Polymer nanocomposites continue to receive tremendous attention for application in areas such as microelectronics, organic batteries, optics, and catalysis. We have discovered that physical dispersion of nonporous, nanoscale, fumed silica particles in glassy amorphous poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne) simultaneously and surprisingly enhances both membrane permeability and selectivity for large organic m...

This research presents the interaction of the epoxy polymer diglicydil ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) with silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles plus zirconia (ZrO₂) nanoparticles obtained via the sol-gel method in the synthesis of an epoxy-silica-zirconia hybrid adhesive cured with polyamide. ZrO₂ nanoparticles were added to the epoxy-silica hybrid adhesive produced in situ to modify the apparent shear st...

In this work, size-controlled multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles having large surface areas, embedded luminescence, high magnetization, and excellent aqueous dispersity have been successfully prepared by using a simple one-pot synthesis. The size and pore ordering of these particles can be easily controlled based on the number density of Fe3O4 nanoparticle nucleation sites introduc...

In the present investigation surface modification of silica nanoparticles by alumina was carried out by sol-gel process. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) confirmed the synthesis of silica and the surface modification as alumina is anchored to silica surface. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation...

In the present investigation surface modification of silica nanoparticles by alumina was carried out by sol-gel process. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) confirmed the synthesis of silica and the surface modification as alumina is anchored to silica surface. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation...

The present study focuses on the use of copolymer nanoparticles as a dispersant for a model pigment (silica). Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) alcoholic dispersion polymerization was used to synthesize sterically stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles. The steric stabilizer block was poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMA) and the core-forming block was poly(...

The present paper investigates the effect of adding silica nanoparticles to an anhydride-cured epoxy polymer in bulk and when used as the matrix of carbonand glass-fibre reinforced composites. The formation of ‘hybrid’ epoxy polymers, containing both silica nanoparticles and carboxyl-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile (CTBN) rubber microparticles, is also discussed. The structure/property relat...

We have studied the toxicity of luminescent silica nanoparticles to living cells from the whole cell level to the molecular level, such as the effects of the nanoparticles on DNA/protein damage, DNA repair activity, cell apoptosis, cell proliferation and death. Several biological approaches were employed to characterize the toxicity of the nanoparticles, including Vybrant apoptosis assay, MTT a...