model. To describe the differences in the data an extension of this model is suggested. Our method enables the tailor-made fabrication of colloidal particles which are used in various applications, such as paints or cosmetics, and are promising candidates for drug delivery, smart surface coatings, and nanocatalysis. With the precise knowledge of the particle morphology an understanding of the underlying structure-property relationships for various colloidal systems is possible.

Interfacial self-organization of bolaamphiphiles bearing mesogenic groups: relationships between the molecular structures and their self-organized morphologies.

PubMed

Song, Bo; Liu, Guanqing; Xu, Rui; Yin, Shouchun; Wang, Zhiqiang; Zhang, Xi

2008-04-15

This article discusses the relationship between the molecular structure of bolaamphiphiles bearing mesogenic groups and their interfacial self-organized morphology. On the basis of the molecular structures of bolaamphiphiles, we designed and synthesized a series of molecules with different hydrophobic alkyl chain lengths, hydrophilic headgroups, mesogenic groups, and connectors between the alkyl chains and the mesogenic group. Through investigating their interfacial self-organization behavior, some experiential rules are summarized: (1) An appropriate alkyl chain length is necessary to form stable surface micelles; (2) different categories of headgroups have a great effect on the interfacial self-organized morphology; (3) different types of mesogenic groups have little effect on the structure of the interfacial assembly when it is changed from biphenyl to azobenzene or stilbene; (4) the orientation of the ester linker between the mesogenic group and alkyl chain can greatly influence the interfacial self-organization behavior. It is anticipated that this line of research may be helpful for the molecular engineering of bolaamphiphiles to form tailor-made morphologies.

Visualizing Morphological Changes of Abscission Zone Cells in Arabidopsis by Scanning Electron Microscope.

PubMed

Shi, Chun-Lin; Butenko, Melinka A

2018-01-01

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a type of electron microscope which produces detailed images of surface structures. It has been widely used in plants and animals to study cellular structures. Here, we describe a detailed protocol to prepare samples of floral abscission zones (AZs) for SEM, as well as further image analysis. We show that it is a powerful tool to detect morphologic changes at the cellular level during the course of abscission in wild-type plants and to establish the details of phenotypic alteration in abscission mutants.

Influence of Zr doping on structure and morphology of TiO2 nanorods prepared using hydrothermal method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muslimin, Masliana; Jumali, Mohammad Hafizuddin; Tee, Tan Sin; Beng, Lee Hock; Hui, Tan Chun; Chin, Yap Chi

2018-04-01

The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of Zr doping on TiO2 nanostructure. TiO2 nanorods thin films with different Zr-doping concentrations (6 × 10-3 M, 13 × 10-3 M and 25 × 10-3 M) were successfully prepared using a simple hydrothermal method. The structural and morphological properties of the samples were evaluated using XRD and FESEM respectively. The XRD results revealed that the TiO2 in all samples stabilized as rutile phase. The FESEM micrographs confirmed that TiO2 exist as square like nanorods with blunt tips. Although the crystallographic nature remains unchanged, the introduction of Zr has altered the surface density, structure and morphology of TiO2 which subsequently will have significant effect on its properties.

Nanoscale analysis of the morphology and surface stability of calcium carbonate polymorphs

PubMed Central

Sekkal, W.; Zaoui, A.

2013-01-01

Under earth surface conditions, in ocean and natural water, calcium carbonate is ubiquitous, forming anhydrous and hydrous minerals. These hydrous phases are of considerable interest for their role as precursors to stable carbonate minerals. Atomistic simulation techniques have been employed here to perform a comprehensive and quantitative study of the structural and energetic stability of dry and hydrous surfaces of calcium carbonate polymorphs using two recently developed forcefields. Results show that the dry forms are prone to ductility; while hydrous phases are found to be brittle. The (001) surface of monohydrocalcite appears to be the most stable (0.99 J/m2) whereas for the ikaite phase, the (001) surface is the most stable. The corresponding value is 0.2 J/m2, i.e. even lower than the surface energy of the Beautiful computed morphology pictures are obtained with Xiao's model and are very similar to the observed SEM images. PMID:23545842

Nanoscale analysis of the morphology and surface stability of calcium carbonate polymorphs.

PubMed

Sekkal, W; Zaoui, A

2013-01-01

Under earth surface conditions, in ocean and natural water, calcium carbonate is ubiquitous, forming anhydrous and hydrous minerals. These hydrous phases are of considerable interest for their role as precursors to stable carbonate minerals. Atomistic simulation techniques have been employed here to perform a comprehensive and quantitative study of the structural and energetic stability of dry and hydrous surfaces of calcium carbonate polymorphs using two recently developed forcefields. Results show that the dry forms are prone to ductility; while hydrous phases are found to be brittle. The (001) surface of monohydrocalcite appears to be the most stable (0.99 J/m(2)) whereas for the ikaite phase, the (001) surface is the most stable. The corresponding value is 0.2 J/m(2), i.e. even lower than the surface energy of the Beautiful computed morphology pictures are obtained with Xiao's model and are very similar to the observed SEM images.

Nanoscale analysis of the morphology and surface stability of calcium carbonate polymorphs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekkal, W.; Zaoui, A.

2013-04-01

Under earth surface conditions, in ocean and natural water, calcium carbonate is ubiquitous, forming anhydrous and hydrous minerals. These hydrous phases are of considerable interest for their role as precursors to stable carbonate minerals. Atomistic simulation techniques have been employed here to perform a comprehensive and quantitative study of the structural and energetic stability of dry and hydrous surfaces of calcium carbonate polymorphs using two recently developed forcefields. Results show that the dry forms are prone to ductility; while hydrous phases are found to be brittle. The (001) surface of monohydrocalcite appears to be the most stable (0.99 J/m2) whereas for the ikaite phase, the (001) surface is the most stable. The corresponding value is 0.2 J/m2, i.e. even lower than the surface energy of the Beautiful computed morphology pictures are obtained with Xiao's model and are very similar to the observed SEM images.

Evaluation of enamel by scanning electron microscopy green LED associated to hydrogen peroxide 35% for dental bleaching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monteiro, Juliana S. C.; de Oliveira, Susana C. P. S.; Zanin, Fátima A. A.; Santos, Gustavo M. P.; Sampaio, Fernando J. P.; Gomes Júnior, Rafael Araújo; Gesteira, Maria F. M.; Vannier-Santos, Marcos A.; Pinheiro, Antônio Luiz B.

2014-02-01

Dental bleaching is a frequently requested procedure in clinical dental practice. The literature is contradictory regarding the effects of bleaching agents on both morphology and demineralization of enamel after bleaching. The aim of this study was to analyze by SEM the effect of 35% neutral hydrogen peroxide cured by green LED. Buccal surfaces of 15 pre-molars were sectioned and marked with a central groove to allow experimental and control groups on the same specimen. For SEM, 75 electron micrographs were evaluated by tree observers at 43X, 220X and 1000X. Quantitative analysis for the determination of the surface elemental composition of the samples through X-ray microanalysis by SEM was also performed. The protocol tested neither showed significant changes in mineral composition of the samples nor to dental enamel structure when compared to controls. SEM analysis allowed inferring that there were marked morphological differences between the enamel samples highlighting the need for the use of the same tooth in comparative morphological studies. The tested protocol did not cause morphological damage the enamel surface when compared to their respective controls.

Growth and characterization of epitaxial silver indium diselenide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pena Martin, Pamela

Photovoltaics (solar cells) are a key player in the renewable energy frontier, and will become increasingly important as their cost per watt continues to drop, especially if fossil fuel costs increase. One particularly promising photovoltaic technology is based on chalcopyrite-structure semiconductors. Within the chalcopyrite compounds the highest efficiency thin film solar cell absorber material to date is Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS). While current efficiency records are over 21% for single-junction cells, there is still room for improvement. Replacing some of the Cu with Ag has been shown to be beneficial in CIGS devices. However, the Ag- containing chalcopyrites are still relatively unknown in terms of their growth mechanism, energetics, and surface atomic and electronic properties. These are best inferred through study of epitaxial films, yet they have little mention in literature and have not been the subject of a detailed study. This work describes the growth of epitaxial AgInSe2 (AIS) on GaAs substrates, studying the morphology, structure, and surface properties to understand how growth takes place. It also seeks to experimentally determine the surface electronic and atomic structure at the atomic scale to gain insight into the part of the material that forms the heterojunction that collects photon energy in the device. Finally, this work seeks to compare and contrast these findings with what is known about CIGS to determine where similarities and, more importantly, the differences may lie. This study has found that single phase tetragonal AIS can be epitaxially grown on GaAs, as illustrated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and surface morphology data. Like CIGS, the close packed polar (112) planes have the lowest energy. The morphology points to a difference in step dynamics, leading to less faceted, straight edged island shapes compared to CIGS. Epitaxial temperature as a function of growth direction shows a different trend in AIS than in CIGS. Interdiffusion of the group III elements across the substrate interface was found to result in an epitaxial intermixed layer between the film and substrate in some cases, which may help mediate the lattice mismatch. At the atomic scale, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was used to observe details of the surface morphology, which indicated growth of the (112)A orientation of AIS by a screw dislocation mechanism (other surfaces were not examined by STM but are expected to show similar results). The surface atomic structure was directly imaged for the first time, revealing an arrangement similar to that expected from a bulk terminated surface. The electronic structure shows a gap in surface electronic states with a width comparable to bulk AIS, n-type conduction, and a tail of states near the valence band edge that decay well into the gap. The conduction and valence bands show fluctuations as a function of position on the surface, with greater magnitude in the valence band. The fluctuations in both bands are less than those observed on the surface of CIS by STM. It seems to indicate a reduction in band tails, both in magnitude and spacial extent, in AIS compared to CIS, likely tied to a reduction in point defect concentration at the surface.

Morphology-Driven Control of Metabolite Selectivity Using Nanostructure-Initiator Mass Spectrometry

DOE PAGES

Gao, Jian; Louie, Katherine B.; Steinke, Philipp; ...

2017-05-26

Nanostructure-initiator mass spectrometry (NIMS) is a laser desorption/ionization analysis technique based on the vaporization of a nanostructure-trapped liquid "initiator" phase. Here we report an intriguing relationship between NIMS surface morphology and analyte selectivity. Scanning electron microscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry were used to characterize the surface morphologies of a series of NIMS substrates generated by anodic electrochemical etching. Mass spectrometry imaging was applied to compare NIMS sensitivity of these various surfaces toward the analysis of diverse analytes. The porosity of NIMS surfaces was found to increase linearly with etching time where the pore size ranged from 4 to 12 nm withmore » corresponding porosities estimated to be 7-70%. Surface morphology was found to significantly and selectively alter NIMS sensitivity. The small molecule ( < 2k Da) sensitivity was found to increase with increased porosity, whereas low porosity had the highest sensitivity for the largest molecules examined. Estimation of molecular sizes showed that this transition occurs when the pore size is < 3× the maximum of molecular dimensions. While the origins of selectivity are unclear, increased signal from small molecules with increased surface area is consistent with a surface area restructuring-driven desorption/ionization process where signal intensity increases with porosity. In contrast, large molecules show highest signal for the low-porosity and small-pore-size surfaces. We attribute this to strong interactions between the initiator-coated pore structures and large molecules that hinder desorption/ionization by trapping large molecules. This finding may enable us to design NIMS surfaces with increased specificity to molecules of interest.« less

Linking Precursor Alterations to Nanoscale Structure and Optical Transparency in Polymer Assisted Fast-Rate Dip-Coating of Vanadium Oxide Thin Films

PubMed Central

Glynn, Colm; Creedon, Donal; Geaney, Hugh; Armstrong, Eileen; Collins, Timothy; Morris, Michael A.; Dwyer, Colm O’

2015-01-01

Solution processed metal oxide thin films are important for modern optoelectronic devices ranging from thin film transistors to photovoltaics and for functional optical coatings. Solution processed techniques such as dip-coating, allow thin films to be rapidly deposited over a large range of surfaces including curved, flexible or plastic substrates without extensive processing of comparative vapour or physical deposition methods. To increase the effectiveness and versatility of dip-coated thin films, alterations to commonly used precursors can be made that facilitate controlled thin film deposition. The effects of polymer assisted deposition and changes in solvent-alkoxide dilution on the morphology, structure, optoelectronic properties and crystallinity of vanadium pentoxide thin films was studied using a dip-coating method using a substrate withdrawal speed within the fast-rate draining regime. The formation of sub-100 nm thin films could be achieved rapidly from dilute alkoxide based precursor solutions with high optical transmission in the visible, linked to the phase and film structure. The effects of the polymer addition was shown to change the crystallized vanadium pentoxide thin films from a granular surface structure to a polycrystalline structure composed of a high density of smaller in-plane grains, resulting in a uniform surface morphology with lower thickness and roughness. PMID:26123117

Amphiphilic cationic peptides mediate cell adhesion to plastic surfaces.

PubMed

Rideout, D C; Lambert, M; Kendall, D A; Moe, G R; Osterman, D G; Tao, H P; Weinstein, I B; Kaiser, E T

1985-09-01

Four amphiphilic peptides, each with net charges of +2 or more at neutrality and molecular weights under 4 kilodaltons, were found to mediate the adhesion of normal rat kidney fibroblasts to polystyrene surfaces. Two of these peptides, a model for calcitonin (peptide 1, MCT) and melittin (peptide 2, MEL), form amphiphilic alpha-helical structures at aqueous/nonpolar interfaces. The other two, a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone model (peptide 3, LHM) and a platelet factor model (peptide 4, MPF) form beta-strand structures in amphiphilic environments. Although it contains only 10 residues, LHM mediated adhesion to surfaces coated with solutions containing as little as 10 pmoles/ml of peptide. All four of these peptides were capable of forming monolayers at air-buffer interfaces with collapse pressures greater than 20 dynes/cm. None of these four peptides contains the tetrapeptide sequence Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser, which has been associated with fibronectin-mediated cell adhesion. Ten polypeptides that also lacked the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser but were nonamphiphilic and/or had net charges less than +2 at neutrality were all incapable of mediating cell adhesion (Pierschbacher and Ruoslahti, 1984). The morphologies of NRK cells spread on polystyrene coated with peptide LHM resemble the morphologies on fibronectin-coated surfaces, whereas cells spread on surfaces coated with MCT or MEL exhibit strikingly different morphologies. The adhesiveness of MCT, MEL, LHM, and MPF implies that many amphiphilic cationic peptides could prove useful as well defined adhesive substrata for cell culture and for studies of the mechanism of cell adhesion.

Control of periodic surface structures on silicon by combined temporal and polarization shaping of femtosecond laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fraggelakis, F.; Stratakis, E.; Loukakos, P. A.

2018-06-01

We demonstrate the capability to exercise advanced control on the laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on silicon by combining the effect of temporal shaping, via tuning the interpulse temporal delay between double femtosecond laser pulses, along with the independent manipulation of the polarization state of each of the individual pulses. For this, cross-polarized (CP) as well as counter-rotating (CR) double circularly polarized pulses have been utilized. The pulse duration was 40 fs and the central wavelength of 790 nm. The linearly polarized double pulses are generated by a modified Michelson interferometer allowing the temporal delay between the pulses to vary from Δτ = -80 ps to Δτ = +80 ps with an accuracy of 0.2 fs. We show the significance of fluence balance between the two pulse components and its interplay with the interpulse delay and with the order of arrival of the individually polarized pulse components of the double pulse sequence on the final surface morphology. For the case of CR pulses we found that when the pulses are temporally well separated the surface morphology attains no axial symmetry. But strikingly, when the two CP pulses temporally overlap, we demonstrate, for the first time in our knowledge, the detrimental effect that the phase delay has on the ripple orientation. Our results provide new insight showing that temporal pulse shaping in combination with polarization control gives a powerful tool for drastically controlling the surface nanostructure morphology.

Polymeric Thin Films for Organic Electronics: Properties and Adaptive Structures

PubMed Central

Cataldo, Sebastiano; Pignataro, Bruno

2013-01-01

This review deals with the correlation between morphology, structure and performance of organic electronic devices including thin film transistors and solar cells. In particular, we report on solution processed devices going into the role of the 3D supramolecular organization in determining their electronic properties. A selection of case studies from recent literature are reviewed, relying on solution methods for organic thin-film deposition which allow fine control of the supramolecular aggregation of polymers confined at surfaces in nanoscopic layers. A special focus is given to issues exploiting morphological structures stemming from the intrinsic polymeric dynamic adaptation under non-equilibrium conditions. PMID:28809362

Morphological Evolution of Block Copolymer Particles: Effect of Solvent Evaporation Rate on Particle Shape and Morphology.

PubMed

Shin, Jae Man; Kim, YongJoo; Yun, Hongseok; Yi, Gi-Ra; Kim, Bumjoon J

2017-02-28

Shape and morphology of polymeric particles are of great importance in controlling their optical properties or self-assembly into unusual superstructures. Confinement of block copolymers (BCPs) in evaporative emulsions affords particles with diverse structures, including prolate ellipsoids, onion-like spheres, oblate ellipsoids, and others. Herein, we report that the evaporation rate of solvent from emulsions encapsulating symmetric polystyrene-b-polybutadiene (PS-b-PB) determines the shape and internal nanostructure of micron-sized BCP particles. A distinct morphological transition from the ellipsoids with striped lamellae to the onion-like spheres was observed with decreasing evaporation rate. Experiments and dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations showed that the evaporation rate affected the organization of BCPs at the particle surface, which determined the final shape and internal nanostructure of the particles. Differences in the solvent diffusion rates in PS and PB at rapid evaporation rates induced alignment of both domains perpendicular to the particle surface, resulting in ellipsoids with axial lamellar stripes. Slower evaporation rates provided sufficient time for BCP organization into onion-like structures with PB as the outermost layer, owing to the preferential interaction of PB with the surroundings. BCP molecular weight was found to influence the critical evaporation rate corresponding to the morphological transition from ellipsoid to onion-like particles, as well as the ellipsoid aspect ratio. DPD simulations produced morphologies similar to those obtained from experiments and thus elucidated the mechanism and driving forces responsible for the evaporation-induced assembly of BCPs into particles with well-defined shapes and morphologies.

Evaluation of correlation between dissolution rates of loxoprofen tablets and their surface morphology observed by scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope.

PubMed

Yoshikawa, Shinichi; Murata, Ryo; Shida, Shigenari; Uwai, Koji; Suzuki, Tsuneyoshi; Katsumata, Shunji; Takeshita, Mitsuhiro

2010-01-01

We observed the surface morphological structures of 60 mg tablets of Loxonin, Loxot, and Lobu using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) to evaluate the dissolution rates. We found a significant difference among the initial dissolution rates of the three kinds of loxoprofen sodium tablets. Petal forms of different sizes were commonly observed on the surface of the Loxonin and Loxot tablets in which loxoprofen sodium was confirmed by measuring the energy-dispersible X-ray (EDX) spectrum of NaKalpha using SEM. However, a petal form was not observed on the surface of the Lobu tablet, indicating differences among the drug production processes. Surface area and particle size of the principal ingredient in tablets are important factors for dissolution rate. The mean size of the smallest fine particles constituting each tablet was also determined with AFM. There was a correlation between the initial dissolution rate and the mean size of the smallest particles in each tablet. Visualizing tablet surface morphology using SEM and AFM provides information on the drug production processes and initial dissolution rate, and is associated with the time course of pharmacological activities after tablet administration.

In-depth understanding of the relation between CuAlO₂ particle size and morphology for ozone gas sensor detection at a nanoscale level.

PubMed

Thirumalairajan, S; Mastelaro, Valmor R; Escanhoela, Carlos A

2014-12-10

A morphology-dependent nanomaterial for energy and environment applications is one of the key challenges for materials science and technology. In this study, we investigate the effect of the particle size of CuAlO2 nanostructures prepared through the facile and hydrothermal process to detect ozone gas. Phase analysis and structural information were obtained using X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman studies. The chemical states of CuAlO2 atomic species were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electron microscopy images revealed the flower and hexagonal shape constituted of pentagon and oval CuAlO2 nanoparticles with average size ∼40 and 80 nm. The specific surface area was measured and found to be 59.8 and 70.8 m(2) g(-1), respectively. The developed CuAlO2 nanostructures not only possess unique morphology but also influence the ozone gas sensing performance. Among the two structures, CuAlO2, with hexagonal morphology, exhibited superior ozone detection for 200 ppb at 250 °C, with a response and good recovery time of 25 and 39 s compared to the flower morphology (28 and 69 s). These results show that not only does the morphology play an major role but also the particle size, surface area, gas adsorption/desorption, and grain-grain contact, as proposed in the gas sensing mechanism. Finally, we consider CuAlO2 material as a good candidate for environment monitoring applications.

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

Grujić-Brojčin, M., E-mail: myramyra@ipb.ac.rs; Armaković, S.; Tomić, N.

The influence of La-doping in the range of 0.5–6.0 mol% on structural and morphological properties of TiO{sub 2} nanopowders synthesized by sol–gel routine has been investigated by XRPD, AFM, EDS and BET measurements, as well as Raman spectroscopy. The XRPD and Raman measurements have revealed the anatase phase as dominant in all nanopowders, with crystallite size decreasing from ∼ 15 nm in pure TiO{sub 2} to ∼ 12 nm in La-doped samples. The BET data suggest that all samples are fully mesoporous, with mean pore diameters in the range of ∼ 6–8 nm. The specific surface area and the complexitymore » of pore structure are greater in doped samples than in pure TiO{sub 2} sample. The spectroscopic ellipsometry has apparently shown that the band gap has been gradually increased with the increase of La content. The STM and STS techniques have been used successfully to evaluate the surface morphology and electronic properties of La-doped nanopowders. All investigated properties have been related to photocatalytic activity, tested in degradation of a metoprolol tartrate salt (0.05 mM), and induced by UV-radiation. All doped samples showed increased photocatalytic activity compared to pure TiO{sub 2}, among which the 0.65 mol% La-doped sample appeared to be the most efficient. - Highlights: • Effects of La-doping on structural, morphological and electronic properties of TiO{sub 2} nanopowders. • Surface morphology and electronic properties of La-doped nanopowders evaluated by STM/STS. • Spectroscopic ellipsometry shown gradual increase of bandgap with the increase of La content. • Photocatalytic activity of samples was tested in degradation of MET under UV light.« less

Morphological analysis of hummocks in debris avalanche deposits using UAS-derived high-definition topographic data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayakawa, Yuichi S.; Obanawa, Hiroyuki; Yoshida, Hidetsugu; Naruhashi, Ryutaro; Okumura, Koji; Zaiki, Masumi

2016-04-01

Debris avalanche caused by sector collapse of a volcanic mountain often forms depositional landforms with characteristic surface morphology comprising hummocks. Geomorphological and sedimentological analyses of debris avalanche deposits (DAD) at the northeastern face of Mt. Erciyes in central Turkey have been performed to investigate the mechanisms and processes of the debris avalanche. The morphometry of hummocks provides an opportunity to examine the volumetric and kinematic characteristics of the DAD. Although the exact age has been unknown, the sector collapse of this DAD was supposed to have occurred in the late Pleistocene (sometime during 90-20 ka), and subsequent sediment supply from the DAD could have affected ancient human activities in the downstream basin areas. In order to measure detailed surface morphology and depositional structures of the DAD, we apply structure-from-motion multi-view stereo (SfM-MVS) photogrammetry using unmanned aerial system (UAS) and a handheld camera. The UAS, including small unmanned aerial vehicle (sUAV) and a digital camera, provides low-altitude aerial photographs to capture surface morphology for an area of several square kilometers. A high-resolution topographic data, as well as an orthorectified image, of the hummocks were then obtained from the digital elevation model (DEM), and the geometric features of the hummocks were examined. A handheld camera is also used to obtain photographs of outcrop face of the DAD along a road to support the seimentological investigation. The three-dimensional topographic models of the outcrop, with a panoramic orthorectified image projected on a vertical plane, were obtained. This data enables to effectively describe sedimentological structure of the hummock in DAD. The detailed map of the DAD is also further examined with a regional geomorphological map to be compared with other geomorphological features including fluvial valleys, terraces, lakes and active faults.

The physics and chemistry of graphene-on-surfaces.

PubMed

Zhao, Guoke; Li, Xinming; Huang, Meirong; Zhen, Zhen; Zhong, Yujia; Chen, Qiao; Zhao, Xuanliang; He, Yijia; Hu, Ruirui; Yang, Tingting; Zhang, Rujing; Li, Changli; Kong, Jing; Xu, Jian-Bin; Ruoff, Rodney S; Zhu, Hongwei

2017-07-31

Graphene has demonstrated great potential in next-generation electronics due to its unique two-dimensional structure and properties including a zero-gap band structure, high electron mobility, and high electrical and thermal conductivity. The integration of atom-thick graphene into a device always involves its interaction with a supporting substrate by van der Waals forces and other intermolecular forces or even covalent bonding, and this is critical to its real applications. Graphene films on different surfaces are expected to exhibit significant differences in their properties, which lead to changes in their morphology, electronic structure, surface chemistry/physics, and surface/interface states. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the surface/interface properties is of great importance. In this review, we describe the major "graphene-on-surface" structures and examine the roles of their properties and related phenomena in governing the overall performance for specific applications including optoelectronics, surface catalysis, anti-friction and superlubricity, and coatings and composites. Finally, perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of graphene-on-surface systems are discussed.

A facile strategy to design zeolite L crystals with tunable morphology and surface architecture.

PubMed

Lupulescu, Alexandra I; Kumar, Manjesh; Rimer, Jeffrey D

2013-05-01

Tailoring the anisotropic growth rates of materials to achieve desired structural outcomes is a pervasive challenge in synthetic crystallization. Here we discuss a method to selectively control the growth of zeolite crystals, which are used extensively in a wide range of industrial applications. This facile method cooperatively tunes crystal properties, such as morphology and surface architecture, through the use of inexpensive, commercially available chemicals with specificity for binding to crystallographic surfaces and mediating anisotropic growth. We examined over 30 molecules as potential zeolite growth modifiers (ZGMs) of zeolite L (LTL type) crystallization. ZGM efficacy was quantified through a combination of macroscopic (bulk) and microscopic (surface) investigations that identified modifiers capable of dramatically altering the cylindrical morphology of LTL crystals. We demonstrate an ability to tailor properties critical to zeolite performance, such as external porous surface area, crystal shape, and pore length, which can enhance sorbate accessibility to LTL pores, tune the supramolecular organization of guest-host composites, and minimize the diffusion path length, respectively. We report that a synergistic combination of ZGMs and the judicious adjustment of synthesis parameters produce LTL crystals with unique surface features, and a range of length-to-diameter aspect ratios spanning 3 orders of magnitude. A systematic examination of different ZGM structures and molecular compositions (i.e., hydrophobicity and binding moieties) reveal interesting physicochemical properties governing their efficacy and specificity. Results of this study suggest this versatile strategy may prove applicable for a host of framework types to produce unrivaled materials that have eluded more conventional techniques.

Biomimetic multifunctional surfaces inspired from animals.

PubMed

Han, Zhiwu; Mu, Zhengzhi; Yin, Wei; Li, Wen; Niu, Shichao; Zhang, Junqiu; Ren, Luquan

2016-08-01

Over millions of years, animals have evolved to a higher intelligent level for their environment. A large number of diverse surface structures on their bodies have been formed to adapt to the extremely harsh environment. Just like the structural diversity existed in plants, the same also applies true in animals. Firstly, this article provides an overview and discussion of the most common functional surface structures inspired from animals, such as drag reduction, noise reduction, anti-adhesion, anti-wear, anti-erosion, anti-fog, water capture, and optical surfaces. Then, some typical characteristics of morphologies, structures, and materials of the animal multifunctional surfaces were discussed. The adaptation of these surfaces to environmental conditions was also analyzed. It mainly focuses on the relationship between their surface functions and their surface structural characteristics. Afterwards, the multifunctional mechanisms or principles of these surfaces were discussed. Models of these structures were provided for the development of structure materials and machinery surfaces. At last, fabrication techniques and existing or potential technical applications inspired from biomimetic multifunctional surfaces in animals were also discussed. The application prospects of the biomimetic functional surfaces are very broad, such as civil field of self-cleaning textile fabrics and non-stick pots, ocean field of oil-water separation, sports field of swimming suits, space development field of lens arrays. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[The effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the surface properties of nickel-chromium dental casting alloys after electrochemical corrosion].

PubMed

Qiao, Guang-yan; Zhang, Li-xia; Wang, Jue; Shen, Qing-ping; Su, Jian-sheng

2014-08-01

To investigate the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the surface properties of nickel-chromium dental alloys after electrochemical corrosion. The surface morphology and surface structure of nickel-chromium dental alloys were examined by stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopy before and after electrochemical tests in 0 g/L and 1.0 g/L EGCG artificial saliva. The surface element component and chemical states of nickel-chromium dental alloys were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectrograph after electrochemical tests in 0 g/L and 1.0 g/L EGCG artificial saliva. More serious corrosion happened on the surface of nickel-chromium alloy in 1.0 g/L EGCG artificial saliva than in 0 g/L EGCG. The diameters of corrosion pits were smaller, and the dendrite structure of the alloy surface was not affected in 0 g/L EGCG. While the diameters of corrosion pits were larger, the dendritic interval of the alloy surface began to merge, and the dendrite structure was fuzzy in 1.0 g/L EGCG. In addition, the O, Ni, Cr, Be, C and Mo elements were detected on the surface of nickel-chromium alloys after sputtered for 120 s in 0 g/L EGCG and 1.0 g/L EGCG artificial saliva after electrochemical corrosion, and the surface oxides were mainly NiO and Cr(2)O(3). Compared with 0 g/L EGCG artificial saliva, the content of O, NiO and Cr(2)O(3) were lower in 1.0 g/L EGCG. The results of surface morphology and the corrosion products both show that the corrosion resistance of nickel-chromium alloys become worse and the oxide content of corrosion products on the surface reduce in 1.0 g/L EGCG artificial saliva.

Morphology control of zinc regeneration for zinc-air fuel cell and battery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Keliang; Pei, Pucheng; Ma, Ze; Xu, Huachi; Li, Pengcheng; Wang, Xizhong

2014-12-01

Morphology control is crucial both for zinc-air batteries and for zinc-air fuel cells during zinc regeneration. Zinc dendrite should be avoided in zinc-air batteries and zinc pellets are yearned to be formed for zinc-air fuel cells. This paper is mainly to analyze the mechanism of shape change and to control the zinc morphology during charge. A numerical three-dimensional model for zinc regeneration is established with COMSOL software on the basis of ionic transport theory and electrode reaction electrochemistry, and some experiments of zinc regeneration are carried out. The deposition process is qualitatively analyzed by the kinetics Monte Carlo method to study the morphological change from the electrocrystallization point of view. Morphological evolution of deposited zinc under different conditions of direct currents and pulse currents is also investigated by simulation. The simulation shows that parametric variables of the flowing electrolyte, the surface roughness and the structure of the electrode, the charging current and mode affect morphological evolution. The uniform morphology of deposited zinc is attained at low current, pulsating current or hydrodynamic electrolyte, and granular morphology is obtained by means of an electrode of discrete columnar structure in combination with high current and flowing electrolyte.

Linking Silica Support Morphology to the Dynamics of Aminopolymers in Composites

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

Carrillo, Jan-Michael Y.; Potter, Matthew E.; Sakwa-Novak, Miles A.

A combined computational and experimental approach is used to elucidate the effect of silica support morphology on polymer dynamics and CO 2 adsorption capacities in aminopolymer/silica composites. Furthermore, simulations are based on coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of aminopolymer composites where a branched aminopolymer, representing poly(ethylenimine) (PEI), is impregnated into different silica mesoporous supports. The morphology of the mesoporous supports varies from hexagonally packed cylindrical pores representing SBA-15, double gyroids representing KIT-6 and MCM-48, and cagelike structures representing SBA-16. In parallel, composites of PEI and the silica supports SBA-15, KIT-6, MCM-48, and SBA-16 are synthesized and characterized, including measuring their COmore » 2 uptake. Simulations predict that a 3D pore morphology, such as those of KIT-6, MCM-48, and SBA-16, will have faster segmental mobility and have lower probability of primary amine and surface silanol associations, which should translate to higher CO 2 uptake in comparison to a 2D pore morphology such as that of SBA-15. We found that KIT-6 has higher CO 2 uptake than SBA-15 at equivalent PEI loading, even though both supports have similar surface area and pore volume. But, this is not the case for the MCM-48 support, which has smaller pores, and SBA-16, whose pore structure rapidly degrades after PEI impregnation.« less

COMPUTER SIMULATIONS OF LUNG AIRWAY STRUCTURES USING DATA-DRIVEN SURFACE MODELING TECHNIQUES

EPA Science Inventory

ABSTRACT

Knowledge of human lung morphology is a subject critical to many areas of medicine. The visualization of lung structures naturally lends itself to computer graphics modeling due to the large number of airways involved and the complexities of the branching systems...

Internal Structure of a Lobate Debris Apron Complex in Eastern Hellas: Evidence for Multiple Mid-Latitude Glaciations on Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quartini, E.; Holt, J. W.; Brothers, T. C.

2011-03-01

The past depositional history of a lobate debris apron complex in eastern Hellas has been investigated by conducting a combined analysis of its surface morphology and subsurface structure using a CTX mosaic and orbital radar sounding data from SHARAD.

