Nanocomposite Materials Research Articles

Modeling and simulation of nonlinear dynamical systems for biosensor sensitivity based on carbon nanocomposites

Nanomaterials have a wide range of applications in various fields of scientific research due to their unique physical and chemical properties. With the rapid development of science and technology, nanocomposites synthesized from various nanoparticles have obtained many excellent properties due to their synergistic effects. In this paper, a series of carbon-based nanomaterials are proposed for in-depth research, and corresponding biosensors are constructed. In this study, ECL biosensors based on a variety of nanocomposite materials will be used to detect and analyze cells, and also detect other cells that are similar to cells. The experimental data show that the relative standard deviation of the detection results of the two methods is within 8%, and the sensor has high sensitivity, excellent stability and fast response speed. The sensor showed excellent performance in the repeatability test, and the relative standard deviation of repeated detection was less than 2%. This result shows that the sensor has highly consistent detection capabilities, providing important support for its reliability in practical applications. By adding the description of repeatability data, the summary more comprehensively reflects the performance advantages of the sensor.

Carbon-based Nanocomposite Materials for Electrochemical Monitoring of Cadmium Ions

In the present era of science and technology, cadmium poisoning in humans is reported from several parts of the world and now it is a global health problem. Accumulation of cadmium in human organs and tissues, such as the liver, kidney, etc., leads to carcinogenic effects and toxicity to the organ system. Therefore, several efforts are being made to develop a monitoring system for cadmium metal ions in the environment. This review aimed to summarise the different carbon-composite materials-based electrochemical sensors reported to date for cadmium ions detection. The first section of this review provides a brief discussion on the source and harmful effects of cadmium ions, and the rest part includes different carbon (graphite, graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, etc.)-based composite nanomaterials reported to date for the electrochemical detection of cadmium ions in different analytes. Carbon-based nanocomposite materials have been found to be very suitable for the detection of Cd(II) ions due to their boosted electron transportation and high surface, leading towards high sensitivity and high selectivity.

Sustainable and Reusable Modified Membrane Based on Green Gold Nanoparticles for Efficient Methylene Blue Water Decontamination by a Photocatalytic Process.

Methylene blue (MB) is a dye hazardous pollutant widely used in several industrial processes that represents a relevant source of water pollution. Thus, the research of new systems to avoid their environmental dispersion represents an important goal. In this work, an efficient and sustainable nanocomposite material based on green gold nanoparticles for MB water remediation was developed. Starting from the reducing and stabilizing properties of some compounds naturally present in Lambrusco winery waste (grape marc) extracts, green gold nanoparticles (GM-AuNPs) were synthesized and deposited on a supporting membrane to create an easy and stable system for water MB decontamination. GM-AuNPs, with a specific plasmonic band at 535 nm, and the modified membrane were first characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed the presence of two breeds of crystalline shapes, triangular platelets and round-shaped penta-twinned nanoparticles, respectively. The crystalline nature of GM-AuNPs was also confirmed from XRD analysis. The photocatalytic performance of the modified membrane was evaluated under natural sunlight radiation, obtaining a complete disappearance of MB (100%) in 116 min. The photocatalytic process was described from a pseudo-first-order kinetic with a rate constant (k) equal to 0.044 ± 0.010 min-1. The modified membrane demonstrated high stability since it was reused up to 20 cycles, without any treatment for 3 months, maintaining the same performance. The GM-AuNPs-based membrane was also tested with other water pollutants (methyl orange, 4-nitrophenol, and rhodamine B), revealing a high selectivity towards MB. Finally, the photocatalytic performance of GM-AuNPs-based membrane was also evaluated in real samples by using tap and pond water spiked with MB, obtaining a removal % of 99.6 ± 1.2% and 98.8 ± 1.9%, respectively.

Development an effective adsorptive treatment strategy for the removal of cadmium from textile wastewater by CuBi2O4@Fe3O4 nanocomposites

