ZnO Nanofillers Research Articles

Investigation of Optical and Dielectric properties of Mg(ClO4)2 based PVC+ZnO Nanocomposite Polymer Electrolytes

Nanocompistie polymer electrolytes of PVC+ZnO+Mg(ClO4)2 were synthesized by solution casting and studied using UV-visible spectroscopy and AC conductivity. The electrolytes had varying amounts of Mg(ClO4)2. Based on the findings of the UV visible spectroscopy, the sample with x=50 wt.% Mg(ClO4)2 had the best direct and indirect band gap values, suggesting that the interaction between the polymer, ZnO nanofiller, and Mg(ClO4)2 salt improved its optical properties. In terms of dielectric constant and ion dissociation, the sample with x=75 wt.% Mg(ClO4)2 performed the best out of all of the samples tested. polymer electrolyte with frequency- dependently high dielectric constant values is perfect for cutting-edge applications. Key words: polymer electrolyte, solution casting, UV -visible spectroscopy, AC conductivity, dielectric constant.

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.

Fiber Alignment's Effect on the Properties of Hybrid Glass/Flax Fiber‐Reinforced Epoxy Composite Laminates

ABSTRACTIn this study, glass fiber and flax fiber reinforced with epoxy and ZnO nanofiller were used to create composites utilizing the hand layup method. The purpose of this study is to develop a novel hybrid polymer‐matrix composite that can be employed in various application areas such as aerospace, sports, medical equipment, railways, etc. The fabricated composite was made with epoxy as a matrix material reinforced with nano‐ZnO, glass fiber, and flax fiber. Six fiber layers with varying fiber orientations were inserted into the matrix in a specific stacking order. The results show the maximum tensile, flexural, impact, and ILSS as the values of 264.74 MPa, 492.12 MPa, 595.72 J/m, and 50.05, respectively. Along with the mechanical properties, Physical characterization such as density, void content, thickness swelling, moisture content, and water absorption tests were conducted. FE‐SEM test was conducted to check the uniformity of nanoparticles in the matrix material and the breakdown of fibers.

Environmental sustainability and waste conversion of Prosopis juliflora fibre-reinforced ZnO nanofiller particulates PLA composite- mechanical and thermal analysis

The presence of large quantities of Prosopis juliflora (PJ) fibers in natural habitats presents substantial threats to the environment and economies of numerous developing countries. Utilizing natural fibers in polymer composites can effectively enhance their characteristics. The primary objective of this study is to create a composite material by combining Prosopis Juliflora (PJ) fiber with a polylactic matrix that has been combined with zinc oxide nanofillers. The fabrication process will involve the hand layup technique. In order to have a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical characteristics, thermal behavior, and thermal stability of the PJ composite, it is necessary to undertake additional investigations. The results showed that the inclusion of zinc oxide filler enhanced the tensile strength (67.29 MPa), flexural strength (64.27 MPa), compressive strength (56.79 MPa), and impact energy (34 J) in sample S5. Additionally, the thermal properties, including thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, and short-term heat resistant capacity, were also improved by the addition of zinc oxide filler in sample S5. The deterioration temperature of the PJ composite was determined to be between 312 and 342 °C using thermogravimetric analysis. The failure mode of the PJ composite was investigated using scanning electron microscopy.

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.

The Impact of ZnO Nanofillers on the Mechanical and Anti-Corrosion Performances of Epoxy Composites.

Epoxy resins were reinforced with different ZnO nanofillers (commercial ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), recycled ZnO and functionalized ZnO NPs) in order to obtain ZnO-epoxy composites with suitable mechanical properties, high adhesion strength, and good resistance to corrosion. The final properties of ZnO-epoxy composites depend on several factors, such as the type and contents of nanofillers, the epoxy resin type, curing agent, and preparation methods. This paper aims to review the preparation methods, mechanical and anti-corrosion performance, and applications of ZnO-epoxy composites. The epoxy-ZnO composites are demonstrated to be valuable materials for a wide range of applications, including the development of anti-corrosion and UV-protective coatings, for adhesives and the chemical industry, or for use in building materials or electronics.

