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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Persistent Structure and Frustrated Magnetism in High Entropy Rare-Earth Zirconates

The configurational complexity and distinct local atomic environments of high entropy oxides remain largely unexplored, leaving structure-property relationships and the hypothesis that the family offers rich tunability for applications ambiguous. This work investigates the influence of cation size and materials synthesis in determining the resulting structure and magnetic properties of a family of high entropy rare-earth zirconates (HEREZs, nominal composition RE 2 Zr 2 O 7 with RE = rare-earth element combinations including Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, La, or Sc). Here, the structural characterization of the series is examined through synchrotron X-ray diffraction and pair distribution function analysis, and electron microscopy, demonstrating average defect-fluorite structures with considerable local disorder, in all samples. The surface morphology and particle sizes are found to vary significantly with preparation method, with irregular micron-sized particles formed by high temperature sintering routes, spherical nanoparticles resulting from chemical co-precipitation methods, and porous nanoparticle agglomerates resulting from polymer steric entrapment synthesis. In agreement with the disordered cation distribution found across all samples, magnetic measurements indicate that all synthesized HEREZs show frustrated magnetic behavior, as seen in a number of single-component RE 2 Zr 2 O 7 pyrochlore oxides. These findings advance the understanding of the local structure of high entropy oxides and demonstrate strategies for designing nanostructured morphologies in the class.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Single‐Crystal LiNi x Mn y Co 1− x − y O 2 Cathodes for Extreme Fast Charging

Abstract Ni‐rich layered LiNi x Mn y Co 1− x − y O 2 (NMCs, x ≥ 0.8) are poised to be the dominating cathode materials for lithium‐ion batteries for the foreseeable future. Conventional polycrystalline NMCs, however, suffer from severe cracking along the grain boundaries of primary particles and capacity loss under high charge and/or discharge rates, hindering their implementation in fast‐charging electric vehicular (EV) batteries. Single‐crystal (SC) NMCs are attractive alternatives as they eliminate intergranular cracking and allow for grain‐level surface optimization for fast Li transport. In the present study, the authors report synthetic approaches to produce SC LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (NMC811) samples with different morphologies: Oct‐SC811 with predominating (012)‐family surface and Poly‐SC811 with predominating (104)‐family surface. Poly‐SC811, representing the first experimentally synthesized NMC811 single crystals with (104) surface, delivers superior performance even at the ultra‐high rate of 6 C. Through detailed X‐ray analysis and electron microscopy characterization, it is shown that the enhanced performance originates from better chemical and structural stabilities, faster Li + diffusion kinetics, suppressed side reactions with electrolyte, and excellent cracking resistance. These insights provide important design guidelines in the future development of fast‐charging NMC‐type cathode materials.

Lu, Yanying↗
DOE OSTI2020

Thermally activated structural transformations in manganese oxide nanoparticles under air and argon atmospheres

The properties of manganese oxide nanomaterials are dictated by the structure and morphology of the particular phases they can adopt. The effects of post-synthesis heat treatments on amorphous monodisperse manganese oxide nanoparticles at ≤1300° under lab. air and argon atmospheres were investigated using X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and electron microscopy techniques. During heat treatments in air, the nanoparticles undergo three transformations, resulting in: crystallization to cubic Mn 2 O 3 at ~500°, followed by the transformation to tetragonal Mn 3 O 4 at ~1010°, and to cubic Mn 3 O 4 at ~1190°. The first two transformations are irreversible, are associated with oxygen loss, and involve reductions. of the Mn ions. The latter transformation is polymorphic and spontaneously reversible, and so, tetragonal Mn 3 O 4 is observed at ambient temperature in samples heat-treated at >1000°. The samples heat treated in argon firstly crystallize to a mixt. of monoclinic Mn 2 O 3 and tetragonal Mn 3 O 4 at ~475°, followed by complete transformation to tetragonal Mn 3 O 4 at ~820°, and then to mostly cubic MnO at ~1145°; here again, the residual tetragonal Mn 3 O 4 undergoes a reversible polymorphic transformation at ~1180°, whereas the other transformations are irreversible. In both atmospheres, the amorphous material exhibits short-range cryptomelane-type order with a mixture of Mn 3+ and Mn 4+ prior to crystallization. Furthermore, these data indicate that most of the stable manganese oxide phases can be obtained from initially amorphous nanoparticles by heat treatment under appropriate conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Microstructural Coarsening Kinetics and Mechanical Property Changes in Long-Term Aged Sn–Pb–Sb Solder Joints

