Self-Assembly of CsPbBr Perovskites in Micropatterned Polymeric Surfaces: Toward Luminescent Materials with Self-Cleaning Properties.

In this work, we present a series of porous, honeycomb-patterned polymer films containing CsPbBr perovskite nanocrystals as light emitters prepared by the breath figure approach. Microscopy analysis of the topography and composition of the material evidence that the CsPbBr nanocrystals are homogeneously distributed within the polymer matrix but preferably confined inside the pores due to the fabrication process. The optical properties of the CsPbBr nanocrystals remain unaltered after the film formation, proving that they are stable inside the polystyrene matrix, which protects them from degradation by environmental factors.

Synthesis of Silver Nanocomposites for Stereolithography: In Situ Formation of Nanoparticles.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) offers remarkable advantages in relation to traditional methods used to obtain solid structures, such as the capability to obtain customized complex geometries adapted to individual requirements. The design of novel nanocomposites suitable for AM is an excellent strategy to widen the application field of these techniques. In this work, we report on the fabrication of metal/polymer nanocomposites with enhanced optical/electrical behaviour for stereolithography (SLA).

Polymer Composites with Cork Particles Functionalized by Surface Polymerization for Fused Deposition Modeling.

Cork powder received as a byproduct from local industries is valorized through the development of composite materials suitable for fused deposition modeling (FDM). For this purpose, a polymeric matrix of acrylonitrile-styrene-butyl acrylate (ASA) is used due to its good mechanical resistance and weather resistance properties. Prior to the manufacturing of the composites, the cork particles are characterized and modified by surface polymerization, creating a layer of poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA).

Synthesis and Characterisation of ASA-PEEK Composites for Fused Filament Fabrication.

In this paper, a series of polymer composites made from acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA) and poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) were manufactured. ASA acts as a polymer matrix while PEEK is loaded in the form of micro-particles that act as a reinforcing filler. The composites were compounded by single screw extrusion and then, different specimens were manufactured either via injection moulding (IM) or fused filament fabrication (FFF).

Additive Manufacturing of Gold Nanostructures Using Nonlinear Photoreduction under Controlled Ionic Diffusion.

Multiphoton photoreduction of photosensitive metallic precursors via direct laser writing (DLW) is a promising technique for the synthesis of metallic structures onto solid substrates at the sub-micron scale. DLW triggered by a two photon absorption process is done using a femtosecond NIR laser (λ = 780 nm), tetrachloroauric acid (HAuCl) as a gold precursor, and isinglass as a natural hydrogel matrix. The presence of a polymeric, transparent matrix avoids unwanted diffusive processes acting as a network for the metallic nanoparticles.

Influence of Network Topology on the Viscoelastic Properties of Dynamically Crosslinked Hydrogels.

Biological materials combine stress relaxation and self-healing with non-linear stress-strain responses. These characteristic features are a direct result of hierarchical self-assembly, which often results in fiber-like architectures. Even though structural knowledge is rapidly increasing, it has remained a challenge to establish relationships between microscopic and macroscopic structure and function.

Influence of the Degree of Cure in the Bulk Properties of Graphite Nanoplatelets Nanocomposites Printed via Stereolithography.

In this work, we report on the fabrication via stereolithography (SLA) of acrylic-based nanocomposites using graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) as an additive. GNPs are able to absorb UV-Vis radiation, thus blocking partial or totally the light path of the SLA laser. Based on this, we identified a range of GNP concentrations below 2.

Tuning coiled coil stability with histidine-metal coordination.

Coiled coils (CCs) have emerged as versatile building blocks for the synthesis of nanostructures, drug delivery systems and biomimetic hydrogels. Bioengineering metal coordination sites into the terminal ends of a synthetic coiled coil (CC), we generate a nanoscale biological building block with tunable stability. The reversible coordination of Ni2+ thermodynamically stabilizes the CC, as shown with circular dichroism spectroscopy.

Halogen free 1,2,3- and 1,2,4-triazolide based ionic liquids: synthesis and properties.

Triazoles have been successfully used as building blocks to create "fully organic" ILs featuring on both sides organic ions, i.e., 1,2,3- or 1,2,4-triazolide anions and 1,2,4-triazolium or imidazolium cations.

Microfluidic Reactors Based on Rechargeable Catalytic Porous Supports: Heterogeneous Enzymatic Catalysis via Reversible Host-Guest Interactions.

We report on the fabrication of a microfluidic device in which the reservoir contains a porous surface with enzymatic catalytic activity provided by the reversible immobilization of horseradish peroxidase onto micrometer size pores. The porous functional reservoir was obtained by the Breath Figures approach by casting in a moist environment a solution containing a mixture of high molecular weight polystyrene (HPS) and a poly(styrene-co-cyclodextrin based styrene) (P(S-co-SCD)) statistical copolymer. The pores enriched in CD were employed to immobilize horseradish peroxidase (previously modified with adamantane) by host-guest interactions (HRP-Ada).

Formation of multigradient porous surfaces for selective bacterial entrapment.

Herein we describe the preparation of multigradient porous platforms by using the breath figures approach. In a single and straightforward step, we prepared porous surfaces in which three different parameters vary gradually from the edge of the sample to the center in a radial manner. Thus, we evidenced the gradual variation of the pore size and the shape of the pores that can be varied, depending on the sample concentration, but also depending on their radial position within the same sample.

Tuning the pore composition by two simultaneous interfacial self-assembly processes: breath figures and coffee stain.

In the current paper, we prepared microstructured porous films by the breath figures approach using polymer blends consisting of polystyrene as the major component and an amphiphilic additive, either a synthetic block copolymer {two different polystyrene-b-poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] copolymers} or a series of commercial surfactants. Tetrahydrofuran was employed as the solvent. Confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy demonstrated the preferential location of the amphiphilic additives in the cavities of the film as a consequence of the breath figures mechanism.

Fabrication of structured porous films by breath figures and phase separation processes: tuning the chemistry and morphology inside the pores using click chemistry.

Herein, a facile water-assisted templating technique, the so-called breath figures method, in combination with phase separation process, was employed to prepare multifunctional micropatterned films. Tetrahydrofuran solutions of incompatible ternary blends consisting of high-molecular-weight polystyrene, an amphiphilic block copolymer, polystyrene-b-poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (PS40-b-P(PEGMA300)48), and a fluorinated homopolymer, poly(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene) (P5FS21) were casted under humid atmosphere varying the proportion of the components. Two simultaneously occurring processes, i.

Hierarchically structured multifunctional porous interfaces through water templated self-assembly of ternary systems.

Herein, a facile water-assisted templating approach, the so-called breath figures method, has been employed to prepare multifunctional and hierarchically structured porous patterned films with order at different length scales (nano- and micrometer). Tetrahydrofuran solutions of ternary blends consisting on high molecular weight polystyrene, an amphiphilic block copolymer, polystyrene-b-poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (PS(40)-b-P(PEGMA300)(48)), and a fluorinated copolymer, polystyrene-b-poly(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene) (P5FS(21)-b-PS(31)), have been used to obtain films varying the proportion of the three components. Confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy demonstrated the preferential location of the different functionalities in the films.