“Cat in a bag” recycling of dendrimer encapsulated Au nanoparticles by use of dialysis membrane bag in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol: proof of heterogeneous catalysis

Generation 4 PAMAM-NH₂ dendrimers were used as template to synthesize Au₁₃- and Au₁₀₀-dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (Au-DENs) with an average diameter of 2.1 ± 0.3 and 3.1 ± 0.5 nm respectively. Au-DENs were characterized using various techniques. Catalytic recycling of Au-DENs using a dialysis membrane bag in the reduction of 4-NP is presented. The reduction process was primarily monitored by UV–vis spectroscopy at around λ 400 nm. The catalyst was found to exhibit a very good activity and stability even after more than 3 catalytic reaction cycles without any leaching, confirming that the reduction of 4-NP is purely a heterogeneous reaction.     

Envisioning the composition effect on structural,magnetic, thermal and optical properties of mesoporous MgFe2O4-GO nanocomposites

The effect of variation in composition on the structural, magnetic, optical and photo catalytic activity of magnesium ferrite (MgFe₂O₄) -graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites was studied. Magnetic nanocomposites of GO and MgFe₂O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) with varying w/w ratio were synthesized by facile sonication method. X-Ray diffraction patterns confirmed the presence of spinel ferrite phase in the nanocomposites with the crystalline size 8–32 nm. Fourier transformation infrared (FT-IR) spectra of the nanocomposites displayed absorption bands corresponding to GO and MgFe₂O₄ NPs along with red shift of bands corresponding to C=O, C=C and O-H stretching. Thermo gravimetric analysis confirmed higher stability of nanocomposites over pristine GO. Saturation magnetization increased from 3.63 to 11.10 emu/g with the increase in content of MgFe₂O₄ NPs in the nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy analysis along with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) confirmed the presence of MgFe₂O₄ NPs along with GO sheets. Immobilization of clusters of MgFe₂O₄ NPs onto GO sheets was evident from transmission electron micrographs (TEM) of all the nanocomposites. BET surface area of the nanocomposites ranged from 63.04 to 165.29 m²/g and was maximum when GO:MgFe₂O₄ w/w ratio was 1:0.5. It was markedly higher than pristine GO and MgFe₂O₄ NPs. Optical studies revealed lowering of the band gap in the nanocomposites upto 2.21 eV as compared to pristine MgFe₂O₄ NPs. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of nanocomposites displayed quenching of PL intensity with increase of GO content. Band gap also displayed similar trend. The synthesized nanocomposites were used as photocatalysts for methylene blue dye degradation under visible light irradiation. The nanocomposite with GO to MgFe₂O₄ ratio 1:0.5 displayed best activity with complete degradation of dye in 30 min. The results confirmed that the composition of GO based magnetic nanocomposites can be tailored for efficient removal of contaminants.     

Photocrosslinkable acid urethane dimethacrylates from renewable natural oil and their use in the design of silver/gold polymeric nanocomposites

Castor oil-based acid urethane macromers were prepared and employed for obtaining Ag/Au/polymer nanocomposites. Structure and UV induced photopolymerization of the macromers were investigated by spectral methods. The polymerization rate and the degree of conversion decreased with about 10% in the presence of 2.5 wt.% silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). For the diacid macromer, the surface plasmon intensity increased with irradiation time (the optical density of the absorption maximum (430 nm) attained 2.3 after 600 s), whereas a diminished efficiency was found for Ag NPs in situ generated. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed uniform distribution of the spherical nanoparticles (0.6 nm (Ag NPs); 5 nm (Au NPs)) and the appearance of Ag 3d_3/2, Ag 3d_5/2, Au 4f_7/2 and Au 4f_5/2 peaks corresponding to Ag (0) or Au (0). Environmental scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive X-ray detector, contact angle and mechanical parameters measurements complemented the above observations.     

