Effects of polyaniline and silver nanoparticles on the structural characteristics and electrical properties of methylcellulose polymeric films

A Study on the 3D Deformation Behavior of Porous PDMS Flexible Electronic Composite Films Stretched under Different Temperatures

Flexible electronic films need to be applied in different ambient temperatures. The porous substrate of the composite film enhances air permeability. The lifespan of these composite films is significantly affected by variations in temperature and substrate porosity. To explore the impact of temperature and porosity on the performance of composite films, we developed a 3D deformation detection system utilizing the advanced three-dimensional digital image correlation (3D-DIC) method. This system enabled us to observe and analyze the 3D deformation behaviors of porous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) flexible composite films when they are subjected to uniaxial stretching at different temperatures. We proposed employing two parameters, namely the strain fluctuation coefficient (M) and off-plane displacement (w), to characterize the 3D deformation of the films. This holistic characterization of deformation through the combined utilization of parameters M and w held greater significance for composite films compared to the conventional practice of solely measuring mechanical properties like the elastic modulus. Through experimental analysis, we discovered that as the temperature increased, the M value of the film decreased while the w value increased for the same stretching distance. Furthermore, the porosity of the composite film depended on the doping mass ratio of PDMS to deionized water during the fabrication process. Specifically, when the ratio was set at 6:1, the composite film exhibited the smallest M value and w value, and the highest air permeability. Additionally, the 3D deformation behavior remained stable across different temperatures for this specific ratio. Moreover, our findings unveiled a remarkable association between the parameter w and the resistance value of the device. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the fabrication process of porous PDMS flexible electronic composite films.

Production of biologically active non-woven textiles from recycled polyethylene terephthalate

Recently, various studies have focused on the development of multifunctional non-woven polyethylene terephthalate (PT; polyester) textiles. Herein, we introduce multifunctional non-woven polyester fabrics by pad dry curing silver nitrate (AgNO₃ ) and aniline monomer into plasma-pretreated non-woven PT textile. This creates a nanocomposite layer of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and polyaniline (PANi) on the fabric surface. In order to prepare a non-woven fibrous mat, we applied the melt-spinning technique on previously shredded recycled PT plastic waste. On the surface of the cloth, PANi was synthesized by REDOX polymerization of aniline. Due to the oxidative polymerization, the silver ions (Ag⁺ ) were converted to Ag⁰ NPs. PANi acted as a conductor while AgNPs inhibited the growth of microorganisms. Microwave-assisted curing with trimethoxyhexadecylsilane (TMHDS) gave PT textiles with superhydrophobic properties. The morphological studies were performed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The stiffness and breathability of finished non-woven PT textile materials were analyzed to establish their comfort levels. Both of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used to test the efficacy of the AgNPs-treated textiles as antimicrobial materials. Moreover, the processed polyester textiles showed excellent electrical conductivity and great ultraviolet-ray blocking.

Localized Surface Plasmon-Enhanced Infrared-to-Visible Upconversion Devices Induced by Ag Nanoparticles

Upconversion devices (UCDs) have motivated tremendous research interest with their excellent potential and promising application in photovoltaic sensors, semiconductor wafer detection, biomedicine, and light conversion devices, especially near-infrared-(NIR)-to-visible upconversion devices. In this research, a UCD that directly turned NIR light located at 1050 nm into visible light located at 530 nm was fabricated to investigate the underlying working mechanism of UCDs. The simulation and experimental results of this research proved the existence of the quantum tunneling phenomenon in UCDs and found that the quantum tunneling effect can be enhanced by a localized surface plasmon.