Functionalities of Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Films and Coatings

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Functional Polymer Coatings and Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 15894

Special Issue Editor

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
Interests: advanced manufacturing of multifunctional polymer-derived ceramic materials (polymer-derived multifunctional coating/ceramics and EMW absorption)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue concentrates on the current development of polymer-based nanocomposite films and coatings, to provide an overview involves the interrelationship between processing, structure, properties, and performance. Nanocomposite films and coatings, materials composed of at least two immiscible phases at the nanometer scale, can provide a cost-efficient route to obtain innovative materials with superior functionalities. For example, the addition of an appropriate nanofiller can produce polymeric nanocomposite-based packaging materials with enhanced mechanical anti-microbial properties, solvent resistance, and barrier performance for packaging applications. Nanocomposites based on polymers (e.g., polyamide, epoxy, polyethylene) have potential applications in fields such as food packaging, electronics, anti-corrosion/wear, and antifouling/antibacterial industries. The elaboration of nanocomposite coatings can be made by several preparative methods, such as sol–gel, in situ polymerization, solution dispersion, and spray/spin/dip coatings. With the rapid growth of nanotechnology, nanocomposite coatings are now not only a division of materials but also play a crucial role in an increasing number of application areas due to their functionalities.

The current hot topics that will be covered in this Special Issue include but are not limited to the following:

  • Theoretical and experimental research, knowledge and new ideas in polymer-based nanocomposite films and coatings;
  • Preparation and characterization of nanocomposite films;
  • The recent development of the functionalities of nanocomposite films;
  • Computer modeling and simulation to predict coating properties;
  • Understanding the degradation mechanisms of coatings;
  • Recent trends in thin-film synthesis techniques.

We look forward to both original research papers and review articles for the aforementioned topics that will contribute to the multidisciplinary domains of novel coatings.

Dr. Ni Yang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanocomposites
  • coatings
  • thin films
  • functionality
  • polymer-based

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 162 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue “Functionalities of Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Films and Coatings”
by Ni Yang
Coatings 2022, 12(9), 1245; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12091245 - 26 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1051
Abstract
Polymer-based coatings are the thin film of polymer applied to any type of flat or irregular surfaces (e [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalities of Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Films and Coatings)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

11 pages, 4332 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Acoustic Performance of Porous Aerogel Composites of Graphene Oxide and Cellulose
by Jinbao Shao, Yuexiao Lv, Zhenhua Xue, Yanfei Pan, Jinwei Liu, Mayin Dai and Fengqi Qiu
Coatings 2024, 14(4), 441; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14040441 - 08 Apr 2024
Viewed by 407
Abstract
In this study, sound insulation materials with a high sound absorption coefficient were prepared. In this paper, using cellulose (CEL) and graphene oxide (GO) as the main raw materials and epichlorohydrin as the cross-linker, the CEL-GO composite aerogels were prepared via lyophilisation. The [...] Read more.
In this study, sound insulation materials with a high sound absorption coefficient were prepared. In this paper, using cellulose (CEL) and graphene oxide (GO) as the main raw materials and epichlorohydrin as the cross-linker, the CEL-GO composite aerogels were prepared via lyophilisation. The structure, molecular bonding, and acoustic absorption mechanisms of the composite aerogel were characterised and analysed using SEM, FTIR, XRD, BET, and Raman. In addition, corresponding molecular structure models were constructed. The acoustic attenuation of the CEL-GO composite aerogel was measured using a standing wave tube acoustic attenuation tester. The results show that the chemical bond between the GO and CEL composite is established, and the addition of graphene makes the pores of the composite more advanced, which is more favorable for sound absorption, and the acoustic absorption coefficient can reach up to 0.87. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalities of Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Films and Coatings)
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15 pages, 4797 KiB  
Article
Preparation of ILe@Cu@MOF Catalyst and Its Application in Biodiesel Catalysis
by Yinan Hao, Yan Wang, Zhiyuan Ren, Hongxia Shen, Jian Sheng, Kai Zhang, Jingwen Wang and Ximing Wang
Coatings 2023, 13(8), 1437; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13081437 - 15 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1110
Abstract
Heterogeneous catalysts play a dual role in transesterification due to their advantages of being separable and reusable. In recent years, heterogeneous catalysts derived from renewable resources have received more attention. In this paper, the production of biodiesel from Xanthoceras sorbifolia bunge oil via [...] Read more.
Heterogeneous catalysts play a dual role in transesterification due to their advantages of being separable and reusable. In recent years, heterogeneous catalysts derived from renewable resources have received more attention. In this paper, the production of biodiesel from Xanthoceras sorbifolia bunge oil via transesterification was studied under the action of an ILe@Cu@MOF catalyst. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman Spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Thermogravimetric (TG) and other characterization methods were used to characterize the microstructure and thermal stability of the catalyst and further study the ILe@Cu@MOF catalyst for the preparation of biodiesel from Xanthoceras sorbifolia bunge oil. The results show that the surface of the ILe@Cu@MOF catalyst is attached with a sheet-like structure of isoleucine (ILe), which mainly contains Cu, O, C and N elements. The specific surface area is 19.687 m2/g, and the average pore size is 31.74 nm, which belongs to mesoporous material. The pyrolysis temperature of ILe@Cu@MOF reached 360 °C, indicating that the grafting of ILe had a protective effect on Cu@MOF and increased the pyrolysis temperature of Cu@MOF. At the same time, the water contact angle increased from 86° to 121°, and the material was hydrophobic. The optimum conditions for the preparation of biodiesel were as follows: the amount of catalyst was 3 wt%, the molar ratio of methanol to oil was 35:1, the reaction temperature was 50 °C, and the reaction time was 4 h. At this time, the biodiesel yield was up to 82.85%. Moreover, after five cycles of ILe@Cu@MOF, the yield still reached 73.4%. GC–MS and MNR studies showed that the quality of biodiesel after catalysis was higher. The prepared catalyst can make biodiesel products more sustainable, environmentally friendly and economical, and can provide future prospects for the energy utilization of renewable resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalities of Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Films and Coatings)
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11 pages, 5501 KiB  
Article
Effect of Polyethylene-Grafted Maleic Anhydride on the Properties of Flue-Gas Desulfurized Gypsum/Epoxy Resin Composites
by Fei Li, Hai Li, Juncheng Die, Yafeng Zhang, Yi Li, Mingyu Wang, Yang Cao, Kexi Zhang and Jinchun Tu
Coatings 2023, 13(7), 1291; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13071291 - 23 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1128
Abstract
Waste resource utilization can save energy, reduce costs, and is one of the important means to protect the environment. Flue-gas desulphurized (FGD) gypsum is a common industrial by-product. These by-products are not only difficult to use, but also have serious impacts on the [...] Read more.
