Distribution Of Nanofillers Research Articles

Ultra-soft, foldable, wearable piezoelectric sensor based on the aligned BaTiO3 nanoparticles

Developing the inorganic piezoelectric particles/polymer matrix composites is a simple, effective, and low-cost strategy to manufacture the flexible, wearable sensors. But their application has been hindered by an obvious trade-off between electronic performances and mechanical deformability, because of the issue of dispersion difficulty and isolated distribution of inorganic nanofillers in matrix. Here, an ultra-soft, substrate-free, wearable piezoelectric sensor with aligned barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles was designed and fabricated. To resolve the issue of degradation of flexibility of composites, a chemical etching treatment was introduced into the process of hydrothermal, which increased the content of tetragonal BTO nanoparticles and optimized the interaction between inorganic layer and polymer matrix. Thus, a higher sensitivity of 73.5 V/MPa was obtained by the as-prepared composites with the orientation of BTO than those of the reported BTO-based composites. Notably, the sensor with the thin functional layer demonstrated excellent stability even after 200 double-folded fatigue cycles. For this reason, the designed sensor could completely wrap or attach onto the different complex surface to simultaneously detect various dynamic signals involving the fluidic flowing, pulse rate and moved direction of body. Moreover, the foldable piezoelectric sensing array was easily fabricated by the proposed method, which offers the huge opportunity for the widespread applications in health monitoring, personal safety, and activity monitoring on the complex surface.

In-situ polymerized boehmite/ cashew gum/ polyvinyl alcohol/ polypyrrole blend nanocomposites with tunable structural, electrical, and mechanical properties for enhanced energy storage applications

This study describes the successful synthesis of boehmite (BHM) nanofiller-reinforced ternary blend nanocomposite films composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), cashew gum (CG), and polypyrrole (PPy) using in-situ polymerization with water as the environmentally friendly solvent. The blend nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). FTIR analysis revealed chemical bonding between BHM and the biopolymer matrix at1071 cm-1. FE-SEM images exhibited a uniform distribution of BHM nanofillers within the CG/PVA/PPy matrix, particularly at a 10 wt% concentration. The addition of BHM significantly enhanced the thermal stability and the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites. The temperature-sensitive AC conductivity, activation energy, and dielectric properties were examined using an impedance analyzer. AC conductivity analysis revealed reduced activation energy (1.277 × 10⁻5 eV at 7 wt% BHM) and increased dielectric constant (from 565.28 to 4411.22). The ternary blend nanocomposite demonstrated a significant 60.2 % increase in tensile strength, reflecting enhanced force resistance, while hardness values ranged from 26 to 30, classifying the films as soft and flexible. Overall, the study highlights significant enhancements in the morphological, electrical, thermal, dielectric, and mechanical properties of the nanocomposite films, emphasizing their promising potential for energy storage applications.

Syzgium cumini seed/poly vinyl alcohol based water resistant biodegradable nano-cellulose composite reinforced with zinc oxide and silver oxide nanoparticles for improved mechanical properties

The current work explored a comparative study of biodegradable jamun seed/polyvinyl alcohol (JS) nanocomposites reinforced with varying concentrations of ZnO and Ag2O nano-fillers. The effect of spherical shaped ZnO and Ag2O nanoparticles (NPs) on the on structure, morphology, swelling and solubility, crystallinity and mechanical properties together with biodegradation performance of the composite films was fully studied. SEM results showed uniform distribution of ZnO and Ag2O nanofillers into the JS matrix and dense or compact nanocomposite films were formed. JS-ZnO and JS-Ag2O nanocomposites with 0.5 wt% ZnO and Ag2O content showed maximum crystallinity i.e. 11.3 and 9.58 %, respectively, as determined by XRD. When compared to the virgin JS film (8.41 MPa), the resultant JS-ZnO-0.5 and JS-Ag2O-0.5 nanocomposites showed significantly enhanced tensile strength (35.7 MPa, 29.2 MPa), elongation at break (15.42 %, 14.62 %) and Young's modulus (141 MPa, 126 MPa), respectively. Also, reduced swelling (120.4 % and 116.1 %) and solubility ratio (17.45 % and 18.42 %) was observed for JS-ZnO-0.5 and JS-Ag2O-0.5 nanocomposites, respectively. Biodegradation results showed that maximum degradation (88 %) was achieved for the JS film within 180 days of soil burial whereas JS-ZnO-0.1 and JS-Ag2O-0.1 nanocomposites showed 78 % and 72 % degradation within 180 days, respectively.