In this study, copper-bismuth oxide/iron oxide (CuBi2O4@Fe3O4) nanocomposites were prepared by microwave-assisted synthesis and used as adsorbents for the adsorptive removal of cadmium from textile wastewater. The pH/volume of buffer solution, mixing type/period and adsorbent dosage were optimized univariately to enhance the removal efficiency of the adsorbent and determined as 1.5 mL of pH 8.0 buffer solution, vortexing for 60s, and 30 mg of CuBi2O4@Fe3O4 nanocomposite material. Following the determination of the optimum parameters, equilibrium adsorption studies were performed at five different initial concentrations of cadmium within the range of 0.50 − 10 mg L−1 in textile wastewater. A matrix-matching calibration strategy was utilized for the accurate and precise quantification of cadmium in the wastewater matrix with a R 2 value of 0.9961. The percent removal efficiencies were calculated within the range of 77.2 − 81.5% for the adsorptive removal of cadmium ions from textile wastewater in the equilibrium adsorption experiments. Furthermore, the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Sips adsorption isotherm models were employed for modeling the equilibrium data, and the results showed that all the models fitted well with the experimental data with R2 values higher than 0.99. The simple and efficient batch adsorption process developed was successfully utilized to remove cadmium ions from textile wastewater.

Achieving performance and functionality in PLA-based packaging: Insights from hybrid composites with false banana (Enset) fiber and ZnO nanoparticles

The use of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based composites reinforced with natural fibers is becoming increasingly popular in sustainable packaging. However, these materials often lack adequate barriers and desirable functional properties. Concurrently, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been incorporated into PLA-based composites to develop functional packaging films. Despite this progress, there is a gap in the literature regarding packaging materials that require both functional and performance properties, specifically those that combine natural fibers and ZnO NPs within the PLA matrix. This study aims to develop and optimize the effects of ZnO nanofillers and false banana, also called Enset fibers (EFs) as hybrid reinforcements in PLA matrices. A central composite design (CCD) approach was used to evaluate the effects of EFs at three levels (5 %, 15 %, and 25 % w/w) and ZnO NPs at three levels (0 %, 5 %, and 10 % w/w) on the performance (tensile and flexural strength) and functional properties (water and antibacterial activity) of the resulting nanocomposite materials. The findings indicate that the inclusion of ZnO NPs significantly enhanced both the performance and functional properties of the nanocomposites, whereas the inclusion of EFs improved the performance properties but reduced the functional properties of the nanocomposites. Ultimately, this study identified an optimal formulation for producing durable and functional composites for various packaging applications.

Efficacy of graphene nanocomposites for air disinfection in dental clinics: A randomized controlled study.

Aerosols containing disease-causing microorganisms are produced during oral diagnosis and treatment can cause secondary contamination. To investigate the use of graphene material for air disinfection in dental clinics by leveraging its adsorption and antibacterial properties. Patients who received ultrasonic cleaning at our hospital from April 2023 to April 2024. They were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 20 each): Graphene nanocomposite material suction group (Group A), ordinary filter suction group (Group B), and no air suction device group (Group C). The air quality and air colony count in the clinic rooms were assessed before, during, and after the procedure. Additionally, bacterial colony counts were obtained from the air outlets of the suction devices and the filter screens in Groups A and B. Before ultrasonic cleaning, no significant differences in air quality PM2.5 and colony counts were observed among the three groups. However, significant differences in air quality PM2.5 and colony counts were noted among the three groups during ultrasonic cleaning and after ultrasonic treatment. Additionally, the number of colonies on the exhaust port of the suction device and the surface of the filter were significantly lower in Group A than in Group B (P = 0.000 and P = 0.000, respectively). Graphene nanocomposites can effectively sterilize the air in dental clinics by exerting their antimicrobial effects and may be used to reduce secondary pollution.

Solar evaporation of liquid marbles with composite nanowire arrays

Solar interfacial evaporation is a sustainable technology to produce fresh water. The synergistic realization of broadband light absorption and good thermal insulation is crucial to improving the thermal efficiency. Here, we propose a new structure over the surface of liquid marbles, which via nanowire arrays assembled with composite nanomaterials (Fe3O4/CNT nanoparticles) to enhance the evaporation efficiency. The composite materials can effectively absorb light across the entire solar spectrum. Multiple reflections of light over nanowire array further improve light absorption. The narrow spaces and local particle aggregation of the nanowire array enhance thermal insulation to improve the evaporation efficiency. A series of experiments were conducted to verify the concept. The results showed that liquid marbles with upward Fe3O4/CNT nanowire arrays (Fe3O4/CNT-ULM) enhance the light harvesting ability and thermal insulation. Fe3O4/CNT-ULM at a volume ratio 1:2 provides the highest evaporation rate of 12.25 μg/s, which is about 1.16 and 1.53 times higher than that of Fe3O4 and CNT, respectively. Numerical analysis further illustrates that the combination of composite materials and nanowire arrays enhances concentration of electromagnetic field and heat at the air/water interfaces. This promotes rapid evaporation at the thermal boundary region, which has important implications for the structure design of solar interfacial evaporator.

