To screen ionic liquid (IL) candidates for wood ionosolv pulping, swelling and viscoelastic studies on Norway spruce wood treated with ionic liquids have been conducted. In particular, the temperature dependency and kinetics of swelling in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acesulfamate ([BMIM]Ace) and in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]OAc) were in focus. The kinetics of volumetric swelling in [BMIM]Ace yielded an E a of 54 kJ.mol -1 compared to 23 kJ.mol -1 in [EMIM]OAc. The viscoelastic behavior of IL-swollen wood was studied by dynamic mechanical analysis, and the lowest in situ glass transition temperature ( T g ) of lignin was ∼ 58 ° C and ∼ 65 ° C in [BMIM]Ace and in [EMIM]OAc, respectively. These T g values are lower than that found in water. Higher T g was calculated by the Gordon-Taylor equation, which means that swelling is not only due to the plasticizing effect of the ILs. SEM images showed that [EMIM]OAc has a stronger plasticizing effect than [BMIM]Ace. Overall, [EMIM]OAc is the most efficient agent for wood swelling, softening, and disintegration and, thus, it is the most promising candidate for ionosolv pulping.
Titanium dioxide (TiO 2) thin films have innumerable applications, and the preparation of nanocomposites based on TiO 2 favors the coupling of different structures that can lead to additional or enhanced properties. The aim of this chapter is to show the preparation and characterization of TiO 2 thin films and some nanocomposites based on anatase-TiO 2 , prepared by sol-gel process using the dip-coating technique. TiO 2 thin films were prepared by sol-gel process onto borosilicate glass, steel, magnet, and silicon substrates from alcoholic starting solutions containing titanium isopropoxide, isopropyl alcohol, and acids to the control of the velocity of gelation. The doped thin films, such as SiO 2 /TiO 2 , Ag/TiO 2 , and Nb/TiO 2 , were prepared adding the dopants in a form of salts or alkoxides in starting solution. The morphological, structural, and textural characterization of the films was made using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) detector, atomic force microscopy/nanoindentation, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Photoelectrical, mechanical, biological, optical, and surface properties were evaluated.
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