How do soft nanoparticles affect temperature-induced nonlinearity of a UCST copolymer blend?

Does pervasive interconnected network of cellulose nanocrystals in nanocomposite membranes address simultaneous mechanical strength/water permeability/salt rejection improvement?

In this research work, we investigated the effect of two cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)-related parameters, namely aspect ratio and loading content on the mechanical and desalination performance of a cellulose diacetate (CDA) model membrane system. Dispersion of high aspect ratio (HAR) CNCs in the CDA resulted in different types of nanoassembly, represented by evaluating the mechanical efficacy coefficient (CFE), viscoelastic responses and separation performance of the nanocomposite membranes. Accordingly, 0.15 and 0.25 wt% showed random isolated dispersion and tight polymer-nanorod network, while 0.50 and 0.75 wt% conformed to nanorods' pervasive interconnected network (PIN) through side-by-side aggregation and intensive bundle alignment, respectively. Specifically, the nanocomposite membrane containing 0.50 wt% HAR-CNCs simultaneously demonstrated improved mechanical strength along with mitigated water permeability/salt rejection tradeoff for brackish water desalination. This concurrent boosting was attributed to the effective mechanical reinforcement mechanism induced by the percolating network along with its partial aggregation-caused bi-continuous and electrostatically-controlled nano-pathways, orchestrating the separation tradeoff. It confirmed our hypothesis that a nanocomposite membrane with metamaterial characteristic could be obtained via manipulating the dispersion state of CNC rods in the CDA, triggering coincided optimization of mechanical strength and desalination performance.

Biosynthesis cobalt-doped nickel nanoparticles and their toxicity against disease

The nanostructures have the great potential for novel medical and drug delivery applications. In present paper a green approach for the preparation of pure nickel oxide (NiO) and 5% cobalt-doped NiO (Co╫NiO) nanoparticles (NPs) by using Prosopis fracta extract have been study. The product of Co╫NiO NPs was proved through the PXRD, Raman, UV-Vis, FESEM, and EDX analyses. The results of XRD, EDX, and UV-Visible spectra displayed well doped cobalt in NiO NP. The particle sizes of Co╫NiO NPs were observed to be about 80 nm. The MTT test results for the cytotoxicity of Co╫NiO NPs on breast cancer cells (MCF-7) affirmed the stronger impact of doped NiO-NPs on cancer cells compared to NiO NPs. Thus, it is indicated that the doping process on NiO NPs caused an increase in its inhibitory effect against MCF-7 cells. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Cobalt-doped NiO nanoparticles were prepared using ecofriendly synthesis method and their cytotoxicity studied against MCF-7 cells.

Quantifying the synergistic effect of dispersion state and interfacial adhesion contributions on impact strength of core shell rubber-toughened glassy polymers

Synergistically improved impact strength of a core shell rubber-toughened glassy polymer was rationalized with disparities ratio of |ΔT/ΔD|.

Active layer thickness across the crack plane and fracture energy consumption in polymer nanocomposites: adhesion against tear strength

The active layer thickness of the nanocomposites in tear strength tests was 2 orders of magnitude higher than in adhesion tests.