Particles In Nonpolar Solvent Research Articles

Cation-Modified Poly(vinyl alcohol) Film to Optimize the Bistability of Transparent Electrophoretic Display Based on Charge Adsorption Behavior in Nonpolar Solvent.

Electrophoretic displays (EPDs) utilize the electrophoretic particles in electronic ink (e-ink) to display different color states with bistability. Bistability of EPDs is achieved by placing colloidal particles in a highly viscous solvent to keep the distribution of colloidal particles stable without sustaining the external field, so it only consumes power when updating the image. The feature of low power consumption makes it suitable for applications such as advertising boards, price tags, etc. Apart from these applications, recent research on lateral-driving EPDs extends its applications to smart windows, privacy control, and so on. However, achieving bistability by simply increasing the viscosity of solvent is inefficient in the case of lateral driving operation. Therefore, it is deserving to have intensive study on the mechanism of bistability from other aspects. Herein, we propose a mechanism to investigate the charge adsorption behavior on the electrode to affect the bistability of particles, which is based on the "Stern layer adsorption/desorption" model. Based on the above mechanism, we further fabricated a hexadecyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite film on the electrode to improve the bistability of lateral-driving EPD by reducing the diffusion current caused by unabsorbed charges. This developed lateral-driving EPD can significantly improve the bistability, which is enhanced from 40 s to 7 min, an increase by a factor of approximately 10. This work gives a way to consider the bistability of colloidal particles in nonpolar solvent.

Interplay of electrokinetic effects in nonpolar solvents for electronic paper displays

HypothesisElectronic paper displays rely on electrokinetic effects in nonpolar solvents to drive the displacement of colloidal particles within a fluidic cell. While Electrophoresis (EP) is a well-established and frequently employed phenomenon, electro-osmosis (EO), which drives fluid flow along charged solid surfaces, has not been studied as extensively. We hypothesize that by exploiting the interplay between these effects, an enhanced particle transport can be achieved. ExperimentsIn this study, we experimentally investigate the combined effects of EP and EO for colloidal particles in non-polar solvents, driven by an electric field. We use astigmatism micro-particle tracking velocimetry (A-μPTV) to measure the motion of charged particles within model fluidic cells. Using a simple approach that relies on basic fluid flow properties we extract the contributions due to EP and EO, finding that EO contributes significantly to particle transport. The validity of our approach is confirmed by measurements on particles with different magnitudes of charge, and by comparison to numerical simulations. FindingsWe find that EO flows can play a dominant role in the transport of particles in electrokinetic display devices. This can be exploited to speed up particle transport, potentially yielding displays with significantly faster switching times.

A Fast-Response Driving Waveform Design Based on High-Frequency Voltage for Three-Color Electrophoretic Displays.

Three-color electrophoretic displays (EPDs) have the characteristics of colorful display, reflection display, low power consumption, and flexible display. However, due to the addition of red particles, response time of three-color EPDs is increased. In this paper, we proposed a new driving waveform based on high-frequency voltage optimization and electrophoresis theory, which was used to shorten the response time. The proposed driving waveform was composed of an activation stage, a new red driving stage, and a black or white driving stage. The response time of particles was effectively reduced by removing an erasing stage. In the design process, the velocity of particles in non-polar solvents was analyzed by Newton’s second law and Stokes law. Next, an optimal duration and an optimal frequency of the activation stage were obtained to reduce ghost images and improve particle activity. Then, an optimal voltage which can effectively drive red particles was tested to reduce the response time of red particles. Experimental results showed that compared with a traditional driving waveform, the proposed driving waveform had a better performance. Response times of black particles, white particles and red particles were shortened by 40%, 47.8% and 44.9%, respectively.

Span 85-Based Macromolecular Stabilizer for the Preparation of PMMA Colloidal Particles in a Nonpolar Media.

