Goldstein, Avi; Annor, George; Vamadevan, Varatharajan; Tetlow, Ian; Kirkensgaard, Jacob J. K.; Mortensen, Kell; Blennow, Andreas; Hebelstrup, Kim H.; Bertoft, Eric
Influence of diurnal photosynthetic activity on the morphology, structure, and thermal properties of normal and waxy barley starch
This study investigated the influence of diurnal photosynthetic activity on the morphology, molecular composition, crystallinity, and gelatinization properties of normal barley starch (NBS) and waxy barley starch (WBS) granules from plants cultivated in a greenhouse under normal diurnal (16 h light) or constant light photosynthetic conditions. Growth rings were observed…
The rational design of biomimetic skin barrier lipid formulations using biophysical methods
Bulsara, P. A.; Varlashkin, P.; Dickens, J.; Moore, D. J.; Rawlings, A. V.; Clarke, M. J.
Objective The focus of this communication was to study phospholipid-structured emulsions whose phase behaviour is modified with monoalkyl fatty amphiphiles. Ideally, these systems would mimic key physical and structural attributes observed in human stratum corneum (SC) so that they better alleviate xerotic skin conditions. Methods Phosphatidylcholine-structured emulsions were prepared, and…
Single-step electrospinning of multi walled carbon nanotubes – Poly(3-octylthiophene) hybrid nano-fibers
Bounioux, Céline; Avrahami, Ron; Vasilyev, Gleb; Patil, Nilesh; Zussman, Eyal; Yerushalmi – Rozen, Rachel
Single-step electrospinning of micro-fibers from native solutions of poly(3-octyl thiophene) (P3OT) presents a simplified processes as compared to previously reported host-guest or core–shell strategies for production of conjugated-polymers fibers. Furthermore, as P3OT is a good dispersing agent for Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWNT) the process is extended to spinning of MWNT-P3OT…
Self-assembly of PS-b-PNIPAM-b-PS block copolymer thin films via selective solvent annealing
Cetintas, Merve; Kamperman, Marleen
Block copolymer (BCP) thin films are interesting material systems for nanofabrication since they can form well-defined periodic nanostructures by microphase separation. However, attaining a specific morphology with the required orientation can be challenging. In this study, we investigated the morphological behavior of polystyrene-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-polystyrene (PS-b-PNIPAM-b-PS) BCP…
P3HT/graphene composites synthesized using In situ GRIM methods
Presto, Dillon; Song, Vivian; Boucher, David
Poly(3-hexylthiophene)/graphene (P3HT/G) materials are synthesized using an in situ Grignard metathesis approach. The structural properties and spectroscopy of the materials are studied using NMR, FTIR, and UV–vis absorption spectroscopies, wide-angle X-ray scattering, atomic force microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. P3HT regioregularities ≥90% are observed in composites with approximate graphene…
Poly(alkyl methacrylate)-grafted silica nanoparticles in polyethylene nanocomposites
Khani, Mohammad M.; Woo, Dongjin; Mumpower, Edward L.; Benicewicz, Brian C.
Surface-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (SI-RAFT) polymerization has been widely used to synthesize various polymers grafted from nanoparticles (NPs) for incorporation into polymer nanocomposites. It is believed that these grafted polymer brushes, with a similar chemistry as the matrix polymer, can be employed to improve NP dispersion by reducing unfavorable…
Structural origins of mechanical properties and hysteresis in SIS triblock copolymers/polystyrene blends with spherical morphology
López-Barrón, Carlos R.; Eberle, Aaron P. R.; Yakovlev, Sergey; Bons, Anton-Jan
The mechanical response and the corresponding microstructure of polymer blends composed of styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer and deuterated polystyrene are studied via in situ small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements during intermittent uniaxial extension. The initial blend morphologies consist of spherical PS glassy domains arranged in body-centered cubic (BCC) lattices. The…
Size-Selective Binding of Sodium and Potassium Ions in Nanoporous Thin Films of Polymerized Liquid Crystals
Bögels, Gerardus M.; Lugger, Jody AM; Goor, Olga JGM; Sijbesma, Rint P.
Advanced Functional Materials, 2016, vol 26, 44, pp. 8023–8030DOI:Visit the full articleBack to the overview
Multi-Scale Assembly of Polythiophene-Surfactant Supramolecular Complexes for Charge Transport Anisotropy
Bilger, David; Sarkar, Amrita; Danesh, Cameron; Gopinadhan, Manesh; Braggin, Gregory; Figueroa, Jose; Pham, Thanh Vy; Chun, Danielle; Rao, Yashas; Osuji, Chinedum O.; others
Macromolecules, 2017, vol 50, 3, pp. 1047–1055DOI:Visit the full articleBack to the overview
Nucleation and mechanical enhancements in polyethylene-graphene nanoplate composites
Bourque, Alexander J.; Locker, C. Rebecca; Tsou, Andy H.; Vadlamudi, Madhavi
Graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) dispersed in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were found to significantly enhance nucleation of PE crystallization, and thermal/mechanical properties of HDPE-GNP nanocomposites. Excellent dispersion of GNPs was achieved by combining solution blending and twin-screw extrusion homogenization. The dispersion state was confirmed by bimodal AFM and also by the resulting…