RESUMO
Graphene has been considered as a material that may overcome the limitations of polymer semi-permeable membranes in water treatment technology. However, monolayer graphene still suffers from defects that cause leakage. Here, we report a method of sealing defects in graphene transferred onto porous polymer substrate via reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The influence of various reducing agents (e.g., vitamin C, hydrazine) on the properties of rGO was investigated by SEM, Raman, FTIR, and XRD. Subsequently, membranes based on graphene/reduced graphene oxide were tested in a forward osmosis system using sodium chloride (NaCl). The effect of the effectiveness of the reduction of graphene oxide, the type and number of attached groups, the change in the distance between the rGO flakes, and the structure of this material were examined in terms of filtration efficiency. As a result, semi-permeable centimetre-scale membranes with ion blocking efficiency of up to 90% and water flux of 20 mL h-1 m-2 bar-1 were proposed.
RESUMO
Diamond-like carbon (DLC) flakes were produced using a dual-frequency method: microwave/radiofrequency plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition (MW/RF PACVD) with the use of methane or its mixture with gases such as hydrogen, argon, oxygen or nitrogen. Their modification was performed using a planetary ball mill with and without a fluid: deionised water or methanol. Changes occurring in the morphology of flake surfaces were presented in pictures taken using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Their composition and chemical structure were analysed using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The presented research results show that it is possible to control the size of flakes and their chemical structure. An increase in the C-C sp3 bond content in produced carbon-based materials is only possible by modifying DLC flakes during their production process by introducing oxygen or argon into the working chamber together with the carbon-carrying gas. In the processes of mechanical DLC flake modification, it is necessary to add fluid to limit the occurrence of graphitisation processes. The research conducted shows that methanol is best used for this purpose as its use results in a decrease in the percentage of C-C sp3 bonds as compared to the materials, before milling, of only 1.7%. A frequent problem both in the production of DLC flakes and during their mechanical modification is the introduction of additional elements into their structure. Admixing electrode materials from the plasma-chemical device (iron) or grinding beads (zirconium) to DLC flakes was observed in our studies. These processes can be limited by the appropriate selection of production conditions or by mechanical modifications.
RESUMO
We have assembled and studied melt-processed all-polymer lasers comprising distributed Bragg reflectors that were fabricated in large sheets using a co-extrusion process and define the cavities for dye-doped compression-molded polymer gain core sheets. Distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) resonators consisting of 128 alternating poly(styrene) (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) layers were produced by multilayer co-extrusion. Gain media were fabricated by compression-molding thermoplastic host poly notmers doped with organic laser dyes. Both processing methods can be used in high-throughput roll-to-roll manufacturing. Optically pumped DBR lasers assembled from these components display single and multimode lasing in the reflection band of the resonators, with a slope efficiency of nearly 19% and lasing thresholds as low as 90microJ/cm(2). The lasing wavelength can be controlled via the layer thickness of the DBR resonator films, and variation of the laser dye. Studies of threshold and efficiency are in agreement with models for end-pumped lasers.
