Carbon nanotubes as efficient nanosieve for controlled assembly of nanoparticles
In this work, techniques to explore the capabilities of multi-walled carbon nanotubes\r (MWNTs) in sorting nanoparticles (NPs) were presented. A droplet of a solution comprising of quantum dots (QDs) with various sizes was deposited on an aligned array of intertwined MWNTs. Photoluminescence (PL) and fluorescence microscopy (FM) revealed that MWNTs were effective nano-sieves that could effectively sort out QDs with a size difference of ~ 2.1 nm.\r Cadmium Selenide/Zinc Sulfide (CdSe/ZnS)core-shell QDs and Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) QDs were used to explore whether chemical properties of NPs affect the sieving capability of MWNTs. Further investigation on the effects of micro-patterning on the sieving ability of MWNTs was also carried out.PL and FM results suggested that micro-patterning could aid in separation of QDs and thus improve sieving capability of MWNTs. With the above findings, QDs emitting different colors as a result of size difference could efficiently be assembled onto the MWNTs en route to three-dimensional architectures with controlled assembly of NPs.\r Together with controlled laser power to remove desired amounts of QDs decorated MWNTs, a multi-colored display could be achieved. Further experiments were also carried out to determine the feasibility of introducing MWNTs as filters for NPs. Dilute solutions containing NPs such as gold colloid was run through these MWNTs filters by gravity. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images of the samples showed that MWNTs were successful in trapping the nanoparticles. Explorations into the length dependent effect of using MWNTs as filters, suggested that 300μm MWNTs are better nano-sieves compared to 50μm MWNTs.
Comfortable Equipment for Pedestrians
The phenomenon of pedestrians nowadays is still found. Due to frequent walking, sometimes our legs feel tired and hard to move. This is become the basis for developing tools that are convenient for pedestrians. An easy tool for humans is needed for our activities, especially walking. The Synergy between our hands and feet provides a big and significant contribution to the appliance. Normally, the movement of our hand gets along with its motion with a different side of the foot. When the right foot step, then the left hand is swung forward, and vice versa. The tools can be developed by utilizing a variety of systems. The system includes the tools concentric wheel and axles system, spring system, and pulley system. The concentric wheel and axles system is useful in controlling the rope. Movement on the rope could activate the entire system on the appliance. Wheel that related with the hand is three times bigger than wheel that related with pulley that is applied on foot. Spring system is able to lighten the pressure of the foot with a given upward force, and able to provide downward force when the spring returned to its original position. While the pulley system on the tool used to provide mechanical advantage two times is also useful to lighten the pressure of the foot when walking. The tools can be designed with simple, and able to provide benefits to users. By trial and error, it shows that the tool is able to lighten human’s activity when they walk. The tool can be able to lighten the leg’s load by utilizing arm muscles work. Utilization of the arm muscles which helps to ease the pressure of the foot can provide more benefits. One of them is that it can strengthen the arm strength, so the tool can be used as sport equipment. Utilization of the tool can also be reserved for special people who have difficulty in walking due to an accident or birth with leg defect.
可調式光電元件:奈米線與液晶的結合
藉由結合液晶與奈米線,本研究設計出新型的光電元件,我們發現這些新設計具有先前元件很難達到的新穎特性。首先,我們研究液晶分子與一維磁性奈米線之結合,很有趣的是磁性奈米線在液晶元件內,會沿著液晶方向作整齊排列,更重要的是經由一外加電場,即可調控磁性奈米線之磁場方向。藉由電場調控磁場,是很久以來許多科學家追求的目標,然而成效不彰,本研究提供了一個簡便的方法,克服了長久以來的障礙。第二個例子,我們研究液晶分子與一維半導體奈米線結合之元件,我們證實了半導體奈米線所發射瑩光之電場偏極方向,可以經由外加電場來調控,這個特性對於資訊科技的應用,將很有用處。本研究所觀測到之結果,皆可利用下列事實來理解,奈米線具有很大的表面積,因而增加了與液晶分子之交互作用,經由此增大的交互作用力,奈米線會沿著液晶分子方向排列。值得強調的是,本研究利用了已成熟的液晶顯示器技術,其未來應用性將有很大潛力。New devices based on the composites of liquid crystals and one dimensional nanowires have been designed, fabricated, and characterized. It is discovered that these novel devices own interesting properties that are very difficult to be obtained by conventional ones. As the first example, the liquid crystal device with built-in one dimensional magnetic nanowires has been studied. It is found that the magnetic nanowires can be well aligned along the orientation of liquid crystal molecules. Quite interestingly, the direction of the magnetization of magnetic nanowires can be easily manipulated by an external electric field at room temperature. The phenomenon of electric manipulation of magnetization has been studied since nineteen century, but the achievement is rather limited. Here, we provide a convenient alternative to overcome the long quest search. For the second example, the liquid crystal device with built-in semiconductor nanowires has been investigated. We demonstrate that the polarization of the emission arising from semiconductor nanowires can be easily controlled by an external electric field, which is one of the basic requirements for information technology. All of our observed results can be well understood in terms of the inherent nature of a large surface to volume ratio of one dimensional nanowires, which induces a strong interaction between embedded nanowires and liquid crystal molecules. Therefore, the nanowires can be driven along the orientation of liquid crystal molecules. It is stressed here that our newly designed devices are based on the well established liquid crystal display technology and therefore their practical application can be realized in the near future.