Ag nanoparticles anchored NiO/GO composites for enhanced capacitive performance

Hierarchical nickel oxide/graphene oxide (NiO/GO) and nickel oxide/graphene oxide/silver (NiO/GO/Ag) heterostructures were sucessfully fabricated as high-performance supercapacitors electrode materials by using a hydrothermal process and a photoreduction process. The experimental results showed that the NiO/GO/Ag heterostructure electrodes showed better electrochemical performance than those of NiO/GO and bare NiO nanosheets. The NiO/GO/Ag electrode exhibited a higher specific capacitance of 229 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹, higher than that of 161 F g⁻¹ for NiO/GO composites. Furthermore, NiO/GO/Ag electrode also showed good rate capability (still 200 F g⁻¹ at 6 A g⁻¹) and cycling stability (24% loss after 2000 repetitive cycles at a scan rate of 20 mV s⁻¹). The enhanced capacitive performance of the NiO/GO/Ag composites was mainly attributed to the introduction of Ag nanoparticles, which increased the electrical conductivities of the composites, and promoted the electron transfer between the active components. This study suggested that NiO/GO/Ag composites were a promising class of electrode materials for high performance energy storage applications.     

Synthesis and catalytic application of Pd nanoparticles in graphite oxide

Pd nanoparticles of 1–6 nm were synthesized in graphite oxide (GO) via cation exchange. The synthesis procedure involved immobilization of the precursor Pd(NH₃)₄(NO₃)₂ in GO, followed by reduction in flowing H₂. The resulting low-loaded Pd–GO material was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Structural characterization revealed that intercalation of the precursor took place in GO and the reduced Pd nanoparticles were situated both on the external surface and in the interlamellar space of the GO lamellae. The catalytic behaviour of Pd–GO was investigated in the liquid-phase hydrogenations of 3-hexyne and 4-octyne under standard conditions. For both reactants, marked turnover frequencies (18–36 s^?1) and pronounced (Z)-alkene stereoselectivities (93–98.4%) were obtained, indicating that Pd–GO was a highly active and stereoselective catalyst. For the stereoselective hydrogenation of 3-hexyne, Pd–GO exhibited an outstanding catalytic performance: at reactant:Pd (S:Pd) ratios ? 5000, complete conversions were achieved in 8–15 min and the (Z)-alkene stereoselectivities exceeded 98%.     

Soft chemistry routes for the preparation of Ag-CoFe2O4 nanocomposites

Silver-cobalt ferrite nanocomposites (Ag-CoFe₂O₄) were synthesized through wet ferritization process and self-propagating combustion method. The structure, morphology, surface chemistry and magnetic properties of the nanocomposites were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the formation of CoFe₂O₄ and Ag nanoparticles with cubic symmetry. The average crystallite size of CoFe₂O₄ by wet ferritization ranged between 60 Å and 87 Å; for those obtained by self-propagating combustion was in the range 232–290 Å. SEM micrographs revealed different morphological features of nanocomposites. Ag-CoFe₂O₄ obtained by wet ferritization exhibited typical superparamagnetic behaviour. The antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties of all silver-cobalt ferrites were evaluated. The results revealed that the Ag-CoFe₂O₄ nanocomposites exhibited good microbicidal and anti-biofilm features.     

An investigation of the mechanism of graphene toughening epoxy

The three different sized chemical functionalized graphene (GO) sheets, namely GO-1 (D₅₀ = 10.79 μm), GO-2 (D₅₀ = 1.72 μm) and GO-3 (D₅₀ = 0.70 μm), were used to fabricate a series of epoxy/GO nanocomposites. Fracture toughness of these materials was assessed. The results indicate that GO sheets were dramatically effective for improving the fracture toughness of the epoxy at a very significant low loading. The enhancement of the epoxy toughness was strongly dependent on the size of GO sheets incorporated. GO-3 with smaller sheet size gave the maximum reinforcement effect compared with GO-1 and GO-2. The incorporation of only 0.1 wt% GO-3 was observed to increase the fracture toughness of pristine epoxy by ∼75%. The toughening mechanism was well understood by fractography analysis of the tested samples. Massive cracks in the fracture surfaces of the epoxy/GO nanocomposites were observed. The GO sheets effectively disturbed and deflected the crack propagation due to its two dimensional structure. GO-3 sheets with smaller size were highly effective in resisting crack propagation, and a large area of whitening zone was observed. The incorporation of GO also enhanced the stiffness and thermal stability of the epoxy.     

