Reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-induced compatibilization and reinforcement of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) binary polymer blend

Membrane modification with carbon nanomaterials for fouling mitigation: A review

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in membrane modification for fouling mitigation in various water treatment processes, employing carbon nanomaterials such as fullerenes, nanodiamonds, carbon quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, and graphene oxide. Currently, using different carbon nanomaterials for polymeric membrane fouling mitigation is at various stages: CNT-modified membranes have been studied for more than ten years and have already been tested in pilot-scale setups; tremendous attention has been paid to utilizing graphene oxide as a modifying agent, while the research on carbon quantum dots' influence on the membrane antifouling properties is in the early stages. Given the intricate nature of fouling as a colloidal phenomenon, the review initially delves into the factors influencing the fouling process and explores strategies to address it. The diverse chemistry and antibacterial properties of carbon nanomaterials make them valuable for mitigating scaling, colloidal, and biofouling. This review covers surface modification of existing membranes using different carbon materials, which can be implemented as a post-treatment procedure during membrane fabrication. Creating mixed-matrix membranes by incorporating carbon nanomaterials into the polymer matrix requires the development of new synthetic procedures. Additionally, it discusses promising strategies to actively suppress fouling through external influences on modified membranes. In the concluding section, the review compares the effectiveness of carbon materials of varying dimensions and identifies key characteristics influencing the antifouling properties of membranes modified with carbon nanomaterials.

Improving the Thermomechanical Properties of Poly(lactic acid) via Reduced Graphene Oxide and Bioderived Poly(decamethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate)

Polylactide (PLA) is the most widely used biopolymer, but its poor ductility and scarce gas barrier properties limit its applications in the packaging field. In this work, for the first time, the properties of PLA solvent-cast films are improved by the addition of a second biopolymer, i.e., poly(decamethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PDeF), added in a weight fraction of 10 wt%, and a carbon-based nanofiller, i.e., reduced graphene oxide (rGO), added in concentrations of 0.25–2 phr. PLA and PDeF are immiscible, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, with PDeF spheroidal domains showing poor adhesion to PLA. The addition of 0.25 phr of rGO, which preferentially segregates in the PDeF domains, makes them smaller and considerably rougher and improves the interfacial interaction. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirms the immiscibility of the two polymer phases and highlights that rGO enhances the crystallinity of both polymer phases (especially of PDeF). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) highlights the positive impact of rGO and PDeF on the thermal degradation resistance of PLA. Quasi-static tensile tests evidence that adding 10 wt% of PDeF and a small fraction of rGO (0.25 phr) to PLA considerably enhances the strain at break, which raises from 5.3% of neat PLA to 10.0% by adding 10 wt% of PDeF, up to 75.8% by adding also 0.25 phr of rGO, thereby highlighting the compatibilizing role of rGO on this blend. On the other hand, a further increase in rGO concentration decreases the strain at break due to agglomeration but enhances the mechanical stiffness and strength up to an rGO concentration of 1 phr. Overall, these results highlight the positive and synergistic contribution of PDeF and rGO in enhancing the thermomechanical properties of PLA, and the resulting nanocomposites are promising for packaging applications.

Conformable on-skin supercapacitor-integrated, strain sensor based on multioxidant-functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane/reduced graphene oxide/polypyrrole composite films

A hybrid system comprising a conformable on-skin supercapacitor-integrated and strain sensor was developed and found to perform well as a supercapacitor and sensor, with good biocompatibility. This system will be suitable for skin-wearable smart electronic devices.

Quantification of pre and post air plasma defected graphene oxide dispersed polymer blends for high dielectric applications

Polymer nano blends were more in demand for various domestic and industrial applications. In the present investigation, we modified the Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/Polysulfone (PSF) polymer blends by dispersion of pre...

Multifunctionality of Reduced Graphene Oxide in Bioderived Polylactide/Poly(Dodecylene Furanoate) Nanocomposite Films

