Name: a high performance impedance-based platform for evaporation rate detection
Uploaded: 2016-10-17T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A High Performance Impedance-based Platform for Evaporation Rate Detection at JoVE.com

This work was sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, under grant numbers MOST 104-2221-E-241-001-MY3 and MOST 105-2627-B-005-002.

1. Experimental Chip Module
<ol>
	<li>Fabricate the indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode chip by photolithography and chemical wet etching processes
	<ol>
		<li>Obtain an ITO substrate (370 mm x 480 mm x 0.5 mm (L x W x H)) with a 2,600 &#197; ITO layer commercially (See Materials List). Slice the ITO substrate to the dimensions of 90 mm x 90 mm x 0.5 mm with a glass cutter for the ITO electrode patterning process in a 4 inch aligner.</li>
		<li>Use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean the ITO glass with acetone...

<ol>
	<li>Francis, G. W., Bui, Y. T. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Changes+in+the+composition+of+aromatherapeutic+Citrus+oils+during+evaporation.">Changes in the composition of aromatherapeutic Citrus oils during evaporation.</a> Evid.-based Complement Altern. Med. 2015 (421695), 1-6 (2015).</li><li>Ochiai, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Extension+of+a+dynamic+headspace+multi-volatile+method+to+milliliter+injection+volumes+with+full+sample+evaporation:+application+to+green+tea.">Extension of a dynamic headspace multi-volatile method to milliliter injection volumes with full sample evaporation: application to green tea.</a> J. Chromatogr. A. 1421, 103-113 (2015).</li><li>Zribi, W., Aragues, R., Medina, E., Faci, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Efficiency+of+inorganic+and+organic+mulching+materials+for+soil+evaporation+control.">Efficiency of inorganic and organic mulching materials for soil evaporation control.</a> Soil Tillage Res. 148, 40-45 (2015).</li><li>Chang, B. Y., Park, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrochemical+impedance+spectroscopy.">Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.</a> Annu. Rev. Anal. Chem. 3, 207-229 (2010).</li><li>Brooks, E. K., Tobias, M. E., Yang, S., Bone, L. B., Ehrensberger, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Influence+of+MC3T3-E1+preosteoblast+culture+on+the+corrosion+of+a+T6-treated+AZ91+alloy.">Influence of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast culture on the corrosion of a T6-treated AZ91 alloy.</a> J. Biomed. Mater. Res. Part B. 104 (2), 253-262 (2016).</li><li>Tabrizi, M. A., Shamsipur, S., Farzin, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+high+sensitive+electrochemical+aptasensor+for+the+determination+of+VEGF165+in+serum+of+lung+cancer+patient.">A high sensitive electrochemical aptasensor for the determination of VEGF165 in serum of lung cancer patient.</a> Biosens. Bioelectron. 74, 764-769 (2015).</li><li>Tran, T. B., Nguyen, P. D., Baek, C., Min, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrical+dual-sensing+method+for+real-time+quantitative+monitoring+of+cell-secreted+MMP-9+and+cellular+morphology+during+migration+process.">Electrical dual-sensing method for real-time quantitative monitoring of cell-secreted MMP-9 and cellular morphology during migration process.</a> Biosens. Bioelectron. 77, 631-637 (2016).</li><li>Kruger, A. J., Krieg, H. M., van der Merwe, J., Bessarabov, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+MEA+manufacturing+parameters+using+EIS+for+SO2+electrolysis.">Evaluation of MEA manufacturing parameters using EIS for SO2 electrolysis.</a> Int. J. Hydrog. Energy. 39 (32), 18173-18181 (2014).</li><li>Guler, Z., Sarac, A. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrochemical+impedance+and+spectroscopy+study+of+the+EDC/NHS+activation+of+the+carboxyl+groups+on+poly(&#949;-caprolactone)/poly(m-anthranilic+acid)+nanofibers.">Electrochemical impedance and spectroscopy study of the EDC/NHS activation of the carboxyl groups on poly(&#949;-caprolactone)/poly(m-anthranilic acid) nanofibers.</a> Express Polym. Lett. 10 (2), 96-110 (2016).</li><li>Xi, X., Si, G., Nie, Z., Ma, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrochemical+behavior+of+tungsten+ions+from+WC+scrap+dissolution+in+a+chloride+melt.">Electrochemical behavior of tungsten ions from WC scrap dissolution in a chloride melt.