While the low thermal conductivities of silica aerogels have made them of interest to the aerospace community as lightweight thermal insulation, the application of conformal polymer coatings to these gels increases their strength significantly, making them potentially useful as structural materials as well. In this work we perform multiscale computer simulations to investigate the tensile and c...

Various concentrations of copper were embedded into silica matrix to xerogel forms using copper source Cu(NO3)2∙3H2O. The xerogel samples were prepared by hydrolysis and condensation of Tetraethyl Ortho-Silicate (TEOS) with determination of new molar ratio of the components by the sol-gel method. After ambient drying, the xerogel samples were heated from 60 to 1000˚C at a slow heating rate (50°...

Fluorescence-based detection is the most common method utilized in biosensing because of its high sensitivity, simplicity, and diversity. In the era of nanotechnology, nanomaterials are starting to replace traditional organic dyes as detection labels because they offer superior optical properties, such as brighter fluorescence, wider selections of excitation and emission wavelengths, higher pho...

A universal design paradigm in biology is the use of hierarchies, which is evident in the structure of proteins, cells, tissues, and organisms, as well as outside the material realm in the design of signaling networks in complex organs such as the brain. A fascinating example of a biological structure is that of diatoms, a microscopic mineralized algae that is mainly composed of amorphous silic...

Many solid materials contain nanoparticles to enhance their functionalities. The question of whether they may release at different moments life cycle is raised. Lifecycle includes waste management. There therefore a need determine the fate when are incorporated in incinerated. present study aims shedding light on these issues. In this context, three real-life wastes selected for specific compos...