The accumulation of nonbiodegradable petrochemical-based polymers in the environment motivates the development and use of low-cost, eco-friendly, and biodegradable polymers. A series of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) composites reinforced by sustainably sourced nanochitin were successfully prepared using melt blending and compression molding methods. Structural, thermal, and mechanical characterizations of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/nanochitin composites were performed. SEM revealed that the nanochitin was uniformly dispersed throughout the PBAT matrix at low contents (<2 wt %), while DSC analyses revealed a corresponding increase in the crystallinity (32.6% enhancement) of the PBAT matrix. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the PBAT/nanochitin composite containing 0.5 wt % nanochitin were higher by 82.5 and 64.2%, respectively, compared with pristine PBAT. The Chitin-0.5 composite also showed improved thermal stability compared with PBAT (the char yield improved by 8%) due to the uniform dispersion of nanochitin in the PBAT matrix. The enhanced performance of the PBAT/nanochitin composites, prepared without an added compatibilizer, informs the development of improved biodegradable PBATbased polymers.
Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) have emerged as new candidate materials in various research areas such as catalysis, gas separation storage, and energy-related organic devices due to their easy functionalization, high thermal and chemical stability, and permanent porosity. Herein, we report the successful synthesis of a CTF rich in cyano groups (CTF-CN) by the solvothermal condensation of 2,3,6,7-tetrabromonapthalene (TBNDA), Na2(1,1-dicyanoethene-2,2-dithiolate), and 1,3,5-tris-(4-aminophenyl)-triazine (TAPT) at 120°C. XRD, SEM, and TEM characterization studies revealed CTF-CN to be amorphous and composed of ultrathin 2D sheets. CTF-CN possessed strong absorption at visible wavelengths, with UV-vis measurements suggesting a band gap energy in the range 2.7-2.9 eV. A 5 wt.% Pt/CTF-CN was found to be a promising photocatalyst for hydrogen production, affording a rate of 487.6 μmol g-1 h-1 in a H2O/TEOA/CH3OH solution under visible light. The photocatalytic activity of CTF-CN was benchmarked against g-C3N4 for meaningful assessment of performance. Importantly, the 5 wt.% Pt/CTF-CN photocatalyst exhibited excellent thermal and photocatalytic stability. Further, as a nitrogen-rich porous 2D material, CTF-CN represents a potential platform for the development of novel electrode material for fuel cells and metal ion batteries.
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