The formation of oriented nanostructures of iodic acid (HIO3) on track-etched membranes has been studied. The study has shown that the method of forced filtration of supersaturated crystallization solutions through track membrane pores can be used to grow needlelike faceted microcrystals that have the cross size and preferential growth direction corresponding to those of the pores.

Current–voltage characteristics and electric breakdown of metal-coated track-etched membranes has been investigated. Features of current flow through a dielectric membrane that are associated with the presence of field-emission nanostructures have been revealed. The results of the study can be of interest in tackling the engineering problems of fabrication of field-emission nanostructures based on metallized track-etched membranes.

The entry of high-energy Kr, Xe, and Bi ions into the surface of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and mica has been imaged. It has been shown that the track images have the shape of protuberances in both cases. The formation of protuberances is associated with the degradation of the material in the track region, in the formation of an amorphous structure, and the release of low-molecular radiolysis products as gaseous compounds. Holding the irradiated PET samples in water and dilute alkaline solution for several hours changes the surface topography due to hydrolysis of the material and escape of the radiolysis products to the solution. The kinetics of track etching in the dilute alkaline solution and pore formation have been studied. The electrical resistance and the permeability of the tracks in KCl, LiCl, MgCl2, and BaCl2 electrolytes have been measured.

The esteemed author of the Comment presents a calculation of the number of charges per unit pore sur� face based on the classical theory of the electrical dou� ble layer. Such calculations were performed previously as well. We called attention for the first time to the dif� ference between the charge magnitudes determined from the streaming potential and pore conductivity when studying glass reverseosmosis membranes (1). Analogous results were later obtained by different authors when investigating polymer ultrafiltration and reverseosmosis membranes, porous glasses, rocks, etc. This fact may be related to the difference between the total charge of a pore and the electrokinetic charge, which is always lower than the total charge. Moreover, it may be associated with the discreteness of charges, which is not taken into account in the classi� cal theory of the electrical double layer. Therefore, it is quite unclear why the low charge magnitude in fine pores determined from the streaming potential must, in the opinion of the author of the Comment, serve as the evidence of the absence of these pores. As can be seen from the title of the article, the main goal of our work was to study the electrosurface prop� erties (surface conductivity, charge, and isoelectric point) of latent tracks in a poly(ethylene terephtha� late) film irradiated with highenergy ions. We did not investigate the mechanism of gas flow through the latent tracks. Of course, some model is required for studying the electrosurface properties. We selected the model of a cylindrical channel the wall of which is covered with a porous, loose layer. If a liquid flow inside this layer should be considered to be the surface diffusion is, in our opinion, a question of terminology. The presence of the porous layer on the pore sur�

Arrays of iron nanowires prepared by the method of galvanic filling of polymer track-etched membrane pores (matrix synthesis) under different electrolysis modes and electrolyte temperatures have been studied. The conditions of the synthesis have been analyzed. The optimal composition and electrolyte temperature have been found. The phase composition and magnetic properties of nanowires have been studied using the methods of electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, elemental energy-dispersive microanalysis, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The average nanowire diameter is 100–200 nm. The length varies from 6 to 10 μm. The surface density is ∼108 cm−2 at the average distance to each other of about 1 μm. It has been established that the basis of nanowires is formed by the metal iron nanocomposite that manifests the magnetic properties of bulk α-Fe. It has been found that the preferred orientation of the magnetization inside the iron nanowires arises for an array prepared at a potential of −750 mV.

This paper is devoted to production of metallic micro-and nanowires (Cu, Co, Ni and Fe) using commercial track membranes. Specially prepared matrices were also fabricated and used for this purpose. The process of electrodeposition of these metals into the nanosized pores was investigated and found to be non-linear for small pores. The obtained ensembles of nanowires could be used as the effective templates for emission of molecules in mass-spectrometry. Mass-spectra of test peptide (gramicidin deposited on substrate - ensemble of copper nanowires) was obtained and investigated in different conditions.

