The Authors would like to acknowledge James A. Forrest for help in the initial idea for this technique.26&#160;This work was supported by funding from the University of Pennsylvania and was partially supported by the MRSEC program of the National Science Foundation under award no. DMR-11- 20901 at the University of Pennsylvania.

1. Film Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Weigh 0.04 g of polystyrene, and place into a 30 ml vial.</li>
	<li>Weigh 2 g of toluene into the vial. A 2% by weight solution of polystyrene in toluene yields a film of approximately 100 nm.</li>
	<li>Let the solution sit O/N to fully dissolve the polystyrene and let the solutions settle.</li>
	<li>Place a 1 cm x 1 cm Silicon (Si) wafer onto a Spin Coater.</li>
	<li>Spin the wafer at 8,000 rpm for 45 sec. While it is spinning, drop approximately 1 ml of toluene on the spinning wafer. 
	Note: All steps involving spin coating are performed in a fume hood.</li>
	<li>On the now stationary Si wafer, add the solution from step 1.3 drop-wise onto the Si wafer until the entire surface of the Si wafer is covered.</li>
	<li>Before the solution dries on the wafer, spin the Si wafer at 4,000 rpm for 20 sec.</li>
	<li>Determine the thickness of the film using ellipsometry (see step 2).</li>
	<li>If the film is the desired thickness, anneal the film in a vacuum oven at 393 K for 15 hr.</li>
</ol>
2. Determining Film Thickness
<ol>
	<li>Place the spun cast film onto the ellipsometer stage and measure the ellipsometric angles &#936;(&#955;) and &#916;(&#955;) at an incident light angle of 70&#176; with a 1 sec acquisition time and the zone averaging setting turned on.</li>
	<li>Using the ellipsometer software, fit the resulting &#936; (&#955;) and &#916; (&#955;) data to a three-layer model according to manufacturer&#39;s protocol. There are no additional user inputs. The first layer is a substrate layer of Si, the second layer is a native oxide layer with a thickness of 1.5 nm, and the third layer is a Cauchy model (n=A+B/&#955;2 , k=0), which corresponds to the optical properties of the polystyrene film. In this model, A and B are fit parameters, and n and k are the real and imaginary components of the index of the refraction, respectively.</li>
	<li>For the Cauchy layer, fit the thickness and A and B parameters if the film is above 10 nm. If the film is below 10 nm, only fit A. 
	Note: This will be discussed further in the Representative results section.</li>
</ol>
3. Cooling Rate Dependent Tg Measurements
<ol>
	<li>Coat the surface of the heating element of the variable temperature ellipsometer stage with thermal paste.</li>
	<li>Place the annealed polystyrene film onto the heating element.</li>
	<li>Clamp the film tightly onto the heating element.</li>
	<li>Flow 100% dry Nitrogen gas through the temperature stage at a pressure of &#60;69 KPa.</li>
	<li>Using the temperature stage software, create a temperature profile. This temperature profile begins with a heating ramp to 393 K at 150 K/min. Hold the film at 393K for 20 min.
	<ol>
		<li>Then, alternate cooling ramps to 293 K at rates of 150, 120, 90, 60, 30, 10, 7, 3, and 1 K/min with heating ramps to 393 K at 150 K/min. Place a 5 min temperature hold after each ramp.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>In the ellipsometer software, make a temperature dependent ellipsometry model similar to that in section 2. All three layers are the same, except that the substrate is changed to a temperature dependent Si model.</li>
	<li>In the layer for the temperature dependent Si model, turn on the &#34;Use Ext Temp from Parm Log&#34; Parameter.</li>
	<li>Using laboratory equipment controlling software, have the ellipsometer software read the temperature values from temperature stage.</li>
	<li>Align the ellipsometer such that the signal reaches maximum intensity.</li>
	<li>Under &#34;Edit Hardware Configurations&#34;, set the fast acquisition time to 1 sec with high-accuracy zone averaging. Set the normal acquisition time to 3 sec with high-accuracy zone averaging.</li>
	<li>Under the &#34;in situ&#34; tab in the ellipsometer software check the &#34;fast acquisition time mode&#34; box, and press &#34;Start Acquisition&#34;. Then, start the temperature profile. Before the 3 K/min cooling ramp, uncheck the fast acquisition time box.</li>
</ol>
4. Determining Values of Tg
<ol>
	<li>Export the temperature and thickness profiles into the preferred graphing and analysis software, and separate the temperature and thickness data for all 9 cooling rates.</li>
	<li>In order to account for the effect of zone averaging during acquisition on the temperature, take every temperature value, and average it with the temperature value preceding it, such that T=(Ti + Ti-1)/2, where Ti is a temperature value at a given time, and Ti-1 is the temperature of the preceding time point.</li>
	<li>Plot Thickness vs. Temperature for each cooling rate.</li>
	<li>Perform a linear fit on a portion of the Super Cooled Liquid regime (the high temperature regime with the larger expansion coefficient). This regime will be approximately from 393 K to 380 K.</li>
	<li>Perform a linear fit on a portion of the glassy regime of that same set of data. This regime has a lower expansion coefficient, and will be approximately from 293 K to 340 K.</li>
	<li>Find the intersection point of these two lines. The temperature where these lines intersect is the glass transition temperature.</li>
	<li>Do this for all nine ramps.</li>
</ol>
5. Analyzing Average Thin Film Dynamics
<ol>
	<li>For a given film thickness plot Log(Cooling Rate (K/min)) vs. 1/Tg (K-1).</li>
	<li>Compare this indirectly to direct measurements of bulk and surface dynamics by the empirical relation: Cooling Rate * &#964;&#945; = 1000.23,24</li>
</ol>

