Showing papers on "Particle published in 2009"

Characterization of size, surface charge, and agglomeration state of nanoparticle dispersions for toxicological studies

Abstract: Characterizing the state of nanoparticles (such as size, surface charge, and degree of agglomeration) in aqueous suspensions and understanding the parameters that affect this state are imperative for toxicity investigations. In this study, the role of important factors such as solution ionic strength, pH, and particle surface chemistry that control nanoparticle dispersion was examined. The size and zeta potential of four TiO2 and three quantum dot samples dispersed in different solutions (including one physiological medium) were characterized. For 15 nm TiO2 dispersions, the increase of ionic strength from 0.001 M to 0.1 M led to a 50-fold increase in the hydrodynamic diameter, and the variation of pH resulted in significant change of particle surface charge and the hydrodynamic size. It was shown that both adsorbing multiply charged ions (e.g., pyrophosphate ions) onto the TiO2 nanoparticle surface and coating quantum dot nanocrystals with polymers (e.g., polyethylene glycol) suppressed agglomeration and stabilized the dispersions. DLVO theory was used to qualitatively understand nanoparticle dispersion stability. A methodology using different ultrasonication techniques (bath and probe) was developed to distinguish agglomerates from aggregates (strong bonds), and to estimate the extent of particle agglomeration. Probe ultrasonication performed better than bath ultrasonication in dispersing TiO2 agglomerates when the stabilizing agent sodium pyrophosphate was used. Commercially available Degussa P25 and in-house synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles were used to demonstrate identification of aggregated and agglomerated samples.

DAMMIF, a program for rapid ab-initio shape determination in small-angle scattering

Abstract: DAMMIF, a revised implementation of the ab-initio shape-determination program DAMMIN for small-angle scattering data, is presented. The program was fully rewritten, and its algorithm was optimized for speed of execution and modified to avoid limitations due to the finite search volume. Symmetry and anisometry constraints can be imposed on the particle shape, similar to DAMMIN. In equivalent conditions, DAMMIF is 25–40 times faster than DAMMIN on a single CPU. The possibility to utilize multiple CPUs is added to DAMMIF. The application is available in binary form for major platforms.

A benchmark study on the thermal conductivity of nanofluids

Abstract: This article reports on the International Nanofluid Property Benchmark Exercise, or INPBE, in which the thermal conductivity of identical samples of colloidally stable dispersions of nanoparticles or “nanofluids,” was measured by over 30 organizations worldwide, using a variety of experimental approaches, including the transient hot wire method, steady-state methods, and optical methods. The nanofluids tested in the exercise were comprised of aqueous and nonaqueous basefluids, metal and metal oxide particles, near-spherical and elongated particles, at low and high particle concentrations. The data analysis reveals that the data from most organizations lie within a relatively narrow band (±10% or less) about the sample average with only few outliers. The thermal conductivity of the nanofluids was found to increase with particle concentration and aspect ratio, as expected from classical theory. There are (small) systematic differences in the absolute values of the nanofluid thermal conductivity among the various experimental approaches; however, such differences tend to disappear when the data are normalized to the measured thermal conductivity of the basefluid. The effective medium theory developed for dispersed particles by Maxwell in 1881 and recently generalized by Nan et al. [J. Appl. Phys. 81, 6692 (1997)], was found to be in good agreement with the experimental data, suggesting that no anomalous enhancement of thermal conductivity was achieved in the nanofluids tested in this exercise.

Particle shape effects on thermophysical properties of alumina nanofluids

Abstract: The thermal conductivity and viscosity of various shapes of alumina nanoparticles in a fluid consisting of equal volumes of ethylene glycol and water were investigated. Experimental data were analyzed and accompanied by theoretical modeling. Enhancements in the effective thermal conductivities due to particle shape effects expected from Hamilton–Crosser equation are strongly diminished by interfacial effects proportional to the total surface area of nanoparticles. On the other hand, the presence of nanoparticles and small volume fractions of agglomerates with high aspect ratios strongly increases viscosity of suspensions due to structural constrains. Nanoparticle surface charge also plays an important role in viscosity. It is demonstrated that by adjusting pH of nanofluid, it is possible to reduce viscosity of alumina nanofluid without significantly affecting thermal conductivity. Efficiency of nanofluids (ratio of thermal conductivity and viscosity increase) for real-life cooling applications is evaluate...

