Particle Characterisation
A wide range of characterisation methods are used in our group to investigate the properties and functionalised of our particles. We also develop new methods to characterise liquid dropelts and solid particle properties, such as composition, size, morphology and interfacial tension.
Optical Microscopy
We use bright-field, single- and two-photon excitation fluorescence, confocal and fluorescence life time imaging microscopy to characterise the structures of our microfluidically-generated particles, including single and multiple emulsion droplets, core-shell capsules, Janus particles, etc. Digital images processing methods are also used to determine particle physical properties, such, for example, droplet interfacial tension and surfactant monolayer's bending rigidity. Some of these optical microscopy techniques were available to us via STFC-funded facility access time grants at the Central Laser Facility of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Harwell Campus, Didcot).
References
R. Al Nuumani, G. Bolognesi, G. and G.T. Vladisavljevic, 2018, Langmuir, 34, 11822-11831
G. Bolognesi, Y. Saito, A.I. Tyler, A.D. Ward, A.D., C.D. Bain, O. Ces, O. (2016). Langmuir, 32, 3580-3586.
Electron Microscopy and
Spectroscopy
We have access to a broad range of analytical techniques and equipment of the Loughborough Material Characterisation Centre through which we characterise the physical and chemical properties of our particles.
Reference
E.E. Ekanem, Z. Zhang, Z. and G.T. Vladisavljević, (2017). Langmuir, 33, 8476-8482.