Volume 45, Issue 1

Magnetic metallic embedded conducting polymeric nanostructures have demonstrated a pivotal role in high-performance supercapacitors. Numerous research studies have attempted to develop new hybrid electrode materials through the incorporation of electronically conductive polymers into magnetic metallic oxides. To further enhance the electrochemical performance of conducting polymer (CP)–magnetic metal oxide (MMO) hybrid nanocomposites, an additional component (carbon-based material) has been mostly introduced into it. The focus of this review has been on highlighting the electrochemical importance of CP–MMO nanostructured composites in supercapacitor applications. The hybrid nanocomposite materials resulting from embedding conjugated polymers [polyaniline, polypyrrole, and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)] and MMO (MnO 2 , NiO, and Co 3 O 4 ) have been taken into consideration for discussion from most recent literature covering the period 2018–2024. The concise information presented in this review article will create awareness among researchers about the latest developments in the field of green energy-storing devices, particularly in the case of supercapacitors.

Four polyacrylate materials with different mass ratios of soft and rigid segment were made by semi-continuous pre-emulsified seed emulsion polymerization. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA) were used as soft and rigid segments, and acrylic acid (AA) was used as the functional segment. The composite emulsifiers were composed of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (OP-10). In this study, we successfully fabricated polyacrylate (PA). The morphology of the latex particles was spherical, with a diameter of ∼200 nm. With the increase of BA content, the glass transition temperature ( T g ) of PA decreased. The PA curing agent could significantly improve the soil’s mechanical property and water resistance. The compressive strength of PA-1 solidified soil increased to 2.67 MPa, which 187 % higher than the pure soil sample (PA-0). Meanwhile, PA-1 solidified soil would not break down after being immersed in water for 30 days. This indicated that PA emulsion had an efficient solidification ability and a good water resistance, which was beneficial to sand fixation and slope protection.

Active CaCO 3 (AC) was prepared via a carbonization‒wet modification process, and a PBAT/PPCU/active CaCO 3 composite films (FAC) was obtained via the blown film method using AC and polybutylene adipate‒terephthalate (PBAT)/polymethyl ethylene carbonate-thermoplastic polyurethane rubber (PPCU). The influence of AC on the performance of the FAC was investigated via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry (TG), rheological behavior, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission rate of water vapor, and tensile properties. The addition of AC significantly improved the thermostability and crystallization ability of the composite film system. With increasing addition of AC, the tensile strength and breaking elongation of the FACs both tended to increase but then decreased. Compared with F-0, FAC-20 presented the most remarkable tensile performance, with tensile strength and breaking elongation increasing by 21.83 % and 18.56 %, respectively. Furthermore, the transmission rate and permeability of water vapor of FAC-20 were reduced by 21.45 % and 38.78 %, respectively. The addition of AC improved the interfacial compatibility of the PBAT phase and the PPCU phase, which improved the complex viscosity, loss modulus, and storage modulus of the FACs.

In the last decade, polysaccharide dressings have become a popular research area owing to their low toxicities, good biocompatibilities, and their abilities to modulate and accelerate wound healing. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a naturally occurring, neutral polysaccharide that is biocompatible and highly modifiable. In addition, KGM-based hydrogels are innovative wound dressings that effectively promote the healing of injured blood vessels and wound fibres. In this review, we summarise how KGM has been modified and used in hydrogel wound-dressing applications, starting with its material properties and gelation mechanism. We then discuss recent advances in the study of systems for enhancing KGM hydrogels and KGM hydrogel wound dressings, emphasising the special benefits of such hydrogels in terms of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, their wound-healing capabilities, as drug carriers and growth promoters, as well as their functionalisation. Finally, this paper discusses the primary obstacles and potential avenues for the advancement of wound dressings with the aim of establishing a theoretical foundation and point of reference for future research into KGM functional materials.

An efficient composite adsorbent was prepared based on acryloyl starch/carboxymethyl cellulose grafting copolymerization for the adsorptive removal of methylene blue. The developed composite hydrogels were characterized by means of FTIR, SEM (EDS-SEM), and XRD. Various parameters affecting the removal of methylene blue such as the type of adsorbents, pHs, the amount of adsorbents dosage, initial methylene blue concentration, and contact time were optimized using a series of batch adsorption experiments. The experimental data of the adsorption process were more fitted to Langmuir isotherm ( R 2  = 0.9898) with a maximum adsorption capacity of 483.5 mg/g and batch kinetic experiments revealed that the adsorption process followed quasi-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption process was rapid and equilibrium was reached within 30 min. When the adsorption dosage is 0.2 g L −1 , the adsorption yield for 100 mg L −1 methylene blue solution can reach 96.7 %. Therefore, acryloyl starch/carboxymethyl cellulose grafting copolymerization composite hydrogel present excellent adsorption efficiency, shows the potential application in future treatment of dyes wastewater.

Conductive filter membranes have shown great potential in alleviating membrane fouling. In this study, polypyrrole (PPy) was used as the conductive material and sodium anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQS) was used as the dopant to perform surface modification on the PVDF membrane. After modification, the contact angle of the membrane decreased from 79.40° to 48.57°, and the electrical conductivity of membrane increased from zero to 1.60 S/cm. The good hydrophilicity and electrical conductivity of PPy-AQS/PVDF endowed it with superior antifouling capabilities, reducing the static protein (BSA) adsorption from 0.147 mg/cm 2 to 0.097 mg/cm 2 . Under the action of an electric field of −0.1 V, the flux decay rate of PPy-AQS/PVDF decreased, and the flux recovery rate improved.

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is the most widespread type of additive manufacturing technology. However, the extrusion based process limits the interfacial bonding strength and dimensional accuracy of the printed parts. This paper presents a gas assisted nozzle to localized heating around filament through hot air flow, to maintain the temperature of the filament stays and improve the quality of the bonding. The impact of assist gas temperature (55 °C–295 °C), flow rate (1 L/min–3 L/min) and pressure (0.2 MPa–0.5 MPa) on filament extrudation, layer consolidation, and the printed parts thermal properties, as well as the mechanical properties were investigated. It is shown that the swell ratio of extruded filament and dimensional difference of layer thickness can be controlled by varying the assist gas parameters. The assist gas raises the temperature of the exudate and the existing layer near the nozzle, leading to 73.6 % increase in crystallinity, 19.4 % increase in tensile strength and 48.4 % impact strength. The gas assisted pre-heating approach represents an effective way to increase interlayer strength can be employed as an additional control parameter to improve the thermal and mechanical properties of the FDM printed parts.

Globally, the environment and public health are progressively threatened due to water resource contaminants. For this purpose, a unique polyfunctional nanocomposite is created to remediate heavy metals from aqueous media. The basis of it is TiO 2 composite nanoparticles (NPs) manufactured via embedding titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) into acacia gum/acrylic acid (AG/AAc). Nanocomposite hydrogels, bearing different functional groups, are constructed employing a gamma irradiation approach that would operate as adsorbents to remove strontium (Sr 2+ ) and nickel (Ni 2+ ) ions from their wastes. The structure of the prepared hydrogel and its nanocomposites were confirmed by FTIR, whereas the morphology was characterized by SEM. XRD and EDX analysis confirms that the TiO 2 NPs are successfully encapsulated into the prepared hydrogel. The presence of TiO 2 enhances the thermal stability of the prepared hydrogel. Adsorption extent is evaluated comprehensively concerning temperature, contact time, adsorbent dosage, metal ion concentration, and pH. The physical connection between the adsorbent surface and metal ions is strengthened once TiO 2 NPs are included in a copolymeric matrix, which enhances adsorption. Pseudo-second-order kinetics accurately depict the adsorption process, and the Freundlich isotherm provides the most relevant explanation of the equilibrium data. There is a demonstration that sorption is a spontaneous, feasible, and endothermic chemisorption process by examining a variety of thermodynamic parameters, including ΔH, ΔG, and ΔS.