Carbon Black Research Articles

Hydroxyl-Functionalized Carbon Nanoparticles Alter the Asphaltene Aggregate Structure and Reduce the Viscosity of Heavy Oil

Hydroxyl-Functionalized Carbon Nanoparticles Alter the Asphaltene Aggregate Structure and Reduce the Viscosity of Heavy Oil

Preparation and photothermal properties of latent functional thermal fluid based on size-controllable phase change nanocapsules

To improve the solar heat utilization efficiency of working fluid in direct solar collector, a novel latent functional thermal fluid (LFTF) based on self-designed 1-octadecanol@silica phase change nanocapsules (NEPCMs) with excellent heat storage capacity and photothermal conversion efficiency were prepared. The NEPCMs prepared by sol–gel method were dispersed in water containing multi-walled carbon nanoparticles to prepare the LFTF. The prepared NEPCMs have high encapsulation efficiency (85.12 %) and melting phase change enthalpy (235.1 J/g), controllable particle size (27.13–167.30 nm), excellent thermal stability and cycle stability. The LFTF containing 10 wt% NEPCMs was considered the optimal choice for its excellent dispersion stability (zeta potential 35.63 mV), thermal storage capacity (peak specific heat capacity 5.11 J·g−1·K−1) and superior photothermal conversion efficiency (up to 98 %), which is roughly 3.29 times that of water. These results offer valuable insights for the future development of LFTF in the field of solar thermal applications.

The effect of plant alkaloid Chelidonin with fullerene C60 carbon nanoparticles on the permeability of hERG potassium channels

The effect of plant alkaloid Chelidonin with fullerene C60 carbon nanoparticles on the permeability of hERG potassium channels

Morphology and properties of carbon black‐filled thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) composites based on hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and thermoplastic polyester elastomer

AbstractThe unique morphology of thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) reveals a significant correlation between the microstructure and performance, and the development of high‐performance TPV composites for specialized applications has become a current research priority. This study is devoted to developing heat‐ and oil‐resistant TPV composites filled with carbon black (CB) based on hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) and thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE) following the masterbatch procedure of dynamic vulcanization. Herein, it focuses on the effects of CB content on the morphology, filler network structure, and properties of the TPV/CB composites. As observed by morphological studies, CB nanoparticles are interconnected and aggregated to form a dual network structure of rubber and CB particles in the composite. With the increasing CB content, it's demonstrated that dual networks have enhanced and shifted to rigid. Consequently, the hardness, thermal stability, and oil resistance of TPV/CB composites are improved, with a 104% elevation in the stress at 300% strain. The flowability in the molten state, toughness (the elongation at break decreased from 690% to 310%), and elasticity deteriorated by oversized (0.5 ~ 1.2 μm) CB agglomerates and rigid rubber particles. This study gives new insight into the microstructure‐properties relationship of TPVs, offering theoretical guidance for fabricating HNBR‐based TPV composites.

Synthesis and characterisation of superior AC/ZnO NPs biocomposite for hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) adsorption

This study aims to synthesize biocomposite by combining banana stem activated carbon (AC) and ZnO Nanoparticles (NPs) to evaluate their adsorption potential towards hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) (20 mg/L). The AC used was successfully synthesized by an impregnation method using phosphoric acid (H3PO4) for 24 h, followed by a carbonization method. ZnO NPs were synthesized using the direct precipitation method using zinc acetate dihydrate (0.2 M) and KOH (0.4 M) as precursors. The AC/ZnO NPs biocomposite was fabricated using the mechanical alloying method at a frequency of 10 Hz for 30 min. The FTIR results show that both adsorbents, namely pure AC and AC/ZnO NPs have abundant functional groups. XRD results show the adsorbent is amorphous with pure AC at 89.95% and AC/ZnO NPs biocomosite at 56.49%. SEM results showed that the morphology of AC resembled crushed bovine bone marrow, and the morphology of ZnO NPs showed a marshmallow-like shape. The UV–vis spectrometer test results show that at the absorption peak of 350 nm the Cr (VI) removal efficiency slowly decreases and disappears at a dose variation of 1.5 g pure AC, 2 g biocomposite AC/ZnO NPs, and 2 g pure AC with Cr (VI) removal efficiency of 99.61%, 99.64%, and 99.83% respectively. Finally, we can report that the high degradation ability for Cr (VI) can be related to thesharp peak of –C=O group, reduced ΔLO−TO, and smaller average crystallite size in AC/ZnO NPs biocomposite.

