Block copolymers represent an exciting class of complex materials as they self-assemble into highly regular structures of nanoscopic dimensions. When prepared as thin films, such structures can be used for a variety of applications including lithographic masks or nanoporous membranes. Reported here are nanostructures in thin films of structurally analogous polybutadiene-block-poly(2-vinyl pyrid...

The novel ENEA-INMRI Image Analyzer system has been tested in semi-automated mode for a computer-assisted alpha track counting of electro-chemically etched (ECE) and chemically etched CR-39 Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD) chips. A track recognition program based on the Java-Image J processing software was developed. Experimental tests have been carried out to maximize the Field of Vi...

Charge mosaic membranes, which possess distinct cationic and anionic domains that traverse the membrane thickness, are capable of selectively separating dissolved salts from similarly sized neutral solutes. Here, the generation of charge mosaic membranes using facile layer-by-layer assembly methodologies is reported. Polymeric nanotubes with pore walls lined by positively charged polyethylenimi...

One-dimensional nanostructures have been studied intensively because of their interesting properties, which hold great promises for various applications [1]. However, to realize devices based on nanostructures, efficient methods that can translate a multitude of nanoscale components into micro/macroscale dimensions are needed. Controlled assembly is of particular importance for nanostructures u...

Quite recently, ion-track membranes of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) have attracted a renewed interest for their applications to next-generation electrochemical devices such as fuel cells [1,2]. In order to produce tracketched pores in PVDF films, several kinds of etching solutions were previously employed. In most cases [3], a highly concentrated aqueous KOH solution with a KMnO4 additive w...