Multifunctional Performance of Hybrid SrFe12O19/BaTiO3/Epoxy Resin Nanocomposites.

Polymer matrix nanocomposites are widely studied because of the versatility of their physical and mechanical properties. When these properties are present simultaneously, responding at relative stimuli, multifunctional performance is achieved. In this study, hybrid nanocomposites of SrFe12O19 and BaTiO3 ceramic particles dispersed in an epoxy resin matrix were fabricated and characterized. The content of SrFe12O19 was varying, while the amount of BaTiO3 was kept constant. The successful fabrication of the nanocomposites and the fine dispersion of the ceramic particles was verified via the morphological and structural characterization carried out with X-ray Diffraction patterns and Scanning Electron Microscopy images. Dielectric response and related relaxation phenomena were studied by means of Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy. Dielectric permittivity augments with filler content, while the recorded relaxations, with descending relaxation time, are: (i) interfacial polarization, (ii) glass-to-rubber transition, (iii) intermediate dipolar effect, and (iv) re-orientation of polar-side groups of the main polymer chain. SrFe12O19 nanoparticles induce magnetic properties to the nanocomposites, which alter with the magnetic filler content. Static and dynamic mechanical response improves with filler content. Thermogravimetric analysis shown that ceramic particles are beneficial to the nanocomposites' thermal stability. Glass transition temperature, determined via Differential Scanning Calorimetry, was found to slightly vary with filler content, in accordance with the results from dynamic mechanical and dielectric analysis, indicating the effect of interactions occurring between the constituents. Examined systems are suitable for energy storing/retrieving.

Multitasking Performance of Fe3O4/BaTiO3/Epoxy Resin Hybrid Nanocomposites.

In this study, hybrid nanocomposites consisting of Fe3O4/BaTiO3/epoxy resin were prepared with varying amounts of filer content. Structural and morphological characterization, conducted via X-Ray Diffraction patterns and Scanning Electron Microscopy images, revealed the successful fabrication of composites and fine dispersion of inclusions. Thermomechanical properties are studied via Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermogravimetric Analysis, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis and static mechanical tests. Hybrid composites exhibit enhanced thermal stability and improved mechanical response. Indicatively, Young's modulus, tensile strength and fracture toughness increase from 1.26 GPa, 22.25 MPa, and 3.03 kJ/m3 for the neat epoxy to 1.39 GPa, 45.73 MPa, and 41.08 kJ/m3 for the composites with 20 or 15 parts per hundred resin per mass (phr) of Fe3O4, respectively. Electrical behavior is investigated via Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy and ac conductivity measurements. The real part of dielectric permittivity reaches the value of 11.11 at 30 °C for the composite with 40 phr of Fe3O4. The ability to store and retrieve electric energy on the nanocomposites is examined with the following parameters: the filler content and the applied voltage under dc conditions. Retrieved energy reaches 79.23% of the stored one, for the system with 15 phr of Fe3O4. Magnetic response is studied via a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. Magnetic saturation, for the system with the highest magnetic filler content, obtains the value of 25.38 Am2/kg, while pure magnetic powder attains the value of 86.75 Am2/kg. Finally, the multifunctional performance of the nanocomposites is assessed regarding all the exerted stimuli and the optimum behavior is discussed.

Investigating the Effect of Zn Ferrite Nanoparticles on the Thermomechanical, Dielectric and Magnetic Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites.

In this study nanocomposites consisting of an epoxy resin and ceramic zinc ferrite nanoparticles have been successfully developed and investigated morphologically and structurally by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra. The thermal properties of the nanocomposites were studied via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The thermomechanical characterization of the fabricated nanocomposites was studied via dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and the magneto-dielectric response was assessed by means of a broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and by employing a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Data analysis demonstrates that the incorporation of nanoinclusions into the matrix improves both the thermomechanical and the dielectric properties of the systems, as indicated by the increase of the storage modulus, the real part of dielectric permittivity and conductivity values with filler content, while at the same time induces magnetic properties into the matrix. Zinc ferrite nanoparticles and their respective nanocomposites exhibit superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature. Three relaxations were recorded in the dielectric spectra of all systems; originating from the filler and the polymer matrix, namely interfacial polarization, glass to rubber transition of the polymer matrix and the reorientation of small polar side groups of the polymer chain.

