Article
Chemistry, Physical
Alessio J. Sprockel, Mohd A. Khan, Mariska de Ruiter, Meyer T. Alting, Katherine A. Macmillan, Martin F. Haase
Summary: This research paper enhances the understanding of nanoparticle functionalization and provides guidance for future bijel synthesis approaches. A novel continuous flow method is developed to rapidly synthesize and analyze bijels formed via solvent transfer induced phase separation (STrIPS). The study shows that bijels with nearly uniform, sub-micrometer channels can be obtained by regulating the particle functionalization with a positively charged surfactant.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rebecca K. Lindsey, Nir Goldman, Laurence E. Fried, Sorin Bastea
Summary: This study employs machine-learned reactive interatomic potentials to perform large-scale simulations of nanocarbon formation from prototypical shocked C/O-containing precursor, providing direct insight into the carbon condensation process and suggesting the potential use of simulations as design tools for new nanomaterials.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Wu-zhong Guo
Summary: This paper explores the correspondence between fixed area states in conformal field theories and their dual bulk geometry. It demonstrates that the fixed area states can be described using the bulk metric, and establishes a relationship between the parameters of the bulk geometry and the boundary state. The paper also investigates the fluctuation of the area operator in the geometric state and shows that it is suppressed in the semiclassical limit.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kombele Aime Ninga, Steve Carly Zangue Desobgo, Emmanuel Jong Nso, Joseph Kayem
Summary: The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of centrifugation parameters on the physicochemical characteristics of guava juice and to identify the operational characteristics of continuous disc-stack centrifuges based on a laboratory centrifuge. The results showed that centrifugation time and g-force had significant effects on the physicochemical characteristics of the juice. Within a certain range of g-forces, similar clarification efficiency was achieved, but higher g-forces led to smaller particle size, lower protein and pectin contents in the juice.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Javier A. Diez, Alejandro G. Gonzalez, David A. Garfinkel, Philip D. Rack, Joseph T. McKeown, Lou Kondic
Summary: This study investigates the coupled process of phase separation and dewetting of nanoscale metal alloys on solid substrates through experiments and theoretical modeling. Results indicate the crucial role of temperature dependence of material properties in understanding experimental findings.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Caralyn A. Stevenson, Myles C. Thomas, Stephen P. Beaudoin
Summary: Through simulations of the centrifuge technique, it was found that the adhesion behavior of rough powder can be described using an equivalent powder of smooth spherical particles. These results demonstrate the capability of the enhanced centrifuge technique for advanced powder characterization.
Article
Engineering, Geological
Waleed El-Sekelly, Ricardo Dobry, Tarek Abdoun, Min Ni
Summary: This study conducted simulations of seismic liquefaction response in dense and loose clean sand under different overburden pressures using the FLAC3D program and the P2Psand constitutive model. The calibrated model provided good matches with experimental results, confirming increased diffusivity under high overburden. The simulations suggested input parameters for clean sands practitioners and highlighted the importance of fluid flow during shaking under high overburden.
SOIL DYNAMICS AND EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Qi-hong Gao, Jing-zhou Zhang, Wen-jing Sun
Summary: The study found that increasing surface roughness in a high-speed centrifuge chamber leads to an increase in wind resistance, but has a non-monotonous effect on the thermal environment. Using a roughed cooler-wall is a promising approach to reduce environmental temperature.
CASE STUDIES IN THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Suraj Garad, Anirban Bhattacharyya, Ranadev Datta
Summary: The study experimentally investigated the responses of oscillating water columns located in the forward, central, and aft positions within a fixed vessel under regular head wave conditions. The resonant frequencies of the water column decrease with the increase in draft, while the free surface elevation of the confined water inside the OWC for the piston mode frequencies are strongly dependent on location, draft, and wave frequency.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dejian Zhang, Satoko Takase, Gyoko Nagayama
Summary: This study developed an electrochemical impedance method to evaluate the effective wetting area at a hydrophobic solid-liquid interface, finding a positive correlation between electrochemical impedance and surface hydrophobicity, and a negative correlation with effective wetting area. Patterned Si surfaces exhibited an intermediate wetting state, with the predicted effective wetting area matching well with the partial wetting model.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Shima Ghaffari, Philip K. Chan, Mehrab Mehrvar
Summary: Long-range surface-directed spinodal decomposition (SDSD) refers to the presence of a surface that preferably attracts one component of a polymer mixture by the long-range van der Waals surface potential while undergoing phase separation. Studies show that the thickness of the wetting layer is proportional to time and surface potential parameter, with a larger diffusion coefficient affecting the formation of droplets and depletion layer in the bulk. Additionally, a temperature gradient imposed in the same direction of the surface potential leads to stripe morphology near the wall.
