Spraying Fluorinated Silicon Oxide Nanoparticles on CuONPs@CF-PVDF Membrane: A Simple Method to Achieve Superhydrophobic Surfaces and High Flux in Direct Contact Membrane Distillation.

Desalinization of seawater can be achieved by membrane distillation techniques (MD). In MD, the membranes should be resistant to fouling, robust for extended operating time, and preferably provide a superhydrophobic surface. In this work, we report the preparation and characterization of a robust and superhydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride membrane containing fluoroalkyl-capped CuONPs (CuONPs@CF) in the inner and fluorinated capped silicon oxide nanoparticles (SiONPs@CF) on its surface.

Design and Study of a Photo-Switchable Polymeric System in the Presence of ZnS Nanoparticles under the Influence of UV Light Irradiation.

Recent progress in the field of photosensitive materials has prompted a need to develop efficient methods to synthesize materials with basic intermolecular architectural designs and novel properties. Accordingly, in this work we design and study a photoactive polymer as a photo-switchable polymeric system in the presence and absence of ZnS nanoparticles (average size < 10 nm) at 5 wt.%.

Exploration of Copper Oxide Nanoneedle Electrosynthesis Applied in the Degradation of Methylene Blue.

In this study, we report a low cost, fast and unexplored electrochemical synthesis strategy of copper oxide nanoneedles films as well as their morphological and chemical characterization. The nanostructured films were prepared using electrochemical anodization in alkaline electrolyte solutions of ethylene glycol, water and fluoride ions. The film morphology shows nanoneedle-shaped structures, with lengths up to 1-2 μm; meanwhile, high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HRXPS) and spectroscopy Raman analyses indicate that a mixture of Cu(II) and Cu(I) oxides, or only Cu(I) oxide, is obtained as the percentage of water in the electrolyte solution decreases.

Preparation of photoactive ZnS-composite porous polymer films: Fluorescent and morphological properties.

This work describes the use of the breath figure (BF) method for the fabrication of photoactive porous polymer films and the characterization of their responsive to photo stimulus. The films incorporate self-assembled photoactive polymers and ZnS nanoparticles (NPs). The effect of both components on the optical and morphological properties of the films were analyzed.

PVDF Composite Membranes with Hydrophobically-Capped CuONPs for Direct-Contact Membrane Distillation.

Water scarcity is an imminent problem that humanity is beginning to attempt to solve. Among the several technologies that have been developed to mitigate water scarcity, membrane distillation is of particular note. In the present work, CuO nanoparticles capped with 1-octanethiol (CuONPs@CH) or 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol (CuONPs@CF) are prepared.

New Poly(imide)s Bearing Alkyl Side-Chains: A Study on the Impact of Size and Shape of Lateral Groups on Thermal, Mechanical, and Gas Transport Properties.

A set of five new aromatic poly(imide)s (PIs) incorporating pendant acyclic alkyl moieties were synthesized. The difference among them was the length and bulkiness of the pendant group, which comprises of linear alkyl chains from three to six carbon atoms, and a -butyl moiety. The effect of the side group length on the physical, thermal, mechanical, and gas transport properties was analyzed.

Porous Surface Films With Tunable Morphologies and Hydrophobic Properties Based on Block Copolymer Under the Effects of Thermal Annealing.

The fabrication of porous-structured polymer films with patterned surface structures has recently attracted increased interest within the material science field. In this work, a series of microstructure scale patterned polymer films were obtained via breath figure methods (BF) with hydrophobic surface films based on self-assembled diblock copolymers by atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The surface characteristics and morphological properties, pore size, roughness, thickness, and wettability of the block copolymer films was studied in response to variation of the hydrophilic co-monomer structures.

Preparation of CuONPs@PVDF/Non-Woven Polyester Composite Membrane: Structural Influence of Nanoparticle Addition.

Membrane distillation techniques have appeared as promising options for guaranteeing the availability of potable water in times of scarcity of this essential resource. For membrane preparation, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is preferred due to the easier synthesis procedures, with respect to other fluorine-based polymers. In this work, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) of different weight percent (wt %) embedded in PVDF membranes supported on non-woven polyester fabric (NWPET) were prepared by the phase inversion method, and characterized by spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR, Raman) and electron microscopy techniques (SEM).

In-Situ Preparation of CdTe Quantum Dots Capped with a β-Cyclodextrin-Epichlorohydrin Polymer: Polymer Influence on the Nanocrystal's Optical Properties.

β-Cyclodextrin (βCD), the less water soluble of the cyclodextrins, has been used as a capping agent in the preparation of semiconductor nanocrystals or quantum dots (QDs). Nevertheless, no reports have been found in the use of the highly water-soluble polymer of this, prepared by the crosslinking of the βCD units with epichlorohydrin in basic medium (βCDP). This polymer, besides to overcome the low solubility of the βCD, increases the inclusion constant of the guest; two parameters that deserve its use as capping agent, instead of the native cyclodextrin.

Two New Fluorinated Phenol Derivatives Pyridine Schiff Bases: Synthesis, Spectral, Theoretical Characterization, Inclusion in Epichlorohydrin-β-Cyclodextrin Polymer, and Antifungal Effect.

It has been reported that the structure of the Schiff bases is fundamental for their function in biomedical applications. Pyridine Schiff bases are characterized by the presence of a pyridine and a phenolic ring, connected by an azomethine group. In this case, the nitrogen present in the pyridine is responsible for antifungal effects, where the phenolic ring may be also participating in this bioactivity.

Synthesis of Au Nanoparticles Assisted by Linker-Modified TiO Nanoparticles.

Plasmonic nanoparticles, especially gold ones, have been widely employed as photosensitizers in photoelectrovoltaic or photocatalytic systems. To improve the system's performance, a greater interaction of the nanoparticles with the semiconductor, generally TiO, is desired. Moreover, this performance is enhanced when an efficient covering of TiO surface by the sensitizer is achieved.

Reduction of Au(III) by a β-cyclodextrin polymer in acid medium. A stated unattainable reaction.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be prepared from the reduction of Au(III) with cyclodextrins acting as both, reducing and capping agent. It has been stated that a basic medium (pH=9-12) is a mandatory condition to achieve such reduction. We demonstrated, for the first time, the reduction of Au(III) by a crosslinked β-cyclodextrin-epichlorohydrin polymer (βCDP) in acid medium (pH ∼3).