Nanoparticle mechanical techniques

The nanoparticle patterning techniques described above are veiy powerful but they have some limitations. Nanoparticles affect the optical properties, but not, for example, the mechanical properties or hydrophilicity. In addition, nanoparticles can clog the matrix pores and limit diffusion of fluids and analytes through the monoliths [4]. 

This thin film technique can be used to better understand the mechanism of nanoparticle-polymer matrix interactions and to design particle surface modification for specific nanocomposite applications. Numerical analysis and finite element modeling of the nanoparticle embedding technique and the quantitative... 

Scheme 1. Inclusion of size-controlled PVP-protected Pt nanoparticles in calcined mesoporous SBA-15 silica matrices. Mechanical agitation by low-power sonication affords a high dispersion of nanoparticles ranging in size from 1 to 7nm in the mesopore channels. The method is referred to as capillary inclusion (Cl). The technique is limited by the size of nanoparticles that can fit into the 6-9 nm diameter mesopores [13]. (Reprinted from Ref [13], 2005, with permission from American Chemical Society.)...

Ultrasonic irradiation of a liquid leads to the generation of cavitation phenomenon which comprised of unique reaction fields in addition to physical and mechanical effects the formation of micro-meter sized bubbles, formation of bubbles with high temperature and high pressure conditions, formation of shock waves, and strong micro-stirring effects are produced. Table 5.1 shows representative ultrasound techniques to synthesize inorganic and metal nanoparticles and nanostructured materials. 

The production of CLS by the melt dispersion technique is based on the melting of the lipid core material together with the lipophilic agent (i.e., phospholipids). Afterward, a warm aqueous solution is added to the molten material and is mixed by various methods (i.e., mechanical stirring, shaking, sonication, homogenization). Then the preparation is rapidly cooled until lipid solidification and the formation of particle dispersion. This method was used by Olbrich et al. [19] to produce the cationic solid lipid nanoparticles to use as novel transfection agent. 

Most examples of polymerization used to create nanoparticles occur by a free radical mechanism involving distinct initiation, propagation, and termination processes [39]. Polymerization occurs within a continuous liquid medium, which also comprises the monomer, initiator, and a surfactant. Four different polymerization techniques are described to polymerize vinyl type monomers, namely ... 

Industrial heterogeneous catalysts and laboratory-scale model catalysts are commonly prepared by first impregnating a support with simple transition metal complexes. Catalytically active metal nanoparticles (NPs) are subsequently prepared through a series of high temperature calcination and / or reduction steps. These methods are relatively inexpensive and can be readily applied to numerous metals and supports however, the NPs are prepared in-situ on the support via processes that are not necessarily well understood. These inherent problems with standard catalyst preparation techniques are considerable drawbacks to studying and understanding complex organic reaction mechanisms over supported catalysts. (4)... 

Another cause of interest in this technique is due to the fact that the crystals in most as-deposited CD fdms are very small. Considering the current interest in nanoparticles, CD is an excellent technique to deposit nanocrystalline fdms. More specifically, if the nanocrystals are small enough, they exhibit size quantization, the most obvious manifestation of which is an increase in the optical bandgap with decrease in crystal size, as was shown for CD CdSe [17] and later for CD PbSe [18,19]. In fact, the changes in optical spectra that occurred in these films as a function of nanocrystal size were exploited to provide information on the different mechanisms of the deposition process [20]. 

The various methods of preparation employed to prepare nanoscale clusters include evaporation in inert-gas atmosphere, laser pyrolysis, sputtering techniques, mechanical grinding, plasma techniques and chemical methods (Hadjipanyas Siegel, 1994). In Table 3.5, we list typical materials prepared by inert-gas evaporation, sputtering and chemical methods. Nanoparticles of oxide materials can be prepared by the oxidation of fine metal particles, by spray techniques, by precipitation methods (involving the adjustment of reaction conditions, pH etc) or by the sol-gel method. Nanomaterials based on carbon nanotubes (see Chapter 1) have been prepared. For example, nanorods of metal carbides can be made by the reaction of volatile oxides or halides with the nanotubes (Dai et al., 1995). 

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