Functionalization

Gold nanoparticles and their arrays are some of the most studied nanomaterials, with promising applications in many fields such as electronics, optoelectronics, catalysis and biology. In order to protect bare gold nanoparticles from aggregation, to manipulate the optical, electronic and catalytic properties of the gold core, as well as to control interfacial properties, the gold nanoparticles are generally capped by an organic layer. Previous studies [C.D. Bain, G.M. Whitesides, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110 (1988) 3665–3666] have revealed that many phenomena (e.g., wetting, friction and adhesion), are sensitive to the top few angstroms of a surface. The interfacial properties of a gold surface derivatized with a self-assembled monolayer will thus be dictated by the functionalities present on the outer side of the monolayer. The synthesis, functionalization and surface structure of monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles have been intensively studied in recent times [M.-C. Daniel, D. Astruc, Chem. Rev. 104 (2004) 293–346]. In addition, the aggregation and dispersion of colloidal nanoparticles is one of the key issues related to their potential applications. The forces that govern the colloid stability of nanoparticle dispersions, and how to control them, have yet to be fully investigated. Here special attention has been paid to control of colloid stability using external stimuli. In this feature article, the following five areas are reviewed: synthesis and applications of nanostructured particles; formation and structure of self-assembled monolayer protected gold nanoparticles; colloid stability—DLVO and non-DLVO forces; photochemistry, photochromism and pyrimidine; and manipulation of colloid stability with external stimuli.

I n this work, the grafting of maleic anhydride onto two types of linear low density polyethylene with hexene-1 comonomer (LLDPE-H1) and butene-1 comonomer (LLDPE-B1), in the presence of styrene monomer (St) and dicumyl peroxide initiator (DCP) has been studied. The combined influences of MAH, St and DCP on the grafting efficiency via a melt reactive mixing process have been investigated using response surface methodology and the central cubic design has been employed for experimental design and data analysis. IR spectroscopy, contact angle measurements and adhesion test have been used to evaluate the extent of grafting reaction. The results showed that LLDPE-H1 with a 2.2% maximum grafting content showed more grafting content than the LLDPE-B1 (1.86%). This effect could be attributed to the type of comonomer in LLDPE-H1 which made it more prone to chain scission than LLDPE-B1, and a higher level of grafting was achieved. The gel content measurement showed that lower cross-linked structure was formed during the grafting process in the LLDP-H1 than that in the LLDPE-B1. The optimum conditions of maximum grafting and minimum gel content were statically investigated. The optimum percentage of grafting for LLDPE-H1 was 1.82% and it was 1.74% for LLDPE-B1, with the minimum gel content of 6.5% and 9%, respectively. It was found that the amount of grafted percentage was sensitive to the concentrations of the MAH, DCP, and St, while the extent of the gel content was more sensitive to the percentage of DCP. Polyolefins J (2021) 8: 11-19

The carbon nanotube (CNT) represents one of the most unique inventions in the field of nanotechnology. CNTs have been studied closely over the last two decades by many researchers around the world due to their great potential in different fields. CNTs are rolled graphene with hybridization. The important aspects of CNTs are their light weight, small size with a high aspect ratio, good tensile strength, and good conducting characteristics, which make them useful as fillers in different materials such as polymers, metallic surfaces and ceramics. CNTs also have potential applications in the field of nanotechnology, nanomedicine, transistors, actuators, sensors, membranes, and capacitors. There are various techniques which can be used for the synthesis of CNTs. These include the arc-discharge method, chemical vaporize deposition (CVD), the laser ablation method, and the sol gel method. CNTs can be single-walled, double-walled and multi-walled. CNTs have unique mechanical, electrical and...

Due to the chemical similarity to natural calcified tissues (bones and teeth) of mammals, calcium orthophosphates (abbreviated as CaPO 4) appear to be good biomaterials for creation of artificial bone grafts. However, CaPO 4 alone have some restrictions, which limit their biomedical applications. Various ways have been developed to improve the properties of CaPO 4 and their functionalization is one of them. Namely, since surfaces always form the interfaces between implanted grafts and surrounding tissues, the state of CaPO 4 surfaces plays a crucial role in the survival of bone grafts. Although the biomedically relevant CaPO 4 possess the required biocompatible properties, some of their properties could be better. For example, functionalization of CaPO 4 to enhance cell attachment and cell material interactions has been developed. In addition, to prepare stable formulations from nanodimensional CaPO 4 particles and prevent them from agglomerating, the surfaces of CaPO 4 particles are often functionalized by sorption of special chemicals. Furthermore, there are functionalizations in which CaPO 4 are exposed to various types of physical treatments. This review summarizes the available knowledge on CaPO 4 functionalizations and their biomedical applications.