Designing innovative PAni-based adsorbents for CO2 capture via in-situ nitrogen plasma modification for sustainable development

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture is a critical strategy in the fight against climate change. By implementing this innovative technology, CO2 emissions from diverse sources will be captured and neutralized, thereby mitigating global warming. For this purpose, novel sorbents were developed in this work by loading TiO2 and ZnO nanofillers into a polyaniline (PAni) system to form PAni–TiO2 (PT) and PAni–ZnO (PZ) composites. Following that, in-situ nitrogen (N2) plasma treatments were applied for 5 min to improve their surface nature and physiochemical properties. The CO2 capture qualities of modified PT and PZ sorbents were investigated, as well as physical assessments of their microstructure, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), morphology, contact angle, roughness, electrical optical, reactivity, stability, and adsorption capability, hardness, softness and electrophilicity properties. Bombardment of high-energy plasma species for 5 min was sufficient to optimize the crystallite size and crystallinity degree in both the PT5 and PZ5 systems. These enhancements may be related to the growth of protonated benzoid rings -NH+- as a result of plasma modifications to the structure of PAni and its transformation into emerald salt. In a similar vein, the SEM micrographs, porous topography and hydrophilic nature of the PAni composites varied with respect to the type of nanofillers and plasma level. The plasma treatment provided additional oxygen-containing functional groups as active sites for chemical interactions, including CO2 via chemisorption or physisorption, facilitating further reduction. Additionally, plasma activities assisted in shifting to a rougher surface (i.e.,Ra = 3.83 µm) as well as optimizing the energy band gap (1.57 eV), which can accommodate more CO2 molecules, thereby improving the capture efficiency. Moreover, the findings indicate that PZ5 is more desirable for CO2 adsorption since it possesses a 2.52-fold greater CO2 adsorption energy (-0.079 a.u) than pristine PZ0. In the future, our work opens up exciting new prospects to achieve desired performance from CO2 capturing compounds utilizing plasma technology.

Experimental Design and Analysis of MWCNT, Nanoclay and ZnO Nanofillers on Bi-Directional-Chopped Stranded Glass Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Matrix on Mechanical Properties using L9 and L18 Taguchi’s Orthogonal Technique

Stealth, mechanical and thermal properties, resistance to fire by limiting oxygen and retarding flame can lead to save several human lifes travelling and working in civil, commercial as well as defence air transport and could even develop drone and aircraft meant to escape enemy countries radar tracing and monitoring range. GFRP play very important role in engineering application. The composite manufactured using nanofillers have found to posses better propeties in certain application. In the present work, MWCNTs, Nanoclay and ZnO have been used in GFRP. The developed material can be a promising replacement of composites being used for structural applications in the aerospace sector and space technology apart from the automotives to impart light weight, superior bending and tensile strength. Testing of GFRP infused nanofillers was conducted to obtain the ultimate tensile strength and flexural bending strength of the composite. Experimental design with three Nanofillers as parameters at three levels for optimization of output characteristics with superior properties for structural applications was done using Taguchi’s L9 and L18 orthogonal arrays. ANOVA Analysis was also performed for both L9 and L18 arrays. The effects of three nanofillers infused GFRP was investigated and their impact on tensile and flexural strength were evaluated.

Polyurethane foam reinforced with Ag nanoparticle decorated ZnO nanorods: a dual-functional approach for improved antibacterial and mechanical properties

Abstract This study introduces a novel approach by incorporating pristine ZnO nanorods and Ag nanoparticles decorated ZnO nanorods into a polyurethane foam matrix. This synergistic combination aims to enhance the foam’s antibacterial properties while investigating its impact on mechanical strength. Nanoparticles and prepared nanopolymer were characterized by different methods like XRD, TEM, SEM, and EDS. The mechanical characteristics and antibacterial properties of prepared polyurethane composites were investigated in the presence of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. A much higher level than reported in the literature was found for PU films filled with ZnO nanorods. Incorporating nanoparticles into polyurethane nanocomposites has been demonstrated to significantly improve polyurethane’s antibacterial properties. The results revealed that ZnO/PU antibacterial efficiency decreased with increasing ZnO nanofiller content, while AgNPs@ZnO/PU composite antibacterial efficiency increased with increasing AgNPs@ZnO nanofiller content. Also, the weak coordinate bond between ZnO and Ag in the PU chain extender was demonstrated. Increasing the ZnO content to 1.4 wt% resulted in greater Young’s modulus and tensile strength, which increased when the ZnO content was increased further. Such a dual-functional enhancement holds promise for applications requiring both antimicrobial efficacy and mechanical integrity.

