The nanoscale microstructure and chemistry of a transparent gahnite glass-ceramic its precursor glass were investigated using atom probe tomography, transmission electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In the annealed glass, statistically significant ZrO clustering was observed along with Si depletion within 2 nm clusters. This is expected to be first step in nucleation cr...

In this study, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with a diameter of ~3 nm were successfully synthesized and incorporated into poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) matrix to fabricate PET/GQDs nanocomposites. The impact GQDs on the crystallization thermal stability nanocomposites was investigated. It observed that addition only 0.5 wt% resulted in significant increase temperature (peak temperature) PET...

Controlling the solid-state morphology of semiconducting polymers is crucial for function and performance optoelectronic photonic devices. Nucleation a commonly used straightforward approach to tailor semi-crystalline polymers. However, efficient nucleating agents are still rare. Here, we present conceptual supramolecular polymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). Using this approach, developed cl...

We evaluate the probability that a loop of string that has spontaneously nucleated during inflation will form a black hole upon collapse, after the end of inflation. We then use the observational bounds on the density of primordial black holes to put constraints on the parameters of the model. Other constraints from the distortions of the microwave background and emission of gravitational radia...

Centrosome- and chromatin-based microtubule nucleation pathways have been implicated in spindle assembly. Using total internal reflection fluorescent microscopy and Xenopus egg extracts, Petry et al. demonstrate that new microtubules can also nucleate and branch out from existing ones in animal cells.

Strong tolerance of freezing is an important strategy for insects living in extremely cold regions. They produce highly effective cryoprotectant systems consisting of ice-nucleating proteins and polyols, which enables tolerable freezing of the body fl uid. Therefore, the measurement of the concentrations of polyols and the activity of ice nucleators in the haemolymph is an essential tool for de...

Regulation of the temperature at which insects freeze is a critical factor in their overwintering survival. Although the role of ice-nucleating active bacteria in promoting frost-damage in plants is well known, their interaction with other organisms has not been described. In winter. many freeze-susceptible insects avoid freezing by lowering the temperature at which their body fluids spontaneou...