Enhanced dielectric, ferroelectric, energy storage and mechanical energy harvesting performance of ZnO-PVDF composites induced by MWCNTs as an additive third phase.

The present work highlights an attempt of fabricating a nanocomposite by the addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a third phase into flexible ZnO-poly(vinylidene fluoride) (ZnO-PVDF) composites. MWCNTs played a very important role in distributing ZnO fillers in the PVDF matrix more homogeneously and increased the connection capability. Enhancement of the piezoelectric phase, dielectric permittivity, ferroelectric polarization, energy storage density and mechanical energy harvesting performance of ZnO-PVDF composites after the addition of MWCNTs was confirmed from the respective characterization studies.

Nano-ZnO decorated ZnSnO as efficient fillers in PVDF matrixes: toward simultaneous enhancement of energy storage density and efficiency and improved energy harvesting activity.

Here, we report the effect of ZnO decoration on ZnSnO3 fillers on the dielectric property, energy storage behaviour and mechanical energy harvesting performance of PVDF matrixes. More enhanced dielectric constant and reduction in dielectric loss were achieved in PVDF-ZnO@ZnSnO3 (PVDF-ZNZS) films than in PVDF-ZnSnO3 (PVDF-ZS) films for the same concentration of filler loading. Similarly, PVDF-ZNZS films showed simultaneous enhancement in electrical energy storage density and storage efficiency compared to PVDF-ZS composites.

Superhydrophobic films on glass surface derived from trimethylsilanized silica gel nanoparticles.

The paper deals with the fabrication of sol-gel-derived superhydrophobic films on glass based on the macroscopic silica network with surface modification. The fabricated transparent films were composed of a hybrid -Si(CH(3))(3)-functionalized SiO(2) nanospheres exhibiting the desired micro/nanostructure, water repellency, and antireflection (AR) property. The wavelength selective AR property can be tuned by controlling the physical thickness of the films.

Ag-TiO2 nanoparticle codoped SiO2 films on ZrO2 barrier-coated glass substrates with antibacterial activity in ambient condition.

Anatase TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) codoped SiO2 films were prepared by the sol-gel method. Proportionate amounts of 3-(glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GLYMO), tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and 3-(methacryloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (MEMO) derived inorganic-organic silica sol, commercially available dispersed anatase TiO2 NPs, and AgNO3 were used to prepare the sols. The films were prepared on ZrO2 (cubic) precoated soda-lime glass substrates by a single-dipping technique and heat-treated at 450 °C in air and H2/Ar atmosphere to obtain hard, relatively porous, and transparent coatings of thickness>600 nm.

Refractive index controlled plasmon tuning of Au nanoparticles in SiO2-ZrO2 film matrices.

Au-plasmon tuning has been accomplished by controlling the refractive index (n) of the embedding film matrix. The refractive index of the film matrices were controlled by changing the molar ratios of low (SiO2) and high index (ZrO2) components following sol-gel reactions. Thus, Au nanoparticles doped films were prepared from SiO2-ZrO2 inorganic-organic hybrid sols of variable molar ratios containing HAuCl4 following the dip-coating method.