Nanostructuring of poly(diphenylamine) inside the galleries of montmorillonite organo clay through self-assembly approach

Hollow spheres of poly(diphenylamine) (PDPA) was prepared by confining PDPA in the galleries of montmorillonite organo clay modified with organoammonium cations (MMT). At first instant, diphenylamine (DPA) was loaded into the galleries of MMT and subjected to subsequent oxidative polymerization to form PDPA. beta-naphthalene sulfonic acid (NSA) was used as medium to influence self-assembly of DPA inside the galleries of MMT. Polymerization of self assembled structure resulted hollow spheres of PDPA inside galleries of MMT. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the composites. Transmission emission microscopy of the composite shows the hollow spherical morphology of PDPA. FT-IR, UV-Visible spectroscopy, conductivity measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the PDPA extracted from MMT galleries. PDPA extracted from MMT galleries was found to have difference in electronic property than PDPA formed by the conventional method, due to the confinement effect.     

Free-standing TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/PANI composite nanofibers for ammonia sensors

Free-standing TiO₂–SiO₂/polyaniline (TS/PANI) composite nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning, in situ polymerization and calcination method. The effect of tetra-n-butyl titanate (TBT) in the electrospinning solution on the morphology and the ammonia sensing properties of TS/PANI composite nanofibers were investigated. The obtained nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis and gas sensor test system. It is proved that too much TBT in the solution would make the fibrous morphology and ammonia sensing properties worse. Gas sensing tests showed that the TS/PANI composite nanofibers ammonia sensor can work at room temperature and possess ideal response values, selectivity and repeatability. With the increase in TiO₂ content in the TS nanofibers, the ammonia sensing properties were improved because of the increase in P–N heterojunctions formed between TiO₂ and PANI in the sensors.     

巯基聚芳醚酮超细纤维膜的制备及对Hg~(2+)的吸附性能

以酚酞基聚芳醚酮(PEK-C)为原料,经氯甲基化、硫代乙酰化,制备了硫代乙酰化聚芳醚酮(AcSMPEK-C)。以此为前驱体,采用高压静电纺丝技术,制备了超细纤维膜,经脱乙酰基和酸化处理后,得到巯基化聚芳醚酮(SHPEK-C)超细纤维膜。差示扫描量热测试表明,该超细纤维膜的玻璃化转变温度为300℃;扫描电镜图像显示,纤维平均直径为570nm。通过静态吸附实验研究了巯基化聚芳醚酮(SHPEK-C)超细纤维膜对水中Hg~(2+)的吸附行为。结果表明,该超细纤维膜对水中Hg~(2+)的最大吸附容量为3.75 mmol Hg/g,吸附机理符合颗粒扩散和化学吸附机理共同作用。并且SHPEK-C超细纤维膜具有良好的重复使用性能。     

Chemically sensitive field-effect transistor with polyaniline-ionic liquid composite gate

A sensing layer for a chemically sensitive field-effect transistor (CHEMFET) based on a composite of camphorsulfonic acid (CSA)-doped polyaniline (PANI) and the room-temperature ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-imide, BMI(Tf2N), has been developed and characterized for the sensing of ammonia gas. The work function responses of the cast films with and without IL were analyzed by "stepwise" changes of ammonia gas concentration from 0.5 to 694 ppm in air as a function of the mole fraction of IL to PANI. The PANI x CSA/BMI(Tf2N) layers showed enhanced sensitivities, lower detection limits, and shorter response times. There is experimental evidence that PANI forms a charge-transfer complex with imidazolium cation.     

Highly Stretchable,Adaptable, and Durable Strain Sensing Based on a Bioinspired Dynamically Cross‐Linked Graphene/Polymer Composite

Flexible strain sensors can detect physical signals (e.g., temperature, humidity, and flow) by sensing electrical deviation under dynamic deformation, and they have been used in diverse fields such as human motion detection, medical care, speech recognition, and robotics. Existing sensing materials have relatively low adaptability and durability and are not stretchable and flexible enough for complex tasks in motion detection. In this work, a highly flexible self‐healing conductive polymer composite consisting of graphene, poly(acrylic acid) and amorphous calcium carbonate is prepared via a biomineralization‐inspired process. The polymer composite shows good editability and processability and can be fabricated into stretchable strain sensors of various structures (sandwich structures, fibrous structures, self‐supporting structures, etc.). The developed sensors can be attached on different types of surfaces (e.g., flat, cambered) and work well both in air and under water in detecting various biosignals, including crawling, undulatory locomotion, and human body motion.     