Tin-lead-antimony (50Sn–47Pb–3Sb wt.%) soldered assemblies were mechanically tested approximately 30 years after initial production and found to have solder joints of reduced strength. The microstructure of this solder alloy exhibits a ternary eutectic structure with Sn-rich, Pb-rich, and SnSb phases. Accelerated aging was performed to evaluate solder microstructural coarsening and associated strength of laboratory solder joints to correlate these properties to the “naturally aged” solder joints. Isothermal aging was conducted at room temperature, 55, 70, 100, and 135 °C and aging times that ranged from 0.1 to 365 days. The coarsening kinetics of the Pb-rich phase were determined through optical microscopy and image analysis methods established in previous studies on binary Sn–Pb solder. A kinetic equation was developed with time exponent n of 0.43 and activation energy of 24000 J/mol, suggesting grain boundary diffusion or other fast diffusion pathways controlling the microstructural evolution. Compression testing and Vickers microhardness showed significant strength loss within the first 20–30 days after soldering; then, the microstructure and mechanical properties changed more slowly over long periods of time. Further, by combining accelerated aging data and the microstructure-based kinetics, strength predictions were made that match well with the properties of the actual soldered assemblies naturally aged for 30 years. However, aging at the highest temperature of 135 °C produced anomalous behavior suggesting that extraneous aging mechanisms are active. Therefore, data obtained at this temperature or higher should not be used. Overall, the combined microstructural and mechanical property methods used in this study confirmed that the observed reduction in strength of ~ 30-year-old solder joints can be accounted for by the microstructural coarsening that takes place during long-term solid-state aging.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Spectroradiometric detection of competitor diatoms and the grazer Poteriochromonas in algal cultures

To address challenges in early detection of pond pests, we have extended a spectroradiometric monitoring method, initially demonstrated for measurement of pigment optical activity and biomass, to the detection of algal competitors and grazers. The method relies upon measurement and interpretation of pond reflectance spectra spanning from the visible into the near-infrared. Reflectance spectra are acquired every 5 min with a multi-channel, fiber-coupled spectroradiometer, providing monitoring of algal pond conditions with high temporal frequency. The spectra are interpreted via numerical inversion of a reflectance model, in which the above-water reflectance is expressed in terms of the absorption and backscatter coefficients of the cultured species, with additional terms accounting for the pigment fluorescence features and for the water-surface reflection of sunlight and skylight. With this method we demonstrate detection of diatoms and the predator Poteriochromonas in outdoor cultures of Nannochloropsis oceanica and Chlorella vulgaris, respectively. Further, the relative strength of these signatures is compared to microscopy and sequencing analysis. Spectroradiometric detection of diatoms is then further assessed on beaker-contained mixtures of Microchloropsis salina with Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Thalassiosira weissflogii, and Thalassiosira pseudonana, respectively, providing an initial evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of detecting pond competitors.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Densification and microstructure features of lithium hydride fabrication

The manufacturing of lithium hydride (LiH) utilizing uniaxial pressing, which offers fabrication with tailorable properties via microstructure control, can lead to the expansion in application of LiH while bypassing the challenges presented by historical casting manufacturing techniques. Through control of consolidation conditions such as pressure, temperature, dwell time and powder load, the presented work highlights the densification of LiH, with an emphasis on quantifying oxygen content, for applications requiring a specific density range necessary for optimized material performance. Karl Fischer Titration and X-ray Diffraction proved useful in determining oxygen and phase content while Computed Tomography and Scanning Electron Microscopy provided structural analysis. The temperature dependent densification of LiH fit with an Arrhenius term resulted in an activation energy of 21.2 kJ/mol. Images of fractured surfaces of LiH pressed at 500 °C revealed drastic grain coarsening, aided by the presence of oxygen impurities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Degradation mechanism of blended cement pastes in sulfate-bearing environments under applied electric fields: Sulfate attack vs. decalcification

Applied electric fields, the reason behind stray currents, accelerate the ingress of sulfate into cementitious materials. To identify mitigation approaches, this study investigates the effects of slag and fly ash on sodium sulfate attacks of cement pastes under a constant electric current. The mineralogical alterations induced by the attacks were analyzed using X-ray diffractometry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and thermodynamic modeling. The dissolution of aluminates in the slag and fly ash induced a monosulfate-rich area (>~20 mm from the cathode surface) to form next to the ettringite-rich area on the sample surface (<~20 mm). This effect reduced the availability of SO 4 2– in the pore solution, thereby hindering the penetration of sulfate. Meanwhile, the consumption of portlandite by the pozzolanic reaction lowered the decalcification resistance of the materials. This produced a wide area that endured the decomposition of portlandite and carbonate-AFm. Altogether, blending 30% fly ash did not improve the resistance of the material to either sulfate attacks or decalcification; blending 50% slag can effectively mitigate sulfate ingress, though decalcification may become a governing mechanism in the degradation process.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Mineralogical and isotopic constraints on early, high-temperature events and reservoirs recorded in the interior of a Type B Ca-Al-rich inclusion from the reduced CV3 chondrite Vigarano

A coordinated mineralogical and oxygen and Al-Mg isotopic study of a Type B Ca-Al-rich inclusion (CAI) from the reduced CV3 chondrite Vigarano was carried out using electron microprobe analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and secondary ion mass spectrometry. This CAI, a once molten igneous object, shows heterogeneous oxygen isotopic compositions among its constituent mineral phases. Spinel is uniformly 16 O-rich with Δ 17 O ≤ −23 ‰. The Δ 17 O values of Al,Ti-diopside in the CAI core range from −11 ‰ to −18 ‰, which are positively correlated with its TiO 2 contents, whereas diopside in the Wark–Lovering (WL) rim is 16 O-rich with Δ 17 O = −23 ‰. Melilite in the CAI mantle shows Δ 17 O values ≤ −10 ‰ only when Åk <15 but becomes more 16 O-poor (Δ 17 O = −3 ‰ to −9 ‰) when Åk >15 . These correlated chemical and oxygen isotopic variations were likely established during crystallization of melilite and Al,Ti-diopside from a partial melt, while spinel preserves the original 16 O-rich composition of the CAI precursor. We infer that a partial melt was isotopically evolving from 16 O-rich to 16 O-poor during melilite crystallization, then back to 16 O-rich during Al,Ti-diopside crystallization via exchange with different gas reservoirs of 16 O-poor and 16 O-rich compositions during heating event(s). Our Al-Mg isotopic measurements of the CAI core and mantle define a single isochron with an inferred initial 26 Al/ 27 Al ratio of (4.93 ± 0.18) × 10 −5 , indistinguishable from that of the WL rim. This indicates that multiple high-temperature events and oxygen isotope exchange with isotopically distinct gas reservoirs occurred rapidly during the CAI formation.

Al-Mg isotopic systematic↗
DOE OSTI2022

Effect of amine type on acidic toxic gas adsorption at ambient conditions on modified CuBTC

We report two amine-modified copper-based Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF (CuBTC)) of different surface chemical and textural features were synthesized and used as adsorbents of acidic toxic gases (NO 2 and H 2 S) in both moist (71% relative humidity (R.H.)) and dry conditions. The initial and exhausted samples were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The addition of melamine prevented full growth of CuBTC crystals and resulted in amorphous-like particles with sizes less than 200 nm. The material was non-porous with a small surface area. When urea was used as an amine source, the resulting particles maintained the overall octahedral shape of the parent CuBTC MOF and the material was more porous than the parent MOF. While the urea-modified CuBTC sample performed well as an NO 2 adsorbent in the presence of moisture, the reactivity of the melamine-modified sample and its physical properties provided a favorable environment for the removal of H 2 S. The incorporation of amines into the MOF structure also resulted in surface defects /open copper sites that favored the removal of toxic gases in dry conditions. The reactivity of the adsorbents with toxic gases was demonstrated by the changes in the adsorbent colors, in texture, and in surface chemistry (organic salts, complexes, sulfides and nitrates were formed).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced grindability of bastnaesite ore by ex-situ CO 2 treatment under the partial pressure of 0-100 psi

High grinding energy consumption has long constrained the sustainable development of mineral processing. This study introduces an innovative technology that employs ex-situ CO 2 treatment to enhance the grindability of bastnaesite ore. The grinding aid effect was evaluated under CO 2 partial pressures ranging from 0 psi to 100 psi using particle size distribution and the Bond work index (BWI), while the underlying mechanism was elucidated with various characterization techniques including inductively coupled plasma (ICP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). The optimal grinding aid effect was achieved at 100 psi partial pressure, 50% slurry concentration, and 3 h reaction duration. Correspondingly, the P80 of the grinding product decreased from 81.76 μm to 72.73 μm and the BWI of bastnaesite ore decreased from 6.96 kW·h/t to 6.30 kW·h/t, a reduction of 9.48%. The grinding aid effect primarily resulted from the transformation of sparingly soluble carbonates like calcite and dolomite into more soluble bicarbonates, which created substantial cracks and pores, thereby reducing the ore's hardness and improving its grindability. By significantly saving grinding energy consumption while delivering environmental benefits, this technology exhibits great promise for further optimization and widespread adoption.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Formation of functionally graded steel by laser powder bed fusion via in-situ carbon doping

Additive Manufacturing (AM) enables functional integration by combining multiple components into a single part to shorten assembly time, reduce weight, and improve performance. Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) is an important AM method due to excellent spatial resolution, surface finish, and material properties without the need for extensive post-processing. Functional integration could be enhanced by spatial tuning of properties, but LPBF cannot readily vary material composition. Here, this paper addresses a method to add spatial composition control by printing small quantities of dopants via liquid carrier prior to laser fusion. The impact of carbon black suspension added to select regions of a Stainless Steel 316 L powder bed on melt pool dimension, hardness, and porosity is reported. The distribution of the carbon between the doped and plain layers and the resulting spatial variation in hardness is measured. Optical microscopy and composition analysis show that the carbon dispersed uniformly within the layer of deposition and diffused as little as 50 μm in the build direction. Keyhole conditions dramatically increase the inter-layer transport of the dopant. The added carbon increased hardness by >50 %. Porosity increased in doped regions but remained below 1.5 % for the best processing parameters. These results demonstrate that the composition of LPBF parts could be controlled in 3-dimensions using a dopant that is soluble in the melt pool. Additional work will be required to evaluate different dopant materials and optimize processing conditions for full density, but microalloying with soluble dopants appears to be a plausible solution to enhance functional integration with LPBF.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Influence of implantation temperature and He implantation-induced defects on morphological evolution of co-deposited Cu-Mo nanocomposites

Here, we investigate the effect of high-temperature helium (He) implantation on microstructural evolution in physical-vapor-co-deposited nanocomposite thin films of copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo). The microstructure morphologies of He-implanted and He-free domains are characterized using transmission electron microscopy and statistical analysis. High implantation temperatures (500°C and 750°C) lead to coarsening of Cu and Mo domains and their eventual reorientation. The microstructure evolution in He-implanted and He-free domains is comparable, indicating that implantation-induced defects do not accelerate the coarsening of the nanocomposite as compared to annealing alone. This observation contrasts with previously reported effects of implantation-induced defects on single-phase nanocrystalline metals, which include enhancement of grain growth by increasing self-diffusivity or its inhibition by pinning of grain boundaries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Synthesis and Mg 2+ deintercalation in manganese spinel nanocrystals

Transition metal oxides are promising materials as cathodes for divalent batteries with high capacity under high voltage. A major challenge is the sluggish kinetics of intercalation of divalent cations into the oxide host. Tailoring of the size, composition and crystal structure of oxides is a necessary strategy to alleviate these barriers, which challenges our control of their synthesis. In this work, we selectively synthesize spinel-type Mg x Mn 3-x O 4 nanocrystals with different Mg/Mn ratios and investigate their ability to electrochemically shuttle Mg 2+ ions. Crystal-chemical characterization of the reaction outcomes was conducted with X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and elemental analysis. Both 5 nm thick MgMn 2 O 4 nanosheets and 10 nm Mg 0.41 Mn 2.59 O 4 nanocubes underwent reversible Mg 2+ deintercalation, yet no obvious reaction was observed in 60 nm Mg 1.2 Mn 1.8 O 4 nanocubes. Our results suggest that both the size of the spinel nanocrystals and the Mg/Mn ratios play a role in the observed behaviour. The advances in the synthesis of spinel oxide nanocrystals achieved, and their correlation with Mg 2+ deintercalation, pave the way toward the precise synthesis of multivalent cathode materials that fundamentally overcome barriers to practical application.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

From phase decomposition to evaporation: A multi-modal evaluation of thermally degraded model lightweight high-entropy alloy

Lightweight high-entropy alloys (LHEAs) have the potential to replace conventional lightweight materials due to their superior mechanical properties and thermal stability. However, the thermal degradation pattern of LHEAs from phase decomposition to evaporation is not clear. We develop a new Al-based dual phase (FCC + HCP) LHEA—AlTi 0.45 CuZn, and further investigate its thermal degradation behavior for potential high-temperature structural applications. Using multimodal advanced characterization techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetric analysis, scanning/transmission electron microscopy, and synchrotron X-ray diffraction/pair distribution function (XRD/PDF), a sequence of thermal degradation events beyond the thermal phase stability limit—between 250 and 360 °C—is observed. These include phase decomposition at ~360 °C, Zn evaporation at ~750 °C, and LHEA melting at 880 °C which results in ~25% cumulative weight loss. The formation of Al-Ti phase off the AlTi 0.45 CuZn matrix is due to the largest negative mixing enthalpy for Al-Ti than other binary pairs. Similarly, Zn evaporation from AlTi 0.45 CuZn LHEA is due to its faster evaporation rate than other constituent elements. The high-resolution synchrotron XRD and PDF results support the aforementioned observations; in addition, they reveal local atomic arrangements, local strain, and sluggish grain growth in the LHEA. Among other LHEAs of close density range (5.55 ≤ ρ ≤ 5.85 g/cc), the investigated LHEA exhibits outstanding nano-indentation hardness values due to the coupled grain size effect and HCP phase strengthening of the FCC matrix. As the search for LHEAs for lightweight applications grows, this study shows the potential use of AlTi 0.45 CuZn LHEA for structural applications even at elevated temperatures.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Irradiation-induced amorphization of Fe-Y-based second phase particles in accident-tolerant FeCrAl alloys

Here, second phase intermetallic particles in an advanced accident-tolerant FeCrAl (Fe-13Cr-5Al-2Mo) alloy are formed in the α-Fe matrix during processing. These particles are prominently related to the added Y. Neutron irradiation to ~7 displacements per atom (dpa) with a dose rate of ~8.16 × 10 -7 dpa/s at 282 °C resulted in the amorphization of these precipitates which could degrade the mechanical properties of the FeCrAl alloys. Analytical electron microscopy and diffraction analysis combined with structural freedom analysis have been used to investigate the radiation resistance of the second phase particles. Radiation tolerance is closely linked to the particle Fe-Y content and can be tailored using the structure freedom value.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Synthesis and Properties of Bulk Mg 3 WN 4 in a Wurtzite-Derived Structure

