A combination of thermophoresis and fluid flow can be used to trap molecules and particles. We showed that heating by scanning motion of an elongated laser spot creates a strong thermal trap. Additionally, it induces a global fluid flow that feeds the trap. Such “thermal sieve” can accumulate molecules from a large surrounding region within seconds into a 10 μm spot. Numerical modeling gives a quantitative prediction of the effect. Traps can be dynamically created, relocated, and tuned, which can be used for particle sorting.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28423207
We investigated effect of various ions on spontaneous organization of guanosine derivatives in Langmuir and Lagmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. The results show that, similar to solutions, also in thin films in particular potassium ions have very strong effect on molecular assembly. Already a relatively small addition of these ions causes structural transition from lamellar to mosaic structure.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2803812
Viscoelastic properties of homogeneous and inhomogeneous levan-DNA mixtures were studied with optical tweezers and a rotational rheometer. Both macro- and micro-rheology measurements in homogeneous levan-DNA mixtures revealed pseudoplastic behaviour. In phase-separated levan-DNA mixtures, the results of macro- and microrheology differed significantly.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4506744
We measured the refractive indices and the absorption in bulk single crystals of aluminum nitride, in the region from 1 to 8 THz. Additionally, we estimated the static dielectric constants to be 7.84 and 9.22, for the ordinary and extraordinary polarization, respectively. Our results are relevant in considering this material for terahertz applications.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28838439
We have participated in interdisciplinary research of co-doped inorganic nanoparticles which exhibit upconversion fluorescence, e.g., Yb3+,Tm3+:NaYF4. Such nanoparticles have great potential for development of new techniques for diagnostics and therapy of cancer.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28445735