Synthesis and properties of nanocomposites of WO3 and exfoliated g-C3N4

The nanocomposites of WO₃ nanoparticles and exfoliated graphitized C₃N₄ (g-C₃N₄) particles were prepared and their properties were studied. For this purpose, common methods used for characterization of solid samples were completed with dynamic light scattering (DLS) method and photocatalysis, which are suitable for study of aqueous dispersions.The WO₃ nanoparticles of monoclinic structures were prepared by a hydrothermal method from sodium tungstate and g-C₃N₄ particles were prepared by calcination of melamine forming bulk g-C₃N₄, which was further thermally exfoliated. Its specific surface area (SSA) was 115 m² g⁻¹.The nanocomposites were prepared by mixing of WO₃ nanoparticles and g-C₃N₄ structures in aqueous dispersions acidified by hydrochloric acid at pH = 2 followed by their separation and calcination at 450 °C. The real content of WO₃ was determined at 19 wt%, 52 wt% and 63 wt%. It was found by the DLS analysis that the g-C₃N₄ particles were covered by the WO₃ nanoparticles or their agglomerates creating the nanocomposites that were stable in aqueous dispersions even under intensive ultrasonic field. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) the average size of the pure WO₃ nanoparticles and those in the nanocomposites was 73 nm and 72 nm, respectively.The formation of heterojunction between both components was investigated by UV–Vis diffuse reflectance (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photocatalysis and photocurrent measurements. The photocatalytic decomposition of phenol under the LED source of 416 nm identified the formation of Z-scheme heterojunction, which was confirmed by the photocurrents measurements. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites decreased with the increasing content of WO₃, which was explained by shielding of the g-C₃N₄ surface by bigger WO₃ agglomerates. This study also demonstrates a unique combination of various characterization techniques working in solid and liquid phase.     

Negative differential resistance and improved optoelectronic properties in Ag nanoparticles-decorated graphene oxide–riboflavin hybrids

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are decorated on graphene oxide (GO)–riboflavin (R) hybrids produced with three different compositions. The SEM micrographs of the GO–R–Ag materials show a helical fibrillar morphology different from the bar and wrinkled sheet morphology of R and GO, respectively. FT-IR spectra indicate that GO produces a supra molecular complex with R and Ag NPs are stabilized by both R and GO. The UV–vis spectra show a large shift of surface plasmon band from 390 to 570 nm and the circular dichroism spectra indicate a drastic change in the GO–R–Ag system over the GO–R system for a weight ratio of GO to R of 13, suggesting that Ag NPs are wrapped by both the GO–R hybrid and R moieties. The PL-intensity of R increases in the GO–R hybrids but it decreases in the GO–R–Ag ones. The dc-conductivity of the GO–R hybrids increases by 2–3 orders of magnitude on addition of Ag NPs. The I–V characteristic curves of the GO–R–Ag (GO/R = 1/3) material shows a negative differential resistance. Possible reasons from the charge trapping on the Ag NPs followed by stabilization by R are discussed and a model using the density of states approach is proposed.     

Structural,magnetic, and textural properties of iron oxide-reduced graphene oxide hybrids and their use for the electrochemical detection of chromium

Superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were anchored on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheets by co-precipitation of iron salts in the presence of different amounts of graphene oxide (GO). A pH dependent zeta potential and good aqueous dispersions were observed for the three hybrids of Fe₃O₄ and RGO. The structure, morphology and microstructure of the hybrids were examined by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. TEM images reveal lattice fringes (d₃₁₁ = 0.26 nm) of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with clear stacked layers of RGO nanosheets. The textural properties including the pore size distribution and loading of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles to form Fe₃O₄–RGO hybrids have been controlled by changing the concentration of GO. An observed maximum (～10 nm) in pore size distribution for the sample with 0.25 mg ml^?1 of GO is different from that prepared using 1.0 mg ml^?1 GO. The superparamagnetic behavior is also lost in the latter and it exhibits a ferrimagnetic nature. The electrochemical behavior of the hybrids towards chromium ion was assessed and a novel electrode system using cyclic voltammetry for the preparation of an electrochemical sensor platform is proposed. The textural properties seem to influence the electrochemical and magnetic behavior of the hybrids.     

