Articles tagged with Colloids
Researchers have created microscopic oil droplets in water that can change shape in complex ways and engulf their surroundings. The droplets' behavior mimics morphogenesis, a process by which cells reshape themselves, without relying on genes or cellular machinery.
Researchers at the Centre for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS) have made significant advancements in understanding nucleic acids in deep eutectic solvents. This research has opened new avenues towards sustainable formulations and biomolecular materials.
Dissolved black carbon's colloidal behavior can decide whether carbon and associated contaminants travel long distances or become trapped in sediments. Understanding this behavior is essential for predicting environmental risks and carbon cycling.
Professor Timo Betz's project aims to develop synthetic materials that mimic key behaviors of living cells, including self-organization and physical adaptation. By studying the mechanical properties of living cells, he will recreate part of the cell's interior in a synthetic way.
Researchers quantify interactions of P407 micelles in PBS to understand gelation behavior and release mechanisms. The study reveals stronger attractive forces between micelles in saline, affecting gel stability and structural fluctuations.
Researchers develop a coating strategy using lignin nanoparticles to stabilize an oil-in-water emulsion, forming a multifunctional coating that enhances paper performance while maintaining environmental compatibility. The coated paper exhibits improved barrier properties, mechanical strength, and biodegradability.
Groups of tiny particles suspended in liquid oscillate together, keeping time as though they sense each other's motion. The surrounding fluid enables the particles to 'feel' one another at a distance, influencing their motions without direct contact.
Researchers develop multifunctional aerogels combining thermal insulation, flame retardancy, and mechanical robustness using bio-based nanocellulose. The resulting aerogels exhibit low thermal conductivity, high flame resistance, and impressive strength and flexibility.
Researchers developed a new model and theory to explain nanoparticle growth dynamics, accounting for six essential characteristics of nanoparticle growth. The new theory provides fresh physical insights into the role of nanoparticle motion and configurational degeneracy on their nucleation and growth.
Researchers have developed a technique to observe phonon dynamics in nanoparticle self-assemblies, enabling the creation of reconfigurable metamaterials with desired mechanical properties. This advance has wide-ranging applications in fields such as robotics, mechanical engineering, and information technology.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a system that actively removes microplastics from water in a single cycle. The microcleaners, made from biodegradable materials, use the Marangoni effect to self-disperse and capture microplastics, which are then collected by skimming.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed 'synthetic worms' that can move independently using active matter, a new class of materials. The 3D structures were created by applying an electric field to micron-sized particles suspended in a liquid mixture, and exhibit fascinating life-like behavior.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have discovered yeast cell wall-derived proteins that exhibit high emulsifying activity, comparable to commercial casein emulsifier. These easily released protein molecules could potentially replace emulsifiers derived from milk, eggs, and soybeans, reducing allergenic concerns.
Scientists developed a novel method to create colloidal molecules with specific symmetry using fluorescent polymers and self-assembly. The process allows for the formation of soft materials with various symmetries depending on the polymer mixing ratio.
Scientists have developed a nanocomposite material with sodium carbonate and nanocarbon to capture carbon dioxide from industrial emissions. The new material shows high CO2 capture capacity and can be regenerated for up to 10 cycles, reducing energy consumption.
A study by the University of Tsukuba found that keratin microsphere gel enhanced cell proliferation and gene expression related to hair growth. The gel's stimulatory impact on papilla cells was validated through genetic analysis, demonstrating its potential as a safe and effective hair growth agent.
Researchers have developed a new microfluidic system that utilizes porous inverse colloidal crystal structures to dramatically improve the efficiency of microdroplet generation. The system can produce droplets around 1,000 times faster than traditional devices, enabling applications in medicine, food, cosmetics, and more.
Researchers successfully reduced bladder tumor size by 90% in mice using nanorobots propelled by urea. The nanomachines deliver a radioisotope to the tumour, attacking it with precision and efficiency. This breakthrough could lead to more effective bladder cancer treatments and reduced hospitalization costs.
Biopolymer composites made from agarose and chitosan demonstrate enhanced strength, antibacterial properties, and water repellence. These sustainable materials could lead to eco-friendly packaging solutions for food and consumer goods.
Researchers developed a novel approach called 'countercation engineering' to impart thermoresponsiveness to graphene-oxide nanosheets. The method involves synthesizing GO nanosheets with specific countercations, resulting in inherent thermoresponsive behavior without the need for thermoresponsive polymers.
