Morphological adaptability of graphitic carbon nanofibers to enhance sodium insertion in a diglyme-based electrolyte.

The recent introduction of glyme-based solvents has opened new opportunities to characterize graphitic materials as anodes for sodium-ion batteries. We evaluated the electrochemical behaviour of a graphitized carbon nanofiber for the first time. X-ray diffraction, electron paramagnetic resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance allowed the sodium insertion mechanism to be untangled, in which the occurrence of an activation process during the first discharge enhances sodium accessibility to active redox centres at the interlayer space.

On the Beneficial Effect of MgCl₂ as Electrolyte Additive to Improve the Electrochemical Performance of Li₄Ti₅O as Cathode in Mg Batteries.

Magnesium batteries are a promising technology for a new generation of energy storage for portable devices. Attention should be paid to electrolyte and electrode material development in order to develop rechargeable Mg batteries. In this study, we report the use of the spinel lithium titanate or Li₄Ti₅O (LTO) as an active electrode for Mg-ion batteries.

Surface analysis of sheep menisci after meniscectomy via infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy.

Menisci are very important fibrocartilaginous tissue, which maintain biomechanical functions and physiological stabilization of knee joint. Meniscectomy is known as a surgery to recover partial functions from acute meniscus tears. However, the late consequences of total or partial meniscectomy include signs of osteoarthritis and even ligament instability.

Preparation of macroscopic carbon nanohorn-based monoliths in polypropylene tips by medium internal phase emulsion for the determination of parabens in urine samples.

A porous monolithic solid based on single-walled carbon nanohorns dahlia-like structure, produced from a medium internal phase emulsion (MIPE), was prepared in a polypropylene tip using UV energy. Thus, single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) were added to the organic phase where they polymerized in the presence of a radical initiator. A cross-linker (ethylene dimethacrylate, EDMA) was also used in order to obtain a more robust structure.

Magnetic Polyamide Nanocomposites for the Microextraction of Benzophenones from Water Samples.

In this article, the influence of the monomers on the extraction efficiency and the effect of the addition of surfactants during the synthesis have also been considered. The sorption capacity of the resulting nanocomposites has been evaluated, in the dispersive micro-solid phase extraction format, by determining that of six benzophenones in water using ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) combined with photodiode array detection. Under the optimum conditions, the limits of detection were in the range of 0.

Effect of carbon nanohorns in the radical polymerization of methacrylate monolithic capillary columns and their application as extractant phases.

A successful copolymerization of the single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) with methacrylate monomers was achieved via thermal initiated free-radical polymerization because of the high reactivity of the SWNHs in comparison with other carbon nanostructures. The hybrid solids were deeply characterized in terms of morphology, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of the incorporation of the bare or oxidized (o-SWNHs) carbon nanoparticles at different percentages (0-0.

Potential of nanoparticle-based hybrid monoliths as sorbents in microextraction techniques.

This article reviews the synthesis and uses of nanoparticle-based hybrid monoliths in microextraction techniques. Synthesizing monolithic solids containing nanoparticles allows the advantages of the two sorbent phases to be synergistically combined. The resulting hybrid material exhibits outstanding capabilities for isolating the target compounds from the samples.

Monolithic Solid Based on Single-Walled Carbon Nanohorns: Preparation, Characterization, and Practical Evaluation as a Sorbent.

A monolithic solid based solely on single walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) was prepared without the need of radical initiators or gelators. The procedure involves the preparation of a wet jelly-like system of pristine SWNHs followed by slow drying (48 h) at 25 °C. As a result, a robust and stable porous network was formed due to the interaction between SWNHs not only via π-π and van der Waals interactions, but also via the formation of carbon bonds similar to those observed within dahlia aggregates.

Carbon nanotube-modified monolithic polymethacrylate pipette tips for (micro)solid-phase extraction of antidepressants from urine samples.

This work evaluates the potential of methacrylate monoliths with multi-walled carbon nanotubes incorporated into the polymeric network for the extraction of antidepressants from human urine. The method is based on a micropipette solid-phase extraction tip containing a hybrid monolithic material covalently attached to the polypropylene housing. A polymer layer made from poly(ethylene dimethacrylate) was bound to the inner surface of a polypropylene tip via UV grafting.

Nanostructured hybrid monolith with integrated stirring for the extraction of UV-filters from water and urine samples.

This article presents a monolithic extraction unit with integrated stirring using carbon nanohorns and methacrylate-based compounds as monomers. The hybrid monolithic material was prepared by thermal polymerization at 70 °C for 24 h, and was applied for the extraction of UV-filters from waters and human urine samples. To achieve the integrated stirring unit, the monolith was grown over an ironware.