Changes in surface energy and electrical conductivity of polyimide (PI)-based nanocomposite films filled with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) induced by UV exposure are gaining considerable interest in microelectronic, aeronautical, and aerospace applications. However, the underlying mechanism of PI photochemistry and oxidation reactions induced by UV irradiation upon the surface in the presence of CNTs is still not clear. Here, we probed the interplay between CNTs and PIs under UV exposure in the surface properties of CNT/PI nanocomposite films. Changes in contact angles and surface electrical conductivity at the surface of CNT/PI nanocomposite films after UV exposure were measured. The unpaired electron intensity of free radicals generated by UV exposure was monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance. Our study indicates that the covalent interactions between CNTs and radicals generated by UV irradiation on the PI surfaces tailor the surface energy and surface conductivity through anchoring radicals on CNTs. Surprisingly, adding CNTs into PI films exposed to UV leads to antagonistic contributions of dispersion and polar components to the surface energy. The surface electrical conductivity of the CNT/PI nanocomposite films has been improved due to an enhanced hopping behavior with dense π-conjugated CNT sites. To explain the observed changes in surface energy and surface conductivity of CNT/PI nanocomposite films induced by UV exposure, a qualitative model was put forward describing the covalent interactions between UV-induced PI free radicals and CNTs, which govern the chemical nature of surface components. This study is helpful for characterizing and optimizing nanocomposite surface properties by tuning the covalent interactions between components at the nanoscale.
A mixture of water suspensions of graphene oxide (GO) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was used to make the films GO-PTFE (50:50). They became conductive (2.0-2.8 S/cm) while maintaining flexibility after reduction with hydrazine and subsequent annealing at 370 °C. The structure and morphology of the reduced films (rGO-PTFE) are examined in detail by means of a number of techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman, and contact angle wetting. The results of the films tested as current collectors in a metal-free supercapacitor with electrodes from microwave exfoliated GO and an acid (1 M H2SO4) electrolyte are presented.
When nanocarriers are used for drug delivery they can often achieve superior therapeutic outcomes over standard drug formulations. However, concerns about their adverse effects are growing due to the association between exposure to certain nanosized particles and cardiovascular events. Here we examine the impact of intravenously injected drug-free nanocarriers on the cardiovasculature at both the systemic and organ levels. We combine in vivo and in vitro methods to enable monitoring of hemodynamic parameters in conscious rats, assessments of the function of the vessels after sub-chronic systemic exposure to nanocarriers and evaluation of the direct effect of nanocarriers on vascular tone. We demonstrate that nanocarriers can decrease blood pressure and increase heart rate in vivo via various mechanisms. Depending on the type, nanocarriers induce the dilation of the resistance arteries and/or change the responses induced by vasoconstrictor or vasodilator drugs. No direct correlation between physicochemical properties and cardiovascular effects of nanoparticles was observed. The proposed combination of methods empowers the studies of cardiovascular adverse effects of the nanocarriers.
Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena/drug effects , Cardiovascular System/drug effects , Nanoparticles/adverse effects , Nanotubes, Carbon/adverse effects , Animals , Aorta, Thoracic/drug effects , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Endothelium, Vascular/drug effects , Heart Rate/drug effects , In Vitro Techniques , Injections, Intravenous , Male , Nanoparticles/administration & dosage , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Nanotubes, Carbon/chemistry , Particle Size , Polymethacrylic Acids/administration & dosage , Polymethacrylic Acids/adverse effects , Polymethacrylic Acids/chemistry , Porosity , Rats, Wistar , Silicon/administration & dosage , Silicon/adverse effects , Silicon/chemistry , Surface Properties , Vascular Resistance/drug effects , Vasodilation/drug effects
Saturable absorption of polymer film composites with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and multilayer graphene (GR) were studied by Z- and P-scan methods with femtosecond probing pulses at a wavelength of 1.06 µm. As a matrix for the composite film, a polymer carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was used. For these composites, the dependence of transmittance on peak intensity of a probe pulse was shown. The values of saturation intensities for the GR-CMC and SWNT-CMC composites were determined by the different methods. The intensities at which optical damage of the composites occurs were estimated.
We report mode locking in a Ti:sapphire (Ti:Sa) laser at the wavelength of 810 nm using a polymer film with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) applied as a saturable absorber. Pulses with 600 fs duration and 0.4 nJ energy were generated from the Ti:Sa laser with polymer-SWNT composite film for cw passive mode locking.
Nonlinear optical absorption of single-wall carbon nanotubes in carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) thin polymer film has been studied by the Z-scan method. Nonlinear saturated absorption at lambda=1080 nm was registered with saturation intensity of 170 MW/cm(2). Ultrashort pulses with duration of 3 ps were generated at lambda=1055 nm using this composite polymer film as a saturable absorber for passive mode locking in a neodymium glass laser.
We report a ring-cavity thulium fiber laser mode locked with a single-wall carbon nanotube absorber used in transmission. A carboxymethyl cellulose polymer film with incorporated carbon nanotubes synthesized by the arc discharge method has an absorption coinciding with in the amplification bandwidth of a Tm-doped fiber. This laser is pumped by an erbium fiber laser at 1.57 microm wavelength and produces a 37 MHz train of mode-locked 1.32 ps pulses at 1.93 microm wavelength with an average output power of 3.4 mW.