Hydrophobic ionic liquid-in-polymer composites for ultrafast,linear response and highly sensitive humidity sensing

Traditional ionic liquids are sensitive to humidity but with long response time and nonlinear response.Pure liquid-state ionic liquids are usually hard for dehydration which have ultralong response time for humidity sensing.The immobilization of ionic liquids provide a possible way for high performance humidity sensing.Hydrophobic materials and structures also promised faster response in humidity sensing,because of easier desorption of water.In this work,we prepared flexible humidity sensitive composites based on hydrophobic ionic liquid and polymer.The combination of hydrophobic ionic liquid with hydrophobic polymer realized linear response,high sensitivity with low hysteresis to humidity.By adjusting the ratio of ionic liquid,not only the impedance but also the hydrophobicity of composite could be modulated,which had a significant influence on the humidity sensing performance.The morphology and microstructure of the material also affected its interaction with water molecules.Due to the diverse processing methods of polymer,highly transparent film fabricated by spinning-coating and nanofibrous membrane fabricated by electrospinning could be prepared and exhibited different response time,which could be used for different application scenarios.Especially,the fibrous membrane made with electrospinning method showed an ultrafast response and could distinguish up to 120 Hz humidity change,due to its fibrous structure with high specific surface area.The humidity sensors with ultrafast,linear response and high sensitivity showed potential applications in human respiratory monitoring and flexible non-contact switch.To better show the multifunction of ionic liquid-polymer composite,as a proof of concept,we fabricated an integrated humidity sensitive color change device by utilizing lower ionic liquid content composite for sensing in the humidity sensing module and higher ionic liquid content composite as the electrolyte in the electrochromic module.     

Bioelectronic sniffer device for trimethylamine vapor using flavin containing monooxygenase

A bioelectronic sniffer device for trimethylamine (TMA) in the gas phase "fish-odor substance" was constructed using a flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3, one of xeno-biotic metabolizing enzymes) and a reaction unit with both gas and liquid cells separated by a porous poly(tetrafluoroethylene) diaphragm membrane (pore size: 30-60 /spl mu/m, thickness: 0.20 mm). A substrate regeneration cycle was applied to the FMO3 immobilized device in order to amplify the output signal by coupling the monooxygenase with a reducing reagent system of ascorbic acid (ASA) in phosphate buffer. The sniffer device with 10.0 mmol/l AsA could be used to measure TMA vapor from 0.52 to 105 ppm; this covers the maximum permissible concentration in the work place (5.0 ppm of time weighted average concentration) and the sensing level-5 of smell in humans (3.0 ppm). Since the application of the substrate regeneration cycle was possibly successful, it improved the sensitivity of the FMO3 immobilized device. The sniffer device possessed high selectivity for TMA being attributable to the FMO3 substrate specificity, continuous measurability, and good reproducibility in the repeatedly measurements (coefficient of variation = 2.41%, n=10).     

Ammonia vapor sensing properties of polyaniline-titanium(IV)phosphate cation exchange nanocomposite

In this study, the electrically conducting polyaniline-titanium(IV)phosphate (PANI-TiP) cation exchange nanocomposite was synthesized by sol-gel method. The cation exchange nanocomposite based sensor for detection of ammonia vapors was developed at room temperature. It was revealed that the sensor showed good reversible response towards ammonia vapors ranging from 3 to 6%. It was found that the sensor with p-toluene sulphonic acid (p-TSA) doped exhibited higher sensing response than hydrochloric acid doped. This sensor has detection limit ≤1% ammonia. The response of resistivity changes of the cation exchange nanocomposite on exposure to different concentrations of ammonia vapors shows its utility as a sensing material. These studies suggest that the cation exchange nanocomposite could be a good material for ammonia sensor at room temperature.     

