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    MWCNT induced negative real permittivity in a copolyester of Bisphenol-A with terephthalic and isophthalic acids
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2020) Özdemir, Zeynep Güven; Daşdan, Dolunay Şakar; Kavak, Pelin; Pionteck, Jürgen; Pötschke, Petra; Voit, Brigitte; SüngüMısırlıoğlu, Banu
    In the present study, the negative real permittivity behavior of a copolyester of bisphenol-A with terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid (PAr) containing 1.5 to 7.5 wt% multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been investigated in detail. The structural and morphological analysis of the melt-mixed composites was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy using attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and light microscopy. The influences of the MWCNT filler on the AC impedance, complex permittivity, and AC conductivity of the PAr polymer matrix were investigated at different operating temperatures varied between 296 K and 373 K. The transition from a negative to positive real permittivity was observed at different crossover frequencies depending on the MWCNT content of the composites whereas pure PAr showed positive values at all frequencies. The negative real permittivity characteristic of the composites was discussed in the context of Drude model. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.
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    Employing Nanostructured Scaffolds to Investigate the Mechanical Properties of Adult Mammalian Retinae Under Tension
    (Basel : Molecular Diversity Preservation International, 2020) Juncheed, Kantida; Kohlstrunk, Bernd; Friebe, Sabrina; Dallacasagrande, Valentina; Maurer, Patric; Reichenbach, Andreas; Mayr, Stefan G.; Zink, Mareike
    Numerous eye diseases are linked to biomechanical dysfunction of the retina. However, the underlying forces are almost impossible to quantify experimentally. Here, we show how biomechanical properties of adult neuronal tissues such as porcine retinae can be investigated under tension in a home-built tissue stretcher composed of nanostructured TiO2 scaffolds coupled to a self-designed force sensor. The employed TiO2 nanotube scaffolds allow for organotypic long-term preservation of adult tissues ex vivo and support strong tissue adhesion without the application of glues, a prerequisite for tissue investigations under tension. In combination with finite element calculations we found that the deformation behavior is highly dependent on the displacement rate which results in Young’s moduli of (760–1270) Pa. Image analysis revealed that the elastic regime is characterized by a reversible shear deformation of retinal layers. For larger deformations, tissue destruction and sliding of retinal layers occurred with an equilibration between slip and stick at the interface of ruptured layers, resulting in a constant force during stretching. Since our study demonstrates how porcine eyes collected from slaughterhouses can be employed for ex vivo experiments, our study also offers new perspectives to investigate tissue biomechanics without excessive animal experiments. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
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    Carbon and Neon Ion Bombardment Induced Smoothing and Surface Relaxation of Titania Nanotubes
    (Basel : MDPI, 2021) Kupferer, Astrid; Mensing, Michael; Lehnert, Jan; Mändl, Stephan; Mayr, Stefan G.
    Titania nanotube arrays with their enormous surface area are the subject of much attention in diverse fields of research. In the present work, we show that not only 60 keV and 150 keV ion bombardment of amorphous titania nanotube arrays yields defect creation within the tube walls, but it also changes the surface morphology: the surface relaxes and smoothens in accordance with a curvature-driven surface material’s transport mechanism, which is mediated by radiation-induced viscous flow or radiation-enhanced surface diffusion, while the nanotubes act as additional sinks for the particle surface currents. These effects occur independently of the ion species: both carbon and neon ion bombardments result in comparable surface relaxation responses initiated by an ion energy of 60 keV at a fluence of 1 × 1016 ions/cm2. Using atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements, we thoroughly study the relaxation effects on the surface topography and surface free energy, respectively. Moreover, surface relaxation is accompanied by further amorphization in surface-near regions and a reduction in the mass density, as demonstrated by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray reflectivity. Since ion bombardment can be performed on global and local scales, it constitutes a versatile tool to achieve well-defined and tunable topographies and distinct surface characteristics. Hence, different types of nanotube arrays can be modified for various applications.