Poly Sodium P-styrenesulfonate Research Articles

Hierarchical hollow CuSbS2 microspheres with excellent photoelectrochemical properties

Herein, we report a facile template-free solvothermal chemical method to synthesize the hierarchical hollow CuSbS2 microspheres. The results show that the hollow microspheres with the diameter of ~800–900 nm are comprised of nanoflakes. The morphologies of CuSbS2 can be modulated rationally by adjusting the reaction parameters and the possible formation mechanism of hollow CuSbS2 microspheres with PSS (poly (sodium-p-styrenesul-fonate)) and PEG (polyethylene glycol) is studied. Moreover, the hollow CuSbS2 microspheres exhibits a photocurrent density of 0.063 mA/cm2 and an IPCE value of 32.42%, indicating that the CuSbS2 nanocrystals have potential in photoelectrochemical conversion device applications.

Polyelectrolytes/α-Fe2O3 modification of carbon cloth anode for dealing with food wastewater in microbial fuel cell

In this paper, the layer-by-layer assembled polydimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PDADMAC), poly sodium-p-styrene sulfonate (PSS) and α-Fe2O3 modified carbon cloth (CC), nitric acid activated CC, blank CC were used as anodes in two-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) for dealing with food wastewater. The electricity production of microbial fuel cell increased dramatically after modification of the anode. When four double layers of PDADMAC and PSS and one layer α-Fe2O3 was assembled on CC (CC/(PDADMAC/PSS)4/α-Fe2O3), the highest current 0.48 mA and the highest power density 0.285 W/m2 were obtained. The electrode process of CC/(PDADMAC/PSS)4/α-Fe2O3 anode in MFC was controlled by the electron production step, while the blank CC anode was an electron diversion-controlled process. The high electricity production of nitric acid treated CC anode in MFC was due to the amino group after activation, which made microbes easy to anchor on the anode surface. The effect of polyelectrolytes and α-Fe2O3 on the performance improvement of MFC was due to both physical and chemical properties of the anode surface.

Synthesis and Application of Sodium-carboxymethylcellulose Type Superplasticizer in Cement Mortars

The polymeric admixture, the sodium-carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) /poly sodium p-styrene sulfonate (PSS) / poly vinyl acetate (PVAc) was synthesized and applied in cement mortars. The polymer was tested by FTIR and SEM, and the results indicate that the ideal molecular structure is synthesized. The effect of addition amount of polymeric admixture and water-to-cement ratio on mechanical properties of cement mortars was studied. The polymer-modified mortars under the optimum water cement ratio and optimum polymer cement ratio, the flexural strength of polymer-modified mortars are 1.45, 1.21, and 1.17 times higher than the plain cement mortar at age of 3, 7, and 28 d, respectively. The compressive strength of polymer-modified mortars at age of 3, 7, and 28 d are 1.55, 1.40, and 1.2941 times higher than that of the plain cement mortar, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), FTIR and TG were used to analyze the effect of polymer emulsion on cement hydration reaction. The results show that the polymer emulsion can promote the hydration reaction of cement.

Synthesis and properties of a modified sodium carboxymethylcellulose superplasticiser

The polymeric admixture sodium-carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na)/poly methyl allyl polyoxyethylene ether (PHPEG)/poly sodium p-styrene sulfonate (PSS) was synthesised and used in cement-based materials. The polymer was tested using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction and the results showed that the superplasticiser was successfully synthesised. The polymer was applied to cement pastes, cement mortars and concretes. The results of thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry showed that the polymer promoted the cement hydration reaction. With the addition of the polymer, the compressive strength of the concrete increased by 42·17%, 21·94% and 20% at age 3 d, 7 d and 28 d, respectively, and the slump increased by 29 mm. Scanning electron microscopy was conducted to characterise the plain cement mortars and the polymer-modified cement mortars and the results revealed more hydration products in the polymer-modified cement mortars.

A hierarchical carbon@TiO2@MoS2 nanofibrous composite derived from cellulose substance as an anodic material for lithium-ion batteries

A filter paper derived hierarchical carbon@TiO2@MoS2 nanofibrous composite was fabricated by employing natural cellulose substance (e.g., commercial filter paper) as both scaffold and carbon source. The nanofibers of the filter paper pre-coated with an ultrathin titania-gel film were further modified with polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDA) and polysodium-p-styrenesulfonate (PSS) polyelectrolytes based on the layer-by-layer self-assemble method. Afterwards, the composite sheet was served as a host to grow MoS2 nanosheets by a hydrothermal process. Finally, the as-prepared composite sheet was carbonized in Ar atmosphere at 800 °C for 3 h to yield the carbon@TiO2@MoS2 composite. The resultant composite consists of titania thin layer coated carbon nanofibers with wrinkled MoS2 nanosheets (with a thickness of ca. 6 nm) anchored as an external coating layer on the surfaces. When evaluated as an anodic material for lithium-ion batteries, the carbon@TiO2@MoS2 composite delivered an initial discharge capacity of 1314.4 mAhh g−1 and a stable reversible capacity of 597.2 mAhh g−1 after 100 discharge/charge cycles at the current rate of 100 mA g−1, which is higher than the theoretical capacity of the as-prepared composite electrode. The enhanced electrochemical performances of this composite were benefited from its unique three-dimensional network structures, as well as the buffering effect arising from the titania-coated carbon nanofibers, which effectively alleviates the serious volume change of MoS2 and maintains the structural integrity of the electrode during the repeated lithiation/delithiation processes.