Article
Engineering, Geological
Zhijun Zhou, Kangchao Wang, Hongming Feng, Yeqing Tian, Shanshan Zhu
Summary: This paper studied the bearing performance of post-grouting pile groups in loess area through centrifugal model tests, finding that the group efficiency decreases after grouting and the bearing capacity of pile groups increases with greater pile spacing, reaching a maximum at 5d. The proposed calculation method for grouting pile group bearing capacity was validated by model test results and is valuable for pile foundation designs.
SOIL DYNAMICS AND EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nuphar Bianco-Stein, Iryna Polishchuk, Arad Lang, Lotan Portal, Catherine Dejoie, Alexander Katsman, Boaz Pokroy
Summary: During biomineralization, organisms use high-Mg nanoparticles embedded in lower-Mg calcite matrices to enhance the mechanical properties of their skeletons. The formation of these nanoparticles is likely achieved through spinodal decomposition of an amorphous Mg-calcite precursor, and it is independent of the biological characteristics of the organisms but rather depends on their chemical composition and specific Mg content. This biostrategy significantly impacts the understanding of fracture resistance in biominerals.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Daniela Biondi, Aldo Greco, Davide Luciano De Luca
Summary: This paper introduces a new storm-centered approach for estimating ARF in the Calabria region, which shows differences in ARF reduction between convective precipitation events and frontal systems. The storm-centered methodology could be valuable for flood defense in early warning systems and engineering design of hydraulic infrastructures.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Jiangtao Lei, Zhijun Zhou, Dandan Han, Shanshan Zhu, Hongming Feng, Kangchao Wang, Yeqing Tian
Summary: This study investigates the bearing mechanism of belled and multi-belled piles in loess area through centrifuge model tests. The results show that both the bell shape forming process and pile loading procedure lead to the compaction effect of soil adjacent to the pile, which negatively affects the bearing capacity of piles when the bell is oversize. A settlement calculation formula for multi-belled piles is proposed and validated by model test results. Additionally, a method for predicting the ultimate bearing capacity of multi-belled piles is proposed.
SOIL DYNAMICS AND EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Esmaeel Moghimi, Andrew B. Schofield, George Petekidis
Summary: We studied the macroscopic deformation of a colloidal depletion gel under step shear stress and identified three regimes: weak creep, superlinear growth, and viscous flow. The gel resolidifies after yielding under weak stresses, while it flows under strong stresses. The speed and manner of resolidification vary between different gels.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Katherine A. Macmillan, Paul S. Clegg
Summary: Studies have shown that the behavior of colloidal rods on the surface of a droplet is significantly different from that in a Langmuir trough. Specifically, on the droplet surface, high aspect ratio rods consistently bridge while shorter rods exhibit random bridging behavior. This is in contrast to the expectations based on trough studies where low aspect ratio rods flip and high aspect ratio rods form bilayers.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
N. Delouche, J. M. van Doorn, T. E. Kodger, A. B. Schofield, J. Sprakel, H. Tabuteau
Summary: The research shows that aggregates are the main building blocks of pore clogging and the average size of aggregates causing blockage increases with flow velocity. Studying the clogging process of different types of monodisperse dispersions under various flow conditions reveals that the formation of clogs appears complex yet systematic.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Mechanics
A. Pamvouxoglou, A. B. Schofield, G. Petekidis, S. U. Egelhaaf
Summary: This study compared the behavior of colloidal suspensions around the glass transition under stress and strain control through transient response, steady state, and relaxation. It was found that the transient behavior depended on the initial control parameter applied, but ultimately led to a steady state independent of how it is reached.