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The Authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Cooling-Rate dependent Tg measurements are high throughput characterization experiments that can determine the Tg, the expansion coefficient of the glass and the super-cooled liquid, the temperature dependence of the average dynamics, and the fragility of a particular glassy material in a single experiment. Furthermore, unlike fluorescence, embedding, or nanohole relaxation experiments, CR-Tg experiments are relatively quick and simple because they do not utilize fluorophores or other com...

The seminal work of Keddie Jones and Corey1 showed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of ultra-thin polystyrene films decreases with respect to the bulk value at thicknesses lower than 60 nm. Ever since, many experimental studies2-11 have supported the hypothesis that the observed reductions in Tg are caused by a layer of enhanced mobility near the free surface of these films. However, these experiments are indirect measures of a single relaxation time, and thus there is a debate12-18 centered on a direct correlation between average thin film dynamics and the dynamics at the air/polymer interface.
To answer this debate, many studies have directly measured the dynamics of the free surface (&#964;surface). Nanoparticle embedding,19,20 nanohole relaxation,21 and fluorescence22 studies show that the air/polymer interface has dynamics orders of magnitude faster than the bulk alpha relaxation time (&#964;&#945;) with a much weaker temperature dependence than that of &#964;&#945;. Because of its weak temperature dependence, the &#964;surface of these films,19-22 and enhanced dynamics of thin polystyrene films,23,24 intersects the bulk alpha relaxation (&#964;&#945;) at a single point T*, which is a few degrees above Tg, and at a &#964;&#945; of &#8776; 1 sec. The presence of T* could explain why experiments which probe relaxation times faster than * fail to see any thickness dependence on the Tg of ultra-thin Polystyrene films.13-18 Lastly, while direct measurements of the enhanced mobile layer show that it has a thickness of 4-8 nm,20-22 there is evidence that the propagation length of the dynamics at the air/polymer interface is much larger than the thickness of the mobile surface layer.5,25,26
This report aims to fully describe a protocol for using ellipsometry for cooling rate dependent Tg (CR-Tg) experiments. CR-Tg have been previously used to describe the average dynamics of ultra-thin films of polystyrene.23,24,27,28 Furthermore, This technique was recently used to show a direct correlation between the average dynamics in ultra-thin polystyrene films, and the dynamics at the free surface.23 The advantage of CR-Tg measurements over other types of measurements such as fluorescence, nanoparticle embedding, nanohole relaxation, nanocalorimetry, dielectric spectroscopy, and Brillouin light scattering, studies is that they are relatively quick and simple experiments that do not utilize fluorophores or other complicated experimental techniques. Recent advances in spectroscopic ellipsometry allow this technique to be used to efficiently determine the optical properties of ultra-thin films of polymers and other types of hybrid materials with exceptional accuracy. As such, this technique probes the average dynamics of technologically applicable thin films in temperature and time regimes relevant to the glass transition (T &#8804; Tg, &#964;&#945; &#8805; 100 sec). Furthermore, this technique will provide information on the expansion coefficients of the glassy and supper cooled liquid states as well as the fragility of the system, which can then be compared with data for bulk films. Lastly, CR- Tg experiments can be used for any glassy system so long as the integrity of the film remains throughout the experiment.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Toluene</td><td>Sigma Aldrich</td><td>179418-1L</td><td>This can be purchased from any chemical company.</td></tr><tr><td>Atactic Polystyrene</td><td>Polymer Source Inc.</td><td>P-4092-S</td><td>This can be purchased from any chemical company.</td></tr><tr><td>THMS 600 temperature stage</td><td>Linkam</td><td>THMS 600</td><td>any temperature stage that can be fit to an ellipsometer could be used.</td></tr><tr><td>M2000V Spectroscopic Ellipsometer</td><td>J.A. Woollam</td><td>M200V</td><td>This procedure should be applicable for any spectroscopic ellipsometer.</td></tr><tr><td>Spin Coater</td><td>Laurell Technologies</td><td>WS-650-23B</td><td>This Procedure is possible with any spin coater</td></tr><tr><td>Sample vials</td><td>Fisher Scientific</td><td>02-912-379</td><td>Any sample vials will do</td></tr><tr><td>Silicon wafers</td><td>Virginia semi conductors</td><td>325S1410694D</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

