Characterization of β-lactoglobulin adsorption on silica membrane pore surfaces and its impact on membrane emulsification processes.

Protein adsorption plays a key role in membrane fouling in liquid processing, but the specific underlying molecular mechanisms of β-lactoglobulin adsorption on ceramic silica surfaces in premix membrane emulsification have not been investigated yet. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the β-lactoglobulin adsorption and its effect on the premix membrane emulsification of β-lactoglobulin-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions. In particular, the conformation, molecular interactions, layer thickness, surface energy of the adsorbed β-lactoglobulin and resulting droplet size distribution are investigated in relation to the solvent properties (aggregation state of β-lactoglobulin) and the treatment of the silica surface (hydrophilization).

Spin in organics: a new route to spintronics.

New developments in the nascent field of organic spintronics are discussed. Two classes of phenomena can be discerned. In hybrid organic spin valves (OSVs), an organic semiconducting film is sandwiched between two ferromagnetic (FM) thin films, aiming at magnetoresistive effects as a function of the relative alignment of the respective magnetization directions.

Spin-spin interactions in organic magnetoresistance probed by angle-dependent measurements.

The dependence of organic magnetoresistance (OMAR) on the orientation of the magnetic field has been investigated. In contrast with previous claims, a finite and systematic change in magnitude is observed when the orientation of the field is changed with respect to the sample. It is demonstrated that, to explain these effects, spin-spin interactions have to be included in the models previously suggested for OMAR.

Magnetoresistance in hybrid organic spin valves at the onset of multiple-step tunneling.

By combining experiments with simple model calculations, we obtain new insight in spin transport through hybrid, CoFeB/Al2O3(1.5 nm)/tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminium (Alq3)/Co spin valves. We have measured the characteristic changes in the I-V behavior as well as the intrinsic loss of magnetoresistance at the onset of multiple-step tunneling.

Sign inversion of magnetoresistance in space-charge limited organic devices.

In this Letter, we explain the puzzling sign change of organic magnetoresistance in space-charge limited devices by device physics. We prove analytically and numerically that in the case of bipolar conduction with an Ohmic majority carrier and an injection limited minority carrier contact, a decrease in minority carrier mobility may give rise to an increase in the device current. It is shown that when the magnetic field acts to decrease the mobility of both carriers, a sign change in the magnetoconductivity as a function of applied bias may result.