C. Borriello

Mechanochemical Exfoliation of Graphite and Its Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanocomposites with Enhanced Barrier Properties

Polyvinylalcohol/graphite nanocomposites with graphite nanosheets have been prepared by a mechanical method based on grinding of graphite powder, under low energy pure shearing milling, using water or KOH as lubricant. The use of different lubricant concurs to obtain graphite sheets that differently disperse in hydrophilic polymeric matrix. An improvement of water vapor permeability (up to 12%), compared with homopolymer, has been observed.

Nanocomposites of POC and quantum dots

New luminescent polymer nanocomposites were synthesized combining carbazole/oxadiazole copolymer (POC) and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) surface passivated by ionic liquids. Ionic liquid ligands improve the photostability of QDs and their compatibility with polymer allowing the deposition of homogeneous nanocomposites films. The nanocomposites were characterized by UV and photoluminescence spectroscopy.

Luminescent nanocomposites of conducting polymers and in-situ grown CdS quantum dots

Luminescent PVK:CdS and P3HT:CdS nanocomposites with enhanced electrooptical properties have been synthesized. The nucleation and growth of CdS nanoparticles have been obtained by the thermolysis of a single Cd and S precursor dispersed in the polymers. The size distribution and morphology of the nanoparticles have been studied by TEM analyses. Monodispersive and very small nanoparticles of diameter below 3 nm in PVK and 2 nm in P3HT, have been obtained. The application of such nanocomposites as emitting layers in OLED devices is discussed.

Preliminary experimental results of the hierarchical growth of carbon nanotubes on recovered carbon fibers by CCVD method

9th International Conference on Times of Polymers and Composites: From Aerospace to Nanotechnology

Structural morphological and optical properties of P3HT/CdSe/WS2 ternary composites for hybrid organic/inorganic photovoltaics

Abstract The development of complete organic/inorganic hybrid solar cells (HOSCs) is strictly related to the achievement of appealing electrical performances. In this context, the optimization of device architectures and of the active material’s structural and morphological properties is crucial. In this work, such highly critical issues are addressed for a novel hybrid nanocomposite: tungsten disulfide nanotubes (WS2 NTs) and cadmium selenide quantum dots (CdSe QDs) embedded into a Poly (3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) polymeric matrix. Both binary and ternary compounds are produced and investigated by means of an unconventional energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction technique combined with atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, the effects of low-temperature thermal treatments on the nanocomposite’s structure and morphology are disclosed, unraveling their connection of these features to the optical response of the materials, investigated by UV–Vis spectroscopy. Promising results are obtained in terms of enhanced crystallinity, phase separation, and the possibility of decorating the WS2 NTs with CdSe dots is demonstrated, opening new perspectives for further development of complete HOSCs based on this innovative ternary system.

Thermal properties of PMMA and PS filled with organo‐silylated Montmorillonite

Clay minerals dispersed in a polymer matrix at the nanoscale show an improvement of many polymer properties at relatively low loadings. However a modification of hydrophilic clay surface is necessary to increase the compatibility with the hydrophobic polymer matrix. In this study the modification by organosilane of a commercial montmorillonite, containing alkylammonium cations, has been investigated. These organo‐modified montmorillonites (OMMTs) have been also used to prepare Polystyrene (PS) and Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) nanocomposites by in‐situ polymerization and their structural and thermal properties have been examined.