cooling rate dependent ellipsometry measurements to determine the dynamics of thin glassy films

This report aims to fully describe the experimental technique of using ellipsometry for cooling rate dependent Tg (CR-Tg) experiments. These measurements are simple high-throughput characterization experiments, which can determine the glass transition temperature (Tg), average dynamics, fragility and the expansion coefficient of the super-cooled liquid and glassy states for a variety of glassy materials. This technique allows for these parameters to be measured in a single experiment, while other methods must combine a variety of different techniques to investigate all of these properties. Measurements of dynamics close to Tg are particularly challenging. The advantage of cooling rate dependent Tg measurements over other methods which directly probe bulk and surface relaxation dynamics is that they are relatively quick and simple experiments, which do not utilize fluorophores or other complicated experimental techniques. Furthermore, this technique probes the average dynamics of technologically relevant thin films in temperature and relaxation time (&#964;&#945;) regimes relevant to the glass transition (&#964;&#945; &#62; 100 sec). The limitation to using ellipsometry for cooling rate dependent Tg experiments is that it cannot probe relaxation times relevant to measurements of viscosity (&#964;&#945; &#60;&#60; 1 sec). Other cooling rate dependent Tg measurement techniques, however, can extend the CR-Tg method to faster relaxation times. Furthermore, this technique can be used for any glassy system so long as the integrity of the film remains throughout the experiment.

Fitting Raw Ellipsometry Data
Polystyrene films are transparent in the wavelength range of the ellipsometer (500-1,600 nm). Thus a Cauchy model is a good model for describing the index of refraction of polystyrene films. Figure 1A shows an example of &#936;(&#955;) and &#916;(&#955;) for a thick (274 nm) film of polystyrene, and the resulting fit to the Cauchy model <img alt="Equation 1" src="/f...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of Thin Glassy Films at JoVE.com

Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of Thin Glassy Films

Here, we present a protocol for cooling rate dependent ellipsometry experiments, which can determine the glass transition temperature (Tg), average dynamics, fragility and the expansion coefficient of the super-cooled liquid and glass for a variety of glassy materials.

This report aims to fully describe the experimental technique of using ellipsometry for cooling rate dependent Tg (CR-Tg) experiments. These measurements ...

cooling-rate-dependent-ellipsometry-measurements-to-determine

Universidad San Sebastian

Research

JoVE Journal

Chemistry

8.1K Views.  University of Pennsylvania. Here, we present a protocol for cooling rate dependent ellipsometry experiments, which can determine the glass transition temperature (Tg), average dynamics, fragility and the expansion coefficient of the super-cooled liquid and glass for a variety of glassy materials.

