Zuzana Kozakova

The Electrorheological Behavior of Suspensions Based on Molten-Salt Synthesized Lithium Titanate Nanoparticles and Their Core–Shell Titanate/Urea Analogues

This paper concerns the preparation of novel electrorheological (ER) materials using microwave-assisted synthesis as well as utilizing a suitable shell-providing system with enhanced ER performance. Lithium titanate nanoparticles were successfully synthesized, and their composition was confirmed via X-ray diffraction. Rheological properties were investigated in the absence as well as in the presence of an external electric field. Dielectric properties clarified the response of the particles to the application of an electric field. The urea-coated lithium titanate nanoparticle-based suspension exhibits higher ER performance in comparison to suspensions based on bare particles.

The formation mechanism of iron oxide nanoparticles within the microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis and its correlation with the structural and magnetic properties

Magnetic nanoparticles based on Fe3O4 were prepared by a facile and rapid one-pot solvothermal synthesis using FeCl3·6H2O as a source of iron ions, ethylene glycol as a solvent and NH4Ac, (NH4)2CO3, NH4HCO3 or aqueous NH3 as precipitating and nucleating agents. In contrast to previous reports we reduce the synthesis time to 30 minutes using a pressurized microwave reactor without the requirement of further post-treatments such as calcination. Dramatically reduced synthesis time prevents particle growth via Ostwald ripening thus the obtained particles have dimensions in the range of 20 to 130 nm, they are uniform in shape and exhibit magnetic properties with saturation magnetization ranging from 8 to 76 emu g(-1). The suggested method allows simple particle size and crystallinity tuning resulting in improved magnetic properties by changing the synthesis parameters, i.e. temperature and nucleating agents. Moreover, efficiency of conversion of raw material into the product is almost 100%.

Hybrid nanostructured Ag/ZnO decorated powder cellulose fillers for medical plastics with enhanced surface antibacterial activity

Hybrid inorganic–organic fillers based on nanostructured silver/zinc oxide decorations on micro-cellulose carrier particles were prepared by stepwise microwave assisted hydrothermal synthesis using soluble salts as precursors of silver and zinc oxide. Hexamethylenetetramine was used as precipitating agent for zinc oxide and reducing agent for silver. The inorganics covered all available surfaces of the cellulose particles with a morphology resembling a coral reef. Prepared particulate fillers were compounded to medical grade poly(vinyl chloride) matrix. Scanning electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffractometry were used to investigate the morphology and crystalline phase structure of fillers. The scanning electron microscopy was used for morphological study of composites. With respect to prospective application, the composites were tested on electrical and antibacterial properties. A small effect of water absorption in polymer composites on their dielectric properties was observed but no adverse effect of water exposure on prepared materials was manifested. Electrical conductivity of fillers and composites was measured and no influence of water soaking of composites was found at all. The surface antibacterial activity of prepared composites was evaluated according to the standard ISO 22196. Excellent performance against Escherichia coli and very high against Staphylococcus aureus was achieved.

Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for High Frequency Applications

Magnetic properties of iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized by microwave solvothermal method are reported. The effect of the nucleating agent on the composition, size, morphology and microstructure of nanoparticles was studied with a view to their correlation with magnetic properties. It is shown that a soft magnetic material with high value of magnetization saturation and high-frequency dispersion of complex permeability can be obtained by an appropriate choice of the nucleating agent.

Electrorheological behaviour under oscillatory shear of TiO2 rod-like particles prepared via microwave-assisted molten-salt synthesis

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) rod-like particles were synthesized by a simple and rapid microwave-assisted molten-salt method. The X-ray diffraction analysis and electron microscopy provided information on particle composition and morphology, respectively. It was found that during the synthesis process the crystalline phase of TiO2 transformed from anatase into rutile while the morphology changed from nanospheres into micrometer sized rod-like particles. The electrorheological (ER) properties were investigated via oscillatory shear tests. It was found that TiO2 rod-like particles based silicone oil suspensions exhibited higher ER activity than those of original anatase TiO2 nanoparticles probably due to side-by-side solid friction between particles as well as shorter time of their polarization. The changes in ER properties of rod-like particle based suspensions as a function of the applied electric field strength and particles weight fraction were also investigated.