Development of novel magnetic-dielectric ceramics for enhancement of reflection loss in X band

The purpose of this research was to develop BaFe_9.5Al_1.5CrO₁₉-xCaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ nanocomposites (x=10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%) and investigate their structural and magnetic features. The substituted barium hexaferrite (BaFe_9.5Al_1.5CrO₁₉) nanoparticles and calcium copper titanate (CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂) particles were synthesized by the auto-combustion sol-gel method. The structural, chemical composition and morphology of CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) and the nanocomposites were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The magnetic and microwave properties of nanocomposites were also investigated by vibrating sample magnetometer and vector network analyzer, respectively. The results confirmed that 1100 °C is the optimum synthesis temperature for CCTO, the mean particles size of the CCTO particles changing from 220 nm (at 850 °C) to 2.18 µm (1250 °C). The SEM micrograph revealed that in all of the BaM-xCCTO nanocomposites (x=10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%), the CCTO dielectric particles were attached to the substituted barium hexaferrite nanoparticles, indicating the effectiveness of the adopted synthesis method. Due to the presence of a dielectric phase in the nanocomposites the saturation magnetization decreases from 22 emu/g to 12 emu/g. The coercive field was a slightly larger than substituted barium hexaferrite and increased from 5.558 kOe for substituted barium hexaferrite to 5.813 kOe for BaM-50CCTO due to hindered motion of the domain walls by the dielectric phase and also to the collective behavior of agglomerated barium ferrite nanoparticles. The BaM-30CCTO nanocomposite shows the highest value of reflection loss compared to other nanocomposites. The reflection dip frequency of BaM-30CCTO nanocomposite was −48.85 dB at 10.93 GHz.     

Fabrication of graphene nanosheet (GNS)–Fe3O4 hybrids and GNS–Fe3O4/syndiotactic polystyrene composites with high dielectric permittivity

Graphene nanosheet–Fe₃O₄ (GNS–Fe₃O₄) hybrids were obtained by a one-step solvothermal reduction of iron (III) acetylacetonate [Fe(acac)₃] and graphene oxide (GO) simultaneously, which had several advantages: (1) the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were firmly anchored on GNS surface even after mild ultrasonication; (2) the loading amount of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles could be effectively controlled by changing the initial feeding weight ratio of Fe(acac)₃ to GO; (3) the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed on the GNS surface without much aggregation. Composites based on syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) and GNS–Fe₃O₄ were prepared by a solution-blending method and the electric and dielectric properties of the resultant GNS–Fe₃O₄/sPS composites were investigated. The percolation threshold of GNS–Fe₃O₄ in the sPS matrix was determined to be 9.41 vol.%. Slightly above the percolation threshold with 9.59 vol.% of GNS–Fe₃O₄, the GNS–Fe₃O₄/sPS composite showed a high dielectric permittivity of 123 at 1000 Hz, which was 42 times higher than that of pure sPS. The AC electrical conductivity at 1000 Hz increased from 3.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ S/m for pure sPS to 2.82 × 10⁻⁴ S/m for GNS–Fe₃O₄/sPS composite containing 10.69 vol.% of GNS–Fe₃O₄, showing an obvious insulator-semiconductor transition.     