Video: Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of Thin Glassy Films

High-resolution Thermal Micro-imaging Using Europium Chelate Luminescent Coatings

Micro-electronic devices often undergo significant self-heating when biased to their typical operating conditions. This paper describes a convenient optical micro-imaging technique which can be used to map and quantify such behavior. Europium thenoyltrifluoroacetonate (EuTFC) has a 612 nm luminescence line whose activation efficiency drops strongly with increasing temperature, due to T-dependent interactions between the Eu3+ ion and the organic chelating compound. This material may be readily coated on to a sample surface by thermal sublimation in vacuum. When the coating is excited with ultraviolet light (337 nm) an optical micro-image of the 612 nm luminescent response can be converted directly into a map of the sample surface temperature. This technique offers spatial resolution limited only by the microscope optics (about 1 micron) and time resolution limited by the speed of the camera employed. It offers the additional advantages of only requiring comparatively simple and non-specialized equipment, and giving a quantitative probe of sample temperature.

Europium thenoyltrifluoroacetonate (EuTFC) has an optical luminescence line at 612 nm, whose activation efficiency decreases strongly with temperature. If a sample coated with a thin film of this material is micro-imaged, the 612 nm luminescent response intensity may be converted into a direct map of sample surface temperature.

Micro-electronic devices often undergo significant self-heating when biased to their typical operating conditions. This paper describes a convenient ...

Engineering

Evanescent Field Based Photoacoustics: Optical Property Evaluation at Surfaces

Here, we present a protocol to estimate material and surface optical properties using the photoacoustic effect combined with total internal reflection. Optical property evaluation of thin films and the surfaces of bulk materials is an important step in understanding new optical material systems and their applications. The method presented can estimate thickness, refractive index, and use absorptive properties of materials for detection. This metrology system uses evanescent field-based photoacoustics (EFPA), a field of research based upon the interaction of an evanescent field with the photoacoustic effect. This interaction and its resulting family of techniques allow the technique to probe optical properties within a few hundred nanometers of the sample surface. This optical near field allows for the highly accurate estimation of material properties on the same scale as the field itself such as refractive index and film thickness. With the use of EFPA and its sub techniques such as total internal reflection photoacoustic spectroscopy (TIRPAS) and optical tunneling photoacoustic spectroscopy (OTPAS), it is possible to evaluate a material at the nanoscale in a consolidated instrument without the need for many instruments and experiments that may be cost prohibitive.

Here we present a protocol to estimate material and surface optical properties using the photoacoustic effect combined with total internal reflection. This technique evanescent field-based photoacoustics can be used to create a photoacoustic metrology system to estimate materials&#39; thicknesses, bulk and thin film refractive indices, and explore their optical properties.

Here, we present a protocol to estimate material and surface optical properties using the photoacoustic effect combined with total internal reflection. ...

Electrospray Deposition of Uniform Thickness Ge23Sb7S70 and As40S60 Chalcogenide Glass Films

Solution-based electrospray film deposition, which is compatible with continuous, roll-to-roll processing, is applied to chalcogenide glasses. Two chalcogenide compositions are demonstrated: Ge23Sb7S70 and As40S60, which have both been studied extensively for planar mid-infrared (mid-IR) microphotonic devices. In this approach, uniform thickness films are fabricated through the use of computer numerical controlled (CNC) motion. Chalcogenide glass (ChG) is written over the substrate by a single nozzle along a serpentine path. Films were subjected to a series of heat treatments between 100 &#176;C and 200 &#176;C under vacuum to drive off residual solvent and densify the films. Based on transmission Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and surface roughness measurements, both compositions were found to be suitable for the fabrication of planar devices operating in the mid-IR region. Residual solvent removal was found to be much quicker for the As40S60 film as compared to Ge23Sb7S70. Based on the advantages of electrospray, direct printing of a gradient refractive index (GRIN) mid-IR transparent coating is envisioned, given the difference in refractive index of the two compositions in this study.

