Effect of tensile load on the actuation performance of pH‐sensitive hydrogels

pH‐responsive hydrogels are capable of converting chemical energy to mechanical work. To optimize their use as actuators, their response when operating against an external load must be fully characterized. Here, the actuation strain of a model pH‐sensitive hydrogel as a function of different constant loads is studied. The experimental actuation strain, produced by switching the pH from 2 to 12, decreases significantly and monotonically with increasing initial tensile load. Two models are developed to predict the actuation strain as a function of applied stress. Simple mechanical models based on the change in hydrogel modulus and cross sectional area due to the change in pH are unsatisfactory as they predict only a small change in actuation strain with increasing external stress. However, the model based on the elastic and mixing free energy functions derived from the Flory–Huggins theory is found to accurately account for the actuation strain as a function of stress. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 218–225     

Multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles in poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) for transparent heat retention films

Transparent inorganic‐polymer nanocomposite films are of tremendous current interest inemerging solar coverings including photovoltaic encapsulants and commercial greenhouse plastics, but suffer from significant radiative heat loss. This work provides a new and simple approach for controlling this heat loss by using mesoporous silica/quantum dot nanoparticles in poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) (EVA) films. Mesoporous silica shells were grown on CdS‐ZnS quantum dot (QDs) cores using a reverse microemulsion technique, controlling the shell thickness. These mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were then melt‐mixed with EVA pellets using a mini twin‐screw extruder and pressed into thin films of concentration variable controlled thickness. The results demonstrate that the experimental MSNs showed improved infrared and thermal wavebands retention in the EVA transparent films compared to commercial silica additives, even at lower concentrations. It was also found MSNs enhanced the quantum yield and photostability of the QDs, providing high visible light transmission and blocking of UV transmission of interest for next generation solar coatings. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 851–859     

Syntheses,Crystal Structures and Magnetic Properties of Cobalt(Ⅱ) and Manganese(Ⅱ) Coordination Polymers Constructed from 5-(Pyridin-4-yl)Isophthalate Ligands

Two coordination polymers, namely {[Co(L)(H2O)]·H2O}n(1) and [Mn(L)(phen)]n(2, H2L = 5-(pyridin-4-yl)isophthalic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, TG, magnetic properties, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 belongs to the triclinic system, space group P1 with a = 7.2188(7), b = 10.0835(8), c = 10.2069(7) ?, α = 113.713(7), β = 99.490(7), γ = 104.516(8)o, V = 628.24(9) ?3, C13H11NCoO6, Mr = 336.16, Z = 2, Dc = 1.777 Mg/m3, μ(MoKα) = 1.395 mm–1, F(000) = 342, S = 1.041, the final R = 0.0381 and wR = 0.0819 for 3744 observed reflections(I 2σ(I)) and R = 0.0448 and wR = 0.0874 for all data. 2 belongs to the monoclinic system, space group P2/c with a = 12.9185(3), b = 10.4343(2), c = 31.7650(6)?, β = 101.282(2)o, V = 4199.08(13)?3, C50H30N6Mn2O8, Mr = 952.68, Z = 4, Dc = 1.507 Mg/m3, μ(MoKα) = 5.447 mm–1, F(000) = 1944, S = 1.128, the final R = 0.1003 and wR = 0.1052 for 8247 observed reflections(I 2σ(I)) and R = 0.2595 and wR = 0.2625 for all data. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies show that compound 1 features a 2D sheet structure based on a dicobalt(II) subunit, which is further extended into a 3D metal-organic supramolecular framework by O–H···O hydrogen bond. Compound 2 also possesses a 2D sheet, which is held together into a 3D supramolecular architecture via C–H···O hydrogen bond and π-π stacking interactions. Magnetic studies for compound 2 show antiferromagnetic coupling between the adjacent metal centers, with J = –11.8 cm–1 and g = 2.12 for 2.     