Experimental synthesis of theoretically predicted materials with controlled elemental coordination environments can lead to the realization of useful properties, such as facile ion transport or ferroelectric switching. Among such materials are ternary nitrides in the Mg−W−N composition space, where several stable and metastable compounds have been predicted and synthesized recently in bulk and film forms. Here, we report for the first time on the bulk synthesis of Mg 3 WN 4 in a wurtzite-derived crystal structure via a solid-state metathesis reaction. In situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction shows how the ion exchange proceeds from Li 6 WN 4 + MgCl 2 precursors to Mg 3 WN 4 + LiCl products, with the reaction starting slowly near 380 °C and completing by 600 °C, including the presence of a competing disordered rocksalt-derived phase (Mg,W)N above 440 °C. The follow-up ex situ powder synthesis at 400 °C for 0.5 h with 10% excess MgCl 2 reveals the cation-ordered nature of the wurtzite-derived Mg 3 WN 4 structure with polar symmetry confirmed by second-harmonic generation measurements. Optical absorption spectra, chemical composition analysis, and electron microscopy imaging suggest that bulk Mg 3 WN 4 obtained via metathesis reaction is prone to defect formation. Overall, this study shows that selective ex situ synthesis of the phase-pure ternary nitrides, informed by in situ measurements, is possible by carefully controlling the thermal budget of the reaction and paves the way toward property characterization of the Mg 3 WN 4 wurtzite-derived material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Mesoporous Crystalline Niobium Oxide with a High Surface Area: A Solid Acid Catalyst for Alkyne Hydration

A mesoporous crystalline niobium oxide with tunable pore sizes was synthesized via the sol–gel-based inverse micelle method. The material shows a surface area of 127 m 2 /g, which is the highest surface area reported so far for crystalline niobium oxide synthesized by soft template methods. The material also has a monomodal pore size distribution with an average pore diameter of 5.6 nm. A comprehensive characterization of niobium oxide was performed using powder X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV–vis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The material acts as an environmentally friendly, solid acid catalyst toward hydration of alkynes under with excellent catalytic activity (99% conversion, 99% selectivity, and 4.39 h –1 TOF). Brønsted acid sites present in the catalyst were found to be responsible for the high catalytic activity. Lastly, the catalyst was reusable up to five cycles without a significant loss of the activity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Biobased Semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Networks of Poly(ε-caprolactone) and Epoxidized Soybean Oil with Nanoscale Morphology, Shape-Memory Effect, and Biocompatibility

Creating biobased polymer blends with outstanding properties, nanoscale morphology, shape-memory capability, and biocompatibility is very crucial and requires a fundamental understanding of the phase behavior, macromolecular structure, and biological compatibility of the polymer blends with living cells. It is very critical to understand the complex relationships among the polymer structure, morphology, and performance of multifunctional smart materials under conditions that they are likely to encounter during use, particularly in biomedical applications. Biobased semi-interpenetrating polymer networks of poly(ε-caprolactone) and epoxidized soybean oil with nanoscale morphology have been successfully synthesized via in situ cationic polymerization and compatibilization in a homogeneous solution. Varies analytical and characterization techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray scattering, cell toxicity, and shape-memory effects (SMEs), have been employed to understand the structure–properties relationship of these smart, biobased nanostructured polymer blends. The synthesized nano blends were nontoxic or biocompatible and supported attachment of human vein endothelial cells, showing their potential use in biomedical applications. The current versatile, low-cost strategy for synthesizing the nanoscale morphology of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks with SMEs and biocompatibility should be widely applicable for polymer systems. This study is also considered as a continuation to our efforts in the area of biobased polymers to develop innovative technologies to transform natural resources into smart multifunctional materials for a wide range of applications, including coatings, adhesives, and medical devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