Aerosol light absorption and its measurement: A review

Abstract: Light absorption by aerosols contributes to solar radiative forcing through absorption of solar radiation and heating of the absorbing aerosol layer. Besides the direct radiative effect, the heating can evaporate clouds and change the atmospheric dynamics. Aerosol light absorption in the atmosphere is dominated by black carbon (BC) with additional, significant contributions from the still poorly understood brown carbon and from mineral dust. Sources of these absorbing aerosols include biomass burning and other combustion processes and dust entrainment. For particles much smaller than the wavelength of incident light, absorption is proportional to the particle volume and mass. Absorption can be calculated with Mie theory for spherical particles and with more complicated numerical methods for other particle shapes. The quantitative measurement of aerosol light absorption is still a challenge. Simple, commonly used filter measurements are prone to measurement artifacts due to particle concentration and modification of particle and filter morphology upon particle deposition, optical interaction of deposited particles and filter medium, and poor angular integration of light scattered by deposited particles. In situ methods measure particle absorption with the particles in their natural suspended state and therefore are not prone to effects related to particle deposition and concentration on filters. Photoacoustic and refractive index-based measurements rely on the heating of particles during light absorption, which, for power-modulated light sources, causes an acoustic signal and modulation of the refractive index in the air surrounding the particles that can be quantified with a microphone and an interferometer, respectively. These methods may suffer from some interference due to light-induced particle evaporation. Laser-induced incandescence also monitors particle heating upon absorption, but heats absorbing particles to much higher temperatures to quantify BC mass from the thermal radiation emitted by the heated particles. Extinction-minus-scattering techniques have limited sensitivity for measuring aerosol light absorption unless the very long absorption paths of cavity ring-down techniques are used. Systematic errors can be dominated by truncation errors in the scattering measurement for large particles or by subtraction errors for high single scattering albedo particles. Remote sensing techniques are essential for global monitoring of aerosol light absorption. While local column-integrated measurements of aerosol light absorption with sun and sky radiometers are routinely done, global satellite measurements are so far largely limited to determining a semi-quantitative UV absorption index.

Nanosized Carbon Particles From Natural Gas Soot

Abstract: Carbon nanoparticles were prepared by refluxing the combustion soot of natural gas in nitric acid. Transmission Electron Microscopy measurements showed that the resulting particles exhibited an average diameter of 4.8 ± 0.6 nm, and the crystalline lattices were consistent with graphitic carbons. 13C NMR and FTIR spectroscopic measurements further confirmed the presence of sp2 carbons in the form of aryl and carboxylic/carbonyl moieties. The resulting carbon nanoparticles were found to emit photoluminescence with a quantum yield of approximately 0.43%. Additionally, the emission band energy of the carbon nanoparticle was very similar to that of much smaller carbon nanoparticles obtained from candle soot, suggesting that the photoluminescence might arise from particle surface states, analogous to the behaviors of semiconductor quantum dots with an indirect bandgap. In electrochemical measurements, two pairs of well-defined voltammetric waves were observed, which might be ascribed to the peripheral functiona...

Influence of Nucleation Seeding on the Hydration Mechanisms of Tricalcium Silicate and Cement

Abstract: The fundamental chemical hydration process of portland cement and its main mineral component, tricalcium silicate, was studied by investigating the effects of various additives. A relatively small amount (1−4 wt %) of well-dispersed calcium silicate hydrate (C−S−H), a pure form of the main hydration product, significantly increases both the early hydration rate and the total amount of hydration during the early nucleation and growth period (the first ∼24 h), as measured by calorimetry. This is attributed to a seeding effect whereby the C−S−H additive provides new nucleation sites within the pore space away from the particle surfaces. This mechanism is verified by a digital simulation of the hydration process that reproduces key features of the hydration kinetics. The results provide strong evidence that the hydration process is autocatalytic such that the C−S−H gel product stimulates its own formation. The seeding effect of C−S−H also provides a new explanation of the hydration-accelerating effects of var...

The Synthesis and Assembly of Polymeric Microparticles Using Microfluidics

Abstract: The controlled synthesis of micrometer-sized polymeric particles bearing features such as nonspherical shapes and spatially segregated chemical properties is becoming increasingly important. Such particles can enable fundamental studies on self-assembly and suspension rheology, as well as be used in applications ranging from medical diagnostics to photonic devices. Microfluidics has recently emerged as a very promising route to the synthesis of such polymeric particles, providing fine control over particle shape, size, chemical anisotropy, porosity, and core/shell structure. This progress report summarizes microfluidic approaches to particle synthesis using both dropletand flow-lithography-based methods, as well as particle assembly in microfluidic devices. The particles formed are classified according to their morphology, chemical anisotropy, and internal structure, and relevant examples are provided to illustrate each of these approaches. Emerging applications of the complex particles formed using these techniques and the outlook for such processes are discussed.

