Development of high functionality composites and nanocomposites for tissue engineering and energy conversion systems

开发用于组织工程和能量转换系统的高功能复合材料和纳米复合材料

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-04084
• 负责人: Mighri, Frej
• 金额: $ 4.81万
• 依托单位: Université Laval
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=753752
• 关键词: Development; functionality; composites; nanocomposites; tissue

During the last decade, functional nanocomposites are set to play a crucial role in various areas including sustainable energy technologies such as, hydrogen fuel cells, solar cells, tissue engineering, etc. They can offer performances that are not reachable by their corresponding bulk materials. The emphases are presently placed on the control of their composition, morphology, nanostructure and functionality with respect to their specific applications. The aim of the proposed research program is to develop controlled morphology/functionality nanocomposites and biocompatible composites particularly designed for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) photoanodes, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) electrodes and bipolar plates (BPPs), and biocompatible scaffolds for cartilage tissue regeneration. Presently, cartilage porous scaffolds, once developed, need a further solvent treatment to add biocompatible materials inside the pores in order to promote cell proliferation, leading to unwanted residual solvents. We propose in this firsttheme a solvent-free technique to develop open cell scaffolds where chitosan, a biocompatible/biodegradablenatural polymer, is modified and directly projected on the surface of the pores during scaffolds' foaming, leading to strong adhesion thanks to chitosan modification.The conventional manufacturing process of Titanium dioxide (TiO2) layer in DSSC photoanode requires a high temperature sintering, leading to a brittle structure. Then the development of flexible structures, object of the second theme in this proposal, is a challenge. Based on our expertise in the synthesis of nanostructured TiO2, we will use room temperature electrospinning technique to develop flexible fibrous nanostructures from a polymeric matrix containing TiO2-CdS nanoparticles of controlled size and shape. The main objective is to increase photoanode flexibility and cell efficiency by providing large photoanode surface area and increased electron transfer with the photosensitizing dye.As third research theme in this proposal, we will use a recently designed experimental setup compatible with our ARES rheometer in order to investigate the 'online' evolution of the electrical conductivity behavior in co-continuous morphology nanocomposites with respect to their crystallization kinetics. This will help us to optimize the cooling profile of the nanocomposites in order to attain higher electrical conductivity. We will also undergo an original study in which we will investigate the effect of dynamic shearing on the electrical conductivity of melted polymer/polymer systems. We aim from this study to decrease the threshold concentration of the conductive additives and consequently increase nanomaterials' processability and electrical conductivity, particularly needed for polymer-based PEMFC electrodes and BPPs.

在过去的十年中，功能性纳米复合材料将在各个领域发挥关键作用，包括可持续能源技术，例如，氢燃料电池，太阳能电池，组织工程等。它们可以提供通过相应的散装材料无法达到的性能。目前，重点放在其组成，形态，纳米结构和功能相对于其特定应用方面的控制。拟议的研究计划的目的是开发受控的形态/功能纳米复合材料和生物相容性复合材料，专为染料敏化的太阳能电池（DSSC）光播，Proton Exchange膜燃料电池（PEMFC）电极和双极层（BPPL）（BPPS）（BPPS）和生物相称的Scaffolds for Cartialage组织而设计。目前，软骨多孔脚手架曾经开发，需要进一步的溶剂处理才能在孔内添加生物相容性材料，以促进细胞增殖，从而导致不必要的残留溶剂。我们在这首第一项无溶剂的技术中提出了开发开放的细胞支架，其中壳聚糖（一种具有生物相容性/生物降解的生物学生物生物性聚合物）经过修改，并直接投射在毛孔的表面上，在脚手架的泡沫中进行了强烈的粘合，导致了对奇质制造的强大粘合。高温烧结，导致结构脆弱。然后，该提案中第二个主题的灵活结构的发展是一个挑战。基于我们在纳米结构TiO2合成方面的专业知识，我们将使用室温静电纺丝技术从包含控制大小和形状的TiO2-CDS纳米颗粒的聚合物基质中开发柔性纤维纳米结构。主要目的是通过提供大量的光阳极表面积并增加电子染料的电子传输来提高光阳极的柔韧性和细胞效率。作为该提案的第三个研究主题，我们将使用与我们的ARES休闲计兼容的最近设计的实验设置，以研究“在线电导率”在共连接形成中的“在线电导率”与Cryphology nananoComports nananoctorm nanaNoctalls的Extortion相关。这将有助于我们优化纳米复合材料的冷却曲线，以达到更高的电导率。我们还将进行一项原始研究，其中我们将研究动态剪切对熔融聚合物/聚合物系统的电导率的影响。我们的目标是降低导电添加剂的阈值浓度，从而提高纳米材料的加工性和电导率，尤其是基于聚合物的PEMFC电极和BPP所需的。