Synthesis of copper pillared bentonite ferrioxalate catalyst for degradation of 4-nitrophenol in visible light assisted Fenton process

Copper pillared bentonite catalyst (CuPBC) was developed from ferrioxalate complex and copper pillared bentonite (CuPB). The samples were characterized for physical and chemical properties. The CuPBC degraded 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in a batch ultra violet and visible light assisted Fenton process with and without pH adjustments. The best experimental condition that achieved total degradation of 100 ppm of 4-NP was 20% excess H₂O₂, 2.0 g CuPBC at 40 °C in 6 min without pH adjustments. The CuPBC reusability study showed marginal drop of 4.4% in efficiency in the 5th round of experiment. These qualities made CuPBC promising for treating 4-NP pollutant.     

Electrostatic self-assembly of graphene–silver multilayer films and their transmittance and electronic conductivity

By alternating deposition of graphene oxide (GO) sheets and silver nitrate by means of an electrostatic self-assembly method, a GO–Ag⁺ film was prepared. After thermal annealing, a graphene–silver nanoparticle (GE–Ag) multilayer film, with high transparency and electrically conductivity, was obtained. The transmittance of a film with four assembly cycles was 86.3%, at a wavelength of 550 nm, better than that of a pure GE film (73.8%). While the surface resistance was 97 kΩ □^?1, much lower than that of a pure GE film (430 kΩ □^?1). The Ag nanoparticles play a crucial role in improving the properties of the GE–Ag film, acting as conductive paths and light-trapping nanoparticles, which not only reduces the reflection of the film, but also prevents the GE sheets from aggregation and provides conductive paths between sheets, improving the electrical conductivity.     

Simultaneous reduction,exfoliation, and nitrogen doping of graphene oxide via a hydrothermal reaction for energy storage electrode materials

Nitrogen (N)-doped graphene (NG) sheets were prepared using (NH₄)₂CO₃ and an aqueous dispersion of graphene oxide (GO) by an eco-friendly hydrothermal reaction. The in situ produced ammonia played an important role in the simultaneous nitrogen doping, the reduction and exfoliation of GO. The (NH₄)₂CO₃/GO mass ratio and reaction temperature were varied to investigate the effects on the N doping level. The elemental analysis determined from the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the nitrogen content of the NG was about 10.1 at.% and the oxygen content decreased significantly due to the hydrothermal reduction of GO. The electrochemical performances of the NG sheets increased with increasing doped N content. The highest specific capacitance of 295 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 5 A g⁻¹ and the highest specific surface area of 412 m² g⁻¹ were observed with the sample processed at 130 °C. The retention of the specific capacitance was maintained at ∼89.8% after 5000 charge–discharge cycles. These results imply that NG sheets obtained by this simple eco-friendly approach are suitable for use in high performance energy storage electrode materials.     

Polyimide/nano-TiO2 hybrid films having benzoxazole pendent groups: In situ sol–gel preparation and evaluation of properties

Polyimide/titania (PI/TiO₂) nanocomposite films have been successfully fabricated through the in situ formation of TiO₂ within a PI matrix via sol–gel method. Poly(amic acid) (PAA), which is the precursor of PI, was successfully synthesized by mixing pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), with equimolar amount of a diamine monomer having a pendent benzoxazole unit and two flexible ether linkages in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent. Tetraethyl orthotitanate [Ti(OEt)₄] and acetylacetone were then added to the resulted PAA. After imidization at high temperature, PI/TiO₂ hybrid films were formed. The structure and morphology of the hybrid nanocomposites with different titania contents (0 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 15 wt%) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicate that the TiO₂ nanoparticles were homogeneously dispersed in the hybrid films. The thermogravimetric analysis of nanocomposites confirms the improvement in the thermal stability with the increase in the percentage of titania nanoparticle. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the nanoparticles with an average diameter of 25–40 nm were dispersed in the polymer matrix.     

In-situ synthesis of visible-light-driven plasmonic Ag/AgCl-CdWO4 photocatalyst

Novel plasmonic photocatalyst of Ag/AgCl-CdWO₄ was successfully synthesized via an in situ loading and photoreduction process. The as-obtained Ag/AgCl-CdWO₄ samples were characterized by various analytical techniques. The Ag/AgCl-CdWO₄ nanocomposites present a remarkable visible-light photocatalytic activity. The optimal Ag/AgCl-CdWO₄ can completely degrade RhB, MB and MO within 30 min. Moreover, 95% of phenol can also be degraded within 90 min. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was mainly attributed to two factors: the strong SPR of Ag NPs would improve the visible-light absorbance effectively. Simultaneously, the photo-generated electron–hole pairs can transfer and separate among the Ag/AgCl-CdWO₄ hybrid effectively.     