Shape induced inhibition of phagocytosis of polymer particles.

Abstract: Purpose To determine if particle shape can be engineered to inhibit phagocytosis of drug delivery particles by macrophages, which can be a significant barrier to successful therapeutic delivery.

Continuous particle separation in a microfluidic channel via standing surface acoustic waves (SSAW).

Abstract: This work introduces a method of continuous particle separation through standing surface acoustic wave (SSAW)-induced acoustophoresis in a microfluidic channel. Using this SSAW-based method, particles in a continous laminar flow can be separated based on their volume, density and compressibility. In this work, a mixture of particles of equal density but dissimilar volumes was injected into a microchannel through two side inlets, sandwiching a deonized water sheath flow injected through a central inlet. A one-dimensional SSAW generated by two parallel interdigital transducers (IDTs) was established across the channel, with the channel spanning a single SSAW pressure node located at the channel center. Application of the SSAW induced larger axial acoustic forces on the particles of larger volume, repositioning them closer to the wave pressure node at the center of the channel. Thus particles were laterally moved to different regions of the channel cross-section based on particle volume. The particle separation method presented here is simple and versatile, capable of separating virtually all kinds of particles (regardless of charge/polarization or optical properties) with high separation efficiency and low power consumption.

From Particle Acceleration to Impact and Bonding in Cold Spraying

Abstract: In conventional thermal spraying, the spray particles are partially or fully molten when they deposit on the substrate. Cold spraying, in contrast, uses less thermal and more kinetic energy. In this process, solid particles impact on the substrate at high velocities and form excellent coatings. Due to comparatively low temperatures and typically inert process gases, cold spraying is particularly suitable for heat and oxidation sensitive materials. In recent years, modeling and computational methods have been widely used to study this relatively new spraying process, particularly to describe impact conditions of particles, to improve nozzle design, and to provide a better understanding of the thermo-mechanical processes that lead to particle bonding and deposition. This paper summarizes the state of the art in these theoretical studies, alongside a comprehensive description of the process. The paper also discusses the prediction of coating properties in the light of modeling combined with experimental investigations.

Effect of TiO2 particle size on the photocatalytic reduction of CO2

Abstract: Pure TiO 2 anatase particles with a crystallite diameters ranging from 4.5 to 29 nm were prepared by precipitation and sol–gel method, characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area measurement, UV–vis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tested in CO 2 photocatalytic reduction. Methane and methanol were the main reduction products. The optimum particle size corresponding to the highest yields of both products was 14 nm. The observed optimum particle size is a result of competing effects of specific surface area, charge–carrier dynamics and light absorption efficiency.

Schooling behavior of light-powered autonomous micromotors in water.

Abstract: A new school of thought: Micrometer-sized silver chloride (AgCl) particles (red) in deionized water move under UV illumination by self-diffusiophoresis (see picture). Each AgCl particle secretes ions to which the other particles respond, and they are observed to "school" into regions with higher concentrations of particles. Photo-inactive silica particles (blue) also respond to the chemical secretion by swimming towards and surrounding individual AgCl particles.

Rapid aerosol particle growth and increase of cloud condensation nucleus activity by secondary aerosol formation and condensation: A case study for regional air pollution in northeastern China

Abstract: [1] This study was part of the international field measurement Campaigns of Air Quality Research in Beijing and Surrounding Region 2006 (CAREBeijing-2006). We investigated a new particle formation event in a highly polluted air mass at a regional site south of the megacity Beijing and its impact on the abundance and properties of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). During the 1-month observation, particle nucleation followed by significant particle growth on a regional scale was observed frequently (~30%), and we chose 23 August 2006 as a representative case study. Secondary aerosol mass was produced continuously, with sulfate, ammonium, and organics as major components. The aerosol mass growth rate was on average 19 μg m -3 h -1 during the late hours of the day. This growth rate was observed several times during the 1-month intensive measurements. The nucleation mode grew very quickly into the size range of CCN, and the CCN size distribution was dominated by the growing nucleation mode (up to 80% of the total CCN number concentration) and not as usual by the accumulation mode. At water vapor supersaturations of 0.07-0.86%, the CCN number concentrations reached maximum values of 4000-19,000 cm -3 only 6-14 h after the nucleation event. During particle formation and growth, the effective hygroscopicity parameter κ increased from about 0.1-0.3 to 0.35-0.5 for particles with diameters of 40-90 nm, but it remained nearly constant at ~0.45 for particles with diameters of ~190 nm. This result is consistent with aerosol chemical composition data, showing a pronounced increase of sulfate.