Iron-based theranostic nanoenzyme for combined tumor magneto-photo thermotherapy and starvation therapy

To address the issue of high-dose treatment agents in magnetic hyperthermia-mediated multi-model tumor therapy, a unique iron-based theranostic nanoenzyme with excellent magnetothermal and catalytic properties was constructed. By using a high-temperature arc method, the iron carbon nanoparticles (MF1-3) with a particle size between 13.7 and 27.6 nm and shell thickness between 1 and 5 nm were prepared. After screening, we selected MF3 as the magnetic core due to its high Ms. value and excellent thermal properties. Under the magneto-photo dual thermal conditions, MF3 exhibited a remarkable specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4917 W/g, which was 20 times more than that of iron oxide. Notably, MF3 also exhibited best peroxidase (POD)-like catalytic in pH 5.0 and maintained stable catalytic performance at 45 °C. Considering the “starvation” strategy of cutting off the energy supply to tumor cells and killing them, the glucose oxidase (GOX) and chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) was further grafted onto MF3, forming the MF3/GOX/COS. This multifunctional therapeutic nanoenzyme not only exhibited significant peroxidase-like activity, but also had glucose decomposition and glutathione (GSH) consumption capabilities. The thermal effect significantly promoted the uptake of MF3/GOX/COS by 4T1 cells, and the IC50 value of MF3/GOX/COS reached low to 3.75 μg/mL. In vivo anti-tumor experiment, compared with single treatment methods, the combined therapy of MF3/GOX/COS mediated magneto-photo thermotherapy (M-PTT) and starvation therapy (ST) exhibited higher tumor inhibition rate of 82.1 % by increased cell apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Overall, MF3/GOX/COS therapeutic nanoenzyme combined the advantages of nano-catalysis, M-PTT and ST, providing a solution for achieving sustained, stable, and effective tumor inhibition rates at lower dose levels.

Self-recovery and self-conducting epoxy-based shape memory polymer microactuator

This paper introduces a self-conducting microactuator based on carbon black (CB) -embedded SMP, offering prospects for more precise and controllable microelectronic devices. CB doping allows adjustment of the overall resistance of SMP (approximately 70 Ω), ensuring efficient and uniform heating performance. However, the incorporation of a significant amount of CB particles adversely affects the mechanical properties. The successful doping of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) allows for an overall improvement in performance while maintaining electrical properties. The prepared CB-CNT-SMP (CC-SMP) composite material exhibited rapid deformation (25 s), thermal stability (uniform heating), and outstanding shape memory performance. Notably, this CC-SMP achieves dual triggering through both electrical and thermal stimuli. The shape change rate of the CC-SMP at 4 V aligns with the results obtained at 70 °C, indicating that the doped particles do not compromise the deformation ability. We have fabricated shape memory-based self-driven electronic devices by controlling the voltage and structural design. The proposed CC-SMP can change its morphology on the basis of voltage and temperature, demonstrating reliable self-recovery capabilities.

Smartphone-based lateral flow immunoassay for sensitive determination of lactate dehydrogenase at the point of care

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a prevalent enzyme involved in anaerobic glycolysis, is released into body fluids following cell damage and has long been a general marker of tissue injury. However, due to its lack of selectivity and the advent of more accurate biomarkers, the clinical utility of LDH has been largely limited to confirming hemolysis. LDH has been recognized as a valuable prognostic biomarker for various cancers, making its monitoring crucial during cancer management. Traditional LDH methods include spectrophotometric analysis of NADH at 340 nm, native electrophoresis, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This study presents the first lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for the smartphone-based quantification of serum LDH levels at the point of care. Highly-affinity and specific antibodies have been produced, with 5 nM equilibrium dissociation constant and no cross-reactivity with human serum albumin and human immunoglobulin G. Utilizing carbon nanoparticles as signal transducers significantly enhanced the quantification limit 55-fold, compared to the conventional gold nanoparticles-based LFIA, achieving a quantification limit of 1.5 ng mL−1. The developed assay demonstrated a mean recovery rate of 115 ± 21 % when evaluating LDH-spiked serum samples. This method can be an interesting home-testing tool for monitoring cancer progression or therapy effectiveness.

