Sharif Digital Repository

In this research, ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites with different nanotube concentrations (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 wt %) were prepared via in situ polymerization with a novel, bisupported Ziegler-Natta catalytic system. Magnesium ethoxide [Mg(OEt) 2] and surface-functionalized MWCNTs were used as the support of the catalyst. Titanium tetrachloride (TiCl 4) accompanied by triethylaluminum constituted the Ziegler-Natta catalytic system. Preparation of the catalyst and the polymerization were carried out in the slurry phase under an argon atmosphere. Support of the catalyst on the MWCNTs was investigated with Fourier transform... 

Multi wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) doped ZnO nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning for the first time. We have successfully demonstrated the photocatalytic activity of doped nanofibers under visible light. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the diameter of MWCNT-doped ZnO nanofibers varied from 120 to 300 nm without agglomeration of MWCNT. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies proved the formation of ZnO bond and wurtzite structure with smaller crystal size in doped nanofibers. Raman spectra demonstrated slight shift in bond position after nanofiber doping, indicating the chemical bond between MWCNT and ZnO. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy... 

Bone Tissue Engineering (BTE) composed of three main parts: scaffold, cells and signaling factors. Several materials and composites are suggested as a scaffold for BTE. Biocompatibility is one of the most important property of a BTE scaffold. In this work synthesis of a novel nanocomposite including layered double hydroxides (LDH) and gelatin is carried out and its biological properties were studied. The co-precipitation (pH=11) method was used to prepare the LDH powder, using calcium nitrate, Magesium nitrate and aluminum nitrate salts as starting materials. The resulted precipitates were dried. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron... 

A novel nano-porous hydrogel (NPH) was synthesized via graft copolymerization of sodium acrylate (Na-AA) and acrylamide (AAm) onto salep backbones and its application as a carrier matrix for oral delivery of tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) was investigated. The Taguchi method as a strong experimental design tool was used for synthesis optimization. The swelling behavior of optimum hydrogel was measured in various media. The hydrogel formation was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA). The study of the surface morphology of the hydrogels using SEM and AFM showed a nanoporous (average pore size: 180. nm) structure for the sample... 

Nanocrystalline TiO2-AgO thin films and powders were prepared by an aqueous particulate sol-gel route at the low temperature of 573 K (300 °C). Titanium tetraisopropoxide and silver nitrate were used as precursors, hydroxypropyl cellulose was used as a polymeric fugitive agent in order to increase the specific surface area. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that the phase composition of the mixed oxide depends upon the annealing temperature, being a mixture of TiO2 and AgO in the range 573 K to 773 K (300 °C to 500 °C) and a mixture of TiO2, AgO, Ag2O at 973 K (700 °C). Furthermore, one of the smallest crystallite sizes was obtained for TiO... 

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanowires and nanorods with different aspect ratios were successfully synthesized by the solvothermal method aided with various solvents, namely ethylenediamine, ethanolamine and triethylene tetraamine. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses revealed that, highly pure CdS nanostructures were crystallized with different structures and preferable growth orientations depending on solvent nature. Field emission electron microscope (FE-SEM) images showed that the aspect ratio of CdS nanostructures depends upon the dielectric constant and boiling temperature of solvents. CdS nanostructures with the highest aspect ratio in the form... 

Titanium nitride-carbon nanocomposites are synthesized by the reaction of TiCl4 and NaN3 in supercritical benzene medium that also serves as a carbon source. The as-prepared precursors (SI, SII) are subjected to several heat treatments (SIII-SV). The synthesized nanoparticles are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The samples are tested as electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in an alkaline electrolyte. It is shown that the electrocatalytic properties of the synthesized nanoparticles are... 

Hydrogels made of natural polymers [chitosan (CS) and gelatin (G)] have been prepared having mechanical properties similar to those of muscle tissues. In this study, the effect of polymer concentration and scaffold stiffness on the behavior of seeded muscle-derived cells (MDCs) on the CS-G hydrogel sheets has been evaluated. Both variables were found to be important in cell viability. Viability was assessed by observation of the cell morphology after 1 day as well as a 14-day MTT assay. The CS-G hydrogels were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, which revealed evidences of strong intermolecular interactions between CS and G. Hydrogel samples with intermediate... 

Abstract A visible light active Ag2CO3/TiO2/2-hydroxylethylammonium formate (RTIL) nanocomposite has been synthesized via loading Ag2CO3 flower-like particles on TiO2/RTIL by a simple precipitation method. TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by the modified sol-gel method using 2-hydroxylethylammonium formate (RTIL) as an ionic liquid. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform-infra red spectroscopy (FTIR) and Diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy (DRS) techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized photocatalysts... 

Colloidal quantum dot solar cells have recently attracted significant attention due to their low-processing cost and surging photovoltaic performance. In this paper, a novel, reproducible, and simple solution-based process based on supercritical fluid toluene is presented for in situ growth and deposition PbS nanocrystals with oleic-acid passivation. A lead precursor containing sulfur was mixed with oleic acid in toluene and processed in a supercritical fluid condition at different temperatures of 140, 270 and 330 °C for 20 min. The quantum dots were deposited on a fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrate inside the supercritical reactor. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction,... 