High-performance polybenzimidazole composite membranes doped with nitrogen-rich porous nanosheets for high-temperature fuel cells

Traditional phosphoric acid (PA) doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) membranes encounter many issues when used in high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC), including the loss of PA within the membrane and limitations on conductivity. The mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) synergistically combine the advantages of pore fillers and polymer matrix, making them promising candidates for HT-PEMs. Interface compatibility is the main factor affecting the further development of MMMs. This research presented OPBI composite membranes filled with porous nanosheets, featuring average pore diameters of 2.83 nm, 3.38 nm, and 2.60 nm, respectively. The high aspect ratio and plentiful nitrogen components of the nanosheets increase the π-π and hydrogen bonding interactions with the polymer matrix, resulting in outstanding interface compatibility and mechanical properties of MMMs. The results of theoretical calculations indicate that there is a stronger interaction energy between the nanosheets and PA molecules, and the abundant pore structure within the nanosheets facilitates the absorption of PA molecules, leading to the formation of a continuous PA network. Consequently, MMMs exhibited enhanced proton conductivity, as well as improved PA absorption and retention. Furthermore, the effect of pore size distribution of nanofillers on the performance of MMMs were investigated. Membranes composed of nanosheets with large pore size showed a higher conductivity of 176.7 mS cm−1 at 200 °C, leading to excellent performance and stability in assembled H2/O2 fuel cells. This work offers valuable insights into the design of MMMs and high-performance HT-PEMs.

Active vibration control of piezoelectric multilayers FG‐CNTRC and FG‐GPLRC plates

AbstractThis study investigates the active vibration control of multilayer Functionally Graded Carbon NanoTube Reinforced polymer Composite (FG‐CNTRC) plates and multilayer functionally graded graphene platelets reinforced polymer composite (FG‐GPLRC) plates covered with a piezoelectric layer (PZTG1195N) serve as both actuators and sensors. The plate's heart is supposed to be reinforced nonlinearly using both types of reinforcement. Active vibration control of plates under uniform load was achieved by utilizing a velocity feedback control algorithm with a specific gain value. The finite element method is employed to analyze both the static and dynamic behavior of a square plate discretized into 9‐node quadratic finite elements with 5 ° of freedom per node. The material properties are assumed to change across the thickness direction following a power law distribution, exhibiting various patterns: Uniform Distribution (UD), as well as Functionally Graded types X, O, and A (FG‐X, FG‐O, and FG‐A). The geometrical nonlinear equations are solved by the Newmark integration method. This work begins by validating the natural frequencies of a Functionally Graded (FG) composite plate reinforced with four different distributions of Nano‐filler and then aims to show the effect of the nonlinear distribution of nanofillers on the plate's stiffness. The Results obtained after the execution of a developed code highlight the significance of employing a nonlinear distribution of nanofillers to attenuate vibrations.Highlights FG composite and sandwich plates reinforced with GPLs and CNTs. Effect of nonlinear nanofillers distribution of reinforcement on free and forced vibration. The ability of the nonlinear distribution of nanofillers to attenuate forced vibrations.

