High throughput integrated thermal characterization with non-contact optical calorimetry.

Commonly used thermal analysis tools such as calorimeter and thermal conductivity meter are separated instruments and limited by low throughput, where only one sample is examined each time. This work reports an infrared based optical calorimetry with its theoretical foundation, which is able to provide an integrated solution to characterize thermal properties of materials with high throughput. By taking time domain temperature information of spatially distributed samples, this method allows a single device (infrared camera) to determine the thermal properties of both phase change systems (melting temperature and latent heat of fusion) and non-phase change systems (thermal conductivity and heat capacity). This method further allows these thermal properties of multiple samples to be determined rapidly, remotely, and simultaneously. In this proof-of-concept experiment, the thermal properties of a panel of 16 samples including melting temperatures, latent heats of fusion, heat capacities, and thermal conductivities have been determined in 2 min with high accuracy. Given the high thermal, spatial, and temporal resolutions of the advanced infrared camera, this method has the potential to revolutionize the thermal characterization of materials by providing an integrated solution with high throughput, high sensitivity, and short analysis time.

Photothermally Driven Refreshable Microactuators Based on Graphene Oxide Doped Paraffin.

Actuators based on phase change materials (paraffin) can simultaneously produce large stroke length and large force due to thermal expansion, but the low thermal conductivity of paraffin requires high power input and long actuation time. The graphene oxide (GO) doped paraffin dynamic actuator addresses the key challenges in the design of thermal phase change actuators: Thermal conductivity and light absorbing are increased, and the response time is reduced compared to the standard phase change actuator designed with metal heating resistors. The thermal properties of GO-paraffin composites with varied loading amount are characterized to confirm the optimal loading amount of 1.0%. A multicell phase change actuator was integrated into a digital micromirror controlled optical system. A series of photothermally driven refreshable patterns were generated and confirmed with infrared imaging.

Nanomaterials for Biosensing Applications.

Nanomaterials have shown tremendous potentials to impact the broad field of biological sensing. Nanomaterials, with extremely small sizes and appropriate surface modifications, allow intimate interaction with target biomolecules. [...].

Small-Area, Resistive Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Sensors Using Metal-Polymer Hybrid Film Based on Oxidative Chemical Vapor Deposition (oCVD).

We report a novel room temperature methanol sensor comprised of gold nanoparticles covalently attached to the surface of conducting copolymer films. The copolymer films are synthesized by oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD), allowing substrate-independent deposition, good polymer conductivity and stability. Two different oCVD copolymers are examined: poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-co-thiophene-3-aceticacid)[poly(EDOT-co-TAA)] and poly(3,4-ehylenedioxythiophene-co-thiophene-3-ethanol)[poly(EDOT-co-3-TE)]. Covalent attachment of gold nanoparticles to the functional groups of the oCVD films results in a hybrid system with efficient sensing response to methanol. The response of the poly(EDOT-co-TAA)/Au devices is found to be superior to that of the other copolymer, confirming the importance of the linker molecules (4-aminothiophenol) in the sensing behavior. Selectivity of the sensor to methanol over n-pentane, acetone, and toluene is demonstrated. Direct fabrication on a printed circuit board (PCB) is achieved, resulting in an improved electrical contact of the organic resistor to the metal circuitry and thus enhanced sensing properties. The simplicity and low fabrication cost of the resistive element, mild working temperature, together with its compatibility with PCB substrates pave the way for its straightforward integration into electronic devices, such as wireless sensor networks.

Effect of Mg2+ on hydrothermal formation of α-CaSO4·0.5H2O whiskers with high aspect ratios.

The effect of Mg(2+) on hydrothermal formation of α-CaSO4·0.5H2O whiskers with high aspect ratios was investigated in this paper. α-CaSO4·0.5H2O whiskers with a preferential growth along the c axis and an average aspect ratio up to 370 were synthesized using hydrothermal treatment of CaSO4·2H2O precursor in the presence of 1.97 × 10(-3) mol·L(-1) MgCl2. The preferential adsorption of Mg(2+) on the negative (200), (400), and (020) facets was confirmed by EDS, XPS, and zeta potential measurements. ATR-FTIR analysis revealed the ligand adsorption of Mg(2+) on the surface of α-CaSO4·0.5H2O. The doping of Mg(2+) in α-CaSO4·0.5H2O whiskers was confirmed by the XRD analysis. The experimental results indicated that the adsorption and doping of Mg(2+) promoted the 1-D growth of α-CaSO4·0.5H2O whiskers, leading to the formation of whiskers with high aspect ratios.