One-step hydrothermal synthesis of spinel manganese oxide ion-sieve from commercial γ-MnO and its uptake performance for lithium.

The selective extraction of lithium from aqueous systems necessitates efficient sorbent materials. Spinel-type lithium manganese oxide ion sieves (LMOs) have been bee recognized for their high performance in this application. However, the elevated market cost of the spinel form (λ-MnO) raises economic concerns, posing challenges to the feasibility of the extraction process.

Electrospun GelMA fibers and p(HEMA) matrix composite for corneal tissue engineering.

The development of biocompatible and transparent three-dimensional materials is desirable for corneal tissue engineering. Inspired from the cornea structure, gelatin methacryloyl-poly(2-hydroxymethyl methacrylate) (GelMA-p(HEMA)) composite hydrogel was fabricated. GelMA fibers were produced via electrospinning and covered with a thin layer of p(HEMA) in the presence of N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as cross-linker by drop-casting.

Cryopreservation of a cell-based biosensor chip modified with elastic polymer fibers enabling ready-to-use on-site applications.

An efficient preservation of a cell-based biosensor chip to achieve a ready-to-use on-site system is still very challenging as the chip contains a living component such as adherent mammalian cells. Herein, we propose a strategy called on-sensor cryopreservation (OSC), which enables the adherent cells to be preserved by freezing (-80 °C) on a biosensor surface, such as the light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS). Adherent cells on rigid surfaces are prone to cryo-injury; thus, the surface was modified to enhance the cell recovery for OSC.

Optimization and performance of nitrogen-doped carbon dots as a color conversion layer for white-LED applications.

In this study, green-emitting nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDots) were synthesized and incorporated into drop-cast composite films for use as color conversion layers in a white-LED configuration to generate white light. In order to resolve the red deficiency of this configuration, a commercial red phosphor was integrated into the system. Moreover, the N-CDots were also processed into polymer/N-CDot composite fibers, for which we determined the amount of N-CDots that yielded adequate white-light properties.

Green fabrication of lanthanide-doped hydroxide-based phosphors: Y(OH):Eu nanoparticles for white light generation.

Phosphors can serve as color conversion layers to generate white light with varying optical features, including color rendering index (CRI), high correlated color temperature (CCT), and luminous efficacy. However, they are typically produced under harsh synthesis conditions such as high temperature, high pressure, and/or by employing a large amount of solvent. In this work, a facile, water-based, rapid method has been proposed to fabricate lanthanide-doped hydroxide-based phosphors.

Phosphor-based white LED by various glassy particles: control over luminous efficiency.

Generating white light through a mainstream remote phosphor design suffers from phosphor conversion efficiency loss due to a backscattering of light. Such a loss also reduces luminous efficiency of the resulting white light. To overcome this issue, various glassy scatterers with different morphologies such as glass bubbles, glass beads, and nanosized silica particles were employed as scatterers, together with a fixed amount of yellow phosphor (YAG:Ce) and a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) matrix.

Polarized emission from CsPbBr nanowire embedded-electrospun PU fibers.

Interest in all-inorganic halide perovskites has been increasing dramatically due to their high quantum yield, band gap tunability, and ease of fabrication in compositional and geometric diversity. In this study, we synthesized several hundreds of nanometer long and ∼4 nm thick CsPbBr nanowires (NWs). They were then integrated into electrospun polyurethane (PU) fibers to examine the polarization behavior of the composite fiber assembly.

Integration of Triboluminescent EuDTEA Crystals to Transparent Polymers: Impact Sensor Application.

Lanthanide-based organometallic materials are well-known candidate triboluminescent (TL) materials that can show bright emission when a mechanical force is applied. These materials are usually in the form of crystalline powders, and it is often useful to integrate these samples into a polymer matrix in order to achieve processability, enabling coating from a solution/molten state or fabrication as a complex-shaped matrix. In this work, micrometer-sized europium tetrakis (dibenzoylmethide) triethylammonium (EuDTEA) crystals were synthesized and integrated with various transparent polymers (PMMA, PS, PVDF, and PU) using two approaches: (i) blending and (ii) surface impregnation.

Protoporphyrin IX-loaded magnetoliposomes as a potential drug delivery system for photodynamic therapy: Fabrication, characterization and in vitro study.

Background: Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is a well-known photosensitizer that has great potential for use in photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, aggregation behavior of PpIX in neutral water makes it inappropriate for physiological studies. PpIX-loaded magnetoliposomes (MLs) were fabricated to increase PpIX biocompatibility.

