Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026
04:22
Physiological Characterization of the Coral Holobiont Using a New Micro-Respirometry Tool
Published on: April 28, 2023
1.5K
Coral-like Janus Porous Spheres
Hang Zhang1, Qian Wang1, Bingyin Jiang1
1State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|December 10, 2016
Summary
Researchers developed Janus porous spheres with a unique coral-like structure. These spheres efficiently capture and release oil in response to temperature or pH changes, offering a novel solution for oil remediation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Developing advanced porous materials is crucial for efficient separation and capture processes.
- Microstructure design significantly influences material properties like capillary force and mass transport.
- Stimuli-responsive materials offer tunable functionalities for targeted applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize Janus porous spheres with a coral-like microstructure.
- To investigate the role of microstructure in enhancing mass transportation and capture efficiency.
- To demonstrate the stimuli-responsive oil capture and release capabilities of these novel spheres.
Main Methods:
- Stepwise dealloying of metallic alloy spheres to create a porous structure.
- Sequential surface modification using silanes and polymers.
- Incorporation of stimuli-responsive polymers like poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PEG-PNIPAM) and poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(N,N-diethylamino-2-ethylmethacrylate) (PEG-PDEAEMA).
Main Results:
- Successful preparation of Janus porous spheres with a nanoscale coral-like microstructure.
- Demonstrated enhanced capillary force and accelerated mass transportation due to the unique microstructure.
- Achieved rapid oil capture and triggered release by altering temperature or pH, showcasing stimuli-responsive behavior.
Conclusions:
- The developed Janus porous spheres exhibit excellent oil capture and release capabilities.
- The coral-like microstructure is key to the material's high performance in mass transport and capture.
- These spheres represent a promising platform for responsive separation technologies.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Porosity in Cement Paste
518
The porosity of concrete is a measure of the void spaces within its structure. These spaces impact its strength and durability significantly. When water and cement interact, a chemical reaction called hydration creates a semi-solid paste. This paste includes combined water, making up approximately 23% of the cement's dry mass, and gel water, which fills minuscule voids known as gel pores, accounting for about 28% of the cement gel volume.
The balance of water to cement in the mix is...
The balance of water to cement in the mix is...
518
01:20Porosity and Absorption of Aggregate
868
Aggregates contain pores of varying sizes; while some are completely enclosed within the particles, others open onto the surface, allowing water to penetrate. The porosity of aggregates is a major factor contributing to the overall porosity of concrete, given that aggregates constitute about three-quarters of concrete's volume.
When all pores in an aggregate are filled with water, the aggregate is considered saturated and surface-dry. If left in dry air, water will evaporate until the...
When all pores in an aggregate are filled with water, the aggregate is considered saturated and surface-dry. If left in dry air, water will evaporate until the...
868
01:09Colloidal precipitates
6.7K
The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...
6.7K
01:21Polymer Classification: Crystallinity
4.2K
Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
4.2K
01:23Pore Size Distribution
537
In concrete, the pore size distribution significantly influences the material's properties. Capillary pores, markedly larger than gel pores, form a vast network within partially hydrated cement paste, reducing the concrete's strength and increasing its permeability. This heightened permeability leads to a greater risk of damage from environmental factors like freeze-thaw cycles and chemical attacks, with the extent of vulnerability also being tied to the water-to-cement ratio.
Adequate...
Adequate...
537
01:26Minerals
1.5K
Minerals are essential nutrients that the human body needs in small amounts to work properly. They play a vital role in many bodily functions, such as building strong bones and transmitting nerve impulses. Some minerals are needed for hormone production or to maintain a normal heartbeat. Major minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium, while trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium.
Major...
Major...
1.5K