Multifunctional polymer fibers with strain and liquid sensing capabilities were fabricated and characterized. The Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSPs) were used as a tool for selecting a suitable polymer to employ as matrix for the sensing material before fiber fabrication. The addition of conductive carbon particles to a polymer matrix provides it with sensing capabilities, such as against tensile strain and the presence of liquids as it was evaluated in this work. Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs, MW) as well as a mixture of carbon black (CB) and MWCNTs in weight concentration of 1:1 were used as conductive fillers. The route followed to achieve electrically conductive polymer fibers necessary for sensing evaluations was a combined process of melt-mixing and subsequent melt-spinning. Melt-mixing and melt-spinning are processing techniques widely used in the polymer industry that could enable the up-scaling of the fibers developed in this work. Additionally to single component fibers, bi-component (BICO) fibers consisting of a polycarbonate (PC)+CB+MW sheath and a neat PC core were also fabricated, characterized and their performance was compared to the single component fibers. The state of dispersion of the carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) as well as tensile behavior, electrical resistivity, strain and liquid sensing properties of the composite fibers were evaluated. Finally a specific fiber composition with potential to be used as sensing material for mechanical strain and liquid exposition was proposed to be tested under two real situations (strain monitoring of a rigid structure and leakage detection of a chemical substance). Sensing fibers as the developed in this work have many potential applications such as real-time deformation and structural health monitoring and early cracking detection of any kind of structure. On the other hand, fibers able to sense the presence of liquids can perceive the leakage of chemicals that are hazardous to life. Moreover, this technology can also be applied in smart clothing manufacture by combining sensing fibers with flexible woven electronics.

<p>Ugljenične nanocevi (UNC) imaju sve veću primenu u elektronici, kompjuterskoj i optičkoj industriji, kao i u biomedicini. Dok proizvodnja jednoslojnih UNC nanocevi beleži sve veći rast poslednjih godina, rizik koji nosi izlaganje ovom nanomaterijalu ostaje nerazja&scaron;njen. Oskudni i često kontradiktorni podaci o toksičnim efektima jednoslojnih UNC ukazuju na potrebu za daljim ispitivanjima. U na&scaron;im istraživanjima ispitivane su promene u ćelijskom odgovoru kao i morfolo&scaron;ke promene nakon delovanja jednoslojnih ugljeničnih nanocevi na ćelijskoj liniji humanih fetalnih fibroblasta pluća MRC-5 i ćelijskoj liniji humanog adenokarcinoma pluća A549. U ovoj studiji kori&scaron;ćene su jednoslojne ugljenične nanocevi koje su sadržale rezidualne nečistoće poput gvožđa. Citotoksičnost jednoslojnih UNC (engl. single-walled carbon nanotubes &ndash; SWCNT) je ispitivana kolorimetrijskim MTT testom. Tokom 24 i 48h niske koncentracije jednoslojnih ugljeničnih nanocevi (&lt;250 &mu;g/mL) pokazale su nisku toksičnost na proliferaciju i vijabilnost u obe ispitivane ćelijske linije. Ipak, pri visokim koncentracijama UNC (250-750 &mu;g/mL) antiproliferativni efekat je bio blizu IC50 vrednostima. Na osnovu rezultata dobijenih MTT testom može se zaključiti da su maligne A549 ćelije osetljivije na delovanje jednoslojnih UNC u odnosu na normalne MRC-5 ćelije. Kombinacija ugljeničnih nanocevi sa prirodnim polifenolima (resveratrolom i proantocijanidolima) nije značajno uticala na citotoksičnost u MRC-5 ćelijama, za razliku od A549 ćelija gde je tretman kombinacijama umanjio toksičnost ugljeničnih nanocevi. Transmisionom elektronskom mikroskopijom ispitivan je efekat jednoslojnih ugljeničnih nanocevi na ćelijsku morfologiju i preživljavanje. Intracelularni agregati ugljeničnih nanocevi primećeni su u obe ćelijske linije, čime je potvrđeno da ugljenične nanocevi ulaze u ćelije. Imajući u vidu da nanomaterijali poput ugljeničnih nanocevi indukuju oksidativni stres i njime posredovanu apoptozu, na protočnom citometru je određivano prisustvo ćelija u apoptozi i nekrozi. Tretman ćelija sa jednoslojnim ugljeničnim nanocevima nije doveo do značajnog porasta broja apoptotskih ili nekrotičnih ćelija, &scaron;to ide u prilog niskoj toksičnosti ovog nanomaterijala, odnosno ukazuje na alternativne mehanizme toksičnosti. Međutim kombinacija jednoslojnih ugljeničnih nanocevi sa antioksidantima, resveratrolom i proantocijanidolima indukuje veći procenat apoptoze i nekroze u odnosu na tretman samo sa nanocevima. Promene u ekspresiji gena praćene su lančanom reakcijom polimeraza (PCR). Komparativna analiza rezultata genske ekspresije MRC-5 i A549<br />ćelija nakon tretmana sa jednoslojnim ugljeničnim nanocevima pojedinačno i