Advancing food packaging: enhancing stability and performance of biodegradable PHBHHx with ZnO nanofillers

Advancing food packaging: enhancing stability and performance of biodegradable PHBHHx with ZnO nanofillers

Color stability, surface, and physicochemical properties of three-dimensional printed denture base resin reinforced with different nanofillers

Various materials have been introduced for the three-dimensional (3D) printing of dentures. In this study, the color stability and surface and physicochemical properties of 3D-printed denture base resins with four types of nanofiller particles were evaluated. Al2O3, ZnO, CeZr, and SiO2 nanofillers were added to a 3D printable denture base-resin matrix and subjected to digital light processing. The specimens were immersed in Coke, coffee, black tea, or distilled water for 6 days. For the assessment of color differences, 6 samples were analyzed using a spectrophotometer. In a separate investigation, surface properties of 10 samples were examined, while a different set of 6 samples was used to analyze water sorption and solubility. All experimental groups exhibited higher color stability in Coke than the control group. However, the groups containing ZnO and CeZr had lower color stability in coffee and black tea than the control group. Moreover, they had agglomerated nanofillers and lower gloss than the control group. Compared with that of the control group, the contact angle of the CeZr group and microhardness of the ZnO group were not significantly different. Water sorption was higher in the Al2O3 group, whereas the solubility of the experimental and control groups was not statistically significant. The results demonstrated the significant effect of ZnO and CeZr nanofillers on the color stability of the dentures when exposed to discoloring beverages. These results will facilitate the development of fillers that enhance the resistance of 3D printed denture base resins to discoloration in the oral environment.

Evaluation the Tensile Bond Strength of Acrylic Teeth After Reinforcement the Denture Base by ZnO Nanofillers Materials

Acrylic teeth are chemically bond to the denture base materialand are easier to adjust so that preferable on porcelain teethbut the most de bounding between teeth and denture baseoccur inside the patient mouth during function when thecontact area between teeth and denture base was exposed totensile strength. The Aim of this study: evaluate the tensilebond strength of acrylic teeth after reinforcement the denturebase after addition (ZnO) nanofillers materials to PMMAwith different concentrations(2%, 4%, and 6%).Materials andmethods: Forty specimens of heat cure acrylic resin (PMMA)were prepared and divided into four groups 10 specimens foreach groups as follows; Control Group (Group1) without ZnOnanofillers particles ; Group (2) with 2% by weight of ZnO ;Group (3) with 4% by weight of ZnO and Group (4) with 6%by weight of ZnO, wax pattern sample which used for acryliccylindrical shape fabrication were (25 mm in length and 5mmin diameter ,the base of the cylinder which is 5mm inthickness and 8mm in length). Tensile bond strength of allspecimens was evaluated. Results: showed the highest meanvalue was recorded by PMMA+ZnO 2% (6.4093) while thelowest mean value was recorded by PMMA+ ZnO 6%(3.9824). Conclusions: There were significant differencebetween control group PMMA and (PMMA+ZnO 4%, andPMMA+ZnO 6%) and there was no significant differencebetween control group PMMA and PMMA+Zno 2%

Dielectric Relaxation Behavior and Electrical Conduction Mechanism of PVA/ZnO Nanocomposites for Flexible Electronic Device Application

Transport properties of polyvinyl alcohol/ZnO nanocomposites (PVA/ZnO) of varying ZnO nanofiller are studied focussing on their potential application in electronic device application. The structural, morphological, and elemental composition studies of the prepared samples are done by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX). XRD confirms the formation of nanocomposites. SEM image shows the dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles on the surface of PVA matrix. EDX verifies that no external impurities are present in the nanocomposite samples. Frequency‐ and temperature‐dependent dielectric measurement of the samples reveals maximum dielectric constant at PVA/15 wt% ZnO nanocomposite. Dielectric loss results show a lossless behavior at higher frequencies (<0.2), indicating their suitability for high‐frequency applications. The AC conductivity studies reveal that electrical conduction mechanism in the nanocomposites is governed by the correlated barrier hopping mechanism. Activation energy of the samples reveals the presence of two thermally activated transport mechanism above and below 353 K. The imaginary part of electric modulus with frequency shows a single relaxation peak indicating the transition from long‐range to short‐range mobility with increasing frequency and temperature above 353 K. The contribution of grain and grain boundary in the electrical conduction process is confirmed from the Nyquist plot.