Recent Trends in the Synthesis of Monomers for Furanoate Polyesters and Their Nanocomposites’ Fabrication as a Sustainable Packaging Material

Furanoate polyesters are an extremely promising new class of materials for packaging applications, particularly furanoate-based nanocomposites, which have gained a high interest level in research and development in both academia and industries. The monomers utilised for the synthesis of furanoate-based polyesters were derived from lignocellulosic biomass, which is essential for both eco-friendliness and sustainability. Also, these polyesters have a lower carbon footprint compared to fossil-based plastics, contributing to greenhouse gas reduction. The furanoate-based nanocomposites exhibit enhanced performance characteristics, such as high thermal stability, excellent mechanical strength, superior barrier resistance, and good bacteriostatic rate, making them suitable for a wide range of industrial applications, especially for food-packaging applications. This paper reviews the recent trends in the synthesis routes of monomers, such as the various catalytic activities involved in the oxidation of 5(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) into 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and its ester, dimethyl furan-2,5-dicarboxylate (DMFD). In addition, this review explores the fabrication of different furanoate-based nanocomposites prepared by in situ polymerization, by melt mixing or solvent evaporation methods, and by using different types of nanoparticles to enhance the overall material properties of the resulting nanocomposites. Emphasis was given to presenting the effect of these nanoparticles on the furanoate polyester’s properties.

Surface engineering of Q235 carbon steel through a superamphiphobic composite coating enabling robust corrosion resistance and antifouling

Developing an efficient strategy to ensure the resistance of corrosion on Q235 carbon steel from liquid-based contaminants is a challenging work. Although superhydrophobic and superamphiphobic coatings have been fabricated, their susceptibility to oily liquids and poor mechanical robustness still limits their ability to tackle corrosion. Herein, the synthesis and fabrication of a new robust superamphiphobic nanocomposite was presented by combining the reinforcement properties of silicon oxide and the mechanical and thermal stability of zinc oxide into a polytetrafluoroethylene polymer matrix via a colloidal homogenization route. The newly developed composite exhibits a hierarchical bumpy structure, leading to excellent water and oil repellent properties. Importantly, the composite possesses a robust mechanical stability to sandpaper abrasion over a distance of 2000 cm under a 100 g load and a stronger adhesion to substrate. As a result, Q235 coated with this composite exhibits an excellent corrosion resistance in saline water for up to 120 days, and a good self-cleaning and antifouling abilities in most corrosive media. This finding reveals a new pathway for resisting the corrosion attacks on Q235 carbon steel and thereby rendering this strategy with practical application in industrial and marine settings.

Validation of experimental results for polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, carbon nanotube and functionalized carbon nanotube/polymer nanocomposites through density functional theory study

The mechanical and thermal properties of polymer nanocomposites could be influenced by different parameters. Interfacial interaction between nanomaterial and polymer composite can effectively influence the properties of nanocomposite. In this paper, the interaction between carbon nanotube (CNT), functionalized carbon nanotube with Amin (CNT-Amin), and Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS), absorbing on PA/EVA composite surface theoretically were investigated based on the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The interaction energy of −36.64 kJ/mol between PA and CNT-Amin and −22.31 kJ/mol between EVA and CNT-Amin means that the absorption of CNT-Amin on PA and EVA monomer are stronger than CNT and POSS which could affect the mechanical and thermal properties of the nanocomposites. However, the interaction between the polymer composite and the nanomaterials was physisorption. Additionally, thermal and mechanical tests were conducted on nanocomposite samples. Thermal and mechanical results show that the DFT calculations are in good agreement with the experiment. DSC analysis shows that the melting temperature for PA in PA/EVA/CNT-Amin changed from 221.6 to 225.2 °C and crystallization temperature from 188.8 to 191.9 °C which illustrates that the CNT-Amin nanomaterial adsorbed to PA in PA/EVA composite. Finally, mechanical properties show that the modulus of PA/EVA/CNT-Amin nanocomposite changed from 307.4 to 327.2 MPa compared to neat PA/EVA composite emphasizing that the interaction between CNT-Amin nanomaterial and PA improves the strength of the nanocomposite and in addition, EVA adsorbs the CNT which affected the strain of the nanocomposite at break by 16 % which corresponds to the calculation result prediction.