Waste resource utilization can save energy, reduce costs, and is one of the important means to protect the environment. Flue-gas desulphurized (FGD) gypsum is a common industrial by-product. These by-products are not only difficult to use, but also have serious impacts on the ecological environment. The conventional process of the industrial utilization of the calcium sulfate whisker pretreatment process leads to a low utilization rate of FGD gypsum, further increasing the consumption of resources and leading to secondary pollution. This study presents a method of preparing composites by adding FGD gypsum directly into epoxy resin with polyethylene-grafted maleic (PGM) anhydride as a compatibilizer of FGD gypsum/epoxy resin composites. Results showed weak tensile properties and impact properties of the composites when only FGD gypsum was added. When the amount of PGM added was 6 wt%, the tensile properties and impact properties of FGD gypsum/epoxy resin composites improved by 75% and 63%, and compared with the neat epoxy resin, the tensile properties and impact properties of FGD gypsum/epoxy resin composites, respectively, improved by 30% and 57%. Additionally, laser particle size analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and a Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) were used to examine the effects of PGM on the mechanical properties of FGD gypsum/epoxy resin composites and its mechanism of action. The recycling of FGD gypsum in resin materials has been extended in this study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalities of Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Films and Coatings)
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16 pages, 1435 KiB  
Article
Self-Healing Redox-Active Coatings Based on Ferrocenyl-Containing Polysiloxanes
by Artem A. Rashevskii, Konstantin V. Deriabin, Elizaveta K. Parshina and Regina M. Islamova
Coatings 2023, 13(7), 1282; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13071282 - 21 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1003
Abstract
The known ferrocenyl-containing silicone materials have redox activity and electrical conductivity at the level of antistatic materials, but they are incapable of self-healing due to their irreversible cross-linking, which significantly reduces their application area. The development of novel self-healing ferrocenyl-containing silicone rubbers (FSRs) [...] Read more.
The known ferrocenyl-containing silicone materials have redox activity and electrical conductivity at the level of antistatic materials, but they are incapable of self-healing due to their irreversible cross-linking, which significantly reduces their application area. The development of novel self-healing ferrocenyl-containing silicone rubbers (FSRs) is a promising area of research that extends the possibilities of their application as protective coatings. In this work, a new method was developed to synthesize FSRs with different ferrocenyl unit content (25 and 50 mol.%) by anionic copolymerization of cyclic octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), cyclic tetraferrocenyl-substituted 1,3,5,7-tetramethyltetrasiloxane (Fc4D4), and bicyclic cross-linking agent (bis-D4). The optimal concentrations of the cross-linking agent and ferrocenyl-substituted unit content for FSRs are 5 wt.% and 25 mol.%, respectively. The FSRs exhibit tensile strength and elongation at break up to 0.1 MPa and 215%. The FSRs possess both self-healing at room and/or elevated temperatures (100 °C) and redox activity (Fc/Fc+ transformations at E0 = 0.43 V) and conductivity at the antistatic level (ca. 10−10–10−11 S·cm−1). The thermal properties of the FSRs were studied. The proposed approach is relevant for the creation of new functional silicone materials as flexible, self-healing, and antistatic protective coatings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalities of Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Films and Coatings)
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18 pages, 3372 KiB  
Article
Direct Liquid Reactor-Injector of Nanoparticles: A Safer-by-Design Aerosol Injection for Nanocomposite Thin-Film Deposition Adapted to Various Plasma-Assisted Processes
by Guillaume Carnide, Laura Cacot, Yohan Champouret, Vincent Pozsgay, Thomas Verdier, Adèle Girardeau, Marjorie Cavarroc, Andranik Sarkissian, Anne-Françoise Mingotaud, Constantin Vahlas, Myrtil Louise Kahn, Nicolas Naudé, Luc Stafford and Richard Clergereaux
Coatings 2023, 13(3), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13030630 - 16 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1606
Abstract
The requirements of nanocomposite thin films, having non-aggregated nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed in the matrix, have been realized using a new method of Direct Liquid Reactor-Injector (DLRI) of nanoparticles. In this approach, unlike conventional aerosol-assisted plasma deposition, the nanoparticles are synthesized before their injection [...] Read more.
The requirements of nanocomposite thin films, having non-aggregated nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed in the matrix, have been realized using a new method of Direct Liquid Reactor-Injector (DLRI) of nanoparticles. In this approach, unlike conventional aerosol-assisted plasma deposition, the nanoparticles are synthesized before their injection as an aerosol into plasma. In our experiments, we have used two different plasma reactors, namely an asymmetric low-pressure RF plasma reactor and a parallel plate dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure. Our results have shown that DLRI can be easily coupled with various plasma processes as this approach allows the deposition of high-quality multifunctional nanocomposite thin films, with embedded nanoparticles of less than 10 nm in diameter. Hence, DLRI coupled with plasma processes meets the specifications for the deposition of multifunctional coatings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalities of Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Films and Coatings)