Helical Microfilament-Electrode-Based Semi-Implantable Biosensors for In Vivo Electrochemical Detection

Semi-implantable devices have shown potential for real-time sensing of physiological information in vivo. For glucose detection in diabetes, semi-implantable electrodes have the ability to measure glucose concentration directly from interstitial fluid (ISF) with high accuracy and continuous monitoring performance. However, electrochemical detection by the amperometric method is limited by the electrode size, which can restrict signal magnitude and sensitivity of the implantable microfilament electrode. To address this limitation, a semi-implantable helical microfilament-based glucose electrode (HMGE) is developed. The helical structure of the HMGE enhances the electrochemical sensing area, while the coating with carbon nanotube and poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate provides an electron-transfer interface for electrochemical sensing. The HMGE exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity for glucose detection. Through in vitro experiments, the sensitivity of HMGE is improved by about 7 times compared with that of the non-helical structure. In in vivo studies in rats, it is demonstrated that HMGE system can continuously monitor glucose concentration changes in ISF with reasonable accuracy after signal calibrations. Furthermore, a circuit-sensing system and smartphone application are developed to support the operation of HMGE system as a phenotype. The HMGE presents a promising semi-implantable device for monitoring various electrolytes, metabolites, and biochemical signals in vivo.     

Preparation,characterization and release of amoxicillin from cellulose acetate and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) coaxial electrospun fibrous membranes

Electrospinning is a method that has been used to prepare polymeric fibers, with diameters ranging from nanometers to a micrometer of polymers such as cellulose acetate (CA) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), and to develop membranes with applications in microencapsulation, for controlled release of drugs and for chemical and biological sensors. This work shows the feasibility and optimal conditions for the preparation of fibrous composite membranes of cellulose acetate and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), via electrospinning, and their morphology; FTIR, and mechanical characterization and the effect of pH on the release of amoxicillin were analyzed. Tubes of CA with diameters around 500 nm were obtained. It was found that the release behavior of the drug from these fibrous membranes was dependent on the pH of the medium. It was observed that the amount of amoxicillin released as a function of time for a pH equal to 7.2 was approximately three times higher than that observed for a pH equal to 3.0. This suggests a greater interaction of amoxicillin with components of the membrane at a pH equal to 3.0, most likely due to the formation of hydrogen bonds. These materials have potential application in gastrointestinal administration and for transdermal patches.     

Inkjet-printed microfluidic multianalyte chemical sensing paper

This paper presents an inkjet printing method for the fabrication of entire microfluidic multianalyte chemical sensing devices made from paper suitable for quantitative analysis, requiring only a single printing apparatus. An inkjet printing device is used for the fabrication of three-dimensional hydrophilic microfluidic patterns (550-mum-wide flow channels) and sensing areas (1.5 mm x 1.5 mm squares) on filter paper, by inkjet etching, and thereby locally dissolving a hydrophobic poly(styrene) layer obtained by soaking of the filter paper in a 1 wt % solution of poly(styrene) in toluene. In a second step, the same inkjet printing device is used to print "chemical sensing inks", comprising the necessary reagents for colorimetric analytical assays, into well-defined areas of the patterned microfluidic paper devices. The arrangement of the patterns, printed inks, and sensing areas was optimized to obtain homogeneous color responses. The results are "all-inkjet-printed" chemical sensing devices for the simultaneous determination of pH, total protein, and glucose in clinically relevant concentration ranges for urine analysis (0.46-46 muM for human serum albumin, 2.8-28.0 mM for glucose, and pH 5-9). Quantitative data are obtained by digital color analysis in the L*a*b* color space by means of a color scanner and a simple computer program.     

Naked-eye cadmium sensor: using chromoionophore arrays of Langmuir-Blodgett molecular assemblies

This study demonstrates the possibility of a reversible naked-eye detection method for submicromolar levels of cadmium(II) using the Langmuir-Blodgett (L-B) technique. Molecular assemblies of 4-n-dodecyl-6-(2-thiazolylazo)resorcinol are transferred on precleaned microscopic glass slides, to act as a sensing probe. Isotherm (pi-A) measurements were performed to ensure the films' structural rigidity and homogeneity during sensor fabrication. The sensor surface morphology was characterized using atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The probe membrane exhibits visual color transition, forming a series of reddish-orange to pinkish-purple complexes with cadmium, over a wide concentration range (0.04-44.5 microM). Cadmium response kinetics and the changes in the sensors' intrinsic optical properties were monitored using absorption spectroscopy and further confirmed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A hybrid L-B film composite of poly(vinyl stearate) and poly(vinyl-N-octadecylcarbamate) were investigated for enhancing sensor performance. The sensor was tested for its practical approach to prove its cadmium selectivity and sensitivity amid common matrix constituents using synthetic mixtures and real water samples. Using the sensor strips, the respective lower limits of cadmium detection and quantification are 0.039 and 0.050 microM, as estimated from a normalized linear calibration plot.     