Revealing the nanoscale reinforcing mechanism: How topological structure of carbon black clusters influence the mechanics of rubber

The mechanical reinforcement of rubber by carbon black (CB) depends strongly on its the size and topography of CB clusters. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This study uses atomic force microscopy (AFM) to probe interfacial properties at the nanoscale to elucidate the influence of the CB topological structure on macroscopic mechanical properties. A substantial amount of high-modulus bound rubber is found inside the CB aggregates, particularly in highly branched ones. This phenomenon plays a critical role in reinforcement, as corroborated by quantitative AFM nanomechanics, chain segment motion results and theoretical calculations. A quantitative analysis of the filler network reveals that the branched chain structure effectively reduces the packing spacing and improves the stress transfer efficiency.

Carbonized Polymer Dots: Influence of the Carbon Nanoparticle Structure on Cell Biocompatibility.

Carbonized polymer dots (CPDs) were obtained by using microwave irradiation under the same conditions. However, different carbogenic precursors were used, such as aromatic diamine molecules, ortho-phenylenediamine (o-OPDA), and 3,4-diaminobenzoic acid (3,4-DABA). Both carbon nanoparticles showed different structural results based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy analyses. However, there are similar spectroscopic (UV-visible and fluorescence emission) profiles. The photophysical results, like quantum yield (QY) and fluorescence lifetime, were not identical; CPDs-OPDA has a higher QY and fluorescence lifetime than CPDs-3,4-DABA. CPDs-3,4-DABA presents a more hydrophobic character than CPDs-OPDA and has a more negative superficial charge. Cell viability studies in both standard and tumor lines demonstrated higher cytotoxicity from CPDs-OPDA than that from CPDs-3,4-DABA. The oxidative stress identified in cells treated with CPDs-OPDA was based on reactive oxygen species and associated with nitric oxide production. CPDs-3,4-DABA showed more DPHH inhibition than CPDs-OPDA, indicating the antioxidant activity of CPDs.

A New Paradigm on Waste-to-Energy Applying Hydrovoltaic Energy Harvesting Technology to Face Masks.

The widespread use of single-use face masks during the recent epidemic has led to significant environmental challenges due to waste pollution. This study explores an innovative approach to address this issue by repurposing discarded face masks for hydrovoltaic energy harvesting. By coating the face masks with carbon black (CB) to enhance their hydrophilic properties, we developed mask-based hydrovoltaic power generators (MHPGs). These MHPGs were evaluated for their hydrovoltaic performance, revealing that different mask configurations and sizes affect their efficiency. The study found that MHPGs with smaller, more structured areas exhibited better energy output, with maximum open-circuit voltages (VOC) reaching up to 0.39 V and short-circuit currents (ISC) up to 65.6 μA. The integration of CB improved water absorption and transport, enhancing the hydrovoltaic performance. More specifically, MHPG-1 to MHPG-4, which represented different sizes and features, presented mean VOC values of 0.32, 0.17, 0.19 and 0.05 V, as well as mean ISC values of 16.57, 15.59, 47.43 and 3.02 μA, respectively. The findings highlight the feasibility of utilizing discarded masks in energy harvesting systems, offering both environmental benefits and a novel method for renewable energy generation. Therefore, this work provides a new paradigm for waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies and inspires further research into the use of unconventional waste materials for energy production.

All-in-one fabrication of NiO nanorods/carbon-containing porous catalytic polymer membranes for persulfate-facilitated oxidation-adsorption of diclofenac in flow–through

We introduce a novel all-in-one fabrication method for porous catalytic polyethersulfone (PES) membranes containing NiO nanorods and carbon nanoparticles. This method is based on the sonochemical in situ solidification of a metal salt with NaBH4 in presence of carbon particles in a PES-containing casting-reaction solution, directly followed by membrane preparation via film casting cum phase separation. In the catalytic flow-through degradation of 20 mg/L aqueous diclofenac with persulfate as oxidant, an as-prepared NiO-carbon-PES membrane achieved a 99 % aromatic content removal degree at a residence time of only 1.6 s. In comparison, NiO and CuO membranes without carbon particles exhibited < 40 % aromatic removal degrees. The high performance was attributed to a degradation-induced adsorption, with a diclofenac removal capacity of 950 mg/g of incorporated carbon particles. We demonstrated that diclofenac is catalytically mineralized in the membrane at incorporated NiO nanorods, followed by adsorption of remaining degradation products at nearby carbon particles. Our data further suggests that reducing NiO to Ni(0) via a membrane pretreatment shifts the catalytic persulfate activation from a radicaltoa non-radical pathway, and that HCO3– can function as sacrificial electron donor for Ni(0). This completely mitigated nickel leaching from the membrane in contact to persulfate. Moreover, even in the presence of NaHCO3 and NaCl, a Ni(0)–carbon–PES membrane consistently eliminated ∼ 90 % of the total organic carbon (TOC) from a 2 mg/L diclofenac feed containing persulfate in single-pass flow-through mode (continuously for 5 h, respectively for 500 L/m2 permeate volume), with no detectable release of degradation products or any nickel leaching.