u kombinaciji sa antioksidantima ukazala je na kompleksnost i raznolikost biolo&scaron;kog odgovora ispitivanih ćelija. U na&scaron;em istraživanju ispitivana je i promena aktivnosti enzima antioksidativne za&scaron;tite i količine glutationa u ćeliji. Primena jednoslojnih ugljeničnih nanocevi u MRC-5 ćelijama dovodi po smanjenja specifične aktivnosti enzima SOD i GR, povećava specifičnu aktivnost GPx i ne utiče na promenu specifične aktivnosti GST i količine glutationa u ćeliji Primena jednoslojnih ugljeničnih nanocevi u A549 ćelijama dovodi po smanjenja specifične aktivnosti enzima SOD, ne utiče na promenu specifične aktivnost enzima GR, GST i GPx, i dovodi do povećanja količine glutationa u ćeliji. Ćelijska vijabilnost, morfolo&scaron;ke promene, redoks homeostaza i ekspresija ispitivanih gena bile su promenjene nakon tretmana sa jednoslojnim ugljeničnim nanocevima. Iako su dobijeni rezultati značajni za procenu toksičnosti ugljeničnih nanocevi, neophodna su dalja istraživanja koja treba da doprinesu boljem razumevanju toksičnih efekata ugljeničnih nanocevi.</p> / <p>Carbon nanotubes are being actively introduced in electronics, computer science, and optics as well as for various biomedical applications. While production of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) has escalated in recent years, the knowledge on risk associated with exposure remains unclear. Contradictory data on the toxic effects of single-walled carbon nanotubes highlights the urgent need for further studies. In this study we investigated the alterations in cellular response along with morphological changes induced by single-walled carbon nanotubes in human lung fibroblast cell line MRC-5 and adenocarcinoma human alveolar basal epithelial cells A549. In this study we used SWCNT containing large amounts of residual metallic impurities such is iron, and the iron concentration increased in dose dependent manner in cells exposed to SWCNT. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay and SWCNT showed little cytotoxic effect on the proliferation and viability of two cell lines tested at the concentrations used (&lt;250 &mu;g/mL) within 24 and 48h. However exposing both cell lines to high concentrations (250-750 &mu;g/mL) resulted in near IC50 values. Based on MTT test SWCNT were more cytotoxic to A549 cell line. Cytotoxicity of SWCNT in combination with natural polyphenols (resveratrol and proanthocyanidins) did not noticeably affect the cytotoxicity of SWCNT to MRC-5 cells. However introduction of polyphenols did reduce the cytotoxicity of SWCNT to A549 cells. Transmission electron microscopy was used to complement cytotoxicity assays and to investigate the pathological effect of internalized SWCNT on cell morphology and survival. Intracellular bundles of CNTs, possibly aggregated/agglomerated were observed in both cell lines, confirming internalization after 24h exposure. Since nanoparticles like carbon nanotubes are toxic mainly because they cause oxidative stress, often associated with an increased apoptosis we checked for apoptotic and necrotic cells using flow cytometry. Incubation with SWCNT did not result in pronounced apoptosis or necrosis supporting its low toxicity and possibly alternative mechanism of cell damage. However incubation with SWCNT in combination with resveratrol and proanthocyanidins induced higher levels of both apoptosis and necrosis than SWCNT alone. Changes in gene expression following exposure to SWCNT were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction PCR array which indicated complex and diverse change in expression of genes involved in apoptosis, cell proliferation and oxidative stress. Finally we investigated the modulation of the antioxidant enzyme system and the changes in the cytosolic levels of GSH. SWCNT reduced the specific activity of SOD and GR enzymes, increased GPx activity. No changes in intracellular levels of GSH were observed in MRC-5 cell line. Same treatment in A549 cell reduced the specific activity of SOD, had no effect on GR, GST and GPx activity, but increased intracellular levels of GSH. Cell viability, morphologic changes, redox homeostasis and gene expression were affected by the presence of SWCNT. Although our findings are useful in predicting human response against SWCNT exposure, further study is needed for better understanding of the effects of SWCNT.</p>

