3D amino-induced electroless plating: a powerful toolset for localized metallization on polymer substrates

The "3D amino-induced electroless plating" (3D-AIEP) process is an easy and cost-effective way to produce metallic patterns onto flexible polymer substrates with a micrometric resolution and based on the direct printing of the mask with a commercial printer. Its effectiveness is based on the covalent grafting onto substrates of a 3D polymer layer which presents the ability to entrap Pd species. Therefore, this activated Pd-loaded and 3D polymer layer acts both as a seed layer for electroless metal growth and as an interdigital layer for enhanced mechanical properties of the metallic patterns. Consequently, flexible and transparent poly(ethylene terephtalate) (PET) sheets were selectively metalized with nickel or copper patterns. The electrical properties of the obtained metallic patterns were also studied.     

Preparation and thermal treatment of Pd/Ag composite membrane on a porous alumina tube by sequential electroless plating technique for H2 separation

Pd/Ag/α-Al2O3 composite membranes were prepared by sequential electroless plating technique. The prepared membranes were characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy techniques （ICP-AES）. Effects of annealing time, Ag content, and air treatment on the hydrogen permeation flux and morphology of the alloys were investigated. The results of the investigation showed that the prepared type of tube had a good potential as substrate for membrane preparation. In addition, a uniform defect-free alloy was prepared by annealing at 550 ℃ in H2 atmosphere. The permeation results showed an increase in H2 permeation flux by increasing the Ag content and the annealing time. In addition, the air treatment of the prepared membranes at 400 ℃ for 1 h changed the morphology of the alloy and substantially enhanced the hydrogen flux.     

Characterization and antimicrobial properties of metal complexes of polypropylene fibers grafted with acrylic acid using gamma irradiation

Polypropylene fibers were treated against microbial effects by gamma radiation‐induced grafting of acrylic acid, followed by metal complexation with Zn²⁺ or Ag⁺ metal ions. The treated polypropylene fibers were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of the treatment on the thermal stability was investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis, in which a slight increase in the major thermal stability was observed. The antimicrobial activity of the treated fibers was also evaluated. On the basis of the obtained results, it was found that the antimicrobial properties of the treated fibers were enhanced both qualitatively, as indicated by the distinct inhibition zone diameter towards Gram‐positive as well as Gram‐negative bacterial strains under study, and quantitatively, in which 100% inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was achieved. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Organophosphorus pesticides detection using acetylcholinesterase biosensor based on gold nanoparticles constructed by electroless plating on vertical nitrogen-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes

An acetylcholinesterase (AChE) biosensor was constructed based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using electroless plating on vertical nitrogen-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (VNSWCNTs) for detecting organophosphorus pesticides (OPs). AChE was immobilised on AuNPs via Au–S bonding, and VNSWCNTs were produced by spontaneous chemical adsorption of NSWCNTs on gold electrode, also via Au–S bonding. This modified electrode exhibited excellent electron transfer capacity due to the synergy between AuNPs and VNSWCNTs. The developed biosensor showed good linear relations at concentrations of 10^?5 – 1 ppb, and the detection limits were 3.04 × 10^?6 ppb for methyl parathion, 1.96 × 10^?6 ppb for malathion and 2.06 × 10^?6 ppb for chlorpyrifos, respectively. The AChE biosensor revealed satisfactory stability, excellent sensitivity and good repeatability. These results suggest that this biosensor has good application prospects and can function as a sensitive device in OPs analysis.     

电火花引发丙烯酰胺接枝BOPP薄膜的研究

采用FT-IR,ESCA,试样与水接触角和接枝率的测定探索了电火花用于引发丙烯酰胺(AAM)在BOPP薄膜表面接枝聚合反应的方法,研究了接枝BOPP薄膜的表面结构和亲水性能。结果表明,电火花能有效地引发AAM在BOPP薄膜表面的接枝聚合反应,随着电火花处理时间和接枝反应时间的延长,AAM在BOPP薄膜表面的接枝率增大。电火花处理10min,BOPP薄膜在70℃,20%(质量分数)的AAM水溶液中反应1h,接枝率高达2.06%。接枝后BOPP薄膜与水的接触角显著下降,亲水性能得到明显改善。     

Electroless plating of copper on Si(100) surfaces modified by surface‐initiated atom‐transfer radical polymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine

Surface‐initiated atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 4‐vinylpyridine (4VP) on a pretreated Si(100) surface was carried out. The composition and topography of the Si(100) surface modified by poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) were characterized by XPS and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The P4VP layer on the Si(100) surface was used not only as chemisorption sites for the palladium complexes without prior sensitization by SnCl₂ solution during the electroless plating, but also as an adhesion promotion layer for the electrolessly deposited copper. The electrolessly deposited copper on the Si–P4VP surface exhibited a 180° peel adhesion strength above 6 N/cm. The adhesion strength was much higher than that of the electrolessly deposited copper to the pristine silicon surface. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimization strategies for radiation induced grafting of 4-vinylpyridine onto poly(ethylene-co-tetraflouroethene) film using Box-Behnken design

