Bentonite − TiO2 composites were prepared by impregnation of TiO2 and bentonite, followed by microwave irradiation processes. The composites were characterized using FTIR, SEM, XRD, and nitrogen sorption methods. Anatase phase of TiO2 in all composites are observed through XRD diffraction peaks and surface morphology of the composites. The adsorption and photocatalytic capabilities of the composites were tested in liquid phase adsorption of methylene blue and Rhodamine B. The adsorption and photocatalytic degradation experiments were conducted in the presence or absence of UV light irradiation. Langmuir and Freundlich models were employed to correlate the experimental adsorption data, and it was found that Langmuir gave better performance in correlating the experimental data. Modification of Langmuir equation to accommodate photocatalytic degradation process was conducted, and the model could represent the experimental results very well.

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A huge challenge for developing self-healing materials is achieving a good compromisation between mechanical properties and self-healing efficiency. For this purpose, a facile route by introducing N-(hydroxymethyl)­acrylamide (NMA) as a thermal-catalyzed self-cross-linker as well as a self-healing material into a soft polymer system for tuning the mechanical properties in an easy way, resulting in elastic and self-healing properties through a covalent and dynamic network simultaneously, represents an exciting avenue for the development of self-healing materials. Specifically, we propose a simple strategy to synthesize a self-cross-linkable poly­{(n-butyl acrylate)-co-[N-(hydroxymethyl)­acrylamide]} (PBA x -co-PNMA y ) amphiphilic copolymer prepared by radical polymerization method, where x and y are BA and NMA ratios, respectively, based on the monomer composition in the obtained copolymer. The mechanical properties and self-healing efficiency of the copolymer can be easily tuned by controlling the monomer ratios and varying the self-cross-linking reaction conditions. PBA0.8-co-PNMA0.2 in bulk solid state possesses a stretchability of up to 191%, maximum stress of 571 kPa, and a self-healing efficiency of 90% in ambient conditions without any interventions. Owing to the hydrophobic nature of PBA in the copolymer system, self-healing can be triggered even underwater. Furthermore, a microscale thin film bestowed with identical self-healing and mechanical properties can be fabricated and the behavior of the copolymer in thin-film form was inspected using a pseudofreestanding tensile tester machine. This work provides insight into the future design of materials with elastic, self-cross-linking, and self-healing properties, which are adjustable depending on the desired applications.

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