Hollow microblocks of [Zn(anic)2], as a novel coordination compound, were synthesized using 2-aminonicotinic acid (Hanic) and zinc (II) nitrate tetrahydrate. The chemical composition of the zinc complex, ZnC12H10N4O4, was determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The synthesized zinc complex was used as a precursor to produce ZnO nanostructures by calcination at 550 °C for 4 h. Morphological studies by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of porous microbricks of ZnO nanoparticles. N2 adsorption-desorption analysis showed that the... 

A series of superabsorbent composites were synthesized through graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) onto carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in the presence of celite powder using N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a cross-linking agent and ammonium persulphate (APS) as an initiator. The chemical structure and thermal properties of the composite hydrogels were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and TGA methods, respectively. Morphology of the samples was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In free-state, the swelling conditions and hence the related data are not real, because in all their applications the swelling particles of superabsorbent must absorb aqueous solutions while... 

ZnO nanoparticles have been prepared successfully by hydrogel decomposition method (HDM). Synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transition electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Narrow distribution of sizes with a 20-30 nm diameter and regular distribution of ZnO nanoparticles are attributed to the application of poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) grafted chitosan hydrogel as coating agent. The results show that the polymer thermal decomposition technique is a perfect method for the synthesis of ZnO nano particles  

A thermosensitive copolymer was synthesized by graft copolymerization of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) copolymers onto the surface of chitosan membranes. Acryloyl chloride was used as a coupling reagent for the covalent attachment of PLGA to the chitosan membranes. FTIR spectroscopy and DSC analysis were used to characterize the resulting graft copolymer. Thermosensitive swelling behaviors of the copolymer were investigated as well. The membranes exhibited reversible swelling-shrinking behavior; higher swelling ratios were obtained observed at higher temperatures. Drug permeation studies were carried out using vancomycin hydrochloride and betamethasone sodium phosphate as the model... 

Homopolymer hydrogel of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and its nanocomposite counterpart were prepared to study their swelling properties. The hydrogels showed ability to absorb and retain electrolytes as well as binary mixtures of water and organic solvents (i.e., methanol, ethanol, acetone, ethylene glycol (EG), polyethylene glycol, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The nanocomposite gel exhibited lower swelling in all solvent compositions in comparison with non-composite gel. Unlike conventional acrylic acid-based hydrogels, the poly(AMPS) gels showed superabsorbing capacity in pure ethanol, methanol, EG, DMSO and NMP. Meanwhile, swelling... 

The silanization of nanodiamond (ND) was successfully carried out by using the esterification reaction of hydrolyzed vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTS) in alcoholic solution. The surface carboxylic group of ND was first enhanced by thermal oxidation to increase the degree of esterification reaction. The extent of silane functionalization of ND was controlled by varying the weight ratio of VTS and oxidized ND (oxND), from 2:1 to 10:1 (w/w) in the functionalization reaction medium. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the highest degree of silanization occurred at VTS/oxND of 5:1 (w/w), while more silane concentrations resulted in... 

In this study, graphene materials have been synthesized with solid camphor (C10H16O) and methane gas as carbon precursors using atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique at a temperature range of 900-1000 °C for a period of 45 min over copper nanoparticles. Influence of the carbon precursors upon the shape, number of layers and yield of the synthesized graphene samples has been investigated. In this venue, the compounds synthesized were functionalized with oxygen groups and impregnated by cobalt and molybdenum active phases. Moreover, the total metal loading and Co/Mo weight ratio of prepared compounds were adjusted to their industrial nominal values of 10% and 0.33,... 

A facile approach for the preparation of core-shell structured poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)-coated Fe3O4 cluster@SiO2 nanocomposite particles as the support materials for the lipase immobilization is reported. Low- or high-molecular-weight (1800 and 100 000, respectively) PAA molecules were covalently attached onto the surface of amine-functionalized magnetic silica nanoacomposite particles. The successful preparation of particles were verified by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), zeta potential measurement, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. Once lipase is covalently... 

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), a two-dimensional transition metal has a 2D layered structure and has recently attracted attention due to its novel catalytic properties. In this study, MoS2 has been successfully intercalated using chemical and physical intercalation techniques, while enhancing its surface properties. The final intercalated MoS2 is of many interests because of its low-dimensional and potential properties in in-situ catalysis. In this research, we report different methods to intercalate the layers of MoS2 successfully using acid-treatment, ultrasonication, oxidation and thermal shocking. The other goal of this study is to form S[dbnd]O bonds mainly because of expected enhanced... 

Nanostructured copper-doped uorapatite (Cux.Ca(10X).(PO4)6.F2) having crystallite sizes of 19, 29, and 34 nm at x = 0:9, 0.4, and 0.0, respectively, was synthesized by planetary ball milling of CaO, P2O5, CaF2, and CuO powders. Specifications of the products were determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, eld emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray di raction analyses. In-vitro studies and Mossman's Tetrazole Test (MTT) assays were also conducted by incubating Cux.Ca(10X).(PO6).F2 powder into Kokubo's Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) and against BT-20 cell, respectively, to determine bioactivity and biocompatibility of the materials....