Surface Analyses of PVDF/NMP/[EMIM][TFSI] Solid Polymer Electrolyte

Sustainable Collagen Blends with Different Ionic Liquids for Resistive Touch Sensing Applications

Considering the sustainable development goals to reduce environmental impact, sustainable sensors based on natural polymers are a priority as the large im plementation of these materials is required considering the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm. In this context, the present work reports on sustainable blends based on collagen and different ionic liquids (ILs), including ([Ch][DHP], [Ch][TSI], [Ch][Seri]) and ([Emim][TFSI]), processed with varying contents and types of ILs in order to tailor the electrical response. Varying IL types and contents leads to different interactions with the collagen polymer matrix and, therefore, to varying mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Collagen/[Ch][Seri] samples display the most pronounced decrease of the tensile strength (3.2 ± 0.4 MPa) and an increase of the elongation at break (50.6 ± 1.5%). The best ionic conductivity value of 0.023 mS cm^-1 has been obtained for the sample with 40 wt % of the IL [Ch][Seri]. The functional response of the collagen-IL films has been demonstrated on a resistive touch sensor whose response depends on the ionic conductivity, being suitable for the next generation of sustainable touch sensing devices.

Piezo-Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of the Electrospun Fibrous Magnetic PVDF/BiFeO3 Membrane

Creating stimulus-sensitive smart catalysts capable of decomposing organic dyes with high efficiency is a critical task in ecology. Combining the advantages of photoactive piezoelectric nanomaterials and ferroelectric polymers can effectively solve this problem by collecting mechanical vibrations and light energy. Using the electrospinning method, we synthesized hybrid polymer-inorganic nanocomposite fiber membranes based on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and bismuth ferrite (BFO). The samples were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), total transmittance and diffuse reflectance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), and piezopotential measurements. It has been demonstrated that the addition of BFO leads to an increase in the proportion of the polar phase from 86.5% to 96.1% due to the surface ion-dipole interaction. It is shown that the composite exhibits anisotropy of magnetic properties depending on the orientation of the magnetic field. The results of piezo-photocatalytic experiments showed that under the combined action of ultrasonic treatment and irradiation with both visible and UV light, the reaction rate increased in comparison with photolysis, sonolysis, and piezocatalysis. Moreover, for PVDF/BFO, which does not exhibit photocatalytic activity, under the combined action of light and ultrasound, the reaction rate increases by about 3× under UV irradiation and by about 6× under visible light irradiation. This behavior is explained by the piezoelectric potential and the narrowing of the band gap of the composite due to mechanical stress caused by the ultrasound.

Brief Review of PVDF Properties and Applications Potential

Currently, there is an ever-growing interest in carbon materials with increased deformation-strength, thermophysical parameters. Due to their unique physical and chemical properties, such materials have a wide range of applications in various industries. Many prospects for the use of polymer composite materials based on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for scientific and technical purposes explain the plethora of studies on their characteristics "structure-property", processing, application and ecology which keep appearing. Building a broader conceptual picture of new generation polymeric materials is feasible with the use of innovative technologies; thus, achieving a high level of multidisciplinarity and integration of polymer science; its fundamental problems are formed, the solution of which determines a significant contribution to the natural-scientific picture of the modern world. This review provides explanation of PVDF advanced properties and potential applications of this polymer material in its various forms. More specifically, this paper will go over PVDF trademarks presently available on the market, provide thorough overview of the current and potential applications. Last but not least, this article will also delve into the processing and chemical properties of PVDF such as radiation carbonization, β-phase formation, etc.

Solvent Evaporation Rate as a Tool for Tuning the Performance of a Solid Polymer Electrolyte Gas Sensor

Solid polymer electrolytes show their potential to partially replace conventional electrolytes in electrochemical devices. The solvent evaporation rate represents one of many options for modifying the electrode–electrolyte interface by affecting the structural and electrical properties of polymer electrolytes used in batteries. This paper evaluates the effect of solvent evaporation during the preparation of solid polymer electrolytes on the overall performance of an amperometric gas sensor. A mixture of the polymer host, solvent and an ionic liquid was thermally treated under different evaporation rates to prepare four polymer electrolytes. A carbon nanotube-based working electrode deposited by spray-coating the polymer electrolyte layer allowed the preparation of the electrode–electrolyte interface with different morphologies, which were then investigated using scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. All prepared sensors were exposed to nitrogen dioxide concentration of 0–10 ppm, and the current responses and their fluctuations were analyzed. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to describe the sensor with an equivalent electric circuit. Experimental results showed that a higher solvent evaporation rate leads to lower sensor sensitivity, affects associated parameters (such as the detection/quantification limit) and increases the limit of the maximum current flowing through the sensor, while the other properties (hysteresis, repeatability, response time, recovery time) change insignificantly.

Ionic liquid exfoliated Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets for photoacoustic imaging and synergistic photothermal/chemotherapy of cancer

Ti₃C₂T_x MXene is a new type of two-dimensional material with good biocompatibility and a good photothermal effect, and shows great potential in cancer treatment. In this study, few-layer ionic liquid (IL)-Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanosheets were synthesized using IL stripping technology, which have high chemical stability, and allow photoacoustic imaging and synergistic photothermal/chemotherapy of cancer. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, the nanosheets have strong absorption in the near-infrared region, and high photothermal conversion efficiency (∼63.91%). Using DOX as a model drug, the IL-Ti₃C₂T_x MXene@DOX nanosheets exhibited high drug loading capacity and pH-/photosensitivity, which will further promote the drug release of the nanosheets in an acidic tumor microenvironment and under 808 nm laser irradiation. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that IL-Ti₃C₂T_x MXene@DOX has good biological safety, allows remarkable photoacoustic imaging, and can effectively kill cancer cells with synergistic photothermal/chemotherapy. Therefore, IL-Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanosheets are expected to provide powerful and useful two-dimensional nanoplatforms for various biomedical applications.

Structure Tuning and Electrical Properties of Mixed PVDF and Nylon Nanofibers

The paper specifies the electrostatic spinning process of specific polymeric materials, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyamide-6 (PA6, Nylon-6) and their combination PVDF/PA6. By combining nanofibers from two different materials during the spinning process, new structures with different mechanical, chemical, and physical properties can be created. The materials and their combinations were subjected to several measurements: scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to capture topography; contact angle of the liquid wettability on the sample surface to observe hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity; crystallization events were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to describe properties and their changes at the chemical level. Furthermore, for the electrical properties of the sample, the dielectric characteristics and the piezoelectric coefficient were measured. The advantage of the addition of co-polymers was to control the properties of PVDF samples and understand the reasons for the changed functionality. The innovation point of this work is the complex analysis of PVDF modification caused by mixing with nylon PA6. Here we emphasize that the application of nylon during the spin influences the properties and structure (polarization, crystallization) of PVDF.