The radiation induced grafting of 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP) onto poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethene) (ETFE) was optimized using the Box-Behnken factorial design available in the response surface method (RSM). The optimized grafting parameters; absorbed dose, monomer concentration, grafting time and reaction temperature were varied in four levels to quantify their effect on the grafting yield (GY). The validity of the statistical model was supported by the small deviation between the predicted (GY=61%) and experimental (GY=57%) values. The optimum conditions for enhancing GY were determined at the following values: monomer concentration of 48 vol%, absorbed dose of 64 kGy, reaction time of 4 h and temperature of 68 °C. A comparison was made between the optimization model developed for the present grafting system and that for grafting of 1-vinylimidazole (1-VIm) onto ETFE to confirm the validly and reliability of the Box-Behnken for the optimization of various radiation induced grafting reactions. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to investigate the properties of the obtained films and provide evidence for grafting.     

Grafting of hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) onto carbon black surfaces using dendrimer synthesis methodology

To modify carbon black surface, the surface grafting of hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) onto the surface by using dendrimer synthesis methodology was investigated. Carbon black having amino groups (initiator sites) was prepared by the reduction of surface nitro groups introduced by nitration of aromatic rings. It was found that hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) was propagated from carbon black surface by repeating two processes: (1) Michael addition of methyl acrylate (MA) to surface amino groups and (2) amidation of the resulting esters with ethylenediamine: the percentage of poly(amidoamine) grafting reached to 96.2% after 10th‐generation. The grafting of hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) onto polystyrene‐bead as a model compound of carbon black was also achieved by the above procedures. However, the theoretical propagation of poly(amidoamine) dendrimer was not achieved, because of steric hindrance of grafted polymer. Hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)‐grafted carbon black gave a stable dispersion in a good solvent for poly(amidoamine). Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interfacially polymerized thin film composite membranes on microporous polypropylene supports for solvent-resistant nanofiltration

Interfacial polymerization (IP) is a powerful technique for fabrication of thin film composite (TFC) membranes. The polymers used most often as support are polysulfone (PS) or polyethersulfone (PES). These supports have limited stability in organic solvents. In this work, microporous polypropylene (PP) flat film and hollow fiber membranes were used as a support to fabricate TFC membranes for nanofiltration by the IP technique. Porous polypropylene membranes can provide substantial chemical, pH, and solvent resistance and are therefore suitable as supports for fabricating TFC membranes functioning as solvent-stable nanofiltration membranes. The surface and the pore interior of polypropylene flat sheet and hollow fiber membranes were hydrophilized first by pre-wetting with acetone followed by oxidation with chromic acid solution. A standard procedure to successfully coat the hydrophilized flat film and hollow fiber membranes was developed next. The monomeric system chosen for IP was poly(ethyleneimine) and isophthaloyl dichloride. The TFC hollow fiber membranes were characterized by nanofiltration of safranin O (MW 351) and brilliant blue R (MW 826) dyes in methanol. Rejection values of 88% and 43% were achieved for brilliant blue R and safranin O, respectively at a transmembrane pressure of 413 kPa in the TFC hollow fiber membranes. Pressure dependences of the solvent flux and solute rejection of the TFC membranes were studied using the modified flat sheet membranes up to a pressure of 965–1241 kPa. Solvent flux increased linearly with an increase in the transmembrane pressure. Solute rejection also increased with an increase in the transmembrane pressure. All modified membranes were also characterized using scanning electron microscopy. Extended-term solvent stability of the fabricated membranes was studied in toluene; the membranes demonstrated substantial solvent stability in toluene.     

Engineered interface using a hydroxyl group‐free polymeric buffer layer onto a TiO2 nanocomposite film for improving the electrical properties in a low‐voltage operated organic transistor

We demonstrate the effect of engineered interfaces by introducing different classes of polymeric buffer layers onto a titanium oxide (TiO₂) nanocomposite film on the density of interfacial trap sites and corresponding mobility in low‐voltage‐operated organic field‐effect transistors. The organic field‐effect transistors were fabricated using pentacene as an organic semiconductor layer and a high dielectric TiO₂ nanocomposite film for low‐voltage operation stacked with two different kinds of thin polymers, one of which is hydroxyl group‐existing polyvinyl phenol and the other is hydroxyl group‐free polyvinyl cinnamate. By using the hydroxyl group‐free buffer layer, the interfacial trap density is found to be much decreased than that for the hydroxyl group‐existing buffer layer. In addition, the mobility for the polyvinyl cinnamate used case, shows significantly increased value by at least one of magnitude compared to the case of no buffer layer. It is found that a hydroxyl group‐free polymeric layer produces a more effective surface, which leads to high electrical properties and less electrochemical traps at the interface in the organic devices. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.