Electrospray Deposition of Uniform Thickness Ge23Sb7S70 and As40S60 Chalcogenide Glass Films

A method of uniform thickness solution-derived chalcogenide glass film deposition is demonstrated using computer numerical controlled motion of a single-nozzle electrospray.

Solution-based electrospray film deposition, which is compatible with continuous, roll-to-roll processing, is applied to chalcogenide glasses. Two ...

Recombination Dynamics in Thin-film Photovoltaic Materials via Time-resolved Microwave Conductivity

A method for investigating recombination dynamics of photo-induced charge carriers in thin film semiconductors, specifically in photovoltaic materials such as organo-lead halide perovskites is presented. The perovskite film thickness and absorption coefficient are initially characterized by profilometry and UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy. Calibration of both laser power and cavity sensitivity is described in detail. A protocol for performing Flash-photolysis Time Resolved Microwave Conductivity (TRMC) experiments, a non-contact method of determining the conductivity of a material, is presented. A process for identifying the real and imaginary components of the complex conductivity by performing TRMC as a function of microwave frequency is given. Charge carrier dynamics are determined under different excitation regimes (including both power and wavelength). Techniques for distinguishing between direct and trap-mediated decay processes are presented and discussed. Results are modelled and interpreted with reference to a general kinetic model of photoinduced charge carriers in a semiconductor. The techniques described are applicable to a wide range of optoelectronic materials, including organic and inorganic photovoltaic materials, nanoparticles, and conducting/semiconducting thin films.

A Time Resolved Microwave Conductivity technique for investigating direct and trap-mediated recombination dynamics and determining carrier mobilities of thin film semiconductors is presented here.

A method for investigating recombination dynamics of photo-induced charge carriers in thin film semiconductors, specifically in photovoltaic materials ...

Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets

In liquid crystal (LC) physical chemistry, molecules near the surface play a great role in controlling bulk orientation. Thus far, mainly to achieve desired molecular orientation states in LC displays, the "static" surface property of LCs, so-called surface anchoring, has been intensively studied. As a rule of thumb, once the initial orientation of LCs is "locked" by specific surface treatments, such as rubbing or treatment with a specific alignment layer, it hardly changes with temperature. Here, we present a system exhibiting an orientational transition upon temperature variation, which conflicts with the consensus. Right on the transition, the bulk LC molecules experience the orientational rotation, with 90&#176; between the planar (P) orientation at high temperatures and the vertical (V) orientation at low temperatures in the first-order transitional manner. We have tracked thermodynamic surface anchoring behavior by means of polarizing optical microscopy (POM), dielectric spectroscopy (DS), high-resolution differential scanning calorimetry (HR-DSC), and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GI-XRD) and reached a plausible physical explanation: that the transition is triggered by a growth of surface wetting sheets, which impose the V orientation locally against the P orientation in the bulk. This landscape would provide a general link explaining how the equilibrium bulk orientation is affected by surface-localized orientation in many LC systems. In our characterization, POM and DS are advantageous by offering information on the spatial distribution of the orientation of LC molecules. HR-DSC gives information about the precise thermodynamic information on transitions, which cannot be addressed by conventional DSC instruments due to limited resolution. GI-XRD provides information on surface-specific molecular orientation and short-range orderings. The goal of this paper is to present a protocol for preparing a sample that exhibits the transition and to demonstrate how the thermodynamic structural variation, both in the bulk and on surfaces, can be analyzed through the abovementioned methods.

Here, we present a protocol to trigger an orientational transition of a liquid crystal in response to temperature. Methodologies are described for preparing a sample in order to observe the transition and the detailed transitional evolution.

In liquid crystal (LC) physical chemistry, molecules near the surface play a great role in controlling bulk orientation. Thus far, mainly to achieve ...