Understanding the Growth Mechanism of GaN Epitaxial Layers on Mechanically Exfoliated Graphite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Tianbao; Liu, Chenyang; Zhang, Zhe; Yu, Bin; Dong, Hailiang; Jia, Wei; Jia, Zhigang; Yu, Chunyan; Gan, Lin; Xu, Bingshe; Jiang, Haiwei

2018-04-01

The growth mechanism of GaN epitaxial layers on mechanically exfoliated graphite is explained in detail based on classic nucleation theory. The number of defects on the graphite surface can be increased via O-plasma treatment, leading to increased nucleation density on the graphite surface. The addition of elemental Al can effectively improve the nucleation rate, which can promote the formation of dense nucleation layers and the lateral growth of GaN epitaxial layers. The surface morphologies of the nucleation layers, annealed layers and epitaxial layers were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, where the evolution of the surface morphology coincided with a 3D-to-2D growth mechanism. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to characterize the microstructure of GaN. Fast Fourier transform diffraction patterns showed that cubic phase (zinc-blend structure) GaN grains were obtained using conventional GaN nucleation layers, while the hexagonal phase (wurtzite structure) GaN films were formed using AlGaN nucleation layers. Our work opens new avenues for using highly oriented pyrolytic graphite as a substrate to fabricate transferable optoelectronic devices.

Surface enhanced Raman spectral studies of 2-bromo-1,4-naphthoquinone.

PubMed

Geetha, K; Umadevi, M; Sathe, G V; Vanelle, P; Terme, T; Khoumeri, O

2015-03-05

Silver nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simple and inexpensive solution combustion method with urea as fuel. The structural and morphology of the silver nanoparticles were investigated through X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersion Spectra (EDS) techniques. Structural and morphological results confirmed the nanocrystalline nature of the silver nanoparticles. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were also performed to study the ground and excited state behavior of 2-bromo-1,4-naphthoquinone (2-BrNQ) and 2-BrNQ on silver nanoparticles. Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectra of 2-BrNQ adsorbed on silver nanoparticles were investigated. The CO, CH in-plane bending and CBr stretching modes were enhanced in SERS spectrum with respect to normal Raman spectrum. The spectral analysis reveals that the 2-BrNQ adsorbed 'stand-on' orientation on the silver surface. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations are also performed to study the vibrational features of 2-BrNQ molecule and 2-BrNQ molecule on silver surface. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Understanding the Growth Mechanism of GaN Epitaxial Layers on Mechanically Exfoliated Graphite.

PubMed

Li, Tianbao; Liu, Chenyang; Zhang, Zhe; Yu, Bin; Dong, Hailiang; Jia, Wei; Jia, Zhigang; Yu, Chunyan; Gan, Lin; Xu, Bingshe; Jiang, Haiwei

2018-04-27

The growth mechanism of GaN epitaxial layers on mechanically exfoliated graphite is explained in detail based on classic nucleation theory. The number of defects on the graphite surface can be increased via O-plasma treatment, leading to increased nucleation density on the graphite surface. The addition of elemental Al can effectively improve the nucleation rate, which can promote the formation of dense nucleation layers and the lateral growth of GaN epitaxial layers. The surface morphologies of the nucleation layers, annealed layers and epitaxial layers were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, where the evolution of the surface morphology coincided with a 3D-to-2D growth mechanism. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to characterize the microstructure of GaN. Fast Fourier transform diffraction patterns showed that cubic phase (zinc-blend structure) GaN grains were obtained using conventional GaN nucleation layers, while the hexagonal phase (wurtzite structure) GaN films were formed using AlGaN nucleation layers. Our work opens new avenues for using highly oriented pyrolytic graphite as a substrate to fabricate transferable optoelectronic devices.

Mineralogical, crystallographic and morphological characteristics of natural kaolins from the Ivory Coast (West Africa)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sei, J.; Morato, F.; Kra, G.; Staunton, S.; Quiquampoix, H.; Jumas, J. C.; Olivier-Fourcade, J.

2006-10-01

Thirteen clay samples from four deposits in the Ivory Coast (West Africa) were studied using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and chemical analysis. Mineralogical, crystallographic and morphological characteristics of these samples are given. Kaolinite is the principal mineral but other minerals are present in small quantities: illite, quartz, anatase and iron oxides (oxides and oxyhydroxides). The crystallographic, morphological and surface characteristics are influenced by the presence of these impurities. In particular, the presence of iron oxides was associated with reduced structural ordering and thermal stability of kaolinite and increased specific surface area. These clays could be used in the ceramics industry to make tiles and bricks, and also in agronomy as supports for chemical fertilizers or for environmental protection by immobilising potentially toxic waste products.

The biological response to laser-aided direct metal-coated Titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V)

PubMed Central

Shin, T.; Lim, D.; Kim, Y. S.; Kim, S. C.; Jo, W. L.

2018-01-01

Objectives Laser-engineered net shaping (LENS) of coated surfaces can overcome the limitations of conventional coating technologies. We compared the in vitro biological response with a titanium plasma spray (TPS)-coated titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) surface with that of a Ti6Al4V surface coated with titanium using direct metal fabrication (DMF) with 3D printing technologies. Methods The in vitro ability of human osteoblasts to adhere to TPS-coated Ti6Al4V was compared with DMF-coating. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the structure and morphology of the surfaces. Biological and morphological responses to human osteoblast cell lines were then examined by measuring cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, actin filaments, and RUNX2 gene expression. Results Morphological assessment of the cells after six hours of incubation using SEM showed that the TPS- and DMF-coated surfaces were largely covered with lamellipodia from the osteoblasts. Cell adhesion appeared similar in both groups. The differences in the rates of cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activities were not statistically significant. Conclusions The DMF coating applied using metal 3D printing is similar to the TPS coating, which is the most common coating process used for bone ingrowth. The DMF method provided an acceptable surface structure and a viable biological surface. Moreover, this method is automatable and less complex than plasma spraying. Cite this article: T. Shin, D. Lim, Y. S. Kim, S. C. Kim, W. L. Jo, Y. W. Lim. The biological response to laser-aided direct metal-coated Titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V). Bone Joint Res 2018;7:357–361. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.75.BJR-2017-0222.R1. PMID:29922456

Discrete element simulations of gravitational volcanic deformation. 1; Deformation structures and geometries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morgan, Julia K.; McGovern, Patrick J.

2005-01-01

We have carried out two-dimensional particle dynamics simulations of granular piles subject to frictional Coulomb failure criteria to gain a first-order understanding of different modes of gravitational deformation within volcanoes. Under uniform basal and internal strength conditions, granular piles grow self-similarly, developing distinctive stratigraphies, morphologies, and structures. Piles constructed upon cohesive substrates exhibit particle avalanching, forming outward dipping strata and angle of repose slopes. Systematic decreases in basal strength lead to progressively deeper and steeper internal detachment faults and slip along a basal decollement; landslide forms grade from shallow slumps to deep-seated landslide and, finally, to axial subsidence and outward flank displacements, or volcanic spreading. Surface slopes decrease and develop concave up morphologies with decreasing decollement strength; depositional layers tilt progressively inward. Spatial variations in basal strength cause lateral transitions in pile structure, stratigraphy, and morphology. This approximation of volcanoes as Coulomb granular piles reproduces the richness of deformational structures and surface morphologies in many volcanic settings. The gentle slopes of Hawaiian volcanoes and Olympus Mons on Mars suggest weak basal decollements that enable volcanic spreading. High-angle normal faults, favored above weak decollements, are interpreted in both settings and may explain catastrophic sector collapse in Hawaii and broad aureole deposits surrounding Olympus Mons. In contrast, steeper slopes and shallow detachment faults predominate in the Canary Islands, thought to lack a weak decollement, favoring smaller, more frequent slope failures than predicted for Hawaii. The numerical results provide a useful predictive tool for interpreting dynamic behavior and associated geologic hazards of active volcanoes.

Role of Surface Chemistry on Catalyst/Ionomer Interactions for Transition Metal–Nitrogen–Carbon Electrocatalysts

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

Artyushkova, Kateryna; Workman, Michael J.; Matanovic, Ivana

The role of the interaction between doped carbon-based materials and ionic conductors is essential in multiple technologies, from fuel cells and energy storage devices to conductive polymer composites. In this paper, we report how the surface chemistry of transition metal–nitrogen–carbon (MNC) electrocatalysts affects catalyst–ionomer interaction and the resulting structure of cathodes. The cathode structure resulting from these interactions is directly related to the performance in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fuel cells. To advance the development of platinum group metal (PGM)-free electrodes for the oxygen reduction reaction it is necessary to understand the structure of the catalyst layers with focus onmore » chemistry and distribution of active sites and ionomer morphology. To assess catalyst interaction with an ionomer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is applied to study the chemistry of catalyst layers while density functional theory (DFT) is used to calculate adsorption energies of the ionomer side chain on different nitrogen species. We report that a high surface concentration of hydrogenated nitrogen at the surface of MNC catalysts causes inefficient ionomer morphology, while an abundance of surface oxides promotes both an efficient distribution of active sites and an optimal ionomer–catalyst interface. The critical role of protonation of nitrogen within catalytic layers in inhibiting proton transport during fuel cell operation is also suggested. As a result, this is the first report of the effect the surface chemistry of MNC catalysts, in the presence of the ionomer, has on the structure and performance of MEA electrodes.« less

Transmission X-ray scattering as a probe for complex liquid-surface structures

DOE PAGES

Fukuto, Masafumi; Yang, Lin; Nykypanchuk, Dmytro; ...

2016-01-28

The need for functional materials calls for increasing complexity in self-assembly systems. As a result, the ability to probe both local structure and heterogeneities, such as phase-coexistence and domain morphologies, has become increasingly important to controlling self-assembly processes, including those at liquid surfaces. The traditional X-ray scattering methods for liquid surfaces, such as specular reflectivity and grazing-incidence diffraction, are not well suited to spatially resolving lateral heterogeneities due to large illuminated footprint. A possible alternative approach is to use scanning transmission X-ray scattering to simultaneously probe local intermolecular structures and heterogeneous domain morphologies on liquid surfaces. To test the feasibilitymore » of this approach, transmission small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (TSAXS/TWAXS) studies of Langmuir films formed on water meniscus against a vertically immersed hydrophilic Si substrate were recently carried out. First-order diffraction rings were observed in TSAXS patterns from a monolayer of hexagonally packed gold nanoparticles and in TWAXS patterns from a monolayer of fluorinated fatty acids, both as a Langmuir monolayer on water meniscus and as a Langmuir–Blodgett monolayer on the substrate. The patterns taken at multiple spots have been analyzed to extract the shape of the meniscus surface and the ordered-monolayer coverage as a function of spot position. These results, together with continual improvement in the brightness and spot size of X-ray beams available at synchrotron facilities, support the possibility of using scanning-probe TSAXS/TWAXS to characterize heterogeneous structures at liquid surfaces.« less

Role of Surface Chemistry on Catalyst/Ionomer Interactions for Transition Metal–Nitrogen–Carbon Electrocatalysts

DOE PAGES

Artyushkova, Kateryna; Workman, Michael J.; Matanovic, Ivana; ...

2017-12-18

The role of the interaction between doped carbon-based materials and ionic conductors is essential in multiple technologies, from fuel cells and energy storage devices to conductive polymer composites. In this paper, we report how the surface chemistry of transition metal–nitrogen–carbon (MNC) electrocatalysts affects catalyst–ionomer interaction and the resulting structure of cathodes. The cathode structure resulting from these interactions is directly related to the performance in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fuel cells. To advance the development of platinum group metal (PGM)-free electrodes for the oxygen reduction reaction it is necessary to understand the structure of the catalyst layers with focus onmore » chemistry and distribution of active sites and ionomer morphology. To assess catalyst interaction with an ionomer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is applied to study the chemistry of catalyst layers while density functional theory (DFT) is used to calculate adsorption energies of the ionomer side chain on different nitrogen species. We report that a high surface concentration of hydrogenated nitrogen at the surface of MNC catalysts causes inefficient ionomer morphology, while an abundance of surface oxides promotes both an efficient distribution of active sites and an optimal ionomer–catalyst interface. The critical role of protonation of nitrogen within catalytic layers in inhibiting proton transport during fuel cell operation is also suggested. As a result, this is the first report of the effect the surface chemistry of MNC catalysts, in the presence of the ionomer, has on the structure and performance of MEA electrodes.« less

Three-Dimensional Morphological and Chemical Evolution of Nanoporous Stainless Steel by Liquid Metal Dealloying [3D Morphological and Chemical Evolution of Nanoporous Stainless Steel by Liquid Metal Dealloying

DOE PAGES

Zhao, Chonghang; Wada, Takeshi; De Andrade, Vincent; ...

2017-09-04

Nanoporous materials, especially those fabricated by liquid metal dealloying processes, possess great potential in a wide range of applications due to their high surface area, bicontinuous structure with both open pores for transport and solid phase for conductivity or support, and low material cost. Here, we used X-ray nanotomography and X-ray fluorescence microscopy to reveal the three-dimensional (3D) morphology and elemental distribution within materials. Focusing on nanoporous stainless steel, we evaluated the 3D morphology of the dealloying front and established a quantitative processing-structure-property relationship at a later stage of dealloying. The morphological differences of samples created by liquid metal dealloyingmore » and aqueous dealloying methods were also discussed. Here, we concluded that it is particularly important to consider the dealloying, coarsening, and densification mechanisms in influencing the performance-determining, critical 3D parameters, such as tortuosity, pore size, porosity, curvature, and interfacial shape.« less

Three-Dimensional Morphological and Chemical Evolution of Nanoporous Stainless Steel by Liquid Metal Dealloying [3D Morphological and Chemical Evolution of Nanoporous Stainless Steel by Liquid Metal Dealloying

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

Zhao, Chonghang; Wada, Takeshi; De Andrade, Vincent

Nanoporous materials, especially those fabricated by liquid metal dealloying processes, possess great potential in a wide range of applications due to their high surface area, bicontinuous structure with both open pores for transport and solid phase for conductivity or support, and low material cost. Here, we used X-ray nanotomography and X-ray fluorescence microscopy to reveal the three-dimensional (3D) morphology and elemental distribution within materials. Focusing on nanoporous stainless steel, we evaluated the 3D morphology of the dealloying front and established a quantitative processing-structure-property relationship at a later stage of dealloying. The morphological differences of samples created by liquid metal dealloyingmore » and aqueous dealloying methods were also discussed. Here, we concluded that it is particularly important to consider the dealloying, coarsening, and densification mechanisms in influencing the performance-determining, critical 3D parameters, such as tortuosity, pore size, porosity, curvature, and interfacial shape.« less

Solvent selection for explaining the morphology of nitroguanidine crystal by molecular dynamics simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Liang; Chen, Lizhen; Cao, Duanlin; Wang, Jianlong

2018-02-01

In this article, a method was performed to predict the morphology of needle-shaped crystals by analyzing the growth mechanisms for the various crystal faces. As an example, the crystal morphology of a nitroguanidine (NQ) was investigated via molecular dynamics simulations. The modified attachment energy (MEA) model was constructed by introducing surface chemistry terms and the relevant morphology of the habit crystal faces. The results indicate that the growth morphology of NQ in vacuum is dominated by {2 2 0}, {0 4 0}, {1 1 1}, {1 3 1} and {3 1 1} faces. The {2 2 0} and {0 4 0} faces are parallel to the elongation direction of the crystal, while the other faces are at the needle tips direction. The atoms or atomic groups exposed in crystal surface were used to analyze the relationship between structure and morphology. Compared to the surrounding faces, the needle tip faces have a large number of polar atoms or atomic groups. The needle tip faces have a high electronegativity on N, O atoms via molecular electrostatic potential (ESP) analysis. Furthermore, the protic solvent was used to reduce the attachment energy of the tip surfaces for achieving the purpose of inhibiting the growth of needle tips. Gamma-butyrolactone as the selected solvent inhibited effectively the growth of the needle tip faces. The predicted result is serviceable for the formation design.

Effect of ion irradiation on the surface, structural and mechanical properties of brass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Shahbaz; Bashir, Shazia; Ali, Nisar; Umm-i-Kalsoom; Yousaf, Daniel; Faizan-ul-Haq; Naeem, Athar; Ahmad, Riaz; Khlaeeq-ur-Rahman, M.

2014-04-01

Modifications to the surface, structural and mechanical properties of brass after ion irradiation have been investigated. Brass targets were bombarded by carbon ions of 2 MeV energy from a Pelletron linear accelerator for various fluences ranging from 56 × 1012 to 26 × 1013 ions/cm2. A scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer were utilized to analyze the surface morphology and crystallographic structure respectively. To explore the mechanical properties e.g., yield stress, ultimate tensile strength and microhardness of irradiated brass, an universal tensile testing machine and Vickers microhardness tester were used. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed an irregular and randomly distributed sputter morphology for a lower ion fluence. With increasing ion fluence, the incoherently shaped structures were transformed into dendritic structures. Nano/micro sized craters and voids, along with the appearance of pits, were observed at the maximum ion fluence. From X-ray diffraction results, no new phases were observed to be formed in the brass upon irradiation. However, a change in the peak intensity and higher and lower angle shifting were observed, which represents the generation of ion-induced defects and stresses. Analyses confirmed modifications in the mechanical properties of irradiated brass. The yield stress, ultimate tensile strength and hardness initially decreased and then increased with increasing ion fluence. The changes in the mechanical properties of irradiated brass are well correlated with surface and crystallographic modifications and are attributed to the generation, augmentation, recombination and annihilation of the ion-induced defects.

Structural and morphological study of Fe-doped Bi-based superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Yadunath; Kumar, Rohitash

2018-05-01

In the present work, we report the study of iron-doped Bi-based superconductor sample with stoichiometric composition of Bi2Sr2Can-1(Cu1-x Fex)3O2n+4 where n=3 and x = 0.7. This sample was prepared by grinding the precursor oxides in the Ball mill for 6 hours continuous at the rate of 400 rpm for a proper mixing and to obtain the required grain size. Then the solid-state reaction method was used to prepare the sample. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in combination with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDX) were performed for determination of the crystal structure, surface morphology and trace the material elements of samples, respectively. The surface microscopy data were collected over a selected area of the surface of the material and a two-dimensional image generated that displays spatial variations in properties including chemical characterization and orientation of materials.

Effects of surface morphology of ZnO seed layers on growth of ZnO nanostructures prepared by hydrothermal method and annealing.

PubMed

Yim, Kwang Gug; Kim, Min Su; Leem, Jae-Young

2013-05-01

ZnO nanostructures were grown on Si (111) substrates by a hydrothermal method. Prior to growing the ZnO nanostructures, ZnO seed layers with different post-heat temperatures were prepared by a spin-coating process. Then, the ZnO nanostructures were annealed at 500 degrees C for 20 min under an Ar atmosphere. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and photoluminescence (PL) were carried out at room temperature (RT) to investigate the structural and optical properties of the as-grown and annealed ZnO nanostructures. The surface morphologies of the seed layers changed from a smooth surface to a mountain chain-like structure as the post-heating temperatures increased. The as-grown and annealed ZnO nanostructures exhibited a strong (002) diffraction peak. Compared to the as-grown ZnO nanostructures, the annealed ZnO nanostructures exhibited significantly strong enhancement in the PL intensity ratio by almost a factor of 2.

An investigation of Au/Ti multilayer thin-films: surface morphology, structure and interfacial/surface migration of constituents under applied thermal stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Senevirathne, Indrajith; Kemble, Eric; Lavoie, John

2014-03-01

Multilayer thin films are ubiquitous in industry. Au/Ti/substrate is unique due to possible biological applications in proof of concept devices. Material used for substrates include borosilicate glass, and quartz. Typical Ti depositions on substrates give rise to Stanski-Krastonov (SK) like growth while Frank-van der Merwe (FM) like growth is preferred. Ti films with thickness of ~ 100nm were deposited onto varying substrates using a thermal evaporator. The additional Au layer is then deposited via magnetron sputter deposition at 100mtorr at low deposition rates (~ 1ML/min) onto the Ti thin film. These systems were annealed at varying temperatures and at different durations. Systems were investigated via AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) probes to examine the surface morphology, and structure. Further, the ambient contamination and elemental distribution/diffusion at annealing was investigated via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). PASSHE FPDC Annual Grant (LOU # 2010-LHU-03)

Direct writing of continuous and discontinuous sub-wavelength periodic surface structures on single-crystalline silicon using femtosecond laser

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

Kuladeep, Rajamudili; Sahoo, Chakradhar; Narayana Rao, Desai, E-mail: dnrsp@uohyd.ernet.in, E-mail: dnr-laserlab@yahoo.com

Laser-induced ripples or uniform arrays of continuous near sub-wavelength or discontinuous deep sub-wavelength structures are formed on single-crystalline silicon (Si) by femtosecond (fs) laser direct writing technique. Laser irradiation was performed on Si wafers at normal incidence in air and by immersing them in dimethyl sulfoxide using linearly polarized Ti:sapphire fs laser pulses of ∼110 fs pulse duration and ∼800 nm wavelength. Morphology studies of laser written surfaces reveal that sub-wavelength features are oriented perpendicular to laser polarization, while their morphology and spatial periodicity depend on the surrounding dielectric medium. The formation mechanism of the sub-wavelength features is explained by interferencemore » of incident laser with surface plasmon polaritons. This work proves the feasibility of fs laser direct writing technique for the fabrication of sub-wavelength features, which could help in fabrication of advanced electro-optic devices.« less

Study of heat-moisture treatment of potato starch granules by chemical surface gelatinization.

PubMed

Bartz, Josiane; da Rosa Zavareze, Elessandra; Dias, Alvaro Renato Guerra

2017-08-01

Native potato starch was subjected to heat-moisture treatment (HMT) at 12%, 15%, 18%, 21%, and 24% of moisture content at 110 °C for 1 h, and the effects on morphology, structure, and thermal and physicochemical properties were investigated. To reveal the internal structure, 30% and 50% of the granular surface were removed by chemical surface gelatinization in concentrated LiCl solution. At moisture contents of 12% and 15%, HTM reduced the gelatinization temperatures and relative crystallinity of the starches, while at moisture contents of 21% and 24 % both increased. The alterations on morphology, X-ray pattern, physicochemical properties, and increase of amylose content were more intense with the increase of moisture content of HMT. The removal of granular layers showed that the changes promoted by HMT occur throughout the whole granule and were pronounced at the core or peripheral region, depending of the moisture content applied during HMT. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Multipulse nanosecond laser irradiation of silicon for the investigation of surface morphology and photoelectric properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sardar, Maryam; Chen, Jun; Ullah, Zaka; Jelani, Mohsan; Tabassum, Aasma; Cheng, Ju; Sun, Yuxiang; Lu, Jian

2017-12-01

We irradiate the single crystal boron-doped silicon (Si) with different number of laser pulses at constant fluence (7.5 J cm-2) in ambient air using Nd:YAG laser and examine its surface morphology and photoelectric properties in details. The results obtained from optical micrographs reveal the increase in heat affected zone (HAZ) and melted area of laser irradiated Si with increasing number of laser pulses. The SEM micrographs evidence the formation of various surface morphologies like laser induced periodic surface structures, crater, microcracks, clusters, cavities, pores, trapped bubbles, nucleation sites, micro-bumps, redeposited material and micro- and nano-particles on the surface of irradiated Si. The surface profilometry analysis informs that the depth of crater is increased with increase in number of incident laser pulses. The spectroscopic ellipsometry reveals that the multipulse irradiation of Si changes its optical properties (refractive index and extinction coefficient). The current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curves of laser irradiated Si show that although the multipulse laser irradiation produces considerable number of surface defects and damages, the electrical properties of Si are well sustained after the multipulse irradiation. The current findings suggest that the multipulse irradiation can be an effective way to tune the optical properties of Si for the fabrication of wide range of optoelectronic devices.

Differences in mechanical and structural properties of surface and aerial petioles of the aquatic plant Nymphaea odorata subsp. tuberosa (Nymphaeaceae).

PubMed

Etnier, Shelley A; Villani, Philip J

2007-07-01

Lily pads (Nymphaea odorata) exhibit heterophylly where a single plant may have leaves that are submerged, floating, or above (aerial) the surface of the water. Lily pads are placed in a unique situation because each leaf form is exposed to a distinctly different set of mechanical demands. While surface petioles may be loaded in tension under conditions of wind or waves, aerial petioles are loaded in compression because they must support the weight of the lamina. Using standard techniques, we compared the mechanical and morphological properties of both surface and aerial leaf petioles. Structural stiffness (EI) and the second moment of area (I) were higher in aerial petioles, although we detected no differences in other mechanical values (elastic modulus [E], extension ratio, and breaking strength). Morphologically, aerial petioles had a thicker rind, with increased collenchyma tissue and sclereid cell frequency. Aerial petioles also had a larger cross-sectional area and were more elliptical. Thus, subtle changes in the distribution of materials, rather than differences in their makeup, differentiate petiole forms. We suggest that the growth of aerial petioles may be an adaptive response to shading, allowing aerial leaves to rise above a crowded water surface.

A New Design Strategy for Observing Lithium Oxide Growth-Evolution Interactions Using Geometric Catalyst Positioning.

PubMed

Ryu, Won-Hee; Gittleson, Forrest S; Li, Jinyang; Tong, Xiao; Taylor, André D

2016-08-10

Understanding the catalyzed formation and evolution of lithium-oxide products in Li-O2 batteries is central to the development of next-generation energy storage technology. Catalytic sites, while effective in lowering reaction barriers, often become deactivated when placed on the surface of an oxygen electrode due to passivation by solid products. Here we investigate a mechanism for alleviating catalyst deactivation by dispersing Pd catalytic sites away from the oxygen electrode surface in a well-structured anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) porous membrane interlayer. We observe the cross-sectional product growth and evolution in Li-O2 cells by characterizing products that grow from the electrode surface. Morphological and structural details of the products in both catalyzed and uncatalyzed cells are investigated independently from the influence of the oxygen electrode. We find that the geometric decoration of catalysts far from the conductive electrode surface significantly improves the reaction reversibility by chemically facilitating the oxidation reaction through local coordination with PdO surfaces. The influence of the catalyst position on product composition is further verified by ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy in addition to morphological studies.

A new design strategy for observing lithium oxide growth-evolution interactions using geometric catalyst positioning

DOE PAGES

Ryu, Won -Hee; Gittleson, Forrest S.; Li, Jinyang; ...

2016-06-21

Understanding the catalyzed formation and evolution of lithium-oxide products in Li-O 2 batteries is central to the development of next-generation energy storage technology. Catalytic sites, while effective in lowering reaction barriers, often become deactivated when placed on the surface of an oxygen electrode due to passivation by solid products. Here we investigate a mechanism for alleviating catalyst deactivation by dispersing Pd catalytic sites away from the oxygen electrode surface in a well-structured anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) porous membrane interlayer. We observe the cross-sectional product growth and evolution in Li-O 2 cells by characterizing products that grow from the electrode surface.more » Morphological and structural details of the products in both catalyzed and uncatalyzed cells are investigated independently from the influence of the oxygen electrode. We find that the geometric decoration of catalysts far from the conductive electrode surface significantly improves the reaction reversibility by chemically facilitating the oxidation reaction through local coordination with PdO surfaces. Lastly, the influence of the catalyst position on product composition is further verified by ex situ Xray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy in addition to morphological studies.« less

Nanosensors: towards morphological control of gas sensing activity. SnO2, In2O3, ZnO and WO3 case studies.

PubMed

Gurlo, Aleksander

2011-01-01

Anisotropy is a basic property of single crystals. Dissimilar facets/surfaces have different geometric and electronic structure that results in dissimilar functional properties. Several case studies unambiguously demonstrated that the gas sensing activity of metal oxides is determined by the nature of surfaces exposed to ambient gas. Accordingly, a control over crystal morphology, i.e. over the angular relationships, size and shape of faces in a crystal, is required for the development of better sensors with increased selectivity and sensitivity in the chemical determination of gases. The first step toward this nanomorphological control of the gas sensing properties is the design and synthesis of well-defined nanocrystals which are uniform in size, shape and surface structure. These materials possess the planes of the symmetrical set {hkl} and must therefore behave identically in chemical reactions and adsorption processes. Because of these characteristics, the form-controlled nanocrystals are ideal candidates for fundamental studies of mechanisms of gas sensing which should involve (i) gas sensing measurements on specific surfaces, (ii) their atomistic/quantum chemical modelling and (ii) spectroscopic information obtained on same surfaces under operation conditions of sensors.

Surface microstructure of bitumen characterized by atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Yu, Xiaokong; Burnham, Nancy A; Tao, Mingjiang

2015-04-01

Bitumen, also called asphalt binder, plays important roles in many industrial applications. It is used as the primary binding agent in asphalt concrete, as a key component in damping systems such as rubber, and as an indispensable additive in paint and ink. Consisting of a large number of hydrocarbons of different sizes and polarities, together with heteroatoms and traces of metals, bitumen displays rich surface microstructures that affect its rheological properties. This paper reviews the current understanding of bitumen's surface microstructures characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Microstructures of bitumen develop to different forms depending on crude oil source, thermal history, and sample preparation method. While some bitumens display surface microstructures with fine domains, flake-like domains, and dendrite structuring, 'bee-structures' with wavy patterns several micrometers in diameter and tens of nanometers in height are commonly seen in other binders. Controversy exists regarding the chemical origin of the 'bee-structures', which has been related to the asphaltene fraction, the metal content, or the crystallizing waxes in bitumen. The rich chemistry of bitumen can result in complicated intermolecular associations such as coprecipitation of wax and metalloporphyrins in asphaltenes. Therefore, it is the molecular interactions among the different chemical components in bitumen, rather than a single chemical fraction, that are responsible for the evolution of bitumen's diverse microstructures, including the 'bee-structures'. Mechanisms such as curvature elasticity and surface wrinkling that explain the rippled structures observed in polymer crystals might be responsible for the formation of 'bee-structures' in bitumen. Despite the progress made on morphological characterization of bitumen using AFM, the fundamental question whether the microstructures observed on bitumen surfaces represent its bulk structure remains to be addressed. In addition, critical technical challenges associated with AFM characterization of bitumen surface structures are discussed, with possible solutions recommended. For future work, combining AFM with other chemical analysis tools that can generate comparable high resolution to AFM would provide an avenue to linking bitumen's chemistry to its microscopic morphological and mechanical properties and consequently benefit the efforts of developing structure-related models for bituminous materials across the different length scales. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Energy level alignment and molecular conformation at rubrene/Ag interfaces: Impact of contact contaminations on the interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sinha, Sumona; Wang, C.-H.; Mukherjee, M.

2017-07-01

This paper addresses the impact of electrode contaminations on the interfacial energy level alignment, the molecular conformation, orientation and surface morphology deposited organic film at organic semiconductor/noble metal interfaces by varying of film thickness from sub-monolayer to multilayer, which currently draws significant attention with regard to its application in organic electronics. The UHV clean Ag and unclean Ag were employed as substrate whereas rubrene was used as an organic semiconducting material. The photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS and UPS) was engaged to investigate the evolution of interfacial energetics; polarization dependent near edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) was employed to understand the molecular conformation as well as orientation whereas atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the surface morphologies of the films. The adventitious contamination layer was acted as a spacer layer between clean Ag substrate surface and rubrene molecular layer. As a consequence, hole injection barrier height, interface dipole as well as molecular-conformation, molecular-orientation and surface morphology of rubrene thin films were found to depend on the cleanliness of Ag substrate. The results have important inferences about the understanding of the impact of substrate contamination on the energy level alignment, the molecular conformation as well as orientation and surface morphology of deposited rubrene thin film at rubrene/Ag interfaces and are beneficial for the improvement of the device performance.

Front Instabilities and Invasiveness of Simulated Avascular Tumors

PubMed Central

Popławski, Nikodem J.; Agero, Ubirajara; Gens, J. Scott; Swat, Maciej; Glazier, James A.; Anderson, Alexander R. A.

2009-01-01

We study the interface morphology of a 2D simulation of an avascular tumor composed of identical cells growing in an homogeneous healthy tissue matrix (TM), in order to understand the origin of the morphological changes often observed during real tumor growth. We use the GlazierGraner-Hogeweg model, which treats tumor cells as extended, deformable objects, to study the effects of two parameters: a dimensionless diffusion-limitation parameter defined as the ratio of the tumor consumption rate to the substrate transport rate, and the tumor-TM surface tension. We model TM as a nondiffusing field, neglecting the TM pressure and haptotactic repulsion acting on a real growing tumor; thus our model is appropriate for studying tumors with highly motile cells, e.g., gliomas. We show that the diffusion-limitation parameter determines whether the growing tumor develops a smooth (noninvasive) or fingered (invasive) interface, and that the sensitivity of tumor morphology to tumor-TM surface tension increases with the size of the dimensionless diffusion-limitation parameter. For large diffusion-limitation parameters we find a transition (missed in previous work) between dendritic structures, produced when tumor-TM surface tension is high, and seaweed-like structures, produced when tumor-TM surface tension is low. This observation leads to a direct analogy between the mathematics and dynamics of tumors and those observed in nonbiological directional solidification. Our results are also consistent with biological observation that hypoxia promotes invasive growth of tumor cells by inducing higher levels of receptors for scatter factors that weaken cell-cell adhesion and increase cell motility. These findings suggest that tumor morphology may have value in predicting the efficiency of antiangiogenic therapy in individual patients. PMID:19234746

Morphological bubble evolution induced by air diffusion on submerged hydrophobic structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Pengyu; Xiang, Yaolei; Xue, Yahui; Lin, Hao; Duan, Huiling

2017-03-01

Bubbles trapped in the cavities always play important roles in the underwater applications of structured hydrophobic surfaces. Air exchange between bubbles and surrounding water has a significant influence on the morphological bubble evolution, which in turn frequently affects the functionalities of the surfaces, such as superhydrophobicity and drag reduction. In this paper, air diffusion induced bubble evolution on submerged hydrophobic micropores under reduced pressures is investigated experimentally and theoretically. The morphological behaviors of collective and single bubbles are observed using confocal microscopy. Four representative evolution phases of bubbles are captured in situ. After depressurization, bubbles will not only grow and coalesce but also shrink and split although the applied pressure remains negative. A diffusion-based model is used to analyze the evolution behavior and the results are consistent with the experimental data. A criterion for bubble growth and shrinkage is also derived along with a phase diagram, revealing that the competition of effective gas partial pressures across the two sides of the diffusion layer dominates the bubble evolution process. Strategies for controlling the bubble evolution behavior are also proposed based on the phase diagram. The current work provides a further understanding of the general behavior of bubble evolution induced by air diffusion and can be employed to better designs of functional microstructured hydrophobic surfaces.