Structural, optical and antifungal properties of the PMMA-ZnO nanocomposites: Potential applications in odontology

PMMA-ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized with different percent weight compositions of as synthesized ZnO nanoparticles (2%, 2.5%, 3.5%. 4.5% and 5% w/w). Further their structural and optical properties were investigated using XRD, SEM and UV–vis spectrophotometer. No significant peak of ZnO crystalline phase in all the samples of PMMA-ZnO nanocomposites was observed in XRD study which refers the complete dispersion of it within the solution and confirms the formation of nanocomposites. However, UV–vis spectroscopy study shows an intense absorbtion at wavelength 377 nm in all samples of PMMA-ZnO nanocomposites of various weight percent compositions and its absorbance increases with increase in the percent weight composition of nanofiller in the nanocomposites which attributes the presence of ZnO nanoparticles. FESEM study reveals the uniform distribution of ZnO nanoparticles with average particle size 25 nm throughout the PMMA matrix. The EDX spectra of PMMA-ZnO nanocomposites demonstrate the presence of ZnO NPs in the nanocomposites. The antifungal efficacies of the newly developed materials were evaluated in details both quantitatively and qualitatively by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and zone of inhibition methods against four different Candida species. PMMA-ZnO nanocomposites show the highest antifungal activity at percent weight compositions of ZnO NPs in the range of 3.5%–4.5% while no significant antifungal activity was observed in the nanocomposite samples at lower weight percent compositions of ZnO NPs in the range of 0.3%–1.5%. ZnO nanofillers incorporated PMMA nanocomposites improves its antifungal efficacy significantly against various Candida species, suggesting it a smart denture base material to combat denture stomatitis like diseases.

Enhanced surface-insulating performance of EP composites by doping plasma-fluorinated ZnO nanofiller

The surface flashover of epoxy resin (EP) composites is a pivotal problem in the field of high-voltage insulation. The regulation of the interface between the filler and matrix is an effective means to suppress flashover. In this work, nano ZnO was fluorinated and grafted using low-temperature plasma technology, and the fluorinated filler was doped into EP to study the DC surface flashover performance of the composite. The results show that plasma fluorination can effectively inhibit the agglomeration by grafting –CF x groups onto the surface of nano-ZnO particles. The fluorine-containing groups at the interface provide higher charge binding traps and enhance the insulation strength at the interface. At the same time, the interface bond cooperation caused by plasma treatment also promoted the accelerating effect of nano ZnO on charge dissipation. The two effects synergistically improve the surface flashover performance of epoxy composites. When the concentration of fluorinated ZnO filler is 20%, the flashover voltage has the highest increase, which is 31.52% higher than that of pure EP. In addition, fluorinated ZnO can effectively reduce the dielectric constant and dielectric loss of epoxy composites. The interface interaction mechanism was further analyzed using molecular dynamics simulation and density functional theory simulation.

Fabrication and characterizations of nanocomposite flexible films of ZnO and polyvinyl chloride/poly(N-vinyl carbazole) polymers for dielectric capacitors

Polymer-based energy storage has recently attracted the attention of researchers. Herein, via the sol–gel method, we prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), as nanofiller up to 5 wt% filling levels, and a host polymeric blend matrix of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and poly (N-vinyl carbazole) (PVK) were taken to synthesize nanocomposite films via the solution casting. The ratio of PVC: PVK was 90:10 wt%. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the prepared nanocomposite films’ crystallinity decreased as ZnO NPs content increased; it decreased from 54.23 to 22.14 %. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs revealed good miscibility of the prepared PVC/PVK blend and the homogeneous distribution of ZnO NPs within the host blend matrix. The thermal stability of the prepared nanocomposites was studied through the TGA technique, and the thermal activation energy was calculated using the Coats-Redfern method. In the optical results, the optical absorption spectra revealed that the energy gap for the allowed direct transition reduced under adding ZnO NPs; it reduced from 3.61 eV for the pure PVC/PVK blend to 2.96 eV for the nanocomposite film with ZnO nanofiller content of 5 wt%. AC conductivity experiments revealed that the electrical/dielectric properties of the nanocomposite films get enhanced by increasing the ZnO NPs content. Following the incorporation of the ZnO NPs, the AC electrical conductivity (σac), dc electrical conductivity (σdc), dielectric constant (ε′), and dielectric loss (ε″) values of PVC/PVK/ZnO nanocomposite films get improved; the σdc values increased from 6.46 × 10−16 S/cm for the blend PVC/PVK matrix to 3.63 × 10−13 S/cm for nanocomposites with ZnO NPs content of 5 wt%. Additionally, both ε′ and ε″ values increased while increasing the ZnO NPs content. These findings could suggest that the prepared PVC/PVK/ZnO nanocomposite films could be a promise for the applications of dielectric energy storage polymer-based capacitors.

