title: The preparation of submicrometer-sized rings by embedding and selective etching of spherical silica particles.
abstract: Silica particles were embedded in a polymer layer on a water surface in such a way that they protruded out of the top and the bottom surfaces. Etching of this layer with hydrofluoric acid vapors gradually removed the particles to yield membranes with pores that continuously widen until the particles are completely removed. Removing the polymer at intermediate stages of etching revealed that the particles are first converted into rings and sickles before they are finally completely destroyed.
authors.affiliation: Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Dawid
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marczewski
authors.forename: Werner A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Goedel
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide