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Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design

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A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanocomposite Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2021) | Viewed by 33145

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Eckert

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1. Erich Schmid Institute of Materials Science, Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), Jahnstraße 12, 8700 Leoben, Austria
2. Department of Materials Science, Montanuniversität Leoben, Franz Josef-Straße, 18 A-8700 Leoben, Austria
Interests: nanostructured materials; metastable materials; functional and structural materials; materials for energy storage, conversion; materials for biomedical applications; bulk structures, particles, powders, thin films; physical and mechanical properties; structure-property correlations; composite structures; additive manufacturing techniques

Prof. Dr. Daniel Kiener

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Department Materials Science, Chair of Materials Physics, Montanuniversität Leoben, Jahnstrasse 12, 8700 Leoben, Austria
Interests: micro- and nanomechanics and micro- and nanostructure characterization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanocomposites have the potential to enable material properties that exceed the capabilities of their individual constituent phases by far, thereby, enabling the exploration of white areas on material property charts. In this inaugural Special Issue for the newly released subsection Nanocomposites in the Journal Nanomaterials, we aim to provide an overview of the state of the art in enabling novel structural and functional material properties using nanocomposites. We welcome contributions regarding the synthesis, characterization, modeling, and in-depth understanding of the mechanisms governing the outstanding properties of this fascinating material class. Properties of interest encompass, but are not limited to, structural properties (e.g., strength, ductility, and high-temperature stability), functional properties (e.g., soft magnetic properties, energy storage, and radiation resistance), and property by design strategies (bioinspired design, topology optimization).

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Eckert
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Daniel Kiener
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Nanocomposites
nanolaminates
interface design
strength-ductility tradeoff
size effects

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 184 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue “Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design”

by Jürgen Eckert and Daniel Kiener

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(3), 586; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030586 - 1 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1068

Abstract

Nanocomposites bear the potential to enable novel material properties that considerably exceed the capabilities of their individual constituent phases, thereby enabling the exploration of white areas on material property charts [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design)

Research

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17 pages, 3656 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄@CA Nanoparticles and Their Potential as Draw Solution Agents in Forward Osmosis

by Irena Petrinic, Janja Stergar, Hermina Bukšek, Miha Drofenik, Sašo Gyergyek, Claus Hélix-Nielsen and Irena Ban

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 2965; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112965 - 4 Nov 2021

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 3336

Abstract

In this study, citric acid (CA)-coated magnetite Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@CA MNPs) for use as draw solution (DS) agents in forward osmosis (FO) were synthesized by co-precipitation and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and magnetic measurements. Prepared 3.7% w/w colloidal solutions of Fe₃O₄@CA MNPs exhibited an osmotic pressure of 18.7 bar after purification without aggregation and a sufficient magnetization of 44 emu/g to allow DS regeneration by an external magnetic field. Fe₃O₄@CA suspensions were used as DS in FO cross-flow filtration with deionized (DI) water as FS and with the active layer of the FO membrane facing the FS and NaCl as a reference DS. The same transmembrane bulk osmotic pressure resulted in different water fluxes for NaCl and MNPs, respectively. Thus the initial water flux with Fe₃O₄@CA was 9.2 LMH whereas for 0.45 M NaCl as DS it was 14.1 LMH. The reverse solute flux was 0.08 GMH for Fe₃O₄@CA and 2.5 GMH for NaCl. These differences are ascribed to a more pronounced internal dilutive concentration polarization with Fe₃O₄@CA as DS compared to NaCl as DS. This research demonstrated that the proposed Fe₃O₄@CA can be used as a potential low reverse solute flux DS for FO processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design)

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13 pages, 2712 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Temperature Nanoindentation of an Advanced Nano-Crystalline W/Cu Composite

by Michael Burtscher, Mingyue Zhao, Johann Kappacher, Alexander Leitner, Michael Wurmshuber, Manuel Pfeifenberger, Verena Maier-Kiener and Daniel Kiener

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 2951; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112951 - 3 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2508

Abstract

The applicability of nano-crystalline W/Cu composites is governed by their mechanical properties and microstructural stability at high temperatures. Therefore, mechanical and structural investigations of a high-pressure torsion deformed W/Cu nanocomposite were performed up to a temperature of 600 °C. Furthermore, the material was annealed at several temperatures for 1 h within a high-vacuum furnace to determine microstructural changes and surface effects. No significant increase of grain size, but distinct evaporation of the Cu phase accompanied by Cu pool and faceted Cu particle formation could be identified on the specimen′s surface. Additionally, high-temperature nanoindentation and strain rate jump tests were performed to investigate the materials mechanical response at elevated temperatures. Hardness and Young′s modulus decrease were noteworthy due to temperature-induced effects and slight grain growth. The strain rate sensitivity in dependent of the temperature remained constant for the investigated W/Cu composite material. Also, the activation volume of the nano-crystalline composite increased with temperature and behaved similar to coarse-grained W. The current study extends the understanding of the high-temperature behavior of nano-crystalline W/Cu composites within vacuum environments such as future fusion reactors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design)

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11 pages, 3510 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Physical Surface Modification of Carbon-Nanotube/Polydimethylsiloxane Composite Electrodes for High-Sensitivity DNA Detection

by Junga Moon, Huaide Jiang and Eun-Cheol Lee

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(10), 2661; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11102661 - 10 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2341

Abstract

The chemical modification of electrode surfaces has attracted significant attention for lowering the limit of detection or for improving the recognition of biomolecules; however, the chemical processes are complex, dangerous, and difficult to control. Therefore, instead of the chemical process, we physically modified the surface of carbon-nanotube/polydimethylsiloxane composite electrodes by dip coating them with functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (F-MWCNTs). These electrodes are used as working electrodes in electrochemistry, where they act as a recognition layer for sequence-specific DNA sensing through π–π interactions. The F-MWCNT-modified electrodes showed a limit of detection of 19.9 fM, which was 1250 times lower than that of pristine carbon/polydimethylsiloxane electrodes in a previous study, with a broad linear range of 1–1000 pM. The physically modified electrode was very stable during the electrode regeneration process after DNA detection. Our method paves the way for utilizing physical modification to significantly lower the limit of detection of a biosensor system as an alternative to chemical processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design)

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14 pages, 2399 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sintering Bonding of SiC Particulate Reinforced Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites by Using Cu Nanoparticles and Liquid Ga in Air

by Zeng Gao, Congxin Yin, Dongfeng Cheng, Jianguang Feng, Peng He, Jitai Niu and Josip Brnic

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(7), 1800; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11071800 - 10 Jul 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2417

Abstract

SiC particulate reinforced aluminum metal matrix composites (SiC_p/Al MMCs) are characterized by controllable thermal expansion, high thermal conductivity and lightness. These properties, in fact, define the new promotional material in areas and industries such as the aerospace, automotive and electrocommunication industries. However, the poor weldability of this material becomes its key problem for large-scale applications. Sintering bonding technology was developed to join SiC_p/Al MMCs. Cu nanoparticles and liquid Ga were employed as self-fluxing filler metal in air under joining temperatures ranging from 400 °C to 500 °C, with soaking time of 2 h and pressure of 3 MPa. The mechanical properties, microstructure and gas tightness of the joint were investigated. The microstructure analysis demonstrated that the joint was achieved by metallurgical bonding at contact interface, and the sintered layer was composed of polycrystals. The distribution of Ga was quite homogenous in both of sintered layer and joint area. The maximum level of joint shear strength of 56.2 MPa has been obtained at bonding temperature of 450 °C. The specimens sintering bonded in temperature range of 440 °C to 460 °C had qualified gas tightness during the service, which can remain 10⁻¹⁰ Pa·m³/s. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design)

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18 pages, 6870 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Cold Rolling on the Evolution of Shear Bands and Nanoindentation Hardness in Zr_41.2Ti_13.8Cu_12.5Ni₁₀Be_22.5 Bulk Metallic Glass

by Abhilash Gunti, Parijat Pallab Jana, Min-Ha Lee and Jayanta Das

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(7), 1670; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11071670 - 25 Jun 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3436