Advancing nanomaterial synthesis: Harnessing green chemistry for sustainable innovation

Nanotechnology has experienced substantial expansion due to its wide-ranging applications, and in view of this, different synthetic routes were developed and many of them employ toxic reagents, have high energy consumption and generate toxic waste. Nowadays, with growing concerns regarding environmental and health safety, green chemistry is gaining prominence and as a result, certain synthetic routes have been replaced to align with the principles of green chemistry. This review outlines current methods for synthesizing silver, iron, and carbon nanoparticles, alongside discussions on green synthesis routes and their mechanisms. Additionally, it evaluates future perspectives on green synthesis, addressing the challenges that need to be overcome.

Nano-micro pore structure characteristics of carbon black and recycled carbon fiber reinforced alkali-activated materials

Microscopic scrutiny aids in alkali-activated materials’ (AAM) application in construction industry. This study delves into the pore structure and properties of one-part alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortar modified by carbon black (CB) and recycled carbon fiber (rCF). The additives enhanced flexural strength by 51.82% (12.16 MPa) with lower water absorption (10.24%). Refinement of pore size and reduction of connectivity are key factors in improving properties. The densification effect of CB and the strong interface between rCF and gel were observed. Furthermore, AAS mortars exhibited multifractal characteristics within the range of micropores and capillary pores. Despite altering fractal regions, the additives did not affect its size dependence. The backbone fractal dimension increases with the addition of CB and rCF, exhibiting strong correlations with various macro properties, thus serving as a comprehensive parameter to characterize pore shape and distribution. This study deepens understanding of AAM composites, facilitating their adoption of low-carbon building materials.

Effect of silica particle size and coating by natural latex on properties of styrene‐butadiene rubber/carbon black/silica composites

AbstractSilica is a renewable resource that has become the primary filler for the rubber used in eco‐friendly tires. However, silica tends to agglomerate in the rubber matrix, particularly, micro‐ and nano‐scale silica, which limits its application. When ordinary‐particle‐size silica with low cost and high stacking density is modified using appropriate methods, high dispersion in rubber and good performance can be achieved with common processing equipment, which has significant engineering application value. In this study, silica particles with different sizes (nano‐scale, 19 and 45 μm) were treated with a 3‐mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane coupling agent (KH580). Subsequently, the silica with the ordinary particle size of 300 mesh (45 μm) was coated with natural latex (NL), and the mechanical properties of the modified silica‐filled styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR)/carbon black (CB) compounds were investigated. The results revealed that the mechanical properties of the NL‐coated 45 μm silica‐filled composite improved significantly, particularly, in the area of tear strength and elongation at break, the composite properties were improved by 17.1% and 118.2%, respectively. Excellent performance over composites filled with coupling agent‐treated micron‐ and nanoscale silica. Enhancing the surface modification of silica through latex coating provides a means to improve the efficiency of industrial production and reduce costs.Highlights The low‐fine silica treated with KH580 has good dispersibility. Improved mechanical compatibility of NL‐coated silica with rubber. Improvement in strain performance of composites after NL coated with silica. The effect of silica dispersion on composite properties is greater than the effect of particle size. Industrial silica can be successfully addressed, paving the way for extensive utilization.

N-doped pitch assisted local interface micro-environment tailoring and microcrystalline regulation in carbon nanotube for efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Regulating the atomic micro-environment at active sites and the interfaces between carbon nanoparticles is crucial for enhancing the performance of carbon-based metal-free electrocatalysts. Herein, a novel carbon nanocomposite, nitrogen-doped coal tar pitch composite carbon nanotubes (NPC@CNTs) was proposed, along with the potential synergistic mechanisms at its heterojunction interfaces. The innovative synthesis involves encapsulating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) within coal tar pitch (CTP), followed by nitrogen doping and CO2 activation to form a layered nano-microstructure with hierarchical porosity. This configuration allows for the precise modulation of the atomic environment at the graphitic-N sites within the heterostructure, with the interfacial effects significantly promoting efficient electron transfer and mass transport. The NPC@CNTs exhibit high Eonset(0.991 V verse Reversible Hydrogen Electrode) and Ehalf-wave(0.845 V vs RHE) in alkaline solution. with an OER overpotential of 391 mV at 10 mA cm−2. Furthermore, a Zn–air battery employing NPC@CNTs indicates a peak power density of 91 mW cm−2 with sustained stability over 230 h. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations confirmed the heterostructure of graphitic nitrogen-doped CNTs provides a higher density of active sites and more efficient charge transfer at carbon atoms adjacent to nitrogen. The CNTs with functionalized shell-interface has significant potential for bifunctional catalysis, surpassing most heteroatom-doped nanocarbon catalysts and commercial Pt/C (20 %).