Null Extinction of Ceria@silica Hybrid Particles: Transparent Polystyrene Composites.

Scattering of light in optical materials, particularly in composites based on transparent polymer and inorganic pigment nanoparticles, is a chronic problem. It might originate mainly from light scattering because of a refractive index mismatch between the particles and transparent polymer matrix. Thus, the intensity of light is rapidly diminished and optical transparency is reduced.

Mechanical interlocking between porous electrospun polystyrene fibers and an epoxy matrix.

An epoxy matrix filled with nonwoven mats of porous polystyrene (PS) fibers processed by an electrospinning was compression tested at quasi-static (1 × 10(-3) s(-1)) and high strain (315 s(-1)) rates. The electrospun PS fibers with a diameter between 6 and 9 μm, accommodated spherical pores on the surface with the sizes ranging from 0.1 to 0.

Hierarchial coassembly of a cyanine dye in poly(vinyl alcohol) fibrous films by electrospinning.

We report molecular aggregate formation of TTBC (1,1',3,3'-tetraethyl-5,5',6,6'-tetrachlorobenzimidazolocarbocyanine) in submicrometer-sized PVA (poly(vinyl alcohol)) fibers by electrospinning. The formation of the molecular aggregate is examined by solution and instrumental parameters of electrospinning. The precursor solution of PVA/TTBC, in the range of 0.

Hierarchically structured metal oxide/silica nanofibers by colloid electrospinning.

We present herein a new concept for the preparation of nanofibrous metal oxides based on the simultaneous electrospinning of metal oxide precursors and silica nanoparticles. Precursor fibers are prepared by electrospinning silica nanoparticles (20 nm in diameter) dispersed in an aqueous solution of poly(acrylic acid) and metal salts. Upon calcination in air, the poly(acrylic acid) matrix is removed, the silica nanoparticles are cemented, and nanocrystalline metal oxide particles of 4-14 nm are nucleated at the surface of the silica nanoparticles.

Toward transparent nanocomposites based on polystyrene matrix and PMMA-grafted CeO2 nanoparticles.

The association of transparent polymer and nanosized pigment particles offers attractive optical materials for various potential and existing applications. However, the particles embedded into polymers scatter light due to refractive index (RI) mismatch and reduce transparency of the resulting composite material. In this study, optical composites based on polystyrene (PS) matrix and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-grafted CeO(2) hybrid particles were prepared.

Effect of alkali metal hydroxides on the morphological development and optical properties of ceria nanocubes under hydrothermal conditions.

Nanocrystalline cerium(LV) oxide (CeO2, ceria) particles were produced via the hydrothermal treatment of cerium nitrate hexahydrate with various alkali metal hydroxides (MOH: M = Li, Na, K). Experimental conditions such as [MOH], reaction temperature, and reaction time were studied. Particle morphology as well as size of crystallites was precisely controlled by choice of experimental conditions.

Humidity sensing properties of ZnO-based fibers by electrospinning.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) based fibers with a diameter of 80-100 nm were prepared by electrospinning. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and zinc acetate dihydrate were dissolved in water and the polymer/salt solution was electrospun at 2.5 kV cm(-1).

Sorption efficiency of chitosan nanofibers toward metal ions at low concentrations.

Chitosan fibers showing narrow diameter distribution with a mean of 42 nm were produced by electrospinning and utilized for the sorption of Fe(III), Cu(II), Ag(I), and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions. The ion concentrations in the supernatant solutions were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The filtration efficiency of the fibers toward these ions was studied by both batch and microcolumn methods.

Formation of pseudoisocyanine J-aggregates in poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers by electrospinning.

Submicrometer diameter, light emitting fibers of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) doped with pseudoisocyanine (1,1'-diethyl-2,2'-cyanine bromide, PIC) dye were prepared by electrospinning. A horizontal setup was employed with a stationary collector consisting of two parallel-positioned metal strips separated by a void gap. Formation of uniaxially aligned and randomly deposited fibers in electrospun films was confirmed by microscopy.

Investigation of Oxygen Permeation through Composites of PMMA and Surface-Modified ZnO Nanoparticles.

Oxygen permeabilities of nanocomposite films consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and different amounts of spherical zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were determined to investigate the barrier effect of this material with respect to particle content. A method was applied which is based on quenching of an excited phosphorescent dye by oxygen. Possible effects of the nanoparticles on the response of the dye molecules were investigated and were ruled out.