</a> Electrochim. Acta. 184, 233-238 (2015).</li><li>Olejnik, A., Goscianska, J., Zielinska, A., Nowak, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stability+determination+of+the+formulations+containing+hyaluronic+acid.">Stability determination of the formulations containing hyaluronic acid.</a> Int. J. Cosmetic Sci. 37, 401-407 (2015).</li><li>Marcellin, E., Steen, J. A., Nielsen, L. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Insight+into+hyaluronic+acid+molecular+weight+control.">Insight into hyaluronic acid molecular weight control.</a> Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 98, 6947-6956 (2014).</li><li>Laurent, T. C., Laurent, U. B. G., Fraser, J. R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+structure+and+function+of+hyaluronan:+An+overview.">The structure and function of hyaluronan: An overview.</a> Immunol. Cell Biol. 74 (2), A1-A7 (1996).</li><li>Papakonstantinou, E., Roth, M., Karakiulakis, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hyaluronic+acid:+A+key+molecule+in+skin+aging.">Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging.</a> Derm.-Endocrinol. 4 (3), 253-258 (2012).</li><li>Sze, J. H., Brownlie, J. C., Love, C. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biotechnological+production+of+hyaluronic+acid:+A+mini+review.">Biotechnological production of hyaluronic acid: A mini review.</a> 3 Biotech. 6, 67 (2016).</li><li>Lin, C. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Real-time+detection+of+&#946;1+integrin+expression+on+MG-63+cells+using+electrochemical+impedance+spectroscopy.">Real-time detection of &#946;1 integrin expression on MG-63 cells using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.</a> Biosens. Bioelectron. 28 (1), 221-226 (2011).</li><li>Hsiao, S. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chemical-free+and+reusable+cellular+analysis:+Electrochemical+impedance+spectroscopy+with+a+transparent+ITO+culture+chip.">Chemical-free and reusable cellular analysis: Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with a transparent ITO culture chip.</a> Int. J. Technol. Hum. Interact. 8 (3), 1-9 (2012).</li><li>Lin, Y. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+real-time+impedance-sensing+chip+for+the+detection+of+emulsion+phase+separation.">A real-time impedance-sensing chip for the detection of emulsion phase separation.</a> Electrophoresis. 34 (12), 1743-1748 (2013).</li><li>Lin, Y. S., Chen, C. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+novel+evaporation+detection+system+using+an+impedance+sensing+chip.">A novel evaporation detection system using an impedance sensing chip.</a> Analyst. 139 (22), 5781-5784 (2014).</li><li>Tseng, S. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Graphene-based+chips+fabricated+by+ultraviolet+laser+patterning+for+anelectrochemical+impedance+spectroscopy.">Graphene-based chips fabricated by ultraviolet laser patterning for anelectrochemical impedance spectroscopy.</a> Sens. Actuator B-Chem. 226, 342-348 (2016).</li><li>Pavicic, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Efficacy+of+cream-based+novel+formulations+of+hyaluronic+acid+of+different+molecular+weights+in+anti-wrinkle+treatment.">Efficacy of cream-based novel formulations of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights in anti-wrinkle treatment.</a> J. Drugs Dermatol. 10 (9), 990-1000 (2011).</li><li>Gotoh, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+the+molecular+weight+of+hyaluronic+acid+and+its+action+mechanisms+on+experimental+joint+pain+in+rats.">Effects of the molecular weight of hyaluronic acid and its action mechanisms on experimental joint pain in rats.</a> Ann. Rheum. Dis. 52 (11), 817-822 (1993).</li><li>Saettone, M. F., Nannipieri, E., Cervetto, L., Eschini, N., Carelli, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrical+impedance+changes+and+water+content+in+O/W+emulsions+during+evaporation.">Electrical impedance changes and water content in O/W emulsions during evaporation.</a> Int. J. Cosmetic Sci. 2 (2), 63-75 (1980).</li><li>Fernandez-Sanchez, C., McNeil, C. J., Rawson, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrochemical+impedance+spectroscopy+studies+of+polymer+degradation:+application+to+biosensor+development.">Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies of polymer degradation: application to biosensor development.</a> Trac-Trends Anal. Chem. 24 (1), 37-48 (2005).</li></ol>

