Preparation and luminescence properties of Ce3+ and/or Tb3+ doped LaPO4 nanofibers and microbelts by electrospinning

Ce3+ and/or Tb3+ doped LaPO4 nanofibers and microbelts have been prepared by a combination method of sol-gel process and electrospinning. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL), low voltage cathodoluminescence (CL) and time-resolved emission spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the resulting samples. SEM and TEM results indicate the as-formed precursor fibers and belts are smooth. and the as-prepared nanofibers and microbelts consist of nanoparticles. The doped rare-earth ions show their characteristic emission under ultraviolet excitation, i.e. Ce3+ 5d-4f and Tb3+ D-5(4)-F-7(j) (J = 6-3) transitions, respectively. The energy transfer process from Ce3+ to Tb3+ in LaPO4:Ce3+, Tb3+ nanofibers was further studied by the time-resolved emission spectra.

Preparation and luminescence properties of Mn2+-doped ZnGa2O4 nanofibers via electrospinning process

One-dimensional Mn2+-doped ZnGa2O4 nanofibers were prepared by a simple and cost-effective electrospinning process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the samples. SEM results indicated that the as-formed precursor fibers and those annealed at 700 degrees C are uniform with length of several tens to hundred micrometers, and the diameters of the fibers decrease greatly after being heated at 700 degrees C. Under ultraviolet excitation (246 nm) and low-voltage electron beams (1-3 kV) excitation, the ZnGa2O4:Mn2+ nanofibers presents the blue emission band of the ZnGa2O4 host lattice and the strong green emission with a peak at 505 nm corresponding to the T-4(1)-(6)A(1) transition of Mn2+ ion.

Facile synthesis of polyaniline nanofibers using pseudo-high dilution technique

A new approach for the synthesis of polyaniline nanofibers under pseudo-high dilute conditions in aqueous system has been developed. High yield nanoscale polyaniline fibers with 18-110 nm in diameter are readily prepared by a high aniline concentration 0.4 M oxidation polymerization using ammonium persulfate (APS) as an oxidant in the presence of hydrochloric acid (HCl), perchloric acid (HClO4), (1S)-(+)-10-camphorsulfonic acid (CSA), acidic phosphate PAEG120 (PA120) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) as the dopants. The novel pathway always produces polyaniline nanofibers of tunable diameters, high conductivity (from 10(0) to 10(1) S/cm) and crystallinity.

Chitosan(Chitin)/Cellulose Composite Biosorbents Prepared Using Ionic Liquid for Heavy Metal Ions Adsorption

Chitosan(chitin)/cellulose composites as biodegradable biosorbents were prepared under an environment-friendly preparation processes using ionic liquids. Infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectra indicated the stronger intermolecular hydrogen bond between chitosan and cellulose, and the hydroxyl and amine groups were believed to be the metal ion binding sites. Among the prepared biosorbents, freeze-dried composite had higher adsorption capacity and better stability. The capacity of adsorption was found to be Cu(II) (0.417 mmol/g) > Zn(II) (0.303 mmol/g) > Cr(VI) (0.251 mmol/g) > Ni(II) (0.225 mmol/g) > Ph(II) (0.127 mmol/g) at the same initial concentration 5 mmol L-1. In contrast to some other chitosan-type biosorbents, preparation and component of the biosorbent were obviously more environment friendly. Moreover, adsorption capacity of chitosan in the blending biosorbent could be fully shown.

Polyaniline/Pt Hybrid Nanofibers: High-Efficiency Nanoelectrocatalysts for Electrochemical Devices

A simple and facile procedure to synthesize a novel hybrid nanoelectrocatalyst based on polyaniline (PANI) nanofiber-supported supra-high density Pt nanoparticles (NPs) or Pt/Pd hybrid NPs without prior PANI nanofiber functionalization at room temperature is demonstrated. This represents a new type of ID hybrid nanoelectrocatalyst with several important benefits. First, the procedure is very simple and can be performed at room temperature using commercially available reagents without the need for templates and surfactants. Second, ultra-high density small "bare" Pt NPs or Pt/Pd hybrid NPs are grown directly onto the surface of the PANI nanofiber, without using any additional linker. Most importantly, the present PANI nanofiber-supported supra-high density Pt NPs or Pt/Pd hybrid NPs can be used as a signal enhancement element for constructing electrochemical devices with high performance.

Facile transformation of hydrophilic cellulose into superhydrophobic cellulose

Superhydrophobic cellulose-based materials coupled with transparent, stable and nanoscale polymethylsiloxane coating have been successfully achieved by a simple process via chemical vapor deposition, followed by hydrolyzation and polymerization.

Preparation of In2O3 ceramic nanofibers by electrospinning and their optical properties

Electrospinning was employed to fabricate polymer-ceramic composite fibers from solutions containing polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and In(NO3)(3)center dot 4(1)/2H2O. Upon firing the composite fibers at 800 degrees C, In2O3 fibers with diameters ranging from 200 to 400 nm were synthesized. This indium oxide calcined at 800 degrees C is a body-centered cubic cell. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of the as-formed In2O3 nanofibers were investigated. The In2O3 nanofibers show a strong PL emission in the ultraviolet (UV) region under shorter UV light irradiation.

