From rectangular to diamond shape: on the three-dimensional and size-dependent transformation of patterns formed by single particles trapped in microfluidic acoustic tweezers.

Generally, the pattern formed by individual particles trapped inside a microfluidic chamber by a two-dimensional standing acoustic wave field has been considered only the result of the acoustic radiation force. Previous studies showed that particles can be trapped at the local minima and maxima of the first-order pressure and velocity fields. Thus, either a rectangular or a diamond pattern can be formed solely depending on the particle size, when the acoustic field is unchanged, and the material properties of the particles and the fluid are fixed. In this paper, we report about the co-existence of different patterns with particles of the same size. The actual shape of the patterns depends mainly on the ratio between particle diameter and wavelength. In addition, particles were found to be trapped at locations that coincide with the position of antinodes, even though the particles have a positive acoustic contrast factor. These phenomena imply that the trapping of individual particles cannot be described by the acoustic radiation force solely. Hence, further research is required, taking the viscous drag force caused by the fluid flow induced by the acoustic streaming effect into account.

Three-dimensional heating and patterning dynamics of particles in microscale acoustic tweezers.

Acoustic tweezers facilitate a noninvasive, contactless, and label-free method for the precise manipulation of micro objects, including biological cells. Although cells are exposed to mechanical and thermal stress, acoustic tweezers are usually considered as biocompatible. Here, we present a holistic experimental approach to reveal the correlation between acoustic fields, acoustophoretic motion and heating effects of particles induced by an acoustic tweezer setup. The system is based on surface acoustic waves and was characterized by applying laser Doppler vibrometry, astigmatism particle tracking velocimetry and luminescence lifetime imaging. In situ measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution reveal a three-dimensional particle patterning coinciding with the experimentally assisted numerical result of the acoustic radiation force distribution. In addition, a considerable and rapid heating up to 55 °C depending on specific parameters was observed. Although these temperatures may be harmful to living cells, counter-measures can be found as the time scales of patterning and heating are shown to be different.

A Highly Sensitive and Stable rGO:MoS2-Based Chemiresistive Humidity Sensor Directly Insertable to Transformer Insulating Oil Analyzed by Customized Electronic Sensor Interface.

Reduced graphene oxide and molybdenum disulfide (rGO:MoS2) are the most representative two-dimensional materials, which are promising for a humidity sensor owing to its high surface area, a large number of active sites, and excellent mechanical flexibility. Herein, we introduced a highly sensitive and stable rGO:MoS2-based humidity sensor integrated with a low-power in-plane microheater and a temperature sensor, directly insertable to transformer insulating oil, and analyzed by a newly developed customized sensor interface electronics to monitor the sensor's output variations in terms of relative humidity (RH) concentration. rGO:MoS2 sensing materials were synthesized by simple ultrasonication without using any additives or additional heating and selectively deposited on titanium/platinum (Ti/Pt) interdigitated electrodes on a SiO2 substrate using the drop-casting method. The significant sensing capability of p-n heterojunction formation between rGO and MoS2 was observed both in the air and transformer insulating oil environment. In air testing, the sensor exhibited an immense sensitivity of 0.973 kΩ/%RH and excellent linearity of ∼0.98 with a change of humidity from 30 to 73 %RH, and a constant resistance deviation with an inaccuracy rate of 0.13% over 400 h of continual measurements. In oil, the sensor showed a high sensitivity of 1.596 kΩ/%RH and stable repeatability for an RH concentration range between 34 and 63 %RH. The obtained results via the sensor interface were very similar to those measured with a digital multimeter, denoting that our developed total sensor system is a very promising candidate for real-time monitoring of the operational status of power transformers.

Nanohybrids of Pt-Functionalized Al2O3/ZnO Core-Shell Nanorods for High-Performance MEMS-Based Acetylene Gas Sensor.

Metal oxide nanostructures are the most promising materials for the fabrication of advanced gas sensors. However, the main challenge of these gas sensors is humidity interference and issues related to the selectivity and high operating temperature, which limits their response in real-time applications. In this study, we proposed nanohybrids of Pt-functionalized Al2O3/ZnOcore-shell nanorods (NRs) for a real-time humidity-independent acetylene gas sensor. The core ZnO NRs have been fabricated on microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microheater, followed by a coating of a thin nanoscale moisture-blocking conformal Al2O3 shell by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and decoration of Pt NPs using photochemical deposition and e-beam evaporation. Prior to the fabrication, a COMSOL simulation was performed to optimize the microheater design and moisture-blocking layer thickness. A comparative study of the decoration of Pt NPs on the ZnO surface by photochemical (s-Pt/ZnO) and e-beam evaporation (e-Pt/ZnO) and a Al2O3 thin moisture-blocking shell layer (Pt/Al2O3/ZnO) in sensor response has been conducted. The fabricated sensors (s-Pt/ZnO) and (e-Pt/ZnO) showed a high response ΔR/R (%) of 96.46% and 68.15% to 200 ppm acetylene at 120 °C and detect trace concentrations of acetylene down to 1 ppm, but the response is influenced by humidity. Moreover, the sensor (Pt/Al2O3/ZnO) exhibited nearly the same sensing characteristics and high acetylene selectivity despite the wide range of humidity variation from 20% RH to 70% RH. The Pt-functionalized Al2O3/ZnOcore-shell NR-based sensor showed better sensing and stable performance than other sensors (s-Pt/ZnO and e-Pt/ZnO) under humidity conditions.

