Cerium vanadate/carbon nanotube hybrid composite nanostructures as a high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries

The pristine CeVO4 and CeVO4/CNT hybrid composite nanostructured samples were facilely synthesized using a simple silicone oil-bath method.From the X-ray diffra...     

Synthesis of MWCNTs‐core/thiophene polymer‐sheath composite nanocables by a cationic surfactant‐assisted chemical oxidative polymerization and their structural properties

Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)‐core/thiophene polymer‐sheath composite nanocables were synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) with oxidant (FeCl₃) in the presence of cationic surfactant, deceyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB). In the polymerization process, DTAB surfactant molecules were adsorbed on the surface of MWCNTs and forms MWCNTs‐DTAB soft template. Upon the addition of EDOT and oxidant, the polymerization take place on the surface of MWCNTs and PEDOT is gradually deposited on the surface of MWCNTs. The resulting MWCNTs‐PEDOT nanocomposites have the nanocable structure. Nanocomposites were characterized by HRTEM, FE‐SEM, XRD, XPS, TGA, FTIR and PL, respectively. The π‐π interactions between PEDOT and MWCNTs enhancing the thermal and electrical properties of the nanocomposites with loading of MWCNTs. The temperature dependence conductivity measurements show that the conductivity of the nanocomposite decrease with a decrease of temperature, and conductivity‐temperature relationship is well fit by the quasi‐one dimensional variable range hopping mode. The mechanism for the formation of composite nanocables was explained on the basis of self‐ assembly of micelles. The reported self‐assembly strategy for the synthesis of PEDOT‐coated MWCNTs in micellar medium is a rapid, versatile, potentially scalable, stable, and making it useful for further exploitation in a varies types of applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1477–1484, 2010     

Properties of Graphene/Waterborne Polyurethane Nanocomposites Cast from Colloidal Dispersion Mixtures

Nanocomposites of waterborne polyurethane (WPU) reinforced with functionalized graphene sheets (FGSs) were effectively prepared by casting from a colloidal dispersion of FGS and WPU, and the morphology and physical properties were examined. The finer aqueous FGS dispersions or WPU with smaller particles yielded nanocomposites with enhanced electrical conductivity and thermal resistance due to finely dispersed FGS. The FGS nucleated the crystallization of the polycaprolactone (PCL) segments in WPU and improved its modulus. However, FGS inhibited crystal growth and deteriorated the tensile properties at high deformation, i.e., tensile strength and elongation at break, because the interaction between FGS and WPU hindered the chain rearrangement of WPU in the nanocomposite.     

Graphene Modified Lipophilically by Stearic Acid and its Composite With Low Density Polyethylene

Graphene, prepared by the thermal reduction of graphite oxide (GO), was modified with stearic acid to enhance its lipophilicity. A novel method, using the intrinsic epoxy groups on the graphene, was utilized for reaction with stearic acid to minimize the negative impact of the normal functionalization method on the π-electronic system of graphene. Gravimetric analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that the stearic acid was effectively attached to the graphene. In addition, Raman spectroscopy and electric conductivity of the graphene showed that this novel modification method, utilizing intrinsic defects, did not damage the π-electronic system of the sp² bonded carbons. The dispersion of graphene in a low density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix was enhanced; consequently, the reinforcing effect in tensile testing was improved by the lipophilic modification. The crystallization behavior observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the crystallization of LDPE was hindered by dispersed graphene, more evidently when dispersed uniformly.     

Microwave Assisted Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of (E)-1-{2/3/4-[(1-Aryl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy]phenyl}-3-(2-morpholinoquinolin-3-yl)prop-2-en-1-ones

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - A novel series of (E)-1-{2/3/4-[(1-aryl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy]phenyl}-3-(2-morpholinoquinolin-3-yl)prop-2-en-1-ones is synthesised from terminal...     

A Novel Electrochemical Sensor for Detection of Molinate Using ZnO Nanoparticles Loaded Carbon Electrode

In this work, electrochemical detection of molinate herbicide was studied by developing a novel sensor based on carbon paste incorporated with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using cyclic (CV) and square wave voltammetric (SWV) techniques. Molinate exhibited one well resolved peak at pH of 3.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS), which was irreversible. The lowest possible detection limit of 1.0×10^?8 M was achieved in the concentration range of 0.002 μM to 0.25 μM. The modifying ability of ZnO nanoparticles was responsible for such a low level sensing in water and soil samples.     

Synthesis and properties of magnetite/poly (aniline‐co‐8‐amino‐2‐naphthalenesulfonic acid) (SPAN) nanocomposites

Composites were prepared by incorporating magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles into the matrix of a sulfonated polyaniline (SPAN) [poly(aniline‐co‐8‐amino‐2‐naphthalenesulfonic acid) PANSA] through chemical oxidative polymerization of a mixture of aniline and 8‐amino‐2‐naphthalenesulfonic acid in the presence of magnetite nanoparticles. The composite, magnetite/SPAN(PANSA) was characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis (EA), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra, UV‐vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), conductivity and magnetic properties measurements. TEM image shows that magnetite nanoparticles were finely distributed into the SPAN matrix. XRD pattern of the nanocomposite reveals the presence of additional crystalline order through the appearance of a sharp peak at ～43° and 71°. Conductivity of the nanocomposite (0.23 S/cm) is much higher than pristine copolymer (1.97 × 10^?2 S/cm). The results of FT‐IR and UV‐visible spectroscopy reveal the presence of molecular level interactions between SO groups in SPAN and magnetite nanoparticles in the composite. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coating of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with polymer nanospheres through microemulsion polymerization

We report a simple and noncovalent method for coating multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with polyaniline (PANI) nanospheres using a microemulsion polymerization method. In this method, aniline polymerization is performed with MWCNTs in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), which serves as both a surfactant and a dopant. Morphological, structural, thermal, and electrical properties of MWCNT–PANI nanocomposites were analyzed. The TEM results of the nanocomposites prepared with surfactant reveal that 30–50-nm-diameter PANI nanospheres were coated on the surface of the MWCNTs. Composites prepared without surfactant were found to be in core–sheath-type cable structures. The conductivities of the nanocomposites synthesized through microemulsion polymerization were found to be one order of magnitude higher than both the conductivities of pure PANI and the composites prepared via in situ chemical polymerization without an assisting SDS surfactant. The mechanism for the formation of nanostructured composites is presented.     

A facile one-step synthesis of 5-chloro-imidazo[1,5-a]quinazoline by microwave irradiation

A new and facile method has been developed for the one-step synthesis of 5-chloro-imidazo[1,5-a]quinazoline by cyclization of N-acylanthranilic acid A with 2-amino acetamide B1 or 2-amino-acetonitrile B2 in the presence of POCl₃ under microwave irradiation. 5-chloro-imidazo[1,5-a]quinazolines can be further functionalized by displacement of 5-Cl group.