Studies on poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) based gel electrolyte nanocomposite for sodium-sulfur batteries

Experimental investigations on a sodium ion conducting gel polymer electrolyte nanocomposite based on poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP), dispersed with silica nanoparticles are reported. The gel nanocomposites have been obtained in the form of dimensionally stable, transparent and free-standing thick films. Physical characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been performed to study the structural changes and the ion-filler-polymer interactions due to the dispersion of SiO₂ nanoparticles in gel electrolytes. The highest ionic conductivity of the electrolyte has been observed to be 4.1 × 10⁻³ S cm^− 1 at room temperature with ~ 3 wt.% of SiO₂ particles. The temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity has been found to be consistent with Vogel-Tammen-Fulcher (VTF) relationship in the temperature range from 40 to 70 °C. The sodium ion conduction in the gel electrolyte film is confirmed from the cyclic voltammetry, impedance analysis and transport number measurements. The value of sodium ion transport number (t_Na+) of the gel electrolyte is significantly enhanced to a maximum value of 0.52 on the 15 wt.% SiO₂ dispersion. The physical and electrochemical analyses indicate the suitability of the gel electrolyte films in the sodium batteries. A prototype sodium-sulfur battery, fabricated using optimized gel electrolyte, offers the first discharge capacity of ~165 mAh g^− 1 of sulfur.     

Study of a novel porous gel polymer electrolyte based on TPU/PVdF by electrospinning technique

Investigation on a new electrospun gel polymer electrolyte consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) has been made. Its characteristics were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, FT-IR, Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) analysis. This kind of gel polymer electrolyte had a high ionic conductivity about 3.2 × 10^− 3 S cm^− 1 at room temperature, and exhibited a high electrochemical stability up to 5.0 V versus Li⁺/Li, good mechanical strength and stability to allow safe operation in rechargeable lithium-ion polymer batteries. A Li/GPE/LiFePO₄ cell delivered a high discharge capacity when it was evaluated at 0.1 °C—rate at 25 °C (167.8 mAh g^− 1). And a very stable cycle performance also existed under this low current density.     

A rheological method exploiting Cole-Cole plot allows gel quantification in Natural Rubber

Raw Natural Rubber (NR) quality, rather variable, is controlled according to international standards (ISO2000, etc.). Despite these standards, better characterization of this complex material is still needed to reduce feedstock waste and energy losses in the manufacturing processes. Twenty-four NR samples were studied. Their gel contents were quantified after dissolution in tetrahydrofuran. The rheological properties of the raw NR samples were measured in double-shear geometry. The Cole-Cole plot of the shear moduli (G″ = f(G′)) was used to graphically calculate an h parameter, described as an indicator of the crosslink density of a polymer. The total gel of NR was found to clearly influence the rheological properties of the material at low frequency. This study also showed that the microgel of NR accounted for 46–92% of the total gel, and cannot be neglected when investigating the influence of gel on NR properties.     

The effect of different storage temperatures on the physical properties of pectin solutions and gels

The stability (in terms of viscosity and gel strength) of pectin solutions and gels potentially plays an important role in their behaviour and functional properties in a wide range of applications and therefore any changes over time must be understood. The gel strength of pectin gels and intrinsic viscosity of pectin solutions at different temperatures (4 °C, 25 °C and 40 °C) have been investigated using a “rolling ball” viscometer and a texture analyser respectively. Both the intrinsic viscosity ([η]) and gel strength decrease with increased storage time, although this more pronounced at elevated temperatures. The changes in intrinsic viscosity with storage time and temperature were used to determine the depolymerisation constant (k). Pectin storage conditions and particularly temperature have an influence on depolymerisation, particularly elevated storage temperatures, but whether or not this will be detrimental to its intended application will depend on the functional significance of the changes that occur. In this case based on the previous diffusion studies on a model drug (paracetamol) we conclude that the decreases in viscosity and gel strength within the range observed have no detrimental effect on the drug release properties.     