Porous nanoparticle supported lipid bilayers (protocells) as delivery vehicles

Abstract: Mixing liposomes with hydrophilic particles induces fusion of the liposome onto the particle surface. Such supported bilayers have been studied extensively as models of the cell membrane, while their applications in drug delivery have not been pursued. In this communication, we report liposome fusion on mesoporous particles as a synergistic means to simultaneously load and seal cargo within the porous core. We find fusion of a cationic lipid (DOTAP) on an anionic silica particle loads an anionic fluorescent dye (calcein) into the particle to a concentration exceeding 100× that in the surrounding medium. The loaded “protocell” particles are taken up efficiently by Chinese hamster ovary cells, where, due to a reduced pH within endosomal compartments, calcein is effectively released. Compared to some other nanoparticle systems, protocells provide a simple construct for cargo loading, sealing, delivery, and release. They promise to serve as useful vectors in nanomedicine.

Size distribution, mass concentration, chemical and mineralogical composition and derived optical parameters of the boundary layer aerosol at Tinfou, Morocco, during SAMUM 2006

Abstract: During the SAMUM 2006 field campaign in southern Morocco, physical and chemical properties of desert aerosols were measured. Mass concentrations ranging from 30 μg m -3 for PM 2.5 under desert background conditions up to 300 000 μg m -3 for total suspended particles (TSP) during moderate dust storms were measured. TSP dust concentrations are correlated with the local wind speed, whereas PM10 and PM 2.5 concentrations are determined by advection from distant sources. Size distributions were measured for particles with diameter between 20 nm and 500 μm (parametrizations are given). Two major regimes of the size spectrum can be distinguished. For particles smaller than 500 nm diameter, the distributions show maxima around 80 nm, widely unaffected of varying meteorological and dust emission conditions. For particles larger than 500 nm, the range of variation may be up to one order of magnitude and up to three orders of magnitude for particles larger than 10 μm. The mineralogical composition of aerosol bulk samples was measured by X-ray powder diffraction. Major constituents of the aerosol are quartz, potassium feldspar, plagioclase, calcite, hematite and the clay minerals illite, kaolinite and chlorite. A small temporal variability of the bulk mineralogical composition was encountered. The chemical composition of approximately 74 000 particles was determined by electron microscopic single particle analysis. Three size regimes are identified: for smaller than 500 nm in diameter, the aerosol consists of sulphates and mineral dust. For larger than 500 nm up to 50 μm, mineral dust dominates, consisting mainly of silicates, and—to a lesser extent—carbonates and quartz. For diameters larger than 50 μm, approximately half of the particles consist of quartz. Time series of the elemental composition show a moderate temporal variability of the major compounds. Calcium-dominated particles are enhanced during advection from a prominent dust source in Northern Africa (Chott El Djerid and surroundings). The particle aspect ratio was measured for all analysed particles. Its size dependence reflects that of the chemical composition. For larger than 500 nm particle diameter, a median aspect ratio of 1.6 is measured. Towards smaller particles, it decreases to about 1.3 (parametrizations are given). From the chemical/mineralogical composition, the aerosol complex refractive index was determined for several wavelengths from ultraviolet to near-infrared. Both real and imaginary parts show lower values for particles smaller than 500 nm in diameter (1.55–2.8 × 10 -3 i at 530 nm) and slightly higher values for larger particles (1.57–3.7 × 10 -3 i at 530 nm). DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00385.x

The mechanism of breath aerosol formation.

Abstract: Background: Aerosol production during normal breathing is often attributed to turbulence in the respiratory tract. That mechanism is not consistent with a high degree of asymmetry between aerosol production during inhalation and exhalation. The objective was to investigate production symmetry during breathing. Methods: The aerosol size distribution in exhaled breath was examined for different breathing patterns including normal breathing, varied breath-holding periods, and contrasting inhalation and exhalation rates. The aerosol droplet size distribution measured in the exhaled breath was examined in real time using an aerodynamic particle sizer. Results and Conclusions: The dependence of the particle concentration decay rate on diameter during breath holding was consistent with gravitational settling in the alveolar spaces. Also, deep exhalation resulted in a four- to sixfold increase in concentration, and rapid inhalation produced a further two- to threefold increase in concentration. In contra...

