Chitosan/Gelatin/Silver Nanoparticles Composites Films for Biodegradable Food Packaging Applications.

The food packaging industry explores economically viable, environmentally benign, and non-toxic packaging materials. Biopolymers, including chitosan (CH) and gelatin (GE), are considered a leading replacement for plastic packaging materials, with preferred packaging functionality and biodegradability. CH, GE, and different proportions of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used to prepare novel packaging materials using a simple solution casting method. The functional and morphological characterization of the prepared films was carried out by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Visible spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical strength, solubility, water vapor transmission rate, swelling behavior, moisture retention capability, and biodegradability of composite films were evaluated. The addition of AgNPs to the polymer blend matrix improves the physicochemical and biological functioning of the matrix. Due to the cross-linking motion of AgNPs, it is found that the swelling degree, moisture retention capability, and water vapor transmission rate slightly decrease. The tensile strength of pure CH-GE films was 24.4 ± 0.03, and it increased to 25.8 ± 0.05 MPa upon the addition of 0.0075% of AgNPs. The real-time application of the films was tested by evaluating the shelf-life existence of carrot pieces covered with the composite films. The composite film containing AgNPs becomes effective in lowering bacterial contamination while comparing the plastic polyethylene films. In principle, the synthesized composite films possessed all the ideal characteristics of packaging material and were considered biodegradable and biocompatible food packaging material and an alternate option for petroleum-based plastics

Recent Advances in the Multifunctional Natural Gum-Based Binders for High-Performance Rechargeable Batteries

Natural gum derived from the natural surrounding (gum arabic, guar gum, xanthan gum, gellan gum, fenugreek gum, karaya gum, and acacia gum) is one of the most abundant polysaccharides currently present around the world. As natural gum dissolved solution can be very sticky in nature, its role as a binder for both anodes and cathodes in rechargeable batteries have been recently significantly researched. Although much research has been delved into using natural gum as a feasible binder for rechargeable batteries, little investigation so far has taken place to compile, summarize, analyze, and evaluate the current status-quo of the natural gum-based binder research, as well as understanding some of the obstacles and issues that may need to be addressed. This review gives a comprehensive review on the natural gum-based binder that was used for both anode and cathode in rechargeable batteries and how each kind of natural gum improved the electrochemical performance in terms of cycle retention and rate capabilities. Furthermore, more systematic analysis and future projections for the research on natural gum-based binders are presented, which will serve to further the promising research related to utilizing natural gum as an efficient binder for rechargeable battery systems

Recent Advances in the Multifunctional Natural Gum-Based Binders for High-Performance Rechargeable Batteries

Natural gum derived from the natural surrounding (gum arabic, guar gum, xanthan gum, gellan gum, fenugreek gum, karaya gum, and acacia gum) is one of the most abundant polysaccharides currently present around the world. As natural gum dissolved solution can be very sticky in nature, its role as a binder for both anodes and cathodes in rechargeable batteries have been recently significantly researched. Although much research has been delved into using natural gum as a feasible binder for rechargeable batteries, little investigation so far has taken place to compile, summarize, analyze, and evaluate the current status-quo of the natural gum-based binder research, as well as understanding some of the obstacles and issues that may need to be addressed. This review gives a comprehensive review on the natural gum-based binder that was used for both anode and cathode in rechargeable batteries and how each kind of natural gum improved the electrochemical performance in terms of cycle retention and rate capabilities. Furthermore, more systematic analysis and future projections for the research on natural gum-based binders are presented, which will serve to further the promising research related to utilizing natural gum as an efficient binder for rechargeable battery systems

Chemobrionic Fabrication of Hierarchical Self-Assembling Nanostructures of Copper Oxide and Hydroxide

Copper oxide nanostructures have great potential use in a plethora of nanotechnology applications including nanoelectronics, photovoltaics, sensors, electrochemistry, and pharmacology. In the present work we show how hierarchically nanostructured copper oxide and hydroxide may be prepared through self-assembly from CuSO4 salt and silicate solutions using the chemobrionic growth process of a chemical garden. Procedures were explored using the cupric salt in either solid (pellet and seed growth methods) or liquid phase (fluid injection techniques). Self-assembling nanostructures were characterized by means of environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Our results show the formation of crystalline aggregates of copper oxide and hydroxide in complex hierarchical nanostructured forms including fans, flowers, petals, skeins, lentils, and sheaves. Analytical methods corroborate that these nanostructures may be selected in shape and chemical composition with the reaction conditions.We acknowledge the Spanish MINCINN project grants FIS201677692-C2-2P and PCIN-2017-098, along with European FEDER funds and the European COST Action CA17120

Parametry konstrukcyjne membran użytych w „inteligentnych” materiałach

Smart clothes can be described as textiles that change their behavior under some external factors (stimulants). The response of the smart cloth can be passive (just as a sensor) or active (where a combination of sensing and another reaction takes place). The materials involved in these textiles are crucial for many applications, especially for health related applications where the “wearables” can provide instantaneous monitoring and aid to people with certain disabilities. This work consists of two main parts: First it investigates the different materials used in smart clothing for monitoring the vital activities of the human body (e.g. the breathing rates) with an emphasis on piezoresistive structures as they work sensing elements for mechanical strains. Second this work presents the production of functional membrane samples based on synthesized pyrrolinone ester hydrazone dye with a preliminary investigation of their chemical and geometrical parameters, especially their sensitivity for monitoring the presence of ammonia to function as a smart textile based colorimetric chemosensor.„Inteligentne” ubrania można opisać jako tekstylia, które reagują pod wpływem czynników zewnętrznych (bodźców). Odpowiedź „inteligentnej” odzieży może być bierna (czujnik) lub czynna (wykrywanie i reakcja). Materiały związane z tymi wyrobami tekstylnymi mają kluczowe znaczenie dla wielu zastosowań, zwłaszcza dla tych związanych ze zdrowiem, gdzie odzież może zapewnić natychmiastowy monitoring i pomoc osobom niepełnosprawnym. Przedstawiona praca składała się z dwóch głównych części: najpierw badano różne materiały stosowane w „inteligentnej” odzieży do monitorowania istotnych czynności organizmu ludzkiego (np. szybkości oddychania), ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem struktur piezorezystancyjnych. W drugiej części pracy przedstawiono wytwarzanie funkcjonalnych membran z zastosowaniem syntetycznego barwnika, zbadano parametry chemiczne i geometryczne, w szczególności wrażliwości na monitorowanie obecności amoniaku w celu zastosowania wyrobu jako chemosensor kolorymetryczny