Screen printed silver top electrode for efficient inverted organic solar cells

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

Kim, Junwoo; Duraisamy, Navaneethan; Lee, Taik-Min

2015-10-15

Highlights: • Screen printing of silver pattern. • X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the face centered cubic structure of silver. • Uniform surface morphology of silver pattern with sheet resistance of 0.06 Ω/sq. • The power conversion efficiency of fabricated solar cell is found to be 2.58%. - Abstract: The present work is mainly focused on replacement of the vacuum process for top electrode fabrication in organic solar cells. Silver top electrode deposited through solution based screen printing on pre-deposited polymeric thin film. The solution based printing technology provides uniform top electrode without damaging the underlying organic layers. The surface crystallinitymore » and surface morphology of silver top electrode are examined through X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope. The purity of silver is examined through X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. The top electrode exhibits face centered cubic structure with homogeneous morphology. The sheet resistance of top electrode is found to be 0.06 Ω/sq and an average pattern thickness of ∼15 μm. The power conversion efficiency is 2.58%. Our work demonstrates that the solution based screen printing is a significant role in the replacement of vacuum process for the fabrication of top electrode in organic solar cells.« less

Effect of calcination temperature on the photocatalytic reduction and oxidation processes of hydrothermally synthesized titania nanotubes.

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

Viayan, B.; Dimitrijevic, N. M.; Rajh, T.

Titania nanotubes having diameters 8 to 12 nm and lengths of 50-300 nm were prepared using a hydrothermal method. Further, the titania nanotubes were calcined over the temperature range 200-800 C in order to enhance their photocatalytic properties by altering their morphology. The calcined titania nanotubes were characterized by using X-ray diffraction and surface area analysis and their morphological features were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Nanotubes calcined at 400 C showed the maximum extent of photocatalyitc reduction of carbon dioxide to methane, whereas samples calcined at 600 C produced maximum photocatalytic oxidation of acetaldehyde. Electron paramagnetic resonancemore » (EPR) spectroscopy was used to interrogate the effects of nanotube structure on the charge separation and trapping as a function of calcination temperature. EPR results indicated that undercoordinated titania sites are associated with maximum CO{sub 2} reduction occurring in nanotubes calcined at 400 C. Despite the collapse of the nantube structure to form nanorods and the concomitant loss of surface area, the enhanced charge separation associated with increased crystallinity promoted high rates of oxidation of acetaldehyde in titania materials calcined at 600 C. These results illustrate that calcination temperature allows us to tune the morphological and surface features of the titania nanostructures for particular photocatalytic reactions.« less

Synthesis and characterization of Graphene oxide/Zinc oxide nanorods sandwich structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boukhoubza, I.; Khenfouch, M.; Achehboune, M.; Mouthudi, B.; Zorkani, I.; Jorio, A.

2018-03-01

Graphene-ZnO nanostructures composite materials have been used as very efficient candidates for various optoelectronic applications. Nowadays, the composite structure formation of ZnO nanostructures with graphene or graphene oxide is a novel, cost effective and efficient approach to control the morphology, surface defect states, band gap of ZnO nanocrystals. In this paper, we have prepared ZnO nanorods between two layers graphene oxide (GO/ZnO NRs/GO) via a simple hydrothermal method. Their morphology, structural and optical properties have been investigated. The obtained results of our composites GO/ZnO NRs/GO presented here showing an enhancement in the structural and optical properties. Thus may hold great promise to the development of the optoelectronic devices.

Hierarchical cobalt-based hydroxide microspheres for water oxidation.

PubMed

Zhang, Ye; Cui, Bai; Derr, Olivia; Yao, Zhibo; Qin, Zhaotong; Deng, Xiangyun; Li, Jianbao; Lin, Hong

2014-03-21

3D hierarchical cobalt hydroxide carbonate hydrate (Co(CO3)0.5(OH)·0.11H2O) has been synthesized featuring a hollow urchin-like structure by a one-step hydrothermal method at modest temperature on FTO glass substrates. The functionalities of precursor surfactants were isolated and analyzed. A plausible formation mechanism of the spherical urchin-like microclusters has been furnished through time-dependent investigations. Introduction of other transitional metal doping (Cu, Ni) would give rise to a substantial morphological change associated with a surface area drop. The directly grown cobalt-based hydroxide composite electrodes were found to be capable of catalyzing oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under both neutral pH and alkaline conditions. The favorable 3D dendritic morphology and porous structure provide large surface areas and possible defect sites that are likely responsible for their robust electrochemical activity.

pp iii Morphological response to Quaternary deformation at an intermontane basin piedmont, the northern Tien Shan, Kyrghyzstan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowman, Dan; Korjenkov, Andrey; Porat, Naomi; Czassny, Birka

2004-11-01

The Tien Shan is a most active intracontinental mountain-building range with abundant Quaternary fault-related folding. In order to improve our understanding of Quaternary intermontane basin deformation, we investigated the intermontane Issyk-Kul Lake area, an anticline that was up-warped through the piedmont cover, causing partitioning of the alluvial fan veneer. To follow the morphological scenario during the warping process, we relied on surface-exposed and trenched structures and on alluvial fans and bajadas as reference surfaces. We used air photos and satellite images to analyze the spatial-temporal morphological record and determined the age of near surface sediments by luminescence dating. We demonstrate that the up-warped Ak-Teke hills are a thrust-generated subdued anticline with strong morphological asymmetry which results from the coupling of the competing processes of up-warp and erosional feedback. The active creeks across the up-warped anticline indicate that the antecedent drainage system kept pace with the rate of uplift. The rivers which once sourced the piedmont, like the Toru-Aygyr, Kultor and the Dyuresu, became deeply entrenched and gradually transformed the study area into an abandoned morphological surface. The up-warp caused local lateral drainage diversion in front of the northern backlimb and triggered the formation of a dendritic drainage pattern upfan. Luminescence dating suggest that the period of up-warp and antecedent entrenchment started after 157 ka. The morphologically mature study area demonstrates the response of fluvial systems to growing folds on piedmont areas, induced by a propagating frontal fold at a thrust belt edge, following shortening.

Ternary blend polymer solar cells with self-assembled structure for enhancing power conversion efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Zhenhua; Li, Hongfei; Nam, Chang-Yong; Kisslinger, Kim; Satija, Sushil; Rafailovich, Miriam

Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells are an area of intense interest due to their advantages such as mechanical flexibility. The active layer is typically spin coated from the solution of polythiophene derivatives (donor) and fullerenes (acceptor) and interconnected domains are formed because of phase separation. However, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of BHJ solar cell is restricted by the disordered inner structures in the active layer, donor or acceptor domains isolated from electrodes. Here we report a self-assembled columnar structure formed by phase separation between (PCDTBT) and polystyrene (PS) for the active layer morphology optimization. The BHJ solar cell device based on this structure is promising for exhibiting higher performance due to the shorter carrier transportation pathway and larger interfacial area between donor and acceptor. The surface morphology is investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the columnar structure is studied by investigation of cross-section of the blend thin film of PCDTBT and PS under the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The different morphological structures formed via phase segregation are correlated with the performance of the BHJ solar cells.

A morphologically preserved multi-resolution TIN surface modeling and visualization method for virtual globes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Xianwei; Xiong, Hanjiang; Gong, Jianya; Yue, Linwei

2017-07-01

Virtual globes play an important role in representing three-dimensional models of the Earth. To extend the functioning of a virtual globe beyond that of a "geobrowser", the accuracy of the geospatial data in the processing and representation should be of special concern for the scientific analysis and evaluation. In this study, we propose a method for the processing of large-scale terrain data for virtual globe visualization and analysis. The proposed method aims to construct a morphologically preserved multi-resolution triangulated irregular network (TIN) pyramid for virtual globes to accurately represent the landscape surface and simultaneously satisfy the demands of applications at different scales. By introducing cartographic principles, the TIN model in each layer is controlled with a data quality standard to formulize its level of detail generation. A point-additive algorithm is used to iteratively construct the multi-resolution TIN pyramid. The extracted landscape features are also incorporated to constrain the TIN structure, thus preserving the basic morphological shapes of the terrain surface at different levels. During the iterative construction process, the TIN in each layer is seamlessly partitioned based on a virtual node structure, and tiled with a global quadtree structure. Finally, an adaptive tessellation approach is adopted to eliminate terrain cracks in the real-time out-of-core spherical terrain rendering. The experiments undertaken in this study confirmed that the proposed method performs well in multi-resolution terrain representation, and produces high-quality underlying data that satisfy the demands of scientific analysis and evaluation.

Facile Synthesis of Nitrogen Doped Graphene Oxide from Graphite Flakes and Powders: A Comparison of Their Surface Chemistry.

PubMed

Yokwana, Kholiswa; Ray, Sekhar C; Khenfouch, Mohammad; Kuvarega, Alex T; Mamba, Bhekie B; Mhlanga, Sabelo D; Nxumalo, Edward N

2018-08-01

Nitrogen-doped graphene oxide (NGO) nanosheets were prepared via a facile one-pot modified Hummer's approach at low temperatures using graphite powder and flakes as starting materials in the presence of a nitrogen precursor. It was found that the morphology, structure, composition and surface chemistry of the NGO nanosheets depended on the nature of the graphite precursor used. GO nanosheets doped with nitrogen atoms exhibited a unique structure with few thin layers and wrinkled sheets, high porosity and structural defects. NGO sheets made from graphite powder (NGOp) exhibited excellent thermal stability and remarkably high surface area (up to 240.53 m2 ·g-1) compared to NGO sheets made from graphite flakes (NGOf) which degraded at low temperatures and had an average surface area of 24.70 m2 ·g-1. NGOf sheets had a size range of 850 to 2200 nm while NGOp sheets demonstrated obviously small sizes (460-1600 nm) even when exposed to different pH conditions. The NGO nanosheets exhibited negatively charged surfaces in a wide pH range (1 to 12) and were found to be stable above pH 6. In addition, graphite flakes were found to be more suitable for the production of NGO as they produced high N-doping levels (0.65 to 1.29 at.%) compared to graphite powders (0.30 to 0.35 at.%). This study further demonstrates that by adjusting the amount of N source in the host GO, one can tailor its thermal stability, surface morphology, surface chemistry and surface area.

Effect of the morphology of adsorbed oleate on the wettability of a collophane surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Junjian; Zhang, Qin; Li, Xianbo; Wang, Xianchen; Ke, Baolin; Li, Xianhai; Shen, Zhihui

2018-06-01

The adsorption of surfactants on a solid surface could alter its wettability, which offers a wide range of relevant applications such as mineral flotation, hydrophobic material preparation and nanomaterial dispersion. The morphology of adsorbed oleate on a collophane surface was visualized using the peakforce tapping mode of atomic force microscopy (AFM), and its effect on the wettability of collophane was analysed by contact angle measurements, adsorption measurements and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The AFM images demonstrated that the adsorbed structure varied with different oleate concentrations. First, the small cylindrical micelles with concomitant monolayer and bilayer structures were observed above the hemimicelle concentration (hmc) of 1 × 10-5 mol/L, which enhanced the hydrophobicity of the collophane surface, and the collophane surface was not completely covered with the oleate monolayer due to surface heterogeneity. Then, large cylindrical micelles with a major bilayer were formed as the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of 1 × 10-3 mol/L was approached, which decreased its hydrophobicity, and finally the formation of large cylindrical micelles with multilayer at the cmc caused the hydrophilicity of the collophane surface. Therefore, there was a suitable equilibrium concentration between the hmc and cmc for oleate as a collector during mineral flotation, and oleate could also be used as a dispersant for colloidal stability when its equilibrium concentration reached the cmc. The effect of the adsorbed structure on the wettability of collophane was also confirmed by MD simulations. This study provides a good understanding of the surface modification of particles by surfactants for flotation and dispersion applications.

Gold nanoparticles protected by mixed hydrogenated/fluorinated monolayers: controlling and exploring the surface features

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Şologan, Maria; Gentilini, Cristina; Bidoggia, Silvia; Boccalon, Mariangela; Pace, Alice; Pengo, Paolo; Pasquato, Lucia

2018-06-01

Harnessing the reciprocal phobicity of hydrogenated and fluorinated thiolates proved to be a valuable strategy in preparing gold nanoparticles displaying mixed monolayers with a well-defined and pre-determined morphology. Our studies display that the organisation of the fluorinated ligands in phase-separated domains takes place even when these represent a small fraction of the ligands grafted on the gold surface. Using simple model ligands and by combining 19F NMR or ESR spectroscopies, and multiscale molecular simulations, we could demonstrate how the monolayer morphology responds in a predictable manner to structural differences between the thiolates. This enables a straightforward preparation of gold nanoparticles with monolayers displaying stripe-like, Janus, patchy, and random morphologies. Additionally, solubility properties may be tuned as function of the nature of the ligands and of the monolayer morphology obtaining gold nanoparticles soluble in organic solvents or in aqueous solutions. Most importantly, this rich diversity can be achieved not by resorting to ad hoc developed fabrication techniques, but rather relying on the spontaneous self-sorting of the ligands upon assembly on the nanoparticle surface. Besides enabling control over the monolayer morphology, fluorinated ligands endow the nanoparticles with several properties that can be exploited in the development of novel materials with applications, for instance in drug delivery and diagnostic imaging.

Influences of Probe’s Morphology for Metal Ion Detection Based on Light-Addressable Potentiometric Sensors

PubMed Central

Shao, Chen; Zhou, Shuang; Yin, Xuebo; Gu, Yajun; Jia, Yunfang

2016-01-01

The sensing mechanism of binding Hg2+ into thymine-thymine (T-T) mismatched base pairs was introduced into a light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) with anti-Hg2+ aptamer as the sensing units. Three kinds of T-rich single-strand DNA (ssDNA) chains with different spacer lengths, from 0 to 12 –CH2 groups, were designed to investigate surface charge and morphological effects on the LAPS’ output. First, by comparing the responding of LAPS modified with three kinds of ssDNA, it was found that the best performance for Hg2+ sensing was exhibited by the probe without –CH2 groups. The detection limit of Hg2+ ion was 1 ppt under the optimal condition. Second, the cooperative effects of surface charge and morphology on the output were observed by the controlled experiments. The two effects were the negative charge balanced by metal cations and the morphological changing caused by the formation of T-Hg2+-T structure. In conclusion, not only the influences of the aptamer probe’s morphology and surface charge was investigated on the platform of LAPS, but also sensing Hg2+ ions was achieved for the first time by the presented aptamer LAPS. PMID:27187412

Rational Design and Synthesis of Carboxylate Gemini Surfactants with an Excellent Aggregate Behavior for Nano-La2O3 Morphology-Controllable Preparation.

PubMed

Liao, Xueming; Gao, Zhinong; Xia, Yan; Niu, Fei; Zhai, Wenzhong

2017-04-04

A series of carboxylate gemini surfactants (CGS, C n -Φ-C n , n = 12, 14, 16, 18) with diphenyl ketone as a spacer group were prepared using a simple and feasible synthetic method. These CGS exhibited an excellent surface activity with extremely low critical micelle concentration (CMC) value (approximately 10 -5 mol/L), good performance in reducing surface tension (nearly 30 mN/m), and the ability of molecular self-assembly into different aggregate morphologies via adjusting the concentrations, which is attributed to the introduction of diphenyl ketone and carboxylic acid ammonium salt in the molecular structure. Moreover, the surface activity and self-assembly ability of CGS were further optimized by tuning the length of the tail chain. These excellent properties imply that CGS can be a soft template to prepare nanomaterials, especially in morphology-controllable synthesis. By adjusting the concentration of one of CGS (C 12 -Φ-C 12 ), nano-La 2 O 3 particles with diverse morphologies were obtained, including spherical shape, bead-chain shape, rod shape, velvet-antler shape, cedar shape, and bowknot shape. This work offers a vital insight into the rational design of template agents for the development of morphology-controllable nanomaterials.

Ultrafast laser induced periodic sub-wavelength aluminum surface structures and nanoparticles in air and liquids

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

Kuladeep, Rajamudili; Dar, Mudasir H.; Rao, D. Narayana, E-mail: dnrsp@uohyd.ac.in, E-mail: dnr-laserlab@yahoo.com

2014-09-21

In this communication, we demonstrate the generation of laser-induced periodic sub-wavelength surface structures (LIPSS) or ripples on a bulk aluminum (Al) and Al nanoparticles (NPs) by femtosecond (fs) laser direct writing technique. Laser irradiation was performed on Al surface at normal incidence in air and by immersing in ethanol (C₂H₅OH) and water (H₂O) using linearly polarized Ti:sapphire fs laser pulses of ~110 fs pulse duration and ~800 nm wavelength. Field emission scanning electron microscope is utilized for imaging surface morphology of laser written structures and it reveals that the spatial periodicity as well as the surface morphology of the LIPSSmore » depends on the surrounding dielectric medium and also on the various laser irradiation parameters. The observed LIPSS have been classified as low spatial frequency LIPSS which are perpendicularly oriented to the laser polarization with a periodicity from 460 to 620 nm and high spatial frequency LIPSS which spectacles a periodicity less than 100 nm with the orientation parallel to the polarization of the incident laser beam. Fabricated colloidal solutions, which contain the Al NPs, were characterized by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM results reveal the formation of internal cavities in Al NPs both in ethanol and water. Formation mechanism of LIPSS and cavities inside the nanoparticles are discussed in detail.« less

Influence of substrate and film thickness on polymer LIPSS formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Jing; Nogales, Aurora; Ezquerra, Tiberio A.; Rebollar, Esther

2017-02-01

Here we focus on the influence of both, substrate and film thickness on polymer Laser Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS) formation in polymer films. For this aim a morphological description of ripples structures generated on spin-coated polystyrene (PS) films by a linearly polarized laser beam with a wavelength of 266 nm is presented. The influence of different parameters on the quality and characteristics of the formed laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) was investigated. We found that well-ordered LIPSS are formed either on PS films thinner than 200 nm or thicker than 400 nm supported on silicon substrates as well as on thicker free standing films. However less-ordered ripples are formed on silicon supported films with intermediate thicknesses in the range of 200-380 nm. The effect of the thermal and optical properties of the substrate on the quality of LIPSS was analyzed. Differences observed in the fluence and number of pulses needed for the onset of surface morphological modifications is explained considering two main effects which are: (1) The temperature increase on polymer surface induced by the action of cumulative laser irradiation and (2) The differences in thermal conductivity between the polymer and the substrate which strongly affect the heat dissipation generated by irradiation.

Seed-Mediated Growth of Gold Nanocrystals: Changes to the Crystallinity or Morphology as Induced by the Treatment of Seeds with a Sulfur Species

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

Zheng, Yiqun; Luo, Ming; Tao, Jing

We report our observation of changes to the crystallinity or morphology during seed-mediated growth of Au nanocrystals. When single-crystal Au seeds with a spherical or rod-like shape were treated with a chemical species such as S₂O₃²⁻ ions, twin defects were developed during the growth process to generate multiply twinned nanostructures. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated that the S₂O₃²⁻ ions were chemisorbed on the surfaces of the seeds during the treatment. The chemisorbed S₂O₃²⁻ ions somehow influenced the crystallization of Au atoms added onto the surface during a growth process, leading to the formation of twin defects. In contrast to themore » spherical and rod-like Au seeds, the single-crystal structure was retained to generate a concave morphology when single-crystal Au seeds with a cubic or octahedral shape were used for a similar treatment and then seed-mediated growth. The different outcomes are likely related to the difference in spatial distribution of S₂O₃²⁻ ions chemisorbed on the surface of a seed. This approach based on surface modification is potentially extendable to other noble metals for engineering the crystallinity and morphology of nanocrystals formed via seed-mediated growth.« less

Seed-Mediated Growth of Gold Nanocrystals: Changes to the Crystallinity or Morphology as Induced by the Treatment of Seeds with a Sulfur Species

DOE PAGES

Zheng, Yiqun; Luo, Ming; Tao, Jing; ...

2014-12-11

We report our observation of changes to the crystallinity or morphology during seed-mediated growth of Au nanocrystals. When single-crystal Au seeds with a spherical or rod-like shape were treated with a chemical species such as S₂O₃²⁻ ions, twin defects were developed during the growth process to generate multiply twinned nanostructures. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated that the S₂O₃²⁻ ions were chemisorbed on the surfaces of the seeds during the treatment. The chemisorbed S₂O₃²⁻ ions somehow influenced the crystallization of Au atoms added onto the surface during a growth process, leading to the formation of twin defects. In contrast to themore » spherical and rod-like Au seeds, the single-crystal structure was retained to generate a concave morphology when single-crystal Au seeds with a cubic or octahedral shape were used for a similar treatment and then seed-mediated growth. The different outcomes are likely related to the difference in spatial distribution of S₂O₃²⁻ ions chemisorbed on the surface of a seed. This approach based on surface modification is potentially extendable to other noble metals for engineering the crystallinity and morphology of nanocrystals formed via seed-mediated growth.« less

Amelogenin Affects Brushite Crystal Morphology and Promotes Its Phase Transformation to Monetite

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

Ren, Dongni; Ruan, Qichao; Tao, Jinhui

2016-09-07

Amelogenin protein is involved in organized apatite crystallization during enamel formation. Brushite (CaHPO4·2H2O), which is one of the precursors for hydroxyapatite in in vitro mineralization, has been used for fabrication of biomaterials for hard tissue repair. In order to explore its potential application in biomimetic material synthesis, we studied the influence of amelogenin on brushite morphology and phase transformation to monetite. Our results show that amelogenin can adsorb onto surface of brushite, leading to the formation of layered structures on the (010) face. Amelogenin promoted the phase transformation of brushite into monetite (CaHPO4) in the dry state, presumably by interactingmore » with crystalline water layers in brushite unit cell. Changes to the crystal morphology by amelogenin continued even after the phase transformation to monetite forming an organized nanotextured structure of nano-sticks resembling the bundle structure in enamel.« less

Linear and Star Poly(ionic liquid) Assemblies: Surface Monolayers and Multilayers.

PubMed

Erwin, Andrew J; Xu, Weinan; He, Hongkun; Matyjaszewski, Krzysztof; Tsukruk, Vladimir V

2017-04-04

The surface morphology and organization of poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs), poly[1-(4-vinylbenzyl)-3-butylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide] are explored in conjunction with their molecular architecture, adsorption conditions, and postassembly treatments. The formation of stable PIL Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayers at the air-water and air-solid interfaces is demonstrated. The hydrophobic bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Tf 2 N - ) is shown to be a critical agent governing the assembly morphology, as observed in the reversible condensation of LB monolayers into dense nanodroplets. The PIL is then incorporated as an unconventional polyelectrolyte component in the layer-by-layer (LbL) films of hydrophobic character. We demonstrate that the interplay of capillary forces, macromolecular mobility, and structural relaxation of the polymer chains influence the dewetting mechanisms in the PIL multilayers, thereby enabling access to a diverse set of highly textured, porous, and interconnected network morphologies for PIL LbL films that would otherwise be absent in conventional LbL films. Their compartmentalized internal structure is relevant to molecular separation membranes, ultrathin hydrophobic coatings, targeted cargo delivery, and highly conductive films.

Effect of laser treatment on the attachment and viability of mesenchymal stem cell responses on shape memory NiTi alloy.

PubMed

Chan, C W; Hussain, I; Waugh, D G; Lawrence, J; Man, H C

2014-09-01

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of laser-induced surface features on the morphology, attachment and viability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at different periods of time, and to evaluate the biocompatibility of different zones: laser-melted zone (MZ), heat-affected zone (HAZ) and base metal (BM) in laser-treated NiTi alloy. The surface morphology and composition were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The cell morphology was examined by SEM while the cell counting and viability measurements were done by hemocytometer and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay. The results indicated that the laser-induced surface features, such as surface roughening, presence of anisotropic dendritic pattern and complete surface Ni oxidation were beneficial to improve the biocompatibility of NiTi as evidenced by the highest cell attachment (4 days of culture) and viability (7 days of culture) found in the MZ. The biocompatibility of the MZ was the best, followed by the BM with the HAZ being the worst. The defective and porous oxide layer as well as the coarse grained structure might attribute to the inferior cell attachment (4 days of culture) and viability (7 days of culture) on the HAZ compared with the BM which has similar surface morphology. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Three-dimensional morphological and textural complexity of Archean putative microfossils from the Northeastern Pilbara Craton: indications of biogenicity of large (>15 microm) spheroidal and spindle-like structures.

PubMed

Sugitani, Kenichiro; Grey, Kathleen; Nagaoka, Tsutomu; Mimura, Koichi

2009-09-01

We recently reported a diverse assemblage of carbonaceous structures (thread-like, film-like, spheroidal, and spindle-like) from chert in the ca. 3.0 Ga Farrel Quartzite of the Gorge Creek Group in the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia. Results from a rigorous examination of occurrence, composition, morphological complexity, size distributions, and taphonomy provided presumptive evidence for biogenicity. In this study, we present new data of morphological and textural complexity of large (>15 microm) spheroidal and spindle-like structures, using an in-focus, 3-D image reconstruction system, which further raises the scale of credibility that these structures are microfossils. While many of the large spheroids are single-walled, and the wall is irregularly folded, a few specimens are partially blistered, double walled, or have a dimpled wall. The wall-surface texture varies from smooth and homogeneous (hyaline) to patchy, granular or reticulate. Such variation is best explained as resulting from taphonomic processes. Additionally, an inner solitary body, present in some large spheroids, is hollow and partially broken, which indicates a primary origin for this substructure. Spindle-like structures have two types of flange-like appendage; one is attached at the equatorial plane of the body, whereas the other appears to be attached peripherally. In both cases, the appendage tends to have a flat geometry, a tapering thickness, and constancy in shape, proportions, and dimensions. Spindle-wall surfaces are variously textured and heterogeneous. These morphological and textural complexities and heterogeneity refute potential abiogenic formation models for these structures, such as crystals coated with organic matter, fenestrae, and the diagenetic redistribution of carbonaceous matter. When coupled with other data from Raman spectroscopy, NanoSIMS analysis, and palynology, the evidence that these large carbonaceous structures are biogenic appears compelling, though it is still equivocal as to whether they are cells or outer envelopes of colonies of smaller cells.

Morphology modulating the wettability of a diamond film.

PubMed

Tian, Shibing; Sun, Weijie; Hu, Zhaosheng; Quan, Baogang; Xia, Xiaoxiang; Li, Yunlong; Han, Dong; Li, Junjie; Gu, Changzhi

2014-10-28

Control of the wetting property of diamond surface has been a challenge because of its maximal hardness and good chemical inertness. In this work, the micro/nanoarray structures etched into diamond film surfaces by a maskless plasma method are shown to fix a surface's wettability characteristics, and this means that the change in morphology is able to modulate the wettability of a diamond film from weakly hydrophilic to either superhydrophilic or superhydrophobic. It can be seen that the etched diamond surface with a mushroom-shaped array is superhydrophobic following the Cassie mode, whereas the etched surface with nanocone arrays is superhydrophilic in accordance with the hemiwicking mechnism. In addition, the difference in cone densities of superhydrophilic nanocone surfaces has a significant effect on water spreading, which is mainly derived from different driving forces. This low-cost and convenient means of altering the wetting properties of diamond surfaces can be further applied to underlying wetting phenomena and expand the applications of diamond in various fields.

Surface morphology of refractive-index waveguide gratings fabricated in polymer films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Yi; Song, Yan-fang; Ma, Lei; Gao, Fang-fang

2016-09-01

The characteristic modifications are reported on the surface of polymeric waveguide film in the process of volume- grating fabrication. The light from a mode-locked 76 MHz femtosecond laser with pulse duration of 200 fs and wavelength of 800 nm is focused normal to the surface of the sample. The surface morphology modifications are ascribed to a fact that surface swelling occurs during the process. Periodic micro-structure is inscribed with increasing incident power. The laser-induced swelling threshold on the grating, which is higher than that of two-photon initiated photo-polymerization (TPIP) (8 mW), is verified to be about 20 mW. It is feasible to enhance the surface smoothness of integrated optics devices for further encapsulation. The variation of modulation depth is studied for different values of incident power and scan spacing. Ablation accompanied with surface swelling appears when the power is higher. By optimizing the laser carving parameters, highly efficient grating devices can be fabricated.

Multiscale Morphology of Nanoporous Copper Made from Intermetallic Phases

DOE PAGES

Egle, Tobias; Barroo, Cédric; Janvelyan, Nare; ...

2017-07-11

Many application-relevant properties of nanoporous metals critically depend on their multiscale architecture. For example, the intrinsically high step-edge density of curved surfaces at the nanoscale provides highly reactive sites for catalysis, whereas the macroscale pore and grain morphology determines the macroscopic properties, such as mass transport, electrical conductivity, or mechanical properties. Here, in this work, we systematically study the effects of alloy composition and dealloying conditions on the multiscale morphology of nanoporous copper (np-Cu) made from various commercial Zn–Cu precursor alloys. Using a combination of X-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction, and focused ion beam cross-sectional analysis, our results reveal thatmore » the macroscopic grain structure of the starting alloy surprisingly survives the dealloying process, despite a change in crystal structure from body-centered cubic (Zn–Cu starting alloy) to face-centered cubic (Cu). The nanoscale structure can be controlled by the acid used for dealloying with HCl leading to a larger and more faceted ligament morphology compared to that of H 3PO 4. Finally, anhydrous ethanol dehydrogenation was used as a probe reaction to test the effect of the nanoscale ligament morphology on the apparent activation energy of the reaction.« less

Multiscale Morphology of Nanoporous Copper Made from Intermetallic Phases

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

Egle, Tobias; Barroo, Cédric; Janvelyan, Nare

Many application-relevant properties of nanoporous metals critically depend on their multiscale architecture. For example, the intrinsically high step-edge density of curved surfaces at the nanoscale provides highly reactive sites for catalysis, whereas the macroscale pore and grain morphology determines the macroscopic properties, such as mass transport, electrical conductivity, or mechanical properties. Here, in this work, we systematically study the effects of alloy composition and dealloying conditions on the multiscale morphology of nanoporous copper (np-Cu) made from various commercial Zn–Cu precursor alloys. Using a combination of X-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction, and focused ion beam cross-sectional analysis, our results reveal thatmore » the macroscopic grain structure of the starting alloy surprisingly survives the dealloying process, despite a change in crystal structure from body-centered cubic (Zn–Cu starting alloy) to face-centered cubic (Cu). The nanoscale structure can be controlled by the acid used for dealloying with HCl leading to a larger and more faceted ligament morphology compared to that of H 3PO 4. Finally, anhydrous ethanol dehydrogenation was used as a probe reaction to test the effect of the nanoscale ligament morphology on the apparent activation energy of the reaction.« less

Fabrication of multi-scale periodic surface structures on Ti-6Al-4V by direct laser writing and direct laser interference patterning for modified wettability applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huerta-Murillo, D.; Aguilar-Morales, A. I.; Alamri, S.; Cardoso, J. T.; Jagdheesh, R.; Lasagni, A. F.; Ocaña, J. L.

2017-11-01

In this work, hierarchical surface patterns fabricated on Ti-6Al-4V alloy combining two laser micro-machining techniques are presented. The used technologies are based on nanosecond Direct Laser Writing and picosecond Direct Laser Interference Patterning. Squared shape micro-cells with different hatch distances were produced by Direct Laser Writing with depths values in the micro-scale, forming a well-defined closed packet. Subsequently, cross-like periodic patterns were fabricated by means of Direct Laser Interference Patterning using a two-beam configuration, generating a dual-scale periodic surface structure in both micro- and nano-scale due to the formation of Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structure after the picosecond process. As a result a triple hierarchical periodic surface structure was generated. The surface morphology of the irradiated area was characterized with scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. Additionally, static contact angle measurements were made to analyze the wettability behavior of the structures, showing a hydrophobic behavior for the hierarchical structures.

Surface morphology and grain analysis of successively industrially grown amorphous hydrogenated carbon films (a-C:H) on silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catena, Alberto; McJunkin, Thomas; Agnello, Simonpietro; Gelardi, Franco M.; Wehner, Stefan; Fischer, Christian B.

2015-08-01

Silicon (1 0 0) has been gradually covered by amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H) films via an industrial process. Two types of these diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings, one more flexible (f-DLC) and one more robust (r-DLC), have been investigated. Both types have been grown by a radio frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD) technique with acetylene plasma. Surface morphologies have been studied in detail by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy has been used to investigate the DLC structure. Both types appeared to have very similar morphology and sp2 carbon arrangement. The average height and area for single grains have been analyzed for all depositions. A random distribution of grain heights was found for both types. The individual grain structures between the f- and r-type revealed differences: the shape for the f-DLC grains is steeper than for the r-DLC grains. By correlating the average grain heights to the average grain areas for all depositions a limited region is identified, suggesting a certain regularity during the DLC deposition mechanisms that confines both values. A growth of the sp2 carbon entities for high r-DLC depositions is revealed and connected to a structural rearrangement of carbon atom hybridizations and hydrogen content in the DLC structure.

Surface Modifications during a Catalytic Reaction: A Combined APT and FIB/SEM Analysis of Surface Segregation

DOE PAGES

Barroo, Cedric; Janvelyan, Nare; Zugic, Branko; ...

