Publications by authors named "Takahiko Ikarashi"
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging of ionic liquid (IL) distribution in electric double-layer (EDL) devices has been actively explored to understand the origin of their excellent performance. However, this has been impeded by insufficient resolution or a poor understanding of the mechanisms of 3D IL imaging. Here, we overcome these difficulties using 3D scanning force microscopy (3D-SFM) with variable tip/sample bias voltages for visualizing 3D ,-diethyl--methyl--(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (DEME-TFSI) distributions on a Au electrode in EDL capacitors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStimuli-responsive polyelectrolyte brushes adapt their physico-chemical properties according to pH and ion concentrations of the solution in contact. We synthesized a poly(acrylic acid) bearing cysteine residues at side chains and a lipid head group at the terminal, and incorporated them into a phospholipid monolayer deposited on a hydrophobic silane monolayer. The ion-specific, nanoscale response of polyelectrolyte brushes was detected by using three-dimensional scanning force microscopy (3D-SFM) combined with frequency modulation detection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Anti-freezing surfactants create a barrier at the solid-water interface to prevent ice formation, but their detailed molecular-level interactions have been hard to study.
- This research successfully visualizes the 3D adsorption structures of a specific surfactant (CTAB) on sapphire surfaces using advanced microscopy techniques, revealing distinct molecular configurations at different concentrations.
- The findings show that lower concentrations lead to flat monolayers, while higher concentrations create upright bilayers that effectively block water, helping to identify ways to enhance the design of anti-freezing surfactants for real-world uses like car coolants.