Sulfonic acid-functionalized Fe3O4-supported magnetized graphene oxide quantum dots: A novel organic-inorganic nanocomposite as an efficient and recyclable nanocatalyst for the synthesis of dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole and 4H-chromene derivatives

In this research, the main emphasis has been focused on the preparation of a novel Fe₃O₄-supported propane-1-sulfonic acid-grafted graphene oxide quantum dots (Fe₃O₄@GOQD-O-(propane-1-sulfonic acid)) that it was readily synthesized via a five-step procedure as a hitherto unreported magnetic nanocatalyst. This newly prepared Fe₃O₄@GOQD-O-(propane-1-sulfonic acid) nanocomposite was structurally well-established by different analytical techniques including Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), field emission gun-scanning electron microscope (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analyses. The high catalytic performance of this nanocomposite was exhibited in one-pot synthesis of dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole and 4H-chromene derivatives under mild conditions. Low reaction times, excellent yields of the products, benignity of the catalyst, easy reaction work-up and magnetic recyclability of the catalyst are the main advantages of the present protocol. Also, our research indicated that the Fe₃O₄@GOQD-O-(propane-1-sulfonic acid) could be reused up to five times without considerable loss of catalytic activity.     

Controlled Synthesis of Ni-Doped MoS2 Hybrid Electrode for Synergistically Enhanced Water-Splitting Process

The development of high-efficiency, low-cost, and earth-abundant electrocatalysts for overall water splitting remains a challenge. In this work, Ni-modified MoS₂ hybrid catalysts are grown on carbon cloth (Ni-Mo-S@CC) through a one-step hydrothermal treatment. The optimized Ni-Mo-S@CC catalyst shows excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity with a low overpotential of 168 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² in 1.0 m KOH, which is lower than those of Ni-Mo-S@CC (1:1), Ni-Mo-S@CC (3:1), and pure MoS₂. Significantly, the Ni-Mo-S@CC hybrid catalyst also displays outstanding oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity with a low overpotential of 320 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻², and remarkable long-term stability for 30 h at a constant current density of 10 mA cm⁻². Experimental results and theoretical analysis based on density functional theory demonstrate that the excellent electrocatalytic performance can be attributed mainly to the remarkable conductivity, abundant active sites, and synergistic effect of the Ni-doped MoS₂. This work sheds light on a unique strategy for the design of high-performance and stable electrocatalysts for water-splitting electrolyzers.     

Pd nanoparticles immobilized on PNIPAM–halloysite: highly active and reusable catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions in water

Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)–halloysite (PNIPAM‐HNT) nanocomposites exhibited inverse temperature solubility with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in water. Palladium (Pd) nanoparticles were anchored on PNIPAM‐HNT nanocomposites with various amounts of HNT from 5 to 30 wt%. These Pd catalysts exhibited excellent reactivities for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions at 50–70 °C in water. In particular, Pd anchored PNIPAM/HNT (95:5 w/w ratio) nanocomposites showed excellent recyclability up to 10 times in 96% average yield by simple filtration. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimization of neural network for ionic conductivity of nanocomposite solid polymer electrolyte system (PEO-LiPF6-EC-CNT)

In this study, the ionic conductivity of a nanocomposite polymer electrolyte system (PEO-LiPF₆-EC-CNT), which has been produced using solution cast technique, is obtained using artificial neural networks approach. Several results have been recorded from experiments in preparation for the training and testing of the network. In the experiments, polyethylene oxide (PEO), lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆), ethylene carbonate (EC) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) are mixed at various ratios to obtain the highest ionic conductivity. The effects of chemical composition and temperature on the ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte system are investigated. Electrical tests reveal that the ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte system varies with different chemical compositions and temperatures. In neural networks training, different chemical compositions and temperatures are used as inputs and the ionic conductivities of the resultant polymer electrolytes are used as outputs. The experimental data is used to check the system’s accuracy following the training process. The neural network is found to be successful for the prediction of ionic conductivity of nanocomposite polymer electrolyte system.     

