Hollow PAQR nanostructure and its smart electrorheological activity

Synthesis and Electrorheological Response of Graphene Oxide/Polydiphenylamine Microsheet Composite Particles

Conducting graphene oxide/polydiphenylamine (GO/PDPA) microsheet nanocomposite particles were fabricated via in-situ oxidative polymerization using diphenylamine in the presence of GO. The morphological structures and dimensions of the fabricated GO/PDPA composites were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Electrorheological (ER) responses and creep behaviors of an ER fluid consisting of the GO/PDPA composites when suspended in silicone oil were evaluated using a rotational rheometer under input electric field. Three different types of yield stresses were examined along with dielectric analysis, demonstrating their actively tunable ER behaviors.

Pickering Emulsion Polymerized Polyaniline/Zinc-ferrite Composite Particles and Their Dual Electrorheological and Magnetorheological Responses

A functional raspberry-like core-shell composite particle consisting of a conducting polyaniline (PANI) core and magnetic zinc ferrite shell is synthesized by Pickering emulsion polymerization. The morphology and chemical structure of the PANI/zinc-ferrite composite are evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. An electrorheological/magnetorheological fluid consisting of the PANI/zinc-ferrite composite dispersed in silicone oil with a particle concentration of 5 vol % is fabricated. Its rheological characteristics under external electric and magnetic fields are investigated by using a rotational rheometer. Under the electric or magnetic field, the PANI/zinc-ferrite particles form chain-like structures, demonstrating a solid-like state.

Preparation of core-shell structured metal-organic framework@PANI nanocomposite and its electrorheological properties

A novel core-shell-type electrorheological (ER) composite material was fabricated via using polyaniline as an insulating layer to the outer surface of the core conductive metal-organic framework (MIL-125) with controlled size and morphology. MIL-125 was firstly synthesized by a solvothermal method, and then polyaniline was synthesized in a polar solvent and a tight coating was successfully achieved to form a MIL-125@PANI core-shell nanocomposite. This core-shell structure greatly enhances the polarization ability of dispersed particles, thereby improving their rheological properties. The morphology of pure MIL-125 and MIL-125@PANI has been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Their structure was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. Moreover, the ER activity of MIL-125-based and MIL-125@PANI-based ER fluids by dispersing the particles into silicone oil was studied using a rotational rheometer. The results show that the MIL-125@PANI composite particles have higher ER properties.

Synthesis and Electroresponse Activity of Porous Polypyrrole/Silica-Titania Core/Shell Nanoparticles

Inverted conducting polymer/metal oxide core/shell structured pPPy/SiO₂-TiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared as electrorheological (ER) materials using sequential experimental methods. The core was synthesized via the low-temperature self-assembly of PPy and SiO₂ materials, and the outer TiO₂ shell was easily coated onto the core part using a sol-gel method and a titanium isopropoxide precursor. Sonication-mediated etching and redeposition were employed to etch out SiO₂ portions from the core part to blend with TiO₂ shells. Each step in nanoparticle synthesis involved morphological and physical changes to the surface area and porosity, with subsequent changes in the intrinsic properties of the materials. Specifically, the electrical conductivity and dielectric properties were successfully altered. The final pPPy/SiO₂-TiO₂ nanoparticle configuration was optimized for ER applications, offering low electrical conductivity, high dielectric properties, and increased dispersion stability. pPPy/SiO₂-TiO₂ nanoparticles exhibited 24.7- and 2.7-fold enhancements in ER performance compared to that of PPy-SiO₂ and PPy-SiO₂/TiO₂ precursor nanoparticles, respectively. The versatile method proposed in this study for the synthesis of inverted conducting polymer/metal oxide core/shell nanoparticles shows great potential for the development of custom-designed ER materials.

Smart and Functional Conducting Polymers: Application to Electrorheological Fluids

Electro-responsive smart electrorheological (ER) fluids consist of electrically polarizing organic or inorganic particles and insulating oils in general. In this study, we focus on various conducting polymers of polyaniline and its derivatives and copolymers, along with polypyrrole and poly(ionic liquid), which are adopted as smart and functional materials in ER fluids. Their ER characteristics, including viscoelastic behaviors of shear stress, yield stress, and dynamic moduli, and dielectric properties are expounded and appraised using polarizability measurement, flow curve testing, inductance-capacitance-resistance meter testing, and several rheological equations of state. Furthermore, their potential industrial applications are also covered.

Synthesis of anatase TiO2 with exposed (100) facets and enhanced electrorheological activity

Herein, a simple hydrothermal method is employed to synthesize anatase TiO₂ with dominant (100) facets, as a precursor, using titanate nanofibers derived from alkali treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are carried out to confirm the surface morphology and phase structure of the TiO₂ product. The formation mechanism of TiO₂ enclosed by (100) and (101) facets is deduced to be the selective adsorption of OH^- on the (100) facets of anatase TiO₂. Electroheological (ER) experiments indicate that the tetragonal-facet-rod anatase TiO₂ with exposed (100) facets exhibits an excellent ER performance with a high ER efficiency of up to 52.5, which results from the anisotropy of its special morphology. In addition, the effect of shape on its dielectric property is investigated via broadband dielectric spectroscopy.

The preparation and electrorheological behavior of bowl-like titanium oxide nanoparticles

Bowl-like titanium oxide nanoparticles were successfully prepared by a simple solvothermal method using absolute ethanol and isopropanol as the cosolvent. Ostwald ripening coupled with the inner-stress-induce effect were assumed to play an important role in the formation of this unique bowl-like morphology. The morphological evolution from solid nanosphere to bowl-like nanoparticle was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Besides, the structural characteristics of the as-synthesized TiO₂ nanoparticles were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Moreover, a rotational rheometer was operated to examine the electrorheological (ER) effect. Excellent ER properties were achieved when the TiO₂ particles were dispersed in silicone oil under an external electric field.

Synthesis and characterization of three different structures of polyacene quinone radical polymers

Three types of polyacene quinone radical (PAQR) polymers were synthesized by the step-growth polymerization of naphthalene, anthracene, or anthraquinone reacting with pyromellitic dianhydride via solution polymerization under a temperature gradient. Zinc chloride was used as the catalyst, and nitrobenzene was the solvent. The different structures of PAQR polymers were analyzed by infrared, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The thermal properties of PAQR polymers were described by thermal gravimetric analysis, and the electrical performances were investigated by a precision LCR meter and a digital high insulation meter.