A Novel Synthetic Method for N Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles Through Plasma-Assisted Electrolysis and Photocatalytic Activity in the Visible Region

Nitrogen doped TiO2 (N-TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized via a novel plasma enhanced electrolysis method using bulk titanium (Ti) as a source material and nitric acid as the nitrogen dopant. This method possesses remarkable merits with regard to the direct-metal synthesis of nanoparticles with its one-step process, eco-friendliness, and its ability to be mass produced. The nanoparticles were synthesized from bulk Ti metal and dipped in 5–15 mmol of a nitric acid electrolyte under the application of AC 500 V, the minimum range of voltage to generate plasma. By controlling the electrolyte concentration, the nanoparticle size distribution could be tuned between 12.1 and 24.7 nm using repulsion forces via variations in pH. The prepared N-TiO2 nanoparticles were calcined at between 100 and 300°C to determine their photocatalytic efficiency within the visible-light region, which depended on their crystal structure and N doping content. Analysis showed that the temperature treatment yielded an anatase TiO2 crystalline structure when the N doping content was varied from 0.4 to 0.54 at.%. In particular, the 0.4 at.% N doped TiO2 catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic performance with quadruple efficiency compared to the P-25 standard TiO2 nanoparticles, which featured a 91% degradation of methyl orange organic dye within 300 min. This solid-liquid reaction based on plasma enhanced electrolysis could open new pathways with regard to high purity mass producible ceramic nanoparticles with advanced properties

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube-Coated Poly-Methyl Methacrylate Dispersed Thermoplastic Polyurethane Composites for Pressure-Sensitive Applications

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a widely used polymer for a variety of pressure sensing applications because of its softness and shape memory. This work reports the synthesis of novel TPU-based three-dimensional structured (3D) pressure-sensitive composites via the melt mixing method. Poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) microbeads of different sizes (5, 10, and 20 µm) were first coated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and then incorporated into the TPU matrix for achieving an early electro conductive percolation threshold compared to without PMMA beads. The addition of MWCNT coated PMMA beads reduced the TPU insulated areas by creating a 3D conductive network that finally reflected the early percolation threshold during external pressure. Raman microscopy and XRD results confirmed the MWCNT coated nicely on the surface of PMMA beads. The pressure sensitivity results also confirmed the decrease in resistance of the composites with the increase in the applied external pressure. Composites with 10 µm PMMA bead size showed the most linear responses to the decrease in resistance with increasing pressure and showed a higher strain gauge factor value (3.15) as compared to other composites, which had values of 2.78 and 2.42 for 20 and 5 µm, respectively. Microstructure analysis of the composites by SEM, capacitance, permeability, and thermal conductivity measurements was also investigated to support the above evidence. The results support the suitability of this novel composite as a potential candidate for pressure sensing applications