Mitigating Crack Propagation in Hybrid Composites: An Experimental and Computational Study

The exceptional properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) make them ideal nanofillers for various composite materials. In carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. CNTs can be grown on the carbon fiber surface to act as a third interface between the fiber and the matrix. However, it was established that the uncontrolled random growth of CNTs could exacerbate delamination in composite structures. Thick nanofiller films could hinder the epoxy from seeping into the carbon fiber, resulting in insufficient interlaminar strength. Hence, the density and distribution of nanofillers play a crucial role in determining the hybrid composite fracture mechanisms. In this investigation, CNTs were grown using the low-temperature technique into specific patterns over carbon fibers to discern their derived composites’ fracture properties. The composite fracture energy release was probed using a double cantilever beam (DCB) test setup and digital image correlation (DIC) to monitor interlaminar crack propagation. A standard finite element simulation model based on the cohesive zone method (CZM) was also utilized to delineate fracture behaviors of the various composite configurations. Results conclude that a coarser pattern of CNT growth enhances resistance to crack propagation, thus improving the interlaminar fracture toughness of a composite structure.

Isoprene polymerization using heterogeneous neodymium catalysts supported by a polysiloxane covered nanodiamonds

We report new method of isoprene heterogeneous polymerization utilizing late lanthanide based catalyst and supported by a polysiloxane covered nanoparticles (nanodiamonds). The corresponding heterogeneous neodymium catalysts demonstrated superior properties in isoprene polymerization giving one and a half times higher molecular weight of resulting polymers comparing to homogeneous polymerization using the same catalyst. The part of cis-1,4 units in resulting polymers is up to 97.5%. Importantly, this strategy can achieve polymer nanocomposites with excellent distribution of nanofillers and satisfactory mechanical performance.

Recent Trends in Polymeric Foams and Porous Structures for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Applications.

Polymer-based (nano)composite foams containing conductive (nano)fillers limit electromagnetic interference (EMI) pollution, and have been shown to act as good shielding materials in electronic devices. However, due to their high (micro)structural complexity, there is still a great deal to learn about the shielding mechanisms in these materials; understanding this is necessary to study the relationship between the properties of the microstructure and the porous structure, especially their EMI shielding efficiency (EMI SE). Targeting and controlling the electrical conductivity through a controlled distribution of conductive nanofillers are two of the main objectives when combining foaming with the addition of nanofillers; to achieve this, both single or combined nanofillers (nanohybrids) are used (as there is a direct relationship between electrical conductivity and EMI SE), as are the main shielding mechanisms working on the foams (which are expected to be absorption-dominated). The present review considers the most significant developments over the last three years concerning polymer-based foams containing conductive nanofillers, especially carbon-based nanofillers, as well as other porous structures created using new technologies such as 3D printing for EMI shielding applications. It starts by detailing the microcellular foaming strategy, which develops polymer foams with enhanced EMI shielding, and it particularly focuses on technologies using supercritical CO2 (sCO2). It also notes the use of polymer foams as templates to prepare carbon foams with high EMI shielding performances for high temperature applications, as well as a recent strategy which combines different functional (nano)fillers to create nanohybrids. This review also explains the control and selective distribution of the nanofillers, which favor an effective conductive network formation, which thus promotes the enhancement of the EMI SE. The recent use of computational approaches to tailor the EMI shielding properties are given, as are new possibilities for creating components with varied porous structures using the abovementioned materials and 3D printing. Finally, future perspectives are discussed.

Synthesis of ionic liquid modified 1‐D nanomaterial and its strategical distribution into the biodegradable binary polymer matrix to get reduced electrical percolation threshold and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness

AbstractIonic liquid is increasingly being used as a chemical modulator of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Here, we report the practical method for producing biodegradable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield films made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polybutylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate (PBAT), and 1‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium modified MWCNT (MIL). The field emission scanning electron microscopy study of cryo‐fractured 50:50 PBAT/TPU blend giving co‐continuous morphology and subsequent polymer EMI shield nanocomposite material had shown the co‐continuous nanofiller distribution. The nanoparticles were chosen to be distributed in the PBAT portion, according to subsequent research employing HRTEM and DMA. The electrical percolation threshold (EPT) is determined to be situated within 1–3 wt% of nanoparticles loading as the remarkable shift in total EMI shielding efficiency from −14.6 dB (for 1 wt%) to −28.6 dB (for 3 wt%) of nanoparticle‐loaded film at 10 GHz (in X‐band region) for a 0.8 mm thick film reveals that the EPT is approximately at 2 wt% of nanoparticle loading. The effective EMI shielding of −37.3 dB was achieved by 10 wt% of MIL loading.

The modified CUF-EFG method for the dynamic analysis of GPLs-CNTs-reinforced FG multilayer thick cylindrical shells under shock loadings: A modified meshless implementation

The main scope of this paper is to develop the Carrera unified formulation in cylindrical coordinates for two-dimensional meshless modelling of graphene platelet and carbon nanotube reinforced functionally graded multilayer thick cylindrical shells with the same accuracy of three-dimensional modelling. The cylindrical shell is composed of several homogeneous layers with uniform distribution of both GPL and CNT contents in each layer. The effective macroscopic mechanical properties of each GPLs and CNTs reinforced layer are estimated using the modified Halpin-Tsai (H-T) micromechanical model and rule of mixture. The volume fraction of nanofillers gradually changes layer to layer by nonlinear continuous function which leads to functionally graded (FG) distribution of nanofillers. Five grading patterns of layer distribution along the thickness direction of cylindrical shell are considered to investigate the effect of layer arrangement on dynamic behavior of cylindrical shells. The FG multilayer hybrid nanocomposite cylindrical shell is assumed to be under mechanical shock loading. The numerical method for dynamic analysis of multilayer cylindrical shell is based on element free Galerkin (EFG) method with radial basis shape functions in the framework of displacement-based Carrera unified formulation (CUF). The present EFG-CUF method is compared with analytical method for isotropic homogeneous shells and results available in the literature for FG multilayer cylindrical shells. Considering the results related to various expansion orders, proved accuracy and efficiency of proposed method for dynamic analysis of thin to thick FG multilayer cylindrical shells at high expansion orders ‘n > 2’. After verifying the analytical method, the effects of several key factors such as layer distribution patterns, volume fraction index, number of layers, nanofiller weight fraction, aspect ratios of cylinder, and damping ratio on static, free vibration, time history and wave propagation of cylinder are studied in detail.

In Situ Emulsion Polymerization to Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites: A Review

AbstractPolymer nanocomposites are a class of composite materials containing polymer continuous phase as matrix and inorganic nanoparticles as fillers. Combining the advantages of both polymer and nanofillers, polymer nanocomposites can yield some desirable functionalities that cannot be achieved by the individual components, thus exhibiting tremendous potential for a variety of applications. However, their performances markedly depend on the dispersion and distribution of nanofillers in the polymer matrix. Recently, in situ emulsion polymerization has been demonstrated to be a powerful approach for the preparation of multifunctional polymer nanocomposites with good dispersion and homogeneous distribution of nanofillers. In this review, the fundamentals of polymer nanocomposites and their preparation strategies are briefly discussed, and then are comprehensively summarized recent advances in the design, preparation, functionalization, and applications of polymer nanocomposites via in situ emulsion polymerization. The particular focus is placed on the strategies for achieving homogeneous and good dispersion of nanofillers within polymer matrixes. Moreover, the current challenges and future opportunities of in situ emulsion polymerization to polymer nanocomposites are discussed to motivate future contributions and explore new possibilities.

