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Tommaso Bellini

Bio: Tommaso Bellini is an academic researcher from University of Milan. The author has contributed to research in topics: Liquid crystal & Light scattering. The author has an hindex of 40, co-authored 176 publications receiving 4979 citations. Previous affiliations of Tommaso Bellini include Polytechnic University of Milan & University of Colorado Boulder.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
23 Nov 2007-Science
TL;DR: Structural study shows that nematic and columnar liquid crystal phases are produced by the end-to-end adhesion and consequent stacking of the duplex oligomers into polydisperse anisotropic rod-shaped aggregates, which can order into liquid crystals.
Abstract: Short complementary B-form DNA oligomers, 6 to 20 base pairs in length, are found to exhibit nematic and columnar liquid crystal phases, even though such duplexes lack the shape anisotropy required for liquid crystal ordering. Structural study shows that these phases are produced by the end-to-end adhesion and consequent stacking of the duplex oligomers into polydisperse anisotropic rod-shaped aggregates, which can order into liquid crystals. Upon cooling mixed solutions of short DNA oligomers, in which only a small fraction of the DNA present is complementary, the duplex-forming oligomers phase-separate into liquid crystal droplets, leaving the unpaired single strands in isotropic solution. In a chemical environment where oligomer ligation is possible, such ordering and condensation would provide an autocatalytic link whereby complementarity promotes the extended polymerization of complementary oligomers.

375 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
02 Nov 2001-Science
TL;DR: Experimental and theoretical studies of the effects of quenched disorder on one-dimensional crystal ordering in three dimensions show extended short-range correlations that exhibit universal structure and scaling, anomalous layer elasticity, and glassy dynamics.
Abstract: We present experimental and theoretical studies of the effects of quenched disorder on one-dimensional crystal ordering in three dimensions. This fragile smectic liquid crystal layering, the material with the simplest positional order, is also the most easily deformed periodic structure and is, therefore, profoundly affected by disorder, introduced here by confinement in silica aerogel. Theory and experiment combine to characterize this system to an extraordinary degree, their close accord producing a coherent picture: crystal ordering is lost, giving way to extended short-range correlations that exhibit universal structure and scaling, anomalous layer elasticity, and glassy dynamics.

161 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The combination of equilibrium and dynamic behavior of DNA nanostars demonstrates the potential of DNA molecules in diversifying the pathways toward collective properties and self-assembled materials, beyond the range of phenomena accessible with ordinary molecular fluids.
Abstract: Colloidal particles with directional interactions are key in the realization of new colloidal materials with possibly unconventional phase behaviors. Here we exploit DNA self-assembly to produce bulk quantities of “DNA stars” with three or four sticky terminals, mimicking molecules with controlled limited valence. Solutions of such molecules exhibit a consolution curve with an upper critical point, whose temperature and concentration decrease with the valence. Upon approaching the critical point from high temperature, the intensity of the scattered light diverges with a power law, whereas the intensity time autocorrelation functions show a surprising two-step relaxation, somehow reminiscent of glassy materials. The slow relaxation time exhibits an Arrhenius behavior with no signs of criticality, demonstrating a unique scenario where the critical slowing down of the concentration fluctuations is subordinate to the large lifetime of the DNA bonds, with relevant analogies to critical dynamics in polymer solutions. The combination of equilibrium and dynamic behavior of DNA nanostars demonstrates the potential of DNA molecules in diversifying the pathways toward collective properties and self-assembled materials, beyond the range of phenomena accessible with ordinary molecular fluids.

156 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Light scattering and precision calorimetry show that the nematic ordering of octylcyanobiphenyl (8CB) filling the connected network of pores of a silica aerogel does not occur via the first-order phase transition characteristic of the bulk.
Abstract: Light scattering and precision calorimetry show that the nematic ordering of octylcyanobiphenyl (8CB) filling the connected network of pores of a silica aerogel does not occur via the first-order phase transition characteristic of the bulk. Rather, ordering is continuous with an orientational correlation length never increasing beyond the aerogel pore size. The heat-capacity anomly of the second-order nematic--smectic-A phase transition seen in the bulk is absent or greatly broadened in the aerogel.