Combustion-formed nanoparticles

Abstract: The processes by which carbonaceous nanoparticles are produced from combustion of liquid and gaseous fuels are reviewed. The focus of the paper is on the formation and properties of nanoparticles in laboratory laminar, premixed and diffusion flames and on the most popular methods of sampling and detection of these particles. Particle chemical nature is analyzed from data obtained by several measurement techniques. Measurements characterizing nanoparticles in the exhausts of practical combustion systems such as engines and commercial burners are also reported. Two classes of carbonaceous material are mainly formed in combustion: nanoparticles with sizes in the range 1–5 nm, and soot particles, with sizes from 10 to 100 nm. Nanoparticles show unique chemical composition and morphology; they maintain molecular characteristics in terms of chemical reactivity, but at the same time exhibit transport and surface related phenomena typical of particles. The emission of these particles contributes to atmospheric pollution and constitutes a serious health concern. A simplified modeling analysis is used to show how the growth of aromatics and the chemical nature of the particles depend on temperature and radical concentration distributions encountered in flames.

Simulation of particle size distribution with a global aerosol model: contribution of nucleation to aerosol and CCN number concentrations

Abstract: . An advanced particle microphysics model with a number of computationally efficient schemes has been incorporated into a global chemistry transport model (GEOS-Chem) to simulate particle number size distributions and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations in the atmosphere. Size-resolved microphysics for secondary particles (i.e., those formed from gaseous species) and sea salt has been treated in the present study. The growth of nucleated particles through the condensation of sulfuric acid vapor and equilibrium uptake of nitrate, ammonium, and secondary organic aerosol is explicitly simulated, along with the scavenging of secondary particles by primary particles (dust, black carbon, organic carbon, and sea salt). We calculate secondary particle formation rate based on ion-mediated nucleation (IMN) mechanism and constrain the parameterizations of primary particle emissions with various observations. Our simulations indicate that secondary particles formed via IMN appear to be able to account for the particle number concentrations observed in many parts of the troposphere. A comparison of the simulated annual mean concentrations of condensation nuclei larger than 10 nm (CN10) with those measured values show very good agreement (within a factor of two) in near all 22 sites around the globe that have at least one full year of CN10 measurements. Secondary particles appear to dominate the number abundance in most parts of the troposphere. Calculated CCN concentration at supersaturation of 0.4% (CCN0.4) and the fraction of CCN0.4 that is secondary (fsecCCN) have large spatial variations. Over the middle latitude in the Northern Hemisphere, zonally averaged CCN0.4 decreases from ~400–700 cm−3 in the boundary layer (BL) to below 100 cm−3 above altitude of ~4 km, the corresponding fsecCCN values change from 50–60% to above ~70%. In the Southern Hemisphere, the zonally averaged CCN0.4 is below 200 cm−3 and fsecCCN is generally above 60% except in the BL over the Southern Ocean.

Rapid aerosol particle growth and increase of cloud condensation nucleus activity by secondary aerosol formation and condensation: A case study for regional air pollution in northeastern China

Abstract: [1] This study was part of the international field measurement Campaigns of Air Quality Research in Beijing and Surrounding Region 2006 (CAREBeijing-2006). We investigated a new particle formation event in a highly polluted air mass at a regional site south of the megacity Beijing and its impact on the abundance and properties of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). During the 1-month observation, particle nucleation followed by significant particle growth on a regional scale was observed frequently (~30%), and we chose 23 August 2006 as a representative case study. Secondary aerosol mass was produced continuously, with sulfate, ammonium, and organics as major components. The aerosol mass growth rate was on average 19 μg m -3 h -1 during the late hours of the day. This growth rate was observed several times during the 1-month intensive measurements. The nucleation mode grew very quickly into the size range of CCN, and the CCN size distribution was dominated by the growing nucleation mode (up to 80% of the total CCN number concentration) and not as usual by the accumulation mode. At water vapor supersaturations of 0.07-0.86%, the CCN number concentrations reached maximum values of 4000-19,000 cm -3 only 6-14 h after the nucleation event. During particle formation and growth, the effective hygroscopicity parameter κ increased from about 0.1-0.3 to 0.35-0.5 for particles with diameters of 40-90 nm, but it remained nearly constant at ~0.45 for particles with diameters of ~190 nm. This result is consistent with aerosol chemical composition data, showing a pronounced increase of sulfate.

