Search
Filters
total: 8864
filtered: 2854
-
Catalog
Chosen catalog filters
displaying 1000 best results Help
Search results for: Solid oxide cell
-
Influence of Phase Composition on Dielectric Properties of Bismuth-Based Ceramics with Scheelite-Type Structure
PublicationGoal of the present research was to study dielectric properties of BiNbO4 ceramics fabricated by solid state reaction route followed with pressureless sintering. The samples were fabricated from the mixture of oxides, viz. Nb2O5 and Bi2O3. Apart from stoichiometric amount an excess of 3%, 5% and 10% by mole of Bi2O3 was used. It was found that an excess amount of Bi2O3 oxide caused formation of Bi5Nb3O15 minor phase in amount of...
-
Morphology and the physical and thermal properties of thermoplastic polyurethane reinforced with thermally reduced graphene oxide
PublicationIn this study, thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRG)-containing polyurethane nanocomposites were obtained by the extrusion method. The content of TRG incorporated into polyurethane elastomer systems equaled 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 wt%. The morphology, static and dynamic mechanical properties, and thermal stability of the modified materials were investigated. The application of TRG resulted in a visible increase in material stiffness...
-
Acetate-Induced Disassembly of Spherical Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Clusters into Monodispersed Core−Shell Structures upon Nanoemulsion Fusion
PublicationIt has been long known that the physical encapsulation of oleic acid-capped iron oxide nanoparticles (OA−IONPs) with the etyltrimethylammonium (CTA+) surfactant induces the formation of spherical iron oxide nanoparticle clusters (IONPCs). However, the behavior and functional properties of IONPCs in chemical reactions have been largely neglected and are still not well-understood. Herein, we report an unconventional ligand-exchange...
-
Tin oxide nanoparticles from laser ablation encapsulated in a carbonaceous matrix – a negative electrode in lithium-ion battery applications
PublicationThis report concerns carbonaceous electrodes doped with tin(II) oxide nanoparticles. Tin nanoparticles are obtained by pulsed laser ablation in water. Crystalline nanoparticles have been encapsulated in a carbonaceous matrix formed after pyrolysis of a mixture consisting of tin/tin(IV) oxide nanoparticles and gelatine. The obtained material is characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, selected area diffraction, scanning electron...
-
Influence of Two-Stage Anodization on Properties of the Oxide Coatings on the Ti–13Nb–13Zr Alloy
PublicationThe increasing demand for titanium and its alloys used for implants results in need of such innovative surface treatment that may jointly increase corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, and demonstrate antibacterial protection at no cytotoxicity. The purpose of this research was to characterize the effect of two-stage anodization, performed for 30 min in phosphoric acid, at the presence of hydrofluoric acid in the second stage....
-
Forming Ni-Fe and Co-Fe Bimetallic Structures on SrTiO3-Based SOFC Anode Candidates
PublicationThe aim of this work was to verify the possibility of forming Ni-Fe and Co-Fe alloys via topotactic ion exchange exsolution in Fe-infiltrated (La,Sr,Ce)0.9(Ni,Ti)O3-δ or (La,Sr,Ce)0.9(Co,Ti)O3-δ ceramics. For this purpose, samples were synthesized using the Pechini method and then infiltrated with an iron nitrate solution. The reduction process in dry H2 forced the topotactic ion exchange exsolution, leading to the formation of...
-
Nanotubular Oxide Layer Formed on Helix Surfaces of Dental Screw Implants
PublicationSurface modification is used to extend the life of implants. To increase the corrosion resistance and improve the biocompatibility of metal implant materials, oxidation of the Ti-13Nb- 13Zr titanium alloy was used. The samples used for the research had the shape of a helix with a metric thread, with their geometry imitating a dental implant. The oxide layer was produced by a standard electrochemical method in an environment of...
-
Actions of a nitric oxide donor on prostaglandin production and angiogenic activity in the equine endometrium
PublicationNitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in prostaglandin secretion and angiogenesis in the reproductive system. In the present study, the roles of the NO donor spermine NONOate and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF; as a positive control) in prostaglandin production and angiogenic activity of equine endometria during the oestrous cycle were evaluated. In addition, the correlation between NO production...
-
Synthesis, single crystal growth and properties of Sr5Pb3ZnO12
PublicationAbstract The novel Sr5Pb3ZnO12 oxide was synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. The crystal structure was studied by means of the powder x-ray diffraction Rietveld method and was found to be similar to 3 other previously known Sr5Pb3MO12 compounds (M = Co, Ni, Cu). Crystals of several hundred microns in size of the new phase were grown in molten sodium chloride and imaged using confocal optical and scanning electron microscopy....
-
Interaction of SrTi0.65Fe0.35O3-δ with LaNi0.6Fe0.4O3-δ, La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ and Ce0.8Gd0.2O2-δ
PublicationIron doped strontium titanates SrTi1-xFexO3-δ are perovskites of versatile properties. They can be used in solid oxide fuel cells or high temperature oxygen sensors. Their reactivity with electrolyte materials, cathode buffer layer materials, other cathode materials or current collector layers has not been fully tested. In this study we use X-ray diffraction to check SrTi0.65Fe0.35O3-δ compatibility with Ce0.8Gd0.2O2-δ (used as...
-
Titanium lanthanum three oxides decorated magnetic graphene oxide for adsorption of lead ions from aqueous media
PublicationThe current study presents a viable and straightforward method for synthesizing titanium lanthanum three oxide nanoparticles (TiLa) and their decoration onto the ferrous graphene oxide sheets to produce FeGO-TiLa as efficient magnetic adsorbent. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and vibration sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to evaluate...
-
Intense and stable room-temperature photoluminescence from nanoporous vanadium oxide formed by in-ambient degradation of VI3 crystals
PublicationVanadium oxides have attracted research interest because their optoelectronic properties make them optically active with room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) emission, which, however, is not sufficiently intense for real applications. For this reason, many nanostructured vanadium oxides are currently fabricated through several precursors and different treatments to improve the PL efficiency and enhance the PL intensity. Herein,...
-
The Effect of Titanium Oxyfluoride Morphology on Photocatalytic Activity of Fluorine-Doped Titanium(IV) Oxide
PublicationTitanium oxyfluoride (TiOF2) is a metastable product that can be obtained in a fluorine-rich environment. This material can also be a valuable precursor in the synthesis of titanium(IV) oxide (TiO2). However, the effect of TiOF2 morphology on the physicochemical properties of TiO2 has not been studied so far. In this work, single-phase TiOF2 was prepared by a solvothermal method. The as-synthesized samples exhibited a variety of...
-
Separation of C6 hydrocarbons on sodium dithionite reduced graphene oxide aerogels
PublicationThe ability of reduced graphene oxide aerogels (rGOAs) for challenging gas-phase separation was investigated with hexane isomers and benzene (C6 hydrocarbons) using inverse gas chromatography (IGC). For the first, rGOAs were synthesized with sodium dithionite (DTN) as a reductant. Experiments revealed that the most optimal DTN to graphene oxide mass ratio was 2:1, resulting in the highest specific surface area of 432.3 m2 g−1 and...
-
Hydrogen Embrittlement and Oxide Layer E ect in the Cathodically Charged Zircaloy-2
PublicationThe present paper is aimed at determining the less investigated effects of hydrogen uptake on the microstructure and the mechanical behavior of the oxidized Zircaloy-2 alloy. The specimens were oxidized and charged with hydrogen. The different oxidation temperatures and cathodic current densities were applied. The scanning electron microscopy, X-ray electron diffraction spectroscopy, hydrogen absorption assessment, tensile, and...
-
Influence of reactive oxygen species during deposition of iron oxide films by high power impulse magnetron sputtering.
PublicationIron oxide films were deposited using high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) of an iron cathode in an argon/oxygen gas mixture at different gas pressures (0.5~Pa, 1.5~Pa, and 5.0~Pa). The HiPIMS system was operated at a repetition frequency $f = 100$~Hz with a duty cycle of 1~\%. A main goal is a comparison of film growth during conventional and electron cyclotron wave resonance-assisted HiPIMS. The deposition plasma...
-
Electron attachment to hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO)
PublicationWe probe the electron attachment in hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO), C3F6O, a gas widely used in plasma technologies. We determine the absolute electron attachment cross section using two completely different experimental approaches: (i) a crossed-beam experiment at single collision conditions (local pressures of 5 × 10−4 mbar) and (ii) a pulsed Townsend experiment at pressures of 20–100 mbar. In the latter method, the cross sections...