Synthesis, Photocatalytic and Bio Activity of ZnO-TiO2 Nanocomposites: A Review Study

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are materials with strong photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity. This activity is greater when the material is in nanocrystalline form. It has been seen that these properties are also present in the ZnO-TiO2 nanocomposite material, and the extent depends on multiple factors, such as crystallinity, structural composition, crystallite size, and morphology. These structural properties can be varied by acting on the synthesis of the material, obtaining a wide variety of composites: random nanoparticles, nanorods, nanowires, nanotubes, nanofibers, tetrapods, core–shell, hollow spheres, inverse opal structures (IOSs), hierarchical structures, and films. When an interface between nanocrystallites of the two oxides is created, the composite system manages to have photocatalytic activity greater than that of the two separate oxides, and in certain circumstances, even greater than P25. The antimicrobial activity results also improved for the composite system compared to the two separate oxides. These two aspects make these materials interesting in various fields, such as wastewater and air treatment, energy devices, solar filters, and pharmaceutical products and in the context of the restoration of monumental cultural assets, in which their use has a preventive purpose in the formation of biofilms. In this review we analyse the synthesis techniques of ZnO-TiO2 nanocomposites, correlating them to the shape obtained, as well as the photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity. It is also illustrated how ZnO-TiO2 nanocomposites can have a less negative impact on toxicity for humans and the environment compared to the more toxic ZnO nanoparticles or ZnO.

Dual-mode immunochromatography based on Ti3C2Tx functionalized CdTe quantum dots for chloramphenicol detection in animal-derived foods

In this study, Ti3C2Tx was coupled with CdTe quantum dots via plyethylenimine (PEI) mediation to form composite nanomaterials with dual colorimetric and fluorescent properties, which had strong pH, high ion strength, and organic solvent resistance. Then, this novel Ti3C2Tx@CdTe was firstly applied to develop a dual-mode immunochromatographic assay (ICA) for chloramphenicol (CAP) detection in animal-derived foods. The limits of detection of the colorimetric and fluorescent modes for CAP in milk/chicken/fish were 0.01 and 0.005 μg/kg, the limits of quantification were 0.025 and 0.016 μg/kg, the recovery rates were between 85.7% and 129.0% and 84.0%-119.2%, with the corresponding variations ranged from 6.5% to 14.8% and 6.4%-14.9%, respectively. The sensitivity of fluorescence mode was up to 100-fold higher than that of the reported ICA for CAP detection. The results of the confirmatory experiment on 30 samples showed good consistency with that of our established method (R2>0.93). The above results indicated that Ti3C2Tx@CdTe had superior detection performance and can provide a dual-mode signal calibration, high stability and sensitivity selection for immunoassay detection platforms.

Efficient Nano Composite (Cerium/Aluminum Nitrate) in the Process of Desulfurization

AbstractIn the present work, a lot of efforts have been made to reduce the sulfur particles, as main pollutants, from gasoline with using cerium (Ce) and Al(NO3)3 nano composites measured with Reference method: ASTM D7039‐15. The sulfur crystallite number was around 7235 ppm for DS (Ni (NO3)2 and urea). These unwanted sulfur particles reached to 3028 ppm for y (Al (NO3)3)/x (Ce)=0.25 in weight ratio, without using centrifuge process. This result is a very good due to some points: The present experimental works have been done at the room temperature and atmosphere environment, whilst many other works, as addressed here, have needed higher temperature and pressures. To our knowledge, Ce, Aluminum nitrate and urea as nano composite materials have need been used for desulfurization processes. Moreover, some relevant techniques such as X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV‐Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Dynamic light scattering (DLS) have also been used.

Enhanced photocatalytic removal of methyl orange dye employing SiO2/Mn2O3 based nanocatalyst under visible light

