Description
The development of functional bionanocomposites has gained significant attention due to their potential in sustainable materials, biomedical applications, and advanced functional coatings [1-4]. Non-thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Induced Liquid Chemistry (PiLC) is an emerging green synthesis route that enables the fabrication of nanocomposites with tailored functionalities, eliminating the need for hazardous chemicals or extreme processing conditions.
This talk summarizes the work carried out at Queen’s University Belfast on the synthesis and functionalization of various bio-based nanocomposites using PiLC, leveraging natural polymers such as nanocellulose and chitosan in combination with inorganic nanofillers like gold and silver nanoparticles. The plasma-liquid interaction plays a crucial role in generating reactive species, leading to nanocomposite with desirable structure and properties. Key physicochemical properties of the resulting nanocomposites such as microstructure, surface chemistry, thermal property and mechanical integrity have been investigated thoroughly. Preliminary results demonstrate the resulting materials have tunable functional properties, making these nanocomposites highly promising for applications in such as biosensing, photothermal conversion and anti-microbial coatings. The study further highlights the potential of PiLC in engineering next-generation bionanocomposites with controlled morphology and superior functionality.
[1] D. Sun, et al., Composites Science and Technology, (2020) 186, 107911.
[2] D. Sun, et al., Journal of Physics D-Applied Physics, (2020) 53, 42, 425207.
[3] D. Sun, et al., Langmuir, (2019) 35, 13, 4577.
[4] H Nolan, et al., Plasma Processes and Polymers, (2018) 15, 11, e1800112.