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14 pages, 1806 KiB  
Article
Thin Films Characterization and Study of N749-Black Dye for Photovoltaic Applications
by Muhammad Tahir, Ikram Ud Din, Muhammad Zeb, Fakhra Aziz, Fazal Wahab, Zahid Gul, Alamgeer, Mahidur R. Sarker, Sajad Ali, Sawal Hamid Md Ali and Ioannis Kymissis
Coatings 2022, 12(8), 1163; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12081163 - 12 Aug 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2046
Abstract
This paper reports on the fabrication and photovoltaic characteristics of a heterojunction solar cell based on an organic small molecular semiconductor, N-749 black dye (N749-BD). To investigate the photovoltaic characteristics of N749-BD, an ITO/PEDOT:PSS/N749-BD/Ag device is prepared by spin casting a 100 ± [...] Read more.
This paper reports on the fabrication and photovoltaic characteristics of a heterojunction solar cell based on an organic small molecular semiconductor, N-749 black dye (N749-BD). To investigate the photovoltaic characteristics of N749-BD, an ITO/PEDOT:PSS/N749-BD/Ag device is prepared by spin casting a 100 ± 5-nm thin film of N749-BD on the poly(3,4, ethylene dioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) film, which acts as buffer/hole transport layer (HTL) and indium tin oxide (ITO) is employed as a transparent conducting substrate. Under standard testing conditions (STC), i.e., 25 °C, 1.5 AM global and 100 mW/cm2 irradiation, the photovoltaic parameters of the device, such as fill factor (FF) and power conversion efficiency (PCE), are found to be 0.65 and 3.8% ± 0.5%, respectively. Current-voltage (I–V) characteristics of the device are also studied in dark conditions to measure reverse saturation current (I0), series resistance at the interface, rectification ratio (RR), barrier height (ϕb) and ideality factor (n). Optical bandgaps (Eg) of N749-BD thin film are found by applying Tauc’s plot on its ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrum, which are measured to be 1.68, 2.67, 3.52 and 4.16 eV. External quantum efficiency (EQE) measurements of the fabricated device are studied, which demonstrate large value of EQE  12.89%, with peak intensity at 626 nm. Bond dynamics and compositional analysis of N749-BD is carried out via Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Morphology of the thin film of N749-BD on quartz glass are investigated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with in-situ energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy which exhibits random distribution of N749-BD grains across the surface with nearly uniform grain sizes and shapes. The larger values of FF, PCE and EQE of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/N749-BD/Ag device suggests the potential of N749-BD to be utilized in low cost, simple manufacturing process and high performance of solar cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalities of Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Films and Coatings)
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14 pages, 3407 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Properties of Novel Modified Waterborne Polyurethane Acrylate
by Qinghong Luo, Xinyu Wen, Ruijie Xu, Zhu Liu, Hongping Xiang, Zhiquan Li and Xiaoxuan Liu
Coatings 2022, 12(8), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12081135 - 06 Aug 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2502
Abstract
A series of novel modified waterborne polyurethane acrylate (WPU-EA) emulsions were prepared with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), polycarbonate diol, 2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-propionic acid (DMPA), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), epoxy acrylate (EA), and pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA). The structure of WPU-EA was confirmed by FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. [...] Read more.
A series of novel modified waterborne polyurethane acrylate (WPU-EA) emulsions were prepared with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), polycarbonate diol, 2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl-propionic acid (DMPA), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), epoxy acrylate (EA), and pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA). The structure of WPU-EA was confirmed by FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The effects of different dosages of epoxy acrylate on the cured film were investigated by tensile properties, dynamic mechanical analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicate that with increasing content of epoxy acrylate, the average particle size of the emulsion gradually increases. With the rise in epoxy acrylate concentration from 0%, 3.0%, 6.0% to 9.0%, the gel fraction of the cured film increases from 83.7%, 92.5%, 93.0% to 93.6%, respectively, and the glass transition temperature rises from 90.3 °C, 107.5 °C, 141.9 °C to 146.6 °C. The tensile strength and the thermal stability of the cured film increases, and the elongation at break decreases. Moreover, the WPU-EA emulsions were sprayed on polycarbonate sheets and exhibited the advantages of high hardness, better gloss and good adhesion, which is promising for the application of plastic coatings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalities of Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Films and Coatings)
