Characterization of Nanoparticles in Ethanolic Suspension Using Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry: Application for Cementitious Systems.

Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) is a well-established technique to characterize the size, particle number concentration (PNC), and elemental composition of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) and colloids in aqueous suspensions. However, a method capable of directly analyzing water-sensitive or highly reactive NPs in alcoholic suspension has not been reported yet. Here, we present a novel spICP-MS method for characterizing the main cement hydration product, i.

Water Mobility within Compacted Clay Samples: Multi-Scale Analysis Exploiting H NMR Pulsed Gradient Spin Echo and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Water Density Profiles.

H NMR pulsed gradient spin echo attenuation and water density profile analysis by magnetic resonance imaging are both used to determine the mobility of water molecules confined within a porous network of compacted kaolinite clay sample (total porosity of ∼50%). These two complementary experimental procedures efficiently probe molecular diffusion within time scales varying between milliseconds and few hours, filling the gap between the time scale of diffusion dynamics measured by traditional quasi elastic neutron scattering and through-diffusion methods. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging is a nondestructive investigation tool that is able to assess the effect of the local structure on the macroscopic mobility of the diffusing probe.

Thin Films with Perpendicular Tetragonally Packed Rectangular Rods Obtained from Blends of Linear ABC Block Terpolymers.

A binary blend of poly(isoprene--styrene--(2-vinylpyridine)) (ISP) triblock terpolymers, having the same chain length but different compositions, was used to achieve an ordered lattice with 4-fold symmetry of rectangular-shaped rods of poly(isoprene) (I) and poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P). In given conditions, the I and P domains were oriented perpendicularly to the substrate, providing an appealing type of templates for nanopatterning. Thin films were prepared by spin coating, exposed to solvent vapor (providing morphological reorganization), and then characterized by atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering.

Cryptomelane formation from nanocrystalline vernadite precursor: a high energy X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy perspective on reaction mechanisms.

Background: Vernadite is a nanocrystalline and turbostratic phyllomanganate which is ubiquitous in the environment. Its layers are built of (MnO6)(8-) octahedra connected through their edges and frequently contain vacancies and  (or) isomorphic substitutions. Both create a layer charge deficit that can exceed 1 valence unit per layer octahedron and thus induces a strong chemical reactivity.