The critical step for evaporation measurement in this impedance-based detection is the preparation of the tested solutions. Deionized water cannot be used due to its enormous impedance. Instead, tap water containing conductive ions was used to prepare hyaluronic acid solutions for experiments. However, the electrical properties of tap water were not constant for use. Therefore, normalization, such as the relative evaporation rate to water in this study, was adopted as an alternative index for...

Evaporation is a type of liquid vaporization and occurs along the gas-liquid interface of a collective body of water. The water molecules near the surface become capable of escaping from the liquid due to collision of water molecules. The evaporation rate is an important key factor during the process of evaporation. Generally, a balance or volumetric tube1-3 is widely-used to detect the evaporation of solutions. However, it takes a long time to measure the evaporation rate due to the precision limitation of a balance or a volumetric tube. For this reason, a responsive and high-sensitivity instrument must be developed to probe into the details of the evaporation process.
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a fast-response, sensitive and effective experimental means in terms of in-situ impedance detection for electrochemical system characterization4. Therefore, EIS can be applied in various fields, such as recent studies on cellular behavior5, bioanalytical sensing6-7, electrolysis8, conducting polymers9, and electrochemical extraction10. Even though EIS systems had successfully been applied in a wide variety of disciplines, there exist an extremely small number of publications on its application to evaporation research.
Hyaluronic acid, a high molecular weight polysaccharide with strong water-binding potential, is a well-known humectant for cosmetic applications. One hyaluronic acid molecule can bind up to 500 water molecules11 and reach 1,000 times its original volume12. An extremely small amount of hyaluronic acid can possess moisturizing function13-14. Due to the high moisture retention, hyaluronic acid has become an important component of cosmetic humectant products with high commercial value worldwide15.
This study presents the method of a novel impedance-based apparatus featuring high speed detection, small volume sample requirement, and multiple sample measurements16-19. It is presented with a focus on the relative evaporation rate comparison among solutions as a way to validate the superiority of the innovative detection mechanism over a conventional weighing manner.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="848">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="28">
			<td height="28" style="height:28px;width:143px;">95 % ethanol</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">Echo Chemical Co., Ltd., Miaoli, Taiwan</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">484000001103C-00EC</td>
			<td style="width:259px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="45">
			<td height="45" style="height:45px;width:143px;">Acetone</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">Avantor Performance Materials Inc., Center Valley, PA, USA</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">JTB-9005-68</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="30">
			<td height="30" style="height:30px;width:143px;">Development solution</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">Kemitek Industrial Crop., Hsinchu, Taiwan</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">12F01031</td>
			<td style="width:259px;">KTD-1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="30">
			<td height="30" style="height:30px;width:143px;">Etching solution</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">eSolv Technology Co., Taipei, Taiwan</td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td style="width:259px;">EG-462</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="45">
			<td height="45" style="height:45px;width:143px;">Hyaluronic acid</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">Shandong Freda Biopharm Co., Ltd., Jinan, China</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">1010212</td>
			<td>Molecular weight 980k, Cosmetic Grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="45">
			<td height="45" style="height:45px;width:143px;">Photoresist solution</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">AZ Electronic Materials Taiwan Co., Ltd., Hsinchu, Taiwan</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">65101M19</td>
			<td style="width:259px;">AZ6112</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="47">
			<td height="47" style="height:47px;width:143px;">8-well silicone array</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">Greiner bio-one Inc., Frickenhausen, Baden-W&#252;rttemberg, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">FlexiPERM</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="45">
			<td height="45" style="height:45px;width:143px;">ITO glass</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">GemTech Optoelectronics Co., Taoyuan, Taiwan</td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:143px;">Vial&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC., St. Louis, MO, USA</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">854190</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="28">
			<td height="28" style="height:28px;width:143px;">Film photomask</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">Taiwan Mesh Co., Ltd, Taoyuan, Taiwan</td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="46">
			<td height="46" style="height:46px;width:143px;">Lock-in amplifier</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">Stanford Research Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">SR830</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="66">
			<td height="66" style="height:66px;width:143px;">Switch relay</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">Instrument Technology Research Center, National Applied Research Laboratories, Hsinchu, Taiwan</td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:143px;">Electronic balance machine</td>
			<td style="width:292px;">Precisa Co., Dietikon, Switzerland</td>
			<td>XS225A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a high performance impedance-based platform for evaporation rate detection

