In this work we present 3 showcases that luminescence thermometry is a promising and versatile technique for temperature monitoring in various microfluidic devices.
Self-assembly of binary particle systems offers many new opportunities for materials science. Here, we studied sedimentation equilibria of silica rods and spheres, using quantitative 3D confocal microscopy. We determined not only pressure, density and order parameter profiles, but also the experimental phase diagram exhibiting a stable binary smectic liquid-crystalline phase (Sm). Using computer simulations we confirmed that the Sm-phase can be stabilized by entropy alone, which opens up the possibility of combining new materials properties at a wide array of length scales.
Seeded
growth of silica rods from colloidal particles has emerged
as a facile method to develop novel complex particle structures with
hybrid compositions and asymmetrical shapes. However, this seeded-growth
technique has been so far limited to colloidal particles of only a
few materials. Here, we first develop a general synthesis for the
seeded-growth of silica rods from silica particles. We then demonstrate
the growth of silica rods from silica-coated particles with three
different cores which highlight the generality of this synthesis:
fluorescently labeled organo-silica (fluorescein), metallic (Ag),
and organic (PS latex). We also demonstrate the assembly of these
particles into supraparticles. This general synthesis method can be
extended to the growth of silica rods from any colloidal particle
which can be coated with silica.
Multiple samples are required to monitor and optimize the quality and reliability of quantitative measurements of stimulated emission depletion (STED) and confocal microscopes. Here, we present a single sample to calibrate these microscopes, align their laser beams and measure their point spread function (PSF) in 3D. The sample is composed of a refractive index matched colloidal crystal of silica beads with fluorescent and gold cores. The microscopes can be calibrated in three dimensions using the periodicity of the crystal; the alignment of the laser beams can be checked using the reflection of the gold cores; and the PSF can be measured at multiple positions and depths using the fluorescent cores. It is demonstrated how this sample can be used to visualize and improve the quality of STED and confocal microscopy images. The sample is adjustable to meet the requirements of different NA objectives and microscopy techniques and additionally can be used to evaluate refractive index mismatches as a function of depth quantitatively.
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