Colloidal particles in a nonpolar media are closely correlated to industrial applications in particular particle-based electrophoretic display techniques. However, the synthesis of the commonly used poly(12-hydroxystearic acid)(PHSA)-based stabilizers for the dispersion polymerization of polymer particles in nonpolar solvent are troublesome. We report a sorbitan trioleate (Span 85)-based macromolecular copolymer stabilizer that can be easily synthesized and used for the preparation of PMMA particles in a nonpolar solvent. This is realized by synthesizing random copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and polymerizable sorbitan trioleate (M-Span 85), and the latter can be synthesized from the commercial product Span 85. Using this stabilizer, the resulting PMMA particles have narrow size distribution and tunable diameters. With the stabilizers, transferring water-dispersible particles to a nonpolar solvent and further preparing core/shell particles was verified to be a useful route. This provides an effective approach for using water-dispersible functional nanoparticles in nonpolar environments. In addition, the prepared PMMA particles are demonstrated to be a useful model system to study crystallization or glass transitions by quantitative confocal microscopy.

A Neutron Scattering Study of the Structure of Poly(dimethylsiloxane)-Stabilized Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PDMS-PMMA) Latexes in Dodecane.

Hard-sphere particles in nonpolar solvents are an essential tool for colloid scientists. Sterically stabilized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles have long been used as the exemplary hard-sphere system. However, neither the particles themselves nor the poly(12-hydroxystearic acid) (PHSA) stabilizer necessary to prevent aggregation in nonpolar solvents are commercially available. To counter this, several alternatives have been proposed. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stabilizers as a commercially available alternative to PHSA, yet the structure of particles made in this way is not as well understood as those produced using PHSA. In this work, we employ small-angle neutron scattering to determine the internal structure of PDMS-stabilized PMMA particles, synthesized with and without an additional crosslinking agent. We report data consistent with a homogeneous PMMA core with a linearly decaying PDMS shell. The thickness of the shell was in excess of 50 nm, thicker than the PHSA layer typically used to stabilize PMMA but consistent with reports of the layer thickness for similar molecular weight PDMS at planar surfaces. We also show that the amount of the hydrogenous material in the particle core of the crosslinked particles notably exceeds the amount of added ethylene glycol dimethacrylate crosslinker, suggesting some entrapment of the PDMS stabilizer in the PMMA matrix.

Sulfosuccinate and Sulfocarballylate Surfactants As Charge Control Additives in Nonpolar Solvents.

A series of eight sodium sulfonic acid surfactants with differently branched tails (four double-chain sulfosuccinates and four triple-chain sulfocarballylates) were studied as charging agents for sterically stabilized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) latexes in dodecane. Tail branching was found to have no significant effect on the electrophoretic mobility of the latexes, but the number of tails was found to influence the electrophoretic mobility. Triple-chain, sulfocarballylate surfactants were found to be more effective. Several possible origins of this observation were explored by comparing sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate (AOT1) and sodium trioctylsulfocarballylate (TC1) using identical approaches: the inverse micelle size, the propensity for ion dissociation, the electrical conductivity, the electrokinetic or ζ potential, and contrast-variation small-angle neutron scattering. The most likely origin of the increased ability of TC1 to charge PMMA latexes is a larger number of inverse micelles. These experiments demonstrate a small molecular variation that can be made to influence the ability of surfactants to charge particles in nonpolar solvents, and modifying molecular structure is a promising approach to developing more effective charging agents.

The effects of counterion exchange on charge stabilization for anionic surfactants in nonpolar solvents