JOURNAL OF RHEOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Mechanics
N. Katyan, A. B. Schofield, T. A. Wood
Summary: This study uses oscillatory rheology to investigate the dynamic response of a soft solid composite, revealing strain-hardening and shear-thinning behaviors, with a constant disclination number density until a critical strain amplitude. The composite exhibits elastoplastic fluid properties beyond the linear viscoelastic regime, and its frequency response is independent of volume fraction phi.
JOURNAL OF RHEOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Rachel E. Harrington, Job H. J. Thijssen, Judy Hardy
Summary: The study examined the academic performance of undergraduate physics students at a research-intensive UK university, finding a significant association between gender and the integrated masters qualification, as well as a performance gap between widening participation and non-widening participation students in the second year. However, no significant association was found between widening participation status and exit qualification or degree classification.
PHYSICAL REVIEW PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mohd A. Khan, Alessio J. Sprockel, Katherine A. Macmillan, Meyer T. Alting, Shankar P. Kharal, Stephen Boakye-Ansah, Martin F. Haase
Summary: Fluid-bicontinuous gels are unique materials that allow two fluids to interact through a scaffold. This study introduces a scalable synthesis method to create nanoparticle stabilized fluid-bicontinuous gels with small channel sizes and high specific surface areas. The experiment demonstrates that liquids can be pumped through the gel via electroosmosis. The fast liquid flow in the gel enhances its potential for molecular separations and other applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marcel Rey, Johannes Walter, Johannes Harrer, Carmen Morcillo Perez, Salvatore Chiera, Sharanya Nair, Maret Ickler, Alesa Fuchs, Mark Michaud, Maximilian J. Uttinger, Andrew B. Schofield, Job H. J. Thijssen, Monica Distaso, Wolfgang Peukert, Nicolas Vogel
Summary: Researchers have achieved homogeneous drying patterns and overcome the coffee ring effect by using surface-modified particle dispersions. This method is applicable to a wide range of materials and particle shapes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David J. French, Andrew B. Schofield, Job H. J. Thijssen
Summary: This paper presents examples of bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gels (bijels) with a designed gradient in the channel size along the sample. The channel size is determined by the local particle concentration, which is achieved through a two-stage loading process. Confocal microscopy and image analysis are used to quantitatively measure the channel size, and bijels with a gradient in channel size of up to 2.8% mm(-1) have been created. These tailored soft materials have the potential to be used in novel energy applications that require both high ionic transport rates and high interfacial area, optimizing their energy density.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Andreia F. Silva, Tiffany A. Wood, Daniel J. M. Hodgson, John R. Royer, Job H. J. Thijssen, Alex Lips, Wilson C. K. Poon
Summary: Consumer handleability and sensory perception of hand sanitizers affect hygiene outcomes. Design principles such as low runoff and non-stickiness help improve hand feel, while linear polymers may result in stickiness and impact hand feel.
Article
Mechanics
Iain Muntz, James A. A. Richards, Sam Brown, Andrew B. B. Schofield, Marcel Rey, Job H. J. Thijssen
Summary: Interfacial rheology plays a crucial role in understanding the stability of dispersed systems. However, the current measurement methods have limitations in terms of accuracy. In this study, we developed a contactless interfacial method to measure interfacial shear rheology on liquid/liquid interfaces. The method allows us to obtain material parameters under steady shear conditions and combine macroscopic and microscopic analyses to visualize the correlation between interfacial response and particle assembly.