In this work nanowires of magnetic metals (Co,Ni and Fe) were obtained via matrix synthesis, using etched track polymer template. The new data on electrodeposition of Ni was obtained. Two effects- the growth rate decrease (while the growing metal nanowires are filling the pores) and current density increase were investigated and discussed. The results of X-rays analysis obtained using synchrotrone source demonstrated the dependence of structure and composition of nanowires on the deposition voltage. Mossbauer spectroscopy was used for investigation of Fe samples. The obtained data are in good agreement with X-rays results.

The formation of acicular microcrystals in the pores of a polyethylene terephthalate track membrane upon the filtration of a supersaturated aqueous HIO3 solution is studied. The transverse sizes and directions of preferred growth of the formed edged microcrystals are found to correspond to the configuration of pores of the track membrane.

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) films irradiated by high-energy ions without additional etching have been studied. It has been shown that tracks of heavy high-energy ions in poly(ethylene terephthalate) may be considered to be single through capillaries suitable for studying electrophysical properties. It has been revealed that the surface electrical conductivities of electrolyte solutions (KCl, LiCl, MgCl 2 , and BaCl 2 ) in the tracks of nonetched membranes are substantially higher, while the surface charges are noticeably lower, than those of etched membranes.

Current-voltage characteristics and electrical breakdown have been investigated for metal-coated track-etched membranes with cylindrical pores. The specific features of current flow through a dielectric membrane that are associated with the presence of field-emission nanostructures on its surface have been revealed. The results are of interest for solving engineering problems of fabrication of field-emission nanostructures based on metal-coated track-etched membranes.

The current flow through metal-coated track-etched membranes in air and vacuum and its features associated with the presence of field-emission nanostructures on the membrane surface have been studied.

Исследовано образование игольчатых микрокристаллов в порах трековой мембраны из полиэтилентерефталата при фильтрации пересыщенного водного раствора HIO3. Обнаружено, что поперечные размеры и направления преимущественного роста образовавшихся ограненных микрокристаллов соответствуют конфигурации пор трековой мембраны.

Исследованы пленки из полиэтилентерефталата после облучения высокоэнергетическими ионами без дополнительного травления. Показано, что треки тяжелых высокоэнергетических ионов в полиэтилентерефталате можно рассматривать как единичные сквозные нанокапилляры, пригодные для исследования электрофизических свойств. Обнаружены значительное повышение поверхностной электропроводности растворов электролитов (KCl, LiCl, MgCl2 и BaCl2) в треках непротравленных мембран и, в то же время, значительно меньшие значения поверхностного заряда по сравнению с протравленными мембранами.

Electrosurface characteristics of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) track membranes (TMs) with a pore radius of 6.5 to 60 nm used for ultra- and microfiltration have been studied. The results allow for indirect judgments on the track structure and variation in the pore space structure of TMs with the increasing pore radius. Higher values of TM porosity determined from data of the membrane electrical resistance compared with the porosity values obtained from the filtration data suggest that the PET pore surface has a loose structure. The thermal treatment of TMs makes the porosity values determined from the electrical resistance and filtration data closer to one another. The character of changes in the isoelectric point, ζ potential, and surface charge (σ) indicate that the properties and structure of the PET pore surface depend on the pore radius. The results obtained can be used to predict the separation power of TMs.

The dependence of electrical conductivity of KCl solutions in pores of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and polyimide track-etched membranes (PET TM and PI TM) on the solution concentration and pore diameter has been studied by impedance spectroscopy. It has been found that the conductivity values calculated from the experimental results substantially exceed the standard values in the case of small pore diameters and low concentrations of the solutions, with this difference being more pronounced for PET TM. As the solution concentration and pore diameter increase, the conductivity of the solution in pores tends to the standard value. The revealed effect is explained by the presence of a loose layer on the pore walls that results from the polymer degradation induced by irradiation with high-energy ions. The contact of this layer with the solution gives rise to the gel layer, which is filled with the electrolyte and reduces the measured impedance of the membrane.