Modulating Carbon Fiber Surfaces with Vinyltriethoxysilane Grafting to Enhance Interface Properties of Carbon Fiber/Norbornene-Polyimide Composites.

In this study, vinyltriethoxysilane (TEVS) was introduced onto the surface of carbon fiber using liquid-phase oxidation and impregnation methods to incorporate vinyl groups onto the carbon fiber, thereby enhancing the chemical bonding between the carbon fiber and norbornene-polyimide (PI-NA). Through a systematic study of the hydrolysis conditions and concentration of the TEVS solution, the optimal modification conditions were determined. These conditions were used to graft TEVS onto the surface of oxidized carbon fiber to prepare carbon-fiber-reinforced PI-NA composites (CF/PI-NA).

An 'active site anchoring' strategy for the preparation of PBO fiber derived carbon catalyst towards an efficient oxygen reduction reaction and zinc-air batteries.

In order to promote the wide application of clean energy-fuel cells, it is urgent to develop transition metal-based high-efficiency oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalytic materials with a low cost and available rich raw material resources to replace the currently used precious metal platinum-based catalytic materials. Herein, a novel 'active-site-anchoring' strategy was developed to synthesize highly-activated carbon-based ORR catalysts. Firstly, poly(-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fiber with a stable chemical structure was selected as the main precursor, and iron was complexed on its surface, and then poly-dopamine (PDA) was coated on the surface of PBO-Fe to form a PBO-Fe-PDA composite structure.

Fabrication of Ultra-Stable and Customized High-Temperature Speckle Patterns Using Air Plasma Spraying and Flexible Speckle Templates.

Reliable and accurate full-field deformation measurements at elevated temperatures using digital image correlation (DIC) require stable and high-contrast high-temperature speckle patterns to be prepared on the sample surface. However, conventional high-temperature speckle patterns fabricated by the existing methods possess several limitations, e.g.

A Highly Selective Fluorescent Probe for Imaging Hydrogen Sulfide in Living HeLa Cells.

As an important endogenous gasotransmitter, hydrogen sulfide (HS) has been implicated with a variety of biological processes and has attracted more and more attention for its key role in a wide range of pathological processes. However, lacking tools for HS-specific in situ detection, the changes of endogenous HS levels in the pathological progression of diseases are still unclear. In this work, a turn-on fluorescent probe (BF-DBS) has been designed and synthesized by two-step reactions using 4-diethylaminosalicylaldehyde and 1,4-dimethylpyridinium iodide as raw materials.

Grafting macromolecular chains on the surface of graphene oxide through crosslinker for antistatic and thermally stable polyethylene terephthalate nanocomposites.

The graphene oxide (GO) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) molecular chains are connected together by the two amino groups of the crosslinking agent -phenylenediamine (PPD). The presence of macromolecular chains could make GO uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix, improving the antistatic performance and thermal stability of the nanocomposite. In this paper, GO was prepared by the improved Hummers, method.

Anti-Seizure and Neuronal Protective Effects of Irisin in Kainic Acid-Induced Chronic Epilepsy Model with Spontaneous Seizures.

An increased level of reactive oxygen species is a key factor in neuronal apoptosis and epileptic seizures. Irisin reportedly attenuates the apoptosis and injury induced by oxidative stress. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of exogenous irisin in a kainic acid (KA)-induced chronic spontaneous epilepsy rat model.

High Sensitivity and a Wide Sensing Range Flexible Strain Sensor Based on the V-Groove/Wrinkles Hierarchical Array.

Flexible strain sensors occupying a large part of human body detection and wearable electronics, which have a wide sensing range and high sensitivity, are crucial in fully monitoring human motion signals. This study proposed a strategy to construct flexible strain sensors based on the V-groove/wrinkles hierarchical array. The V-groove array was prepared on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate through mold transfer printing.

Attenuated succinate accumulation relieves neuronal injury induced by hypoxia in neonatal mice.

Hypoxia causes neonatal neuronal damage. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the changes in succinate levels and identify the mechanisms underlying their contribution to hypoxia-induced damage in newborn mice.

Effect of Microstructures of Carbon Nanoproducts Grown on Carbon Fibers on the Interfacial Properties of Epoxy Composites.

Two kinds of carbon nanoproducts with different microstructures, namely, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs), were grown on the surface of carbon fibers (CFs) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at low temperatures to improve the interface bonding between fibers and resins. The short-beam method and the micro-debonding method were used to test the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the composites. The results showed that the contribution of CNTs to the improvement of interfacial properties was better than that of CNFs.

Influencing factors and growth kinetics analysis of carbon nanotube growth on the surface of continuous fibers.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were continuously grown on the surface of the moving carbon fiber by chemical vapor deposition method using a custom-designed production line to prepare composite reinforcements on a large-scale. The systematic study of different parameters affecting the CNT growth revealed simple growth kinetics, which helps to control the surface morphology and structural quality of CNTs. Since hydrogen maintains the activity of the catalyst, it promotes the growth of CNTs in a continuous process.