Preparation of Liquid Crystal Networks for Macroscopic Oscillatory Motion Induced by Light

A strategy based on doped liquid crystalline networks is described to create mechanical self-sustained oscillations of plastic films under continuous light irradiation. The photo-excitation of dopants that can quickly dissipate light into heat, coupled with anisotropic thermal expansion and self-shadowing of the film, gives rise to the self-sustained deformation. The oscillations observed are influenced by the dimensions and the modulus of the film, and by the directionality and intensity of the light. The system developed offers applications in energy conversion and harvesting for soft-robotics and automated systems.
The general method described here consists of creating free-standing liquid crystalline films and characterizing the mechanical and thermal effects observed. The molecular alignment is achieved using alignment layers (rubbed polyimide), commonly used in the display manufacturing industry. To obtain actuators with large deformation, the mesogens are aligned and polymerized in a splay/bend configuration, i.e., with the director of the liquid crystals (LCs) going gradually from planar to homeotropic through the film thickness. Upon irradiation, the mechanical and thermal oscillations obtained are monitored with a high-speed camera. The results are further quantified by image analysis using an image processing program.

The goal of the protocol is to create liquid crystalline polymer films that can mechanically oscillate under continuous light irradiation. We describe in great detail the conception of free-standing films, from the liquid crystal alignment method to the photo-actuation. The experimental protocol applied to prepare this material is broadly applicable.

A strategy based on doped liquid crystalline networks is described to create mechanical self-sustained oscillations of plastic films under continuous ...

Bulk and Thin Film Synthesis of Compositionally Variant Entropy-stabilized Oxides

Here, we present a procedure for the synthesis of bulk and thin film multicomponent (Mg0.25(1-x)CoxNi0.25(1-x)Cu0.25(1-x)Zn0.25(1-x))O (Co variant) and (Mg0.25(1-x)Co0.25(1-x)Ni0.25(1-x)CuxZn0.25(1-x))O (Cu variant) entropy-stabilized oxides. Phase pure and chemically homogeneous (Mg0.25(1-x)CoxNi0.25(1-x)Cu0.25(1-x)Zn0.25(1-x))O (x = 0.20, 0.27, 0.33) and (Mg0.25(1-x)Co0.25(1-x)Ni0.25(1-x)CuxZn0.25(1-x))O (x = 0.11, 0.27) ceramic pellets are synthesized and used in the deposition of ultra-high quality, phase pure, single crystalline thin films of the target stoichiometry. A detailed methodology for the deposition of smooth, chemically homogeneous, entropy-stabilized oxide thin films by pulsed laser deposition on (001)-oriented MgO substrates is described. The phase and crystallinity of bulk and thin film materials are confirmed using X-ray diffraction. Composition and chemical homogeneity are confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The surface topography of thin films is measured with scanning probe microscopy. The synthesis of high quality, single crystalline, entropy-stabilized oxide thin films enables the study of interface, size, strain, and disorder effects on the properties in this new class of highly disordered oxide materials.

The synthesis of high quality bulk and thin film (Mg0.25(1-x)CoxNi0.25(1-x)Cu0.25(1-x)Zn0.25(1-x))O and (Mg0.25(1-x)Co0.25(1-x)Ni0.25(1-x)CuxZn0.25(1-x))O entropy-stabilized oxides is presented.

Here, we present a procedure for the synthesis of bulk and thin film multicomponent (Mg0.25(1-x)CoxNi0.25(1-x)Cu0.25(1-x)Zn0.25(1-x))O (Co variant) and ...

Film Control to Study Contributions of Waves to Droplet Impact Dynamics on Thin Flowing Liquid Films

Droplet impact is a very common phenomenon in nature and attracts attention due to its aesthetic fascination and wide-ranging applications. Previous studies on flowing liquid films have neglected the contributions of spatial structures of waves to the impact outcome, while this has recently been shown to have a significant influence on the drop impact dynamics. In this report, we outline a step-by-step procedure to investigate the effect of periodic inlet forcing of a flowing liquid film leading to the production of spatiotemporally regular wave structures on drop impact dynamics. A function generator in connection with a solenoid valve is used to excite these spatiotemporally regular wave structures on the film surface while the impact dynamics of uniform-sized droplets are captured using a high-speed camera. Three distinct regions are then studied; viz. the capillary wave region preceding the large wave peak, the flat film region, and the wave hump region. The effects of important dimensionless quantities such as film Reynolds, drop Weber and Ohnesorge numbers parameterized by the film flow rate, drop speed, and drop size are also examined. Our results show interesting, hitherto undiscovered dynamics brought about by this application of film inlet forcing of the flowing film for both low and high inertia drops.