Hypothesis: Sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate (Aerosol OT or NaAOT) is a well-studied charging agent for model poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) latexes dispersed in nonpolar alkane solvents. Despite this, few controlled variations have been made to the molecular structure. A series of counterion-exchanged analogs of NaAOT with other alkali metals (lithium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium) were prepared, and it was expected that this should influence the stabilization of charge on PMMA latexes and the properties of the inverse micelles.Experiments: The electrophoretic mobilities of PMMA latexes were measured for all the counterion-exchanged AOT analogs, and these values were used to calculate the electrokinetic or ζ potentials. This enabled a comparison of the efficacy of the different surfactants as charging agents. Small-angle scattering measurements (using neutrons and X-rays) were performed to determine the structure of the inverse micelles, and electrical conductivity measurements were performed to determine the ionized fractions and Debye lengths.Findings: Sodium AOT is a much more effective charging agent than any of the other alkali metal AOTs. Despite this, the inverse micelle size and electrical conductivity of NaAOT are unremarkable. This shows a significant non-periodicity in the charging efficiency of these surfactants, and it emphasizes that charging particles in nonpolar solvents is a complex phenomenon.

Mechanisms of Particle Charging by Surfactants in Nonpolar Dispersions.

Electric charging of colloidal particles in nonpolar solvents plays a crucial role for many industrial applications and products, including rubbers, engine oils, toners, or electronic displays. Although disfavored by the low solvent permittivity, particle charging can be induced by added surfactants, even nonionic ones, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood, and neither the magnitude nor the sign of charge can generally be predicted from the particle and surfactant properties. The conclusiveness of scientific studies has been limited partly by a traditional focus on few surfactant types with many differences in their chemical structure and often poorly defined composition. Here we investigate the surface charging of poly(methyl methacrylate) particles dispersed in hexane-based solutions of three purified polyisobutylene succinimide polyamine surfactants with "subtle" structural variations. We precisely vary the surfactant chemistry by replacing only a single electronegative atom located at a fixed position within the polar headgroup. Electrophoresis reveals that these small differences between the surfactants lead to qualitatively different particle charging. In the respective particle-free surfactant solutions we also find potentially telling differences in the size of the surfactant aggregates (inverse micelles), the residual water content, and the electric solution conductivity as well as indications for a significant size difference between oppositely charged inverse micelles of the most hygroscopic surfactant. An analysis that accounts for the acid/base properties of all constituents suggests that the observed particle charging is better described by asymmetric adsorption of charged inverse micelles from the liquid bulk than by charge creation at the particle surface. Intramicellar acid-base interaction and intermicellar surfactant exchange help rationalize the formation of micellar ions pairs with size asymmetry.

Investigation of charging behavior of PS particles in nonpolar solvents

The charging behavior of PS (polystyrene) particles dispersed in nonpolar solvent containingsurfactant AOT (sodium di-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate) was researched by phase angle lightscattering (PALS). The effects of the AOT concentration, the particle concentration andthe particle size on the zeta potential of the particles were analyzed systemically. Theresults showed, at different particle concentrations (expressed in the volume fraction of10 − 5–10 − 3), that the zeta potential could be adjusted by surfactant AOT over a wide concentrationrange of 0.001–100 mM. An obvious difference of zeta potential on particle concentrationwas revealed between the high AOT concentrations (beyond 10 mM) and the low ones(below 1 mM). Meantime, it was found that the relationship of particle size to zetapotential showed a great discrepancy between the dilute particle concentrations (below10 − 4) and the concentratedones (beyond 6 × 10 − 4). These findings were consistent with the mechanism of preferential adsorption of thecharged micelles in nonpolar solvent.

Laser diffraction particle sizing by wet dispersion method for spray-dried infant formula

A laser diffraction particle sizing method involving wet analysis could be adapted effectively to measure the accurate particle size distribution of a spray-dried infant formula. Polar, polar aprotic and non-polar solvents, such as ethanol, methanol, acetone, pentane, heptane and hexane, were tested as dispersants for wet analysis. Non-polar solvents such as pentane, heptane and hexane found to be suitable dispersant because the shape of the infant formula particles in non-polar solvents was similar before and after the measurement while the particles had dissolved in the other solvents. The particle size distributions (PSD) of the infant formula determined by laser diffraction (Malvern Master Sizer, UK) using the dry analysis method with air was unsuitable because some parts of the primary and aggregated infant formula particles had been destroyed. The PSD graph of the air dispersion was shifted toward a smaller particle size from that of hexane dispersion. Overall, it is believed that laser diffraction particle sizing involving wet analysis with non-polar solvents may provide a suitable particle sizing method for infant formula products that is better than an air dispersion method.