A simple and effective route for the preparation of poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) nanofibers containing gold nanoparticles by electrospinning method

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers containing gold nanoparticles have been simply obtained by electrospinning a solution containing gold nanoparticles without the additional step of introducing other stabilizing agents. The optical property of gold nanoparticles in PVA aqueous solution was observed by UV-visible absorption spectra. Morphology of the Au/PVA nanofibers and distribution of the gold nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron. microscopy (TEM). The structure transformation was characterized from PVA to PVA/Au composite by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Preparation of core-sheath composite nanofibers by emulsion electrospinning

Uniform core-sheath nanofibers are prepared by electrospinning a water-in-oil emulsion in which the aqueous phase consists of a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solution in water and the oily phase is a chloroform solution of an amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lactic acid) (PEGPLA) diblock copolymer. The obtained fibers are composed of a PEO core and a PEG-PLA sheath with a sharp boundary in between. By adjusting the emulsion composition and the emulsification parameters, the overall fiber size and the relative diameters of the core and the sheath can be changed. A mechanism is proposed to explain the process of transformation from the emulsion to the core-sheath fibers, i.e., the stretching and evaporation induced de-emulsification. In principle, this process can be applied to other systems to prepare core-sheath fibers in place of concentric electrospinning and it is especially suitable for fabricating composite nanofibers that contain water-soluble drugs.

Miscibility studies of the blends of chitosan with some cellulose ethers

The polymeric films have been prepared based on blends of chitosan with two cellulose ethers-hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and methylcellulose by casting from acetic acid solutions. The films were transparent and brittle in a dry state but an immersion of the samples in deionized water for over 24 h leads to their disintegration or partial dissolution. The miscibility of the polymers in the blends has been assessed by infrared spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. It was shown that although weak hydrogen bonding exists between the polymer functional groups the blends are not fully miscible in a dry state.

Lanthanum zirconate nanofibers with high sintering-resistance

The PVP/lanthanum nitrate/zirconium oxychloride (PVP-precursor) nanofiber was prepared by electrospinning technique. Lanthanum zirconate (La2Zr2O7, LZ) in the nanofiber is formed after calcination at 800 degrees C and the nanofiber with pyrochlore structure and a diameter of 100-500 nm can be obtained by calcination of the above precursor fiber at 1000 degrees C for 12 h. The surface of the fiber is rough but the continuous microstructure is still maintained after calcination. LZ fibers stack randomly, resulting in a structure with a low contact area between the fibers. This special structure makes the fiber to have a high resistance to sintering at elevated temperatures. The BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) specific surface areas of the LZ fiber and powder calcined at different temperatures are shown in this paper, and the fiber was characterized by TG-DTA (thermal gravimetry-differential thermal analysis), XRD (X-ray diffraction), N-2 absorption-desorption porosimetry and SEM (scanning electron microscopy).

Thermotropic liquid crystallinity, thermal decomposition behavior, and aggregated structure of poly(propylene carbonate)/ethyl cellulose blends

Maleic anhydride end capped poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC-MA) was blended with ethyl cellulose (EC) by casting from dichloromethane solutions. The thermotropic liquid crystallinity, thermal decomposition behavior, and aggregated structure were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TGA), and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). DSC exhibits thermotropic liquid crystallinity in the rich EC composition range. TGA shows that thermal decomposition temperatures were elevated upon interfusing EC into PPC-MA. WAXD corroborates that EC and PPC-MA/EC blend films cast from dilute dichloromethane solution possessed cholesteric liquid crystalline structure in the rich EC composition range, and that dilution of PPC-MA with EC increased the dimension of noncrystalline region, leading to a more ordered packed structure.

Hydrogel of biodegradable cellulose derivatives. I. Radiation-induced crosslinking of CMC

Radiation crosslinking of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) with a degree of substitution (DS) from 0.7 to 2.2 was the subject of the current investigation. CMC was irradiated in solid-state and aqueous solutions at various irradiation doses. The DS and the concentration of the aqueous solution had a remarkable affect on the crosslinking of CMC. Irradiation of CMC, even with a high DS, 2.2 in solid state, and a low DS, 0.7 in 10% aqueous solution, resulted in degradation. However, it was found that irradiation of CMC with a relatively high DS, 1.32, led to crosslinking in a 5% aqueous solution, and 20% CMC gave the highest gel fraction. CMC with a DS of 2.2 induced higher crosslinking than that with a DS of 1.32 at lower doses with the same concentration. Hence, it was apparent that a high DS and a high concentration in an aqueous solution were favorable for high crosslinking of CMC. It is assumed that; high radiation crosslinking of CMC was induced by the increased mobility of its molecules in water and by the formation of CMC radicals from the abstraction of H atoms from macromolecules in the intermediate products of water radiolysis. A preliminary biodegradation study confirmed that crosslinked CMC hydrogel can be digested by a cellulase enzyme. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Study on polymer micelles of hydrophobically modified ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose using single-molecule force spectroscopy

Individual hydrophobically modified ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (HM-EHEC) molecules under different conditions were elongated using a new atomic force microscope (AFM) based technique-single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS). The critical concentration of HM-EHEC for micelle-like clusters at a solid/liquid interface was around 0.8 wt %, which is lower than that in solution. The different mechanical properties of HM-EHEC below and above the critical concentration were displayed on force-extension curves. Through a comparison with unmodified hydroxyethyl cellulose, substituent-induced effects on nanomechanical features of HM-EHEC were investigated. Because of hydrophobic interactions and cooperative binding with the polymer, surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) dramatically influence the elastic properties of HM-EHEC below the critical concentration, and further addition of SDS reduces the interactions between the hydrophobic groups and the surfactant.