碘小姐的旅行

将碘元素拟人化,让其以卤素家族"四小姐"的身份,在这美丽的世界上走一走,并拟人化讨论了碘小姐的元素分布、物理性质以及生理活性,让读者在获得知识之余还能有美的享受。     

Band gap engineering in silicene: A theoretical study of density functional tight-binding theory

In this work, we performed first principles calculations based on self-consistent charge density functional tight-binding to investigate different mechanisms of band gap tuning of silicene. We optimized structures of silicene sheet, functionalized silicene with H, CH₃ and F groups and nanoribbons with the edge of zigzag and armchair. Then we calculated electronic properties of silicene, functionalized silicene under uniaxial elastic strain, silicene nanoribbons and silicene under external electrical fields. It is found that the bond length and buckling value for relaxed silicene is agreeable with experimental and other theoretical values. Our results show that the band gap opens by functionalization of silicene. Also, we found that the direct band gap at K point for silicene changed to the direct band gap at the gamma point. Also, the functionalized silicene band gap decrease with increasing of the strain. For all sizes of the zigzag silicene nanoribbons, the band gap is near zero, while an oscillating decay occurs for the band gap of the armchair nanoribbons with increasing the nanoribbons width. At finally, it can be seen that the external electric field can open the band gap of silicene. We found that by increasing the electric field magnitude the band gap increases.     

Green synthesis and antibacterial effects of aqueous colloidal solutions of silver nanoparticles using clove eugenol

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using clove extract (CE). Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) revealed the morphology of the metallic Ag nanoparticles obtained via the clove extract synthesis (Ag NPs‐CE), which had a uniform distribution and average sizes varying from 10 nm to 100 nm. Fourier transform infra‐red (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that clove eugenol acts as a capping and reducing agent being adsorbed on the surface of Ag NPs‐CE, enabling their reduction from Ag⁺ and preventing their agglomeration. Formation of the Ag⁰ structure is also confirmed in the FTIR spectrum by the presence in the Ag NPs‐CE sample of the –C=O and –C=C vibrations at wavenumbers 1600 and 2915 cm^‐1, respectively. Antibacterial and antifungal tests using three strains of bacteria and one fungi strain showed that the Ag NPs‐CE performed better compared to pure clove extract (CE) sample.     

Thermoelectric properties of stannite-phase CuZn2AS4 (CZAS; A=Al,Ga and In) nanocrystals for solar energy conversion applications

The current study aimed to comprehensively investigate structural, electronic, optical and transport properties of quaternary semiconductor CuZn₂AS₄ (CZAS; A=Al, Ga and In) nanocrystals (NCs). Based on energy considerations, the stannite structure (I-42m; No. 121) is found to be more stable than the kesterite (I-4; No.82) and wurtzite (P6₃mc; No.186) type structures. By means of hybrid functional calculations, these nanocrystals have direct band gap of 0.81–1.71 eV with a high absorption coefficient of >10⁴ cm^?1, which are well-suited for use in solar energy-conversion applications. Some of the latest advances in applications of these nanocrystals in thermoelectric applications are also highlighted in the current study. It is observed that transport coefficients of these materials are found to be nearly direction independent and isotropic. All three samples are p-type conductors at room temperature. Especially, the Seebeck coefficient of CuZn₂AlS₄ is even larger than that of CuZn₂GaS₄ and CuZn₂InS₄ under the studied carrier concentration and temperature region. The maximum figure of merit (ZT) reaches 0.982 (0.977), 0.984 (0.974) and 0.53 (0.955) for p-type (n-type) CuZn₂AlS₄, CuZn₂GaS₄, and CuZn₂InS₄, respectively, at 300 K. The high Seebeck coefficients, high figure of merit and low thermal conductivities make these systems good candidates for high-efficiency thermoelectric conversion applications.     

Effect of B-site isovalent doping on electrical and ferroelectric properties of lead free bismuth titanate ceramics

In the present work, zirconium modified bismuth titanate ceramics have been studied as potential lead-free ferroelectric materials over a broad temperature range (RT – 800 °C). Polycrystalline samples of Bi₄Ti_3−xZr_xO₁₂ (x=0.2, 0.4, 0.6) (BZrT) with high electrical resistivity were prepared using the solution combustion technique. The effect of Zr doping on the crystalline structure, ferroelectric properties and electrical conduction characteristics of BZrT ceramics were explored. Addition of zirconium to bismuth titanate enhances its dielectric constant and reduces the loss factor as it introduces orthorhombic distortion in bismuth titanate lattice which is exhibited by the growth along (0010) lattice plane. Activation energy due to relaxation is found to be greater than that due to conduction thus confirming that electrical conduction in these ceramics is not due to relaxation of dipoles. Remanent polarization of the doped samples increases as the Zirconium content increases.