This work reports on the first attempt to prepare bioderived polymer films by blending polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(dodecylene furanoate) (PDoF). This blend, containing 10 wt% PDoF, was filled with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in variable weight fractions (from 0.25 to 2 phr), and the resulting nanocomposites were characterized to assess their microstructural, thermal, mechanical, optical, electrical, and gas barrier properties. The PLA/PDoF blend resulted as immiscible, and the addition of rGO, which preferentially segregated in the PDoF phase, resulted in smaller (from 2.6 to 1.6 µm) and more irregularly shaped PDoF domains and in a higher PLA/PDoF interfacial interaction, which suggests the role of rGO as a blend compatibilizer. rGO also increased PLA crystallinity, and this phenomenon was more pronounced when PDoF was also present, thus evidencing a synergism between PDoF and rGO in accelerating the crystallization kinetics of PLA. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) showed that the glass transition of PDoF, observed at approx. 5 °C, shifted to a higher temperature upon rGO addition. The addition of 10 wt% PDoF in PLA increased the strain at break from 5.3% to 13.0% (+145%), and the addition of 0.25 phr of rGO increased the tensile strength from 35.6 MPa to 40.2 MPa (+13%), without significantly modifying the strain at break. Moreover, rGO decreased the electrical resistivity of the films, and the relatively high percolation threshold (between 1 and 2 phr) was probably linked to the low aspect ratio of rGO nanosheets and their preferential distribution inside PDoF domains. PDoF and rGO also modified the optical transparency of PLA, resulting in a continuous decrease in transmittance in the visible/NIR range. Finally, rGO strongly modified the gas barrier properties, with a remarkable decrease in diffusivity and permeability to gases such as O2, N2, and CO2. Overall, the presented results highlighted the positive and sometimes synergistic role of PDoF and rGO in tuning the thermomechanical and functional properties of PLA, with simultaneous enhancement of ductility, crystallization kinetics, and gas barrier performance, and these novel polymer nanocomposites could thus be promising for packaging applications.

Liquid Metal Initiator of Ring-Opening Polymerization: Self-Capsulation into Thermal/Photomoldable Powder for Multifunctional Composites

Liquid metal nanodroplets not only share similar metallic properties and nanoscale effect with solid metal nanoparticles, but also possess the additional uniqueness in nonvolatile fluidity and ambient sintering ability into continuous conductors. In most cases, liquid metal nanodroplets are encapsulated into ultrathin and fragile shells of oxides and amphiphile monolayers, and may be hindered from incorporating homogeneously into various composites through conventional processing methods. In this study, ring-opening polymerization is found to be initiated by sonicating the liquid metal EGaIn in fluidic lactones. By this in situ polymerization, EGaIn nanodroplets are encapsulated into polylactone shells with tunable thickness, which can further be dried into a solid powder. Besides high chemical stability and dispersibility in organic solvents, the powder of the EGaIn capsules combines the exceptional properties of the EGaIn droplets (e.g., photothermal effect) and the polylactone shells (e.g., biocompatibility, biodegradability, and compatibility with different polymer matrixes), being capable of being introduced into thermoplastic composites through liquid casting and thermal- or photomolding for the notch-insensitive tearing property, sintering-induced electric conductivity, and photothermal effect. Thus, the EGaIn initiator of ring-opening polymerization may start a pathway to produce stable andthermal/photomoldable powders of EGaIn capsules and their multifunctionalcomposites, applicable in biomedicines, soft electronics, and smart robots.

A new type low-cost, flexible and wearable tertiary nanocomposite sensor for room temperature hydrogen gas sensing

This paper reports on reduced graphene oxide (rGO), tin oxide (SnO₂) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) tertiary nanocomposite thick film based flexible gas sensor. The nanocomposite of 0.90(PVDF) − 0.10[x(SnO₂) − (1 − x)rGO] with different weight percentages (x = 0, 0.15, 0.30, 0.45, 0.6, 0.75, 0.90 and 1) have been prepared by the hot press method. Chromium (Cr) has been deposited on the surface by using E-beam evaporation system, which is used as electrode of the device. Crystal structure, morphology, and electrical characteristics of the device have been explored for the technological application. A correlation between crystallinity, morphology, and electrical properties with these thick films has also been established. The device has been tested at different hydrogen (H₂) gas concentration as well as at different response times. A superior response of 0.90(PVDF) − 0.10[0.75(SnO₂) − 0.25 rGO] nanocomposite thick film has been observed. Hence, this composition is considered as optimized tertiary nanocomposite for the hydrogen gas sensor application. The sensor response of 49.2 and 71.4% with response time 34 sec and 52 sec for 100 PPM and 1000 PPM H₂ gas concentration respectively have been obtained. First time a new kind of low cost and flexible polymer based nanocomposite thick film gas sensor has been explored.

Mechanically robust hydrophobic interpenetrating polymer network-based nanocomposite of hyperbranched polyurethane and polystyrene as an effective anticorrosive coating

Facile fabrication of Si/RGO reinforced interpenetrating polymer network-based nanocomposites with inherent surface hydrophobicity and anticorrosive attributes.