This paper describes the method of a novel impedance-based platform for the detection of the evaporation rate. The model compound hyaluronic acid was employed here for demonstration purposes. Multiple evaporation tests on the model compound as a humectant with various concentrations in solutions were conducted for comparison purposes. A conventional weight loss approach is known as the most straightforward, but time-consuming, measurement technique for evaporation rate detection. Yet, a clear disadvantage is that a large volume of sample is required and multiple sample tests cannot be conducted at the same time. For the first time in literature, an electrical impedance sensing chip is successfully applied to a real-time evaporation investigation in a time sharing, continuous and automatic manner. Moreover, as little as 0.5 ml of test samples is required in this impedance-based apparatus, and a large impedance variation is demonstrated among various dilute solutions. The proposed high-sensitivity and fast-response impedance sensing system is found to outperform a conventional weight loss approach in terms of evaporation rate detection.

During the evaporation process, the conductive ions in the tested solution became concentrated with the decreasing solution volume, and the impedance of this solution decreased. The rates of weight loss and impedance decrease in the evaporation progress for each tested solution were measured. For comparison purposes, the data in the rates of weight loss and impedance decrease were normalized to water and then plotted together in Figure 5. As illustrated in Figure 5, the weight loss demon...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A High Performance Impedance-based Platform for Evaporation Rate Detection at JoVE.com

A High Performance Impedance-based Platform for Evaporation Rate Detection

This paper presents an impedance-based apparatus for evaporation rate detection of solutions. It offers clear advantages over a conventional weight loss approach: a fast response, high-sensitivity detection, a small sample requirement, multiple sample measurements, and easy disassembly for cleaning and reuse purposes.

This paper describes the method of a novel impedance-based platform for the detection of the evaporation rate. The model compound hyaluronic acid was ...

