In this study, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) tree-like nanofiber membrane was fabricated via one-step electrospinning by adding a small amount of tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBAC). On the basis of the "push and pull" effect, double-layer membranes composed of pure TPU nanofiber membranes (hydrophobic) and TPU/TBAC tree-like nanofiber membranes (hydrophilic) were prepared by the direct electrospinning compounding method. The double-layer membranes were used as waterproof breathable materials with moisture unidirectional transport properties and good shielding properties. The water resistance, mechanical, waterproof, moisture permeability, air permeability, air filtration and moisture unidirectional transport performances of the double-layer membranes were tested. The results showed that the double-layer TPU membranes displayed good performances compared with the existing products on the market; they provide a new approach for the development of waterproof breathable materials.

A simple hydrothermal method was employed to synthesize AgFeO2 nanoparticles, which were utilized as substrates in SERS detection of Rhodamine 6G and 4-mercaptobenzoic acid. The magnetic properties of the products provided the capability of concentrating analyte molecules under an external magnetic field. The detection in aqueous solution has ensured the uniformity of the SERS signals and the reproducibility of the substrates. It was interesting that the substrates exhibited high SERS activity at Rhodamine 6G concentration of 1 × 10(-7) M with an enhancement factor of 5.1 × 10(5), showing the highest SERS effect for semiconductor substrates, which might be ascribed to the orderly orientation of AgFeO2 nanoparticles under external magnetic field.

In this paper, pure metastable phase iron vanadate (FeVO 4 -II) ultrathin nanosheets (50 nm in thickness) with exposed {010} facets were obtained by a mild hydrothermal process, without the use of any template or organic surfactant. The photocatalytic rate of the FeVO 4 -II {010} facets was measured taking advantage of their unique morphology. Furthermore, the FeVO 4 -II catalyst could be easily separated and reused, simply by applying an external magnetic field. In addition, with their n-type semiconductor structure, FeVO 4 ultrathin nanosheets exhibited gas-sensing for an ethanol trace.

Porous Co3O4 ultrathin nanosheets exhibited good sensitivity and low concentration selectivity to ethanol.

No abstract