Mechanical and Barrier Properties of Cellulosic Nano-Fibers Reinforced Bionanocomposite

Cellulose is one of the most frequently used and generally available materials on Earth and has been utilized for ages in a variety of applications. Numerous researchers have investigated various lignocellulosic sources for the extraction of cellulose and the author has introduced a new source for the extraction of cellulose and cellulosic nanofibers: fruits or seedpods of Delonix Regia (CNF). The solvent casting process is used to create the PVA/CNF composite after the cellulose and CNF have been removed using a mechano-chemical method. SEM, tensile testing, soil burial testing and moisture absorption tests have all been used to examine the morphological, mechanical, biodegradable and moisture absorption capabilities of pure PVA and PVA/CNF composite with 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 percentages of CNF. According to SEM findings, agglomeration was seen at higher concentrations but uniform and homogenous distribution of nano-fillers was seen at lower percentages of CNF. It is profusely clear from the results of the tensile tests that the percentage elongation initially decreased and then began to increase at higher concentration, while the Young’s modulus and tensile strength initially increased at lower percentages of CNF rapidly and gradually decreased for higher concentration. Pure PVA had the least resistance to degradation in biodegradability test, while the biodegradability test showed that the inclusion of CNF decreased the composite material’s ability to degrade. With the addition of CNF, the rate of moisture absorption decreased, resulting in a PVA/CNF composite material that will last longer and perform better without material degradation.

Effect of partially reduced fullerenol‐graphene hybrid nanofiller on photophysical and super capacitance properties of fluorescence conducting polymer nanocomposites

AbstractThe effect of partially reduced fullerenol‐graphene oxide (rFGO) nanofiller on photophysical and super capacitance properties of binary nanocomposites containing phenylene‐alt‐thiophene fluorescence conducting polymer (FCP) were investigated. Nanocomposites were prepared by solution mixing, which allows uniform nanofiller distribution into the polymer matrix. Microscopic analyses of nanocomposites display homogeneous dispersion of nanofiller into the polymer matrix. Quenching of photoluminescence reveals the photosensitized electron transfer from light‐absorbing FCP (acting as an electron donor) to fullerenol‐graphene nanofiller (acting as an electron acceptor). The presence of partially reduced graphene sheets in rFGO nanofiller facilitates the photosensitized electron transfer along the surface and also through the interlayer channels of graphene sheets due to the pillar effect of fullerenol. UV–vis and photoluminescence spectroscopic characterization data reveal excellent interaction between filler and matrix, responsible for electron transfer mechanism. Super capacitance properties of binary nanocomposites in three different electrolytes (acid, neutral and alkaline) were also investigated and the best galvanic charge discharge result of 173 F/g at 2 A/g current density was obtained at 2 wt% loading up to 500th cycle for rFGO in acid electrolyte only. The material was ineffective in the alkaline electrolyte and showed poor results in neutral electrolyte. An attempt has been made to evaluate the structure–property relationship of nanocomposites from their thermal, photophysical, and electrochemical properties.

ENHANCING THE MECHANICAL, THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF ALUMINA-MWCNT HYBRID NANOFILLER REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITES

In this work, alumina and multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) hybrid nanofiller reinforcing pure epoxy at varying weight fractions of (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) w/% is investigated to enhance the mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. The porosity, tensile strength, electrical and thermal conductivity of epoxy hybrid nanocomposites are studied after the effects of the alumina-MWCNT hybrid nanofillers. The interfacial adhesion and mechanical interlocking between the hybrid nanofillers and epoxy are greatly increased with the addition of alumina and MWCNTs, thus leading to an improvement in the mechanical properties. Additionally, a uniform distribution of hybrid nanofillers results in a larger increase in the thermal and electrical conductivity. The presence of voids in specimens is gradually decreased when the nanofiller content is increased up to 0.3 w/%. The alumina-MWCNT reinforcement significantly improves the tensile strength, by 88 %, compared with pure epoxy. Similarly, the electrical and thermal conductivity increase by 85 % and 64 %, respectively, when compared with low weight fractions of the hybrid nanofiller. Agglomeration during the fabrication of nanocomposites is manageable but it is inevitable. During the formation of chains and networks, the alumina-MWCNT reinforcement of pure epoxy greatly influences the thermal conductivity. This strategy provides a prospective new concept for the use of epoxy and its composites in structural and thermal engineering applications.

