Zeta-potential analyzer

UVic化学系的两个资金雄厚的小组（Moffitt小组，van Veggel小组）在基于胶体系统的先进光子学和生物成像材料方面有很强的研究计划。我们正在申请资金用于zeta电位分析仪，该分析仪可以表征胶体颗粒的表面电荷-这是控制带电胶体系统中相互作用和稳定性的基本和重要参数。Moffitt和van Veggel小组最近的研究进展使人们对带电和水溶性胶体在光子材料和生物标签方面的潜在应用越来越感兴趣。在这样的系统中，zeta电位（以及表面电荷）的表征对于理解静电相互作用和胶体稳定性至关重要。尽管这两个小组的初步结果都很有希望，但由于一个关键的“盲点”，研究进展在几个方面受到限制：目前缺乏表征zeta电位的仪器。拟议的仪器是一种极具成本效益的方法，可以为我们提供这一基本信息，并为几个令人兴奋的项目提供关键信息。

Two well-funded groups in the Chemistry department of UVic (Moffitt group, van Veggel group) have strong research programs in advanced materials for photonics and bio-imaging based on colloidal systems. We are requesting funds for a zeta potential analyzer, which allows characterization of surface charge of colloidal particles- a fundamental and important parameter that governs interactions and stability in charged colloidal systems.  Recent research advances in both the Moffitt and van Veggel groups have resulted in an increased interest in the potential applications of charged and water-soluble colloids for photonic materials and bio-labels. In such systems, characterization of the zeta potential (and hence the surface charge) is essential to understanding electrostatic interactions and colloidal stability. Despite very promising initial results from both groups, research advances are curtailed in several ways by a critical "blind spot": the current lack of instrumentation to characterize the zeta potential. The proposed instrument is an extremely cost-effective method to provide us with this essential information, and to shed critical light on several exciting projects.