A microfluidic platform with a fluorescent nanoparticle-based sensor is demonstrated for real-time, ratiometric pH imaging of biofilms. Sensing is accomplished by a thin patterned layer of covalently bonded Ag@SiO2+FiTC nanoparticles on an embedded planar glass substrate. The system is designed to be sensitive, responsive and give sufficient spatial resolution to enable new micro-scale studies ...

We study the temperature dependence of the current–voltage and radiance–voltage curves in double-carrier injected polymer light-emitting devices comprised of poly~2-methoxy,5~28-ethyl-hexoxy!– p-phenylene vinylene) ~MEH–PPV! and MEH–PPV/SiO2 as the active layer. The quantum efficiency increases significantly as the temperature is decreased in agreement with an increase in the recombination effi...

A family of silica-supported, magnetite nanoparticle catalysts was synthesised and investigated for continuous-flow acetic acid ketonisation as a model pyrolysis bio-oil upgrading reaction. The physico-chemical properties of Fe3O4/SiO2 catalysts were characterised by using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy, diffuse...

Metallic nanoparticles exhibiting plasmonic Fano resonances can provide large enhancements of their internal electric near field. Here we show that nanomatryoshkas, nanoparticles consisting of an Au core, an interstitial nanoscale SiO2 layer, and an Au shell layer, can selectively provide either a strong enhancement or a quenching of the spontaneous emission of fluorophores dispersed within the...

Particles are important additives for altering and enhancing the properties of polymers. When the particle size approaching the fundamental length scale of the material, new mechanical, optical, and electrical properties arise, which are not present in the conventional macroscopic counterpart. For example, the dielectric constant of a polymer fluid can be increased by addition of ceramic nanopa...

Ingestion of engineered nanomaterials is inevitable due to their addition to food and prevalence in food packaging and domestic products such as toothpaste and sun cream. In the absence of robust dosimetry and particokinetic data, it is currently challenging to accurately assess the potential toxicity of food-borne nanomaterials. Herein, we review current understanding of gastrointestinal uptak...