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In this work, we describe new experimental setups for Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) where a long working distance objective is used. Using these setups, FCS measurements in a broad temperature range for a small sample volume of about 50 μl can be performed. The use of specially designed cells and a dry long working distance objective was essential for avoiding temperature gradients in the sample. The performance of the new setups and a traditional FCS setup with immersion objectives is compared. The FCS data in combination with the Stokes-Einstein (SE) relation were used to obtain the values of the nanoviscosity of a fluid. We show for selected molecular van der Waals supercooled liquids that despite the fact that in these systems, a characteristic length scale can be defined, the nanoviscosity obtained from FCS is in a very good agreement with the macroscopic (rheometric) viscosity of the sample in a broad temperature range. This result corroborates the applicability of the SE relation to supercooled liquids at temperatures above 1.2 T. We also show that the temperature dependent size of thermoresponsive microgel particles can be determined by FCS using the designed cells and a long working distance objective in a broader size range without a need to use the correction procedure since the size correction is proportional to the square of the ratio of the hydrodynamic radius to the confocal volume size.

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The paper presents results of a study of the effect of the environment temperature and pH on the size of particles based on poly N (isopropylacrylamide) chain. The tested substance was the copolymer PNIPAM-co-MAA. The particle size measurements were performed by dynamic light scattering. It was found that the copolymer tested reacts specifically to temperature increase by shrinking more than two times. Important for stabilization of the structure are the chemical groups -COOH present in methacrylic acid that undergoes dissociation. Gradual increase in temperature results in a decrease in the dissociation constant, in binding of protons and thus causes shrinkage of the entire particle. It was also shown that PNIPAM-co-MAA in high concentrations undergoes crystallization.

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The most popular technique for particle size characterization is the dynamic light scattering (DLS). In recent years new advanced method based on counting each single particle movement was introduced giving perspective for measurement of each component of mixture. This study presents some advantages of nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) method in comparison to DLS. For tests standard polystyrene beds were chosen vary diameter of 22, 61 and 150 nm and its mixtures. Experiments showed that the particles size resolution allows to distinguish each population in two population suspension opposed to DLS. The NTA method permits to eliminate the negative effects i.e. dust or aggregates in sample during post processing, that permits to use it in a variety of studies.

The size control is one of the most important factors during seed-growth process. Although precise determination of ingredients concentrations is easily controllable during the growth process, there is still a possibility to synthesize oversized particles. Nanosized fluorescent silica particles were synthetized using Stöber process and verified using three complementary methods of particle size determination, namely Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Particle Tracking (PT) as well as by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Confocal Microscopy. The final diameter was verified by DLS and estimated to 494 nm. Parameters necessary to control the size were derived.