Polyvinyl alcohol-cellulose composite: a taste sensing material

There are reports of fabrication of taste sensor by adsorbing lipids into Millipore filter paper. With this lipid based sensor, it has been found that the taste sensing efficiency of membrane can be remarkably improved. We have made an attempt to prepare taste sensor material by using functionalized polymer without any lipid. PVA-cellulose composite has been modified to use as the sensor material. The research work covers polymer membrane preparation, morphology study and structural characterization of the membrane and study of the taste sensing characteristics of this membrane for five different taste substances. PVA-cellulose composite membrane was modified by phosphorylation with POCl₃. FTIR spectroscopic analysis, XRD analysis and SEM were done to get an idea about the structure and morphology of the prepared phosphorylated PVA-cellulose composite membrane. The sensor characteristics like temporal stability, response stability, response to different taste substances, and reproducibility of sensing performance were studied using phosphorylated PVA-cellulose composite membrane. Sensor device prepared with this membrane has shown distinct response patterns for different taste substances in terms of membrane potential. Threshold concentrations of phosphorylated PVA-cellulose composite membrane for HCl, NaCl, Q-HCl, sucrose and MSG are 0001 mM, 0.001 mM, 0.001 mM, 0.001 mM and 0.009 mM, respectively. The threshold concentrations are below human threshold concentrations. Membranes also showed characteristic response patterns for organic acids like acetic acid, citric acid, formic acid etc, mineral acids like HCl, H₂SO₄ and HNO₃ salts, bitter substances, sweet substances and umami substances. Sensor device prepared with this membrane has excellent shelf life.     

聚吡咯/壳聚糖复合膜的制备及其对Cu(Ⅱ)和Cr(Ⅵ)吸附机制

以聚吡咯(PPy)和壳聚糖(CS)为原料,制备PPy/CS复合膜,通过红外、孔径分析、热分析和SEM等手段对其结构进行表征,并研究了PPy/CS复合膜对Cu(Ⅱ)和Cr(Ⅵ)吸附性能的影响及吸附机制,考察了pH值、吸附时间、溶液起始浓度等因素对吸附率的影响.结果表明,初始浓度对吸附率影响最大;在pH=3.5、温度为33...     

Asbestos free friction composition for brake linings

An asbestos free friction material composite for brake linings is synthesized containing fibrous reinforcing constituents, friction imparting and controlling additives, elastomeric additives, fire retarding components and a thermosetting resin. The composite shows exemplary friction characteristics and has great resistance to wear and shows good temperature stability.     

钒流电池用磺化聚芴醚酮-聚苯胺原位表面复合质子交换膜的制备

质子交换膜是液流电池的核心部件之一。文中以磺化聚芴醚酮(SPFEK)膜为基膜,采用稀溶液化学氧化聚合法在SPFEK膜表面原位复合一层聚苯胺,通过调整苯胺(An)单体的浓度,制得SPFEK/PANI复合膜。采用扫描电镜与红外光谱表征了复合膜的结构,表明聚苯胺已经成功地在SPFEK膜表面复合。通过钒流单电池的性能测试,结果表明,当苯胺单体的浓度为0.05 mol/L时,所制备的复合质子交换膜具有最高的H+传导选择性,所组装的钒流电池具有最好的自放电性能,在充放电流为50 m A/cm~2时,电池的库仑效率、电压效率、能量效率分别达到95%,83%,75%。     

Capillary-assembled microchip for universal integration of various chemical functions onto a single microfluidic device

A novel concept for assembling various chemical functions onto a single microfluidic device is proposed. The concept, called a capillary-assembled microchip, involves embedding chemically functionalized capillaries into a lattice microchannel network fabricated on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The network has the same channel dimensions as the outer dimensions of the capillaries. In this paper, we focus on square capillaries to be embedded into a PDMS microchannel network having a square cross section. The combination of hard glass square capillary and soft square PDMS channel allows successful fabrication of a microfluidic device without any solution leakage, and which can use diffusion-based two-solution mixing. Two different types of chemically modified capillaries, an ion-sensing capillary and a pH-sensing capillary, are prepared by coating a hydrophobic plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane and a hydrophilic poly(ethyleneglycol) membrane containing functional molecules onto the inner surface of capillaries. Then, they are cut into appropriate lengths and arranged on a single microchip to prepare a dual-analyte sensing system. The concept proposed here offers advantages inherent to using a planar microfluidic device and of chemical functionality of immobilized molecules. Therefore, we expect to fabricate various types of chemically functionalized microfluidic devices soon.     

