Abstract
Carbon quantum dot (CQD)/polypropylene (PP) nanocomposite fibers were fabricated using the melt spinning technique. The composite fibers were studied using tensile measurements, wide-angle X-ray diffraction patterns, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and reflection spectrophotometry. The effects of CQDs size, CQD/matrix interface adhesion, and CQD loading on the structure, mechanical, orientation, and optical properties of PP/CQD nanocomposite fibers were investigated using Taguchi experimental design. The produced PP/CQD nanocomposites fibers exhibited color emission under excitation energy, which could be attributed to the presence of CQDs embedded inside the PP matrix. The photoluminescence emission spectra of the nanocomposite fibers containing smaller-size CQD nanoparticles were more significant than other samples at the wavelength of 347 nm. The results of reflection spectrophotometry measurements showed that the purity value was increased with enhancing CQD loading inside the polymer matrix. The results also demonstrated a yellowish red hue imparted to the nanocomposite fibers with improving CQD loading inside the polymer matrix. The amount of redness and yellowness of PP/CQD nanocomposite fibers was lower for the smaller-size nanoparticles and tended to blue and green color. The produced fibers could be easily fabricated and used potentially in a variety of applications like photochemical reactions, anti-counterfeiting, optoelectronic devices, etc.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rossetti R, Brus L (1982) Electron–hole recombination emission as a probe of surface chemistry in aqueous cadmium sulfide colloids. J Phys Chem 86(23):4470–4472
Al-Ahmadi A (2012) Quantum dots—a variety of new applications. INTECH Open Access Publisher, Rijeka
Patil YS, Salunkhe PH, Navale YH, Patil VB, Ubale VP, Ghanwat AA (2020) Tetraphenylthiophene-thiazole-based π-conjugated polyazomethines: synthesis, characterization and gas sensing application. Polym Bull 77:2205–2226
Patil YS, Mahindrakar JN, Salunkhe PH, Ubale VP, Ghanwat AA (2019) Synthesis, characterization, and electrical and thermal stability of semiconducting π-conjugated polyazomethines containing a tetraphenylthiophene-oxazole unit. J Electron Mater 48:8067–8075
Patil YS, Salunkhe PH, Navale YH, Ubale VP, Patil VB, Maldar NN, Ghanwat AA (2018) Synthesis, characterization and conductivity study of co-polyazomethine polymer containing thiazole active ring. AIP Conf Proc 1989(1):020034
Paek K, Yang H, Lee J, Park J, Kim BJ (2014) Efficient colorimetric pH sensor based on responsive polymer–quantum dot integrated graphene oxide. ACS Nano 8(3):2848–2856
Li H, Kang Z, Liu Y, Lee S-T (2012) Carbon nanodots: synthesis, properties and applications. J Mater Chem 22(46):24230–24253
Luo PG, Sahu S, Yang S-T, Sonkar SK, Wang J, Wang H, LeCroy GE, Cao L, Sun Y-P (2013) Carbon “quantum” dots for optical bioimaging. J Mater Chem B 1(16):2116–2127
Zhang M, Yao Q, Lu C, Li Z, Wang W (2014) Layered double hydroxide-carbon dot composite: high-performance adsorbent for removal of anionic organic dye. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 6(22):20225–20233
Alam A-M, Park B-Y, Ghouri ZK, Park M, Kim H-Y (2015) Synthesis of carbon quantum dots from cabbage with down- and up-conversion photoluminescence properties: excellent imaging agent for biomedical applications. Green Chem 17(7):3791–3797
Safaie B, Youssefi M, Rezaei B (2019) Rheological behavior of polypropylene/carbon quantum dot nanocomposites: the effects of particles size, particles/matrix interface adhesion, and particles loading. Polym Bull. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-018-2611-8
Xiao J, Cheng Y, Guo C, Liu X, Zhang B, Yuan S, Huang J (2019) Novel functional fiber loaded with carbon dots for the deep removal of Cr (VI) by adsorption and photocatalytic reduction. J Environ Sci 83:195–204
Zhao Z, Geng C, Zhao X, Xue Z, Quan F, Xia Y (2019) Preparation of CdTe/alginate textile fibres with controllable fluorescence emission through a wet-spinning process and application in the trace detection of Hg2+ ions. Nanomaterials 9(4):570
Huang Y, Liu J, Yu Y, Zuo S (2015) Preparation and multicolored fluorescent properties of CdTe quantum dots/polymethylmethacrylate composite films. J Alloy Compd 647:578–584
Wang Q, Wang H, Liu D, Du P, Liu P (2017) Synthesis of flake-shaped nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dot/polyaniline (N-CQD/PANI) nanocomposites via rapid-mixing polymerization and their application as electrode materials in supercapacitors. Synth Met 231:120–126
Yu L, Yue X, Yang R, Jing S, Qu L (2016) A sensitive and low toxicity electrochemical sensor for 2, 4-dichlorophenol based on the nanocomposite of carbon dots, hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide and chitosan. Sensors Actuators B: Chem 224:241–247
Min S-Y, Bang J, Park J, Lee C-L, Lee S, Park J-J, Jeong U, Kim S, Lee T-W (2014) Electrospun polymer/quantum dot composite fibers as down conversion phosphor layers for white light-emitting diodes. RSC Adv 4(23):11585–11589
Saud PS, Pant B, Alam A-M, Ghouri ZK, Park M, Kim H-Y (2015) Carbon quantum dots anchored TiO2 nanofibers: effective photocatalyst for waste water treatment. Ceram Int 41(9):11953–11959
Safaei B, Youssefi M, Rezaei B, Irannejad N (2018) Synthesis and properties of photoluminescent carbon quantum dot/polyacrylonitrile composite nanofibers. Smart Sci 6(2):117–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/23080477.2017.1399318
