Search

Abstract: A series of ultraviolet (UV) curable waterborne polyurethane-acrylate (WPUA) with different average functionalities were synthesized in new methods. The chemical structures of WPUA were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and the effect of average functionality on properties of WPUA was systemically investigated. It was found that the average functionality had a positive effect on the water resistance and tensile strength of WPUA, to make optimal formation of WPUA molecule chains available, whereas the increasing of average functionality decreased the viscosity and extension of WPUA samples. Besides, through the investigation on the UV curing kinetics, it was found that the average functionality too high or too low was unfavorable for the increase of unsaturation conversion. The morphology and microstructure of WPUA films were also comprehensively discussed with WAXD patterns and fractured surface observed from SEM images. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) templated mesoporous indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films were deposited on quartz plates by an evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process using a dip coating method. The starting solution was prepared by mixing indium chloride, tin chloride, and CTAB dissolved in ethanol. Five to fifty mole percent Sn-doped ITO films were prepared by heat-treatment at 400°C for 5h. The structural, adsorptive, electrical, and optical properties of mesoporous ITO thin films were investigated. Results indicate that the mesoporous ITO thin films have an ordered two-dimensional hexagonal (p6mm) structure, with nanocrystalline domains in the inorganic oxide framework. The continuous thin films have highly ordered pore sizes (>20Å), high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area up to 340m2/g, large pore volume (>0.21cm3/g), outstanding transparency in the visible range (>80%), and show a minimum resistivity of ρ =1.2×10−2 Ωcm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of continuous, crack-free, highly ordered amino-functionalized mesoporous silica thin films have been directly synthesized by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) in the presence of cationic CH3(CH2)15N+(CH3)3Br− (CTAB), nonionic C16H33(OCH2CH2)10OH (Brij-56) or triblock copolymer H(OCH2CH2)20(OCH(CH3)CH2)70(OCH2CH2)20)OH (P123) surfactant species under acidic conditions by sol–gel dip-coating. The molar ration of APTES/(TEOS+APTES) in the starting sol attains a value of 0.4. The effect of the sol aging on the mesostructure of thin films is systematically studied, and the optimal sol aging time is obtained for different surfactant systems. The amino-functionalized mesoporous silica thin films exhibit long-range ordering of 2D hexagonal (p6mm) and 3D cubic (Fm3m) pore arrays of size range from 2.2 to 8.3nm following surfactants extraction as demonstrated by XRD, TEM and physical adsorption techniques. Based on BET surface area and weight loss, the surface coverage of amino-groups for thin films prepared using different surfactants is calculated to be 3.2 and above amino-groups per nm2, which is very useful and promising for incorporating inorganic ions and biomolecules into these mesoporous silica materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) templated mesoporous silica thin films were deposited on glass slides by evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process using a dip-coating method. The effects of sol aging on the mesophase structure of the thin films organization were investigated. Identification of the structures was accomplished by coupling X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) investigations, and corresponding sol was characterized by 29Si solution state nuclear magnetic resonance (29Si NMR) and UV–Vis spectrophotometer for studying the mesophase structure evolution. Results indicate that sol aging has great effects on the mesophase structure of the films organization, which includes degree of order and phase transformation of mesoporous silica thin films. To obtain a better understanding of the effects of sol aging on the mesophase structure, the theories of apparent mass fractal dimension and charge density matching were introduced to explain the self-assembly process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The immobilization and electrochemistry of cytochrome c (cyt c) on amino-functionalized mesoporous silica thin films are described. The functionalized silica films with an Im3m cubic phase structure were deposited on conducting ITO substrate by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) in the presence of Pluronic F127 under acidic conditions. The high specific surface area, large pore size and functional inner surface of mesoporous silica thin films result in a high cyt c loading, and the cyt c immobilization on this silicate framework is stable. After adsorption of cyt c, the ordered cubic structure of mesoporous silica and the redox activity of immobilized cyt c are retained as demonstrated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and cyclic voltammetry. The redox behavior of the cyt c/silica film-modified ITO electrode is a surface-controlled quasi-reversible process for the experimental conditions used in this work and the electron transfer rate constant is calculated is 1.33s−1. The ITO electrode modified by cyt c/silica film possesses a high stability; even cyt c retains its redox activity following immobilization for several months. Furthermore, the electrocatalytic activities of the modified ITO electrode to hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid have been studied. Since these behaviors are quite pronounced, the modified electrode can be used for detection of hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study attempts to incorporate acrylate-based polymers into ordered lamellar organic–inorganic nanocomposite thin films composed of alternating Poly(TPGDA)/ITO layers. The films were prepared by dip-coating from a homogeneous solution containing the soluble inorganic metal salts (InCl3·4H2O and SnCl2·2H2O), surfactant, cross-linkers, organic monomers, and initiators, thus leading to composite lamellar nanocomposite materials through evaporation-induced self-assembly method. The final polymer/ITO nanocomposite thin film was obtained by a separate free-radical polymerization step, initiated by UV exposure. Structures and composition of the films were characterized using FTIR, XRD, UV–Vis spectrophotometer and TEM. The results indicated that the films were composed of organic and inorganic layers with orderly interlaced arrangement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using tetraethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as the silica sources, amino-functionalized mesoporous silica thin films with 3-dimensional cubic structure have been deposited on conducting ITO substrate in the presence of surfactant F127 templates under acid conditions. The acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and cytochrome c (Cyt c) were incorporated into the pores of mesoporous thin films, and an amperometric biosensor was obtained. After adsorption of AchE and Cyt c, the ordered cubic structure of mesoporous silica and the bioactivities and electrochemical activities of the immobilized protein and enzyme molecules were retained. The sensor properties of the biosensor were investigated by using acetylthiocholine iodide as the substrate and Cyt c as the electron transfer mediator. The inhibition versus the logarithm of concentration was found to be linear to organophosphorus pesticide dichlorvos over the concentration ranges of 1.0×10-8 mol/L to 1.0×10-3 mol/L with the detection limit of 3.1×10-9 mol/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]