Search results for "Chemical engineering"
showing 10 items of 5892 documents
Magnetic Composite Thin Films of FexOy Nanoparticles and Photocrosslinked Dextran Hydrogels
2012
Abstract Magnetic hydrogel composites are promising candidates for a broad field of applications from medicine to mechanical engineering. Here, surface-attached composite films of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) and a polymeric hydrogel (HG) were prepared from magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and a carboxymethylated dextran with photoreactive benzophenone substituents. A blend of the MNP and the dextran polymer was prepared by mixing in solution, and after spin-coating and drying the blend film was converted into a stable MNP–HG composite by photocrosslinking through irradiation with UV light. The bulk composite material shows strong mobility in a magnetic field, imparted by the MNPs. By util…
Halloysite Nanotubes for Cleaning, Consolidation and Protection
2017
Herein, we report our recent research concerning the development of halloysite based protocols for cleaning, consolidation and protection purposes. Surface modification of halloysite cavity by anionic surfactants was explored to fabricate inorganic micelles able to solubilize hydrophobic contaminants. Hybrid dispersions based on halloysite and ecocompatible polymers were tested as consolidants for paper and waterlogged archaeological woods. Encapsulation of deacidifying and flame retardant agents within the halloysite lumen was conducted with aim to obtain nanofiller with a long-term protection ability. The results prove the suitability and versatility of halloysite nanotubes, which are per…
Surface and Intercalation Chemistry of Polycarboxylate Copolymers in Cementitious Systems.
2009
International audience; The Ca–Al-layered double hydroxide, the so-called AFm phase, is a product of cement hydration. It is shown that the interaction of this phase with anionic polycarboxylate ether (PCE)-based dispersant polymers is not a simple adsorption but a more complex intercalation phenomenon leading to the transient sequestration of the PCE within the AFm crystallites. As a result, part of the PCE is immobilized, forming a layered organo-mineral composite, and does not play its role of a dispersing agent. This article presents, along general considerations on the links between cement chemistry and rheology, a detailed investigation of the formation, structure, and stability of a …
Alignment of Tellurium Nanorods via a Magnetization−Alignment− Demagnetization (“MAD”) Process Assisted by an External Magnetic Field
2009
Tellurium (Te) nanorods have been successfully aligned on a solid substrate via a magnetization-alignment-demagnetization ("MAD") process in the presence of an external magnetic field. Te nanorods carrying a poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) shell were first converted into magnetic nanocylinders by assembling magnetite nanoparticles on their surface via a hydrophobic interaction in THF. We demonstrate that, below a critical concentration of the nanoparticles, this assembly process is able to quantitatively tune the magnetite nanoparticles' density on the nanorods in terms of their stoichiometric ratio. Due to the polymer and surfactant on their surface, the formed magnetic nanocylinders are sol…
Enlarged pore size in nanoparticulated bimodal porous silicas: Improving accessibility
2016
Abstract Mass-transfer kinetics seems to be highly favored in siliceous materials constructed from the aggregation of mesoporous nanoparticles. Besides intra-particle mesopores, over the course of the aggregation process an inter-particle (textural) large pore system is generated. Diffusion constrains through the resulting hierarchically structured pore systems mainly depend on the characteristics of the intra-particle mesopores. By using alkanes as swelling agents, we have been able to significantly increase the intra-particle mesopore size in previously well characterized UVM-7 materials. The Winsor-III-like behavior associated with the presence of alkanes in the hydro-alcoholic reaction …
Spherical and rod-like colloids with polymer-brush surfaces
2008
In this paper, we describe a strategy to overcome incompatibility of colloidal particles and polymer coils as well as immiscibility of spherical and rod-shaped nanoparticles. Two new types of model colloids are presented, colloidal nanospheres with hairy surfaces (spherical brushes) and polymacromonomers to represent cylindrical brushes. The spherical brushes are synthesized from polyorganosiloxane-μ-gels of diameter 20 nm by grafting onto anionically prepared polystyrene macromonomers of molecular weight M w=5000 g/mol. On average, each sphere has a surface layer of 200 polymer chains. Compatibility of spherical nanoparticles with polymer coils was probed by turbidity of as-cast films as w…
Iron oxide-based magnetic photocatalysts: Recent developments, challenges, and environmental applications
2021
Abstract Magnetic separation of the solid photocatalyst from the reacting suspension has received great interest in recent research because it offers a suitable way for removing and recycling the heterogeneous photocatalytic material particles preventing the agglomeration and sedimentation during and after their use. The use of iron oxides such as heterogeneous photocatalysts is an appropriate choice to obtain a suitable photocatalyst easily separable from the fluid. This chapter presents a detailed investigation of iron oxide-based magnetic photocatalysts (IOMPs). We will discuss the required conditions for the synthesis of these photocatalysts, followed by their applications for the remov…
Design and characterization of bi-functional electrocatalytic layers for application in PEM unitized regenerative fuel cells
2010
Abstract Results concerning the development and characterization of bi-functional electrocatalytic layers for application in unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFCs) based on proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology are reported. Carbon-supported hydrophobic (10 wt.% of PTFE) Pt catalysts (40 wt.% of Pt), and Pt and Ir black powders of large specific areas have been synthesized. Their structure, morphology and electrochemical properties have been investigated using SEM, TEM, XRD analysis, and by measurements of polarization curves and cyclic voltammograms. Current–voltage curves have been recorded during water electrolysis and H 2 /O 2 fuel cell experiments to evaluate their performances a…
Preparation and mechanical characterization of polycaprolactone/graphene oxide biocomposite nanofibers
2016
Biocomposite nanofiber scaffolds of polycaprolactone (PCL) filled with graphene oxide (GO) were prepared using electrospinning technology. Morphological and mechanical properties of the scaffolds were characterized in dry and wet environment. The results showed that the successful incorporation of GO nanosheets into PCL polymer nanofibers improved their mechanical properties. Furthermore it was demonstrated the higher performance achieved when GO is filled at low concentration in the nanofibers.
Correlations between Ion Conductivity and Polymer Dynamics in Hyperbranched Poly(ethylene oxide) Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries
2011
Poly(ethylene oxide)s with varying degrees of hyperbranching are effective at preventing the crystallization of PEO and lead to approximately a 100-fold increase in the Li-ion conductivity below 50 °C as compared with linear PEO. The Li-ion conductivities, which increase further upon permethylation of the hydroxyl termini, are found to correlate quantitatively with the fast segmental dynamics of PEO as measured by inelastic neutron scattering.