Functionalization of silicone rubber films with lysozyme was achieved by grafting copolymerization and its chemical activation allowing the covalent immobilization of the enzyme. The new materials were characterized by means of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, contact angle, atomic force microscopy, and mechanical properties of films. The enzymatic activity of films was studied by a suspension of lyophilized Micrococcus lysodeikticus. The activity test was inquired at different pH and temperatures, exhibiting enzymatic activity 20 °C above the free lysozyme, and at pH = 5 where the free lysozyme did not show activity.

Gelatin/poly(epichlorohydrin-co-ethylene oxide) [GL : PECO] composites are synthesized in a one-step process by the incorporation of elastic PECO and diclofenac. [GL : PECO] fibers are prepared by Forcespinning®. GL : PECO fibers are capable of diclofenac, by conjugation via a labile amide linkage. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results confirmed the chemical reactions and hydrogen bonds between gelatin, PECO, and diclofenac. Diclofenac drug release from GL : PECO fibers are measured for 15 days and prolonged drug release is observed. The cell viability is studied with NIH/3T3 and excellent results are observed. The sustained drug release and cytotoxicity results reveal that GL : PECO fibers could be promising substitutes for skin tissue engineering, wound healing, and drug delivery.

We use a magnetothermal resistance method to measure the lattice thermal conductivity of single-crystal Bi2Te3 from 5 to 60 K. Lattice thermal conductivity is calculated by extrapolating the thermal conductivity versus electrical conductivity curve to a zero electrical conductivity value. Our results show that the measured phonon thermal conductivity follows the ${\rm e}^{{\it\Delta} _{{\rm min}}/T}$ temperature dependence and the Lorenz ratio corresponds to the modified Sommerfeld value in the intermediate temperature range. Our low-temperature experimental data and analysis on Bi2Te3 are a complement to previous measurements of Goldsmid (Ref. 17) and theoretical calculations by Hellman et al. (Ref. 18) at higher temperature 100–300 K.

An aqueous suspension of 5 vol% silicon (Si) nanoparticles was directionally solidified at substrate temperatures between −10 and −25 °C, resulting in colonies of aligned pure ice dendrites separated by interdendritic Si particles packed walls. Channels are created by sublimation of the dendrites, and the surrounding Si walls are densified by sintering. The resulting Si foams exhibit a 76 ± 2% macroporosity, with the width of the ice-templated channels and the Si walls decreasing with solidification temperature, from 106 to 60 µm and from 34 to 17 µm, respectively. Si walls show high surface roughness from inverse templating of short secondary ice dendrite arms.

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) has good corrosion resistance, chemical stability, and thermal stability, which was widely applied in precipitator field. In this paper, a novel in situ synthesis protocol was selected to fabricate the Mn–CeO x /PPS functional composites with excellent low-temperature denitration activity. Results show that the as-obtained Mn–CeO x /PPS filter possessed of superb denitration activity at 180 °C under a weight hourly space velocity of 210,000 mL/gcat/h, which may be stemmed from the generation of amorphous and well-dispersed mixed metal oxide catalysts.

Harnessing the properties of imidazolium species, antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria was attained by binary-grafting 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) or N-isopropylacrylamide, followed by N-vinylimidazole onto polypropylene (PP) monofilaments (sutures) using 60Co γ-rays. Ulterior functionalization with methyl iodide was carried out to endow brushes with antimicrobial activity on the PP surface. The PP-grafted sutures were characterized by means of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy attenuated total reflection, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis, and regarding the mechanical properties and the responsiveness to pH and temperature. Tests were performed on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus achieving large inhibition zones.

Ni–Pt polyhedral nanoparticles were synthesized through a thermochemical route by the hot-injection method using Oleylamine (Oam) and Oleic acid (Oac) solvents as simultaneous stabilizing and reducing agents. Several syntheses were performed to study the effect of the hot-injection temperature on nanoparticle size distribution. Results revealed that the injection of precursors in a mixture of Oam and Oac at 180 °C produced paramagnetic nanoparticles with an approximate size of 27 nm; these particles have uniformly defined polyhedral structures and show greater Pt accumulation on the edges and corners. Ni–Pt polyhedral nanoparticles with larger sizes and high polydispersity were obtained as the injection temperature was increased closer to the reduction temperature.

Nickel thin films were prepared by electroless plating in a foam of electrolyte that was generated by bubbling nitrogen gas into a hypophosphite-based electroless plating solution to which was added a surfactant of sulfuric acid monododecyl ester sodium salt. Although the film growth rate in the foam was considerably lower than that in the conventional liquid, film growth was enhanced by inducing a flow in the foam. Compared with films deposited in liquid, the films deposited in foam had a smaller number of pinholes, smaller crystallite size, and superior corrosion resistance. The ferroxyl indicator test showed that the area of corrosion can be reduced to less than 1/20 by depositing the film in foam instead of liquid.

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are utilized to resolve low coupling coefficient issue by dispersing MWCNTs in poly(vinylidene fluoride) matrix to create stress reinforcing network, dispersant, and electron conducting functions for barium titanate (BT) nanoparticles. Various BT and MWCNT percentages of nanocomposite film are fabricated by FDM three-dimensional (3D) printing which can simplify the fabrication process as well as lower cost and design flexibility. Increasing MWCNTs and BT particles gradually increase piezoelectric coefficient (d 31) by 0.13 pC/N with 0.4 wt%-MWCNTs/18 wt%-BT. These results provide not only a technique to print piezoelectric nanocomposites but also unique materials combination for sensor application.

Pendent-type polymers are attractive materials which allow the flexibility to introduce various redox active moieties that facilitate rapid ion/electron transport and enable charge storage. Here, we demonstrate naphthalene diimide polymers with polynorbornene backbone having N-phenyl, PNAn 5 and N-(4-nitrophenyl), PNNO 6. Small changes in the molecular design have led to a significant difference in bulk material and device properties. PNNO 6 maintained 80% of its capacity at 1C after 10 cycles in a Li-ion coin cell. PNAn 5 displayed exceptionally high charge capacity and rate capability with excellent cyclability, maintaining almost its theoretical capacity at various C-rates throughout 500 cycles.