2016-07-25

To improve the understanding of catalytic processes, the surface structure and composition of the active materials need to be determined before and after reaction. Morphological changes may occur under reaction conditions and can dramatically influence the reactivity and/or selectivity of a catalyst. Goldbased catalysts with different architectures are currently being developed for selective oxidation reactions at low temperatures. Specifically, nanoporous Au (npAu) with a composition of Au 97-Ag 3 is obtained by dealloying a Ag 70-Au 30 bulk alloy. Recent studies highlight the efficiency of npAu catalysts for methanol oxidation using ozone to activate the catalysts before methanol oxidation. Inmore » this paper, we studied the morphological and compositional changes occurring at the surface of Au-based catalysts in certain conditions.« less

Correlation between surface properties and wettability of multi-scale structured biocompatible surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorodzha, S. N.; Surmeneva, M. A.; Prymak, O.; Wittmar, A.; Ulbricht, M.; Epple, M.; Teresov, A.; Koval, N.; Surmenev, R. A.

2015-11-01

The influence of surface properties of radio-frequency (RF) magnetron deposited hydroxyapatite (HA) and Si-containing HA coatings on wettability was studied. The composition and morphology of the coatings fabricated on titanium (Ti) were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The surface wettability was studied using contact angle analysis. Different geometric parameters of acid-etched (AE) and pulse electron beam (PEB)-treated Ti substrates and silicate content in the HA films resulted in the different morphology of the coatings at micro- and nano- length scales. Water contact angles for the HA coated Ti samples were evaluated as a combined effect of micro roughness of the substrate and nano-roughness of the HA films resulting in higher water contact angles compared with acid-etched (AE) or pulse electron beam (PEB) treated Ti substrates.

Surface and local electronic structure modification of MgO film using Zn and Fe ion implantation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Jitendra Pal; Lim, Weon Cheol; Lee, Jihye; Song, Jonghan; Lee, Ik-Jae; Chae, Keun Hwa

2018-02-01

Present work is motivated to investigate the surface and local electronic structure modifications of MgO films implanted with Zn and Fe ions. MgO film was deposited using radio frequency sputtering method. Atomic force microscopy measurements exhibit morphological changes associated with implantation. Implantation of Fe and Zn ions leads to the reduction of co-ordination geometry of Mg2+ ions in host lattice. The effect is dominant at bulk of film rather than surface as the large concentration of implanted ions resides inside bulk. Moreover, the evidences of interaction among implanted ions and oxygen are not being observed using near edge fine structure measurements.

Adsorption and redox reactions of heavy metals on synthesized Mn oxide minerals.

PubMed

Feng, Xiong Han; Zhai, Li Mei; Tan, Wen Feng; Liu, Fan; He, Ji Zheng

2007-05-01

Several Mn oxide minerals commonly occurring in soils were synthesized by modified or optimized methods. The morphologies, structures, compositions and surface properties of the synthesized Mn oxide minerals were characterized. Adsorption and redox reactions of heavy metals on these minerals in relation to the mineral structures and surface properties were also investigated. The synthesized birnessite, todorokite, cryptomelane, and hausmannite were single-phased minerals and had the typical morphologies from analyses of XRD and TEM/ED. The PZCs of the synthesized birnessite, todorokite and cryptomelane were 1.75, 3.50 and 2.10, respectively. The magnitude order of their surface variable negative charge was: birnessite> or =cryptomelane>todorokite. The hausmannite had a much higher PZC than others with the least surface variable negative charge. Birnessite exhibited the largest adsorption capacity on heavy metals Pb(2+), Cu(2+), Co(2+), Cd(2+) and Zn(2+), while hausmannite the smallest one. Birnessite, cryptomelane and todorokite showed the greatest adsorption capacity on Pb(2+) among the tested heavy metals. Hydration tendency (pK(1)) of the heavy metals and the surface variable charge of the Mn minerals had significant impacts on the adsorption. The ability in Cr(III) oxidation and concomitant release of Mn(2+) varied greatly depending on the structure, composition, surface properties and crystallinity of the minerals. The maximum amounts of Cr(III) oxidized by the Mn oxide minerals in order were (mmol/kg): birnessite (1330.0)>cryptomelane (422.6)>todorokite (59.7)>hausmannite (36.6).

Structural, morphological and Raman studies on hybridized PVDF/BaTiO3 nanocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajamanickam, N.; Jayakumar, K.; Ramachandran, K.

2017-05-01

Hybridized nanocomposites of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and nano - barium titanate (BaTiO3) were prepared using the solution casting method for different concentrations of nano-BaTiO3 and were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The flower like structure for morphology was observed in SEM. Raman analysis showed that the modified BaTiO3 particles, due to higher specific surfaces, induce, predominantly, the crystallization of the electrically active β-phase of PVDF, while the initial micron size particles induce the formation of the most common but non-polar α-crystal form.

Polymethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid coatings with controllable concentration of surface carboxyl groups: A novel approach in fabrication of polymeric platforms for potential bio-diagnostic devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hosseini, Samira; Ibrahim, Fatimah; Djordjevic, Ivan; Koole, Leo H.

2014-05-01

The generally accepted strategy in development of bio-diagnostic devices is to immobilize proteins on polymeric surfaces as a part of detection process for diseases and viruses through antibody/antigen coupling. In that perspective, polymer surface properties such as concentration of functional groups must be closely controlled in order to preserve the protein activity. In order to improve the surface characteristics of transparent polymethacrylate plastics that are used for diagnostic devices, we have developed an effective fabrication procedure of polymethylmetacrylate-co-metacrylic acid (PMMA-co-MAA) coatings with controlled number of surface carboxyl groups. The polymers were processed effectively with the spin-coating technique and the detailed control over surface properties is here by demonstrated through the variation of a single synthesis reaction parameter. The chemical structure of synthesized and processed co-polymers has been investigated with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS). The surface morphology of polymer coatings have been analyzed with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We demonstrate that the surface morphology and the concentration of surface -COOH groups (determined with UV-vis surface titration) on the processed PMMA-co-MAA coatings can be precisely controlled by variation of initial molar ratio of reactants in the free-radical polymerization reaction. The wettability of developed polymer surfaces also varies with macromolecular structure.

Method for improving performance of high temperature superconductors within a magnetic field

DOEpatents

Wang, Haiyan; Foltyn, Stephen R.; Maiorov, Boris A.; Civale, Leonardo

2010-01-05

The present invention provides articles including a base substrate including a layer of an oriented cubic oxide material having a rock-salt-like structure layer thereon; and, a buffer layer upon the oriented cubic oxide material having a rock-salt-like structure layer, the buffer layer having an outwardly facing surface with a surface morphology including particulate outgrowths of from 10 nm to 500 run in size at the surface, such particulate outgrowths serving as flux pinning centers whereby the article maintains higher performance within magnetic fields than similar articles without the necessary density of such outgrowths.

The Influence of the Surface Neutralization of Active Impurities on the Field-Electron Emission Properties of p-Type Silicon Crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yafarov, R. K.

2017-12-01

Correlation dependences between variations of the structural-phase composition, morphology characteristics, and field-electron-emission (FEE) properties of surface-structured p-type silicon singlecrystalline (100)-oriented wafers have been studied during their stepwise high-dose carbon-ion-beam irradiation. It is established that the stepwise implantation of carbon decreases the FEE threshold and favors an increase in the maximum FEE-current density by more than two orders of magnitude. Physicochemical mechanisms involved in this modification of the properties of near-surface layers of silicon under carbon-ion implantation are considered.

Hydrothermal-electrochemical growth of heterogeneous ZnO: Co films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yilmaz, Ceren; Unal, Ugur

2017-10-01

This study demonstrates the preparation of heterogeneous ZnO: Co nanostructures via hydrothermal-electrochemical deposition at 130 °C and -1.1 V (vs Ag/AgCl (satd)) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-H2O mixture. Under the stated conditions, ZnO: Co nanostructures grow preferentially along (002) direction. Strength of directional growth progressively increases with the increasing concentration of Co(II) in the deposition bath. Films are composed of hexagonal Wurtzite ZnO, metallic cobalt, and mixed cobalt oxide on the surface and cobalt(II) oxide in deeper levels. Increasing the Co(II) concentration in the deposition bath results in different morphological features as well as phase separation. Platelets, sponge-like structures, cobalt-rich spheres, microislands of cobalt-rich spheres which are interconnected by ZnO network can be synthesized by adjusting [Co(II)]: [Zn(II)] ratio. Growth mechanisms giving rise to these particular structures, surface morphology, crystal structure, phase purity, chemical binding characteristics, and optical properties of the deposits are discussed in detail.

Resonant laser printing of structural colors on high-index dielectric metasurfaces

PubMed Central

Zhu, Xiaolong; Yan, Wei; Levy, Uriel; Mortensen, N. Asger; Kristensen, Anders

2017-01-01

Man-made structural colors, which originate from resonant interactions between visible light and manufactured nanostructures, are emerging as a solution for ink-free color printing. We show that non-iridescent structural colors can be conveniently produced by nanostructures made from high-index dielectric materials. Compared to plasmonic analogs, color surfaces with high-index dielectrics, such as germanium (Ge), have a lower reflectance, yielding a superior color contrast. Taking advantage of band-to-band absorption in Ge, we laser-postprocess Ge color metasurfaces with morphology-dependent resonances. Strong on-resonance energy absorption under pulsed laser irradiation locally elevates the lattice temperature (exceeding 1200 K) in an ultrashort time scale (1 ns). This forms the basis for resonant laser printing, where rapid melting allows for surface energy–driven morphology changes with associated modification of color appearance. Laser-printable high-index dielectric color metasurfaces are scalable to a large area and open a new paradigm for printing and decoration with nonfading and vibrant colors. PMID:28508062

Morphological alterations in the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala in unsuccessful psychopaths.

PubMed

Yang, Yaling; Raine, Adrian; Colletti, Patrick; Toga, Arthur W; Narr, Katherine L

2010-08-01

Although deficits in several cortical and subcortical structures have been found in psychopaths, it remains unclear whether the neuropathology differs between subgroups of psychopaths (i.e., unsuccessful and successful). Using both traditional and novel image analyses methods, this study aims to reveal gross and subtle morphological changes in the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala in unsuccessful and successful psychopaths. Volumetric segmentation, cortical pattern matching, and surface-based mesh modeling methods were used to examine prefrontal and amygdala structures in 16 unsuccessful psychopaths, 10 successful psychopaths, and 27 controls. Significant reduced gray matter volume and cortical thickness/surface shape in the middle frontal, orbitofrontal cortex and the amygdala were found in unsuccessful psychopaths but not successful psychopaths, compared with controls. This study provides the first evidence of greater prefrontal and amygdala structural deficits in unsuccessful psychopaths, which may predispose them to poor behavioral control and impaired decision-making, thus making them more prone to convictions. Copyright 2010 APA, all rights reserved

Sigma 1 protein of mammalian reoviruses extends from the surfaces of viral particles

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

Furlong, D.B.; Nibert, M.L.; Fields, B.N.

1988-01-01

Electron microscopy revealed structures consisting of long fibers topped with knobs extending from the surfaces of virions of mammalian reoviruses. The morphology of these structures was reminiscent of the fiber protein of adenovirus. Fibers were also seen extending from the reovirus top component and intermediate subviral particles but not from cores, suggesting that the fibers consist of either the ..mu..1C or sigma1 outer capsid protein. Amino acid sequence analysis predicts that the reovirus cell attachment protein sigma1 contains an extended fiber domain. When sigma1 protein was released from viral particles with mild heat and subsequently obtained in isolation, it wasmore » found to have a morphology identical to that of the fiber structures seen extending from the viral particles. The identification of an extended form of sigma1 has important implications for its function in cell attachment. Other evidence suggest that sigma1 protein may occur in virions in both an extended and an unextended state.« less

CeO2-CuO/Cu2O/Cu monolithic catalysts with three-kind morphologies Cu2O layers for preferential CO oxidation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jing, Guojuan; Zhang, Xuejiao; Zhang, Aiai; Li, Meng; Zeng, Shanghong; Xu, Changjin; Su, Haiquan

2018-03-01

The supports of copper slices with three-kind morphologies Cu2O layers were prepared by the hydrothermal method. The Cu2O layers are rod-like structure, three-dimensional reticular and porous morphology as well as flower-like morphology, respectively. The CeO2-CuO/Cu2O/Cu monolithic catalysts present porous and network structure or foam morphology after loading CeO2 and CuO. Cu and Ce elements are uniformly dispersed onto the support surface. It is found that the monolithic catalyst with flower-like Cu2O layer displays better low-temperature activity because of highly-dispersed CuO and high Olatt concentration. The monolithic catalysts with rod-like or reticular-morphology Cu2O layers present high-temperature activity due to larger CuO crystallite sizes and good synergistic effect at copper-ceria interfacial sites. The as-prepared CeO2-CuO/Cu2O/Cu monolithic catalysts show good performance in the CO-PROX reaction. The generation of Cu2O layers with three-kind morphologies is beneficial to the loading and dispersion of copper oxides and ceria.

Mechanically durable carbon nanotube-composite hierarchical structures with superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, and low-drag.

PubMed

Jung, Yong Chae; Bhushan, Bharat

2009-12-22

Superhydrophobic surfaces with high contact angle and low contact angle hysteresis exhibit a self-cleaning effect and low drag for fluid flow. The lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) leaf is one of the examples found in nature for superhydrophobic surfaces. For the development of superhydrophobic surfaces, which is important for various applications such as glass windows, solar panels, and microchannels, materials and fabrication methods need to be explored to provide mechanically durable surfaces. It is necessary to perform durability studies on these surfaces. Carbon nanotube (CNT), composite structures which would lead to superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, and low-drag, were prepared using a spray method. As a benchmark, structured surfaces with lotus wax were also prepared to compare with the durability of CNT composite structures. To compare the durability of the various fabricated surfaces, waterfall/jet tests were conducted to determine the loss of superhydrophobicity by changing the flow time and pressure conditions. Wear and friction studies were also performed using an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a ball-on-flat tribometer. The changes in the morphology of the structured surfaces were examined by AFM and optical imaging. We find that superhydrophobic CNT composite structures showed good mechanical durability, superior to the structured surfaces with lotus wax, and may be suitable for real world applications.

Comparing morphologies of drainage basins on Mars and Earth using integral-geometry and neural maps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stepinski, T. F.; Coradetti, S.

2004-01-01

We compare morphologies of drainage basins on Mars and Earth in order to confine the formation process of Martian valley networks. Basins on both planets are computationally extracted from digital topography. Integral-geometry methods are used to represent each basin by a circularity function that encapsulates its internal structure. The shape of such a function is an indicator of the style of fluvial erosion. We use the self-organizing map technique to construct a similarity graph for all basins. The graph reveals systematic differences between morphologies of basins on the two planets. This dichotomy indicates that terrestrial and Martian surfaces were eroded differently. We argue that morphologies of Martian basins are incompatible with runoff from sustained, homogeneous rainfall. Fluvial environments compatible with observed morphologies are discussed. We also construct a similarity graph based on the comparison of basins hypsometric curves to demonstrate that hypsometry is incapable of discriminating between terrestrial and Martian basins. INDEX TERMS: 1824 Hydrology: Geomorphology (1625); 1886 Hydrology: Weathering (1625); 5415 Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Erosion and weathering; 6225 Planetology: Solar System Objects Mars. Citation: Stepinski, T. F., and S. Coradetti (2004), Comparing morphologies of drainage basins on Mars and Earth using integral-ge

Structural and functional characterizations of SsgB, a conserved activator of developmental cell division in morphologically complex actinomycetes.

PubMed

Xu, Qingping; Traag, Bjørn A; Willemse, Joost; McMullan, Daniel; Miller, Mitchell D; Elsliger, Marc-André; Abdubek, Polat; Astakhova, Tamara; Axelrod, Herbert L; Bakolitsa, Constantina; Carlton, Dennis; Chen, Connie; Chiu, Hsiu-Ju; Chruszcz, Maksymilian; Clayton, Thomas; Das, Debanu; Deller, Marc C; Duan, Lian; Ellrott, Kyle; Ernst, Dustin; Farr, Carol L; Feuerhelm, Julie; Grant, Joanna C; Grzechnik, Anna; Grzechnik, Slawomir K; Han, Gye Won; Jaroszewski, Lukasz; Jin, Kevin K; Klock, Heath E; Knuth, Mark W; Kozbial, Piotr; Krishna, S Sri; Kumar, Abhinav; Marciano, David; Minor, Wladek; Mommaas, A Mieke; Morse, Andrew T; Nigoghossian, Edward; Nopakun, Amanda; Okach, Linda; Oommachen, Silvya; Paulsen, Jessica; Puckett, Christina; Reyes, Ron; Rife, Christopher L; Sefcovic, Natasha; Tien, Henry J; Trame, Christine B; van den Bedem, Henry; Wang, Shuren; Weekes, Dana; Hodgson, Keith O; Wooley, John; Deacon, Ashley M; Godzik, Adam; Lesley, Scott A; Wilson, Ian A; van Wezel, Gilles P

2009-09-11

SsgA-like proteins (SALPs) are a family of homologous cell division-related proteins that occur exclusively in morphologically complex actinomycetes. We show that SsgB, a subfamily of SALPs, is the archetypal SALP that is functionally conserved in all sporulating actinomycetes. Sporulation-specific cell division of Streptomyces coelicolor ssgB mutants is restored by introduction of distant ssgB orthologues from other actinomycetes. Interestingly, the number of septa (and spores) of the complemented null mutants is dictated by the specific ssgB orthologue that is expressed. The crystal structure of the SsgB from Thermobifida fusca was determined at 2.6 A resolution and represents the first structure for this family. The structure revealed similarities to a class of eukaryotic "whirly" single-stranded DNA/RNA-binding proteins. However, the electro-negative surface of the SALPs suggests that neither SsgB nor any of the other SALPs are likely to interact with nucleotide substrates. Instead, we show that a conserved hydrophobic surface is likely to be important for SALP function and suggest that proteins are the likely binding partners.

Controlling Film Morphology in Conjugated Polymer

PubMed Central

Park, Lee Y.; Munro, Andrea M.; Ginger, David S.

2009-01-01

We study the effects of patterned surface chemistry on the microscale and nanoscale morphology of solution-processed donor/acceptor polymer-blend films. Focusing on combinations of interest in polymer solar cells, we demonstrate that patterned surface chemistry can be used to tailor the film morphology of blends of semiconducting polymers such as poly-[2-(3,7-dimethyloctyloxy)-5-methoxy-p-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV), poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT), poly[(9,9-dioctylflorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-benzothiadiazole)] (F8BT), and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-bis-N,N’-(4-butylphenyl)-bis-N,N’-phenyl-1,4-phenylendiamine) (PFB) with the fullerene derivative, [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). We present a method for generating patterned, fullerene-terminated monolayers on gold surfaces, and use microcontact printing and Dip-Pen Nanolithography (DPN) to pattern alkanethiols with both micro- and nanoscale features. After patterning with fullerenes and other functional groups, we backfill the rest of the surface with a variety of thiols to prepare substrates with periodic variations in surface chemistry. Spin coating polymer:PCBM films onto these substrates, followed by thermal annealing under nitrogen, leads to the formation of structured polymer films. We characterize these films with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, and fluorescence microscopy. The surface patterns are effective in guiding phase separation in all of the polymer:PCBM systems investigated, and lead to a rich variety of film morphologies that are inaccessible with unpatterned substrates. We demonstrate our ability to guide pattern formation in films thick enough of be of interest for actual device applications (up to 200 nm in thickness) using feature sizes as small as 100 nm. Finally, we show that the surface chemistry can lead to variations in film morphology on length scales significantly smaller than those used in generating the original surface patterns. The variety of behaviors observed and the wide range of control over polymer morphology achieved at a variety of different length scales have important implications for the development of bulk heterojunction solar cells. PMID:18983150

Controlled fabrication of PANI/CNF hybrid films: molecular interaction induced various micromorphologies and electrochemical properties.

PubMed

Xu, Guiheng; Xu, Dongdong; Zhang, Jianan; Wang, Kaixi; Chen, Zhimin; Chen, Jiafu; Xu, Qun

2013-12-01

In this paper, a facile and efficient method is reported to prepare polyaniline/carbon nanofiber (PANI/CNF) hybrid films by in situ chemical polymerization of aniline. The various morphologies and microstructures of PANI/CNF hybrid films can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of aniline and different acids as the protonation reagent, and the formation mechanism is illustrated in this study. The surface morphologies and chemical structure of the PANI/CNF hybrid films are characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), water contact angle (CA), FT-IR, Raman, and UV-vis spectrophotometers. The different morphology of uniformly coated, twist-tangled, and needle-like PANI built on CNF films are obtained by using HCl, H2SO4, and HClO4 as protonation reagent and the obtained hybrid films are labeled as PANI/CNF-f1, PANI/CNF-f2, and PANI/CNF-f3, respectively. We demonstrated that the different protonation reagent has the determined effect on the surface properties of the obtained hybrid films that can transfer from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. Besides, the various morphologies of PANI play an important role in their electrochemical properties. PANI/CNF-f3 exhibits higher specific capacitance and better stability than that of the PANI/CNF-f1 and PANI/CNF-f2. Considering its unique needle-like structure, this work is a proof of concept that micro-structure and morphology can determine the macro-properties. And this study supplies a facile method to fabricate PANI/CNF hybrid films that can be used as electrode materials in supercapacitors. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Simple chemical synthesis of novel ZnO nanostructures: Role of counter ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pudukudy, Manoj; Yaakob, Zahira

2014-04-01

This article reports the synthesis, characterisation and photocatalytic activity of novel ZnO nanostructures prepared via the thermal decomposition of hydrozincite. Hydrozincites were obtained by the conventional precipitation route using different zinc salts such as acetate, nitrate, chloride and sulphate. The effect of counter ions (CH3COO-, Cl-, NO3-, and SO42-) on the structural, textural, morphological and optical properties was investigated. Various characterisations depicted the active role of counter ions in the properties of ZnO. Hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO with fine crystalline size was obvious from the XRD results, irrespective of the counter ions. Electron microscopic images indicated the role of counter ions in the surface and internal morphology of ZnO nanomaterials. Special coral like agglomerated morphology of elongated particles with high porosity was observed for the ZnO prepared from acetate precursor. Spherical, elongated and irregular shaped bigger lumps of ZnO nanoparticles with various novel morphologies were resulted for the sulphate, nitrate and chloride precursors respectively. Highly ordered porous micro disc like morphology was noted for the ZnO samples prepared from the sulphate and nitrate salts. Photoluminescence spectra showed the characteristic blue and green emission bands, depicting the presence of large crystal defects and high oxygen vacancies in the samples. Photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared ZnO catalysts was examined by the degradation of methylene blue under UV light irradiation. Degradation results indicated their substantial activity with respect to the counter ions. ZnO prepared from the acetate precursor showed highest photoactivity due to its high surface area, special morphology and high oxygen vacancies.

Patterns of morphological variation in enamel–dentin junction and outer enamel surface of human molars

PubMed Central

Morita, Wataru; Yano, Wataru; Nagaoka, Tomohito; Abe, Mikiko; Ohshima, Hayato; Nakatsukasa, Masato

2014-01-01

Tooth crown patterning is governed by the growth and folding of the inner enamel epithelium (IEE) and the following enamel deposition forms outer enamel surface (OES). We hypothesized that overall dental crown shape and covariation structure are determined by processes that configurate shape at the enamel–dentine junction (EDJ), the developmental vestige of IEE. This this hypothesis was tested by comparing patterns of morphological variation between EDJ and OES in human permanent maxillary first molar (UM1) and deciduous second molar (um2). Using geometric morphometric methods, we described morphological variation and covariation between EDJ and OES, and evaluated the strength of two components of phenotypic variability, canalization and morphological integration, in addition to the relevant evolutionary flexibility, i.e. the ability to respond to selective pressure. The strength of covariation between EDJ and OES was greater in um2 than in UM1, and the way that multiple traits covary between EDJ and OES was different between these teeth. The variability analyses showed that EDJ had less shape variation and a higher level of morphological integration than OES, which indicated that canalization and morphological integration acted as developmental constraints. These tendencies were greater in UM1 than in um2. On the other hand, EDJ and OES had a comparable level of evolvability in these teeth. Amelogenesis could play a significant role in tooth shape and covariation structure, and its influence was not constant among teeth, which may be responsible for the differences in the rate and/or period of enamel formation. PMID:24689536

Detailed surface morphology of the 'lobster louse' copepod, Nicothoë astaci, a haematophagous gill parasite of the European lobster, Homarus gammarus.

PubMed

Davies, Charlotte E; Thomas, Gethin R; Maffeis, Thierry G G; Wootton, Emma C; Penny, Mark W; Rowley, Andrew F

2014-10-01

The ectoparasitic copepod, Nicothoë astaci (the 'lobster louse'), infests the gills of the European lobster, Homarus gammarus. There have been limited studies on this haematophagous species; therefore knowledge of this parasite is rudimentary. The current study examines the surface morphology of this parasitic copepod, detached from the host, concentrating on adaptations of the suctorial mouthpart, the oral disc. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy revealed structural adaptations that facilitate attachment of these parasites to the gill filaments of their lobster host. The aperture of the feeding channel, through which host haemolymph is drawn, is only ca. 5μm in diameter. The edge of the oral disc is lined with numerous setae, whilst the surface of the disc is covered with large numbers of small (<1μm in diameter) teeth-like structures, which presumably pierce through, and grip, the cuticle lining of the host's gill. Overall, these structures are thought to provide a 'vacuum seal' to assist in pumping of blood, via peristalsis, into the alimentary canal of the copepod host. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fabrication of Bendable Circuits on a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Surface by Inkjet Printing Semi-Wrapped Structures

PubMed Central

Sun, Jiazhen; Jiang, Jieke; Bao, Bin; Wang, Si; He, Min; Zhang, Xingye; Song, Yanlin

2016-01-01

In this work, an effective method was developed to fabricate bendable circuits on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface by inkjet printing semi-wrapped structures. It is demonstrated that the precured PDMS liquid film could influence the depositing morphology of coalesced silver precursor inkjet droplets. Accordingly, continuous and uniform lines with a semi-wrapped structure were fabricated on the PDMS surface. When the printed silver precursor was reduced to Ag nanoparticles, the fabricated conductive film exhibited good transparency and high bendability. This work presented a facile way to fabricate flexible patterns on a PDMS surface without any complicated modification or special equipment. Meanwhile, an in situ hydrazine reduction of Ag has been reported using the vapor phase method in the fabricating process. PMID:28773374

Surface morphology and subsurface damaged layer of various glasses machined by 193-nm ArF excimer laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liao, Yunn-shiuan; Chen, Ying-Tung; Chao, Choung-Lii; Liu, Yih-Ming

2005-01-01

Owing to the high bonding energy, most of the glasses are removed by photo-thermal rather than photo-chemical effect when they are ablated by the 193 or 248nm excimer lasers. Typically, the machined surface is covered by re-deposited debris and the sub-surface, sometimes surface as well, is scattered with micro-cracks introduced by thermal stress generated during the process. This study aimed to investigate the nature and extent of the surface morphology and sub-surface damaged (SSD) layer induced by the laser ablation. The effects of laser parameters such as fluence, shot number and repetition rate on the morphology and SSD were discussed. An ArF excimer laser (193 nm) was used in the present study to machine glasses such as soda-lime, Zerodur and BK-7. It is found that the melt ejection and debris deposition tend to pile up higher and become denser in structure under a higher energy density, repetition rate and shot number. There are thermal stress induced lateral cracks when the debris covered top layer is etched away. Higher fluence and repetition rate tend to generate more lateral and median cracks which propagate into the substrate. The changes of mechanical properties of the SSD layer were also investigated.

Numerical Approaches about the Morphological Description Parameters for the Manganese Deposits on the Magnesite Ore Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bayirli, Mehmet; Ozbey, Tuba

2013-07-01

Black deposits usually found at the surface of magnesite ore or limestone as well as red deposits in quartz veins are named as natural manganese dendrites. According to their geometrical structures, they may take variable fractal shapes. The characteristic origins of these morphologies have rarely been studied by means of numerical analyses. Hence, digital images of magnesite ore are taken from its surface with a scanner. These images are then converted to binary images in the form of 8 bits, bitmap format. As a next step, the morphological description parameters of manganese dendrites are computed by the way of scaling methods such as occupied fractions, fractal dimensions, divergent ratios, and critical exponents of scaling. The fractal dimension and the scaling range are made dependent on the fraction of the particles. Morphological description parameters can be determined according to the geometrical evaluation of the natural manganese dendrites which are formed independently from the process. The formation of manganese dendrites may also explain the stochastic selected process in the nature. These results therefore may be useful to understand the deposits in quartz vein parameters in geophysics.

Dynamics and internal structure of an Alaskan debris-covered glacier from repeat airborne photogrammetry and surface geophysics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holt, John; Levy, Joseph; Petersen, Eric; Larsen, Chris; Fahnestock, Mark

2016-04-01

Debris-covered glaciers and rock glaciers encompass a range of compositions and activity, and can be useful paleoclimate indicators. They also respond differently to ongoing climate change than glaciers without a protective cover. Their flow dynamics are not well understood, and their unique surface morphologies, including lobate fronts and arcuate ridges, likely result from viscous flow influenced by a combination of composition, structure, and climatic factors. However, basic connections between flow kinematics and surface morphology have not yet been established, limiting our ability to understand these features. In order to begin to address this problem we have undertaken airborne and surface studies of multiple debris-covered glaciers in Alaska and the western U.S. Sourdough Rock Glacier in the St. Elias Mountains, Alaska, is completely debris-covered and exhibits numerous transverse compressional ridges. Its trunk also exhibits highly regular bumps and swales with a wavelength of ~175 m and amplitudes up to 12 m. In the middle trunk, lineations (boulder trains and furrows) bend around a point roughly 200m from the eastern edge. We acquired five high-resolution airborne surveys of Sourdough Rock Glacier between late 2013 and late 2015 using lidar and photogrammetry to assess annual and seasonal change at the sub-meter level. Differencing the DTMs provides vertical change while feature tracking in orthophotos provide horizontal velocities that indicate meters of annual motion. The flow field is highly correlated with surface features; in particular, compressional ridges in the lower lobe. Stranded, formerly active lobes are also apparent. Surface geophysical studies were undertaken to constrain internal structure and composition using a combination of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) at 50 and 100 MHz in six transects, and time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) measurements at 47 locations, primarily in an along-flow transect and two cross-flow transects. We infer from the GPR and TDEM data that Sourdough Rock Glacier is 40-50 m thick and consists of a core of relatively pure glacier ice preserved under a 2.5-3 m thick debris mantle. In conclusion, Sourdough is actively flowing, with surface velocities that correlate with surface slope and thickness. A bedrock restriction is inferred from bending flow lines, low surface velocities, and localized thinning of the ice. This comprehensive suite of observations provides the potential to model ice flow and to ultimately link details of the surface morphology to accumulation and rheology through flow kinematics and internal structure.

Three-dimensional biofilm structure quantification.

PubMed

Beyenal, Haluk; Donovan, Conrad; Lewandowski, Zbigniew; Harkin, Gary

2004-12-01

Quantitative parameters describing biofilm physical structure have been extracted from three-dimensional confocal laser scanning microscopy images and used to compare biofilm structures, monitor biofilm development, and quantify environmental factors affecting biofilm structure. Researchers have previously used biovolume, volume to surface ratio, roughness coefficient, and mean and maximum thicknesses to compare biofilm structures. The selection of these parameters is dependent on the availability of software to perform calculations. We believe it is necessary to develop more comprehensive parameters to describe heterogeneous biofilm morphology in three dimensions. This research presents parameters describing three-dimensional biofilm heterogeneity, size, and morphology of biomass calculated from confocal laser scanning microscopy images. This study extends previous work which extracted quantitative parameters regarding morphological features from two-dimensional biofilm images to three-dimensional biofilm images. We describe two types of parameters: (1) textural parameters showing microscale heterogeneity of biofilms and (2) volumetric parameters describing size and morphology of biomass. The three-dimensional features presented are average (ADD) and maximum diffusion distances (MDD), fractal dimension, average run lengths (in X, Y and Z directions), aspect ratio, textural entropy, energy and homogeneity. We discuss the meaning of each parameter and present the calculations in detail. The developed algorithms, including automatic thresholding, are implemented in software as MATLAB programs which will be available at site prior to publication of the paper.

Site-discrimination by molecular imposters at dissymmetric molecular crystal surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poloni, Laura N.