Surface water contamination by dye pollutants is a global environmental concern. The treatment of effluent from textile waste using metal oxide-based photocatalysts is a widely employed approach owing to its efficacy and simplicity. Herein, the synthesis and fabrication of novel visible radiation receptive manganese oxide and mesoporous silica nanocomposites (Mn2O3/SiO2) is described. Surface morphology of nanocomposites using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) displayed spherical shaped agglomerated structure. The chemical composition of nanocomposites was examined by using energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis respectively indicating the presence of respective elements. Structural analysis was carried out by using XRD spectroscopy, while optical properties were evaluated by employing UV–visible spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of pure Mn2O3 and SiO2 nanoparticles as well as their nanocomposites with two different ratios Mn2O3/SiO2 (1:3) and Mn2O3/SiO2 (3:1) were evaluated by using methyl orange (MO) as a model dye. The band gap energy of Mn2O3/SiO2 (1:3) and Mn2O3/SiO2 (3:1) nanocomposite was 2.39 eV and 1.69 eV respectively. The nanocomposites exhibited improved photocatalytic efficiency as compared to pure nanoparticles as a function of pH and mixing ratio. For instance, at pH 7.0, Mn2O3/SiO2 (1:3) nanocomposite has depicted maximum degradation efficiency of 68 % for degradation of MO as compared to Mn3O4/SiO2 (3:1) nanocomposite, Mn3O4 and SiO2 nanoparticles. However, at pH 2.0 Mn2O3/SiO2 (3:1) nanocomposite had shown maximum degradation efficiency of 99 % as compared to Mn2O3/SiO2 (1:3), Mn2O3 and SiO2 nanoparticles. The degradation reaction followed pseudo first order kinetics. At pH 7.0, the rate constant values of nanocomposites i.e. Mn2O3/SiO2(1:3) and Mn2O3/SiO2(3:1) comes out to be 4.68 × 10−3 min−1 and 2.49 × 10−3 min−1 respectively. At pH 2.0, the rate constant values calculated for Mn2O3/SiO2(1:3) nanocomposite and Mn2O3/SiO2(3:1) nanocomposite was 4.91 × 10−3 min−1 and 1.24 × 10−2 min−1 respectively. The easy fabrication of these nanocomposites coupled with facile tuning of their properties make them suitable contenders for efficient dye degradation in wastewater treatment.

Efficient sensitive detection of nitrite with Binary Y/Fe-modified multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposite by electrochemical approaches

Low-dimensional metal nanoparticles (MNPs) intercalated with three-dimensional multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) materials may be combined to produce new nanocomposites for enhancing their chemical, structural, and morphological features. These composites have interesting physical and chemical characteristics that can be used in electrochemical sensing systems that work significantly well. This research presents a new method for detecting nitrite using an electrochemical sensor that utilizes a flat-electrode made of GCE fabricated by nanocomposite of MWCNTs intercalated with yttrium oxide (Y2O3) and iron oxide (Fe2O3) as Y/Fe-MWCNT at higher temperature. FT-IR, UV–vis., SEM, powder XRD, EDS, BET, and TEM were significantly used to characterize in detail the nanocomposite after its preparation by the solid-state chemical approach. Using CV, LSV, and EIS techniques, the electrochemical attributes of both the bare and Y/Fe-MWCNT fabricated electrodes (with the help of 5 % Nafion as conducting coating binder) were investigated. In addition, the linear relationship between nitrite concentration and peak current of LSV was seen between 1.0 and 1.6 M, with a lower limit of detection (LOD) of 0.027 M. When compared to modified electrodes with nitrite, the electrocatalytic behavior of the nanocomposite electrode is enhanced significantly. At applied potential window of −0.1 to +1.8 V, the Y/Fe-MWCNT sensor shows good selectivity even when there are a lot of interfering chemicals and metal ions. In addition, different PBS electrolyte solutions with pH values ranging from 6.5 to 8 were used to study the prepared sensor. The standard addition method was employed to detect the unidentified nitrite concentration in various real samples including sea water, industrial wastewater, and well water. It introduced a new route for the development of noble sensor probe with nanocomposite materials by electrochemical approach for the safety of environmental and health care field in a broad scale.

Inflated electronic and optical assessment of gC3N4/ZnO nanocomposite as a potential emissive layer material for OLED application

Organo-inorganic nanocomposite materials have been proven to be novel hybrid materials with inflated electronic and optical performance that can be tailored with the judicious selection of the building units or their combinations. Here, hydrothermal, thermal polycondensation, and ultrasonication techniques were used to synthesize pure ZnO, gC3N4, and gC3N4/ZnO with varying weights % such as 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% of ZnO inorganic filler elements in gC3N4 matrix. The crystalline phase (hexagonal wurtzite) and crystallite size (10.0 nm, 17.6 nm, and 15.90 nm) of the synthesized materials were examined by X-ray diffractometer. The FESEM and HRTEM characterizations revealed the sheet-like gC3N4 and spherical-type ZnO nanoparticle-like microstructures of the samples. The present functional groups, corresponding vibrational frequency, chemical states, and binding energy were investigated using FTIR and XPS spectroscopic methods. Optical parameters such as optical band gap energy (Eg = 3.24 eV), Urbach energy (Eu = 0.41 eV), refractive index (n= 1.99), emission quantum yield (∼ 69.03%), and color purity of the nanocomposites were examined using UV visible and photoluminescence spectroscopic techniques. IV and Hall measurements techniques were used to determine the semiconducting parameters of the optimized sample, such as conductivity (∼62.90×10−5 S/cm), carrier mobility (∼ 44.1 cm2/Volt. Sce), carrier concentrations (∼1.825×1014 cm−3), and sheet resistance (∼1.062×103 Ω/cm2). Due to their excellent optical and electrical behavior, the nanocomposite materials were found to be fairly suitable as a potential emissive layer material for OLED applications.

