From the Editor

Abstract

Layered silicates present interaction sites at both faces and edges of the nanolayers and silane coupling agents that locate at both sites lead to polymer nanocomposites with superior melt strength and properties. This work’s objective was (a) to investigate the effectiveness of solvent-free, vapor phase, silane treatment of the nanolayers for formulating masterbatches and (b) to compare the mechanical properties of 1mil thick blown films from polypropylene copolymer nanocomposites with such coupling, to films from the neat polypropylene. The nanocomposite blown film tensile modulus and tensile strength improved along both the draw direction and the transverse direction. In addition, their elongation to failure was close to 500% along both directions, in contrast to values of 500% along MD and 170% along TD for the neat PP copolymer. These trends may be understood in terms of the crystalline lamellar orientation distribution in the films. FESEM images revealed that cross-hatched lamellae were absent from the unfilled PP blown film and were pervasive in the nanocomposite blown film. The nanolayers were oriented in the film plane with the longer dimension largely along the MD. The lower extent of lamellar orientation around nanolayers may be attributed to the strong reduction in the polymer chain mobility attached to the nanolayers. Polyaniline and quantum dot-based nanostructures: Developments and perspectives” also by Ayesha Kausar reviews Quantum dots which are 2–5 nm nanoparticles with exceptional optical, electronic, luminescence, and semiconducting properties. Polyaniline is an exclusive conjugated polymer. This article reviews recent efforts, scientific trials, and technological solicitations for polyaniline/quantum dot-based nanocomposites. Polyaniline/quantum dot mixtures form a unique composition for advance materials and applications. Carbon dots, graphene quantum dots, and several inorganic quantum dots have been added to a conducting polymer. A functional quantum dot may develop electrostatic, van der Waal, and p–p stacking interactions with the conjugated polymer backbone. Uniform quantum dot dispersion in polyaniline may result in inimitable morphology, electrical conductivity, electrochemical properties, capacitance, and sensing features. Finally, this review expounds on the many applications for polyaniline/quantum dot nanocomposites including dye-sensitized solar cell, supercapacitor, electronics, gas sensor, biosensor, and bioimaging. And a final thought. “The power of population is so superior to the power of the Earth to produce subsistence for man, that premature death must in some shape or other visit the human race” Thomas Malthus 1798