Dielectric constant and energy density of poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposites filled with core-shell structured BaTiO3@Al2O3 nanoparticles

Ceramics-polymer nanocomposites consisting of core-shell structured BaTiO₃@Al₂O₃ (BT@Al₂O₃) nanoparticles as the filler and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) as the polymer matrix were fabricated by solution casting. At the same volume fraction, the BT@Al₂O₃/PVDF nanocomposites, with larger dielectric constant and higher energy density, outperformed the BT/PVDF nanocomposites. The 2.5 vol% BT@Al₂O₃/PVDF nanocomposites at 360 MV/m had a double more energy density than pure PVDF at 400 MV/m (6.19 vs. 2.30 J/cm³), and a remarkably 42% lower remnant polarization than the 2.5 vol% BT/PVDF nanocomposites (0.99 vs. 1.69 μC/cm² at 300 MV/m). Such significant enhancement was closely related to the surface modification by Al₂O₃, which improved the insulation of BT nanoparticles and reduced the contrast of dielectric constant between the filler and the PVDF matrix.     

Electrochemically synthesized graphene/polypyrrole composites and their use in supercapacitor

Composite films consisting of polypyrrole (PPy) and graphene oxide (GO) were electrochemically synthesized by electrooxidation of 0.1 M pyrrole in aqueous solution containing appropriate amounts of GO. Simultaneous chronoamperometric growth profiles and frequency changes on a quartz crystal microbalance showed that the anionic GO was incorporated in the growing GO/PPy composite to maintain its electrical neutrality. Subsequently, the GO was reduced electrochemically to form a reduced GO/PPy (RGO/PPy) composite by cyclic voltammetry. Specific capacitances estimated from galvanostatic discharge curves in 1 M H₂SO₄ at a current density of 1 A g^?1 indicated that values for the RGO/PPy composite were larger than those of a pristine PPy film and the GO/PPy composite. In the case of 6 mg mL^?1 GO for the preparation of GO/PPy, a high specific capacitance of 424 F g^?1 obtained at the electrochemically prepared RGO/PPy composite indicated its potential for use as an electrode material for supercapacitors.     

Polyaniline/polyacrylate core–shell composites: Preparation,morphology and anticorrosive properties

Polyaniline/partially phosphorylated poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyacrylate nanoparticles ((PAn/P-PVA)_x/PAc_y) were synthesized by encapsulation of varying amounts of PAn/P-PVA nanoparticles (x = 0.3, 0.5 or 0.7 g) with PAc (y = 4, 6 or 8 g acrylate monomers) via emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. A monomer conversion level of 93.9% was achieved for the synthesis of the (PAn/P-PVA)_0.5/PAc₄ nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that PAc was intercalated between the PAn/P-PVA layers, whilst transmission electron microscopy analysis of the different nanoparticles revealed they were spherical PAn/P-PVA agglomerates coated with PAc. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the thermal stability of the (PAn/P-PVA)/PAc nanoparticles decreased with increasing amounts of PAc. Cyclic voltammetry based analysis of the different (PAn/P-PVA)/PAc nanoparticles coated onto carbon fiber electrodes revealed that the PAn/P-PVA nanoparticles were encapsulated sufficiently by the non-conductive PAc and that the peak current decreased with increasing amounts of acrylate. With respect to the corrosion resistance in 1.0 M sulfuric acid, steel coated with the (PAn/P-PVA)_0.7/PAc₈ nanocomposite showed the best corrosion resistance (11.4%), but for the nanocomposites at each PAn/P-PVA loading level, the anticorrosive properties increased with increasing PAc levels, presumably due to the increasing tortuosity of the diffusion pathway through the coating for any corrosion agents.