JOURNAL OF RHEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Alessio J. Sprockel, Mohd A. Khan, Mariska de Ruiter, Meyer T. Alting, Katherine A. Macmillan, Martin F. Haase
Summary: This research paper enhances the understanding of nanoparticle functionalization and provides guidance for future bijel synthesis approaches. A novel continuous flow method is developed to rapidly synthesize and analyze bijels formed via solvent transfer induced phase separation (STrIPS). The study shows that bijels with nearly uniform, sub-micrometer channels can be obtained by regulating the particle functionalization with a positively charged surfactant.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
N. Delouche, B. Dersoir, A. B. Schofield, H. Tabuteau
Summary: When a colloidal suspension flows in a constriction, particles deposit and can completely clog the channel, resulting in the accumulation of particles. This study investigates the factors that affect the permeability and particle volume fraction of the accumulation, including confinement dimensions, ionic strength, and flow conditions. It is found that in high confinement, the deposition of particles on the channel surfaces plays a dominant role in determining the structure and flow of the accumulation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Emily M. Gould, Katherine A. Macmillan, Paul S. Clegg
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiping Yin, Zhe Wang, Hua Zou
Summary: This study presents a novel method for preparing dimpled polymer-silica nanocomposite particles using interfacial swelling-based seeded polymerization. The optimized conditions allow for a relatively high percentage of dimpled particles to be achieved.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Brenden D. Hoehn, Elizabeth A. Kellstedt, Marc A. Hillmyer
Summary: Porous materials with nanometer-scale pores have important applications as nanoporous membranes. In this study, ABA triblock copolymers were used as precursors to produce nanoporous polymeric membranes (NPMs) in thin film form by degrading the end blocks. Polycyclooctene (PCOE) NPMs with tunable pore sizes were successfully prepared using solvent casting technique. Oxygen plasma etching was employed to improve the surface porosity and hydrophilicity of the membranes. This study provides a straightforward method to produce tough NPMs with high porosity and hydrophilic surface properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladislav S. Petrovskii, Stepan I. Zholudev, Igor I. Potemkin
Summary: This article investigates the behavior of linear and ring polypeptide chains in aqueous solution and explores the properties of the complexes formed by these chains with oppositely charged surfactants. The results demonstrate that the complexes of linear supercharged unfolded polypeptides and the corresponding surfactants exhibit impressive adhesive properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Merve Cevik, Serkan Dikici
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally, and vascular grafts are a promising treatment option. This study focuses on tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) using decellularized parsley stems as a potential biomaterial. The decellularized parsley stems showed suitable properties for TEVGs, providing a suitable environment for human endothelial cells to form a pseudo endothelium. This study showcases the potential of using parsley stems for TEVGs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gustavo A. Vasquez-Montoya, Tadej Emersic, Noe Atzin, Antonio Tavera-Vazquez, Ali Mozaffari, Rui Zhang, Orlando Guzman, Alexey Snezhko, Paul F. Nealey, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: The optical properties of liquid crystals are typically controlled by electric fields. In this study, we investigate the effects of microfluidic flows and acoustic fields on the molecular orientation and optical response of nematic liquid crystals. We identify several previously unknown structures and explain them through calculations and simulations. These findings hold promise for the development of new systems combining sound, flow, and confinement.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinjun Wu, Xin Guan, Shushu Chen, Jiangpeng Jia, Chongyi Chen, Jiawei Zhang, Chuanzhuang Zhao
Summary: This research presents a novel shape memory hydrogel with a remodelable permanent shape and programmable cold-induced shape recovery behavior. The hydrogel is prepared using specific treatment methods to achieve shape fixation by heating and shape recovery by cooling. Additionally, deformable devices can be obtained by assembling hydrogel blocks with different concentrations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rebecca Hengsbach, Gerhard Fink, Ulrich Simon
Summary: This study examines the properties of DNA functionalized pNipmam microgels and pure pNipmam microgels at different concentrations of sodium chloride and in PBS solutions using temperature dependent H-1-NMR measurements. The results show that DNA modification affects the volume phase transition temperature and the addition of salt and PBS further enhances this effect.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ningyi Li, Junhong Li, Lijingting Qing, Shicheng Ma, Yao Li, Baohui Li
Summary: This paper investigates the self-assembly behavior of colloids with competing interactions under spherical confinement and finds that different ordered structures can be formed under different sized spherical confinements. Moreover, more perforated structures are formed in smaller spheres.
