The dispersion of perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomers in catalyst inks is an important factor controlling the performance of catalyst layers in membrane electrode assemblies of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The effect of water/alcohol composition on the dispersion of H-Nafion in water/1-propanol and water/ethanol solutions was studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and (19)F nuclear magnetic resonance ((19)F NMR) spectroscopy. Hydrodynamic radii calculated from DLS decay profiles and the radii and interparticle distance of rod-like particles derived from SAXS profiles showed almost the same dependence on alcohol concentration. 1-Propanol was more effective than ethanol to induce changes in the characteristic lengths of the rod-like particles. The motional narrowing in the (19)F NMR spectra by addition of 1-propanol indicates selective solvation of the rod-like particles. We suppose this might have decreased their radii and induced their elongation, which eventually led to extension of the ordered regions as observed in the hydrodynamic radii. Our study helps to clarify the dispersion of Nafion in aqueous alcohol solutions, which has implications for the performance of PEMFCs.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp506814m | DOI Listing |
Biomacromolecules
January 2025
Cellulose Research Unit, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HpC) forms a liquid crystalline phase and is thought to have a rod-like shape in aqueous solution. The viscoelastic behaviors of aqueous solutions of HpC samples with average molar substitution numbers ( ∼ 3.8) and weight-average molar masses ( = 36-740 kg mol) were examined over a wide concentration () range, and the results were discussed based on a concept of rod particle suspension rheology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Hazard Mater
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China; Suzhou Key Laboratory for Urban Public Safety, Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China. Electronic address:
The development of carbon monoxide oxidation catalysts for complex gas environments faces significant challenges in fire scenarios. Only a few representative gases are used as interfering components in simulated real smoke under laboratory conditions, which cannot accurately reflect the performance of catalysts in a real fire. Herein, Au/CeO catalysts with high activity were prepared by adjusting the morphology (rod, cube, polyhedron and irregular particles) and exposed crystal surface ratio of CeO.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Cancer
January 2025
Finetech in Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Background And Aim: Zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles are known for their promising biological activities. This study aims to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles and copper-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles to harness the combined cytotoxic and anticancer effects of them in vitro and in vivo studies.
Methods: Zinc oxide nanoparticles, both doped and undoped, were synthesized using a chemical co-precipitation method.
J Colloid Interface Sci
December 2024
Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address:
Hypothesis: Charge-stabilized colloidal cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can self-assemble into higher-ordered chiral nematic structures by varying the volume fraction. The assembly process exhibits distinct dynamics during the isotropic to liquid crystal phase transition, which can be elucidated using X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS).
Experiments: Anionic CNCs were dispersed in propylene glycol (PG) and water spanning a range of volume fractions, encompassing several phase transitions.
Materials (Basel)
December 2024
School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
CsPtI is a promising photoabsorber with a direct bandgap of 1.4 eV and a high carrier lifetime; however, the cost of Pt inhibits its commercial viability. Here, we performed a cost analysis and experimentally explored the effect of replacing Pt with earth-abundant Ni in solution-processed Cs(PtNi)(I,Cl) thin films on the properties and stability of the perovskite material.
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