Flexible electronics require materials with high breakdown strength, high dielectric constant, and thermal stability. These conditions are met by composites based on polymers and metal oxides. In this article, we present a new onestep method for producing composites based on water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and metal oxides (AlOOH, CuO, and ZnO). The source of oxides is underwater plasma. The oxides are introduced into the polymer matrix when plasma is exposed to the polymer solution. The results of X-ray, IR, and SEM analysis showed that metal oxides are embedded in the polymer. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements have shown that the glass transition temperature depends on the oxide being incorporated. The electrical properties of polymer composites were studied by current-voltage characteristics. Dielectric properties were measured in the range of 25-10 6 Hz. The properties of obtained PVA + metal oxide showed that using underwater plasma is a suitable method for producing composites for electronic devices.
The development of novel biocompatible and biodegradable materials for medical applications has been drawing significant interest in the scientific community for years. Particularly, chitosan loaded with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) has a strong antimicrobial potential and could be applied, for example, as wound dressing material. In this work, chitosan/Ag NP composites were produced utilizing a single-step plasma-solution process, which is simple and environmentally friendly. An acetic solution of chitosan containing AgNO3 was treated by the direct current (DC) atmospheric pressure glow discharge, with the liquid serving as either cathode or anode. The plasma-solution system with liquid anode is more useful for the production of Ag NPs. Nevertheless, the NP size is comparable for both cases. The plasma treatment with both polarities led to chitosan degradation. The cleavage of glucosidic chains mostly occurred in the system with the liquid cathode, whereas the side oxidation reactions took place when the solution served as the anode. The oxidation processes were possibly induced by the hydrogen peroxide H2O2 efficiently formed in the last case. The composite materials produced with both polarities of liquid electrode demonstrated the bactericidal action against Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, and Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis.
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