Scientists at Mainz University and TU Darmstadt developed a method to write in water by utilizing microbeads that exchange ions for protons, altering local pH values. This allows ink particles to accumulate in specific areas, creating fine lines and patterns.
A novel technique allows for the observation of colloidal particle degradation in real-time, providing valuable insight into the mechanisms of micro- and nanoplastics origin and change over time. The study demonstrates the potential to assess temperature variations, ultraviolet light, and stress on nanoscale particles.
Scientists from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, have used in situ confocal microscopy to study colloidal gels. They found that different local particle arrangements uniquely modulated the properties of the gel, with tetrahedra arresting motion and pentagonal bipyramid clusters imparting solidity.
Researchers develop a novel wavelength-selective intelligent colloid system that achieves light-controlled multi-dimensional phase segregation, enabling the creation of programmable photochromic ink for various applications. The system relies on rearranging existing pigments rather than generating new chromophores.
Researchers from University of Warsaw and Utrecht University observed the Brazil nut effect in a mixture of charged colloidal particles without external energy. The phenomenon involves heavier particles rising to the top due to repulsion forces, with potential applications in geology, soft matter physics, and industry.
The USTC team has successfully developed a light-driven, programmable system for colloidal self-assembly. Through the cooperative reorganization of nanomotors, they can transport and reconfigure colloidal assemblies in various ways. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for designing micromachines and smart materials.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have devised a way to fabricate a complex structure, previously found only in nature, to control light in the visible range. This new approach uses self-assembled colloidal particles to create chiral photonic crystals with tailored optical properties.
Researchers have developed a novel technique to produce hydrogen peroxide without releasing carbon dioxide, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The method uses photocatalysis and carbon nitride as a catalyst, making it more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
A new 'whipping jet' aerosol sprayer can precisely control how aerosols move, a crucial aspect of various industries. The technology has potential applications in pharmaceutical sciences, climate research, automotive, food processing, and carbon capture.
A team of researchers from The University of Tokyo created a computer simulation to study the phase separation of counter-rotating particles in a fluid. They found that nonlinear turbulent effects lead to the sudden separation of particles into regions of clockwise and counterclockwise collections.
By incorporating hydrodynamics into their models, the researchers improved predictions of final structures compared to conventional computational models. This work may lead to the development of smart materials with controllable properties in response to external conditions.
A new study proposes a method of foam stabilization that could be used to make highly efficient hand sanitizers. The team added an anionic surfactant, long-chain alcohols, and an inorganic electrolyte to an aqueous solution containing 60% ethanol by volume.
Researchers have uncovered new evidence of a liquid-liquid phase transition in water, where molecules form 'entangled' arrangements at low temperatures. This finding has significant implications for understanding the physics of water and could pave the way for new experiments to validate the theory.
By using the shape of colloids, researchers can create building blocks for new materials with interesting properties. The study's findings show that the density of the structure can be lower than expected, leading to the possibility of creating strong but lightweight materials.
A study by Sibani Lisa Biswal and Kedar Joshi shows that magnetically driven colloidal suspensions exhibit behavior consistent with the principles of classical thermodynamics, including vapor pressure, viscosity, and surface tension. The researchers' findings have implications for designing materials with reconfigurable properties.
Researchers have successfully degraded synthetic polyisoprene using enzyme LCPK30, a breakthrough that could enable recycling of car tires and production of new plastics. The method involves creating an emulsion with the polymer, allowing the enzyme to break down long molecular chains into smaller fragments.
A team of researchers created particles with an off-center core that can be tracked under a microscope to study rotational dynamics. Their findings show that neighboring spheres rotate coupled and move in opposite directions, like meshed gears, and that there is a relationship between local crystallinity and rotational diffusivity.
Researchers at the University of Konstanz have discovered a new state of matter called liquid glass, which exhibits complex behavior. The particles in liquid glass are able to move but not rotate, leading to local clusters that obstruct each other and prevent an ordered state from forming.
A landmark discovery at New York University has developed a method to create colloids that crystallize into the diamond lattice, enabling cheap and reliable fabrication of 3D photonic crystals for optical circuits. This breakthrough could lead to lightweight high-efficiency lasers, precise light control, and new materials for managing ...
Researchers led by David Pine have devised a new process for the reliable self-assembly of colloids in a diamond formation, which could lead to cheap, scalable fabrication of colloidal diamonds. This breakthrough discovery holds promise for advanced optical technologies, including high-efficiency lasers and precise control of light.