PVA/PVDF/ZnO polymer nanocomposites: An insight of structural and optical properties

This article reports on structural and optical properties of novel PVA/PVDF/ZnO polymer nanocomposites prepared by melt blending technique which produces a good quality nanocomposites rather than by simple solution mixing technique. The SEM images of synthesized ZnO nano-filler and prepared polymer nanocomposites have also been depicted. The structural property has been studied by XRD (X-ray diffraction) technique; while the optical properties have been determined by spectrofluorometer. Using XRD data, W-H plot has been studied to determine the crystalline size and strain which was numerically found as ∼ 9.6 nm and 0.0015, respectively. In the optical property, the PL spectra of the prepared nanocomposite was studied and a broaden peak of the PVA-PVDF polymer was found at 430 nm. No shifting in wavelength was observed on mixing of ZnO nanofiller, but the intensity was reduced significantly.

Influence of MgO and ZnO nanofillers on morphology, structural, thermal and mechanical properties of polylactic acid films

Influence of MgO and ZnO nanofillers on morphology, structural, thermal and mechanical properties of polylactic acid films

Preparation of MOF‐Zn@ZnO composite and its properties in SBR

AbstractThe synthesis and application of metal–organic skeleton materials (MOFs) have attracted much attention in recent years due to their special structures and properties. In order to expand the application field of MOFs materials, this paper designed experiments to explore the application prospect of MOFs materials in the field of rubber. In this study, zinc acetate dihydrate was used as the central metal ion source, terephthalic acid as organic ligand and deionized water as solvent. MOF‐Zn was prepared by hydrothermal method and ZnO nanoparticles were grown on the surface of MOF‐Zn in situ to obtain MOF‐Zn@ZnO. At the same time, the composite material is filled into the SBR by mechanical blending method. The experimental results show that ZnO nanoparticles adsorb on the MOF‐Zn surface and have strong interfacial interaction with MOF‐Zn. Moreover, MOF‐Zn@ZnO was uniformly dispersed in the rubber matrix, which improved the cross‐linking effect of the composite material and promoted the vulcanization of rubber. Compared with ZnOC/SBR composites, the modulus and tensile strength of MOF‐Zn@ZnO/SBR composites at 100%, 200%, and 300% elongation are increased by 33.6%, 38.2%, 30.8%, and 16.8%, respectively. The excellent performance of MOF‐Zn@ZnO/SBR composite is due to the inhibition of agglomeration of ZnO nanoparticles by MOF‐Zn, which can be used as an effective vulcanization activator in rubber. This study provides a simple synthesis route for the preparation of ZnO nanofillers for high performance SBR composites.

Yttrium doped ZnO nanofillers reinforced epoxy coating for anticorrosion application

In the present study, synthesized pure and Yttrium (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mM) doped Zinc Oxide (YZO) nanoparticles by chemical precipitation method. X-ray diffractogram asserts the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO nanoparticles. The average crystallite size was found to be 22–17 nm. The hexagonal shape, surface morphology, particle size and elemental composition of the samples were analyzed by FESEM, HRTEM and EDAX. The anticorrosive property of nanoscopic size (17 nm) YZO/epoxy nanocomposite was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique in both neutral and acidic media. Epoxy/YZO nanocomposites were prepared using different loadings (0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 wt%) of yttrium doped ZnO nanoparticles. The results obtained confirm that 0.10 wt% is the optimum concentration to get superior anticorrosion activity Epoxy/YZO nanocomposites were applied on mild steel substrates. The acquisition of yttrium doped ZnO nanofillers into the plain epoxy coating materially increased the charge transfer resistance Rct by 3.5 times in oxalic acid solution as against epoxy/ZnO coating. This encapsulates that the YZO nanoparticles are a potential anti-corrosive filler in coat on mild steel.