Glucose-sensing electrode coated with polymer complex gel containing phenylboronic Acid

We have prepared a copolymer containing both phenylboronic acid and tertiary amine moieties. The copolymer forms a stable complex with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) since boronate moieties interact with PVA hydroxyl groups. The polymer-polymer complex changes its swelling degree with glucose concentration in Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS) at pH 7.4, due to the higher complex formation of boronic acid moieties with glucose hydroxyl groups over those in PVA. Glucose-responsive swelling changes of a membrane complex were then utilized to control glucose-responsive current changes with a membrane-coated platinum electrode. Glucose addition to PBS induces swelling of the cast gel membrane, leading to increased diffusion of ion species and thus increased measurable current changes. Since the addition of methyl α-d-glucoside has little influence on the current changes, the current change by the addition of glucose is indicative of the high selectivity of this system for glucose and its cis-hydroxyl groups in glucose. It is observed that current changes are proportional to glucose concentration in the range 0-300 mg/dL. This range corresponds well to physiological blood glucose levels. Current change rates determined from the slope of the time course immediately after glucose addition are also proportional to glucose concentration within this range, yielding even higher sensitivity to the change in glucose concentration. Reproducible signal output is also demonstrated by repetitive, stepwise glucose concentration changes. These results support the applicability of the platinum electrode coated with the gel membrane complex comprising a phenylboronic acid-containing polymer and PVA for a novel glucose-sensing device.     

Co‐Delivery of Doxorubicin and siRNA with Reduction and pH Dually Sensitive Nanocarrier for Synergistic Cancer Therapy

Drug resistance is the greatest challenge in clinical cancer chemotherapy. Co‐delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and siRNA to tumor cells is a vital means to silence drug resistant genes during the course of cancer chemotherapy for an improved chemotherapeutic effect. This study aims at effective co‐delivery of siRNA and anticancer drugs to tumor cells. A ternary block copolymer PEG‐PAsp(AED)‐PDPA consisting of pH‐sensitive poly(2‐(diisopropyl amino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDPA), reduction‐sensitive poly(N‐(2,2′‐dithiobis(ethylamine)) aspartamide) PAsp(AED), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is synthesized and assembled into a core‐shell structural micelle which encapsulated doxorubicin (DOX) in its pH‐sensitive core and the siRNA‐targeting anti‐apoptosis BCL‐2 gene (BCL‐2 siRNA) in a reduction‐sensitive interlayer. At the optimized size and zeta potential, the nanocarriers loaded with DOX and BCL‐2 siRNA may effectively accumulate in the tumor site via blood circulation. Moreover, the dual stimuli‐responsive design of micellar carriers allows microenviroment‐specific rapid release of both DOX and BCL‐2 siRNA inside acidic lysosomes with enriched reducing agent, glutathione (GSH, up to 10 mm ). Consequently, the expression of anti‐apoptotic BCL‐2 protein induced by DOX treatment is significantly down‐regulated, which results in synergistically enhanced apoptosis of human ovarian cancer SKOV‐3 cells and thus dramatically inhibited tumor growth.     

Indium oxide thin film based ammonia gas and ethanol vapour sensor

A sensor for ammonia gas and ethanol vapour has been fabricated using indium oxide thin film as sensing layer and indium tin oxide thin film encapsulated in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a miniature heater. For the fabrication of miniature heater indium tin oxide thin film was grown on special high temperature corning glass substrate by flash evaporation method. Gold was deposited on the film using thermal evaporation technique under high vacuum. The film was then annealed at 700 K for an hour. The thermocouple attached on sensing surface measures the appropriate operating temperature. The thin film gas sensor for ammonia was operated at different concentrations in the temperature range 323–493 K. At 473 K the sensitivity of the sensor was found to be saturate. The detrimental effect of humidity on ammonia sensing is removed by intermittent periodic heating of the sensor at the two temperatures 323K and 448 K, respectively. The indium oxide ethanol vapour sensor operated at fixed concentration of 400 ppm in the temperature range 293–393 K. Above 373 K, the sensor conductance was found to be saturate. With various thicknesses from 150–300 nm of indium oxide sensor there was no variation in the sensitivity measurements of ethanol vapour. The block diagram of circuits for detecting the ammonia gas and ethanol vapour has been included in this paper.