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Bacterial wound infection is one of the most common nosocomial infections. The unnecessary employment of antibiotics led to raising the growth of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria. Accordingly, alternative armaments capable of accelerating wound healing along with bactericidal effects are urgently needed. Considering this, we fabricated chitosan (CS)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibers armed with antibacterial silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles. The nanocomposites exhibited a high antioxidant effect and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Besides, based on the results of the cell viability assays, the optimum concentration of ZnONPs and AgNPs in the nanofibrous mats is 0.2% w/v and 0.08% w/v respectively and had no cytotoxicity on fibroblast cells. The scaffold also showed good blood compatibility according to the effects of coagulation time. As well as significant fibroblast migration and proliferation on the wound margin, according to wound‐healing assay. All in all, the developed biocompatible, antioxidant, and antibacterial Ag‐ZnO NPs incorporated CS/PEO nanofibrous mats showed their potential as an effective wound dressing.

Polyethylene oxide (PEO) complexed with molecular iodine ( I 2 ) forming PEO/ I 2  complex composites stand‐free films were investigated using dielectric relaxation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–Vis spectrophotometry, structural and morphological techniques. Scanning electron microscopy was used to monitor the variation in the surface morphology and the related roughness. 2D Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) measurements enabled to observe the distribution of iodine on the film surface. High resolution XPS measurements were used to define the iodine anion types and the metallic iodine existence, as well as the relevant concentrations based on the binding energies. The dielectric relaxation measurements were carried out over the frequency range from 0.1 to 10 7  Hz and temperature range from 155 to 330 K. Dielectric loss (ε′′) curves were fitted to the Havriliak–Negami (HN) model for one and/or two relaxation peaks (α and β), with and without the electrical conductivity contribution term, in order to deduce the relaxation time (τ) and the dielectric strengths (Δ ε ), in addition to the electrical conductivities ( σ ). The temperature-dependent data of β- and σ- relaxations follow the law of Arrhenius thermal activation indicating the presence of typical glass-forming polymers. Δ ε of α-relaxation obeys the curvature pattern of Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher (VTF) thermal activation law. The electrical conductivity of the system increases 6000 folds by doping PEO with 5 wt% of iodine at the same temperature (293 K).

Polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based solid-state electrolytes are considered ideal for electrolyte materials in solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs). However, practical applications are hindered by the lower conductivity and poor interfacial stability. Here, we propose a strategy to construct a three-dimensional (3D) fiber network of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) with continuous ion transport pathways were fabricated by filling a PEO polymer matrix in fibers containing interconnected MOFs. This 3D fiber network provides a fast Li + transport path and effectively improves the ionic conductivity (1.36 × 10 −4 S·cm −1 , 30 °C). In addition, the network of interconnected MOFs not only effectively traps the anions, but also provides sufficient mechanical strength to prevent the growth of Li dendrites. Benefiting from the advantages of structural design, the CSEs stabilize the Li/electrolyte interface and extend the cycle life of the Li-symmetric cells to 3000 h. The assembled SSLMBs exhibit excellent cycling performance at both room and high temperatures. In addition, the constructed pouch cells can provide an areal capacity of 0.62 mA·h·cm −2 , which can still operate under extreme conditions. This work provides a new strategy for the design of CSEs with continuous structure and stable operation of SSLMBs.

Polymer electrolytes based on poly(ethylene oxide)-aluminium chloride (PEO-AlCl 3 ) are synthesized by the casting method. The crystal structure, chemical bonding, thermal, and electrical properties are investigated and correlated. Particularly, the interplay between the electrical conductivity, crystallinity, and thermal properties of the nanocomposite thin films is tested. Incorporating of suitable amounts of AlCl 3 into PEO thin films reduces the crystallinity degree and the crystallite size of the resulting nanocomposite thin films. The measured FTIR profiles confirm the complexation between Al −3 ions and the ether oxygen of the PEO host polymer. Furthermore, the melting temperature and melting enthalpy are significantly reduced by adding the ionic salt into the PEO thin films. Electrical characterization of the PEO-AlCl 3 thin films is performed using the four-point probe. The electrical conductivity, the conductivity maps, and activation energy of PEO-AlCl 3 nanocomposite films are investigated to elucidate the effect of the complexation between Al −3 ions and the ether oxygen of the host polymer. The room temperature conductivity of the pure PEO thin films is measured to be 1.67 × 10 - 4 S/cm . The highest value of the conductivity is attained for PEO doped by 5 wt% of AlCl 3 . Moreover, electrical conductivity of all PEO-AlCl 3 nanocomposite thin films is found to enhance with increasing temperature. The optimized conductivity of PEO nanocomposite films doped by 20 wt% AlCl 3 at 328 K is attained. The enhancement of physical and chemical properties of PEO-AlCl 3 may pave the way to manufacture polymer nanocomposite films that could be potential candidates to fabricate high-efficiency photovoltaic devices.

A series of the CeO2–WO3/TiO2 catalysts doping polyethylene oxide (PEO) were synthesized by coprecipitation method and applied to selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3. The PEO doping catalysts showed better low-temperature activity, which demonstrated a prominent wide operation window ranging from 220 to 526 °C. A series of characterization methods were performed to demonstrate the influence of PEO addition on the internal structure, physical and chemical properties and catalytic reaction mechanism for the CeO2–WO3/TiO2 catalysts. More importantly, the addition of PEO could significantly modify and optimize the pore structure of catalysts, meanwhile, it was verified that the addition of PEO can enhance the content of Ce3+, adsorbed oxygen and the Brönsted and Lewis acid sites on the catalyst surface, thereby affecting the redox abilities, nitrogen oxides and ammonia adsorption capacity of catalysts.