M elt free-radical grafting reactions between ethylene-propylene-dieneterpolymer (EPDM) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) were investigated in a batch mixer (170°C, 60rpm). Effect of dicumylperoxide (DCP) initiator and GMA functionalizing monomer concentrations was studied on the grafted EPDM characteristics. Titration results indicated an increase in the graft degree (GD) and gel content (GC) values with increasing DCP concentration as a result of increasing primary free radical concentration and strengthening cross-linking side reaction. FTIR spectrums confirmed that GMA functionalities have been grafted onto EPDM with appearing carbonyl (C=O) peak. After that, the resultant EPDM-g-GMA was used as compatibilizer in PS(polystyrene)/EPDM/ PA6 (polyamide6) ternary blends. The effect of rubbery compatibilizer on the blend morphology and mechanical properties was studied. The ATR-FTIR spectra of ternary blends, etched to remove unreacted PA6, demonstrated that the compatibilizing reactions occurred during melt blending. By investigating the SEM micrographs it was revealed that the EPDM-g-GMA compatibilizer at the concentration range of 5 wt.% to 15 wt.% changed the size and type of the blend morphology from separated dispersed to multicore-shell morphology. The finest morphology was achieved by using 7.5 wt.% EPDM-g-GMA. Also, the presence of compatibilizer up to 7.5 wt.% could improve the tensile modulus, yield stress and impact strength, but a decreasing trend was observed at higher concentration of the compatibilizer. Polyolefins J (2021) 8: 1-9

To date, water pollution is a global top agenda that requires ongoing evaluation and revision of water resource management at all levels. It occurs when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into the water bodies without the implementation of good management and treatment strategy. It has been reported that approximately 5 to 10 billion tons of industrial waste is generated annually, much of which is pumped untreated into rivers, oceans or groundwater, with an estimated production of 1,500 km 3 /year, six times higher than the river water volume. These effluents could be a major threat to the natural environmental and induce a potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic and allergenic impact to the aquatic environment and ecosystems. This has prompted to an urgent need for the exploration of a low cost, reliable, and simple treatment technique. Among all, adsorption process has been identified to be a feasible treatment method for the pretreatment of water pollutants. In this study, a new functionalized polymeric adsorbent was prepared, and its potential for the adsorptive treatment of textile effluent was evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as the model adsorbate. The prepared adsorbent was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption curve. The effects of modification agents, initial concentrations, contact time and solution pH on the adsorption performance were examined. Glutamic acid modification has shown the best adsorption capacity, with the monolayer adsorption capacity for MB of 205.99 mg/g. Equilibrium data were best confronted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation, while the adsorptive process was satisfactory described by the Langmuir isotherm model. Regeneration studies showed that the adsorptive uptake remain at 180.37 mg/g even after five adsorption regeneration cycles. The findings revealed the great potential of the functionalized adsorbent for the successive treatment of contaminated textile water.

Functionalization of graphene oxide leads improvement in thermal stability and flame retardancy. Acid chloride terminated N-[4-(chlorocarbonyl)phenyl]maleimide (Cl-CPMI) was synthesized to decorate hydroxyl group in graphene oxide (GEO) and glycine-reduced GEO (RGEO). Structural characterization of the materials was performed using FTIR, 13 C NMR and Raman spectroscopic methods. Interlayer distance and surface morphology were also studied using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic methods, respectively. The absence of the band for C-Cl and shortening of the O-H band in the FTIR and peak in 13 C NMR spectra confirm the functionalization of alcoholic group on the graphitic plane with Cl-CPMI. The ratio, I D /I G computed from Raman study, the nature of XRD pattern and interlayer distance between the adjacent graphitic layers were not affected by the functionalization of GEO and RGEO using Cl-CPMI. The tagging of maleimide unit with the graphitic plane was also confirmed by the cloudy appearance in the SEM images.

Atactic polystyrene (PS) was chemically modified with maleic (MAH), succinic (SAH), and phtalic (PhAH) anhydrides. Styrene was copolymerized with acrylic (AA) and methacrylic acids (MA). Amount of carboxyl groups (%) bound to polymers was determined in the range of 6.9–25.9. Different modified polystyrenes (MPS) and styrene copolymers were used in the experiments to study Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions adsorption probability and their comparison. Sorption capacity of the polymers for the metal ions were investigated in aqueous media containing different amounts of these ions (5–40 mg/L) and at different pH values (2.0–6.0). Adsorption behavior of heavy metal ions could be modeled using both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. It was found that the adsorption capacity is highest at pH value of 6, whereas it decreases as the pH value decreases at temperature 25°C ± 1°C for 240 min. The results obtained from the adsorption capacity experiments for Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions were 3.47–5.45 and 5.42–6.85 mg/g, respectively. The affinity order of polymers for both metal ions was observed as follows: SMAC > SAAC > MPS with MAH > MPS with SAH > MPS with PhAH. The maximum adsorption capacities of SMAC were 6.85mg/g for Zn(II) and 5.45 mg/g for Cu(II). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit excellent mechanical, electrical, and magnetic properties as well as nanometer scale diameter and high aspect ratio, which make them an ideal reinforcing agent for high strength polymer composites. However, since CNTs usually form stabilized bundles due to Van der Waals interactions, are extremely difficult to disperse and align in a polymer matrix. The biggest issues in