A protocol to study the contributions of waves to droplet impact dynamics on flowing liquid films is presented.

Droplet impact is a very common phenomenon in nature and attracts attention due to its aesthetic fascination and wide-ranging applications. Previous ...

Thin Film Composite Silicon Elastomers for Cell Culture and Skin Applications: Manufacturing and Characterization

In this protocol, we present methods to fabricate thin elastomer composite films for advanced cell culture applications and for the development of skin adhesives. Two different poly-(dimethyl siloxanes) (PDMS and soft skin adhesive (SSA)), have been used for in depth investigation of biological effects and adhesive characteristics. The composite films consist of a flexible backing layer and an adhesive top coating. Both layers have been manufactured by doctor blade application technique. In the present investigation, the adhesive behavior of the composite films has been investigated as a function of the layer thickness or a variation of the Young&#39;s modulus of the top layer. The Young&#39;s modulus of PDMS has been changed by varying the base to crosslinker mixing ratio. In addition, the thickness of SSA films has been varied from approx. 16 &#181;m to approx. 320 &#181;m. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy have been used for thickness measurements. The adhesive properties of elastomer films depend strongly on the film thickness, the Young&#39;s modulus of the polymers and surface characteristics. Therefore, normal adhesion of these films on glass substrates exhibiting smooth and rough surfaces has been investigated. Pull-off stress and work of separation are dependent on the mixing ratio of silicone elastomers.
Additionally, the thickness of the soft skin adhesive placed on top of a supportive backing layer has been varied in order to produce patches for skin applications. Cytotoxicity, proliferation and cellular adhesion of L929 murine fibroblasts on PDMS films (mixing ratio 10:1) and SSA films (mixing ratio 50:50) have been conducted. We have shown here, for the first time, the side by side comparison of thin composite films manufactured of both polymers and present the investigation of their biological- and adhesive properties.

A protocol for the manufacturing process of polymeric thin film composite structures possessing either different Young&#39;s moduli or thicknesses is presented. Films are produced for advanced cell culture studies or as skin adhesives.

In this protocol, we present methods to fabricate thin elastomer composite films for advanced cell culture applications and for the development of skin ...

Developmental Biology

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal

Smart viscoelastic materials that respond to specific stimuli are one of the most attractive classes of materials important to future technologies, such as on-demand switchable adhesion technologies, actuators, molecular clutches, and nano-/microscopic mass transporters. Recently it was found that through a special solid-liquid transition, rheological properties can exhibit significant changes, thus providing suitable smart viscoelastic materials. However, designing materials with such a property is complex, and forward and backward switching times are usually long. Therefore, it is important to explore new working mechanisms to realize solid-liquid transitions, shorten the switching time, and enhance the contrast of rheological properties during switching. Here, a light-induced crystal-liquid phase transition is observed, which is characterized by means of polarizing light microscopy (POM), photorheometry, photo-differential scanning calorimetry (photo-DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The light-induced crystal-liquid phase transition presents key features such as (1) fast switching of crystal-liquid phases for both forward and backward reactions and (2) a high contrast ratio of viscoelasticity. In the characterization, POM is advantageous in offering information on the spatial distribution of LC molecule orientations, determining the type of liquid crystalline phases appearing in the material, and studying the orientation of LCs. Photorheometry allows measurement of a material&#8217;s rheological properties under light stimuli and can reveal the photorheological switching properties of materials. Photo-DSC is a technique to investigate thermodynamic information of materials in darkness and under light irradiation. Lastly, XRD allows studying of microscopic structures of materials. The goal of this article is to clearly present how to prepare and measure the discussed properties of a photorheological material.

This protocol demonstrates the preparation of a photorheological material that exhibits a solid phase, various liquid crystalline phases, and an isotropic liquid phase by increasing temperature. Presented here are methods for measuring the structure-viscoelasticity relationship of the material.

Smart viscoelastic materials that respond to specific stimuli are one of the most attractive classes of materials important to future technologies, such ...