Safaie B, Youssefi M, Rezaei B (2018) Estimating the interphase properties of polypropylene/carbon quantum dot nanocomposite fibers by micromechanical modeling. Colloid Polym Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-018-4422-8
Luongo J (1960) Infrared study of polypropylene. J Appl Polym Sci 3(9):302–309
Sclavons M, Franquinet P, Carlier V, Verfaillie G, Fallais I, Legras R et al (2000) Quantification of the maleic anhydride grafted onto polypropylene by chemical and viscosimetric titrations, and FTIR spectroscopy. Polymer 41(6):1989–1999
De Roover B, Sclavons M, Carlier V, Devaux J, Legras R, Momtaz A (1995) Molecular characterization of maleic anhydride-functionalized polypropylene. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 33(5):829–842
Bourlinos AB, Stassinopoulos A, Anglos D, Zboril R, Karakassides M, Giannelis EP (2008) Surface functionalized carbogenic quantum dots. Small 4(4):455–458
Law A, Simon L, Lee-Sullivan P (2008) Effects of thermal aging on isotactic polypropylene crystallinity. Polym Eng Sci 48(4):627–633
Youssefi M, Safaie B (2013) Effect of multi walled carbon nanotube on the crystalline structure of polypropylene fibers. Fibers Polym 14(10):1602–1607. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-013-1602-5
Weidinger A, Hermans P (1961) On the determination of the crystalline fraction of isotactic polypropylene from x-ray diffraction. Macromol Chem Phys 50(1):98–115
Jose MV, Dean D, Tyner J, Price G, Nyairo E (2007) Polypropylene/carbon nanotube nanocomposite fibers: process–morphology–property relationships. J Appl Polym Sci 103(6):3844–3850
Marco C, Naffakh M, Gómez MA, Santoro G, Ellis G (2011) The crystallization of polypropylene in multiwall carbon nanotube-based composites. Polym Compos 32(2):324–333
Fu S-Y, Feng X-Q, Lauke B, Mai Y-W (2008) Effects of particle size, particle/matrix interface adhesion and particle loading on mechanical properties of particulate–polymer composites. Compos B Eng 39(6):933–961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2008.01.002
Zare Y, Rhee KY, Park SJ (2017) Modeling of tensile strength in polymer particulate nanocomposites based on material and interphase properties. J Appl Polym Sci. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.44869
Zhao H, Li RKY (2006) A study on the photo-degradation of zinc oxide (ZnO) filled polypropylene nanocomposites. Polymer 47(9):3207–3217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2006.02.089
Wu CL, Zhang MQ, Rong MZ, Friedrich K (2002) Tensile performance improvement of low nanoparticles filled-polypropylene composites. Compos Sci Technol 62(10):1327–1340
Wu CL, Zhang MQ, Rong MZ, Friedrich K (2005) Silica nanoparticles filled polypropylene: effects of particle surface treatment, matrix ductility and particle species on mechanical performance of the composites. Compos Sci Technol 65(3):635–645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2004.09.004
Youssefi M, Safaie B (2018) The study on the mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube/polypropylene fibers. J Inst Eng (India) Ser E 99(1):37–42
Yang Y, Wen Z, Dong Y, Gao M (2006) Incorporating CdTe nanocrystals into polystyrene microspheres: towards robust fluorescent beads. Small 2(7):898–901
Li M, Zhang J, Zhang H, Liu Y, Wang C, Xu X, Tang Y, Yang B (2007) Electrospinning: a facile method to disperse fluorescent quantum dots in nanofibers without Förster resonance energy transfer. Adv Func Mater 17(17):3650–3656
Venugopal BR, Ravishankar N, Perrey CR, Shivakumara C, Rajamathi M (2006) Layered double hydroxide−CdSe quantum dot composites through colloidal processing: effect of host matrix−nanoparticle interaction on optical behavior. J Phys Chem B 110(2):772–776. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp054774j
Lee C, Pant B, Alam A-M, An T, Chung H-J, Hong S-T, Park S-J, Park M, Kim H-Y (2016) Biocompatible and photoluminescent keratin/poly(vinyl alcohol)/carbon quantum dot nanofiber: A novel multipurpose electrospun mat. Macromol Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13233-016-4124-3
Liu Z, Chen Y, Ding W (2016) Preparation, dynamic rheological behavior, crystallization, and mechanical properties of inorganic whiskers reinforced polylactic acid/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.43381
Van Puyvelde P, Velankar S, Moldenaers P (2001) Rheology and morphology of compatibilized polymer blends. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 6(5–6):457–463
Sadeghi-Kiakhani M, Safapour S (2015) Improvement of the dyeing and fastness properties of a naphthalimide fluorescent dye using poly (amidoamine) dendrimer. Color Technol 131(2):142–148
Seto F, Muraoka Y, Sakamoto N, Kishida A, Akashi M (1999) Surface modification of synthetic fiber nonwoven fabrics with poly (acrylic acid) chains prepared by corona discharge induced grafting. Die Angew Makromol Chem 266(1):56–62
Pal A, Sk MP, Chattopadhyay A (2016) Conducting carbon dot-polypyrrole nanocomposite for sensitive detection of picric acid. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 8(9):5758–5762. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5b11572
Chen J, Meng C, Xie J, Pan L, Zhou D, Chen JN (2016) Laser eco-printing technology for silk fabric patterns. Indian J Fibre Text Res (IJFTR) 41(1):78–83
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Safaie, B., Youssefi, M. & Rezaei, B. The structure and fluorescence properties of polypropylene/carbon quantum dot composite fibers. Polym. Bull. 79, 1367–1389 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-021-03572-6
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-021-03572-6