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The physical properties as well as thermal and electrical stability of copper particles can be improved by surface protection, which mainly depends on the coating material. Our study was, therefore, focused on the rheological, thermal, mechanical and electrical characterization of polymer composites by comparing uncoated (Cu), silver-coated (Cu@Ag) and silica-coated (Cu@Si) copper flakes in low-density polyethylene at various volume concentrations (up to 40%). Interactions among particles were investigated by rheological properties, as these indicate network formation (geometrical entanglement), which is important for mechanical reinforcement as well as establishing an electric pathway (electrical percolation). The results showed that geometrical and electrical percolation were the same for Cu and Cu@Si, ~15%, while, surprisingly, Cu@Ag exhibited much lower percolation, ~7.5%, indicating the fusion of the Ag coating material, which also decreased crystal growth (degree of crystallinity). Furthermore, the magnitude of the rheological and mechanical response remained the same for all investigated materials, indicating that the coating materials do not provide any load transfer capabilities. However, they profoundly affect electron transfer, in that, Cu@Ag exhibited superior conductivity (74.4 S/m) compared to Cu (1.7 × 10−4 S/m) and Cu@Si (1.5 × 10−10 S/m). The results obtained are important for the design of advanced polymer composites for various applications, particularly in electronics where enhanced electrical conductivity is desired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyisobutylene (PIB) is commonly used as a primary sealant in multi-layer insulating glazing elements, where temperatures often exceed 100 °C. At such conditions, PIB undergoes structural changes, causing different relaxation dynamics and leading to decreased lifetime of the material. Understanding thermal behavior is therefore imperative for achieving effective insulation of these materials for long-term use in insulating application. The present study was focused on the temperature dependence of viscoelastic behavior of two commercially available polyisobutylene (PIB) materials, which are commonly used as primary sealants for energy-efficient multi-layer glazing units. The long-term viscoelastic behavior of the materials before and after thermal treatment at high temperatures was studied by using time–temperature superposition (tTS). Van-Gurp–Palmen plots were obtained directly from experimental data and enabled the study of thermally induced changes, while the relaxation time spectra were calculated from master curves and enabled the calculation of molecular weight distribution. The results showed that, after thermal treatment, the structure of PIB materials changes from linear to branched, while the molecular weight distributions transition from monomodal to bimodal. The untreated samples exhibited viscous-like behavior, while the thermally stabilized samples exhibited solid-like behavior, extending the material response for ~6 decades towards a longer timescale. Moreover, the presented results can be directly used to simulate the mechanical responses of the sealants using currently available FEM software packages to predict their functional and structural lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectroelectrochemistry can offer important insights into the performance of materials that change properties during electrochemical treatment. The benefits of spectroelectrochemical measurements are shown through the example of an electrochromic sol–gel vanadium(V) oxide (V2O5) film. In situ UV-visible absorbance spectroelectrochemistry is indispensable to reveal the optical modulation, which reached about 28% during the first coloration in the unsafe potential range, but then diminished to around 12% during the following cycles. Ex situ IR and Raman spectroscopy were used to probe the structural modifications that occur during the intercalation of small ions into the orthorhombic structure of the crystalline V2O5 film. In particular, infrared reflection–absorption (IR RA) and IR absorption spectroelectrochemistry confirmed the red shift of the vanadyl band and the disappearance of the bridging oxygen band due to the puckering of layers of VO5 square pyramids following intercalation. In addition, Raman spectra reveal the broad and low-intensity bands of the V2O5 film after it has been coloured in the unsafe potential range. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) revealed the presence of vanadium in oxidation states V4+, V4+/V5+, and V5+ on different positions on the bleached film. Highlights: Vibrational and UV-visible spectroelectrochemistry of sol–gel electrochromic V2O5 films. In situ UV-visible absorbance of V2O5 film defines its optical modulation. Ex situ IR reflection–absorption, IR absorption during coloration and bleaching. Ex situ Raman reveals significant band changes in the unsafe potential range. Ex situ EELS spectra confirm V4+, V4+/V5+, and V5+ sites on the bleached film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin electrochromic coatings were obtained by co-grinding the mTiA particle aggregates (300 nm in size) with open-corner heptaisobutyl trisilanol POSS (T8IB7 (OH)3 POSS) acting as dispersant. After the addition of titanium tetraiso-propoxide (3-5%) the mTiA pigment dispersion was deposited on FTO glass and plastic ITO PET foils and coatings were obtained by thermal treatment at 150 °C. Optical transmittance and luminous haze from 2 to 6% of the coatings were determined from the corresponding UV-Vis spectra. The achieved electrochromic effect was evaluated by electrochemical charging/discharging in 1 M LiClO4/PC electrolyte. Results revealed that the colouring/bleaching changes depended on the extent of grinding and the size of the milling zirconia beads, enabling to distinguish between the surface charging of the mTiA grains and the filling and emptying of the anatase density of states. mTiA pigment coatings deposited on plastic foil were used in combination with Ni1-x O pigment coatings for construction of foil-based electrochromic device employing novel gel electrolyte with ionic liquid co-solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Electrochromic nickel oxide (Ni1−x O) pigment powder which was made from nickel acetate reacting with H2O2/urea solution followed by heat treatment of xerogels at 400°C (24h) was milled with zirconia beads in pure water or water with added nickel oxyhydroxy precipitate acting simultaneously as the dispersant and the coating binder. The corresponding pigment particle suspensions were spin coated on FTO glass and flexible ITO-PET foils, respectively, and cured at 150°C. The optical properties of the deposited pigment coatings on FTO glass substrates were determined with an UV VIS spectrometer, providing total direct transmittance (TT), total diffuse transmittance (DT) and haze (in %). Haze increased with the coating thickness but did not exceed 4%. SEM micrographs of the deposited pigment coatings revealed that they consisted of agglomerated Ni1−x O pigment with voids. Potential cycling of Ni1−x O pigment coatings and Ni1−x O thin films was performed in 1M LiClO4/PC and 0.1M TBA+ triflate/PC electrolytes, revealing that the pigment coatings exhibited electrochemical and electrochromic activity also in lithium free (aprotic) electrolyte, while variations of the oxidation and reduction reaction peaks at various scan rates confirmed the presence of surface electrochemical reactions. The near-grazing incidence angle reflection–absorption spectroscopic technique (IR RA) was employed for identifying surface and inner-grain Ni–O stretching modes, the former being responsible for observed electrochemical properties, which was also demonstrated from the ex situ IR RA measurements performed for coatings charged/discharged in 1M LiClO4/PC and 0.1M TBA+ triflate/PC electrolytes. The results disclosed in this study suggest that the electrochromic effect was not in direct correlation with the de-insertion/insertion of small ions into the NiO (bunsenite) grains but rather the pigment coatings behave similarly to nickel oxide electrochemical capacitors. The electrochromic response of a flexible EC devices made either of PEDOT (self-standing foil) or WO3 and Ni1−x O pigment coatings glued with PMMA based electrolytes without and with lithium salt were recorded for the demonstration of the possible practical application of wet deposited Ni1−x O pigment coatings made as “electrochromic” paints. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Polyisobutylene (PIB) is commonly used as a primary sealant in multi-layer insulating glazing elements, where temperatures often exceed 100 °C. At such conditions, PIB undergoes structural changes, causing different relaxation dynamics and leading to decreased lifetime of the material. Understanding thermal behavior is therefore imperative for achieving effective insulation of these materials for long-term use in insulating application. The present study was focused on the temperature dependence of viscoelastic behavior of two commercially available polyisobutylene (PIB) materials, which are commonly used as primary sealants for energy-efficient multi-layer glazing units. The long-term viscoelastic behavior of the materials before and after thermal treatment at high temperatures was studied by using time-temperature superposition (tTS). Van-Gurp-Palmen plots were obtained directly from experimental data and enabled the study of thermally induced changes, while the relaxation time spectra were calculated from master curves and enabled the calculation of molecular weight distribution. The results showed that, after thermal treatment, the structure of PIB materials changes from linear to branched, while the molecular weight distributions transition from monomodal to bimodal. The untreated samples exhibited viscous-like behavior, while the thermally stabilized samples exhibited solid-like behavior, extending the material response for ~6 decades towards a longer timescale. Moreover, the presented results can be directly used to simulate the mechanical responses of the sealants using currently available FEM software packages to predict their functional and structural lifetime.

The number of commercial products claiming self-cleaning properties is rising and testing of long-term activity and durability of such coatings needs to be addressed more. The time-dependent changes of different characteristics like haze, transparency, and color are essential for transparent glazing materials. Herein, we aimed to examine whether the laboratory results obtained on the Zr-modified-titania-silica (TiZr) self-cleaning materials would translate to larger-scale outdoor-exposed testing. TiZr thin films were deposited via spraying onto float glass window surfaces and exposed into three different environments for 20 months. For comparison, a commercially available active SGG BIOCLEAN TM glass and standard float glass were simultaneously exposed in the same conditions. It was shown that the self-cleaning property of either a commercial product or TiZr-coated float glass was not considerably effective in real field test conditions, although the previous laboratory tests showed pronounced photocatalytic activity of TiZr thin films. The inclination angle; however, was shown to have a considerable effect on the self-cleaning ability of samples, as did the rain patterns during the testing period. On the other hand, the anti-fogging effect of our TiZr material was very well expressed in controlled laboratory conditions (measuring droplet formation time) as well as in the real outdoor environment.

Thin electrochromic coatings were obtained by co-grinding the mTiA particle aggregates (300 nm in size) with open-corner heptaisobutyl trisilanol POSS (T(8) IB(7)(OH)(3) POSS) acting as dispersant. After the addition of titanium tetraisopropoxide (3-5%) the mTiA pigment dispersion was deposited on FTO glass and plastic ITO PET foils and coatings were obtained by thermal treatment at 150 °C. Optical transmittance and luminous haze from 2 to 6% of the coatings were determined from the corresponding UV-Vis spectra. The achieved electrochromic effect was evaluated by electrochemical charging/discharging in 1 M LiClO(4)/PC electrolyte. Results revealed that the colouring/bleaching changes depended on the extent of grinding and the size of the milling zirconia beads, enabling to distinguish between the surface charging of the mTiA grains and the filling and emptying of the anatase density of states. mTiA pigment coatings deposited on plastic foil were used in combination with Ni(1-x)O pigment coatings for construction of foil-based electrochromic device employing novel gel electrolyte with ionic liquid co-solvent.