The organization of atoms and molecules into crystalline forms is ubiquitous in nature and has been critical to the development of many technologies on which modern society relies. Classical crystal growth theory can describe atomic crystal growth, however, a description of molecular crystal growth is lacking. Molecular crystals are often characterized by anisotropic intermolecular interactions and dissymmetric crystal surfaces with anisotropic growth rates along different crystallographic directions. This thesis describes combination of experimental and computational techniques to relate crystal structure to surface structure and observed growth rates. Molecular imposters, also known as tailor-made impurities, can be used to control crystal growth for practical applications such as inhibition of pathological crystals, but can also be used to understand site specificity at crystal growth surfaces. The first part of this thesis builds on previous real-time in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations of dislocation-actuated growth on the morphologically significant face of hexagonal L-cystine crystals, which aggregate in vivo to form kidney stones in patients suffering from cystinuria. The inhibitory effect of various L-cystine structural mimics (a.k.a. molecular imposters) was investigated through experimental and computational methods to identify the key structural factors responsible for molecular recognition between molecular imposters and L-cystine crystal surface sites. The investigation of L-cystine crystal growth in the presence of molecular imposters through a combination of kinetic analysis using in situ AFM, morphology analysis and birefringence measurements of bulk crystals, and molecular modeling of imposter binding to energetically inequivalent surface sites revealed that different molecular imposters inhibited crystal growth by a Cabrera-Vermilyea pinning mechanism and that imposters bind to a single binding site on the dissymmetric {1000} L-cystine surfaces. Collectively, these findings identify the key structural factors responsible for molecular recognition between molecular imposters and L-cystine crystal step sites, thereby articulating a strategy for stone prevention based on molecular design. The second part of this thesis describes the crystal growth and inhibition of a P2X3 receptor antagonist, denoted as DAPSA, recently reported as a non-opioid treatment of chronic pain. The low solubility of this compound results in the formation of drug-induced renal calculi (a.k.a. xenostones). in situ AFM of the morphologically significant (011) DAPSA surface revealed dislocation-actuated growth spirals with an anisotropic morphology, behavior that can be attributed to the non-uniform rate of solute attachment to eight crystallographically unique steps of the spiral, a direct consequence of the dissymmetry of this crystal surface. Eighteen molecular imposters were selected from the screening library to systematically investigate the roles of imposter substitute position, size, and functionality on the step velocities along the eight unique crystallographic directions. A non-uniform reduction in step velocities was observed, signaling site discrimination of imposter binding that can be attributed to stereochemical recognition of the imposters at specific crystal sites. The anisotropy of growth inhibition observed in the presence of the various imposters is consistent with binding energies calculated for the thirty-two crystallographically unique kink sites on steps advancing along predominant growth directions. These results provide insight to the design of growth inhibitors for molecular crystalline solids with complex and dissymmetric surfaces, while also suggesting a strategy for formulations containing congeners that can prevent harmful crystal growth in human renal structures. The last two crystalline systems discussed in this thesis are two isomorphous crystal systems that are ideal for the study of impurity incorporation at dissymmetric surfaces because their morphology is dominated by dissymmetric {101} growth faces. Growth processes on the dissymmetric (101) surfaces of these crystalline systems were investigated using metadynamics simulations to determine the free energy of adsorption for solute and impurity attachment to different flat, stepped, and kinked (101) surface terminations. Results suggest that growth occurs via a non-Kossel crystal growth mechanism, and highlights the need for dissymmetric surface structures (i.e. steps and kinks) for a higher fidelity in the orientation of adsorbed molecules. Overall, the results presented in this thesis suggest that growth of molecular crystals, particularly at dissymmetric surfaces, is complex and requires the combination of several experimental and computational techniques to decipher the mechanisms responsible for growth phenomena. The use of molecular imposters to inhibit growth can be useful for the development of therapeutics for pathological crystals, but can also inform processes by which crystal growth occurs at complex surfaces as a result of their site selectivity.

Morphological properties of collagen fibers in porcine lamina propria

PubMed Central

Johanes, Iecun; Mihelc, Elaine; Sivasankar, Mahalakshmi; Ivanisevic, Albena

2009-01-01

Objectives Collagen influences the biomechanical properties of vocal folds. Altered collagen morphology has been implicated in dysphonia associated with aging and scarring. Documenting the morphological properties of native collagen in healthy vocal folds is essential to understand the structural and functional alterations to collagen with aging and disease. Our primary objective was to quantify the morphological properties of collagen in the vocal fold lamina propria. Our secondary exploratory objective was to investigate the effects of pepsin exposure on the morphological properties of collagen in the lamina propria. Design Experimental, in vitro study with porcine model. Methods Lamina propria was dissected from 26 vocal folds and imaged with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Morphological data on d-periodicity, diameter, and roughness of collagen fibers were obtained. To investigate the effects of pepsin exposure on collagen morphology, vocal fold surface was exposed to pepsin or sham challenge prior to lamina propria dissection and AFM imaging. Results The d-periodicity, diameter, and roughness values for native vocal fold collagen are consistent with literature reports for collagen fibers in other body tissue. Pepsin exposure on vocal fold surface did not appear to change the morphological properties of collagen fibers in the lamina propria. Conclusions Quantitative data on collagen morphology were obtained at nanoscale resolution. Documenting collagen morphology in healthy vocal folds is critical for understanding the physiological changes to collagen with aging and scarring, and for designing biomaterials that match the native topography of lamina propria. PMID:20171830

Processing of zero-derived words in English: an fMRI investigation.

PubMed

Pliatsikas, Christos; Wheeldon, Linda; Lahiri, Aditi; Hansen, Peter C

2014-01-01

Derivational morphological processes allow us to create new words (e.g. punish (V) to noun (N) punishment) from base forms. The number of steps from the basic units to derived words often varies (e.g., nationalitybridge-V) i.e., zero-derivation (Aronoff, 1980). We compared the processing of one-step (soaking

Fabrication of hydrophobic structures on coronary stent surface based on direct three-beam laser interference lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Long-yue; Zhou, Wei-qi; Wang, Yuan-bo; Wang, Si-qi; Bai, Chong; Li, Shi-ming; Liu, Bin; Wang, Jun-nan; Cui, Cheng-kun; Li, Yong-liang

2016-05-01

To solve the problems with coronary stent implantation, coronary artery stent surface was directly modified by three-beam laser interference lithography through imitating the water-repellent surface of lotus leaf, and uniform micro-nano structures with the controllable period were fabricated. The morphological properties and contact angle (CA) of the microstructure were measured by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and CA system. The water repellency of stent was also evaluated by the contact and then separation between the water drop and the stent. The results show that the close-packed concave structure with the period of about 12 μm can be fabricated on the stent surface with special parameters (incident angle of 3°, laser energy density of 2.2 J·cm-2 and exposure time of 80 s) by using the three-beam laser at 1 064 nm, and the structure has good water repellency with CA of 120°.

Wear effects on microscopic morphology and hyaluronan uptake in siloxane-hydrogel contact lenses.

PubMed

Tavazzi, Silvia; Tonveronachi, Martina; Fagnola, Matteo; Cozza, Federica; Ferraro, Lorenzo; Borghesi, Alessandro; Ascagni, Miriam; Farris, Stefano

2015-07-01

The purpose of this study was a comparison between new and worn siloxane-hydrogel contact lenses in terms of microscopic structure, surface morphology, and loading of hyaluronan. The analyses were performed by scanning electron microscopy, with the support of the freeze-drying technique, and by fluorescence confocal microscopy. Along the depth profile of new lenses, a thin porous top layer was observed, which corresponds to the region of hyaluronan penetration inside well-defined channels. The time evolution was followed from one day to two weeks of daily wear, when a completely different scenario was found. Clear experimental evidence of a buggy surface was observed with several crests and regions of swelling, which could be filled by the hyaluronan solution. The modifications are attributed to the progressive relaxation of the structure of the polymeric network. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Interrogation of bimetallic particle oxidation in three dimensions at the nanoscale

PubMed Central

Han, Lili; Meng, Qingping; Wang, Deli; Zhu, Yimei; Wang, Jie; Du, Xiwen; Stach, Eric A.; Xin, Huolin L.

2016-01-01

An understanding of bimetallic alloy oxidation is key to the design of hollow-structured binary oxides and the optimization of their catalytic performance. However, one roadblock encountered in studying these binary oxide systems is the difficulty in describing the heterogeneities that occur in both structure and chemistry as a function of reaction coordinate. This is due to the complexity of the three-dimensional mosaic patterns that occur in these heterogeneous binary systems. By combining real-time imaging and chemical-sensitive electron tomography, we show that it is possible to characterize these systems with simultaneous nanoscale and chemical detail. We find that there is oxidation-induced chemical segregation occurring on both external and internal surfaces. Additionally, there is another layer of complexity that occurs during the oxidation, namely that the morphology of the initial oxide surface can change the oxidation modality. This work characterizes the pathways that can control the morphology in binary oxide materials. PMID:27928998

Effects of pressure on morphology and structure of bio-char from pressurized entrained-flow pyrolysis of microalgae.

PubMed

Maliutina, Kristina; Tahmasebi, Arash; Yu, Jianglong

2018-06-01

The present dataset describes the entrained-flow pyrolysis of Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and the results obtained during bio-char characterization. The dataset includes a brief explanation of the experimental procedure, experimental conditions and the influence of pyrolysis conditions on bio-chars morphology and carbon structure. The data show an increase in sphericity and surface smoothness of bio-chars at higher pressures and temperatures. Data confirmed that the swelling ratio of bio-chars increased with pressure up to 2.0 MPa. Consequently, changes in carbon structure of bio-chars were investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The data showed the increase in carbon order of chars at elevated pressures. Changes in the chemical structure of bio-char as a function of pyrolysis conditions were investigated using FTIR analysis.

The crustal tectonics and history of Europa: A structural, morphological, and comparative analysis. M.S. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schenk, P. M.

1984-01-01

An evaluation of surface features and structures on the Galilean moon Europa is made using the available high resolution Voyager imagery, low resolution support imaging, and what understanding of ice structure and mechanical behavior science has that is applicable to the problem. A general discussion of the history of Europa studies and the fundamental global morphology is undertaken. The visible lineament and terrain patterns are described, and possible origins discussed. Observations of faulting and block rotation previously described are amplified. A comparison of Europa's structures to terrestrial sea ice and lava lake crust features is also included. Finally, an attempt is made at synthesizing a unified model for the evolution of Europa's crust is presented which is compared with models developed by others.

A study of the solvent effect on the morphology of RDX crystal by molecular modeling method.

PubMed

Chen, Gang; Xia, Mingzhu; Lei, Wu; Wang, Fengyun; Gong, Xuedong

2013-12-01

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to investigate the effect of acetone solvent on the crystal morphology of RDX. The results show that the growth morphology of RDX crystal in vacuum is dominated by the (111), (020), (200), (002), and (210) faces using the BFDH laws, and (111) face is morphologically the most important. The analysis of surface structures of RDX crystal indicates that (020) face is non-polar, while (210), (111), (002), and (200) faces are polar among which (210) face has the strongest polarity. The interaction between acetone solvent and each RDX crystal face is different, and the order of binding energy on these surfaces is (210) > (111) > (002) > (200) > (020). The analysis of interactions among RDX and acetone molecules reveal that the system nonbond interactions are primary strong van der Waals and electrostatic interactions containing π-hole interactions, the weak hydrogen bond interactions are also existent. The effect of acetone on the growth of RDX crystal can be evaluated by comparing the binding energies of RDX crystalline faces. It can be predicted that compared to that in vacuum, in the process of RDX crystallization from acetone, the morphological importance of (210) face is increased more and (111) face is not the most important among RDX polar surfaces, while the non-polar (020) face probably disappears. The experimentally obtained RDX morphology grown from acetone is in agreement with the theoretical prediction.

Structure and morphology of magnetron sputter deposited ultrathin ZnO films on confined polymeric template

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Ajaib; Schipmann, Susanne; Mathur, Aakash; Pal, Dipayan; Sengupta, Amartya; Klemradt, Uwe; Chattopadhyay, Sudeshna

2017-08-01

The structure and morphology of ultra-thin zinc oxide (ZnO) films with different film thicknesses on confined polymer template were studied through X-ray reflectivity (XRR) and grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS). Using magnetron sputter deposition technique ZnO thin films with different film thicknesses (<10 nm) were grown on confined polystyrene with ∼2Rg film thickness, where Rg ∼ 20 nm (Rg is the unperturbed radius of gyration of polystyrene, defined by Rg = 0.272 √M0, and M0 is the molecular weight of polystyrene). The detailed internal structure, along the surface/interfaces and the growth direction of the system were explored in this study, which provides insight into the growth procedure of ZnO on confined polymer and reveals that a thin layer of ZnO, with very low surface and interface roughness, can be grown by DC magnetron sputtering technique, with approximately full coverage (with bulk like electron density) even in nm order of thickness, in 2-7 nm range on confined polymer template, without disturbing the structure of the underneath template. The resulting ZnO-polystyrene hybrid systems show strong ZnO near band edge (NBE) and deep-level (DLE) emissions in their room temperature photoluminescence spectra, where the contribution of DLE gets relatively stronger with decreasing ZnO film thickness, indicating a significant enhancement of surface defects because of the greater surface to volume ratio in thinner films.

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

McCormac, Kathleen; Byrd, Ian; Brannen, Rodney

We prepared highly porous Si/TiO 2 composite nanofibres using a unique sulphur-templating method combined with electrospinning. The structure, morphology, surface area, phase and composition of these nanofibres were characterized using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, surface area analyser and thermogravimetric analyser. The specific surface area of Si/TiO 2 porous NFs is as large as 387m 2g -1, whose silicon capacity can be maintained above 1580mAhg -1 in 180 cycles.

Ordered water structure at hydrophobic graphite interfaces observed by 4D, ultrafast electron crystallography

PubMed Central

Yang, Ding-Shyue; Zewail, Ahmed H.

2009-01-01

Interfacial water has unique properties in various functions. Here, using 4-dimensional (4D), ultrafast electron crystallography with atomic-scale spatial and temporal resolution, we report study of structure and dynamics of interfacial water assembly on a hydrophobic surface. Structurally, vertically stacked bilayers on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface were determined to be ordered, contrary to the expectation that the strong hydrogen bonding of water on hydrophobic surfaces would dominate with suppressed interfacial order. Because of its terrace morphology, graphite plays the role of a template. The dynamics is also surprising. After the excitation of graphite by an ultrafast infrared pulse, the interfacial ice structure undergoes nonequilibrium “phase transformation” identified in the hydrogen-bond network through the observation of structural isosbestic point. We provide the time scales involved, the nature of ice-graphite structural dynamics, and relevance to properties related to confined water. PMID:19246378

Fabrication of two-dimensional periodic structures on silicon after scanning irradiation with femtosecond laser multi-beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, An; Si, Jinhai; Chen, Tao; Li, Cunxia; Hou, Xun

2016-04-01

Two-dimensional (2D) periodic structures were fabricated on silicon surfaces by femtosecond laser irradiation in air and water, with the assistance of a microlens array (MLA) placed in the beam's path. By scanning the laser beam along the silicon surface, multiple grooves were simultaneously fabricated in parallel along with smaller laser-induced ripples. The 2D periodic structures contained long-periodic grooves and perpendicular short-periodic laser-induced ripples, which had periods of several microns and several hundred nanometers, respectively. We investigated the influence of laser power and scanning velocity on the morphological evolution of the 2D periodic structures in air and water. Large-area grid-like structures with ripples were fabricated by successively scanning once along each direction of the silicon's surface, which showed enhanced optical absorption. Hydrofluoric acid was then used to remove any oxygen and laser-induced defects for all-silicon structures.

Morphology Tuning of Strontium Tungstate Nanoparticles

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

Joseph, S.; George, T.; George, K. C.

2007-08-22

Strontium tungstate nanocrystals in two different morphologies are successfully synthesized by controlled precipitation in aqueous and in poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) medium. Structural characterizations are carried out by XRD and SEM. The average particle size calculated for the SrWO4 prepared in the two different solvents ranges 20-24 nm. The SEM pictures show that the surface morphologies of the SrWO4 nanoparticles in aqueous medium resemble mushroom and the SrWO4 nanoparticles in PVA medium resemble cauliflower. Investigations on the room temperature luminescent properties of the strontium tungstate nanoparticles prepared in aqueous and PVA medium shows strong emissions around 425 nm.

Morphological study of the TK cholangiocarcinoma cell line with three-dimensional cell culture.

PubMed

Akiyoshi, Kohei; Kamada, Minori; Akiyama, Nobutake; Suzuki, Masafumi; Watanabe, Michiko; Fujioka, Kouki; Ikeda, Keiichi; Mizuno, Shuichi; Manome, Yoshinobu

2014-04-01

Cholangiocarcinoma is an intractable carcinoma originating from the bile duct epithelium. To gain an understanding of the cell biology of cholangiocarcinoma, in vitro cell culture is valuable. However, well‑characterized cell lines are limited. In the present study, the morphology of the TK cholangiocarcinoma cell line was analyzed by three‑dimensional culture. Dispersed TK cells were injected into a gelatin mesh scaffold and cultivated for 3‑20 days. The morphology of the TK cells was investigated by phase‑contrast microscopy, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TK cells were observed to proliferate three-dimensionally in the scaffold. The cells exhibited a globoid structure and attached to the scaffold. The SEM observation demonstrated typical microvilli and plicae on the surface of the structure. Light microscopy and TEM confirmed intercellular and cell‑to‑scaffold attachment in the three‑dimensional mesh. The culture also exhibited the formation of a duct-like structure covered by structured microvilli. In conclusion, three‑dimensional culture of TK cells demonstrated the morphological characteristics of cholangiocarcinoma in vitro. Production of high levels of carbohydrate antigen (CA)19‑9, CA50 and carcinoembryonic antigen was previously confirmed in the TK cell line. As a characteristic morphology was demonstrated in the present study, the TK cholangiocarcinoma cell line may be useful as an experimental model for further study of cholangiocarcinoma.

Effects of aqueous ammonia treatment on fiber's surface morphology and enzymatic digestibility of empty fruit bunch fiber (EFBF)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ling, Tang Pei; Hassan, Osman

2013-11-01

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of aqueous ammonia reflux and soaked treatment on the fiber's surface morphology and enzymatic digestibility of empty fruit bunch fiber (EFBF). The surface morphological changes of the fiber after aqueous ammonia treatment was linked to the sugars yield by enzymatic hydrolysis. The effectiveness of 6.25% aqueous ammonia treatment in improving enzymatic digestibility of EFBF was initially studied in reflux system and by soaking. The results showed that soaked treatment was more effective than reflux system. Further study on soaked treatment of EFBF was carried out by increasing the ammonia concentration to 12.50%. Soaking in aqueous ammonia was conducted at 30°C and 50°C for 24 hours. The results of enzymatic hydrolysis showed that sugar yield from EFBF soaked in 12.50% aqueous ammonia at 50°C was the highest. Approximately 242.91±15.50 mg/g EFBF of xylose and 320.49±28.31 mg/g EFBF of glucose were produced by the action of enzyme Cellic Ctec 2. Results of scanning electron microscopic showed that aqueous ammonia treatment by soaking had caused a more severe structural distortion on the fiber's surface and higher removal of silica bodies that embedded on the fiber than those in reflux system. The changes on the fiber's surface morphology were believed is the contributing factor that improved the enzymatic digestibility of EFBF after aqueous ammonia treatment.

Surface Modification of Carbon Fiber Polymer Composites after Laser Structuring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabau, Adrian S.; Chen, Jian; Jones, Jonaaron F.; Hackett, Alexandra; Jellison, Gerald D.; Daniel, Claus; Warren, David; Rehkopf, Jackie D.

The increasing use of Carbon Fiber-reinforced Polymer matrix Composites (CFPC) as a lightweight material in automotive and aerospace industries requires the control of surface morphology. In this study, the composites surface was prepared by ablating the resin on the top fiber layer of the composite using an Nd:YAG laser. The CFPC specimens with T700S carbon fiber and Prepreg — T83 resin (epoxy) were supplied by Plasan Carbon Composites, Inc. as 4 ply thick, 0/90° plaques. The effect of laser fluence, scanning speed, and wavelength was investigated on the removal rate of the resin without an excessive damage of the fibers. In addition, resin ablation due to the power variation created by a laser interference technique is presented. Optical property measurements, optical micrographs, 3D imaging, and high-resolution optical profiler images were used to study the effect of the laser processing on surface morphology.

No Association between Cortical Gyrification or Intrinsic Curvature and Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults.

PubMed

Forde, Natalie J; Ronan, Lisa; Zwiers, Marcel P; Alexander-Bloch, Aaron F; Faraone, Stephen V; Oosterlaan, Jaap; Heslenfeld, Dirk J; Hartman, Catharina A; Buitelaar, Jan K; Hoekstra, Pieter J

2017-01-01

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have highlighted subcortical, cortical, and structural connectivity abnormalities associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Gyrification investigations of the cortex have been inconsistent and largely negative, potentially due to a lack of sensitivity of the previously used morphological parameters. The innovative approach of applying intrinsic curvature analysis, which is predictive of gyrification pattern, to the cortical surface applied herein allowed us greater sensitivity to determine whether the structural connectivity abnormalities thus far identified at a centimeter scale also occur at a millimeter scale within the cortical surface. This could help identify neurodevelopmental processes that contribute to ADHD. Structural MRI datasets from the NeuroIMAGE project were used [ n = 306 ADHD, n = 164 controls, and n = 148 healthy siblings of individuals with ADHD (age in years, mean(sd); 17.2 (3.4), 16.8 (3.2), and 17.7 (3.8), respectively)]. Reconstructions of the cortical surfaces were computed with FreeSurfer. Intrinsic curvature (taken as a marker of millimeter-scale surface connectivity) and local gyrification index were calculated for each point on the surface (vertex) with Caret and FreeSurfer, respectively. Intrinsic curvature skew and mean local gyrification index were extracted per region; frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, cingulate, and insula. A generalized additive model was used to compare the trajectory of these measures between groups over age, with sex, scanner site, total surface area of hemisphere, and familiality accounted for. After correcting for sex, scanner site, and total surface area no group differences were found in the developmental trajectory of intrinsic curvature or local gyrification index. Despite the increased sensitivity of intrinsic curvature, compared to gyrification measures, to subtle morphological abnormalities of the cortical surface we found no milimeter-scale connectivity abnormalities associated with ADHD.

Adsorption and association of a symmetric PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer on polypropylene, polyethylene, and cellulose surfaces.

PubMed

Li, Yan; Liu, Hongyi; Song, Junlong; Rojas, Orlando J; Hinestroza, Juan P

2011-07-01

The association of a symmetric polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene (PEO(19)-PPO(29)-PEO(19)) triblock copolymer adsorbed from aqueous solutions onto polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and cellulose surfaces was probed using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Significant morphological differences between the polyolefin substrates (PP and PE) and the cellulose surfaces were observed after immersion of the films in the PEO(19)-PPO(29)-PEO(19) solutions. When the samples were scanned, while immersed in solutions of the triblock copolymer, it was revealed that the structures adsorbed on the polyolefin surfaces were smoothed by the adsorbed PEO(19)-PPO(29)-PEO(19). In contrast, those structures on the hydrophilic cellulose surfaces were sharpened. These observations were related to the roughness of the substrate and the energy of interaction between the surfaces and the PEO and PPO polymer segments. The interaction energy between each of the blocks and the surface was calculated using molecular dynamics simulations. It is speculated that the associative structures amply reported in aqueous solution at concentrations above the critical micelle concentration, CMC, are not necessarily preserved upon adsorption; instead, it appears that molecular arrangements of the anchor-buoy type and hemimicelles prevail. The reported data suggests that the roughness of the surface, as well as its degree of hydrophobicity, have a large influence on the nature of the resulting adsorbed layer. The reported observations are valuable in explaining the behavior of finishing additives and lubricants commonly used in textile and fiber processing, as well as the effect of the morphology of the boundary layers on friction and wear, especially in the case of symmetric triblock copolymers, which are commonly used as antifriction, antiwear additives.

[Surface modifications of titanium implant material with excimer laser for more effective osseointegration].

PubMed

Pelsoczi, Kovács István; Bereznai, Miklós; Tóth, Zsolt; Turzó, Kinga; Radnai, Márta; Bor, Zsolt; Fazekas, András

2004-12-01

The biointegration of dental and orthopaedic implants depends mainly on the morphology and physical-chemical properties of their surfaces. Accordingly, the development of the desired microstructure is a relevant requirement in the bulk manufacture. Besides the widely used sandblasting plus acid etching and plasma-spray coating techniques, the laser surface modification method offers a plausible alternative. In order to analyze the influence of the laser treatment, the surfaces of titanium samples were exposed to excimer laser irradiation. The aim of this study was to develop surfaces that provide optimal conditions for bone-implant contact, bone growth, formation and maintenance of gingival attachment. For this purpose, holes were ablated on the surface of samples by nanosecond (18 ns, ArF) and also sub-picosecond (0,5 ps, KrF) laser pulses. Using pulses of ns length, due to melt ejection, crown-like protrusions were formed at the border of the holes, which made them sensitive to mechanical effects. To avoid these undesirable crown-like structures ultrashort KrF excimer laser pulses were successfully applied. On the other hand, titanium samples were laser-polished in favour of formation and connection of healthy soft tissues. Irradiation by a series of nanosecond laser pulses resulted in an effective smoothening as detected by atomic force microscopy (AFM). By inhibiting plaque accumulation this favours formation of gingival attachment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies showed that laser treatment, in addition to micro-structural and morphological modification, results in decreasing of surface contamination and thickening of the oxide layer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the original alpha-titanium crystalline structure of the laser-polished titanium surface was not altered by the irradiation.

Correlation between surface morphology and surface forces of protein A adsorbed on mica.

PubMed Central

Ohnishi, S; Murata, M; Hato, M

1998-01-01

We have investigated the morphology and surface forces of protein A adsorbed on mica surface in the protein solutions of various concentrations. The force-distance curves, measured with a surface force apparatus (SFA), were interpreted in terms of two different regimens: a "large-distance" regimen in which an electrostatic double-layer force dominates, and an "adsorbed layer" regimen in which a force of steric origin dominates. To further clarify the forces of steric origin, the surface morphology of the adsorbed protein layer was investigated with an atomic force microscope (AFM) because the steric repulsive forces are strongly affected by the adsorption mode of protein A molecules on mica. At lower protein concentrations (2 ppm, 10 ppm), protein A molecules were adsorbed "side-on" parallel to the mica surfaces, forming a monolayer of approximately 2.5 nm. AFM images at higher concentrations (30 ppm, 100 ppm) showed protruding structures over the monolayer, which revealed that the adsorbed protein A molecules had one end oriented into the solution, with the remainder of each molecule adsorbed side-on to the mica surface. These extending ends of protein A overlapped each other and formed a "quasi-double layer" over the mica surface. These AFM images proved the existence of a monolayer of protein A molecules at low concentrations and a "quasi-double layer" with occasional protrusions at high concentrations, which were consistent with the adsorption mode observed in the force-distance curves. PMID:9449346

Facile preparation of dendritic Ag-Pd bimetallic nanostructures on the surface of Cu foil for application as a SERS-substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Zao; Tan, Xiulan; Niu, Gao; Xu, Xibin; Li, Xibo; Ye, Xin; Luo, Jiangshan; Luo, Binchi; Wu, Weidong; Tang, Yongjian; Yi, Yougen

2012-05-01

Dendritic Ag-Pd bimetallic nanostructures have been synthesized on the surface of Cu foil via a multi-stage galvanic replacement reaction (MGRR) of Ag dendrites in a Na2PdCl4 solution. After five stages of replacement reaction, one obtained structures with protruding Ag-Pd flakes; these will mature into many porous structures with a few Ag atoms that are left over dendrites. The dendritic Ag-Pd bimetallic nanostructures were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The morphology of the products strongly depended on the stage of galvanic replacement reaction and reaction temperature. The morphology and composition-dependent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of the as-synthesized Ag-Pd bimetallic nanostructures were investigated. The effectiveness of these dendritic Ag-Pd bimetallic nanostructures on the surface of Cu foil as substrates toward SERS detection was evaluated by using rhodamine 6G (R6G) as a probe molecule. The results indicate that as-synthesized dendritic Ag-Pd bimetallic nanostructures are good candidates for SERS spectroscopy.

Highly monodisperse multiple twinned AuCu-Pt trimetallic nanoparticles with high index surfaces.

PubMed

Khanal, Subarna; Bhattarai, Nabraj; McMaster, David; Bahena, Daniel; Velazquez-Salazar, J Jesus; Jose-Yacaman, Miguel

2014-08-14

Trimetallic nanoparticles possess different properties than their mono- and bi-metallic counterparts, opening a wide range of possibilities for diverse potential applications with the notion to study possible morphology, atomic ordering, reduce precious metal consumption and many others. In this paper, we present a comprehensive experimental study on AuCu-Pt trimetallic nanoparticles with an average diameter of 15 ± 1.0 nm, synthesized in a one-pot synthesis method and characterized by the Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy technique that allowed us to probe the structure at the atomic level resolution. A new way to control the nanoparticle morphology by the presence of third metal (Pt) is also discussed by the overgrowth of Pt on the as prepared AuCu core by Frank-van der Merwe (FM) layer-by-layer and Stranski-Krastanov (SK) island-on-wetting-layer growth modes. With the application of this research, we are now a step closer to produce optimum catalysts in which the active phase forms only surface monolayers. In addition, the nanoalloy exhibits high index facet surfaces with {211} and {321} families that are highly open-structure surfaces and are interesting for the catalytic applications.

Highly Monodisperse Multiple Twinned AuCu/Pt Trimetallic Nanoparticles with High Index Surfaces

PubMed Central

Khanal, Subarna; Bhattarai, Nabraj; McMaster, David; Bahena, Daniel; Velazquez-Salazar, J. Jesus

2014-01-01

Trimetallic nanoparticles present different properties than their mono- and bi-metallic counterparts, opening a wide range of possibilities for diverse potential applications with the notion to study possible morphology, atomic ordering, reduce precious metal consumption and many others. In this paper, we are presenting a comprehensive experimental study on AuCu/Pt trimetallic nanoparticles with an average diameter 15 ± 1.0 nm, synthesized in one-pot synthesis method and characterized by Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy technique that allowed us to probe the structure at the atomic level resolution. A new way to control the nanoparticle morphology by the presence of third metal (Pt) is also discussed by the overgrowth of Pt on as prepared AuCu core by Frank–van der Merwe (FM) layer-by-layer and Stranski–Krastanov (SK) island-on-wetting-layer growth modes. With the application of this research, we are now a step closer to produce optimum catalysts in which the active phase forms only surface monolayers. In addition, the nanoalloy presents high index facet surfaces with {211} and {321} families, that are highly open-structure surfaces and are interesting for the catalytic applications. PMID:24975090

Morphological covariance in anatomical MRI scans can identify discrete neural pathways in the brain and their disturbances in persons with neuropsychiatric disorders.

PubMed

Bansal, Ravi; Hao, Xuejun; Peterson, Bradley S

2015-05-01

We hypothesize that coordinated functional activity within discrete neural circuits induces morphological organization and plasticity within those circuits. Identifying regions of morphological covariation that are independent of morphological covariation in other regions therefore may therefore allow us to identify discrete neural systems within the brain. Comparing the magnitude of these variations in individuals who have psychiatric disorders with the magnitude of variations in healthy controls may allow us to identify aberrant neural pathways in psychiatric illnesses. We measured surface morphological features by applying nonlinear, high-dimensional warping algorithms to manually defined brain regions. We transferred those measures onto the surface of a unit sphere via conformal mapping and then used spherical wavelets and their scaling coefficients to simplify the data structure representing these surface morphological features of each brain region. We used principal component analysis (PCA) to calculate covariation in these morphological measures, as represented by their scaling coefficients, across several brain regions. We then assessed whether brain subregions that covaried in morphology, as identified by large eigenvalues in the PCA, identified specific neural pathways of the brain. To do so, we spatially registered the subnuclei for each eigenvector into the coordinate space of a Diffusion Tensor Imaging dataset; we used these subnuclei as seed regions to track and compare fiber pathways with known fiber pathways identified in neuroanatomical atlases. We applied these procedures to anatomical MRI data in a cohort of 82 healthy participants (42 children, 18 males, age 10.5 ± 2.43 years; 40 adults, 22 males, age 32.42 ± 10.7 years) and 107 participants with Tourette's Syndrome (TS) (71 children, 59 males, age 11.19 ± 2.2 years; 36 adults, 21 males, age 37.34 ± 10.9 years). We evaluated the construct validity of the identified covariation in morphology using DTI data from a different set of 20 healthy adults (10 males, mean age 29.7 ± 7.7 years). The PCA identified portions of structures that covaried across the brain, the eigenvalues measuring the magnitude of the covariation in morphology along the respective eigenvectors. Our results showed that the eigenvectors, and the DTI fibers tracked from their associated brain regions, corresponded with known neural pathways in the brain. In addition, the eigenvectors that captured morphological covariation across regions, and the principal components along those eigenvectors, identified neural pathways with aberrant morphological features associated with TS. These findings suggest that covariations in brain morphology can identify aberrant neural pathways in specific neuropsychiatric disorders. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Bacteria use type IV pili to walk upright and detach from surfaces.

PubMed

Gibiansky, Maxsim L; Conrad, Jacinta C; Jin, Fan; Gordon, Vernita D; Motto, Dominick A; Mathewson, Margie A; Stopka, Wiktor G; Zelasko, Daria C; Shrout, Joshua D; Wong, Gerard C L

2010-10-08

Bacterial biofilms are structured multicellular communities involved in a broad range of infections. Knowing how free-swimming bacteria adapt their motility mechanisms near surfaces is crucial for understanding the transition between planktonic and biofilm phenotypes. By translating microscopy movies into searchable databases of bacterial behavior, we identified fundamental type IV pili-driven mechanisms for Pseudomonas aeruginosa surface motility involved in distinct foraging strategies. Bacteria stood upright and "walked" with trajectories optimized for two-dimensional surface exploration. Vertical orientation facilitated surface detachment and could influence biofilm morphology.

Peculiarity of two thermodynamically-stable morphologies and their impact on the efficiency of small molecule bulk heterojunction solar cells

DOE PAGES

Herath, Nuradhika; Das, Sanjib; Keum, Jong K.; ...