Chemical and Structural Assessment of New Dental Composites with Graphene Exposed to Staining Agents.

Among the newest trends in dental composites is the use of graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles to assure better cohesion of the composite and superior properties. Our research used GO to enhance several hydroxyapatite (HA) nanofiller distribution and cohesion in three experimental composites CC, GS, GZ exposed to coffee and red wine staining environments. The presence of silane A-174 on the filler surface was evidenced by FT-IR spectroscopy. Experimental composites were characterized through color stability after 30 days of staining in red wine and coffee, sorption and solubility in distilled water and artificial saliva. Surface properties were measured by optical profilometry and scanning electron microscopy, respectively, and antibacterial properties wer e assessed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. A colour stability test revealed the best results for GS, followed by GZ, with less stability for CC. Topographical and morphological aspects revealed a synergism between GZ sample nanofiller components that conducted to the lower surface roughness, with less in the GS sample. However, surface roughness variation due to the stain was affected less than colour stability at the macroscopic level. Antibacterial testing revealed good effect against Staphylococcus aureus and a moderate effect against Escherichia coli.

Mechanical Characterization Study of Additive as Nanofiller in Poly (ε-Caprolactone) Nanocomposite

In order to keep with ever evolving technology in biomedical field, the demand for Poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is gaining importance due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. However, the low mechanical, barrier and thermal strength of PCL restricts its widespread use. These drawbacks of virgin PCL can be rectified by incorporating nanofiller into the PCL matrix. Till date, research has been carried out incorporating nano-fiber into PCL but to the best of our knowledge there is hardly any literature regarding organoclay modified nanofiller-PCL composites. The present study represents PCL nanocomposites preparation and characterization. The FTIR and XRD spectra observe uniform distribution of nanofiller in the PCL matrix. The characterization of mechanical properties shows enhancement in strength till 3.5 wt% loading and declining trend afterwards indicating agglomeration of nanofiller at higher wt% ratio. The increase in tensile strength without sacrificing elongation at break provides these composites with very attractive mechanical properties.

Anticorrosion Coating with Heterogeneous Assembly of Nanofillers Modulated by a Magnetic Field.

An anticorrosive coating with randomly distributed passive barriers and regionally enriched active corrosion inhibitors is developed by integrating mica nanosheets (MNSs) and magnetic-responsive core-shell mesoporous nanoparticles with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (Fe3O4@mSiO2/MBT) under magnetic field incubation. The bottom enriched Fe3O4@mSiO2/MBT rapidly releases the MBT to form a passivation layer on corrosion sites, enhancing the corrosion inhibition efficiency by 30.36% compared with the control (NP0.7EP-R). The impedance modulus |Z|0.01Hz of the sample (NP0.7/MNS0.5/EP) increases by five orders of magnitude compared with that of its control (NP0.7/MNS0EP) after 30 days of corrosion immersion. NP0.7/MNS0.5/EP exhibited the lowest corrosion rate (3.984 × 10-5 mm/year) as compared to the other samples. Notably, the coating in a fractured state still maintains superior corrosion inhibition even after 40 day salt spray testing. The differentiated distribution of nanofillers was well confirmed by optical microscopy and SEM-EDS, and the synergistic effect of the active/passive integrated anticorrosive coating with merits of both comprehensive protection and fast responsiveness was systematically explored.

