Functionalization Of Graphene And Reduced Graphene Oxide In Different Matrices

Graphene (G) presents a huge variety of intriguing properties, as extraordinary electronic transport characteristics. G, thanks to its low chemical reactivity, can also be used as an active support for catalytic nanoparticles. Some possible graphene application could be: its employment in active material in electronic devices such as sensors [1], batteries [2], supercapacitors, hydrogen storage systems or as fillers to produce multifunctional nanocomposite polymeric materials [3]. In more detail we would like to examine: different approach of reduction and functionalization of in situ reduced graphene oxide obtaining an enhancement of thermal conductivity and an resistivity decrease [4]. Surface modification and functionalization of rGO to improve its dispersion in organic solvent and also polymeric matrix [5]

Radical photoinduced cationic frontal polymerization in porous media

Two different interpenetrating phase composites were produced using a radical photoinduced cationic frontal polymerization process. The composites were based on polyurethane (PU) and aluminium open-cell foams impregnated with a formulation of a cycloaliphatic epoxy with different concentrations of a cationic photoinitiator and a thermal initiator. The influence of both types of initiators on the frontal polymerization features was systematically evaluated for the PU foam. It was found to occur only when the concentration of both initiators was greater than 0.5 wt%, leading to full conversion of the epoxy in the whole volume of the 15 mm thick composite samples within less than 100 s. The maximum temperature reached by the propagation front was in the range 275–305 °C depending on the type of formulation, leading to pores in the epoxy phase and extensive degradation of the PU phase. In the case of the opaque aluminium foam, an additional layer of pure resin was required on the UV-exposed surface, which corresponded to a critical mass of a few grams to ensure sufficient heat generation and trigger the front propagation. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

Gelatine based gel polymer electrolyte towards more sustainable Lithium-Oxygen batteries

The lithium-oxygen battery has attracted wide interest thanks to its very high theoretical energy density, and as such it is considered by many as a valid battery of the future candidate. However, the challenges in its practical application are many, such as liquid electrolyte evaporation in semi-open systems, as well as solvents instability in a highly oxidizing environment. In this work, we propose to use gelatin, from cold water fish skin, a waste from the fishing industry, to prepare an efficient gel electrolyte for future Li-O2 battery applications. After a single step methacrylation in water, methacrylated gelatine is directly cross-linked in presence of liquid electrolyte through UV- initiated radical polymerization. The obtained gel polymer electrolytes present good thermal and mechanical properties, good electrochemical stability against Li metal and ionic conductivities as high as 2.51 mS cm−1 at room temperature. the Li-O2 cells assembled with this bio-renewable gel polymer electrolytes were able to perform more than 100 cycles at 0.1 mA cm−2, under constant O2 flow, at room temperature and at a fixed capacity of 0.2 mAh cm−2. Cathodes post- mortem analysis confirmed that the cross-linked gelatin matrix was able to slow down solvent degradation and therefore enhance the cell reversibility

Transparent and conductive graphene oxide-polyethylenglycol diacrylate coatings obtained by photopolymerization

Water dispersed graphene oxide sheets were used to prepare graphene-polyethylenglycol diacrylate resin composites by photopolymerization. It was found that graphene sheets undergo excellent morphological distribution within the resin system, giving rise to transparent composites with unaltered thermal properties with respect to the neat resin, that are electrically conductive at loading ratios as low as 0.02 %wt of graphene oxide . The proposed strategy based on photopolymerization provides an easy, energy-saving and environmental friendly technique that can find a wide application in coating technology, mainly for electromagnetic shielding and antistatic coatings.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, 1 table, accepted for Macromolecular Materials & Engineerin

New UV-Curable Anticorrosion Coatings from Vegetable Oils

Bio-based epoxy resins are attracting widespread interest in the field of polymer thermosets as environmentally friendly building block. In the present study, the feasibility of applying UV-curable epoxidized vegetable oils (EVOs) as anti-corrosion coating is investigated. Rheological characterization of EVOs is carried out, and their viscosity-shear relationship is evaluated. The cationic UV-curing of EVOs successfully gives rise to crosslinked materials with a wide range of thermo-mechanical properties, evaluated by differential scanning calorimetric analysis and dynamic thermal mechanical analysis. A high epoxy-group conversion, ranging from 93% to 99%, is always obtained. The thermal stability and surface properties of the bio-based coatings, such as, pencil hardness, adhesion, solvent resistance, and contact angle, are analyzed. Moreover, the corrosion protection effectiveness of the coatings is characterized by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. In addition, field emission scanning electron microscopy is used to assess the samples morphology after corrosion tests

Magnetic-Oriented Nickel Particles and Nickel-Coated Carbon Nanotubes: An Efficient Tool for Enhancing Thermal Conductivity of PDMS Composites

In this study, PDMS composites are thermally cured with nickel particles and nickel-coated carbon nanotubes as fillers. Both fillers are oriented with the aim to increase the thermal conductivity of the silicone polymer network, due to the formation of a continuous thermal path. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) gives a picture of the polymer network's morphology, proving the effective alignment of the nickel particles. Rheology and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) studies confirm the full curing of the silicon network and no influence in the curing kinetics of the type and content of fillers and their orientation. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and tensile analysis show instead different thermo-mechanical behavior of the polymer network due to the presence of different fillers, different fillers percentage, and orientation. Finally, the thermal transmittance coefficient (k) is studied by means of hot disk analysis, revealing the increment of almost 200% due to magnetic filler orientation

Microwave-assisted methacrylation of chitosan for 3D printable hydrogels in tissue engineering

Light processable natural polymers are highly attractive for 3D printing of biomedical hydrogels with defined geometries and sizes. However, functionalization with photo-curable groups, such as methacrylate or acrylate groups, is required. Here, we investigated a microwave-assisted process for methacrylation of chitosan to replace conventional methacrylation processes that can be time consuming and tedious. The microwave-assisted methacrylation reaction was optimized by varying the synthesis parameters such as the molar ratio of chitosan to the methacrylic agent, the launch and reaction times and process temperature. The optimized process was fast and efficient and allowed tuning of the degree of substitution and thereby the final hydrogel properties. The successful methacrylation and degree of substitution were verified by H-1 NMR and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The influence of the degree of methacrylation on photo-rheology, mechanical stiffness, swelling degree and gel content was evaluated. Furthermore, favourable 3D printability, enzymatic degradability, biocompatibility, cell migration and proliferation were demonstrated giving promise for further applications in tissue engineering