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9 pages, 2166 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Polyurethane/Acrylate Composite Emulsion for Inkjet Printing
by Xin Wang, Jimei Wu, Fuqiang Chu and Yao Feng
Coatings 2022, 12(8), 1081; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12081081 - 31 Jul 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1854
Abstract
Water-borne polyurethane/acrylate (WPUA) emulsion was prepared through emulsion polymerization between vinyl terminated waterborne polyurethane (WPU) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in this research. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), contact angle analysis, and particle size distribution analysis were employed to investigate the performance [...] Read more.
Water-borne polyurethane/acrylate (WPUA) emulsion was prepared through emulsion polymerization between vinyl terminated waterborne polyurethane (WPU) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in this research. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), contact angle analysis, and particle size distribution analysis were employed to investigate the performance of the prepared emulsion and coatings with various content of MMA content. The results demonstrated that the thermal resistance, water resistance, and hardness of the prepared WPUA coatings were enhanced by the introduction of the MMA monomer. The contact angle (CA) and particle size of WPUA emulsion increased with the increase of MMA content. Meanwhile, the water-borne inkjet printing ink was prepared using WPUA emulsion as binder resin, and the printing test result showed that the prepared inkjet ink has good printability and color rendering, indicating that WPUA emulsion has great application prospects in the field of inkjet printing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalities of Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Films and Coatings)
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14 pages, 3586 KiB  
Article
Pyrrol-Anthracene: Synthesis, Characterization and Its Application as Active Material in Humidity, Temperature and Light Sensors
by Muhammad Zeb, Muhammad Tahir, Fida Muhammad, Zahid Gul, Fazal Wahab, Mahidur R. Sarker, Mohamad Hanif Md Saad, Alamgeer, Shabina Ali, Syed Zafar Ilyas and Salman Ali
Coatings 2022, 12(6), 848; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12060848 - 17 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2383
Abstract
This work reports on the synthesis of small molecular semiconductor 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-anthracene-9,10-dione (PAD) via wet chemical precipitation route method for its possible potential applications in sensors. Thin film characterization of the synthesized PAD is carried out by studying its surface morphology, bond [...] Read more.
This work reports on the synthesis of small molecular semiconductor 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-anthracene-9,10-dione (PAD) via wet chemical precipitation route method for its possible potential applications in sensors. Thin film characterization of the synthesized PAD is carried out by studying its surface morphology, bond dynamics, and optical properties. For studying sensing characteristics of the PAD, its 100 nm thick film is thermally deposited on pre-patterned silver (Ag) electrodes over glass substrate having ~45 µm inter-electrode gaps to prepare Ag/PAD/Ag sensor. The effects of humidity (%RH), temperature (T), and illumination of light (Ev) on the fabricated Ag/PAD/Ag sensor are studied by changing one of the three (%RH, T, and Ev) parameters at a time and measuring the corresponding variations in capacitance (C) and capacitive reactance (X) of the device. As C and X also depend on frequency, sensing properties of the Ag/PAD/Ag sensor are measured at two different frequencies (120 Hz and 1 kHz) to find the optimum sensitivity conditions. To investigate reproducibility and repeatability of Ag/PAD/Ag sensor, each measurement is taken several times and also hysteresis loops of %RH vs. C are plotted at 120 Hz and 1 kHz to find the percent errors in each cycle of measurements. The sensor is active to sense humidity, temperature, and illumination within a broad range, i.e., from 15–93%RH, 293–382 K, and 1500–20,000 lx, respectively. Other key parameters of the sensor i.e., the humidity response time (TRes) and recovery time (TRec), are measured, which are 5 and 7 s, respectively, whereas for light sensing the values of TRes and TRec are measured to be 3.8 and 2.6 s, respectively. The measured values of TRes and TRec for the fabricated Ag/PAD/Ag sensor are shorter and better as compared to those of previously reported for similar kind of small molecular based sensors. The sensing properties of Ag/PAD/Ag device exhibit the potential of PAD for humidity, temperature, and light sensing applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalities of Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Films and Coatings)
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