Nanocomposite films of polyaniline protonated with camphor sulfonic acid (PANI-CSA) hosted in polyethylene oxide (PEO) and incorporated with gallium nitride nanoparticles (GaN-NPs) were synthesized and characterized. Nanocomposite films were coated on activated fused silica substrates by employing the spin coating technique. Films of PANI-CSA, PEO, PANI-CSA-PEO, and PANI-CSA-PEO incorporated with GaN-NPs with a weight percent ratio of 10%, 20.07%, 38.76%, 77.83%, 93.03%, 100.78%, and 155.04% with respect to PANI-CSA were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRD, and SEM. Refractive index ( n ), extinction coefficient ( k ), absorption coefficient (α), and bandgap energies ( E g ) were deduced. The refractive index value of PANI-CSA-PEO at 550 nm is found to be 1.72. It increases to 1.82 when GaN-NPs have been added to PANI-CSA-PEO solution by 10 wt.%. Then, it decreased to 1.63 when GaN-NPs concentration was increased to 20.07 wt.%. When GaN-NPs is increased further to higher concentrations, the material becomes GaN-rich PANI-CSA-PEO, and the refractive index takes values ranging between 1.56 and 1.66 at the higher concentration. The typical crystalline structure of PANI-CSA was vanishing gradually as GaN-NPs content was increasing at 155% wt.%, and the GaN crystalline nature was dominating the film crystallography. Results are anticipated to contribute to preparing smart multifunctional devices based on the PANI-CSA-PEO doped with GaN-NPs.

Electrospun drug-eluting fibers have demonstrated potentials in topical drug delivery applications, where drug releases can be modulated by polymer fiber compositions. In this study, blend fibers of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) at various compositions were electrospun from 10 wt% of polymer solutions to encapsulate a model drug of ibuprofen (IBP). The results showed that the average polymer solution viscosities determined the electrospinning parameters and the resulting average fiber diameters. Increasing PEO contents in the blend PCL/PEO fibers decreased the average elastic moduli, the average tensile strength, and the average fracture strains, where IBP exhibited a plasticizing effect in the blend PCL/PEO fibers. Increasing PEO contents in the blend PCL/PEO fibers promoted the surface wettability of the fibers. The in vitro release of IBP suggested a transition from a gradual release to a fast release when increasing PEO contents in the blend PCL/PEO fibers up to 120 min. The in vitro viability of blend PCL/PEO fibers using MTT assays showed that the fibers were compatible with MEF-3T3 fibroblasts. In conclusion, our results explained the scientific correlations between the solution properties and the physicomechanical properties of electrospun fibers. These blend PCL/PEO fibers, having the ability to modulate IBP release, are suitable for topical drug delivery applications.

Current ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) always proves inadequate in terms of large attenuation and short working time in air due to water leakage. To address this problem, a feasible and effective solution was proposed in this study to enhance IPMC performance operating in air by doping polyethylene oxide (PEO) with superior water retention capacity into Nafion membrane. The investigation of physical characteristics of membranes blended with varying PEO contents revealed that PEO/Nafion membrane with 20 wt% PEO exhibited a homogeneous internal structure and a high water uptake ratio. At the same time, influences of PEO contents on electromechanical properties of IPMCs were studied, showing that the IPMCs with 20 wt% PEO presented the largest peak-to-peak displacement, the highest volumetric work density, and prolonged stable working time. It was demonstrated that doping PEO reinforced electromechanical performances and restrained displacement attenuation of the resultant IPMC.

Solid state nanochannels provide significant practical advantages in many fields due to their interesting properties, such as controllable shape and size, robustness, ion selectivity. But their complex preparation processes severely limit their application. In this study, a simple cost‐effective method to fabricate single nanochannel by embedding a single polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofiber is presented. Firstly, PEO nanofibers are prepared by electrospinning, and then a single PEO nanofiber are precisely transferred to the target sample using a micromanipulation platform. Then, PDMS is used for embedding, and finally, the PEO nanofiber is dissolved to obtain a single nanochannel. Unlike other methods of preparing nanochannels by embedding nanofibers, this method can prepare single nanochannel. The diameter of nanochannel can be as fine as 100 nm, and the length can reach several micrometers. The power generation between two potassium chloride solutions with various combinations of concentrations was investigated using the nanochannel. This low‐cost flexible nanochannel can also be used in various applications, including DNA sequencing and biomimetic ion channel. In this work, a novel low‐cost method of single nanochannel is presented based on the sacrificial electrospun polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofiber as templates. Through this method, nanochannels of any diameter, length, and even any number of nanochannels can be prepared.

Polyglycolic acid (PGA), a linear aliphatic polyester with excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, is widely used as a medical material. However, the inherent brittleness of this material may limit its use in many other industrial applications. This study explored the toughening effect of physically blending PGA with polyethylene oxide (PEO). Standard tensile samples of different PGA/PEO blends were prepared by a torque rheometer and a microinjection molding machine. The thermodynamic properties, mechanical properties, and microstructure of the PGA/PEO samples were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), a universal tensile testing machine, a cantilever impact tester, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The experiment ultimately found that the addition of 15 wt% PEO greatly improved the toughness of the blended PGA/PEO. A yielding process could be observed in the tensile tests, and the elongation-at-break increased from 3.67% for pure PGA to 54.14% for PGA/PEO 85:15, which shows an increase of 1475.2%. It can be concluded that the addition of PEO is a good way to increase the PGA toughness. The mechanism of PGA toughening by PEO was further analyzed, and the increase in toughness could be attributed to the existence of a continuous PEO phase that facilitated the formation and evolution of cavities between the partially compatible PGA and PEO phases.