Electrophoretic methods for the analysis of nanoparticles

With the development of nanotechnology, there is a need for methodologies to determine and characterize nanomaterials. Electrophoresis has emerged as a useful tool, which has been employed in various formats (e.g., capillary-zone electrophoresis, gel electrophoresis or isotachophoresis) for the size- or shape-based separation of different types of nanoparticle (NP) (e.g., metallic, semi-metallic or carbon). This article reviews the main progress in electrophoresis techniques in order to achieve separation of NPs.     

Rheological properties of poly(vinyl chloride)/plasticizer systems—relation between sol–gel transition and elongational viscosity

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/di-isononyl phthalate systems with PVC content of 45.5 (PVC8) and 70.4 wt% (PVC6) were prepared by a hot roller at 150 °C and press molded at 180 °C. The dynamic viscoelasticity and elongational viscosity of PVC8 and PVC6 were measured in the temperature range from 150 to 220 °C. We have found that the storage and loss shear moduli, G′ and G″, of PVC8 and PVC6 exhibited the power-law dependence on the angular frequency ω at 190 and 210 °C, respectively. Correspondingly, the tan δ values did not depend on ω. These temperatures indicate the critical gel temperature T _gel of each system. The critical relaxation exponent n obtained from these data was 0.75 irrespective of PVC content, which was in agreement with the n values reported previously for the low PVC concentration samples. These results suggest that the PVC gels of different plasticizer content have a similar fractal structure. Below T _gel, the gradual melting of the PVC crystallites takes place with elevating temperature, and above T _gel, a densely connected network throughout the whole system disappears. Correspondingly, the elongational viscosity behavior of PVC8 and PVC6 exhibited strong strain hardening below T _gel, although it did not show any strain hardening above T _gel. These changes in rheological behavior are attributed to the gradual melting of the PVC crystallites worked as the cross-linking domains in this physical gel, thereby inapplicability of the of time–temperature superposition for PVC/plasticizer systems.     

Gelation study of high processability and high reliability ternary systems based on benzoxazine, epoxy, and phenolic resins for an application as electronic packaging materials

 Fourier transform mechanical spectroscopy technique (FTMS) is utilized as a powerful tool to study the sol-gel transition of covalent bonded polymeric network. Winter and Chambon criteria resulting from the fractal-geometry characteristic of the gel networks allow the determination of the gel point with only single experiment using this technique. The gelation behaviors of low melt viscosity ternary systems of benzoxazine, epoxy, and phenolic resins are investigated and analyzed by the technique in order to study the effect of epoxy diluent on the rheological property development before and after the gel points. The gel time at 140 °C ranges from 5 min to 30 min and less than 5 min at 180 °C for all tested ternary system compositions. The gelation of the ternary mixture shows an Arrhenius-type behavior and the gel time can be well-predicted by the Arrhenius equation. Received: 23 November 1999 Accepted: 2 January 2001     

采用新型分子表面印迹技术构建手性空穴实现对手性药物对映体的分子识别与高效拆分

通过偶联剂γ-氨丙基三甲氧基硅烷（AMPS）的媒介,通过表面引发接枝,将功能单体甲基丙烯酸（MAA）接枝聚合在微米级硅胶微粒表面,制得功能接枝微粒PMAA/SiO2;采用本课题组建立的新型分子表面印迹技术,以四咪唑（TM）为模型手性药物,用其左旋对映体L-TM为模板分子,乙二醇二缩水甘油醚（EGDE）为交联剂,对接枝在...     

凝胶渗透色谱对二次催化溶胶-凝胶法制备硅胶微球过程的监控

采用凝胶渗透色谱法(GPC),通过对二次催化溶胶-凝胶法制备硅胶微球原料硅酸乙酯 40(TES40)、中间产物聚硅酸乙酯(PES)分子量的在线测定,实现了对反应过程的监控.采用Shodex KF-802凝胶色谱柱,以四氢呋喃为流动相,流速0.5 mL/min,柱温40 ℃,采用示差折光检测器检测.校正曲线为1gMw= ...