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Kaul N, Bergamasco L, Song H, Varkevisser T, Amati A, Falciani G, van Rijn CJM, Chiavazzo E, Sen I, Bonnet S, Hammarström L. Realizing Symmetry-Breaking Architectures in Soap Films. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2024; 132:028201. [PMID: 38277585 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.132.028201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
We show here that soap films-typically expected to host symmetric molecular arrangements-can be constructed with differing opposite surfaces, breaking their symmetry, and making them reminiscent of functional biological motifs found in nature. Using fluorescent molecular probes as dopants on different sides of the film, resonance energy transfer could be employed to confirm the lack of symmetry, which was found to persist on timescales of several minutes. Further, a theoretical analysis of the main transport phenomena involved yielded good agreement with the experimental observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Kaul
- Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 523, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Luca Bergamasco
- Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, Torino 10129, Italy
| | - Hongwei Song
- Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 523, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thijs Varkevisser
- Nanotechnology and Microfluidics, Institute of Physics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Agnese Amati
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Cees J M van Rijn
- Nanotechnology and Microfluidics, Institute of Physics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Indraneel Sen
- Wasabi Innovations Ltd., Boulevard "Shipchenski Prohod" 18, Block A, Floor 3, Office 9, Slatina, Galaxy Business Center, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Sylvestre Bonnet
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Leif Hammarström
- Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 523, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
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Rahman MR, Shen L, Ewen JP, Dini D, Smith ER. The Intrinsic Fragility of the Liquid-Vapor Interface: A Stress Network Perspective. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:4669-4679. [PMID: 35385282 PMCID: PMC9022435 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of the liquid-vapor interface of a Lennard-Jones fluid is examined with molecular dynamics simulations using the intrinsic sampling method. Results suggest clear damping of the intrinsic profiles with increasing temperature. Investigating the surface stress distribution, we have identified a linear variation of the space-filling nature (fractal dimension) of the stress clusters at the intrinsic surface with increasing surface tension or, equivalently, with decreasing temperature. A percolation analysis of these stress networks indicates that the stress field is more disjointed at higher temperatures. This leads to more fragile (or poorly connected) interfaces which result in a reduction in surface tension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Rizwanur Rahman
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College
London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Li Shen
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College
London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - James P. Ewen
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College
London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Daniele Dini
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College
London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - E. R. Smith
- Department
of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
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Kamathe V, Nagar R. Morphology-driven gas sensing by fabricated fractals: A review. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 12:1187-1208. [PMID: 34858773 PMCID: PMC8593696 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.12.88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Fractals are intriguing structures that repeat themselves at various length scales. Interestingly, fractals can also be fabricated artificially in labs under controlled growth environments and be explored for various applications. Such fractals have a repeating unit that spans in length from nano- to millimeter range. Fractals thus can be regarded as connectors that structurally bridge the gap between the nano- and the macroscopic worlds and have a hybrid structure of pores and repeating units. This article presents a comprehensive review on inorganic fabricated fractals (fab-fracs) synthesized in labs and employed as gas sensors across materials, morphologies, and gas analytes. The focus is to investigate the morphology-driven gas response of these fab-fracs and identify key parameters of fractal geometry in influencing gas response. Fab-fracs with roughened microstructure, pore-network connectivity, and fractal dimension (D) less than 2 are projected to be possessing better gas sensing capabilities. Fab-fracs with these salient features will help in designing the commercial gas sensors with better performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Kamathe
- Nanomaterials for Energy Applications Lab, Applied Science Department, Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale, Pune-412115, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rupali Nagar
- Nanomaterials for Energy Applications Lab, Applied Science Department, Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale, Pune-412115, Maharashtra, India
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Reichl U, Seidel‐Morgenstern A, Sundmacher K, Tsotsas E, van Wachem B. Forschungsarbeiten am Institut für Verfahrenstechnik der Otto‐von‐Guericke‐Universität Magdeburg. CHEM-ING-TECH 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/cite.202100002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Udo Reichl
- Otto von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg Institut für Verfahrenstechnik Universitätsplatz 2 39106 Magdeburg Deutschland
| | - Andreas Seidel‐Morgenstern
- Otto von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg Institut für Verfahrenstechnik Universitätsplatz 2 39106 Magdeburg Deutschland
| | - Kai Sundmacher
- Otto von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg Institut für Verfahrenstechnik Universitätsplatz 2 39106 Magdeburg Deutschland
| | - Evangelos Tsotsas
- Otto von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg Institut für Verfahrenstechnik Universitätsplatz 2 39106 Magdeburg Deutschland
| | - Berend van Wachem
- Otto von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg Institut für Verfahrenstechnik Universitätsplatz 2 39106 Magdeburg Deutschland
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Zhao LX, Zhang K, Siteur K, Li XZ, Liu QX, van de Koppel J. Fairy circles reveal the resilience of self-organized salt marshes. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/6/eabe1100. [PMID: 33547078 PMCID: PMC7864568 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe1100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Spatial patterning is a fascinating theme in both theoretical and experimental ecology. It reveals resilience and stability to withstand external disturbances and environmental stresses. However, existing studies mainly focus on well-developed persistent patterns rather than transient patterns in self-organizing ecosystems. Here, combining models and experimental evidence, we show that transient fairy circle patterns in intertidal salt marshes can both infer the underlying ecological mechanisms and provide a measure of resilience. The models based on sulfide accumulation and nutrient depletion mechanisms reproduced the field-observed fairy circles, providing a generalized perspective on the emergence of transient patterns in salt marsh ecosystems. Field experiments showed that nitrogen fertilization mitigates depletion stress and shifts plant growth from negative to positive in the center of patches. Hence, nutrient depletion plays an overriding role, as only this process can explain the concentric rings. Our findings imply that the emergence of transient patterns can identify the ecological processes underlying pattern formation and the factors determining the ecological resilience of salt marsh ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Xia Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration and Center for Global Change and Ecological Forecasting, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
- Yangtze Delta Estuarine Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education and Shanghai Science and Technology Committee, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration and Center for Global Change and Ecological Forecasting, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Koen Siteur
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration and Center for Global Change and Ecological Forecasting, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research, Yerseke 4401 NT, Netherlands
| | - Xiu-Zhen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
- Yangtze Delta Estuarine Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education and Shanghai Science and Technology Committee, Shanghai, China
| | - Quan-Xing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration and Center for Global Change and Ecological Forecasting, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
- Yangtze Delta Estuarine Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education and Shanghai Science and Technology Committee, Shanghai, China
| | - Johan van de Koppel
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research, Yerseke 4401 NT, Netherlands.
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen 9700 CC, Netherlands
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