2015-08-28

Structural characteristics of the active layers in organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices play a critical role in charge generation, separation and transport. Here we report on morphology and structural control of p-DTS(FBTTh 2) 2:PC 71BM films by means of thermal annealing and 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) solvent additive processing, and correlate it to the device performance. By combining surface imaging with nanoscale depth-sensitive neutron reflectometry (NR) and X-ray diffraction, three-dimensional morphologies of the films are reconstituted with information extending length scales from nanometers to microns. DIO promotes the formation of a well-mixed donor-acceptor vertical phase morphology with a large population of small p-DTS(FBTTh2)2more » nanocrystals arranged in an elongated domain network of the film, thereby enhancing the device performance. In contrast, films without DIO exhibit three-sublayer vertical phase morphology with phase separation in agglomerated domains. Our findings are supported by thermodynamic description based on the Flory-Huggins theory with quantitative evaluation of pairwise interaction parameters that explain the morphological changes resulting from thermal and solvent treatments. Our study reveals that vertical phase morphology of small-molecule based OPVs is significantly different from polymer-based systems. Lastly, the significant enhancement of morphology and information obtained from theoretical modeling may aid in developing an optimized morphology to enhance device performance for OPVs.« less

Collaborative Center in Polymer Photonics

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-02-28

the inorganic residue in the thermogravimetric analysis TGA of the samples, Figure 6. It can be noticed that only approximately 1/3 of the...photonics, nanoparticles , structure, organic-inorganic hybrids, nanocomposites, photonic band gap, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, discotic liquid...the surface structure of nanoparticles made us focus our study on the morphological and thermodynamic properties of metallic nanoparticles . We cannot

Deposition and characterization of molybdenum thin films using dc-plasma magnetron sputtering

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

Khan, Majid, E-mail: majids@hotmail.com; Islam, Mohammad, E-mail: mohammad.islam@gmail.com

2013-12-15

Molebdenum (Mo) thin films were deposited on well-cleaned soda-lime glass substrates using DC-plasma magnetron sputtering. In the design of experiment deposition was optimized for maximum beneficial characteristics by monitoring effect of process variables such as deposition power (100–200 W). Their electrical, structural and morphological properties were analyzed to study the effect of these variables. The electrical resistivity of Mo thin films could be reduced by increasing deposition power. Within the range of analyzed deposition power, Mo thin films showed a mono crystalline nature and the crystallites were found to have an orientation along [110] direction. The surface morphology of thinmore » films showed that a highly dense micro structure has been obtained. The surface roughness of films increased with deposition power. The adhesion of Mo thin films could be improved by increasing the deposition power. Atomic force microscopy was used for the topographical study of the films and to determine the roughness of the films. X-ray diffractrometer and scanning electron microscopy analysis were used to investigate the crystallinity and surface morphology of the films. Hall effect measurement system was used to find resistivity, carrier mobility and carrier density of deposited films. The adhesion test was performed using scotch hatch tape adhesion test. Mo thin films prepared at deposition power of 200 W, substrate temperature of 23°C and Ar pressure of 0.0123 mbar exhibited a mono crystalline structure with an orientation along (110) direction, thickness of ∼550 nm and electrical resistivity value of 0.57 × 10{sup −4} Ω cm.« less

Association of monoamine oxidase-A genetic variants and amygdala morphology in violent offenders with antisocial personality disorder and high psychopathic traits.

PubMed

Kolla, Nathan J; Patel, Raihaan; Meyer, Jeffrey H; Chakravarty, M Mallar

2017-08-29

Violent offending is elevated among individuals with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and high psychopathic traits (PP). Morphological abnormalities of the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) are present in violent offenders, which may relate to the violence enacted by ASPD + PP. Among healthy males, monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) genetic variants linked to low in vitro transcription (MAOA-L) are associated with structural abnormalities of the amygdala and OFC. However, it is currently unknown whether amygdala and OFC morphology in ASPD relate to MAO-A genetic polymorphisms. We studied 18 ASPD males with a history of violent offending and 20 healthy male controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes to determine MAO-A genetic polymorphisms. Subjects underwent a T1-weighted MRI anatomical brain scan that provided vertex-wise measures of amygdala shape and surface area and OFC cortical thickness. We found that ASPD + PP subjects with MAOA-L exhibited decreased surface area in the right basolateral amygdala nucleus and increased surface area in the right anterior cortical amygdaloid nucleus versus healthy MAOA-L carriers. This study is the first to describe genotype-related morphological differences of the amygdala in a population marked by high aggression. Deficits in emotional regulation that contribute to the violence of ASPD + PP may relate to morphological changes of the amygdala under genetic control.

Controlling morphology in swelling-induced wrinkled surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breid, Derek Ronald

Wrinkles represent a pathway towards the spontaneous generation of ordered surface microstructure for applications in numerous fields. Examples of highly complex ordered wrinkle structures abound in Nature, but the ability to harness this potential for advanced material applications remains limited. This work focuses on understanding the relationship between the patterns on a wrinkled surface and the experimental conditions under which they form. Because wrinkles form in response to applied stresses, particular attention is given to the nature of the stresses in a wrinkling surface. The fundamental insight gained was then utilized to account for observed wrinkle formation phenomena within more complex geometric and kinetic settings. In order to carefully control and measure the applied stresses on a wrinkling film, a swelling-based system was developed using poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), surface-oxidized with a UV-ozone treatment. The swelling of the oxidized surface upon exposure to an ethanol vapor atmosphere was characterized using beam-bending experiments, allowing quantitative measurements of the applied stress. The wrinkle morphologies were characterized as a function of the overstress, defined as the ratio of the applied swelling stress to the critical buckling stress of the material. A transition in the dominant morphology of the wrinkled surfaces from dimple patterns to ridge patterns was observed at an overstress value of ˜2. The pattern dependence of wrinkles on the ratio of the principal stresses was examined by fabricating samples with a gradient prestress. When swollen, these samples exhibited a smooth morphological transition from non-equibiaxial to equibiaxial patterns, with prestrains as low as 2.5% exhibiting non-equibiaxial characteristics. This transition was seen both in samples with low and high overstresses. To explore the impact of these stress states in more complex geometries, wrinkling hemispherical surfaces with radii of curvature ranging from 50--1000 μm were fabricated using the same material system. Upon wrinkling, the hemispheres formed complex hierarchical assemblies reminiscent of naturally occurring structures. The curvature of a surface exhibited a correlation with its critical buckling stress, independent of other factors. This enables the surface curvature to be used as an independent control over the dimple-to-ridge transition which occurs as a function of overstress. As in the flat buckling surfaces, this transition was shown to occur at an overstress value of ˜2. Surface curvature was also shown to improve the observed hexagonal ordering of the dimple arrays, resulting in the formation of regular "golf ball" structures. Geometric effects in finite flat plates were also examined. Using circular masks during the oxidation process, plates with radii ranging from 0.4--8.6 mm were created. Upon wrinkling, a dimple-to-ridge transition was observed with increasing plate size, with the morphological switch occurring at a radius of ˜2 mm. This observed transition was not found to be due to the inherent mechanics of plates of different sizes, but instead to a reduction in the oxide conversion due to shadowing or stagnation caused by the masking process, which lowered the applied overstress. The shape of the finite plate was found to have little impact on the resulting wrinkle morphologies. Kinetic aspects of wrinkling were qualitatively characterized by observing the wrinkling process over the course of swelling. Wrinkling was observed to frontally propagate across the surface, and the ordering of the patterns which developed showed a qualitative correlation with the degree of uniformity in the advancing wrinkle front. Swelling with different solvents was found to lead to the formation of different patterns, based on the swelling kinetics of the UVO-treated PDMS upon exposure to each solvent.

Impact of cleaning methods on the structural properties and morphology of SrTiO3 surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arnay, Iciar; Rubio-Zuazo, Juan; Castro, German R.

2018-01-01

SrTiO3 is a widely used substrate for the epitaxial growth of complex systems. Nevertheless, in order to get good quality interface and avoid the formation of defects in the adsorbed layer it is essential to prepare the surface of the substrate prior to the deposition. Thermal and chemical treatments are mostly used to eliminate superficial contamination and improve the surface quality. However, there is a lack of information regarding the impact of these treatments on the formation of structural defects at the SrTiO3 surface. In this work we present a detailed characterization of the SrTiO3 surface for the different cleaning methods paying special attention to the formation of oxygen vacancies, large surface mosaicity and roughness. We prove that thermal treatment induces large surface roughness and that chemical etching produces important structural defects at the surface. Our results show that mechanical polishing provided the best compromise in terms of large surface domains, low roughness, absence of oxygen vacancies and absence of atomic structure modification, although with the presence of low level of contaminants at the SrTiO3 surface.

[Influence of surface chemical properties and pore structure characteristics of activated carbon on the adsorption of nitrobenzene from aqueous solution].

PubMed

Liu, Shou-Xin; Chen, Xi; Zhang, Xian-Quan

2008-05-01

Commercial activated carbon was treated by HNO3 oxidation and then subsequently heat treated under N2 atmosphere. Effect of surface chemical properties and pore structure on the adsorption performance of nitrobenzene was investigated. N2/77K adsorption isotherm and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the pore structure and surface morphology of carbon. Boehm titration, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the point of zero charge (pH(PZC)) measurement and elemental analysis were used to characterize the surface properties. The results reveal that HNO3 oxidation can modify the surface chemical properties, increase the number of acidic surface oxygen-containing groups and has trivial effect on the pore structure of carbon. Further heat treatment can cause the decomposition of surface oxygen-containing groups, and increase the external surface area and the number of mesopores. Adsorption capacity of nitrobenzene on AC(NO-T), AC(raw) and AC(NO) was 1011.31, 483.09 and 321.54 mg x g(-1), respectively. Larger external surface area and the number of meso-pores, together with the less acid surface oxygen-containing groups were the main reason for the larger adsorption capacity AC(NO-T).

Defect induced structural inhomogeneity, ultraviolet light emission and near-band-edge photoluminescence broadening in degenerate In2O3 nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukherjee, Souvik; Sarkar, Ketaki; Wiederrecht, Gary P.; Schaller, Richard D.; Gosztola, David J.; Stroscio, Michael A.; Dutta, Mitra

2018-04-01

We demonstrate here defect induced changes on the morphology and surface properties of indium oxide (In2O3) nanowires and further study their effects on the near-band-edge (NBE) emission, thereby showing the significant influence of surface states on In2O3 nanostructure based device characteristics for potential optoelectronic applications. In2O3 nanowires with cubic crystal structure (c-In2O3) were synthesized via carbothermal reduction technique using a gold-catalyst-assisted vapor-liquid-solid method. Onset of strong optical absorption could be observed at energies greater than 3.5 eV consistent with highly n-type characteristics due to unintentional doping from oxygen vacancy ({V}{{O}}) defects as confirmed using Raman spectroscopy. A combination of high resolution transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and valence band analysis on the nanowire morphology and stoichiometry reveals presence of high-density of {V}{{O}} defects on the surface of the nanowires. As a result, chemisorbed oxygen species can be observed leading to upward band bending at the surface which corresponds to a smaller valence band offset of 2.15 eV. Temperature dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy was used to study the nature of the defect states and the influence of the surface states on the electronic band structure and NBE emission has been discussed. Our data reveals significant broadening of the NBE PL peak consistent with impurity band broadening leading to band-tailing effect from heavy doping.

Nanostructured mesoporous silica: influence of the preparation conditions on the physical-surface properties for efficient organic dye uptake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morsi, Rania E.; Mohamed, Rasha S.

2018-03-01

A series of ordered mesoporous silica such as MCM-41, SBA-3 and SBA-15, in addition to silica micro- (SM) and nano- (SN) mesoporous particles, were prepared. The preparation conditions were found to greatly influence the physical-surface properties including morphological structure, porosity, particle size, aggregate average size, surface area, pore size, pore volume and zeta potential of the prepared silica, while the chemical structure, predicted from FT-IR spectra, and the diffraction patterns, predicted from wide-angle X-ray diffraction spectra, were identical. Surface areas of approximately 1500, 1027, 600, 552 and 317 m2 g-1, pore volumes of 0.93, 0.56, 0.82, 0.72 and 0.5 cm3 g-1, radii of 2.48, 2.2, 5.66, 6.6 and 8.98 nm, average aggregate sizes of 56, 65.4, 220.9, 73, 61.1 and 261 nm and zeta potential values of -32.8, -46.1, -26.3, -31.4 and -25.9 mV were obtained for MCM-41, SBA-3, SBA-15, SN and SM, respectively. Methylene blue dye uptake capacity of the prepared silica types was investigated using the batch technique and, in addition, the most effective material was further studied by the column flow system. The kinetics and isotherms of the uptake process were studied. The morphological structure, surface area, pore radius and zeta potential values were the most correlated factors.

Nanostructured mesoporous silica: influence of the preparation conditions on the physical-surface properties for efficient organic dye uptake.

PubMed

Morsi, Rania E; Mohamed, Rasha S

2018-03-01

A series of ordered mesoporous silica such as MCM-41, SBA-3 and SBA-15, in addition to silica micro- (SM) and nano- (SN) mesoporous particles, were prepared. The preparation conditions were found to greatly influence the physical-surface properties including morphological structure, porosity, particle size, aggregate average size, surface area, pore size, pore volume and zeta potential of the prepared silica, while the chemical structure, predicted from FT-IR spectra, and the diffraction patterns, predicted from wide-angle X-ray diffraction spectra, were identical. Surface areas of approximately 1500, 1027, 600, 552 and 317 m 2  g -1 , pore volumes of 0.93, 0.56, 0.82, 0.72 and 0.5 cm 3  g -1 , radii of 2.48, 2.2, 5.66, 6.6 and 8.98 nm, average aggregate sizes of 56, 65.4, 220.9, 73, 61.1 and 261 nm and zeta potential values of -32.8, -46.1, -26.3, -31.4 and -25.9 mV were obtained for MCM-41, SBA-3, SBA-15, SN and SM, respectively. Methylene blue dye uptake capacity of the prepared silica types was investigated using the batch technique and, in addition, the most effective material was further studied by the column flow system. The kinetics and isotherms of the uptake process were studied. The morphological structure, surface area, pore radius and zeta potential values were the most correlated factors.

Structural, optical, morphological and electrical properties of undoped and Al-doped ZnO thin films prepared using sol—gel dip coating process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boukhenoufa, N.; Mahamdi, R.; Rechem, D.

2016-11-01

In this work, sol—gel dip-coating technique was used to elaborate ZnO pure and ZnO/Al films. The impact of Al-doped concentration on the structural, optical, surface morphological and electrical properties of the elaborated samples was investigated. It was found that better electrical and optical performances have been obtained for an Al concentration equal to 5%, where the ZnO thin films exhibit a resistivity value equal to 1.64104 Ω·cm. Moreover, highest transparency has been recorded for the same Al concentration value. The obtained results from this investigation make the developed thin film structure a potential candidate for high optoelectronic performance applications.

Surface Structure Dependent Electrocatalytic Activity of Co3O4 Anchored on Graphene Sheets toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction

PubMed Central

Xiao, Junwu; Kuang, Qin; Yang, Shihe; Xiao, Fei; Wang, Shuai; Guo, Lin

2013-01-01

Catalytic activity is primarily a surface phenomenon, however, little is known about Co3O4 nanocrystals in terms of the relationship between the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalytic activity and surface structure, especially when dispersed on a highly conducting support to improve the electrical conductivity and so to enhance the catalytic activity. Herein, we report a controllable synthesis of Co3O4 nanorods (NR), nanocubes (NC) and nano-octahedrons (OC) with the different exposed nanocrystalline surfaces ({110}, {100}, and {111}), uniformly anchored on graphene sheets, which has allowed us to investigate the effects of the surface structure on the ORR activity. Results show that the catalytically active sites for ORR should be the surface Co2+ ions, whereas the surface Co3+ ions catalyze CO oxidation, and the catalytic ability is closely related to the density of the catalytically active sites. These results underscore the importance of morphological control in the design of highly efficient ORR catalysts. PMID:23892418

Adsorption and release of biocides with mesoporous silica nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popat, Amirali; Liu, Jian; Hu, Qiuhong; Kennedy, Michael; Peters, Brenton; Lu, Gao Qing (Max); Qiao, Shi Zhang

2012-01-01

In this proof-of-concept study, an agricultural biocide (imidacloprid) was effectively loaded into the mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with different pore sizes, morphologies and mesoporous structures for termite control. This resulted in nanoparticles with a large surface area, tunable pore diameter and small particle size, which are ideal carriers for adsorption and controlled release of imidacloprid. The effect of pore size, surface area and mesoporous structure on uptake and release of imidacloprid was systematically studied. It was found that the adsorption amount and release profile of imidacloprid were dependent on the type of mesoporous structure and surface area of particles. Specifically, MCM-48 type mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a three dimensional (3D) open network structure and high surface area displayed the highest adsorption capacity compared to other types of silica nanoparticles. Release of imidacloprid from these nanoparticles was found to be controlled over 48 hours. Finally, in vivo laboratory testing on termite control proved the efficacy of these nanoparticles as delivery carriers for biopesticides. We believe that the present study will contribute to the design of more effective controlled and targeted delivery for other biomolecules.In this proof-of-concept study, an agricultural biocide (imidacloprid) was effectively loaded into the mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with different pore sizes, morphologies and mesoporous structures for termite control. This resulted in nanoparticles with a large surface area, tunable pore diameter and small particle size, which are ideal carriers for adsorption and controlled release of imidacloprid. The effect of pore size, surface area and mesoporous structure on uptake and release of imidacloprid was systematically studied. It was found that the adsorption amount and release profile of imidacloprid were dependent on the type of mesoporous structure and surface area of particles. Specifically, MCM-48 type mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a three dimensional (3D) open network structure and high surface area displayed the highest adsorption capacity compared to other types of silica nanoparticles. Release of imidacloprid from these nanoparticles was found to be controlled over 48 hours. Finally, in vivo laboratory testing on termite control proved the efficacy of these nanoparticles as delivery carriers for biopesticides. We believe that the present study will contribute to the design of more effective controlled and targeted delivery for other biomolecules. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c2nr11691j

Crystallinity, Surface Morphology, and Photoelectrochemical Effects in Conical InP and InN Nanowires Grown on Silicon.

PubMed

Parameshwaran, Vijay; Xu, Xiaoqing; Clemens, Bruce

2016-08-24

The growth conditions of two types of indium-based III-V nanowires, InP and InN, are tailored such that instead of yielding conventional wire-type morphologies, single-crystal conical structures are formed with an enlarged diameter either near the base or near the tip. By using indium droplets as a growth catalyst, combined with an excess indium supply during growth, "ice cream cone" type structures are formed with a nanowire "cone" and an indium-based "ice cream" droplet on top for both InP and InN. Surface polycrystallinity and annihilation of the catalyst tip of the conical InP nanowires are observed when the indium supply is turned off during the growth process. This growth design technique is extended to create single-crystal InN nanowires with the same morphology. Conical InN nanowires with an enlarged base are obtained through the use of an excess combined Au-In growth catalyst. Electrochemical studies of the InP nanowires on silicon demonstrate a reduction photocurrent as a proof of photovolatic behavior and provide insight as to how the observed surface polycrystallinity and the resulting interface affect these device-level properties. Additionally, a photovoltage is induced in both types of conical InN nanowires on silicon, which is not replicated in epitaxial InN thin films.

Thin-film metal hydrides.

PubMed

Remhof, Arndt; Borgschulte, Andreas

2008-12-01

The goal of the medieval alchemist, the chemical transformation of common metals into nobel metals, will forever be a dream. However, key characteristics of metals, such as their electronic band structure and, consequently, their electric, magnetic and optical properties, can be tailored by controlled hydrogen doping. Due to their morphology and well-defined geometry with flat, coplanar surfaces/interfaces, novel phenomena may be observed in thin films. Prominent examples are the eye-catching hydrogen switchable mirror effect, the visualization of solid-state diffusion and the formation of complex surface morphologies. Thin films do not suffer as much from embrittlement and/or decrepitation as bulk materials, allowing the study of cyclic absorption and desorption. Therefore, thin-metal hydride films are used as model systems to study metal-insulator transitions, for high throughput combinatorial research or they may be used as indicator layers to study hydrogen diffusion. They can be found in technological applications as hydrogen sensors, in electrochromic and thermochromic devices. In this review, we discuss the effect of hydrogen loading of thin niobium and yttrium films as archetypical examples of a transition metal and a rare earth metal, respectively. Our focus thereby lies on the hydrogen induced changes of the electronic structure and the morphology of the thin films, their optical properties, the visualization and the control of hydrogen diffusion and on the study of surface phenomena and catalysis.

The effects of solidification on sill propagation dynamics and morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chanceaux, L.; Menand, T.

2016-05-01

Sills are an integral part of the formation and development of larger plutons and magma reservoirs. Thus sills are essential for both the transport and the storage of magma in the Earth's crust. However, although cooling and solidification are central to magmatism, their effects on sills have been so far poorly studied. Here, the effects of solidification on sill propagation dynamics and morphology are studied by means of analogue laboratory experiments. Hot fluid vegetable oil (magma analogue), that solidifies during its propagation, is injected as a sill in a colder layered gelatine solid (elastic host rock analogue). The injection flux and temperature are maintained constant during an experiment and systematically varied between each experiment, in order to vary and quantify the amount of solidification between each experiments. The oil is injected directly at the interface between the two gelatine layers. When solidification effects are small (high injection temperatures and fluxes), the propagation is continuous and the sill has a regular and smooth surface. Inversely, when solidification effects are important (low injection temperatures and fluxes), sill propagation is discontinuous and occurs by steps of surface-area creation interspersed with periods of momentary arrest. The morphology of these sills displays folds, ropy structures on their surface, and lobes with imprints of the leading fronts that correspond to each step of area creation. These experiments show that for a given, constant injected volume, as solidification effects increase, the area of the sills decreases, their thickness increases, and the number of propagation steps increases. These results have various geological and geophysical implications. The morphology of sills, such as lobate structures (interpretation of 3D seismic studies in sedimentary basin) and ropy flow structures (field observations) can be related to solidification during emplacement. Moreover, a non-continuous morphology as observed in the field does not necessarily involve multiple injections, but could instead reflect a continuous, yet complex morphology induced by solidification effects during emplacement. Also, a discontinuous sill propagation induced by solidification effects should be associated with bursts of seismic activity. Finally, our study shows that once a sill has initiated, the dimensionless flux influences the sill thermal state, and in turn its propagation, and final extent and thickness. In restricting the lateral extent of sills, magma cooling and solidification are likely to impact directly the size of plutons constructed by amalgamated sills.

Microstructures and growth mechanisms of GaN films epitaxially grown on AlN/Si hetero-structures by pulsed laser deposition at different temperatures.

PubMed

Wang, Wenliang; Yang, Weijia; Lin, Yunhao; Zhou, Shizhong; Li, Guoqiang

2015-11-13

2 inch-diameter GaN films with homogeneous thickness distribution have been grown on AlN/Si(111) hetero-structures by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) with laser rastering technique. The surface morphology, crystalline quality, and interfacial property of as-grown GaN films are characterized in detail. By optimizing the laser rastering program, the ~300 nm-thick GaN films grown at 750 °C show a root-mean-square (RMS) thickness inhomogeneity of 3.0%, very smooth surface with a RMS surface roughness of 3.0 nm, full-width at half-maximums (FWHMs) for GaN(0002) and GaN(102) X-ray rocking curves of 0.7° and 0.8°, respectively, and sharp and abrupt AlN/GaN hetero-interfaces. With the increase in the growth temperature from 550 to 850 °C, the surface morphology, crystalline quality, and interfacial property of as-grown ~300 nm-thick GaN films are gradually improved at first and then decreased. Based on the characterizations, the corresponding growth mechanisms of GaN films grown on AlN/Si hetero-structures by PLD with various growth temperatures are hence proposed. This work would be beneficial to understanding the further insight of the GaN films grown on Si(111) substrates by PLD for the application of GaN-based devices.

Quenching influence of cell culture medium on photoluminescence and morphological structure of porous silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Unal, Bayram

2011-10-01

In this work, the degradation of visible photoluminescence of porous silicon (PSi) under the influential actions of cell culture medium has been mainly studied in order to comprehend the quenching mechanisms necessitating the cell growth on spongy-like-silicon structures, which could form either micro- and/or nano-dimensional morphologies after stain-etching of the poly- or single-crystalline Si surfaces. Quenching effect of the neuron culture medium on visibly luminescent and non-luminescent porous silicon is found to be quite obvious so that this step of the culture process, especially, over nanostructured silicon is extremely essential for a variety of bionanotechnological applications.

Sound absorption study of raw and expanded particulate vermiculites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vašina, Martin; Plachá, Daniela; Mikeska, Marcel; Hružík, Lumír; Martynková, Gražyna Simha

2016-12-01

Expanded and raw vermiculite minerals were studied for their ability to absorb sound. Phase and structural characterization of the investigated vermiculites was found similar for both types, while morphology and surface properties vary. Sound waves reflect in wedge-like structure and get minimized, and later are absorbed totally. We found that thanks to porous character of expanded vermiculite the principle of absorption of sound into layered vermiculite morphology is analogous to principle of sound minimization in "anechoic chambers." It was found in this study that the best sound damping properties of the investigated vermiculites were in general obtained at higher powder bed heights and higher excitation frequencies.

Combining 3D human in vitro methods for a 3Rs evaluation of novel titanium surfaces in orthopaedic applications

PubMed Central

Stevenson, G.; Rehman, S.; Draper, E.; Hernández‐Nava, E.; Hunt, J.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT In this study, we report on a group of complementary human osteoblast in vitro test methods for the preclinical evaluation of 3D porous titanium surfaces. The surfaces were prepared by additive manufacturing (electron beam melting [EBM]) and plasma spraying, allowing the creation of complex lattice surface geometries. Physical properties of the surfaces were characterized by SEM and profilometry and 3D in vitro cell culture using human osteoblasts. Primary human osteoblast cells were found to elicit greater differences between titanium sample surfaces than an MG63 osteoblast‐like cell line, particularly in terms of cell survival. Surface morphology was associated with higher osteoblast metabolic activity and mineralization on rougher titanium plasma spray coated surfaces than smoother surfaces. Differences in osteoblast survival and metabolic activity on titanium lattice structures were also found, despite analogous surface morphology at the cellular level. 3D confocal microscopy identified osteoblast organization within complex titanium surface geometries, adhesion, spreading, and alignment to the biomaterial strut geometries. Mineralized nodule formation throughout the lattice structures was also observed, and indicative of early markers of bone in‐growth on such materials. Testing methods such as those presented are not traditionally considered by medical device manufacturers, but we suggest have value as an increasingly vital tool in efficiently translating pre‐clinical studies, especially in balance with current regulatory practice, commercial demands, the 3Rs, and the relative merits of in vitro and in vivo studies. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 1586–1599. © 2015 The Authors. Biotechnology and Bioengineering Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. PMID:26702609

Activated Carbon Fibers with Hierarchical Nanostructure Derived from Waste Cotton Gloves as High-Performance Electrodes for Supercapacitors.

PubMed

Wei, Chao; Yu, Jianlin; Yang, Xiaoqing; Zhang, Guoqing

2017-12-01

One of the most challenging issues that restrict the biomass/waste-based nanocarbons in supercapacitor application is the poor structural inheritability during the activating process. Herein, we prepare a class of activated carbon fibers by carefully selecting waste cotton glove (CG) as the precursor, which mainly consists of cellulose fibers that can be transformed to carbon along with good inheritability of their fiber morphology upon activation. As prepared, the CG-based activated carbon fiber (CGACF) demonstrates a surface area of 1435 m 2  g -1 contributed by micropores of 1.3 nm and small mesopores of 2.7 nm, while the fiber morphology can be well inherited from the CG with 3D interconnected frameworks created on the fiber surface. This hierarchically porous structure and well-retained fiber-like skeleton can simultaneously minimize the diffusion/transfer resistance of the electrolyte and electron, respectively, and maximize the surface area utilization for charge accumulation. Consequently, CGACF presents a higher specific capacitance of 218 F g -1 and an excellent high-rate performance as compared to commercial activated carbon.

Fabrication and characterization of the noble metal nanostructures on the GaAs surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gladskikh, Polina V.; Gladskikh, Igor A.; Toropov, Nikita A.; Vartanyan, Tigran A.

2016-04-01

Self-assembled silver, gold, and copper nanostructures on the monocrystalline GaAs (100) wafer surface were obtained via physical vapor deposition and characterized by optical reflection spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and current-voltage curve measurements. Reflection spectra of the samples with Ag equivalent thicknesses of 2, 5, 7.5, and 10 nm demonstrated wide plasmonic bands in the visible range of spectra. Thermal annealing of the nanostructures led to narrowing of the plasmonic bands of Au and Ag nanostructures caused by major transformations of the film morphology. While the as prepared films predominantly had a small scale labyrinth structure, after annealing well-separated nanoislands are formed on the gallium arsenide surface. A clear correlation between films morphology and their optical and electrical properties is elucidated. Annealing of the GaAs substrate with Ag nanostructures at 100 °C under control of the resistivity allowed us to obtain and fix the structure at the percolation threshold. It is established that the samples at the percolation threshold possess the properties of resistance switching and hysteresis.

Effect of defects on reaction of NiO surface with Pb-contained solution

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

Kim, Jongjin; Hou, Binyang; Park, Changyong

In order to understand the role of defects in chemical reactions, we used two types of samples, which are molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) grown NiO(001) film on Mg(001) substrate as the defect free NiO prototype and NiO grown on Ni(110) single crystal as the one with defects. In-situ observations for oxide-liquid interfacial structure and surface morphology were performed for both samples in water and Pb-contained solution using high-resolution X-ray reflectivity and atomic force microscopy. For the MBE grown NiO, no significant changes were detected in the high-resolution X-ray reflectivity data with monotonic increase in roughness. Meanwhile, in the case ofmore » native grown NiO on Ni(110), significant changes in both the morphology and atomistic structure at the interface were observed when immersed in water and Pb-contained solution. Our results provide simple and direct experimental evidence of the role of the defects in chemical reaction of oxide surfaces with both water and Pb-contained solution.« less

Comparison Between Terrestrial Explosion Crater Morphology in Floating Ice and Europan Chaos

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Billings, S. E.; Kattenhorn, S. A.

2003-01-01

Craters created by explosives have been found to serve as valuable analogs to impact craters, within limits. Explosion craters have been created in floating terrestrial ice in experiments related to clearing ice from waterways. Features called chaos occur on the surface of Europa s floating ice shell. Chaos is defined as a region in which the background plains have been disrupted. Common features of chaos include rafted blocks of pre-existing terrain suspended in a matrix of smooth or hummocky material; low surface albedo; and structural control on chaos outline shape by pre-existing lineaments. All published models of chaos formation call on endogenic processes whereby chaos forms through thermal processes. Nonetheless, we note morphological similarities between terrestrial explosion craters and Europan chaos at a range of scales and consider whether some chaos may have formed by impact. We explore these similarities through geologic and morphologic mapping.

Verification of Geometric Model-Based Plant Phenotyping Methods for Studies of Xerophytic Plants.

PubMed

Drapikowski, Paweł; Kazimierczak-Grygiel, Ewa; Korecki, Dominik; Wiland-Szymańska, Justyna

2016-06-27

This paper presents the results of verification of certain non-contact measurement methods of plant scanning to estimate morphological parameters such as length, width, area, volume of leaves and/or stems on the basis of computer models. The best results in reproducing the shape of scanned objects up to 50 cm in height were obtained with the structured-light DAVID Laserscanner. The optimal triangle mesh resolution for scanned surfaces was determined with the measurement error taken into account. The research suggests that measuring morphological parameters from computer models can supplement or even replace phenotyping with classic methods. Calculating precise values of area and volume makes determination of the S/V (surface/volume) ratio for cacti and other succulents possible, whereas for classic methods the result is an approximation only. In addition, the possibility of scanning and measuring plant species which differ in morphology was investigated.

Verification of Geometric Model-Based Plant Phenotyping Methods for Studies of Xerophytic Plants

PubMed Central

Drapikowski, Paweł; Kazimierczak-Grygiel, Ewa; Korecki, Dominik; Wiland-Szymańska, Justyna

2016-01-01

This paper presents the results of verification of certain non-contact measurement methods of plant scanning to estimate morphological parameters such as length, width, area, volume of leaves and/or stems on the basis of computer models. The best results in reproducing the shape of scanned objects up to 50 cm in height were obtained with the structured-light DAVID Laserscanner. The optimal triangle mesh resolution for scanned surfaces was determined with the measurement error taken into account. The research suggests that measuring morphological parameters from computer models can supplement or even replace phenotyping with classic methods. Calculating precise values of area and volume makes determination of the S/V (surface/volume) ratio for cacti and other succulents possible, whereas for classic methods the result is an approximation only. In addition, the possibility of scanning and measuring plant species which differ in morphology was investigated. PMID:27355949

Homoepitaxial growth of β-Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} thin films by low pressure chemical vapor deposition

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

Rafique, Subrina; Han, Lu; Zhao, Hongping, E-mail: hongping.zhao@case.edu

2016-05-02

This paper presents the homoepitaxial growth of phase pure (010) β-Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} thin films on (010) β-Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} substrate by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. The effects of growth temperature on the surface morphology and crystal quality of the thin films were systematically investigated. The thin films were synthesized using high purity metallic gallium (Ga) and oxygen (O{sub 2}) as precursors for gallium and oxygen, respectively. The surface morphology and structural properties of the thin films were characterized by atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Material characterization indicates the growth temperature played anmore » important role in controlling both surface morphology and crystal quality of the β-Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} thin films. The smallest root-mean-square surface roughness of ∼7 nm was for thin films grown at a temperature of 950 °C, whereas the highest growth rate (∼1.3 μm/h) with a fixed oxygen flow rate was obtained for the epitaxial layers grown at 850 °C.« less

The lateral In2O3 nanowires and pyramid networks manipulation by controlled substrate surface energy in annealing evolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shariati, Mohsen; Darjani, Mojtaba

2016-02-01

The continuous laterally aligned growth of In2O3 nanocrystal networks extended with nanowire and pyramid connections under annealing influence has been reported. These nanostructures have been grown on Si substrate by using oxygen-assisted annealing process through PVD growth technique. The formation of In2O3 nanocrystals has been achieved by the successive growth of critical self-nucleated condensation in three orientations. The preferred direction was the route between two pyramids especially in the smallest surface energy. The effects of substrate temperature in annealing process on the morphological properties of the as-grown nanostructures were investigated. The annealing technique showed that by controlling the surface energy, the morphology of structures was changed from unregulated array to defined nanostructures; especially nanowires 50 nm in width. The obtained nanostructures also were investigated by the (transmission electron microscopy) TEM, Raman spectrum and the (X-ray diffraction) XRD patterns. They indicated that the self-assembled In2O3 nanocrystal networks have been fabricated by the vapor-solid (VS) growth mechanism. The growth mechanism process was prompted to attribute the relationship among the kinetics parameters, surface diffusion and morphology of nanostructures.

