Matching Low Viscosity with Enhanced Conductivity in Vat Photopolymerization 3D Printing: Disparity in the Electric and Rheological Percolation Thresholds of Carbon-Based Nanofillers Is Controlled by the Matrix Type and Filler Dispersion.

This study investigated the impact of carbonaceous fillers (carbon black, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, graphene, and highly defective graphene) on aromatic and nonaromatic photopolymer resins' properties, such as viscosity, long-term stability, complex permittivity, curing efficiency, final conversion, storage modulus, heat deflection and glass transition temperatures, network density, and DC resistivity. The presented results also highlight challenges that must be addressed in designing and processing carbonaceous filler-based 3D-printed photopolymer resins. The improved dielectric and electrical properties were closely tied to the dispersion quality and filler-matrix affinity.

Gigahertz-Based Visible Light Detection Enabled via CdS-Coated TiO Nanotube Layers.

Detection of visible light is a key component in material characterization techniques and often a key component of quality or purity control analyses for health and safety applications. Here in this work, to enable visible light detection at gigahertz frequencies, a planar microwave resonator is integrated with high aspect ratio TiO nanotube (TNT) layer-sensitized CdS coating using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. This unique method of visible light detection with microwave-based sensing improves integration of the light detection devices with digital technology.

2D FeS Nanosheets by Atomic Layer Deposition: Electrocatalytic Properties for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

2-dimensional FeS nanosheets of different sizes are synthesized by applying different numbers of atomic layer deposition (ALD) cycles on TiO nanotube layers and graphite sheets as supporting materials and used as an electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The electrochemical results confirm electrocatalytic activity in alkaline media with outstanding long-term stability (>65 h) and enhanced catalytic activity, reflected by a notable drop in the initial HER overpotential value (up to 26 %). By using a range of characterization techniques, the origin of the enhanced catalytic activity was found to be caused by the synergistic interplay between in situ morphological and compositional changes in the 2D FeS nanosheets during HER.

Deposition of MoSe flakes using cyclic selenides.

The currently limited portfolio of volatile organoselenium compounds used for atomic layer deposition (ALD) has been extended by designing and preparing a series of four-, five- and six-membered cyclic silylselenides. Their fundamental properties were tailored by alternating the ring size, the number of embedded Se atoms and the used peripheral alkyl chains. In contrast to former preparations based on formation of sodium or lithium selenides, the newly developed synthetic method utilizes a direct and easy reaction of elemental selenium with chlorosilanes.

Multifunctional Electrospun Nanofibers Based on Biopolymer Blends and Magnetic Tubular Halloysite for Medical Applications.

Tubular halloysite (HNT) is a naturally occurring aluminosilicate clay with a unique combination of natural availability, good biocompatibility, high mechanical strength, and functionality. This study explored the effects of magnetically responsive halloysite (MHNT) on the structure, morphology, chemical composition, and magnetic and mechanical properties of electrospun nanofibers based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatine (Gel) blends. MHNT was prepared via a simple modification of HNT with a perchloric-acid-stabilized magnetic fluid-methanol mixture.

Microwave plasma-based high temperature dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons and alcohols as a single route to highly efficient gas phase synthesis of freestanding graphene.

Understanding underlying processes behind the simple and easily scalable graphene synthesis methods enables their large-scale deployment in the emerging energy storage and printable device applications. Microwave plasma decomposition of organic precursors forms a high-temperature environment, above 3000 K, where the process of catalyst-free dehydrogenation and consequent formation of Cmolecules leads to nucleation and growth of high-quality few-layer graphene (FLG). In this work, we show experimental evidence that a high-temperature environment with a gas mixture of Hand acetylene, CH, leads to a transition from amorphous to highly crystalline material proving the suggested dehydrogenation mechanism.

Laser-induced crystallization of anodic TiO nanotube layers.

In this study, crystallization of amorphous TiO nanotube (TNT) layers upon optimized laser annealing is shown. The resulting anatase TNT layers do not show any signs of deformation or melting. The crystallinity of the laser annealed TNT layers was investigated using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM).

Cyclic Silylselenides: Convenient Selenium Precursors for Atomic Layer Deposition.

Three cyclic silylselenides were prepared in a straightforward manner. Property tuning has been achieved by varying the ring size and the number of embedded selenium atoms. All silylselenides possess improved resistance towards moisture and oxidation as well as high thermal robustness and sufficient volatility with almost zero residues.

