Purpose: Plasmonic photo thermal therapy (PPTT) is a therapeutic method in which the photon energy is rapidly transformed into heat via a series of radiative and non-radiative phenomena to ablate cancer. Plasmonic NPs, such as silver NPs (Ag NPs), have considerable properties in optical absorbance. Furthermore, good thermal conductivity and cell penetration ability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) could improve the efficacy of Ag NPs for PPTT. Decoration of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with silver has been developed to enhance thermal conductivity of the MWCNT particles.Methods: The Ag NPs were decorated on the CNTs and the ability of these particles (CNT/Ag NPs) in reduction of melanoma tumor size after PTT was evaluated experimentally. For comparison, the PTT of silver nanorods (Ag NRs) and CNTs were investigated. The melanoma tumor was induced by injection of B16/F10 cell line to the inbred mice. Different NPs were injected into the tumors and then irradiated via laser diode (λ=670 nm, P=500 mW, and I= 3.5 W/cm2) at scheduled time.Results: Monitoring of tumor sizes showed that integration of CNTs with silver could enhance the optical absorption of CNTs and improve tumor destruction in PPTT technique.Conclusion: The CNT/Ag NPs could act as a potent agent in PPTT method in curing solid tumors.

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In this research, polyurethane (PU)/(carbon nanotube) (CNT) samples, with two different contents of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs; i.e., 0.5 and 1.0 wt%) were fabricated through a solution casting method. To investigate the effect of strain rate on tensile properties, tensile tests were done on standard samples at constant temperature and different strain rates (2 3 10 25 to 2 3 10 22 s 21 ). Eyring's model was performed to clarify the role of both strain rate and CNTs content on activation volume and activation enthalpy of PU. To elucidate the role of strain rate and CNTs content on fracture behavior of PU, fracture surfaces of some samples were also investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The results of tensile tests show the intense effect of strain rate on tensile properties of PU/MWCNTs nanocomposites. Also, it was proved that the dependency of tensile properties of PU nanocomposites on strain rate decreases as CNTs content increases. The microscopic observations of the samples also demonstrate that increasing the strain rate changes the behavior of the fracture surface to less a ductile fracture, and increasing CNTs content causes much surface roughness. Finally, by investigation of the activation enthalpies, it is confirmed that much higher enthalpy is needed to fracture the samples with increased MWCNTs content, as the activation enthalpy changes from 45 for neat PU to 131 kJ/mol for PU/(1% MWCNTs) samples. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL.,

In the current study, mechanical, thermal, thermo‐mechanical, and shape memory behavior of polyurethane/carbon nanotube nanocomposites were investigated, and also a modified Halpin‐Tsai equation was used for the first time to model shape recovery stress of these smart composites. Results showed that strength enhanced with the addition of MWCNTs and improved to a maximum value of 130% for PU‐1wt%CNTs. SEM micrographs were also used to prove the presence of agglomerates at higher CNT contents. By investigating thermogravimetry curves, it was concluded that the incorporation of carbon nanotubes transferred thermal degradation to a higher temperature. Storage modulus improved for nanocomposite samples which showed the reinforcing effect of CNTs on polyurethane. Memory behavior showed that recovery stress was increased for PU‐CNTs samples to a maximum value of 100% and not any harmful effect on shape recoveries observed. Finally, modified Halpin‐Tsai equation was obtained with the correction factor of K = exp(−1.79‐152Vf).

The mechanical integrity of battery separators is critical for battery safety and durability. A comprehensive study of strain‐rate‐dependent tensile and puncture properties of a polypropylene lithium‐ion battery separator is presented here with a new model. Due to anisotropy of the polymeric membrane, tensile testing was conducted for different directions. Results showed that tensile strength and elastic modulus were increased 1000% and 500%, respectively, for different directions. It was also demonstrated that tensile strength changed 10 to 25% with strain rate (1.67 × 10−4 to 1.67 × 10−1 s−1) for different directions. An equation was obtained for the first time for flow stress versus strain rate at varied tensile directions with respect to machine direction. Moreover, puncture testing was performed and it was shown that puncture strength was increased 140% with increasing strain rate from 0.25 to 250 mm min−1. Two failure modes were also observed in puncture samples. Finally, Eyring's model was used to calculate activation enthalpy of the porous polypropylene separator. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

In this paper, the effect of the crystalline microstructures of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), as cathode binder, on mechanical and electrochemical properties of the cathode, and on the cell performance is investigated. The crystalline phases of the PVDF films prepared at different temperatures are determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and also mechanical strength of PVDF films evaluated by a tensile test. The cathodes were prepared at altered temperatures to achieve different PVDF phases. The effect of various crystalline phases on the cathode performance was studied. The obtained cathodes were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), contact angle measurement, and adhesion test. The electrochemical performance of the cathodes was evaluated by charge-discharge cycling test and AC impedance spectroscopy. Mechanical tests results showed that the cathode which is prepared at 60 °C has the best adhesion and mechanical stability. In addition, the charge-discharge cycling studies showed that this cathode has the highest capacity efficiency. AC impedance spectroscopy illustrated that this electrode has the lowest charge transfer resistance and SEI resistance.

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