Abstract

The effect of cold rolling on the evolution of hardness (H) and Young’s modulus (E) on the rolling-width (RW), normal-rolling (NR), and normal-width (NW) planes in Zr_41.2Ti_13.8Cu_12.5Ni₁₀Be_22.5 (Vitreloy 1) bulk metallic glass (BMG) was investigated systematically using nanoindentation at peak loads in the range of 50 mN–500 mN. The hardness at specimen surface varied with cold rolling percentage (%) and the variation is similar on RW and NR planes at all the different peak loads, whereas the same is insignificant for the core region of the specimen on the NW plane. Three-dimensional (3D) optical surface profilometry studies on the NR plane suggest that the shear band spacing decreases and shear band offset height increases with the increase of cold rolling extent. Meanwhile, the number of the pop-in events during loading for all the planes reduces with the increase of cold rolling extent pointing to more homogeneous deformation upon rolling. Calorimetric studies were performed to correlate the net free volume content and hardness in the differently cold rolled specimens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design)

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29 pages, 12625 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental, Theoretical and Simulation Studies on the Thermal Behavior of PLA-Based Nanocomposites Reinforced with Different Carbonaceous Fillers

by Giovanni Spinelli, Rosella Guarini, Rumiana Kotsilkova, Evgeni Ivanov and Vittorio Romano

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(6), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11061511 - 7 Jun 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3035

Abstract

Many research efforts have been directed towards enhancing the thermal properties of polymers, since they are classically regarded as thermal insulators. To this end, the present study focuses on the thermal investigation of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) filled with two types of carbon nanotubes (trade names: TNIMH4 and N7000), two type of graphene nanoplatelets (trade names: TNIGNP and TNGNP), or their appropriate combination. A significant increase in the thermal conductivity by 254% with respect to that of unfilled polymer was achieved in the best case by using 9 wt% TNIGNP, resulting from its favorable arrangement and the lower thermal boundary resistance between the two phases, matrix and filler. To theoretically assist the design of such advanced nanocomposites, Design of Experiments (DoE) and Response Surface Method (RSM) were employed, respectively, to obtain information on the conditioning effect of each filler loading on the thermal conductivity and to find an analytical relationship between them. The numerical results were compared with the experimental data in order to confirm the reliability of the prediction. Finally, a simulation study was carried out with Comsol Multiphysics^® for a comparative study between two heat sinks based on pure PLA, and to determine the best thermally performing nanocomposite with a view towards potential use in heat transfer applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design)

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16 pages, 55782 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hierarchical Microstructure of Tooth Enameloid in Two Lamniform Shark Species, Carcharias taurus and Isurus oxyrinchus

by Jana Wilmers, Miranda Waldron and Swantje Bargmann

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(4), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11040969 - 9 Apr 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3608

Abstract

Shark tooth enameloid is a hard tissue made up of nanoscale fluorapatite crystallites arranged in a unique hierarchical pattern. This microstructural design results in a macroscopic material that is stiff, strong, and tough, despite consisting almost completely of brittle mineral. In this contribution, we characterize and compare the enameloid microstructure of two modern lamniform sharks, Isurus oxyrinchus (shortfin mako shark) and Carcharias taurus (spotted ragged-tooth shark), based on scanning electron microscopy images. The hierarchical microstructure of shark enameloid is discussed in comparison with amniote enamel. Striking similarities in the microstructures of the two hard tissues are found. Identical structural motifs have developed on different levels of the hierarchy in response to similar biomechanical requirements in enameloid and enamel. Analyzing these structural patterns allows the identification of general microstructural design principles and their biomechanical function, thus paving the way for the design of bioinspired composite materials with superior properties such as high strength combined with high fracture resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design)

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15 pages, 6585 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Nanoscale Urushiol/PAN Films to Evaluate Their Acid Resistance and Protection of Functional PVP Films

by Kunlin Wu, Bing-Chiuan Shiu, Ding Zhang, Zhenhao Shen, Minghua Liu and Qi Lin

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(4), 957; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11040957 - 9 Apr 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2635

