Abstract: Nanocomposite compositions and methods for preparing nanocomposite compositions films are provided. The nanocomposite compositions include dendritic fibrous nanoparticles that have a diameter ranging from 50 to 500 nm, and a polymer matrix comprising poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), where dendritic fibrous nanoparticles are dispersed within the polymer matrix, and where the PMMA is bound to the surface of the dendritic fibrous nanoparticles. Methods of preparing nanocomposite compositions and nanocomposite films including the nanocomposite compositions may include introducing dendritic fibrous nanoparticles into a mixture with a poly(methyl methacrylate) in a solution to form a composite solution.

Abstract: A functionalized inorganic filler includes a dendritic fibrous nanoparticle that has a surface functionality including at least one amine functional group linked to a surface of the dendritic fibrous nanoparticle. A method of making a functionalized inorganic filler includes reacting an inorganic particle precursor and a shape-directing agent to provide a dendritic fibrous nanoparticle, then reacting the dendritic fibrous nanoparticle with a reactive compound that has at least one amine functional group to form the functionalized inorganic filler. A polymer composite includes an epoxy-based polymer matrix and a functionalized inorganic filler.

Abstract: A functionalized inorganic filler includes an inorganic particle that including a surface functionality that is at least one reactive cyclic carbonate group linked to a surface of the inorganic particle. A method of making a functionalized inorganic filler includes providing inorganic particles with at least one reactive compound to form a reactive mixture, agitating the reactive mixture to form a modified inorganic particle having a reactive surface functionality, and reacting the modified inorganic particle with a cyclizing compound to form the functionalized inorganic filler. A polymer composite includes an epoxy-based polymer matrix including an amine curing agent and a functionalized inorganic filler.

Abstract: A layered photovoltaic device and a composition for a topcoat of a photovoltaic device are described. The layers of the photovoltaic device include a topcoat and a silicon cell. The topcoat includes one or more first nanoparticles and a polymer. The first nanoparticles comprise a lattice material and two or more Lanthanide ions. The topcoat composition comprises a polymer and one or more first nanoparticles dispersed within the polymer. The one or more nanoparticles comprise a lattice including a first material comprising ytterbium.

Abstract: Transparent articles and methods of producing transparent articles are provided. The transparent article includes hydrophobic nanoparticles dispersed within poly(methyl methacrylate). The method of producing transparent articles includes pouring a transparent article precursor into a mold, the transparent article precursor comprising nanoparticles, a solvent, and a polymer, and the mold comprising a flat surface. The method also includes placing the mold into a container having an adjustable opening and allowing the solvent to evaporate from the transparent article precursor, thereby forming the transparent article over the flat surface of the mold. The method further includes flattening the transparent article, in which flattening the transparent article includes positioning a flat article on a first side of the transparent article, and compressing the transparent article between the flat surface and the flat article.

Abstract: A doubly degradable polymer composition may include one or more aliphatic polyesters and one or more imine functional groups. The imine functional groups may be incorporated into the aliphatic polyester backbone. A method of preparing a doubly degradable polymer composition may include polymerizing one or more lactone monomers to form a polylactone polymer and reacting the polylactone polymer with a bis-imine compound to incorporate one or more imine functional groups into the polylactone polymer backbone. A method of degrading a doubly degradable polymer composition may include providing a doubly degradable polymer composition including one or more ester functional groups and one or more imine functional groups and exposing the doubly degradable polymer composition to at least one of water, an elevated temperature, and soil, thereby hydrolyzing at least one cleavable covalent bond to produce an aldehyde and an amine.

Abstract: Nanocomposite compositions and methods for preparing nanocomposite compositions films are provided. The nanocomposite compositions include dendritic fibrous nanoparticles that have a diameter ranging from 50 to 500 nm, and a polymer matrix comprising poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), where the dendritic fibrous nanoparticles have a hydrophobic coating and are dispersed within the PMMA matrix. Methods of preparing nanocomposite compositions may include introducing dendritic fibrous nanoparticles into a mixture with a poly(methyl methacrylate) and an organic solvent to form a composite solution. Methods further include casting the mixture onto a glass sheet within a mold, evaporating the organic solvent to form the nanocomposite film, and separating the nanocomposite film from the glass sheet.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, an antifouling material may be produced by forming a nanostructured mold, where a liquid mold precursor is contacted with a textured surface of a nanostructured template, the liquid mold precursor is solidified to the nanostructured template, and the formed nanostructured mold is removed from the nanostructured template. The antifouling material may be formed by contacting a liquid precursor mixture with a textured surface of the nanostructured mold, solidifying the liquid precursor mixture onto the nanostructured mold, and removing the formed antifouling material from the nanostructured mold. The antifouling material may include a nanostructured surface and may further include a toxin.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, an antifouling material may include a body that includes a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, wherein at least a portion of the first major surface is textured and includes a nanostructured surface, where the nanostructured surface includes an average surface feature size of less than 100 nm. According to one or more embodiments, the body may include a polymer and a toxin, where the toxin is covalently bonded to the polymer. According to one or more embodiments, the body may include an epoxy and capsaicin.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a hydrophobic coating on a surface of a solid substrate which includes a layer-integrable material includes the steps of depositing a deformable layer of the layer-integrable material onto the surface of the solid substrate, forcibly embedding a plurality of particles within the deformable layer, and solidifying the deformable layer including the plurality of particles so as to be integral with the surface of the solid substrate. At least a portion of the plurality of particles is embedded at a threshold depth within the deformable layer prior to solidification.

