Chao-Hua Xue

Superhydrophobic cotton fabrics prepared by sol-gel coating of TiO2 and surface hydrophobization.

Abstract By coating fibers with titania sol to generate a dual-size surface roughness, followed by hydrophobization with stearic acid, 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane or their combination, hydrophilic cotton fabrics were made superhydrophobic. The surface wettability and topology of cotton fabrics were studied by contact angle measurement and scanning electron microscopy. The UV-shielding property of the treated fabrics was also characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometry.

Preparation of superhydrophobic surfaces on cotton textiles

Abstract Superhydrophobic surfaces were fabricated by the complex coating of silica nanoparticles with functional groups onto cotton textiles to generate a dual-size surface roughness, followed by hydrophobization with stearic acid, 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane or their combination. The wettability and morphology of the as-fabricated surfaces were investigated by contact angle measurement and scanning electron microscopy. Characterizations by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis were also conducted.

Solvent-dependent fluorescence property of multi-walled carbon nanotubes noncovalently functionalized by pyrene-derivatized polymer

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were supramolecularly functionalized by pyrene-derivatized hydrolyzed poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (pyrene-HSMA) in aqueous solution. The MWCNTs/pyrene-HSMA conjugates were found to exhibit a solvent-dependent fluorescence property by photoluminescence measurements. The fluorescence intensity of the MWCNTs/pyrene-HSMA conjugate was used as a probe to estimate the interaction between polymer and MWCNTs in solvents. The polymer conformation around the MWCNTs was demonstrated by atomic force microscopy. We suggested that pyrene-HSMA functionalized MWCNTs in a non-wrapping mode, and that the conformation change of the polymer around the MWCNTs resulted in the solvent-dependent fluorescence property. The dispersion state of the MWCNTs/pyrene-HSMA conjugate in various solvents was also investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The fluorescence responses of the MWCNTs/pyrene-HSMA conjugate to pH value and temperature were studied as well.

A green route to water soluble carbon nanotubes and in situ loading of silver nanoparticles

A green approach has been developed to synthesize water soluble multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Ag nanoparticles have been loaded on the as-synthesized MWNTs via the in situ solution method. The strategy is based on the introduction of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups through a mild modification of MWNTs via polycondensation of citric acid and D-sorbitol, improving the water solubility of MWNTs, giving rise to preferred sites of Ag nucleation, and providing mild in situ reducing agents. The modification of MWNTs and loading of Ag nanoparticles on MWNTs were demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.