Abstract

Different amounts of urushiol were added to a fixed amount of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) to make nanoscale urushiol/PAN films by the electrospinning method. Electrospinning solutions were prepared by using dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent. Nanoscale urushiol/PAN films and conductive Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) films were prepared by electrospinning. In order to prepare an electrospun sandwich nanoscale film, urushiol/PAN films were deposited as both the top and bottom layers and PEDOT:PSS/PVP film as the inner layer. When the PAN to urushiol ratio was 7:5, the fiber diameter ranged between 150 nm and 200 nm. The single-layer urushiol/PAN film could not be etched after being immersed into 60%, 80%, and 100% sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) for 30 min, which indicated the improved acid resistance of the PAN film. The urushiol/PAN film was used to fabricate the sandwich nanoscale films. When the sandwich film was immersed into 80% and 100% H₂SO₄ solutions for 30 min, the structure remained intact, and the conductive PVP film retained its original properties. Thus, the working environment tolerability of the functional PVP film was increased. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design)

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16 pages, 2992 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fabricating Femtosecond Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures with Electrophysical Anisotropy on Amorphous Silicon

by Dmitrii Shuleiko, Mikhail Martyshov, Dmitrii Amasev, Denis Presnov, Stanislav Zabotnov, Leonid Golovan, Andrei Kazanskii and Pavel Kashkarov

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11010042 - 26 Dec 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3077

Abstract

One-dimensional periodic surface structures were formed by femtosecond laser irradiation of amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H) films. The a-Si:H laser processing conditions influence on the periodic relief formation as well as correlation of irradiated surfaces structural properties with their electrophysical properties were investigated. The surface structures with the period of 0.88 and 1.12 μm were fabricated at the laser wavelength of 1.25 μm and laser pulse number of 30 and 750, respectively. The orientation of the surface structure is defined by the laser polarization and depends on the concentration of nonequilibrium carriers excited by the femtosecond laser pulses in the near-surface region of the film, which affects a mode of the excited surface electromagnetic wave which is responsible for the periodic relief formation. Femtosecond laser irradiation increases the a-Si:H films conductivity by 3 to 4 orders of magnitude, up to 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ S∙cm, due to formation of Si nanocrystalline phase with the volume fraction from 17 to 28%. Dark conductivity and photoconductivity anisotropy, observed in the irradiated a-Si:H films is explained by a depolarizing effect inside periodic microscale relief, nonuniform crystalline Si phase distribution, as well as different carrier mobility and lifetime in plane of the studied samples along and perpendicular to the laser-induced periodic surface structures orientation, that was confirmed by the measured photoconductivity and absorption coefficient spectra. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design)

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Review

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48 pages, 1749 KiB

Open AccessReview

Some Thermoelectric Phenomena in Copper Chalcogenides Replaced by Lithium and Sodium Alkaline Metals

by Marzhan M. Kubenova, Kairat A. Kuterbekov, Malik K. Balapanov, Rais K. Ishembetov, Asset M. Kabyshev and Kenzhebatyr Z. Bekmyrza

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(9), 2238; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11092238 - 30 Aug 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4344

Abstract

This review presents thermoelectric phenomena in copper chalcogenides substituted with sodium and lithium alkali metals. The results for other modern thermoelectric materials are presented for comparison. The results of the study of the crystal structure and phase transitions in the ternary systems Na-Cu-S and Li-Cu-S are presented. The main synthesis methods of nanocrystalline copper chalcogenides and its alloys are presented, as well as electrical, thermodynamic, thermal, and thermoelectric properties and practical application. The features of mixed electron–ionic conductors are discussed. In particular, in semiconductor superionic copper chalcogenides, the presence of a “liquid-like phase” inside a “solid” lattice interferes with the normal propagation of phonons; therefore, superionic copper chalcogenides have low lattice thermal conductivity, and this is a favorable factor for the formation of high thermoelectric efficiency in them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Structural and Functional Material Properties Enabled by Nanocomposite Design)

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