Internal structure control of the TiO₂ nanotubes and polysiloxane nanocomposites by nanosecond pulsed electric field

Abstract

A facile technique has been introduced for incorporating TiO 2 nanotubes (TNTs) in amorphous polysiloxane-based nanocomposite films and for linear and dense assembling of these TNTs (LATNTs) under application of nanosecond pulse electric field. The use of a nanosecond electrical pulse enables the application of high electric power without causing dielectric breakdown, which occurs when DC/AC electric field is used, and the formation of LATNTs which anchor the resulting composite film planes. The properties of the nanocomposites were investigated using X-ray micro CT scanning, digital micrographs, UV-vis spectroscopy and electrical resistivity measurements. More than 5.5-fold UV-vis transmittance improvement was obtained by the polymer composite containing LATNTs (TNT 5.0 wt%). Such a composite exhibited a decreased electric resistivity of 3.08 × 10 7 m compared to the case for randomly distributed TNTs (3.25 × 10 8 m).

Demonstration of motion control of ZrO2microparticles in uniform/non-uniform electric field

“…Electric fields have been employed in various fields, such as the structural control of organic and inorganic composite materials and the formation of composite films by the electrophoretic deposition method. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] The controlling technique of the driving of microstructures under an electric field is effective over a large area and can arrange the microstructures without changing the properties of the surface of the material. The electrical phenomena that affect the driving of microstructures are mainly surface potential, polarization, and electrostatic force.…”