Mo2C/graphene heterostructures: low temperature chemical vapor deposition on liquid bimetallic Sn-Cu and hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalytic properties.

Thin 2D Mo2C/graphene vertical heterostructures have attracted significant attention due to their potential application as electrodes in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and energy storage. A common drawback in the chemical vapor deposition synthesis of these structures is the demand for high temperature growth, which should be higher than the melting temperature of the metal catalyst. The most common metallic catalyst is Cu, which has a melting temperature of 1084 °C. Here, we report the growth of thin, ∼200 nm in thickness, semitransparent micrometer-sized Mo2C domains and Mo2C/graphene heterostructures at lower temperatures using liquid Sn-Cu alloys. No Sn-associated defects are observed, making the alloy an appealing growth substrate. Raman spectroscopy reveals the vertical interaction between graphene and Mo2C, as shown by the variation in the strain of the graphene film. The results demonstrate the capability to grow continuous nanometer-thin Mo2C films at temperatures as low as 880 °C, without sacrificing the growth rate. Mo2C films are proven to be efficient electrocatalysts for the HER. Moreover, we demonstrate the beneficial role of graphene overgrown on Mo2C in reducing the HER overpotential values, which is attributed to more efficient charge transfer kinetics, compared to pure Mo2C films.

Magnetic properties of nanomagnetic and biomagnetic systems analyzed using cantilever magnetometry.

Magnetic properties of nanomagnetic and biomagnetic systems are investigated using cantilever magnetometry. In the presence of a magnetic field, magnetic films or particles deposited at the free end of a cantilever give rise to a torque on the mechanical sensor, which leads to frequency shifts depending on the applied magnetic field. From the frequency response, the magnetic properties of a magnetic sample are obtained. The magnetic field dependences of paramagnetic and ferromagnetic thin films and particles are measured in a temperature range of 5-320 K at a pressure below 10(-6) mbar. We present magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic materials Fe, Co and Ni at room temperature and also for the rare earth elements Gd, Dy and Tb at various temperatures. In addition, the magnetic moments of magnetotactic bacteria are measured under vacuum conditions at room temperature. Cantilever magnetometry is a highly sensitive tool for characterizing systems with small magnetic moments. By reducing the cantilever dimensions the sensitivity can be increased by an order of magnitude.

Disposable mercury-free cell-on-a-chip devices with integrated microfabricated electrodes for the determination of trace nickel(II) by adsorptive stripping voltammetry.

This work reports the fabrication of disposable three-electrode cells with integrated sputtered metal-film electrodes. The working electrode was a bismuth-film electrode (BiFE) while the reference and counter electrodes were made of Ag and Pt, respectively. The deposition of the metal layers was carried out by sputtering of the respective metals on a silicon substrate while the exact geometry of the electrodes was defined via a metal mask placed on the substrate during the deposition process. Initially, the electrodes were characterised by cyclic voltammetry. The utility of these devices was tested for the trace determination of Ni(II) by square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV) after complexation with dimethylglyoxime (DMG). The experimental variables (the presence of oxygen, the DMG concentration, the preconcentration potential, the accumulation time and the SW parameters), as well as potential interferences, were investigated. Using the selected conditions, the 3sigma limit of detection was 100 ng L(-1) for Ni(II) (for 90 s of preconcentration) and the relative standard deviation for Ni(II) was 2.3% at the 10 microg L(-1) level (n=8). Finally, the method was applied to the determination of Ni(II) in a certified river water sample.