Particle Size Distribution, Concentration, and Magnetic Attraction Affect Transport of Polymer-Modified Fe 0 Nanoparticles in Sand Columns

Abstract: The effect of particle concentration, size distribution (polydispersity) and magnetic attractive forces (Fe(0) content) on agglomeration and transport of poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) modified NZVI was studied in water-saturated sand (d(p) = 300 microm) columns. Particle concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 6 g/L in 5 mM NaCl/5 mM NaHCO3 at a pore water velocity of 3.2 x 10(-4) m/s. Three NZVI dispersions with different intrinsic particle size distributions obtained from sequential sedimentation are compared. The influence of magnetic attraction (Fe(0) content) on NZVI agglomeration and deposition in porous media is assessed by comparing the deposition behavior of PSS-modified NZVI (magnetic) having different Fe(0) contents with PSS-modified hematite (nonmagnetic) with the same surface modifier. At low particle concentration (30 mg/L) all particles were mobile in sand columns regardless of size or magnetic attractive forces. At high concentration (1 to 6 g/L), deposition of the relatively monodisperse dispersion containing PSS-modified NZVI (hydrodynamic radius (R(H)) = 24 nm) with the lowest Fe(0) content (4 wt%) is low (attachment efficiency (alpha) = 2.5 x 10(-3)), insensitive to particle concentration, and similar to PSS-modified hematite. At 1 to 6 g/L, the attachment efficiency of polydisperse dispersions containing both primary particles and sintered aggregates (R(H) from 15 to 260 nm) of PSS-modified NZVI with a range of Fe(0) content (10-60%) is greater (alpha = 1.2 x 10(-2) to 7.2 x 10(-2) and is sensitive to particle size distribution. The greater attachment for larger, more polydisperse Fe(0) nanoparticles with higher Fe(0) content is a result of their agglomeration during transport in porous media because the magnetic attractive force between particles increases with the sixth power of particle/agglomerate radius. A filtration model that considers agglomeration in porous media and subsequent deposition explains the observed transport of polydisperse PSS-modified NZVI at high concentration.

Self-assembly and rheology of ellipsoidal particles at interfaces.

Abstract: Colloidal particles confined at liquid interfaces have important applications, for example in the stabilization of emulsions and foams. Also the self-assembly of particles at interfaces offers potential for novel applications and structured particle films. As the colloidal interactions of colloidal particles at interfaces differ from those in bulk, colloidal microstructures can be achieved at an interface which cannot be produced in bulk. In the present work the particle shape, surface charge, and wetting properties are varied, and the resulting self-assembly of particles at a fluid interface is studied. Model monodisperse micrometer-sized ellipsoidal particles were prepared by a mechanical stretching method. These particles were chosen to be well-suited for investigation by optical microscopy. When deposited at an interface between two fluids, shape-induced capillary interactions compete with the electrostatic repulsion. Changing the surface charge and the position at the interface can be used to manipulate the experimentally observed self-assembly process. The initial microstructure of charged ellipsoids at a decane-water interface consists of individual ellipsoids coexisting with linear chains of ellipsoids, connected at their tips. The aggregation behavior in these monolayers was investigated by optical microscopy combined with quantitative image analysis and a dominant tip-tip aggregation was observed. Microstructural information was quantified by calculating the pair-distribution and orientation-distribution functions, as a function of time. Compared to particles at an oil-water interface, particles of the same surface chemistry and charge at an air-water interface seem to have weaker electrostatic interactions, and they also have a different equilibrium position at the interface. The latter leads to differences in the capillary forces. The subsequent change in the balance between electrostatic and capillary forces gave rise to very dense networks having as a typical building block ellipsoids connected at their tips in triangular or flower-like configuration. These networks were very stable and did not evolve in time. The resulting monolayers responded elastically and buckled under compression. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of these monolayers, as measured by surface shear rheology, showed that the monolayer of ellipsoids exhibit a substantial surface modulus even at low surface coverage and can be used to create more elastic monolayers compared to aggregate networks of spheres of the same size and surface properties.

Adsorbate-induced surface segregation for core-shell nanocatalysts.

Abstract: Coming to the surface: The surface compn. of carbon-supported Pt3Co catalyst particles changes upon a CO-annealing treatment. Platinum atoms segregate to the particle surface so that nanoparticles with a platinum shell surrounding an alloy core are formed. This modified catalyst has a superior activity in the oxygen redn. reaction compared to both a plain platinum catalyst and the untreated alloy particles. [on SciFinder(R)]