The topic of this thesis is the degradation of fuel cell electrodes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In particular, the degradation associated with localized fuel starvation, which is often encountered during start-ups and shut-downs (SUs/SDs) of PEMFCs. At SU/SD, O2 and H2 usually coexist in the anode compartment. This situation forces the opposite electrode, i.e. the cathode, to very high potentials, resulting in the corrosion of the carbon supporting the catalyst, referred to as carbon corrosion. The aim of this thesis has been to develop methods, materials and strategies to address the issues associated to carbon corrosion in PEMFC.The extent of catalyst degradation is commonly evaluated determining the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of fuel cell electrode. Therefore, it was considered important to study the effect of RH, temperature and type of accelerated degradation test (ADT) on the ECSA. Low RH decreases the ECSA of the electrode, attributed to re-structuring the ionomer and loss of contact with the catalyst.In the search for more durable supports, we evaluated different accelerated degradation tests (ADTs) for carbon corrosion. Potentiostatic holds at 1.2 V vs. RHE were found to be too mild. Potentiostatic holds at 1.4 V vs. RHE were found to induce a large degree of reversibility, also attributed to ionomer re-structuring. Triangle-wave potential cycling was found to irreversibly degrade the electrode within a reasonable amount of time, closely simulating SU/SD conditions.Corrosion of carbon-based supports not only degrades the catalyst by lowering the ECSA, but also has a profound effect on the electrode morphology. Decreased electrode porosity, increased agglomerate size and ionomer enrichment all contribute to the degradation of the mass-transport properties of the cathode. Graphitized carbon fibers were found to be 5 times more corrosion resistant than conventional carbons, primarily attributed to their lower surface area. Furthermore, fibers were found to better maintain the integrity of the electrode morphology, generally showing less degradation of the mass-transport losses. Different system strategies for shut-down were evaluated. Not doing anything to the fuel cell during shut-downs is detrimental for the fuel cell. O2 consumption with a load and H2 purge of the cathode were found to give around 100 times lower degradation rates compared to not doing anything and almost 10 times lower degradation rate than a simple air purge of the anode. Finally, in-situ measurements of contact resistance showed that the contact resistance between GDL and BPP is highly dynamic and changes with operating conditions. / Denna doktorsavhandling behandlar degraderingen av polymerelektrolytbränslecellselektroder. polymerelektrolytbränslecellselektroder. Den handlar särskilt om nedbrytningen av elektroden kopplad till en degraderingsmekanism som heter ”localized fuel starvation” oftast närvarande vid uppstart och nedstängning av bränslecellen. Vid start och stopp kan syrgas och vätgas förekomma samtidigt i anoden. Detta leder till väldigt höga elektrodpotentialer i katoden. Resultatet av detta är att kolbaserade katalysatorbärare korroderar och att bränslecellens livslängd förkortas. Målet med avhandlingen har varit att utveckla metoder, material och strategier för att både öka förståelsen av denna degraderingsmekanism och för att maximera katalysatorbärarens livslängd.Ett vanligt tillvägagångsätt för att bestämma graden av katalysatorns degradering är genom mätning av den elektrokemiskt aktiva ytan hos bränslecellselektroderna. I denna avhandling har dessutom effekten av temperatur och relativ fukthalt studerats. Låga fukthalter minskar den aktiva ytan hos elektroden, vilket sannolikt orsakas av en omstrukturering av jonomeren och av kontaktförlust mellan jonomer och katalysator.Olika accelererade degraderingstester för kolkorrosion har använts. Potentiostatiska tester vid 1.2 V mot RHE visade sig vara för milda. Potentiostatiska tester vid 1.4 V mot RHE visade sig däremot medföra en hög grad av reversibilitet, som också den tros vara orsakad av en omstrukturering av jonomeren. Cykling av elektrodpotentialen degraderade istället elektroden irreversibelt, inom rimlig tid och kunde väldigt nära simulera förhållandena vid uppstart och nedstängning.Korrosionen av katalysatorbäraren medför degradering av katalysatorn och har också en stor inverkan på elektrodens morfologi. En minskad elektrodporositet, en ökad agglomeratstorlek och en anrikning av jonomeren gör att elektrodens masstransportegenskaper försämras. Grafitiska kolfibrer visade sig vara mer resistenta mot kolkorrosion än konventionella kol, främst p.g.a. deras låga ytarea. Grafitiska kolfibrer visade också en förmåga att bättre bibehålla elektrodens morfologi efter accelererade tester, vilket resulterade i lägre masstransportförluster.Olika systemstrategier för nedstängning jämfördes. Att inte göra något under nedstängning är mycket skadligt för bränslecellen. Förbrukning av syre med en last och spolning av katoden med vätgas visade 100 gånger lägre degraderingshastighet av bränslecellsprestanda jämfört med att inte göra något alls och 10 gånger lägre degraderingshastighet jämfört med spolning av anoden med luft. In-situ kontaktresistansmätningar visade att kontaktresistansen mellan bipolära plattor och GDL är dynamisk och kan ändras beroende på driftförhållandena. / <p>QC 20131104</p>