Gordon A Bell | PubMed Health

PubMed2006

Photoinduced phase separation.

A novel approach of photoinduced phase separation has been demonstrated with a photolabile anionic surfactant, mixed with an inert nonionic surfactant in the presence of salting-out electrolyte. Breakdown of the photolyzable surfactant results in hydrophobic photoproducts, which are emulsified by the remaining inert surfactant; added electrolyte resolves the emulsion into macroscopic oily and aqueous phases. The initial micellar systems can disperse an insoluble additive marker dye (shown), which may be spatially segregated from the aqueous environment by the action of UV light.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Surface morphology and chemistry of Prunus laurocerasus L. leaves: a study using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry, atomic-force microscopy and scanning-electron microscopy.

The surface properties of the plant cuticle play a crucial role in plant-pathogen interactions and the retention and penetration of agriculturally important chemicals. This paper describes the use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine surface-specific chemical and material properties of the adaxial surface of Prunus laurocerasus L. leaves. XPS data, derived from the uppermost few nanometres (< 10 nm) of the leaf surface, were consistent with the wax components and functionality known to be present within the waxes. ToF-SIMS provided molecular speciation from the outermost monolayer of the leaf surface, indicating the importance of a family of acetates with chain lengths ranging from C20 to C34. The presence of alkanes with C29 and C31 chain lengths was also confirmed. SEM and TM-AFM topography images revealed a textured granular surface, while simultaneously recorded AFM phase images revealed heterogeneous material properties at the nanoscale. The relevance of these data to plant cuticle development, allelochemistry and agrochemical delivery is discussed.

Microscopy, Atomic Force↗