Preparation of ion track filters and their applications

During the past several years, various new microporous membranes/filters have been developed for use in the fields of science and technology, viz. health, medicine, air pollution, beverage industries, development of microtubules, material science characterization, etc. These filters are generally made from polymeric materials, ceramics and minerals. Ion Track Filters (ITFs) are defined by independent parameters viz. pore diameter, thickness and areal density of pores. These are produced by physico-chemical treatments to thin films of polymers irradiated by heavy ions. In the present study, a number of interesting applications of ion track filters in various fields of science and technology like micro hydrodynamical flow studies, conduction of bacteria and blood cells, development of metal and metal-semiconductor microstructures and nanostructures has been discussed. The fabrication of these micro/nano materials have extensive range of applications in the variety of fields of science and technology including material based technologies, micro engineering, powerful electronics and optoelectronic devices, magnetic devices, chemical and biosensors, field emission studies etc. micro wires/nanowires based sensors can detect diseases in blood samples and were analyzed for their antibacterial activity against bacterial strains etc. The matter of interest within the ion track filters/channels in the polymers is the material's placement through some suitable mechanism at the desired places viz. pores. (author)