Enhancing Flame-Retardant Properties of Polyurethane Composites Using N-β-(Aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyl Trimethoxysilane and Carbon Black Co-Modified Ammonium Polyphosphate

The search for a straightforward method to obtain efficient, affordable, and long-lasting flame retardants with both desirable flame-retardant and mechanical properties for polyurethane (PU) composites remains a significant challenge. In this study, the surface of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) was modified using N-β-(aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (KH792) via an ion-exchange reaction, and the modified APP was coated with nanoscale carbon black (CB) to obtain CBAPP. CBAPP demonstrated good compatibility within the PU matrix and notably increased the tensile strength of the PU composites. Furthermore, CBAPP significantly enhanced the flame-retardant properties of the PU composites. The CBAPP/PU composite with a CBAPP mass fraction of 20% achieved a limiting oxygen index of 41.5% and a UL-94 class of V-0. According to the results of this study, our modification approach can be applied to develop other high-performance flame-retardant polymer-based composites, representing a significant contribution to the field of fire safety materials.

Facile and scalable synthesis of N-doped carbon based Ni electrocatalyst for efficient CO2 reduction to CO

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 into valuable chemical products could be realized by reasonable design of effective electrocatalysts with atomically dispersed active sites, but the task presents challenges for chemistry because of the lack of facile and scalable synthetic route. Therefore nitrogen-doped porous carbon supported Ni electrocatalyst is presented via a facile synthetic method. In the first step, commercial carbon black was oxidized by HNO3 to generate organic group followed by absorption of Ni ions. Secondly, calcination under NH3 atmosphere led to N doped carbon based Ni catalyst which exhibited excellent catalytic performance with approximate 95 % Faradaic efficiency for CO, which is helpful for chemists to reasonable design and scalable preparation of economical and efficient catalysts.

Photoacoustic/ultrasound dual-modality imaging of Sentinel lymph node with carbon nanoparticles

Abstract Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a widely used method for identifying axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients, offering an avoidance of unnecessary axillarydissections and a lower incidence of lymphedema and other complications. However, the nuclide localization has added complexity to the procedure due to its accessibility. Methylene blue and other small molecule dyes have been widely used due to their convenience, but they have been found to have lower specificity and sensitivity. Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), as a new type of tracer, are safe and show improved specificity. However, the significant optical absorption in human tissues still renders the detection of deep lymph nodes challenging. To overcome these challenges, we developed a high-sensitivity ultrasound probe optimized for photoacoustic imaging. Based on the new probe, we constructed a high-sensitivity photoacoustic/ultrasound dual-modality imaging system. A pilot clinical study has been conducted on two patients, preliminarily verifying the system’s ability to locate SLN when combined with the CNPs.

Learning based model for predicting mechanical properties and sustainable filler band for NBR composites using lignin and carbon black

Experimental determination of mechanical properties of rubber composites, such as tensile strength and hardness, involves complex multistage preparation procedures that are laborious and expensive. In this study, a hybrid filler of carbon black (CB) along with a sustainable filler of lignin is added for reinforcement in the nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) matrix, with the total filler content varying from 10 parts per hundred rubber (phr) to 80 phr. This work aims to develop a data-driven predictive model for the mechanical properties of rubber composites. An artificial neural network (ANN) model using multilayer feed-forward back-propagation has been created to forecast the tensile strength (Ts) and hardness (Hd) of rubber composites. The model predicts the uniaxial tensile response and hardness using input parameters that include total filler and lignin loading levels. The effectiveness of the suggested prediction method was demonstrated by statistical analysis using confidence intervals, showing a prediction error between 5.47% and 3.23% for the Ts and between 3.03% and 1.85% for Hd at 95% confidence intervals. A sustainable green band could be defined in the developed model, which is handy for designers to replace CB with lignin in various NBR based products, such as hoses, seals, etc., without compromising on tensile strength and hardness.