Fabrication of TPU-Supported Au-Bi2S3/Ti3C2Tx electrospun mat: Towards flexible and Multi-functional sensors for human motion and NH3 detection at room temperature

The potential applications of wearable sensors in health monitoring, micro-environment detection, and advanced soft electronic noses have attracted widespread attention. However, due to the inherent limitations of traditional organic flexible substrates, simultaneously achieving excellent flexibility, high sensitivity, robustness, and breathability remains a significant challenge. Herein, using the electrospinning method, a flexible TPU substrate film was prepared, and Bi2S3/Ti3C2Tx nanocomposite materials were synthesized through a simple one-step hydrothermal method. Au nanoparticles were attached to the surface of the composite material using sodium borohydride, and finally, the surface impregnation method was used to successfully prepare the Au-Bi2S3/Ti3C2Tx-TPU flexible electrospun mat. The as-prepared sensor demonstrated an outstanding response of 154 % to 100 ppm NH3 at room temperature, coupled with high selectivity, repeatability, and long-term stability. The strain properties of the sensor were also evaluated, showcasing its potential for human motion and physiological feature detection, such as breathing, swallowing, and limb movements. The study’s findings indicated that the Au-Bi2S3/Ti3C2Tx-TPU electrospun mat sensor has promising applications in flexible electronics, wearable environmental monitoring devices, and human healthy monitoring.

High-performance trimethylamine gas sensor based on Sn-W co-doped MOF-derived hollow flower-like nickel oxide

In this study, a simple hydrothermal method was used to synthesize metal-organic framework-derived Sn/W co-doped NiO hollow flower-like spherical structure. The prepared NiO composites were utilized to prepare gas sensors to explore the response characteristics to different gases. The results showed that the response of the bimetal-doped NiO hollow microspheres to trimethylamine was 95 at 100 ppm, which was 63 times that of the pristine NiO nanoflowers. In addition, the sensor has a ppb-level detection limit for trimethylamine (0.1 ppm, 1.5). These good sensing performance of the Sn/W co-doped NiO sensor are not only affected by the initial resistance(Ra), but are also closely related to the rich oxygen vacancies, special hollow flower-like spherical structure and high Ni3+/Ni2+ ratio in the composite nanomaterials. This study provides an elegant co-doping method to improve the gas sensing performance of P-type MOS.

Fabrication of efficient graphene oxide-based zirconium oxide nanocomposites for ultrafast nanofiltration membranes

Fabrication of efficient graphene oxide-based zirconium oxide nanocomposites for ultrafast nanofiltration membranes

Self-assembled nanoflower-mediated interfacial polymerization through tunable intra- and inter-layer channels to boost total heat exchange performance

Total heat exchange membranes (THEMs) are vital for minimizing energy consumption and enhancing indoor air quality in energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems. Manipulating the surface morphology of polyamide (PA) membranes via nanofiller-mediated interfacial polymerization is key to advancing total heat recovery performance. This study presented the fabrication of PA thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes by integrating self-assembled poly(amic acid-imide) nanoflowers (P(AA-I)-NFs) with intertwined nanosheets into the organic phase. This facile approach effectively eliminated nonselective interphase voids and defects, owing to the superior polymer affinity of the organic nanoflowers. The finely tuned intra- and inter-layer channels within P(AA-I)-NFs significantly impacted monomer mass transfer, facilitated the shuttle effect, expanded the interfacial polymerization zone, and led to the formation of a rougher, thicker PA layer with enhanced surface area. The optimized P(AA-I)-NFs/PA TFN membranes exhibited outstanding performance, including CO₂ permeability of 0.51 GPU, water vapor permeability of 656.59 GPU, and an enthalpy exchange efficiency of 71.47 %, surpassing the trade-off limitations typically observed in commercial and other advanced THEMs. These findings underscored the potential of P(AA-I)-NFs-mediated TFN membranes as highly competitive candidates for next-generation ERV systems.