Nanomaterials derived from metal-organic frameworks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dang, Song; Zhu, Qi-Long; Xu, Qiang

2018-01-01

The thermal transformation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) generates a variety of nanostructured materials, including carbon-based materials, metal oxides, metal chalcogenides, metal phosphides and metal carbides. These derivatives of MOFs have characteristics such as high surface areas, permanent porosities and controllable functionalities that enable their good performance in sensing, gas storage, catalysis and energy-related applications. Although progress has been made to tune the morphologies of MOF-derived structures at the nanometre scale, it remains crucial to further our knowledge of the relationship between morphology and performance. In this Review, we summarize the synthetic strategies and optimized methods that enable control over the size, morphology, composition and structure of the derived nanomaterials. In addition, we compare the performance of materials prepared by the MOF-templated strategy and other synthetic methods. Our aim is to reveal the relationship between the morphology and the physico-chemical properties of MOF-derived nanostructures to optimize their performance for applications such as sensing, catalysis, and energy storage and conversion.

Microreplication of laser-fabricated surface and three-dimensional structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koroleva, Anastasia; Schlie, Sabrina; Fadeeva, Elena; Gittard, Shaun D.; Miller, Philip; Ovsianikov, Aleksandr; Koch, Jürgen; Narayan, Roger J.; Chichkov, Boris N.

2010-12-01

The fabrication of defined surface topographies and three-dimensional structures is a challenging process for various applications, e.g. in photonics and biomedicine. Laser-based technologies provide a promising approach for the production of such structures. The advantages of femtosecond laser ablation and two-photon polymerization for microstructuring are well known. However, these methods cannot be applied to all materials and are limited by their high cost and long production time. In this study, biomedical applications of an indirect rapid prototyping, molding microreplication of laser-fabricated two- and three-dimensional structures are examined. We demonstrate that by this method any laser-generated surface topography as well as three-dimensional structures can be replicated in various materials without losing the original geometry. The replication into multiple copies enables fast and perfect reproducibility of original microstructures for investigations of cell-surface interactions. Compared to unstructured materials, we observe that microstructures have strong influence on morphology and localization of fibroblasts, whereas neuroblastoma cells are not negatively affected.

Surface morphology correlated with field emission properties of laser irradiated nickel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jalil, S. A.; Bashir, S.; Akram, M.; Ahmed, Q. S.; Haq, F. U.

2017-08-01

The effect of laser fluence on the surface morphology and field emission properties of nickel (Ni) has been investigated. Circular shaped Ni targets are irradiated with Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm, 10 Hz, 10 ns) at various fluences ranging from 5.2 to 26 J/cm2 in air. For low fluence ranging from 5.2 to 10.4 J/cm2, SEM analysis reveals the growth of unorganized channels, grains, droplets, and ridges. Whereas, at moderate fluence of 15.6 J/cm2, the formation of ridges and cones along with few number of holes are observed. However, at high fluence regime ranging from 20 to 26 J/cm2, a sharp transition in morphology from ridges to holes has been observed. The laser structured Ni targets are also investigated for field emission properties by recording their I-V characteristics and Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) plots. The enhancement in field emission factor (β) and the reduction in turn on field are found to be dependent upon the laser fluence and morphology of the grown structures. For samples treated at low and moderate fluences, the growth of cones, channels and ridges is responsible for enhancement of β factor ranging from 121 to 178. Whereas, for samples treated at high fluence region, the formation of pores and holes is responsible for significant field convergence and consequently resulting in substantial enhancement in β factor to 276.

Optical and structural studies of films grown thermally on zirconium surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morgan, J. M.; McNatt, J. S.; Shepard, M. J.; Farkas, N.; Ramsier, R. D.

2002-06-01

Variable angle IR reflection spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy are used to determine the thickness and morphology of films grown thermally on Zr surfaces in air. The density and homogeneity of these films increases with temperature in the range studied (773-873 K) and growth at the highest temperature follows cubic rate law kinetics. We demonstrate a structure-property relationship for these thermally grown films and suggest the application of IR reflectivity as an inspection method during the growth of environmentally passive films on industrial Zr components.

Enhancement of Fluorescence and Raman Scattering in Cyanine-Dye Molecules on the Surface of Silicon-Coated Silver Nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamalieva, A. N.; Toropov, N. A.; Bogdanov, K. V.; Vartanyan, T. A.

2018-03-01

A method of formation of a composite structure based on silver nanoparticles and a thin protective silicon film (Ag NPs/Si) is developed. Enhancement of the fluorescence and Raman scattering in cyaninedye molecules deposited onto the formed nanostructure is observed. The optical properties and morphology stability of particles that are in contact with cyanine-dye solutions in organic solvents are studied. It is shown that the Ag NPs/Si composite structure can be multiply used as an SERS-active surface.

FS laser processing of bio-polymer thin films for studying cell-to-substrate specific response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daskalova, A.; Nathala, Chandra S. R.; Kavatzikidou, P.; Ranella, A.; Szoszkiewicz, R.; Husinsky, W.; Fotakis, C.

2016-09-01

The use of ultra-short pulses for nanoengineering of biomaterials opens up possibilities for biological, medical and tissue engineering applications. Structuring the surface of a biomaterial into arrays with micro- and nanoscale features and architectures, defines new roadmaps to innovative engineering of materials. Thin films of novel collagen/elastin composite and gelatin were irradiated by Ti:sapphire fs laser in air at central wavelength 800 nm, with pulse durations in the range of 30 fs. The size and shape as well as morphological forms occurring in the resulted areas of interaction were analyzed as a function of irradiation fluence and number of pulses by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The fs interaction regime allows generation of well defined micro porous surface arrays. In this study we examined a novel composite consisting of collagen and elastin in order to create a biodegradable matrix to serve as a biomimetic surface for cell attachment. Confocal microscopy images of modified zones reveal formation of surface fringe patterns with orientation direction alongside the area of interaction. Outside the crater rim a wave-like topography pattern is observed. Structured, on a nanometer scale, surface array is employed for cell-culture experiments for testing cell's responses to substrate morphology. Mice fibroblasts migration was monitored after 3 days cultivation period using FESEM. We found that fibroblasts cells tend to migrate and adhere along the laser modified zones. The performed study proved that the immobilized collagen based biofilms suite as a template for successful fibroblasts cell guidance and orientation. Fs laser induced morphological modification of biomimetic materials exhibit direct control over fibroblasts behaviour due to induced change in their wettability state.

Comparative Analysis of Structural Responses of Rat Subcutaneous Fat on the Implantation of Samples of Polymethyl Methacrylate with Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Surface.

PubMed

Kudasova, E O; Vlasova, L F; Semenov, D E; Lushnikova, E L

2017-03-01

Morphological analysis of the subcutaneous fat was performed in rats after subcutaneous implantation of basic dental plastic materials with different hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. It was shown that subcutaneous implantation of dental plastics with mostly hydrophobic surface and low biocompatibility induced destructive and inflammatory processes of various intensities, sometimes with allergic component; morphological signs of processes persisted for 6 weeks. Modification of basic plastics using glow-discharge plasma and enhancement of their hydrophilicity and biocompatibility significantly reduced the intensity of destructive and inflammatory processes and ensured more rapid (in 2 weeks) repair of the destroyed tissues with the formation of fibrous capsule around the implant.

Surface brightness and color distributions in blue compact dwarf galaxies. I - Haro 2, an extreme example of a star-forming young elliptical galaxy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loose, Hans-Hermann; Thuan, Trinh X.

1986-01-01

The first results of a large-scale program to study the morphology and structure of blue compact dwarf galaxies from CCD observations are presented. The observations and reduction procedures are described, and surface brightness and color profiles are shown. The results are used to discuss the morphological type of Haro 2 and its stellar populations. It is found that Haro 2 appears to be an extreme example of an elliptical galaxy undergoing intense star formation in its central regions, and that the oldest stars it contains were made only about four million yr ago. The 'missing' mass problem of Haro 2 is also discussed.

SEM and EDS investigation of a pyrolytic carbon covered C/C composite maxillofacial implant retrieved from the human body after 8 years.

PubMed

Sebők, Béla; Kiss, Gábor; Szabó, Péter J; Rigler, Dániel; Molnár, Milán L; Dobos, Gábor; Réti, Ferenc; Szőcs, Hajnal; Joób, Arpád F; Bogdán, Sándor; Szabó, György

2013-03-01

The long term effect of the human body on a pyrolytic carbon covered C/C composite maxillofacial implant (CarBulat(Tm)) was investigated by comparing the structure, the surface morphology and composition of an implant retrieved after 8 years to a sterilized, but not implanted one. Although the thickness of the carbon fibres constituting the implants did not change during the 8 year period, the surface of the implant retrieved was covered with a thin surface layer not present on the unimplanted implant. The composition of this layer is identical to the composition of the underlying carbon fibres. Calcium can only be detected on the surface as a trace element implying that the new layer is not formed by bone tissue. Residual soft tissue penetrating the bulk material between the carbon fibre bunches was found on the retrieved implant indicating the importance of the surface morphology in tissue growth and adhering to implants.

Phytoremediation in the tropics--influence of heavy crude oil on root morphological characteristics of graminoids.

PubMed

Merkl, Nicole; Schultze-Kraft, Rainer; Infante, Carmen

2005-11-01

When studying species for phytoremediation of petroleum-contaminated soils, one of the main traits is the root zone where enhanced petroleum degradation takes place. Root morphological characteristics of three tropical graminoids were studied. Specific root length (SRL), surface area, volume and average root diameter (ARD) of plants grown in crude oil-contaminated and uncontaminated soil were compared. Brachiaria brizantha and Cyperus aggregatus showed coarser roots in polluted soil compared to the control as expressed in an increased ARD. B. brizantha had a significantly larger specific root surface area in contaminated soil. Additionally, a shift of SRL and surface area per diameter class towards higher diameters was found. Oil contamination also caused a significantly smaller SRL and surface area in the finest diameter class of C. aggregatus. The root structure of Eleusine indica was not significantly affected by crude oil. Higher specific root surface area was related to higher degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons found in previous studies.

Surface structuring in polypropylene using Ar+ beam sputtering: Pattern transition from ripples to dot nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goyal, Meetika; Aggarwal, Sanjeev; Sharma, Annu; Ojha, Sunil

2018-05-01

Temporal variations in nano-scale surface morphology generated on Polypropylene (PP) substrates utilizing 40 keV oblique argon ion beam have been presented. Due to controlled variation of crucial beam parameters i.e. ion incidence angle and erosion time, formation of ripple patterns and further its transition into dot nanostructures have been realized. Experimental investigations have been supported by evaluation of Bradley and Harper (B-H) coefficients estimated using SRIM (The Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter) simulations. Roughness of pristine target surfaces has been accredited to be a crucial factor behind the early time evolution of nano-scale patterns over the polymeric surface. Study of Power spectral density (PSD) spectra reveals that smoothing mechanism switch from ballistic drift to ion enhanced surface diffusion (ESD) which can be the most probable cause for such morphological transition under given experimental conditions. Compositional analysis and depth profiling of argon ion irradiated specimens using Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) has also been correlated with the AFM findings.

FAS grafted superhydrophobic ceramic membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Jun; Yu, Yun; Zhou, Jianer; Song, Lixin; Hu, Xingfang; Larbot, Andre

2009-08-01

The hydrophobic properties of γ-Al 2O 3 membrane have been obtained by grafting fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) on the surface of the membrane. The following grafting parameters were studied: the eroding time of the original membrane, the grafting time, the concentration of FAS solution and the multiplicity of grafting. Hydrophobicity of the membranes was characterized by contact angle (CA) measurement. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to investigate the weight loss process (25-800 °C) of the fluoroalkylsilane grafted on Al 2O 3 powders under different grafting conditions. The morphologies of the membranes modified under different parameters were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and the surface roughness (Ra) was measured using white light interferometers. A needle-like structure was observed on the membrane surface after modification, which causes the change of Ra. On the results above, we speculated a model to describe the reaction between FAS and γ-Al 2O 3 membrane surface as well as the formed surface morphology.

High resolution urban morphology data for urban wind flow modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cionco, Ronald M.; Ellefsen, Richard

The application of urban forestry methods and technologies to a number of practical problems can be further enhanced by the use and incorporation of localized, high resolution wind and temperature fields into their analysis methods. The numerical simulation of these micrometeorological fields will represent the interactions and influences of urban structures, vegetation elements, and variable terrain as an integral part of the dynamics of an urban domain. Detailed information of the natural and man-made components that make up the urban area is needed to more realistically model meteorological fields in urban domains. Simulating high resolution wind and temperatures over and through an urban domain utilizing detailed morphology data can also define and quantify local areas where urban forestry applications can contribute to better solutions. Applications such as the benefits of planting trees for shade purposes can be considered, planned, and evaluated for their impact on conserving energy and cooling costs as well as the possible reconfiguration or removal of trees and other barriers for improved airflow ventilation and similar processes. To generate these fields, a wind model must be provided, as a minimum, the location, type, height, structural silhouette, and surface roughness of these components, in order to account for the presence and effects of these land morphology features upon the ambient airflow. The morphology of Sacramento, CA has been characterized and quantified in considerable detail primarily for wind flow modeling, simulation, and analyses, but can also be used for improved meteorological analyses, urban forestry, urban planning, and other urban related activities. Morphology methods previously developed by Ellefsen are applied to the Sacramento scenario with a high resolution grid of 100 m × 100 m. The Urban Morphology Scheme defines Urban Terrain Zones (UTZ) according to how buildings and other urban elements are structured and placed with respect to each other. The urban elements within the 100 m × 100 m cells (one hectare) are further described and digitized as building height, building footprint (in percent), reflectivity of its roof, pitched roof or flat, building's long axis orientation, footprint of impervious surface and its reflectivity, footprint of canopy elements, footprint of woodlots, footprint of grass area, and footprint of water surface. A variety of maps, satellite images, low level aerial photographs, and street level photographs are the raw data used to quantify these urban properties. The final digitized morphology database resides in a spreadsheet ready for use on ordinary personal computers.

Live celloidosome structures based on the assembly of individual cells by colloid interactions.

PubMed

Fakhrullin, Rawil F; Brandy, Marie-Laure; Cayre, Olivier J; Velev, Orlin D; Paunov, Vesselin N

2010-10-14

A new class of colloid structures, celloidosomes, has been developed which represent hollow microcapsules whose membranes consist of a single monolayer of living cells. Two routes for producing these structures were designed based on templating of: (i) air bubbles and (ii) anisotropic microcrystals of calcium carbonate with living cells, which allowed us to fabricate celloidosomes of spherical, rhombohedral and needle-like morphologies. Air microbubbles were templated by yeast cells coated with poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH), then coated with carboxymethylcellulose and rehydrated resulting in the formation of spherical multicellular structures. Similarly, calcium carbonate microcrystals of anisotropic shapes were coated with several consecutive layers of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes to obtain a positive surface charge which was used to immobilise yeast cells coated with anionic polyelectrolyte of their surfaces. After dissolving of sacrificial cores, hollow multicellular structures were obtained. The viability of the cells in the produced structures was confirmed by using fluorescein diacetate. In order to optimize the separation of celloidosomes from free cells magnetic nanoparticles were immobilised onto the surface of templates prior to the cells deposition, which greatly facilitated the separation using a permanent magnet. Two alternative approaches were developed to form celloidosome structures using magnetically functionalised core-shell microparticles which resulted in the formation of celloidosomes with needle-like and cubic-like geometries which follows the original morphology of the calcium carbonate microcrystals. Our methods for fabrication of celloidosomes may found applications in the development of novel symbiotic bio-structures, artificial multicellular organisms and in tissue engineering. The unusual structure of celloidosomes resembles the primitive forms of multicellular species, like Volvox, and other algae and could be regarded as one possible mechanism of the evolutionary development of multicellularity.

Electroless controllable growth of ZnO films and their morphology-dependent antimicrobial properties.

PubMed

Ruíz-Gómez, M A; Figueroa-Torres, M Z; Alonso-Lemus, I L; Vega-Becerra, O E; González-López, J R; Zaldívar-Cadena, A A

2018-04-05

An electroless deposition process was used to synthesize with a controlled morphology, polycrystalline ZnO on glass substrates as antimicrobial coatings. The influence of deposition temperature (T dep ) on the physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of the ZnO films was analyzed. The results indicated that a change in deposition temperature greatly affected the morphology and the degree of crystallinity of the films. Scanning electron microscope images show that the film surface is porous at a deposition temperature of 40 and 50 °C, whereas hexagonal-plate shaped morphology predominated at 60 °C and finally at 70 and 80 °C the films consisted of rod-like particles. The films showed good transparency in the visible region. All ZnO films presented notable antimicrobial activity against the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). It was found that the antimicrobial efficiency is strongly dependent on morphology and structural properties. The best antimicrobial performance was recorded for the films consisting of rod-like morphology with a high degree of crystallinity. The procedure used in this investigation is strongly recommended for the development of functional surfaces. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Coaxial Electrospinning and Characterization of Core-Shell Structured Cellulose Nanocrystal Reinforced PMMA/PAN Composite Fibers

PubMed Central

Li, Chao; Li, Qingde; Ni, Xiaohui; Liu, Guoxiang; Cheng, Wanli; Han, Guangping

2017-01-01

A modified coaxial electrospinning process was used to prepare composite nanofibrous mats from a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) solution with the addition of different cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as the sheath fluid and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution as the core fluid. This study investigated the conductivity of the as-spun solutions that increased significantly with increasing CNCs addition, which favors forming uniform fibers. This study discussed the effect of different CNCs addition on the morphology, thermal behavior, and the multilevel structure of the coaxial electrospun PMMA + CNCs/PAN composite nanofibers. A morphology analysis of the nanofibrous mats clearly demonstrated that the CNCs facilitated the production of the composite nanofibers with a core-shell structure. The diameter of the composite nanofibers decreased and the uniformity increased with increasing CNCs concentrations in the shell fluid. The composite nanofibrous mats had the maximum thermal decomposition temperature that was substantially higher than electrospun pure PMMA, PAN, as well as the core-shell PMMA/PAN nanocomposite. The BET (Brunauer, Emmett and Teller) formula results showed that the specific surface area of the CNCs reinforced core-shell composite significantly increased with increasing CNCs content. The specific surface area of the composite with 20% CNCs loading rose to 9.62 m2/g from 3.76 m2/g for the control. A dense porous structure was formed on the surface of the electrospun core-shell fibers. PMID:28772933

Structural, morphological and magnetic properties of pure and Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by sol-gel method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Undre, Pallavi G.; Birajdar, Shankar D.; Kathare, R. V.; Jadhav, K. M.

2018-05-01

In this work pure and Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles have been prepared by sol-gel method. Influence of nickel doping on structural, morphological and magnetic properties of prepared nanoparticles was investigated by X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Pulse field magnetic hysteresis loop. X-ray diffraction pattern shows the formation of a single phase with hexagonal wurtzite structure of both pure and Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles. The lattice parameters `an' and `c' of Ni-doped ZnO is slightly less than that of pure ZnO nanoparticles. The crystalline size of prepared nanoparticles is found to be in 29 and 31 nm range. SEM technique used to examine the surface morphology of samples, SEM image confirms the nanocrystalline nature of present samples. From the pulse field hysteresis loop technique pure and Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles show diamagnetic and ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature respectively.

Investigation of organic solvents assisted nano magnesium oxide nanoparticles and their structural, morphological, optical and antimicrobial performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deepa, B.; Rajendran, V.

2018-01-01

Investigation on the structural, morphological, optical studies and antimicrobial performance of organic solvent assisted magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are in 16-18 nm of grain size prepared by sol-gel method. The XRD studies shows as synthesized products are in cubic phase with periclase structurer. The well disperesd spherical morphology were obtained in SEM and TEM. The organic solvent methanol had profound effects on the size of the nano particles. The optical absorption edge energy was present in UV region and the corresponding band gap energy values are 4.5 and 4.9 eV for water with ethanol and methanol mediated MgO sample respectively. The PL emission spectrum has a emission peak at 340 and 353 nm which is due to surface defects. The obtained MgO nanoparticles showed superior antimicrobial activities for the gram positive, gram negative and fungus strains using the ELISA reader at 450 nm.

Enhanced photo response of mesoporous nanostructured CdS thin film via electrospray aerosol deposition technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Logu, T.; Soundarrajan, P.; Sankarasubramanian, K.; Sethuraman, K.

2018-04-01

In this work, a high crystalline and mesoporous nanostructured cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin film was successfully grown on the FTO substrates using facile Electrospray Aerosol Deposition (ESAD) technique. The structural, optical, morphological and electrical properties of CdS thin film have been systematically examined. CdS thin film exhibits the hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure with polycrystalline nature. The optical band gap energy of the prepared film was estimated from the Tauc plot and is 2.43 eV. The SEM and AFM images show that the well-interconnected CdS nanoparticles gives mesoporous like morphology. The fine aerosol generated from the ESAD process induces the alteration in the surface morphological structure of deposited CdS film that consequences in enhanced electrical and photo-physical properties. The photoconductivity of the sample has been studied which demonstrates significant photo current. The present study predicts that mesoporous nanostructured CdS thin film would be given a special interest for optoelectronic applications.

Effect of Yeast Cell Morphology, Cell Wall Physical Structure and Chemical Composition on Patulin Adsorption

PubMed Central

Luo, Ying; Wang, Jianguo; Liu, Bin; Wang, Zhouli; Yuan, Yahong; Yue, Tianli

2015-01-01

The capability of yeast to adsorb patulin in fruit juice can aid in substantially reducing the patulin toxic effect on human health. This study aimed to investigate the capability of yeast cell morphology and cell wall internal structure and composition to adsorb patulin. To compare different yeast cell morphologies, cell wall internal structure and composition, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and ion chromatography were used. The results indicated that patulin adsorption capability of yeast was influenced by cell surface areas, volume, and cell wall thickness, as well as 1,3-β-glucan content. Among these factors, cell wall thickness and 1,3-β-glucan content serve significant functions. The investigation revealed that patulin adsorption capability was mainly affected by the three-dimensional network structure of the cell wall composed of 1,3-β-glucan. Finally, patulin adsorption in commercial kiwi fruit juice was investigated, and the results indicated that yeast cells could adsorb patulin from commercial kiwi fruit juice efficiently. This study can potentially simulate in vitro cell walls to enhance patulin adsorption capability and successfully apply to fruit juice industry. PMID:26295574

Effect of Yeast Cell Morphology, Cell Wall Physical Structure and Chemical Composition on Patulin Adsorption.

PubMed

Luo, Ying; Wang, Jianguo; Liu, Bin; Wang, Zhouli; Yuan, Yahong; Yue, Tianli

2015-01-01

The capability of yeast to adsorb patulin in fruit juice can aid in substantially reducing the patulin toxic effect on human health. This study aimed to investigate the capability of yeast cell morphology and cell wall internal structure and composition to adsorb patulin. To compare different yeast cell morphologies, cell wall internal structure and composition, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and ion chromatography were used. The results indicated that patulin adsorption capability of yeast was influenced by cell surface areas, volume, and cell wall thickness, as well as 1,3-β-glucan content. Among these factors, cell wall thickness and 1,3-β-glucan content serve significant functions. The investigation revealed that patulin adsorption capability was mainly affected by the three-dimensional network structure of the cell wall composed of 1,3-β-glucan. Finally, patulin adsorption in commercial kiwi fruit juice was investigated, and the results indicated that yeast cells could adsorb patulin from commercial kiwi fruit juice efficiently. This study can potentially simulate in vitro cell walls to enhance patulin adsorption capability and successfully apply to fruit juice industry.

Portable mini-chamber for temperature dependent studies using small angle and wide angle x-ray scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dev, Arun Singh; Kumar, Dileep; Potdar, Satish; Pandit, Pallavi; Roth, Stephan V.; Gupta, Ajay

2018-04-01

The present work describes the design and performance of a vacuum compatible portable mini chamber for temperature dependent GISAXS and GIWAXS studies of thin films and multilayer structures. The water cooled body of the chamber allows sample annealing up to 900 K using ultra high vacuum compatible (UHV) pyrolytic boron nitride heater, thus making it possible to study the temperature dependent evolution of structure and morphology of two-dimensional nanostructured materials. Due to its light weight and small size, the chamber is portable and can be accommodated at synchrotron facilities worldwide. A systematic illustration of the versatility of the chamber has been demonstrated at beamline P03, PETRA-III, DESY, Hamburg, Germany. Temperature dependent grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) and grazing incidence wide angle x-ray scattering (GIWAXS) measurements were performed on oblique angle deposited Co/Ag multilayer structure, which jointly revealed that the surface diffusion in Co columns in Co/Ag multilayer enhances by increasing temperature from RT to ˜573 K. This results in a morphology change from columnar tilted structure to densely packed morphological isotropic multilayer.

Spectroscopic analyses of Fe and water in clays: A Martian surface weathering study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bishop, J. L.; Pieters, Carle M.; Edwards, J. O.; Coyne, L. M.; Chang, S.

1991-01-01

Martian surface morphology suggests the presence of liquid H2O on Mars in the past. Reflectance spectra of the Martian surface include features which correspond to the crystal field transitions of iron, as well as features supporting the presence of ice and minerals containing structural OH and surface water. Researchers initiated further spectroscopic studies of surface iron and water and structural OH in clays in order to determine what remotely obtained spectra can indicate about the presence of clays on Mars based on a clearer understanding of the factors influencing the spectral features. Current technology allows researchers to better correlate the low frequency fundamental stretching and bending vibrations of O-H bonds with the diagnostic near infrared overtone and combination bands used in mineral characterization and identification.

Optimization of pore structure and particle morphology of mesoporous silica for antibody adsorption for use in affinity chromatography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hikosaka, Ryouichi; Nagata, Fukue; Tomita, Masahiro; Kato, Katsuya

2016-10-01

Antibodies have received significant attention for use as antibody drugs, because they bind the objective protein (antigen) via antigen-antibody reactions. Recently, many reports have appeared on various monoclonal antibodies that recognize a single antigen. In this study, monoclonal antibodies are used as adsorbates on mesoporous silica (MPS) for affinity chromatography. MPS has high surface area and large pore volume; moreover, pore diameter, pore structure, and particle morphology are relatively easy to tune by adjusting the conditions of synthesis. The pore structure (two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal and three-dimensional cubic) and particle morphology (spherical and polyhedral) of MPS are optimized for use in a monoclonal antibody/MPS composite. When anti-IgG (one of the monoclonal antibodies) adsorbs on the MPS material and IgG (antigen) binds to anti-IgG/MPS composites, MCM-41p with a 2D-hexagonal pore structure and polyhedral particle morphology has the highest IgG binding efficiency. In addition, the antibody/MPS composites remain stable in chaotropic and low-pH solutions and can be cycled at least five times without decreasing IgG elution. In purification and removal tests, the use of the antibody/MPS composites allows only the objective protein from protein mixtures to be bound and eluted.

Manipulation of morphology and structure of the top of GaAs nanowires grown by molecular-beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Lixia; Pan, Dong; Yu, Xuezhe; So, Hyok; Zhao, Jianhua

2017-10-01

Self-catalyzed GaAs nanowires (NWs) are grown on Si (111) substrates by molecular-beam epitaxy. The effect of different closing sequences of the Ga and As cell shutters on the morphology and structural phase of GaAs NWs is investigated. For the sequences of closing the Ga and As cell shutters simultaneously or closing the As cell shutter 1 min after closing the Ga cell shutter, the NWs grow vertically to the substrate surface. In contrast, when the As cell shutter is closed first, maintaining the Ga flux is found to be critical for the following growth of GaAs NWs, which can change the growth direction from [111] to < 11\\bar{1}> . The evolution of the morphology and structural phase transition at the tips of these GaAs NWs confirm that the triple-phase-line shift mode is at work even for the growth with different cell shutter closing sequences. Our work will provide new insights for better understanding of the growth mechanism and realizing of the morphology and structure control of the GaAs NWs. Project supported partly by the MOST of China (No. 2015CB921503), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 61504133, 61334006, 61404127), and Youth Innovation Promotion Association, CAS (No. 2017156).

Physical habitat structure of the lake shoreline and littoral zone -- How important is it?

EPA Science Inventory

The recent National Lakes Assessment (NLA) included the first national assessment of littoral and lakeshore physical habitat. It quantified water depth, surface characteristics, bank morphology, lake level fluctuations, substrate, fish concealment features, aquatic macrophytes, l...

Fluorescent nanoscale zinc(II)-carboxylate coordination polymers for explosive sensing.

PubMed

Zhang, Chengyi; Che, Yanke; Zhang, Zengxing; Yang, Xiaomei; Zang, Ling

2011-02-28

Fluorescent nanoscale coordination polymers with cubic morphology and long range ordered structure were fabricated and exhibited efficient sensing for both nitroaromatic explosive and nitromethane due to large surface area to volume ratio and strong binding affinity to explosive molecules.

Structural, optical and field emission properties of urchin-shaped ZnO nanostructures.

PubMed

Al-Heniti, Saleh; Umar, Ahmad

2013-01-01

In this work, well-crystallized urchin-shaped ZnO structures were synthesized on silicon substrate by simple non-catalytic thermal evaporation process by using metallic zinc powder in the presence of oxygen as source materials for zinc and oxygen, respectively. The synthesized ZnO structures were characterized in detail in terms of their morphological, structural, optical and field emission properties. The detailed morphological investigations revealed that the synthesized structures possess urchin-shape and grown in high-density over the substrate surface. The detailed structural and optical characterizations revealed that the synthesized urchin-shaped ZnO structures are well-crystallized and exhibiting good optical properties. The field emission analysis for urchin-shaped ZnO structures exhibits a turn-on field of 4.6 V/microm. The emission current density reached to 0.056 mA/cm2 at an applied electrical field of 6.4 V/microm and shows no saturation. The calculated field enhancement factor 'beta', from the F-N plot, was found to be approximately 2.2 x 10(3).

Shaping skeletal growth by modular regulatory elements in the Bmp5 gene.

PubMed

Guenther, Catherine; Pantalena-Filho, Luiz; Kingsley, David M

2008-12-01

Cartilage and bone are formed into a remarkable range of shapes and sizes that underlie many anatomical adaptations to different lifestyles in vertebrates. Although the morphological blueprints for individual cartilage and bony structures must somehow be encoded in the genome, we currently know little about the detailed genomic mechanisms that direct precise growth patterns for particular bones. We have carried out large-scale enhancer surveys to identify the regulatory architecture controlling developmental expression of the mouse Bmp5 gene, which encodes a secreted signaling molecule required for normal morphology of specific skeletal features. Although Bmp5 is expressed in many skeletal precursors, different enhancers control expression in individual bones. Remarkably, we show here that different enhancers also exist for highly restricted spatial subdomains along the surface of individual skeletal structures, including ribs and nasal cartilages. Transgenic, null, and regulatory mutations confirm that these anatomy-specific sequences are sufficient to trigger local changes in skeletal morphology and are required for establishing normal growth rates on separate bone surfaces. Our findings suggest that individual bones are composite structures whose detailed growth patterns are built from many smaller lineage and gene expression domains. Individual enhancers in BMP genes provide a genomic mechanism for controlling precise growth domains in particular cartilages and bones, making it possible to separately regulate skeletal anatomy at highly specific locations in the body.

Transition regime from step-flow to step-bunching in the growth of epitaxial SrRuO3 on (001) SrTiO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gura, Anna; Bertino, Giulia; Bein, Benjamin; Dawber, Matthew

2018-04-01

We present a study of the surface morphology of SrRuO3 thin films grown on TiO2 terminated (001) SrTiO3 substrates using an off-axis RF magnetron sputtering deposition technique. We investigated the step bunching formation and the evolution of the films by varying deposition parameters. The thin films were characterized using atomic force microscopy methods, allowing us to study the various growth regimes of SrRuO3 as a function of the growth parameters. We observe a strong influence of both the miscut angle and growth temperature on the evolution of the SrRuO3 surface morphology. In addition, a thickness dependence is present. Remarkably, the formation of a smooth, regular, and uniform "fish-skin" structure at the step-bunch transition is observed. The fish-skin morphology results from the merging of 2D flat islands predicted by previous models. The direct observation of surface evolution allows us to better understand the different growth regimes of SrRuO3 thin films.

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

Wang, Hongfen, E-mail: wanghongfen11@163.com; Wang, Zhiqi; Chen, Shougang

Molybdenum carbides with surfactants as carbon sources were prepared using the carbothermal reduction of the appropriate precursors (molybdenum oxides deposited on surfactant micelles) at 1023 K under hydrogen gas. The carburized products were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction and BET surface area measurements. From the SEM images, hollow microspherical and rod-like molybdenum carbides were observed. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the annealing time of carburization had a large effect on the conversion of molybdenum oxides to molybdenum carbides. And BET surface area measurements indicated that the difference of carbon sources brought a big difference in specific surfacemore » areas of molybdenum carbides. - Graphical abstract: Molybdenum carbides having hollow microspherical and hollow rod-like morphologies that are different from the conventional monodipersed platelet-like morphologies. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Molybdenum carbides were prepared using surfactants as carbon sources. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The kinds of surfactants affected the morphologies of molybdenum carbides. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The time of heat preservation at 1023 K affected the carburization process. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Molybdenum carbides with hollow structures had larger specific surface areas.« less

K-band observations of boxy bulges - I. Morphology and surface brightness profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bureau, M.; Aronica, G.; Athanassoula, E.; Dettmar, R.-J.; Bosma, A.; Freeman, K. C.