Selective detection of Co2+ by fluorescent nano probe: Diagnostic approach for analysis of environmental samples and biological activities.

Nowadays scientist over the world are engaging to put forth improved methods to detect metal ion in an aqueous medium based on fluorescence studies. A simple, selective and sensitive method was proposed for detection of Co2+ ion using fluorescent organic nanoparticles. We synthesized a fluorescent small molecule viz. 4,4'-{benzene-1,4-diylbis-[(Z)methylylidenenitrilo]}dibenzoic acid (BMBA) to explore its suitability as sensor for Co2+ ion and biocompatibility in form of nanoparticles. Fluorescence nanoparticles (BMBANPs) prepared by simple reprecipitation method. Aggregation induced enhanced emission of BMBANPs exhibits the narrower particle size of 68nm and sphere shape morphology. The selective fluorescence quenching was observed by addition of Co2+ and does not affected by presence of other coexisting ion solutions. The photo-physical properties, viz. UV-absorption, fluorescence emission, and lifetime measurements are in support of ligand-metal interaction followed by static fluorescence quenching phenomenon in emission of BMBANPs. Finally, we develop a simple analytical method for selective and sensitive determination of Co2+ ion in environmental samples. The cell culture E. coli, Bacillus sps., and M. tuberculosis H37RV strain in the vicinity of BMBANPs indicates virtuous anti-bacterial and anti-tuberculosis activity which is of additional novel application shown by prepared nanoparticles.

Development of chipless, wireless current sensor system based on giant magnetoimpedance magnetic sensor and surface acoustic wave transponder.

A chipless, wireless current sensor system was developed using a giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) magnetic sensor and one-port surface acoustic wave (SAW) reflective delay line for real-time power monitoring in a current-carrying conductor. The GMI sensor has a high-quality crystalline structure in each layer, which contributes to a high sensitivity and good linearity in a magnetic field of 3-16 Oe. A 400 MHz RF energy generated from the interdigital transducer (IDT)-type reflector on the one-port SAW delay line was used as an activation source for the GMI magnetic sensor. The one-port SAW delay line replaces the presently existing transceiver system, which is composed of thousands of transistors, thus enabling chipless and wireless operation. We confirmed a large variation in the amplitude of the SAW reflection peak with a change in the impedance of the GMI sensor caused by the current flow through the conductor. Good linearity and sensitivity of ~0.691 dB/A were observed for currents in the range 1-12 A. Coupling of Mode (COM) modeling and impedance matching analysis were also performed to predict the device performance in advance and these were compared with the experimental results.

FRET Between Riboflavin and 9-Anthraldehyde Based Fluorescent Organic Nanoparticles Possessing Antibacterial Activity.

The aqueous suspension of fluorescent nanoparticles were prepared by using 9-anthradehdye derivative (AH). The nanoparticles (AHNPs) were characterized using DLS-zeta sizer and SEM techniques. The photo physical properties of nanoparticles and precursor were measured and compared using UV-absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime studies. The significant overlap between fluorescence spectrum of AHNPs and excitation spectrum of Riboflavin (RF) led us to explore Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) studies between AHNPs and RF in aqueous medium. The mechanism of FRET from AHNPs to RF discussed on spectral observations, thermodynamic parameters and changes produces in fluorescence lifetime in absence and presence of different concentrations of RF to AHNPs. The limit of detection for RF (0.071 µM) is considerably low compared with reported methods. Thus, we explore AHNPs as novel nano probe for quantitative determination of RF in pharmaceutical samples based on FRET study. In addition with this, AHNPs has excellent antibacterial activity than the bulk material for two different bacteria culture viz. E. coli and Bacillus sps. Graphical Abstract 9-anthradehdye based fluorescent nanoparticles (AHNPs) explores as nano probe to detect Riboflavin (RF) in aqueous medium based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) studies. The proposed analytical method successfully applied for quantitative determination of RF in pharmaceutical samples. In addition, with this, AHNPs has excellent antibacterial activity than the bulk material for two different bacteria culture suspension viz. E. coli and Bacillus sps.

High performing smart electrochromic device based on honeycomb nanostructured h-WO3 thin films: hydrothermal assisted synthesis.

Herein, we report honeycomb nanostructured single crystalline hexagonal WO(3) (h-WO(3)) thin films in order to improve electrochromic performance. In the present investigation, honeycomb nanostructured WO(3) with different unit size and nanowire array with highly nanocrystalline frameworks have been synthesized via a hydrothermal technique. The influence of hydrothermal reaction time on the honeycomb unit cells, crystallite size, lithium ion diffusion coefficient and switching time for coloration/bleaching were studied systematically. The electrochromic study reveals that the honeycomb unit cell size has a significant impact on the electrochromic performance. Small unit cells in the honeycomb lead to large optical modulation and fast switching response. A large optical modulation in the visible spectral region (60.74% at λ = 630 nm) at a potential of -1.2 V with fast switching time (4.29 s for coloration and 3.38 s for bleaching) and high coloration efficiency (87.23 cm(2) C(-1)) is observed in the honeycomb WO(3) thin films with a unit cell diameter of 1.7 µm. The variation in color on reduction of WO(3) with applied potential has been plotted on an xy-chromaticity diagram and the color space coordinate shows the transition from a colorless to deep blue state.