Microfluidics of soft matter investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering.
The combination of X-ray microdiffraction and microfluidics is used to investigate the dynamic behaviour of soft materials. A microfocused X-ray beam enables the observation of the influence of droplet formation on the nanostructure of a smectic liquid crystal in water. Using a hydrodynamic focusing device, the evolution of the intercalation of DNA into multilamellar membranes can be studied. Owing to the elongational flow at the centre of this device, alignment of the material is induced which allows for an improved structural characterization. Furthermore, the influence of strain applied to these materials can be tested.
Otten
Alexander
A
Applied Physics Department, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany.
Köster
Sarah
S
Struth
Bernd
B
Snigirev
Anatoly
A
Pfohl
Thomas
T
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D007364:Intercalating Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D044085:Microfluidics; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods*
D007364:Intercalating Agents; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D004247:DNA