Hyaluronan biofilms reinforced with partially deacetylated chitin nanowhiskers: Extraction, fabrication, in-vitro and antibacterial properties of advanced nanocomposites.

Fabrication of nanocomposite biofilms with enhanced mechanical and antibacterial properties was successfully achieved from hyaluronan (HA) and partially deacetylated chitin nanowhiskers (ChNWs) by a casting-evaporation method. The hydrolysis process of chitin showed an important role in the dimensions, stability, and the crystallinity of extracted ChNWs in a time-dependent manner. The volume fraction of ChNWs nanofiller varying from (0.

2D MoS nanosheets on 1D anodic TiO nanotube layers: an efficient co-catalyst for liquid and gas phase photocatalysis.

One-dimensional TiO nanotube layers with different dimensions were homogeneously decorated with 2D MoS nanosheets via atomic layer deposition and employed for liquid and gas phase photocatalysis. The 2D MoS nanosheets revealed a high amount of exposed active edge sites and strongly enhanced the photocatalytic performance of TiO nanotube layers.

Electrospinning of hyaluronan/polyvinyl alcohol in presence of in-situ silver nanoparticles: Preparation and characterization.

Novel nanofibers mats were fabricated by electrospinning of polyvinyl alcohol/hyaluronan (PVA/HA) solutions in the presence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The AgNPs were synthesized by in-situ chemical reduction of silver ions (Ag) using HA as a reducing and stabilizing agent. Narrow size distribution and spherical shape of AgNPs were achieved by optimizing the initial silver nitrate concentration (0.

The 3D imaging of mesenchymal stem cells on porous scaffolds using high-contrasted x-ray computed nanotomography.

This study presents an X-ray computed nanotomography (nano-CT) based, high-resolution imaging technique. Thanks to a voxel resolution of 540 nm, this novel technique is suitable for observing the 3D morphology of soft biopolymeric scaffolds seeded with stem cells. A sample of highly porous collagen scaffold seeded with contrasted mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) was investigated by using lab-based nano-CT.

Effect of halloysite nanotube structure on physical, chemical, structural and biological properties of elastic polycaprolactone/gelatin nanofibers for wound healing applications.

Nanofibrous elastic material based on the blend of hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and hydrophilic gelatin (Gel) reinforced with halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) was prepared by electrospinning process by respecting principles of "green chemistry" required for tissue engineering and drug delivery carriers. Three different kinds of HNTs with similar aspect ratio, but different length and inner diameter were examined to explain the effect of HNT concentration and geometry on a structure, morphology, chemical composition, mechanical properties and biocompatibility of nanostructured materials. Reinforcing effect of each type of HNTs has been confirmed up to 6 wt%.

Laser Desorption Ionization Quadrupole Ion Trap Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry of Au Fe Clusters Generated from Gold-Iron Nanoparticles and their Giant Nanoflowers. Electrochemical and/or Plasma Assisted Synthesis.

Gold nanoparticles (NP) with average diameter ~100 nm synthesized from tetrachloroauric acid solution using stainless steel as a reducing agent were found to contain iron. Applying simultaneously high frequency (HF) plasma discharge in solution during the electrochemical reduction, giant gold-iron nanoflowers with average size ~1000-5000 nm were formed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows the morphology of the nanopowders produced as polygonal yet nearly spherical, whereas iron content in both products determined by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) was found to be at ~2.

Novel electrospun gelatin/oxycellulose nanofibers as a suitable platform for lung disease modeling.

Novel hydrolytically stable gelatin nanofibers modified with sodium or calcium salt of oxycellulose were prepared by electrospinning method. The unique inhibitory effect of these nanofibers against Escherichia coli bacteria was examined by luminometric method. Biocompatibility of these gelatin/oxycellulose nanofibers with eukaryotic cells was tested using human lung adenocarcinoma cell line NCI-H441.

Wound dressing based on chitosan/hyaluronan/nonwoven fabrics: Preparation, characterization and medical applications.

Thin layers of chitosan (positively charged)/sodium hyaluronate (negatively charged)/nonwoven fabrics were constructed by polyelectrolyte multilayer pad-dry-cure technique. Pure chitosan (CS) was isolated from shrimp shell and immobilized onto nonwoven fabrics (NWFs) using citric acid (CTA) as cross linker and solvent agents through a pad-dry-cure method. The prepared thin layer of chitosan citrate/nonwoven fabrics (CSCTA/NWFs) were consequently impregnated with hyaluronan (CSCTA/HA/NWFs) in the second path through a pad-dry-cure method.