2006-08-01

In this first paper of a series on the structure of boxy and peanut-shaped (B/PS) bulges, Kn-band observations of a sample of 30 edge-on spiral galaxies are described and discussed. Kn-band observations best trace the dominant luminous galactic mass and are minimally affected by dust. Images, unsharp-masked images, as well as major-axis and vertically summed surface brightness profiles are presented and discussed. Galaxies with a B/PS bulge tend to have a more complex morphology than galaxies with other bulge types, more often showing centred or off-centred X structures, secondary maxima along the major-axis and spiral-like structures. While probably not uniquely related to bars, those features are observed in three-dimensional N-body simulations of barred discs and may trace the main bar orbit families. The surface brightness profiles of galaxies with a B/PS bulge are also more complex, typically containing three or more clearly separated regions, including a shallow or flat intermediate region (Freeman Type II profiles). The breaks in the profiles offer evidence for bar-driven transfer of angular momentum and radial redistribution of material. The profiles further suggest a rapid variation of the scaleheight of the disc material, contrary to conventional wisdom but again as expected from the vertical resonances and instabilities present in barred discs. Interestingly, the steep inner region of the surface brightness profiles is often shorter than the isophotally thick part of the galaxies, itself always shorter than the flat intermediate region of the profiles. The steep inner region is also much more prominent along the major-axis than in the vertically summed profiles. Similarly to other recent work but contrary to the standard `bulge + disc' model (where the bulge is both thick and steep), we thus propose that galaxies with a B/PS bulge are composed of a thin concentrated disc (a disc-like bulge) contained within a partially thick bar (the B/PS bulge), itself contained within a thin outer disc. The inner disc likely formed secularly through bar-driven processes and is responsible for the steep inner region of the surface brightness profiles, traditionally associated with a classic bulge, while the bar is responsible for the flat intermediate region of the surface brightness profiles and the thick complex morphological structures observed. Those components are strongly coupled dynamically and are formed mostly of the same (disc) material, shaped by the weak but relentless action of the bar resonances. Any competing formation scenario for galaxies with a B/PS bulge, which represent at least 45 per cent of the local disc galaxy population, must explain equally well and self-consistently the above morphological and photometric properties, the complex gas and stellar kinematics observed, and the correlations between them.

Photoluminescent Au-Ge composite nanodots formation on SiO2 surface by ion induced dewetting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Datta, D. P.; Siva, V.; Singh, A.; Kanjilal, D.; Sahoo, P. K.

2017-09-01

Medium energy ion irradiation on a bilayer of Au and Ge on SiO2 is observed to result in gradual morphological evolution from an interconnected network to a nanodot array on the insulator surface. Structural and compositional analyses reveal composite nature of the nanodots, comprising of both Au and Ge. The growing nanostructures are found to be photoluminescent at room temperature where the emission intensity and wavelengths vary with morphology. The growth of such nanostructures can be understood in terms of dewetting of the metal layer under ion irradiation due to ion-induced melting along the ion tracks. The visible PL emission is found to be related with evolution of the Au-Ge nanodots. The study indicates a route towards single step synthesis of metal-semiconductor nanodots on insulator surface.

Banded Spherulitic Morphology in Blends of Poly(propylene fumarate) and Poly( -caprolactone) and Interaction with MC3T3-E1 Cells

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

Wang, Kan; Jesse, Stephen; Wang, Shanfeng

2012-01-01

The thermal properties, morphological development, crystallization behavior, and miscibility of semicrystalline PCL and its 25, 50, and 75 wt% blends with amorphous PPF in spin-coated thin films crystallized at various crystallization temperatures (T{sub c}) from 25 to 52 C are investigated. The surface roughness of PPF/PCL ({phi}{sub PCL} = 75%) films increases with increasing T{sub c} and consequently the adsorption of serum proteins is also increased. No significant variance is found in surface hydrophilicity or in mouse MC3T3-E1 cell attachment, spreading, and proliferation on PPF/PCL ({phi}{sub PCL} = 75%) films crystallized isothermally at 25, 37, and 45 C, because ofmore » low ridge height, nonuniformity in structures, and PPF surface segregation« less

Progressive failure site generation in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors under OFF-state stress: Weibull statistics and temperature dependence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Huarui; Bajo, Miguel Montes; Uren, Michael J.; Kuball, Martin

2015-01-01

Gate leakage degradation of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors under OFF-state stress is investigated using a combination of electrical, optical, and surface morphology characterizations. The generation of leakage "hot spots" at the edge of the gate is found to be strongly temperature accelerated. The time for the formation of each failure site follows a Weibull distribution with a shape parameter in the range of 0.7-0.9 from room temperature up to 120 °C. The average leakage per failure site is only weakly temperature dependent. The stress-induced structural degradation at the leakage sites exhibits a temperature dependence in the surface morphology, which is consistent with a surface defect generation process involving temperature-associated changes in the breakdown sites.

The energy components of stacked chromatin layers explain the morphology, dimensions and mechanical properties of metaphase chromosomes

PubMed Central

Daban, Joan-Ramon

2014-01-01

The measurement of the dimensions of metaphase chromosomes in different animal and plant karyotypes prepared in different laboratories indicates that chromatids have a great variety of sizes which are dependent on the amount of DNA that they contain. However, all chromatids are elongated cylinders that have relatively similar shape proportions (length to diameter ratio approx. 13). To explain this geometry, it is considered that chromosomes are self-organizing structures formed by stacked layers of planar chromatin and that the energy of nucleosome–nucleosome interactions between chromatin layers inside the chromatid is approximately 3.6 × 10−20 J per nucleosome, which is the value reported by other authors for internucleosome interactions in chromatin fibres. Nucleosomes in the periphery of the chromatid are in contact with the medium; they cannot fully interact with bulk chromatin within layers and this generates a surface potential that destabilizes the structure. Chromatids are smooth cylinders because this morphology has a lower surface energy than structures having irregular surfaces. The elongated shape of chromatids can be explained if the destabilizing surface potential is higher in the telomeres (approx. 0.16 mJ m−2) than in the lateral surface (approx. 0.012 mJ m−2). The results obtained by other authors in experimental studies of chromosome mechanics have been used to test the proposed supramolecular structure. It is demonstrated quantitatively that internucleosome interactions between chromatin layers can justify the work required for elastic chromosome stretching (approx. 0.1 pJ for large chromosomes). The high amount of work (up to approx. 10 pJ) required for large chromosome extensions is probably absorbed by chromatin layers through a mechanism involving nucleosome unwrapping. PMID:24402918

Role of surface energy on the morphology and optical properties of GaP micro & nano structures grown on polar and non-polar substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roychowdhury, R.; Kumar, Shailendra; Wadikar, A.; Mukherjee, C.; Rajiv, K.; Sharma, T. K.; Dixit, V. K.

2017-10-01

Role of surface energy on the morphology, crystalline quality, electronic structure and optical properties of GaP layer grown on Si (001), Si (111), Ge (111) and GaAs (001) is investigated. GaP layers are grown on four different substrates under identical growth kinetics by metal organic vapour phase epitaxy. The atomic force microscopy images show that GaP layer completely covers the surface of GaAs substrate. On the other hand, the surfaces of Si (001), Si (111), Ge (111) substrates are partially covered with crystallographically morphed GaP island type micro and nano-structures. Origin of these crystallographically morphed GaP island is explained by the theoretical calculation of surface energy of the layer and corresponding substrates respectively. The nature of GaP island type micro and nano-structures and layers are single crystalline with existence of rotational twins on Si and Ge (111) substrates which is confirmed by the phi, omega and omega/2theta scans of high resolution x-ray diffraction. The electronic valence band offsets between the GaP and substrates have been determined from the valence band spectra of ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. The valence electron plasmon of GaP are investigated by studying the energy values of Ga (3d) core level along with loss peaks in the energy dependent photoelectron spectra. The peak observed within the range of 3-6 eV from the Ga (3d) core level in the photoelectron spectra are associated to inter band transitions as their energy values are estimated from the pseudo dielectric function by the spectroscopic ellipsometry.

As(V) removal capacity of FeCu bimetallic nanoparticles in aqueous solutions: The influence of Cu content and morphologic changes in bimetallic nanoparticles.

PubMed

Sepúlveda, Pamela; Rubio, María A; Baltazar, Samuel E; Rojas-Nunez, J; Sánchez Llamazares, J L; Garcia, Alejandra García; Arancibia-Miranda, Nicolás

2018-08-15

In this study, bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) with different mass ratios of Cu and Fe were evaluated. The influence of the morphology on the removal of pollutants was explored through theoretical and experimental studies, which revealed the best structure for removing arsenate (As(V)) in aqueous systems. To evidence the surface characteristics and differences among BMNPs with different mass proportions of Fe and Cu, several characterization techniques were used. Microscopy techniques and molecular dynamics simulations were applied to determine the differences in morphology and structure. In addition, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to determine the presence of various oxides. Finally, the magnetization response was evaluated, revealing differences among the materials. Our cumulative data show that BMNPs with low amounts of Cu (Fe 0.9 Cu 0.1 ) had a non-uniform core-shell structure with agglomerate-type chains of magnetite, whereas a Janus-like structure was observed in BMNPs with high amounts of Cu (Fe 0.5 Cu 0.5 ). However, a non-uniform core-shell structure (Fe 0.9 Cu 0.1 ) facilitated electron transfer among Fe, Cu and As, which increased the adsorption rate (k), capacity (q e ) and intensity (n). The mechanism of As removal was also explored in a comparative study of the phase and morphology of BMNPs pre- and post-sorption. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Differences observed in the surface morphology and microstructure of Ni-Fe-Cu ternary thin films electrochemically deposited at low and high applied current densities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarac, U.; Kaya, M.; Baykul, M. C.

2016-10-01

In this research, nanocrystalline Ni-Fe-Cu ternary thin films using electrochemical deposition technique were produced at low and high applied current densities onto Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) coated conducting glass substrates. Change of surface morphology and microstructural properties of the films were investigated. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) measurements showed that the Ni-Fe-Cu ternary thin films exhibit anomalous codeposition behaviour during the electrochemical deposition process. From the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, it was revealed that there are two segregated phases such as Cu- rich and Ni-rich within the films. The crystallographic structure of the films was face-centered cubic (FCC). It was also observed that the film has lower lattice micro-strain and higher texture degree at high applied current density. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed that the films have rounded shape particles on the base part and cauliflower-like structures on the upper part. The film electrodeposited at high current density had considerably smaller rounded shape particles and cauliflower-like structures. From the atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses, it was shown that the film deposited at high current density has smaller particle size and surface roughness than the film grown at low current density.

Effect of film thickness on structural and mechanical properties of AlCrN nanocompoite thin films deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering

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

Prakash, Ravi; Kaur, Davinder, E-mail: dkaurfph@iitr.ac.in

2016-05-06

In this study, the influence of film thickness on the structural, surface morphology and mechanical properties of Aluminum chromium nitride (AlCrN) thin films has been successfully investigated. The AlCrN thin films were deposited on silicon (100) substrate using dc magnetron reactive co-sputtering at substrate temperature 400° C. The structural, surface morphology and mechanical properties were studied using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and nanoindentation techniques respectively. The thickness of these thin films was controlled by varying the deposition time therefore increase in deposition time led to increase in film thickness. X-ray diffraction pattern of AlCrN thin films with differentmore » deposition time shows the presence of (100) and (200) orientations. The crystallite size varies in the range from 12.5 nm to 36.3 nm with the film thickness due to surface energy minimization with the higher film thickness. The hardness pattern of these AlCrN thin films follows Hall-Petch relation. The highest hardness 23.08 Gpa and young modulus 215.31 Gpa were achieved at lowest grain size of 12.5 nm.« less

Accurate structure prediction of peptide–MHC complexes for identifying highly immunogenic antigens

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

Park, Min-Sun; Park, Sung Yong; Miller, Keith R.

2013-11-01

Designing an optimal HIV-1 vaccine faces the challenge of identifying antigens that induce a broad immune capacity. One factor to control the breadth of T cell responses is the surface morphology of a peptide–MHC complex. Here, we present an in silico protocol for predicting peptide–MHC structure. A robust signature of a conformational transition was identified during all-atom molecular dynamics, which results in a model with high accuracy. A large test set was used in constructing our protocol and we went another step further using a blind test with a wild-type peptide and two highly immunogenic mutants, which predicted substantial conformationalmore » changes in both mutants. The center residues at position five of the analogs were configured to be accessible to solvent, forming a prominent surface, while the residue of the wild-type peptide was to point laterally toward the side of the binding cleft. We then experimentally determined the structures of the blind test set, using high resolution of X-ray crystallography, which verified predicted conformational changes. Our observation strongly supports a positive association of the surface morphology of a peptide–MHC complex to its immunogenicity. Our study offers the prospect of enhancing immunogenicity of vaccines by identifying MHC binding immunogens.« less

Metamorphic quantum dots: Quite different nanostructures

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

Seravalli, L.; Frigeri, P.; Nasi, L.

In this work, we present a study of InAs quantum dots deposited on InGaAs metamorphic buffers by molecular beam epitaxy. By comparing morphological, structural, and optical properties of such nanostructures with those of InAs/GaAs quantum dot ones, we were able to evidence characteristics that are typical of metamorphic InAs/InGaAs structures. The more relevant are: the cross-hatched InGaAs surface overgrown by dots, the change in critical coverages for island nucleation and ripening, the nucleation of new defects in the capping layers, and the redshift in the emission energy. The discussion on experimental results allowed us to conclude that metamorphic InAs/InGaAs quantummore » dots are rather different nanostructures, where attention must be put to some issues not present in InAs/GaAs structures, namely, buffer-related defects, surface morphology, different dislocation mobility, and stacking fault energies. On the other hand, we show that metamorphic quantum dot nanostructures can provide new possibilities of tailoring various properties, such as dot positioning and emission energy, that could be very useful for innovative dot-based devices.« less

Studies of morphological instability and defect formation in heteroepitaxial Si(1-x)Ge(x) thin films via controlled annealing experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozkan, Cengiz Sinan

Strained layer semiconductor structures provide possibilities for novel electronic devices. When a semiconductor layer is deposited epitaxially onto a single crystal substrate with the same structure but a slightly different lattice parameter, the semiconductor layer grows commensurately with a misfit strain that can be accommodated elastically below a critical thickness. When the critical thickness is exceeded, the elastic strain energy builds up to a point where it becomes energetically favorable to form misfit dislocations. In addition, in the absence of a capping layer, Sisb{1-x}Gesb{x} films exhibit surface roughening via surface diffusion under the effect of a compressive stress which is caused by a lattice mismatch. Surface roughening takes place in the form of ridges aligned along {<}100{>} or {<}110{>} directions depending on the film thickness and the rate of strain relief. Recent work has shown that surface roughening makes a very significant contribution to strain relaxation in heteroepitaxial thin films. At sharp valley regions on the surface, amplified local stresses can cause further defect nucleation and propagation, such as stacking faults and 90sp° dislocations. In addition, capping layers with suitable thickness will surpress surface roughening and keep most of the strain in the film. We study surface roughening and defect formation by conducting controlled annealing experiments on initially flat and defect free films grown by LPCVD in a hydrogen ambient. We study films with both subcritical and supercritical thicknesses. In addition, we compare the relaxation behaviour of capped and uncapped films where surface roughening was inhibited in films with a capping layer. TEM and AFM studies were conducted to study the morphology and microstructure of these films. X-ray diffraction measurements were made to determine the amount of strain relaxation in these films. Further studies of surface roughening on heteroepitaxial films under a positive biaxial stress have shown that, morphological evolution occurs regardless of the sign of stress in the film. Finally, we have studied surface roughening processes in real time by conducting in-situ TEM experiments. We have observed that the kinetics of roughening depend strongly on the annealing ambient.

Selectively Patterning Polymer Opal Films via Microimprint Lithography.

PubMed

Ding, Tao; Zhao, Qibin; Smoukov, Stoyan K; Baumberg, Jeremy J

2014-11-01

Large-scale structural color flexible coatings have been hard to create, and patterning color on them is key to many applications, including large-area strain sensors, wall-size displays, security devices, and smart fabrics. To achieve controlled tuning, a micro-imprinting technique is applied here to pattern both the surface morphology and the structural color of the polymer opal films (POFs). These POFs are made of 3D ordered arrays of hard spherical particles embedded inside soft shells. The soft outer shells cause the POFs to deform upon imprinting with a pre-patterned stamp, driving a flow of the soft polymer and a rearrangement of the hard spheres within the films. As a result, a patterned surface morphology is generated within the POFs and the structural colors are selectively modified within different regions. These changes are dependent on the pressure, temperature, and duration of imprinting, as well as the feature sizes in the stamps. Moreover, the pattern geometry and structural colors can then be further tuned by stretching. Micropattern color generation upon imprinting depends on control of colloidal transport in a polymer matrix under shear flow and brings many potential properties including stretchability and tunability, as well as being of fundamental interest.

Structural and Functional Characterizations of SsgB, a Conserved Activator of Developmental Cell Division in Morphologically Complex Actinomycetes*

PubMed Central

Xu, Qingping; Traag, Bjørn A.; Willemse, Joost; McMullan, Daniel; Miller, Mitchell D.; Elsliger, Marc-André; Abdubek, Polat; Astakhova, Tamara; Axelrod, Herbert L.; Bakolitsa, Constantina; Carlton, Dennis; Chen, Connie; Chiu, Hsiu-Ju; Chruszcz, Maksymilian; Clayton, Thomas; Das, Debanu; Deller, Marc C.; Duan, Lian; Ellrott, Kyle; Ernst, Dustin; Farr, Carol L.; Feuerhelm, Julie; Grant, Joanna C.; Grzechnik, Anna; Grzechnik, Slawomir K.; Han, Gye Won; Jaroszewski, Lukasz; Jin, Kevin K.; Klock, Heath E.; Knuth, Mark W.; Kozbial, Piotr; Krishna, S. Sri; Kumar, Abhinav; Marciano, David; Minor, Wladek; Mommaas, A. Mieke; Morse, Andrew T.; Nigoghossian, Edward; Nopakun, Amanda; Okach, Linda; Oommachen, Silvya; Paulsen, Jessica; Puckett, Christina; Reyes, Ron; Rife, Christopher L.; Sefcovic, Natasha; Tien, Henry J.; Trame, Christine B.; van den Bedem, Henry; Wang, Shuren; Weekes, Dana; Hodgson, Keith O.; Wooley, John; Deacon, Ashley M.; Godzik, Adam; Lesley, Scott A.; Wilson, Ian A.; van Wezel, Gilles P.

2009-01-01

SsgA-like proteins (SALPs) are a family of homologous cell division-related proteins that occur exclusively in morphologically complex actinomycetes. We show that SsgB, a subfamily of SALPs, is the archetypal SALP that is functionally conserved in all sporulating actinomycetes. Sporulation-specific cell division of Streptomyces coelicolor ssgB mutants is restored by introduction of distant ssgB orthologues from other actinomycetes. Interestingly, the number of septa (and spores) of the complemented null mutants is dictated by the specific ssgB orthologue that is expressed. The crystal structure of the SsgB from Thermobifida fusca was determined at 2.6 Å resolution and represents the first structure for this family. The structure revealed similarities to a class of eukaryotic “whirly” single-stranded DNA/RNA-binding proteins. However, the electro-negative surface of the SALPs suggests that neither SsgB nor any of the other SALPs are likely to interact with nucleotide substrates. Instead, we show that a conserved hydrophobic surface is likely to be important for SALP function and suggest that proteins are the likely binding partners. PMID:19567872

Structure and composition of insulin fibril surfaces probed by TERS

PubMed Central

Kurouski, Dmitry; Deckert-Gaudig, Tanja; Deckert, Volker; Lednev, Igor K.

2012-01-01

Amyloid fibrils associated with many neurodegenerative diseases are the most intriguing targets of modern structural biology. Significant knowledge has been accumulated about the morphology and fibril-core structure recently. However, no conventional methods could probe the fibril surface despite its significant role in the biological activity. Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) offers a unique opportunity to characterize the surface structure of an individual fibril due to a high depth and lateral spatial resolution of the method in the nanometer range. Here, TERS is utilized for characterizing the secondary structure and amino acid residue composition of the surface of insulin fibrils. It was found that the surface is strongly heterogeneous and consists of clusters with various protein conformations. More than 30% of the fibril surface is dominated by β-sheet secondary structure, further developing Dobson’s model of amyloid fibrils (Jimenez et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2002). The propensity of various amino acids on the fibril surface and specific surface secondary structure elements were evaluated. β-sheet areas are rich in cysteine and aromatic amino acids, such as phenylalanine and tyrosine, whereas proline was found only in α-helical and unordered protein clusters. In addition, we showed that carboxyl, amino and imino groups are nearly equally distributed over β-sheet and α-helix/unordered regions. Overall, this study provides valuable new information about the structure and composition of the insulin fibril surface and demonstrates the power of TERS for fibril characterization. PMID:22813355

Morphological and functional characteristics of human gingival junctional epithelium.

PubMed

Jiang, Qian; Yu, Youcheng; Ruan, Hong; Luo, Yin; Guo, Xuehua

2014-04-03

This study aims to observe the morphological characteristics and identify the function characteristics of junctional epithelium (JE) tissues and cultured JE cells. Paraffin sections of human molar or premolar on the gingival buccolingual side were prepared from 6 subjects. HE staining and image analysis were performed to measure and compare the morphological difference among JE, oral gingival epithelium (OGE) and sulcular epithelium (SE). Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression pattern of cytokeratin 5/6, 7, 8/18, 10/13, 16, 17, 19, and 20 in JE, OGE and SE. On the other hand, primary human JE and OGE cells were cultured in vitro. Cell identify was confirmed by histology and immunohistochemistry. In a co-culture model, TEM was used to observe the attachment formation between JE cells and tooth surface. Human JE was a unique tissue which was different from SE and OGE in morphology. Similarly, morphology of JE cells was also particular compared with OGE cells cultured in vitro. In addition, JE cells had a longer incubation period than OGE cells. Different expression of several CKs illustrated JE was in a characteristic of low differentiation and high regeneration. After being co-cultured for 14 d, multiple cell layers, basement membrane-like and hemidesmosome-like structures were appeared at the junction of JE cell membrane and tooth surface. JE is a specially stratified epithelium with low differentiation and high regeneration ability in gingival tissue both in vivo and in vitro. In co-culture model, human JE cells can form basement membrane-like and hemidesmosome-like structures in about 2 weeks.

Microstructural, nanomechanical, and microtribological properties of Pb thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition and thermal evaporation techniques

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

Broitman, Esteban, E-mail: esbro@ifm.liu.se; Flores-Ruiz, Francisco J.; Di Giulio, Massimo

2016-03-15

In this work, the authors compare the morphological, structural, nanomechanical, and microtribological properties of Pb films deposited by thermal evaporation (TE) and pulsed laser deposition (PLD) techniques onto Si (111) substrates. Films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, surface probe microscopy, and x-ray diffraction in θ-2θ geometry to determine their morphology, root-mean-square (RMS) roughness, and microstructure, respectively. TE films showed a percolated morphology with densely packed fibrous grains while PLD films had a granular morphology with a columnar and tightly packed structure in accordance with the zone growth model of Thornton. Moreover, PLD films presented a more polycrystalline structure withmore » respect to TE films, with RMS roughness of 14 and 10 nm, respectively. Hardness and elastic modulus vary from 2.1 to 0.8 GPa and from 14 to 10 GPa for PLD and TE films, respectively. A reciprocal friction test has shown that PLD films have lower friction coefficient and wear rate than TE films. Our study has demonstrated for first time that, at the microscale, Pb films do not show the same simple lubricious properties measured at the macroscale.« less

Effects of Nano-CeO₂ with Different Nanocrystal Morphologies on Cytotoxicity in HepG2 Cells.

PubMed

Wang, Lili; Ai, Wenchao; Zhai, Yanwu; Li, Haishan; Zhou, Kebin; Chen, Huiming

2015-09-02

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nano-CeO₂) have been reported to cause damage and apoptosis in human primary hepatocytes. Here, we compared the toxicity of three types of nano-CeO₂ with different nanocrystal morphologies (cube-, octahedron-, and rod-like crystals) in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). The cells were treated with the nano-CeO₂ at various concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 μg/mL). The crystal structure, size and morphology of nano-CeO₂ were investigated by X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy. The specific surface area was detected using the Brunauer, Emmet and Teller method. The cellular morphological and internal structure were observed by microscopy; apoptotic alterations were measured using flow cytometry; nuclear DNA, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) in HepG2 cells were measured using high content screening technology. The scavenging ability of hydroxyl free radicals and the redox properties of the nano-CeO₂ were measured by square-wave voltammetry and temperature-programmed-reduction methods. All three types of nano-CeO₂ entered the HepG2 cells, localized in the lysosome and cytoplasm, altered cellular shape, and caused cytotoxicity. The nano-CeO₂ with smaller specific surface areas induced more apoptosis, caused an increase in MMP, ROS and GSH, and lowered the cell's ability to scavenge hydroxyl free radicals and antioxidants. In this work, our data demonstrated that compared with cube-like and octahedron-like nano-CeO₂, the rod-like nano-CeO₂ has lowest toxicity to HepG2 cells owing to its larger specific surface areas.

Condensation on superhydrophobic surfaces: the role of local energy barriers and structure length scale.

PubMed

Enright, Ryan; Miljkovic, Nenad; Al-Obeidi, Ahmed; Thompson, Carl V; Wang, Evelyn N

2012-10-09

Water condensation on surfaces is a ubiquitous phase-change process that plays a crucial role in nature and across a range of industrial applications, including energy production, desalination, and environmental control. Nanotechnology has created opportunities to manipulate this process through the precise control of surface structure and chemistry, thus enabling the biomimicry of natural surfaces, such as the leaves of certain plant species, to realize superhydrophobic condensation. However, this "bottom-up" wetting process is inadequately described using typical global thermodynamic analyses and remains poorly understood. In this work, we elucidate, through imaging experiments on surfaces with structure length scales ranging from 100 nm to 10 μm and wetting physics, how local energy barriers are essential to understand non-equilibrium condensed droplet morphologies and demonstrate that overcoming these barriers via nucleation-mediated droplet-droplet interactions leads to the emergence of wetting states not predicted by scale-invariant global thermodynamic analysis. This mechanistic understanding offers insight into the role of surface-structure length scale, provides a quantitative basis for designing surfaces optimized for condensation in engineered systems, and promises insight into ice formation on surfaces that initiates with the condensation of subcooled water.

Preparation of nickel oxide thin films at different annealing temperature by sol-gel spin coating method

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

Abdullah, M. A. R., E-mail: ameerridhwan89@gmail.com; Mamat, M. H., E-mail: hafiz-030@yahoo.com; Ismail, A. S., E-mail: kyrin-samaxi@yahoo.com

2016-07-06

Preparation of NiO thin films at different annealing temperature by sol-gel method was conducted to synthesize the quality of the surface thin films. The effects of annealing temperature on the surface topology were systematically investigated. Our studies confirmed that the surface roughness of the thin films was increased whenever annealing temperature was increase. NiO thin films morphology structure analysis was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscope. Surface roughness of the thin films was investigated by atomic force microscopy.

Combined hydrophobicity and mechanical durability through surface nanoengineering

DOE PAGES

Elliott, Paul R.; Stagon, Stephen P.; Huang, Hanchen; ...

2015-04-08

This paper reports combined hydrophobicity and mechanical durability through the nanoscale engineering of surfaces in the form of nanorod-polymer composites. Specifically, the hydrophobicity derives from nanoscale features of mechanically hard ZnO nanorods and the mechanical durability derives from the composite structure of a hard ZnO nanorod core and soft polymer shell. Experimental characterization correlates the morphology of the nanoengineered surfaces with the combined hydrophobicity and mechanical durability, and reveals the responsible mechanisms. Such surfaces may find use in applications, such as boat hulls, that benefit from hydrophobicity and require mechanical durability.

Growth of two-dimensional Ge crystal by annealing of heteroepitaxial Ag/Ge(111) under N2 ambient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, Koichi; Ohta, Akio; Kurosawa, Masashi; Araidai, Masaaki; Ikeda, Mitsuhisa; Makihara, Katsunori; Miyazaki, Seiichi

2018-06-01

The growth of a two-dimensional crystal of Ge atoms on an atomically flat Ag(111) surface has been demonstrated by the thermal annealing of a heteroepitaxial Ag/Ge structure in N2 ambient at atmospheric pressure. The surface morphology and chemical bonding features of heteroepitaxial Ag(111) grown on wet-cleaned Ge(111) after annealing at different temperatures and for various times have been systematically investigated to control the surface segregation of Ge atoms and the planarization of the heteroepitaxial Ag(111) surface.

Composite patterning devices for soft lithography

DOEpatents

Rogers, John A.; Menard, Etienne

2007-03-27

The present invention provides methods, devices and device components for fabricating patterns on substrate surfaces, particularly patterns comprising structures having microsized and/or nanosized features of selected lengths in one, two or three dimensions. The present invention provides composite patterning devices comprising a plurality of polymer layers each having selected mechanical properties, such as Young's Modulus and flexural rigidity, selected physical dimensions, such as thickness, surface area and relief pattern dimensions, and selected thermal properties, such as coefficients of thermal expansion, to provide high resolution patterning on a variety of substrate surfaces and surface morphologies.

Structural characterization of cup-stacked-type nanofibers with an entirely hollow core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Endo, M.; Kim, Y. A.; Hayashi, T.; Fukai, Y.; Oshida, K.; Terrones, M.; Yanagisawa, T.; Higaki, S.; Dresselhaus, M. S.

2002-02-01

Straight long carbon nanofibers with a large hollow core obtained by a floating reactant method show a stacking morphology of truncated conical graphene layers, which in turn exhibit a large portion of open edges on the outer surface and also in the inner channels. Through a judicious choice of oxidation conditions, nanofibers with increased active edge sites are obtained without disrupting the fiber's morphology. A graphitization process induces a morphological change from a tubular type to a reversing saw-toothed type and the formation of loops along the inner channel of the nanofibers, accompanied by a decrease in interlayer spacing.

Carapace surface architecture facilitates camouflage of the decorator crab Tiarinia cornigera.

PubMed

Sanka, Immanuel; Suyono, Eko Agus; Rivero-Müller, Adolfo; Alam, Parvez

2016-09-01

This paper elucidates the unique setal morphology of the decorator crab Tiarinia cornigera, and further presents evidence to that setal morphology promotes micro-organism nucleation and adhesion. The carapace of this crab is covered by clusters of setae, each comprising a hollow acicular stem that is enveloped by a haystack-like structure. Using computational fluid dynamics, we find that these setae are responsible for manipulating water flow over the carapace surface. Micro-organisms in the sea water, nest in areas of flow stagnation and as a result, nucleate to and biofoul the setae by means of chemical adhesion. Attached micro-organisms secrete extracellular polymeric substances, which we deduce must also provide an additional element of chemical adhesion to mechanically interlocked mesoscopic and macroscopic biomatter. By coupling physical and chemical methods for adhesion, T. cornigera is able to hierarchically decorate its carapace. Our paper brings to light the unique decorator crab carapace morphology of T. cornigera; and furthermore evidences its function in micro-organism nucleation and adhesion. We show how this special carapace morphology directs and guides water flow to form nesting regions of water stagnation where micro-organisms can nucleate and adhere. In the literature, decorator crab carapaces are presumed to be able to mechanically interlock biomatter as camouflage using hook-like setal outgrowths. T. cornigera contrarily exhibits clusters of hay-stack like structures. By encouraging micro-organism adhesion to the carapace setae, T. cornigera is able to effectively attach biomatter using both chemical and physical principles of adhesion. T. cornigera essentially has a super-biofouling carapace surface, for at least micro-organisms. Our work will have an impact on researchers interested in biofouling, adhesion, biomedical and purification filter systems, and in the development of novel biomimetic surfaces with tailored properties. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copper foils with gradient structure in thickness direction and different roughnesses on two surfaces fabricated by double rolling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xi-yong; Liu, Xue-feng; Zou, Wen-jiang; Xie, Jian-xin

2013-12-01

Copper foils with gradient structure in thickness direction and different roughnesses on two surfaces were fabricated by double rolling. The two surface morphologies of double-rolled copper foils are quite different, and the surface roughness values are 61 and 1095 nm, respectively. The roughness value of matt surface can meet the requirement for bonding the resin matrix with copper foils used for flexible printed circuit boards, thus may omit traditional roughening treatment; the microstructure of double-rolled copper foils demonstrates an obviously asymmetric gradient feature. From bright surface to matt surface in thickness direction, the average grain size first increases from 2.3 to 7.4 μm and then decreases to 3.6 μm; compared with conventional rolled copper foils, the double-rolled copper foils exhibit a remarkably increased bending fatigue life, and the increased range is about 16.2%.

Laser induced hierarchical calcium phosphate structures.

PubMed

Kurella, Anil; Dahotre, Narendra B

2006-11-01

The surface properties of biomedical implant materials control the dynamic interactions at tissue-implant interfaces. At such interfaces, if the nanoscale features influence protein interactions, those of the microscale and mesoscale aid cell orientation and provide tissue integration, respectively. It seems imperative that the synthetic materials expected to replace natural hard tissues are engineered to mimic the complexity of their hierarchical assembly. However, the current surface engineering approaches are single scaled. It is demonstrated that using laser surface engineering a controlled multiscale surface can be synthesized for bioactive functions. A systematic organization of bioactive calcium phosphate coating with multiphase composition on Ti-alloy substrate ranging from nano- to mesoscale has been achieved by effectively controlling the thermo physical interactions during laser processing. The morphology of the coating consisted of a periodic arrangement of Ti-rich and Ca-P-deficient star-like phases uniformly distributed inside a Ca-P-rich self-assembled cellular structure with the presence of CaO, alpha-tricalcium phosphate, CaTiO(3), TiO(2) and Ti phase in the coating matrix. The cellular structures ranged in diameter from 2.5 microm to 10 microm as an assembly of cuboid shaped particles of dimensions of approximately 200 nm x 1 microm. The multiscale texture also included nanoscale particles that are the precursors for many of these phases. The rapid cooling associated with the laser processing resulted in formation, organization and controlling dimensions of the Ca-P-rich glassy phase into a micron scale cellular morphology and submicron scale clusters of CaTiO(3) phase inside the cellular structures. The self-assembly of the coating into multiscale structure was influenced by chemical and physical interactions among the multiphases that evolved during laser processing.