Conducting Leathers for Smart Product Applications

Leather is a unique consumer material possessing a variety of properties such as strength, viscoelasticity, flexibility, and longevity. However, the use of leather for smart product applications is a challenge since it is an electrically insulating material. Here, we report a simple method to produce conducting leathers using an in situ polymerization of pyrrole. The concentrations of pyrrole, ferric chloride, and anthraquinone sulfonic acid and the number of polymerization were optimized to produce maximum conductivity in the treated leathers. The coating of polypyrrole in the treated leathers was probed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopic analysis. We also show that the treated leathers are black through reflectance measurements, thereby suggesting that the use of toxic and expensive dyes can be avoided for coloration process. We further demonstrate that the treated leathers, with a maximum conductivity of 7.4 S/cm, can be used for making conductive gloves for operating touch-screen devices apart from other smart product applications

Three-Dimensional Porous Sponges from Collagen Biowastes

Three-dimensional, functional, and porous scaffolds can find applications in a variety of fields. Here we report the synthesis of hierarchical and interconnected porous sponges using a simple freeze-drying technique, employing collagen extracted from animal skin wastes and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The ultralightweight, high-surface-area sponges exhibit excellent mechanical stability and enhanced absorption of organic contaminants such as oils and dye molecules. Additionally, these biocomposite sponges display significant cellular biocompatibility, which opens new prospects in biomedical uses. The approach highlights innovative ways of transforming biowastes into advanced hybrid materials using simple and scalable synthesis techniques

Conversion of Industrial Bio-Waste into Useful Nanomaterials

Chromium-complexed collagen is generated as waste during processing of skin into leather. Here, we report a simple heat treatment process to convert this hazardous industrial waste into core–shell chromium–carbon nanomaterials having a chromium-based nanoparticle core encapsulated by partially graphitized nanocarbon layers that are self-doped with oxygen and nitrogen functionalities. We demonstrate that these core–shell nanomaterials can be potentially utilized in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding application or as a catalyst in aza-Michael addition reaction. The results show the ability to convert industrial bio-waste into useful nanomaterials, suggesting new scalable and simple approaches to improve environmental sustainability in industrial processes