Facile synthesis of stoichiometric AgSbS2 silk-like nanoflowers for solar energy conversion

In order to avoid the impurity phase, such as Ag3SbS3 and Sb2S3 among AgSbS2 particles and simplify the complicated steps in synthesizing AgSbS2 via conventional methods, the cubic AgSbS2 silk-like nanoflowers with well-defined crystalline structure were synthesized by the one-step, facile and practical solvothermal chemical process. The results show that the as-prepared stoichiometric AgSbS2 nanoflowers with the diameter of 1µm are comprised of silk-like ultrathin nanoflakes. Moreover, the possible formation mechanism of AgSbS2 silk-like nanoflowers with PSS (poly (sodium-p-styrenesul-fonate)) is studied. Furthermore, the AgSbS2 nanoflowers exhibit a broad absorption and high value of incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE) in visible light range, indicating that it is a promising photovoltaic absorption material.

Fabrication and photoelectrochemical characteristics of In2S3 nano-flower films on TiO2 nanorods arrays

The In2S3 nano-flower films on TiO2/FTO (Fluorine-doped tin oxide) substrates were synthesized via hydrothermal method and the photoelectrochemical performances of In2S3/TiO2 photoelectrodes were characterized. The roles of PSS (poly(sodium-p-styrenesul-fonate)) and PEG (polyethylene glycol) on the structure controlling of In2S3 films were also discussed. The results show that the In2S3 nano-flower films consisted of ultrathin nanoflakes with a thickness of 5nm are successfully grew on the surface of TiO2 nanorod arrays. PEG could play a role as the morphology-directing agent by confining crystal growth in certain directions, while PSS could provide coordination sites with long chains and lead to the formation of spherical structure. The energy conversion efficiency of In2S3 nano-flower/TiO2 photoelectrodes enhances thrice compared with that of bare TiO2 photoelectrode. This research presents further insight for improving the efficiency of semiconductors by using the suitable electron transfer channels, which may be promising for rational construction of solar conversion and storage devices.

Effect of Poly Sodium-p-Styrenesulfonate on the Phase Formation and Morphology of the Hydrothermally Synthesized Bismuth Ferrite Powders

Rhombohedral bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) powders were hydrothermally synthesized by using C6H8BiNO7 and Fe (NO3)·5H2O as precursors, KOH as a mineralizer and poly sodium-p-styrenesulfonate (PSS) as an additive. The phase formation and morphology of the as-prepared powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction,raman spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. In order to investigate the effects of PSS, a series of experiments were performed by changing the introduced amount of PSS and the hydrothermal reaction time. The results showed that the introduction of the PSS leads to the synthesized bismuth ferrite changes from the mixture of Bi2Fe4O9 and BiFeO3 to pure rhombohedral BiFeO3. Corresponding to the phase composition evolution, the particle morphology alters from nanosheets to microparticles. The magnetic properties of single-crystalline BiFeO3 powders were also characterized. Based on the experimental results, the phase formation mechanism of the rhombohedral BiFeO3 hydrothermally synthesized assisted with PSS was discussed.

Controllable self-assembly of Pd nanowire networks as highly active electrocatalysts fordirect formic acid fuel cells

Highly dispersed and uniform palladium nanowire networks (NWNs) are synthesized by a controllable,templateless and polyelectrolyte-mediated self-assembly process. In this method, anisotropicPd2+-polysodium-p-styrenesulfonate (PSS) networks are assembled betweenPd2+ ionsand SO3− attached to the pendent aromatic ring of PSS in solution by an electrostatic attraction.Reduction of Pd(II) cations to metallic Pd(0) leads to the formation of Pd nanostructuresfrom cubic nanoparticles to highly dispersed NWNs. The Pd nanostructure formationdepends on the rate of nucleation and crystallization of Pd(0) which in turn is controlled bythe solution pH and reducing agent. The results demonstrate that highly dispersed anduniform Pd NWNs have a very high aspect ratio and are highly active and stablefor the formic acid electrooxidation in acid media, demonstrating the promisingpotential of Pd NWNs as effective electrocatalysts for direct formic acid fuel cells.

PH‐Sensitive Polyacrylic Acid (PAA) Hydrogels Trapped with Polysodium‐p‐Styrenesulfonate (PSS)

The preparation of a new type of semi‐interpenetration network system of polyacrylic acid (PAA) hydrogel trapped with polysodium‐p‐styrenesulfonate (PSS) is presented. The structure and response properties of PAA/PSS were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis and pH and ionic intensity stimuli‐responsive measurement. The FTIR analysis proved the successful intermingling of PSS into PAA. The swelling behavior of PAA hydrogel in an alkaline environment was improved due to the addition of PSS. As the ionic concentration in solution increased, the swelling rate of PAA decreased after adding PSS. However, the swelling velocity of the pure PAA is quicker than that of the PAA/PSS samples since the PSS will enhance the entanglement of this hydrogel network and slow down the swelling velocity. Multi‐interactions between the PAA hydrogel network and trapped PSS chains, including electrostatic repulsive interaction, entanglement interaction, ionic intensity interaction, and osmotic pressure, were proposed to explain the earlier‐mentioned experimental phenomena.