Crystallization in confined spaces is poorly understood, but researchers have gained insight into the process using colloid particles. The study reveals that kinetics, not thermodynamics, drives crystal structure formation in these systems.
Adding polymers to a solution containing hollow silica nanocubes can adjust their attractions, leading to stable mixtures. By varying polymer concentrations, researchers can manipulate the behavior of colloidal mixtures and explore new technologies in light sensing and manipulation.
Researchers found that contacts form between particles, stabilizing microstructure and stiffening materials. This discovery explains age-related changes in paste materials and has implications for industries using similar materials.
The study highlights the importance of zeta potential in colloid surface chemistry and its effect on dispersion stability. The Navier boundary condition, considering relative velocity, is applied to particles with hydrophobic surfaces, leading to increased electrophoretic mobility and sedimentation potential.
Researchers at MIT have developed tiny robots made of electronic circuits coupled to minuscule particles called colloids, which can flow through intestines or pipelines to detect problems. The devices are self-powered, requiring no external power source or internal batteries.
Researchers have found that certain colloids can stick to sediment grains due to decorative nanoscience, allowing for predictable attachment and removal of contaminants. This discovery could help improve prediction of contaminant transport distances and protect water resources.
A team of physicists from Konstanz and Italy successfully suppressed static friction between two surfaces using a colloidal monolayer. This allows for the use of extremely small forces to move objects, greatly improving efficiency in micro- and nanomechanical systems.
Researchers at the University of Konstanz have proven the existence of Mermin-Wagner fluctuations, which grow logarithmically with system size and prevent crystal formation over long ranges. In contrast, small systems can exhibit crystal formation.
Researchers have successfully demonstrated self-organizing pattern formation in active materials at microscale by modifying one parameter. The study uses Janus colloids to experimentally test collective, dynamic behavior, creating swarms, chains, clusters, and isotropic gases.
Scientists have discovered a way to control the interactions among microscopic spheres, causing them to self-propel into swarms, chains, and clusters. This breakthrough enables various applications in medicine, chemistry, and engineering, as well as advancing our understanding of collective dynamic behavior.
Researchers from FAU Erlangen-Nüherung have shown that directed chains of particles in gel networks give them their solid properties. This discovery is crucial for understanding material properties of gels used in products such as toothpaste and cosmetics, potentially improving food production processes.
Scientists have developed a new method to assemble technologically relevant, non-polymorphic crystals through computer simulations. By tuning the size of polymer additives, researchers can stabilize desired crystal structures against competing polymorphs.
Researchers measured critical Casimir forces with two and three particles to demonstrate nonadditivity and show that these forces are crucial for designing micro-machines. The study used colloids immersed in fluid and optical tweezers to measure the effects of many-body interaction.
Researchers found that radioactive matter migrates more quickly through fractured carbonate rock when it has leaked from a tank near surface waste sites and geological repositories. Intrinsic colloid formation increases the mobility of leaked radioactive materials in the environment.
A new Mainz-based Emmy Noether independent junior research group aims to explain the principles behind the transport and controlled arrangement of colloidal particles. The goal is to combine microfluidics and self-assembly in soft materials for a more profound understanding and new uses.
Scientists at the University of Zurich successfully controlled colloidal nanoparticles' motion, harnessing electric and optical forces to manipulate their behavior. The technique enables rapid displacement, low energy consumption, and large storage capacity, making it suitable for new data storage applications or high-resolution displays.
Researchers developed a new material that mimics the structure of coral, a natural adsorbent of heavy metals, and found it could remove around 2.5 times more mercury from water than traditional aluminium oxide nanoparticles. The synthetic coral-like material has potential applications in environmental remediation.
Steven P. Armes receives the prestigious award for his groundbreaking research in colloid and polymer chemistry, which fosters international and scientific exchange in the field. The lecture will be presented at IACIS conference in Mainz on May 28th.
Researchers have discovered a new way to harness the defects in liquid crystals to create novel meta-materials with potential applications in optics and electronics. By exploiting these 'defect lines', scientists can remotely interact among colloidal particles, allowing for energy-efficient control and unprecedented plasticity.
Penn researchers demonstrate that stiffness and strength scaling remain unchanged across various glassy materials, indicating a constant critical strain before catastrophic failure. This finding provides insight into the fundamental mechanism driving failure in glasses, suggesting cooperative motion of particles or atoms.