Tailoring the performance of boehmite nanoparticles reinforced carboxymethyl chitosan/cashew gum blend nanocomposites via green synthesis

The main motivation for this study stemmed from the demand for bio-friendly polymeric materials with enhanced properties in various fields of application. Biopolymer blend nanocomposite films based on carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and cashew gum (CG) with different contents of boehmite nanoparticles were prepared via a purely green method using water as the solvent. The successful inclusion of boehmite nanoparticles in the CMCS/CG blend was verified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy were used to analyze the surface microstructure of prepared films. SEM and optical images revealed a uniform distribution of nanofillers in the blend because of the strong interactions between nanoparticles and the CMCS/CG blend segments. The thermogravimetric analysis demonstrates that the addition of boehmite nanoparticles increased the thermal stability of the biopolymer blend films. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed a small shift in the glass transition and melting temperature of pristine blend to higher values with the addition of boehmite. The correlation of AC conductivity with varying frequency and temperature was evaluated. The maximum conductivity was shown by CMCS/CG blend with 7 wt % boehmite, which was further supported by their lowest activation energy value. Nyquist plots were used to illustrate the complex impedance of prepared nanocomposite films. A decrease in the area under the semicircular arc with temperature suggested an increase in conductivity with temperature. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor of blend and its nanocomposite films were found to increase with temperature. Boehmite addition increased tensile strength and hardness while lowering elongation at break up to a specific concentration. The synthesized CMCS/CG/boehmite films can be used as environmentally friendly alternatives in the development of flexible organic electronics and charge harvesting devices.

Synthesis, Thermal Adsorption, and Energy Storage Calibration of Polysulfone Nanocomposite Developed with GNP/CNT Nanofillers

The growth of polymer-based materials is becoming requisite in various industrial applications like energy storage, automobile, membrane, and orthopaedics, due to advantages over conventional metallic metal, such as less weight, superior corrosion resistance, ease of the process, and good chemical stability. The current research work is to synthesize the polysulfone (PSU) nanocomposite consisting of 2 wt%, 4 wt%, and 6 wt% of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and 3 wt%, 5 wt%, and 7 wt% of carbon nanotube (CNT) nanofillers via cast solution technique. The synthesized composite microstructural, heat storage, and thermal adsorption characteristics are studied. The scanning electron microscopic examination for both PSU/GNP and PSU/CNT composites illustrates good interfacial bonded PSU structure with the uniform distribution of GNP and CNT nanofillers. Due to the effect of percolation, the thermal adsorption characteristics and heat storage of PSU nanocomposite were increased progressively with the additions of GNP/CNT. The PSU composite contained 6 wt% GNP and 7 wt% CNT nanofillers, which showed effective thermal conductivity of 1.23 W/m.K and 1.52 W/m.K, which is 1.7 times larger than the unreinforced polysulfone. Interestingly, the increased temperature of the glass transition decreased the thermal expansion of the nanocomposite.

Dielectric and electromagnetic interference shielding properties of nano‐silicon carbide/montmorillonite and graphene nanoplatelets filled polyvinylidene fluoride/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) blend nanocomposites

AbstractHerein, hybrid polymer nanocomposite films comprising polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PEDOT‐block‐PEG) as matrices and silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiC NPs), montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay, and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) as nanofillers were fabricated by solution casting. The structural, morphological, and thermal characteristics of the nanocomposite films were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The SEM results show the homogeneous distribution of nanofillers within the polymer matrix. The dielectric behavior and electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (EMI SE) of the nanocomposites were also analyzed. The maximum dielectric constant (ε) and dielectric loss (tan δ) obtained are 47.77 and 12.08, respectively, at lower frequency (50 Hz, 150°C). The maximum EMI SE was observed to be 16.8 dB in the Ku‐band region (12–18 GHz) for the nanocomposites with 20 wt% SiC, 8 wt% MMT, and 2 wt% GNPs loading. The EMI shielding was found to be absorption dominant and originated from the formation of a conductive network between hybrid nanofillers within the PVDF/PEDOT‐block‐PEG blend thereby improving the EMI SE values. These results suggest that PVDF/PEDOT‐block‐PEG/SiC/MMT/GNPs nanocomposites can be used as an efficient EMI shielding material.