The overall goal of this experiment is to measure the evaporation rates of solutions, using an impedance-based system. This method can help answer key questions in the analytical chemistry fields such as moisturizing competitive of cosmetics. The main advantage of this technique are faster detection response, small sample size, high sensitivities, management of multiple samples, and easy disassembly for cleaning and reuse.This method can provide insight into the evaporation process. It can also be applied to other laces such as biomolecular dissection and cellular behavior. We first had the idea for the method when we found the time-consuming nature of the standard way those measurements system to be troublesome.To begin building the experimental chip module, use a glass cutter to cut an indium tin oxide-coated glass substrate to the appropriate dimensions. Sonicate the ITO glass in acetone. And then in deionized water for 15 minutes each.Then dry the ITO glass with dry air. Apply five milliliters of positive photoresist liquid to the ITO glass and spin-coat the glass for 30 seconds. Keep the glass at 90 degrees Celsius for five minutes.Then cover the glass with a film photo mask and expose the glass to 14 milliwatts of 436-nanometer ultraviolet light for 3.1 seconds. Allow the glass to cool to room temperature. Then develop the glass in developer solution for 30 seconds.Heat the developed glass on a hot plate at 120 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. Allow the glass to cool to 80 degrees Celsius. Place the glass in etching solution at 80 degrees for three minutes.Then place the glass in acetone for one minute to remove residual photoresist material. Using a glass cutter, trim the excess ITO glass from the chip. Next, sonicate an 8-well silicone array and the ITO chip in detergent, deionized water, 95%ethanol, and deonized water again for 15 minutes each.Dry the array and chip with dry air. Carefully place the clean, dry silicone array on the surface of the ITO chip so the electrode fingers on the chip are all within the wells of the silicone array. Finally, press the silicone array onto the ITO chip to form the experimental chip module.To begin preparation for the experiment, connect a lock-in amplifier to a computer. Then connect a switch relay circuit to the lock-in amplifier. Insert the experimental chip module into the switch relay circuit socket.In the software, set the signal frequency, the sample well numbers, the execution cycle, and the name of the file. Then prepare 4-milliliter solutions of varying concentrations of hyaluronic acid in tap water. Transfer 2.5 milliliters of each solution to a small vial.To begin the experiment, for each sample transfer 0.5 milliliters to a well of the experimental chip module. Then weigh each sample vial with a precision balance and record the weights. In the software, begin collecting resistance and signal phase data.Record the weights of the vials at regular time intervals throughout the evaporation experiment. Continue collecting data until the evaporation rate can be accurately determined by the change in weight of the sample vials. The rate of evaporation of hyaluronic acid solutions relative to water could be calculated from the impedance data after an hour of data collection.The weighing method required half a day of data collection to determine the rate of evaporation. The impedance data, when normalized and converted to rate of weight loss, indicated that the evaporation rate of the solution of 0.05 weight to volume percent hyaluronic acid is 12%lower relative to water. The conventional weighing method displayed the same trend of decreased relative evaporation rate.But the sensitivity of the precision balance was less than that of the impedance detector. Once mastered, this technique can be done in a hour if it is performed properly. After its development, this technique pave the way for researchers in the field of biomedicine to improve biomedication detection and cellular behavior using a constant microchip.

Research

JoVE Journal

Engineering

Research and Development of High-performance Explosives

Developmental testing of high explosives for military applications involves small-scale formulation, safety testing, and finally detonation performance ...

Seedless Growth of Bismuth Nanowire Array via Vacuum Thermal Evaporation

Here a seedless and template-free technique is demonstrated to scalably grow bismuth nanowires, through thermal evaporation in high vacuum at RT. ...

Methods for Measuring the Orientation and Rotation Rate of 3D-printed Particles in Turbulence

Experimental methods are presented for measuring the rotational and translational motion of anisotropic particles in turbulent fluid flows. 3D printing ...

Probing C84-embedded Si Substrate Using Scanning Probe Microscopy and Molecular Dynamics

Probing C84-embedded Si Substrate Using Scanning Probe Microscopy and Molecular Dynamics

This paper reports an array-designed C84-embedded Si substrate fabricated using a controlled self-assembly method in an ultra-high vacuum chamber. The ...

Scalable Solution-processed Fabrication Strategy for High-performance, Flexible, Transparent Electrodes with Embedded Metal Mesh

Here, the authors report the embedded metal-mesh transparent electrode (EMTE), a new transparent electrode (TE) with a metal mesh completely embedded in a ...

Detecting the Water-soluble Chloride Distribution of Cement Paste in a High-precision Way

To improve the accuracy of the chloride distribution along the depth of cement paste under cyclic wet-dry conditions, a new method is proposed to obtain a ...

Method for Recording Broadband High Resolution Emission Spectra of Laboratory Lightning Arcs

Lightning is one of the most common and destructive forces in nature and has long been studied using spectroscopic techniques, first with traditional ...

Flow-assisted Dielectrophoresis: A Low Cost Method for the Fabrication of High Performance Solution-processable Nanowire Devices

Flow-assisted dielectrophoresis (DEP) is an efficient self-assembly method for the controllable and reproducible positioning, alignment, and selection of ...

Developing High Performance GaP/Si Heterojunction Solar Cells

To improve the efficiency of Si-based solar cells beyond their Shockley-Queisser limit, the optimal path is to integrate them with III-V-based solar ...

A Silicon-tipped Fiber-optic Sensing Platform with High Resolution and Fast Response

In this article, we introduce an innovative and practically promising fiber-optic sensing platform (FOSP) that we proposed and demonstrated recently. This ...