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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Communication: Bubbles, Crystals, And Laser-Induced Nucleation, Brandon C. Knott, Jerry L. Larue, Alec M. Wodtke, Michael F. Doherty, Baron Peters May 2011

Communication: Bubbles, Crystals, And Laser-Induced Nucleation, Brandon C. Knott, Jerry L. Larue, Alec M. Wodtke, Michael F. Doherty, Baron Peters

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Short intense laser pulses of visible and infrared light can dramatically accelerate crystal nucleation from transparent solutions; previous studies invoke mechanisms that are only applicable for nucleation of ordered phases or high dielectric phases. However, we show that similar laser pulses induce CO2bubblenucleation in carbonated water. Additionally, in water that is cosupersaturated with argon and glycine, argon bubbles escaping from the water can induce crystal nucleation without a laser. Our findings suggest a possible link between laser-induced nucleation of bubbles and crystals.


Synthesis And Physicochemical Properties Of Cationic Microgels Based On Poly(N-Isopropylmethacrylamide), Xiaobo Hu, Zhen Tong, L. Andrew Lyon Jan 2011

Synthesis And Physicochemical Properties Of Cationic Microgels Based On Poly(N-Isopropylmethacrylamide), Xiaobo Hu, Zhen Tong, L. Andrew Lyon

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Surfactant-free, radical precipitation copolymerization of N-isopropylmethacrylamide and the cationic co-monomer N-(3-aminopropyl) methacrylamide hydrochloride (APMH) was carried out to prepare microgels functionalized with primary amines. The morphology and hydrodynamic diameter of the microgels were characterized by atomic force microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy, with the effect of NaCl concentration and initiator type on the microgel size and yield being investigated. When a 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (V50)-initiated reaction was carried out in pure water, relatively small microgels (similar to 160 nm in diameter) were obtained in low yield (similar to 20%). However, both the yield and size increased if the reaction was …