Mechanistic model for deformation of polymer nanocomposite melts under large amplitude shear

We report the mechanical response of a model nanocomposite system of poly(styrene) (PS)-silica to large-amplitude oscillatory shear deformations. Nonlinear behavior of PS nanocomposites is discussed with the changes in particle dispersion upon deformation to provide a complete physical picture of their mechanical properties. The elastic stresses for the particle and polymer are resolved by decomposing the total stress into its purely elastic and viscous components for composites at different strain levels within a cycle of deformation. We propose a mechanistic model which captures the deformation of particles and polymer networks at small and large strains, respectively. We show, for the first time, that chain stretching in a polymer nanocomposite obtained in large amplitude oscillatory deformation is in good agreement with the nonlinear chain deformation theory of polymeric networks. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013     

Mechanochemical synthesis of PbS/Ni–Cr layered double hydroxide nanocomposite

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Three-component synthesis of N-sulfonylformamidines in the presence of magnetic cellulose supported N-heterocyclic carbene-copper complex,as an efficient heterogeneous nanocatalyst

A cellulose based magnetic nanocomposite possessing NHC-Cu Complex has been synthesized and characterized. It was then applied as a highly active catalyst in one-pot three-component reaction of sulfonyl azides, secondary amines and triethylamine to afford N-sulfonylformamidines. Copper catalyzed oxidative transformation of C-N bond of triethylamine is a key step to give desired products. In contrast with the good reactivity of the conventional secondary amines, aromatic amines and NH containing heteroaromatics had no activity in these reactions. Moreover, the used nanocatalyst which could be recovered by external magnet, showed reasonable catalytic activity for several times.     

Polymer-Nanoparticle Composites Composed of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and Coated Silver Nanoparticles

The effects of addition of synthesized organic-suspension silver nanoparticles on the crystallization and thermal stability of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, polarized optical microscopy (POM), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The TEM images showed the average primary size of the as-synthesized silver nanoparticles, coated with a monolayer of the surfactants consisting of oleic acid and an alkylamine, was about 5 nm with narrow distribution, and that they were uniformly dispersed in n-heptane. PHBV/silver nanocomposites were prepared by melt mixing in an internal mixer and then injection molded into rectangle-shaped specimens by a labscale injection molding device. The coated silver nanoparticles showed a homogenuous dispersion in the PHBV matrix when the content of coated silver nanoparticles was about 1%. Both the DSC and POM data showed the efficient heterogeneous nucleation by the coated silver nanoparticles for facilitating PHBV crystallization. The thermal stability of the PHBV/silver nanocomposites improved with the increase in the content of the coated silver nanoparticles.     

pH-Responsive Nanocomposites From Methylcellulose and Attapulgite Nanorods: Synthesis,Swelling and Absorption Performance on Heavy Metal Ions

A pH-responsive methylcellulose-g-poly(sodium acrylate)/attapulgite (MC-g-PNaA/APT) nanocomposite superabsorbent was prepared by the free-radical solution polymerization of methylcellulose (MC), sodium acrylate (NaA) and nanoscale attapulgite (APT) in the presence of the crosslinker N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA). The structure and morphology of the nanocomposite were characterized by FTIR, FESEM, TEM, XRD and EDS techniques, and the effects of the amount of MBA, MC and APT nanorods on swelling behaviors were also evaluated. Results indicate that NaA has been grafted onto MC macromolecular chains and APT nanorods participated in polymerization by its active silanol groups, and APT led to a better dispersion in the MC-g-PNaA matrix. The incorporation of APT clearly enhanced the swelling capacity and rate of the superabsorbent. In addition, the nanocomposite exhibited excellent absorption capacity on heavy metal ions, and its absorption amounts on Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions reached 9.86, 7.66 and 21.86 times greater than active carbon (AC). The biopolymer-based nanocomposite superabsorbents can be used as a potential water-saving material and candidate of AC for heavy metal ion absorption.     

Polymeric Electron Carriers

Polymers containing 1,4-dihydronicotinamide (P-NAH) alloxan (P-A), and viologen (P-V²⁺) moieties were synthesized and characterized. P-NAH reduced various organic substances such as lipoic acid, alloxan, and viologens and also immobilized quinone mediated by alloxan. P-A was reduced to the polymer-bearing alloxan radical and the dialuric acid structure without crosslinks by one- and two-electron reduction, respectively, and P-A also mediated the redox reaction occurring between aqueous and organic (water-immiscible) layers. P-V²⁺ was converted to the stable viologen radical reversibly by one-electron reduction. Electric potentials and currents on photo-reduction of P-V²⁺ and catalytic behavior of P-V²⁺ in the reduction of carbonyl compounds were examined.