MXene-based solvent-responsive actuators with a polymer-intercalated gradient structure.

Actuators based on electrically conductive and hydrophilic two-dimensional (2D) TiCT MXene are of interest for fast and specific responses in demanding environments, such as chemical production. Herein, TiCT -based solvent-responsive bilayer actuators were developed, featuring a gradient polymer-intercalation structure in the active layer. These actuators were assembled using negatively charged pristine TiCT nanosheets as the passive layer and positively charged polymer-tethered TiCT as the active layer.

Harnessing Holey MXene/Graphene Oxide Heterostructure to Maximize Ion Channels in Lamellar Film for High-Performance Capacitive Deionization.

2D TiCT MXene-based film electrodes with metallic conductivity and high pseudo-capacitance are of considerable interest in cutting-edge research of capacitive deionization (CDI). Further advancement in practical use is however impeded by their intrinsic limitations, e.g.

Thermally Insulating and Moisture-Resilient Foams Based on Upcycled Aramid Nanofibers and Nanocellulose.

Low-density foams and aerogels based on upcycled and bio-based nanofibers and additives are promising alternatives to fossil-based thermal insulation materials. Super-insulating foams are prepared from upcycled acid-treated aramid nanofibers (upANF ) obtained from Kevlar yarn and tempo-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (CNF) from wood. The ice-templated hybrid upANF /CNF-based foams with an upANF content of up to 40 wt% display high thermal stability and a very low thermal conductivity of 18-23 mW m K perpendicular to the aligned nanofibrils over a wide relative humidity (RH) range of 20% to 80%.

Tunable Ordered Nanostructured Phases by Co-assembly of Amphiphilic Polyoxometalates and Pluronic Block Copolymers.

The assembly of polyoxometalate (POM) metal-oxygen clusters into ordered nanostructures is attracting a growing interest for catalytic and sensing applications. However, assembly of ordered nanostructured POMs from solution can be impaired by aggregation, and the structural diversity is poorly understood. Here, we present a time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) study of the co-assembly in aqueous solutions of amphiphilic organo-functionalized Wells-Dawson-type POMs with a Pluronic block copolymer over a wide concentration range in levitating droplets.

Assembly of cellulose nanocrystals and clay nanoplatelets studied by time-resolved X-ray scattering.

Time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to probe the assembly of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and montmorillonite (MNT) over a wide concentration range in aqueous levitating droplets. Analysis of the SAXS curves of the one-component and mixed dispersions shows that co-assembly of rod-like CNC and MNT nanoplatelets is dominated by the interactions between the dispersed CNC particles and that MNT promotes gelation and assembly of CNC, which occurred at lower total volume fractions in the CNC:MNT than in the CNC-only dispersions. The CNC dispersions displayed a d ∝ φ-1/2 scaling and a low-q power-law exponent of 2.

Self-assembly of amphiphilic polyoxometalates for the preparation of mesoporous polyoxometalate-titania catalysts.

Amphiphilic polyoxometalate (POM) surfactants were prepared by covalently grafting double hydrophobic tails with chain lengths C12H25, C14H29, C16H33 or C18H37 onto the lacunary Wells-Dawson {P2W17O61} headgroup. The critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) of these novel surfactants in aqueous solutions were determined by conductivity, and micelle formation was studied by small angle neutron scattering (SANS). Surprisingly, the amphiphiles with longer hydrophobic tails tend to form less elongated and more globular micelles in water.

Antagonistic mixing in micelles of amphiphilic polyoxometalates and hexaethylene glycol monododecyl ether.

Hypothesis: Polyoxometalates (POMs) are metal oxygen clusters with a range of interesting magnetic and catalytic properties. POMs with attached hydrocarbon chains show amphiphilic behaviour so we hypothesised that mixtures of a nonionic surfactant and anionic surfactants with a polyoxometalate cluster as headgroup would form mixed micelles, giving control of the POM density in the micelle, and which would differ in size and shape from micelles formed by the individual surfactants. Due to the high charge and large size of the POM, we suggested that these would be nonideal mixtures due to the complex interactions between the two types of surfactants.

A Facile, Template-Free Synthesis of AgCl Hierarchical Architectures: Precursors of Highly Efficient Visible-Light Plasmonic Photocatalysts of Ag@AgCl.

This paper describes a facile, template-free synthesis of AgCl hierarchical structures by a gas-liquid interfacial method and the morphology of AgCl (microrods or film) can be conveniently varied or controlled by changing the solvents of AgNO without using any surfactants. The AgCl composites were then photoreduced to form highly efficient visible-light plasmonic photocatalyst Ag@AgCl nanostructures. SEM, XRD, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy were used to characterize the obtained product.