151 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that it is very difficult to find an accurate probe of the local particle density over a wide range of volume fractions by using standard colloidal suspensions, and conventional polarized light scattering gives results which depend also on interparticle interactions.
Abstract: Suspensions of model colloidal particles represent, besides their intrinsic interest,a very important system for the study of basic properties of liquids because they show length scales accessible to optical scattering techniques, and interparticle potentials simple enough to allow quantitative tests of liquid state theories [1]. The usual experimental approach is that of deriving the static structure factor from scattering experiments. However, it is known that the measurement of the equation of state would constitute a more stringent test of the properties of the system, because of the greater sensitivity to the details of the interparticle interaction potential [2]. It has been noted [3–5] that a single measurement of the particle density profile of a colloidal suspension at sedimentation equilibrium under the gravitational field can directly yield the osmotic equation of state of the suspension, but sufficiently accurate data are not available, except for measurements of the osmotic pressure at melting in settling suspensions of polystyrene particles by Hachisu and Takano [4] and for the study of order-disorder transitions in suspensions of colloidal silica performed by Davis et al. [6]. It is very difficult to find an accurate probe of the local particle density over a wide range of volume fractions by using standard colloidal suspensions. Indeed, conventional polarized light scattering gives results which depend also on interparticle interactions.

139 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
01 Apr 1988-Nature
TL;DR: In this paper, a sedimentological core and petrographic characterisation of samples from eleven boreholes from the Lower Carboniferous of Bowland Basin (Northwest England) is presented.
Abstract: Deposits of clastic carbonate-dominated (calciclastic) sedimentary slope systems in the rock record have been identified mostly as linearly-consistent carbonate apron deposits, even though most ancient clastic carbonate slope deposits fit the submarine fan systems better. Calciclastic submarine fans are consequently rarely described and are poorly understood. Subsequently, very little is known especially in mud-dominated calciclastic submarine fan systems. Presented in this study are a sedimentological core and petrographic characterisation of samples from eleven boreholes from the Lower Carboniferous of Bowland Basin (Northwest England) that reveals a >250 m thick calciturbidite complex deposited in a calciclastic submarine fan setting. Seven facies are recognised from core and thin section characterisation and are grouped into three carbonate turbidite sequences. They include: 1) Calciturbidites, comprising mostly of highto low-density, wavy-laminated bioclast-rich facies; 2) low-density densite mudstones which are characterised by planar laminated and unlaminated muddominated facies; and 3) Calcidebrites which are muddy or hyper-concentrated debrisflow deposits occurring as poorly-sorted, chaotic, mud-supported floatstones. These

9,929 citations

Book
01 Jan 1971
TL;DR: In this paper, Ozaki et al. describe the dynamics of adsorption and Oxidation of organic Molecules on Illuminated Titanium Dioxide Particles Immersed in Water.
Abstract: 1: Magnetic Particles: Preparation, Properties and Applications: M. Ozaki. 2: Maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3): A Versatile Magnetic Colloidal Material C.J. Serna, M.P. Morales. 3: Dynamics of Adsorption and Oxidation of Organic Molecules on Illuminated Titanium Dioxide Particles Immersed in Water M.A. Blesa, R.J. Candal, S.A. Bilmes. 4: Colloidal Aggregation in Two-Dimensions A. Moncho-Jorda, F. Martinez-Lopez, M.A. Cabrerizo-Vilchez, R. Hidalgo Alvarez, M. Quesada-PMerez. 5: Kinetics of Particle and Protein Adsorption Z. Adamczyk.

1,870 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that the full set of hydromagnetic equations admit five more integrals, besides the energy integral, if dissipative processes are absent, which made it possible to formulate a variational principle for the force-free magnetic fields.
Abstract: where A represents the magnetic vector potential, is an integral of the hydromagnetic equations. This -integral made it possible to formulate a variational principle for the force-free magnetic fields. The integral expresses the fact that motions cannot transform a given field in an entirely arbitrary different field, if the conductivity of the medium isconsidered infinite. In this paper we shall show that the full set of hydromagnetic equations admit five more integrals, besides the energy integral, if dissipative processes are absent. These integrals, as we shall presently verify, are I2 =fbHvdV, (2)

1,858 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of the current state of knowledge of phase separation and phase equilibria in porous materials can be found in this article, where the focus is on fundamental studies of simple fluids and well-characterized materials.
Abstract: We review the current state of knowledge of phase separation and phase equilibria in porous materials. Our emphasis is on fundamental studies of simple fluids (composed of small, neutral molecules) and well-characterized materials. While theoretical and molecular simulation studies are stressed, we also survey experimental investigations that are fundamental in nature. Following a brief survey of the most useful theoretical and simulation methods, we describe the nature of gas‐liquid (capillary condensation), layering, liquid‐liquid and freezing/melting transitions. In each case studies for simple pore geometries, and also more complex ones where available, are discussed. While a reasonably good understanding is available for phase equilibria of pure adsorbates in simple pore geometries, there is a need to extend the models to more complex pore geometries that include effects of chemical and geometrical heterogeneity and connectivity. In addition, with the exception of liquid‐liquid equilibria, little work has been done so far on phase separation for mixtures in porous media.

1,436 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The recommendations given in the report apply mainly to smooth and homogeneous solid particles and plugs in aqueous systems; some attention is paid to nonaqueous media and less ideal surfaces.

1,160 citations