A. Sauret, E. C. Barney, A. Perro, E. Villermaux, H. A. Stone and E. Dressaire
Applied Physics Letters 2014, 105, 074101
We report on a microfluidic method that allows measurement of a small concentration of largecontaminants in suspensions of solid micrometer-scale particles. To perform the measurement, we flowthe colloidalsuspension through a series of constrictions, i.e., a microchannel of varying cross-section. We show and quantify the role of large contaminants in the formation of clogs at a constriction and the growth of the resulting filter cake. By measuring the time interval between two clogging events in an array of parallel microchannels, we are able to estimate the concentration of contaminants whose size is selected by the geometry of the microfluidic device. This technique for characterizing colloidalsuspensions offers a versatile and rapid tool to explore the role of contaminants on the properties of thesuspensions.
D. Tarus, E. Hachet, L. Messager, B. Catargi, V. Ravaine, R. Auzély-Velty
Macromol. Rapid. Commun. 2014, 35, 2089 -2095
Dynamic covalent hydrogels are facilely prepared from biocompatible polysaccharides in physiological conditions by the formation of phenylboronate ester cross-links. This is based on the simple mixing of carboxylate-containing polysaccharides (i.e., hyaluronic acid or carboxymethylcellulose) modified with phenylboronic acid and maltose moieties according to mild coupling reactions performed in aqueous solution. The formation of dynamic networks based on reversible boronic-ester cross-links is demonstrated by analyzing their rheological behavior. This study shows that these gels can adapt their structure in response to chemical stimuli such as variations in pH or addition of glucose and self-heal.
P. Masse, E. Sellier, V. Schmitt, and V. Ravaine
Langmuir, 2014, 30 (49), pp 14745–14756
The importance of electrostatics on microgel adsorption at a liquid interface is studied, as well as its consequence on emulsion stabilization. In this work, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) microgels bearing different numbers of charges and various distribution profiles are studied, both in solution and at the oil–water interface of emulsion drops. Charged microgels are compared to neutral ones, and electrostatic interactions are screened by adding salt to the aqueous solution. In solution, electrostatics has a significant impact on microgel swelling, as induced by the osmotic pressure exerted by mobile counterions in the gel network. At the interface of drops, microgels pack in a hexagonal array, whose lattice parameter is independent of the number of charges and range of electrostatic interactions. Microgel morphology and packing are ruled only by the adsorption of the pNIPAM chain at the interface. Conversely, decreasing the charge density of microgels by the protonation of the carboxylic groups leads to unstable emulsions, possibly as a result of the impact of hydrogen bonding on microgel deformability.
H. Sopha, J. Roche, I. Švancara, A. Kuhn
Anal.Chem. 2014, 86, 10515–10519
In this contribution, a wireless method for the electrolytic sampling of heavy metals at special bismuth-modified particles is presented. For the first time, glassy carbon beads were asymmetrically modified with bismuth using bipolar electrochemistry. The resulting chemically asymmetric beads, so-called Janus particles, could be employed for the wireless electroaccumulation of heavy metal ions in the bismuth film. The qualitative and quantitative aspects of this concept have been studied by using anodic stripping voltammetry with Cd2+ and Pb2+ as the model ions. Different experimental and instrumental parameters have been optimized, among others the concentration of Bi3+ ions, the deposition conditions for the bismuth-film, and the accumulation time of the target heavy metals.The developed concept could be applied to the transfer of heavy metal ions from a solution into a confined space without need to electrically connect the collector (electrode), thus representing an interesting new approach for trace metal analysis in small volumes.
J. Roche, S. Carrara, J. Sanchez, J. Lannelongue, G. Loget, L. Bouffier, P. Fischer, A. Kuhn
Sci. Rep. 2014, 4, 6705
Miniaturized structures that can move in a controlled way in solution and integrate various functionalities are attracting considerable attention due to the potential applications in fields ranging from autonomous micromotors to roving sensors. Here we introduce a concept which allows, depending on their specific design, the controlled directional motion of objects in water, combined with electronic functionalities such as the emission of light, sensing, signal conversion, treatment and transmission. The approach is based on electric field-induced polarization, which triggers different chemical reactions at the surface of the object and thereby its propulsion. This results in a localized electric current that can power in a wireless way electronic devices in water, leading to a new class of electronic swimmers (e-swimmers).
