Effect of Source Solution Components on Quality of Electrospun PVDF Nanofibers for Nanogenerator Application

High surface area flexible thin films of Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF) nanofibers are vastly used because of low cost, simple, safety and environmentally friendly production methods. PVDF nanofibers are inherently piezoelectric when produced by high voltage electrospinning method. In this paper, PVDF nanofibers are synthesis in a electrospinning apparatus, using a solution that contains PVDF dissolved in two solvents, THF (Tetrahydroforan) and DMF (N,N-Di-Methyl Formamid), which DMF has a higher boiling point than THF. The effects of THF to DMF ratio in the solution, and also, PVDF concentration on the morphology and diameter of the synthesised nanofibers are studied. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis of the nanofiber thin films indicates that by adding THF in the source suspension, smoother and more uniform nanofibers with lower diameter are resulted. However, by further increasing THF ratio, the cone-jet mode is formed on the tip of the needle, rapidly dried, before reaching the collector substrate. Results of the further experiments indicate that decreasing of PVDF concentration in the deposition source solves the latter problem. On the other hand, by decreasing the THF ratio to DMF, the solution cannot completely be dried, before collecting by the substrate. The best and uniform nanofibers with the diameter of 200 to 300 nm are obtained from a ratio of 3:1 For THF:DMF and 10 % PVDF concentration. Fabricated nanogenerator, based on the best mentioned sample, shows an output power of 0.56 W/m2 when actuated by a vibration mechanical force with the frequency of 8 Hz

Distinct Regions of the Large Extracellular Domain of Tetraspanin CD9 Are Involved in the Control of Human Multinucleated Giant Cell Formation

Multinucleated giant cells, formed by the fusion of monocytes/macrophages, are features of chronic granulomatous inflammation associated with infections or the persistent presence of foreign material. The tetraspanins CD9 and CD81 regulate multinucleated giant cell formation: soluble recombinant proteins corresponding to the large extracellular domain (EC2) of human but not mouse CD9 can inhibit multinucleated giant cell formation, whereas human CD81 EC2 can antagonise this effect. Tetraspanin EC2 are all likely to have a conserved three helix sub-domain and a much less well-conserved or hypervariable sub-domain formed by short helices and interconnecting loops stabilised by two or more disulfide bridges. Using CD9/CD81 EC2 chimeras and point mutants we have mapped the specific regions of the CD9 EC2 involved in multinucleated giant cell formation. These were primarily located in two helices, one in each sub-domain. The cysteine residues involved in the formation of the disulfide bridges in CD9 EC2 were all essential for inhibitory activity but a conserved glycine residue in the tetraspanin-defining ‘CCG’ motif was not. A tyrosine residue in one of the active regions that is not conserved between human and mouse CD9 EC2, predicted to be solvent-exposed, was found to be only peripherally involved in this activity. We have defined two spatially-distinct sites on the CD9 EC2 that are required for inhibitory activity. Agents that target these sites could have therapeutic applications in diseases in which multinucleated giant cells play a pathogenic role

Numerical Analysis of Inlet Gas-Mixture Flow Rate Effects on Carbon Nanotube Growth Rate

The growth rate and uniformity of Carbon Nano Tubes (CNTs) based on Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) technique is investigated by using a numerical model. In this reactor, inlet gas mixture, including xylene as carbon source and mixture of argon and hydrogen as  carrier gas enters into a horizontal CVD reactor at atmospheric pressure. Based on the gas phase and surface reactions, released carbon atoms are grown as CNTs on the iron catalysts at the reactor hot walls. The effect of inlet gas-mixture flow rate, on CNTs growth rate and its uniformity is discussed. In addition the velocity and temperature profile and also species concentrations throughout the reactor are presented

Numerical Study of Operating Pressure Effect on Carbon Nanotube Growth Rate and Length Uniformity

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is one of the most popular methods for producing Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs). The growth rate of CNTs based on CVD technique is investigated by using a numerical model based on finite volume method. Inlet gas mixture, including xylene as carbon source and mixture of argon and hydrogen as carrier gas enters into a horizontal CVD reactor at atmospheric pressure. In this article the operating pressure variations are studied as the effective parameter on CNT growth rate and length uniformity