In this work, graphene oxide (GO) particles were modified with a nano-sized poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) layer to improve the hydrophobicity of the GO and improve compatibility with PVDF. The improved hydrophobicity was elucidated using contact angle investigations, and exhibit nearly 0° for neat GO and 102° for GO-PBA. Then, the neat GO and GO-PBA particles were mixed with PVDF using a twin screw laboratory extruder. It was clearly shown that nano-sized PBA layer acts as plasticizer and shifts glass transition temperature from -38.7 °C for neat PVDF to 45.2 °C for PVDF/GO-PBA. Finally, the sensitivity to the vibrations of various frequencies was performed and the piezoelectric constant in the thickness mode, d33, was calculated and its electrical load independency were confirmed. Received values of the d33 were for neat PVDF 14.7 pC/N, for PVDF/GO 20.6 pC/N and for PVDF/GO-PBA 26.2 pC/N showing significant improvement of the vibration sensing and thus providing very promising systems for structural health monitoring and data harvesting.

• Keywords
• SI-ATRP, compatibility, d33, dielectric properties, graphene oxide, poly(vinylidene fluoride), vibration sensing,
• MeSH
• Acrylates MeSH
• Fluorocarbon Polymers MeSH
• Graphite MeSH
• Polyvinyls * chemistry   MeSH
• Vibration * MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Acrylates MeSH
• Fluorocarbon Polymers MeSH
• Graphite MeSH
• graphene oxide MeSH Browser
• n-butyl acrylate MeSH Browser
• polyvinylidene fluoride MeSH Browser
• Polyvinyls * MeSH

Polymeric nanocomposites have been outstanding functional materials and have garnered immense attention as sustainable materials to address multi-disciplinary problems. MXenes have emerged as a newer class of 2D materials that produce metallic conductivity upon interaction with hydrophilic species, and their delamination affords monolayer nanoplatelets of a thickness of about one nm and a side size in the micrometer range. Delaminated MXene has a high aspect ratio, making it an alluring nanofiller for multifunctional polymer nanocomposites. Herein, we have classified and discussed the structure, properties and application of major polysaccharide-based electroactive hydrogels (hyaluronic acid (HA), alginate sodium (SA), chitosan (CS) and cellulose) in biomedical applications, starting with the brief historical account of MXene's development followed by successive discussions on the synthesis methods, structures and properties of nanocomposites encompassing polysaccharides and MXenes, including their biomedical applications, cytotoxicity and biocompatibility aspects. Finally, the MXenes and their utility in the biomedical arena is deliberated with an eye on potential opportunities and challenges anticipated for them in the future, thus promoting their multifaceted applications.

• Keywords
• MXenes (Ti3C2Tx), biomedical, nanocomposites, nanomaterials, nanotechnology,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH