2008 NOV 24 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to a study from the United States, "This paper describes the use of methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) silane (MPEG-sil) as a linker molecule for the synthesis of silica-coated nanoparticles by the Stober method. While short alkane chain-based siloxanes including (acryloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane and 3-methacryloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane are popular molecules used in surface modification, they are not efficient for the silica coating of nanoparticles synthesized from organic solvents containing long carbon chain carboxylic acids or amines as capping agents. ...read more

  2008 NOV 24 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "We describe a simple and robust approach to fabricating an alpha-Fe2O3 switchable surface. The hydrophobicity of alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures was observed for the first time," investigators in Singapore, Singapore report.

  "A remarkable surface wettability transition can be easily achieved by ultraviolet (UV) illumination. The distinctive properties of surface defects are disclosed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The nanoscale adsorption and photocatalytic properties of Fe2+ defects account for the highly amphiphilic character of the surfaces," wrote B. Yan and colleagues, Nanyang Technological University ...read more

  2008 NOV 24 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "Hydrogels of poly(acrylic acid) grafted onto salep with excellent water absorption and water retention abilities under neutral conditions were successfully synthesized for the first time and employed for different applications. The effect of reaction variables to achieve maximum swelling capacity was investigated," investigators in Iran report.

  "In our procedure, ammonium persulfate (APS) as a water-soluble initiator and methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a suitable crosslinking agent were used and the best synthesis conditions described. The structure of the final product was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy SEM and TGA analysis and a mechanism for superabsorbent hydrogel formation was also suggested. The study of the surface morphology of hydrogels using SEM showed a highly nanoporous and cellular structure for the sample obtained under optimized condition," wrote A. Pourjavadi and colleagues ...read more