Electrostatic Interactions of Colloidal Particles in Nonpolar Solvents: Role of Surface Chemistry and Charge Control Agents

We study the electrostatic and hydrodynamic interactions of colloidal particles in nonpolar solvents. Using blinking optical tweezers, we can extract the screening length, kappa-1, the effective surface potential, |ezeta*|, and the hydrodynamic radius, ah, in a single measurement. We apply this technique to suspensions of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) particles in hexadecane with soluble charge control agents, aerosol sodium di-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (AOT) and polyisobutylene succinimide (OLOA-1200). We find that the electrostatic interactions of these particles depend sensitively on surface composition as well as on the concentration and chemistry of the charge control agent.

Low-temperature synthesis of redispersible iron oxide nanoparticles under atmospheric pressure and ultradense reagent concentration

Highly dispersed α-Fe 2O 3 nanoparticles ca. 3 to 8 nm in diameter were prepared at atmospheric pressure, low temperature, and at an ultradense reagent concentration by titrating an aqueous ammonia solution into a dense iron oleate/toluene mixture. A transparent suspension was obtained by redispersing the prepared particles in nonpolar solvents since they were redispersible to primary particles without aggregate formations. The prepared particles were characterized by TEM, XRD, and FT-IR, and their dispersion stability in organic solvents was determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and viscosity measurements. In order to analyze the formation process of the highly dispersed α-Fe 2O 3 nanoparticles, time-course measurements of DLS and viscosity during the nanoparticle synthesis in toluene were carried out. A significant increase in the suspension viscosity and the formation of an aggregated structure were observed as soon as the titration of the aqueous ammonia solution. The suspension viscosity and aggregated particle size gradually reduced with continuous vigorous stirring; finally, α-Fe 2O 3 nanoparticles that were completely redispersible in nonpolar solvents were obtained after ca. 24 h. The particle size could be controlled by the synthesis temperature, and such redispersible α-Fe 2O 3 nanoparticles were obtained even when the reagent concentration was increased to 2.8 mol/L.

Light scattering of colloidal dispersions in non-polar solvents at finite concentrations. Silic spheres as model particles for hard-sphere interactions

Static and dynamic light-scattering studies are reported for spherical model particles in non-polar solvents. The model particles have a core of silica and a dense surface layer of octadecylalcohol chains which makes them ‘oil soluble’. The refractive-index difference between particles and solvent is very small and so dispersions can be studied by means of light scattering up to high concentrations. Multiple-scattering effects are considered briefly. In cyclohexane the particles show repulsive forces which can be described by a hard-sphere interaction. The small refractive-index differences can also be used to detect differences in optical density in the silica core. The periphery of the core is found to be more dense than the centre. Furthermore, the small natural spread in refractive index of the particles can be used to differentiate between collective-diffusion and self-diffusion processes. Differences in refractive indexes can also be obtained by variations in the particle synthesis. In this way it is possible to study self-diffusion by following the motion of tracer particles.

Phase transitions of adsorbed carboxylic acids on zinc oxide and of zinc soaps. Infrared and X-ray diffraction investigations

The reaction between carboxylic acids in benzene solution and suspended zinc oxide particles was investigated by means of infrared spectrometry. The results show how the carboxyl groups react with the zinc oxide forming zinc carboxylate groups at the chemisorption. The chemisorbed acid forms a multilayer at the surface, which gives a new explanation of the protective action of adsorbed acids against flocculation of the particles in nonpolar solvents. The temperature-dependence of the spectra showed transitions at the same temperatures and of the same kind as the corresponding zinc carboxylates, whose spectra were also recorded. The zinc soaps exhibited thermotropic behaviour, and lyotrophy is suggested as the explanation of the multilayer formation.