Abstract: A composite insulating material is provided. In one or more configurations the composite insulating material includes one or more active or responsive elements that mitigate corrosion under insulation (CUI). In a further aspect of the present invention, one or more active components of a composite insulation material are provided that dynamically generate an insoluble barrier within an insulating material through a bio-mineralization process.

Abstract: A polymer composite formed from an epoxy based polymer and an amino-graphene. The epoxy based polymer forms a polymer matrix and the amino graphene is dispersed throughout the polymer matrix. Further, a graphene is functionalized with 3,5-dinitrophenyl groups to form functionalized graphene and one or more amine functional groups form Meisenheimer complexes with the functionalized graphene to form the amino-graphene. An associated method of making the polymer composite is also provided.

Abstract: An anti-corrosive coating for a substrate surface comprises an insulation layer positioned over the substrate and a cured epoxy layer positioned on the insulation layer, the cured epoxy layer including a plurality of nanoparticles having diameters within a range of about 200 nm to about 350 nm. Water droplets positioned on an external surface of the cured epoxy layer form a contact angle of at least 130 degrees.

Abstract: Nanocomposite compositions and methods for preparing nanocomposite compositions films are provided. The nanocomposite compositions include dendritic fibrous nanoparticles that have a diameter ranging from 50 to 500 nm, and a polymer matrix comprising poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), where dendritic fibrous nanoparticles are dispersed within the polymer matrix, and where the PMMA is bound to the surface of the dendritic fibrous nanoparticles. Methods of preparing nanocomposite compositions and nanocomposite films including the nanocomposite compositions may include introducing dendritic fibrous nanoparticles into a mixture with a poly(methyl methacrylate) in a solution to form a composite solution.

Abstract: Nanocomposite compositions and methods for preparing nanocomposite compositions films are provided. The nanocomposite compositions include dendritic fibrous nanoparticles that have a diameter ranging from 50 to 500 nm, and a polymer matrix comprising poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), where the dendritic fibrous nanoparticles have a hydrophobic coating and are dispersed within the PMMA matrix. Methods of preparing nanocomposite compositions may include introducing dendritic fibrous nanoparticles into a mixture with a poly(methyl methacrylate) and an organic solvent to form a composite solution. Methods further include casting the mixture onto a glass sheet within a mold, evaporating the organic solvent to form the nanocomposite film, and separating the nanocomposite film from the glass sheet.

Abstract: Photovoltaic modules include a front sheet, a back sheet, a photovoltaic layer, a first encapsulant layer, and a second encapsulant layer. The front sheet is made of or includes a composite of a thermoplastic material and a nanoparticle filler dispersed in the thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material is a poly(methyl methacrylate) or a polycarbonate. The nanoparticle filler may include nanoparticles such as silica nanoparticles, titania nanoparticles, zirconia nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles, and combinations thereof, for example. The photovoltaic layer is interposed between the front sheet and the back sheet and includes at least one photovoltaic cell. The first encapsulant layer is interposed between the front sheet and the at least one photovoltaic cell. The second encapsulant layer is interposed between the at least one photovoltaic cell and the back sheet.

Abstract: Corrosion-resistant coatings and methods of making and using the coatings are provided. The corrosion-resistant coating includes magnetic particles dispersed in a polymer matrix, where the polymer matrix is non-polar and at least partially hydrophobic and the magnetic particles contain an adhesion region comprising a ferromagnetic material, and a polymer interface region surrounding the adhesion region comprising a plurality of ligands, where each ligand comprises an anchoring end and a non-polar end. Methods of producing corrosion-resistant articles are also provided. The methods include applying a corrosion-resistant coating to an article and curing the coating.

Abstract: A corrosion-indicating material and methods of producing and using the corrosion-indicating material are provided. The corrosion-indicating material comprises a cured product of reacting a bisphenol A diglycidyl ether epoxy (DGEBA) resin with a curing agent, the curing agent comprising a 1,10-phenanthroline derivative having formula (I): where: R1 and R2 are independently selected from —NH2; —NH(CH2)aNH2, where a is 1, 2, or 3; —OC(?O)(CH2)bNH2, where b is 1, 2, or 3; and —H; R3 and R4 are either: non-joined monovalent radicals each independently chosen from —H, —NH2, and (C1-C20)heterohydrocarbyls comprising at least one primary amine or at least one secondary amine; or joined as a single divalent radical, the single divalent radical being a (C1-C40)heterohydrocarbyl comprising at least one primary amine or at least one secondary amine; and at least one of R1, R2, R3, and R4 is not —H.

Abstract: A polymer composite formed from an epoxy based polymer and an amino-graphene. The epoxy based polymer forms a polymer matrix and the amino graphene is dispersed throughout the polymer matrix. Further, a graphene is functionalized with 3,5-dinitrophenyl groups to form functionalized graphene and one or more amine functional groups form Meisenheimer complexes with the functionalized graphene to form the amino-graphene. An associated method of making the polymer composite is also provided.

Abstract: A system is provided that utilizes electromagnetic energy for bacteria elimination from cooling systems, such as water cooling tower systems that are used to cool down a heat exchanger in oil industry and it can be also extended to be used in the bacteria removal associated to crude oil.