-
Enhanced visible light-activated gas sensing properties of nanoporous copper oxide thin films
PublicationMetal oxide gas sensors are popular chemoresistive sensors. They are used for numerous tasks, including environmental and safety monitoring. Some gas-sensing materials exhibit photo-induced properties that can be utilized for enhanced gas detection by modifying the sensor selectivity and sensitivity when illuminated by light. Here, we present the gas sensing characteristics of highly nanoporous Cu2O thin films towards both electrophilic...
-
Dielectric properties of modified graphene oxide filled polyurethane nanocomposites and its correlation with rheology
PublicationThis study aims at investigating the dynamic mechanical, dielectric and rheological properties of reinforced polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites containing hydrophilic graphene oxide (GO) and/or hydrophobic modified graphene oxide (mGO) sheets. The organic modification of GO was performed with 4,4′-methylenebis (phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) and the samples were prepared by solvent mixing. We found that addition of mGO provides a more...
-
Gas‐Phase Removal of Indoor Volatile Organic Compounds and Airborne Microorganisms Over Mono‐ and Bimetal‐Modified (Pt, Cu, Ag) Titanium(IV) Oxide Nanocomposites
PublicationThe photocatalytic deactivation of volatile organic compounds and mold fungi using TiO2 modified with mono‐ and bimetallic (Pt, Cu, Ag) particles is reported in this study. The mono‐ and bimetal‐modified (Pt, Cu, Ag) titanium(IV) oxide photocatalysts were prepared by chemical reduction method and characterized using XRD, XPS, DR/UV‐Vis, BET and TEM analysis. The effect of incident light, type and content of mono‐ and bimetallic...
-
Fully scalable one-pot method for the production of phosphonic graphene derivatives
PublicationGraphene oxide was functionalized with simultaneous reduction to produce phosphonated reduced graphene oxide in a novel, fully scalable, one-pot method. The phosphonic derivative of graphene was obtained through the reaction of graphene oxide with phosphorus trichloride in water. The newly synthesized reduced graphene oxide derivative was fully characterized by using spectroscopic methods along with thermal analysis. The morphology...
-
Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of MnCo1.5Fe0.5O4Spinel for Oxygen Evolution Reaction through Heat Treatment
PublicationMnCo1.5Fe0.5O4 spinel oxide was synthesized using the sol−gel technique, followed by heat treatment at various temperatures (400, 600, 800, and 1000 °C). The prepared materials were examined as anode electrocatalysts for watersplitting systems in alkaline environments. Solid-state characterization methods, such as powder X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), were used to analyze the materials’ crystallographic...
-
Preparation and characterisation of iron substituted Mn1.7Cu1.3-xFexO4 spinel oxides (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5)
PublicationSpinel oxides with the general formula Mn1.7Cu1.3-xFexO4 (x= 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5) were prepared and evaluated in this work for their properties at high temperatures. The effect of partially substituting Cu by Fe has not been studied so far for this group of materials and is thus evaluated in this work. Mn1.7Cu1.3-xFexO4 powders were synthesised by a soft chemistry process and studied in terms of crystallographic phase analysis, electrical...
-
A facile approach to fabricate load-bearing porous polymer scaffolds for bone tissue engineering
PublicationBiodegradable porous scaffolds with oriented interconnected pores and high mechanical are load-bearing biomaterials for bone tissue engineering. Herein, we report a simple, non-toxic, and cost-effective method to fabricate high-strength porous biodegradable scaffolds, composed of a polymer matrix of polycaprolactone (PCL) and water-soluble poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a sacrificial material by integrating annealing treatment,...
-
Effects of electrophoretic deposition times and nanotubular oxide surfaces on properties of the nanohydroxyapatite/nanocopper coating on the Ti13Zr13Nb alloy
PublicationLoad-bearing implants are developed with a particular emphasis placed on an application of ceramic hydroxyapatite coatings in order, to enhance the bioactivity of titanium implants and to shorten the healing time. Therefore, thin, fully crystalline coatings that are, highly adhesive, hydrophilic and demonstrating antibacterial properties are ly looked for. The aim of this research was to develop and characterize the properties...
-
Fabrication and Significant Photoelectrochemical Activity of Titania Nanotubes Modified with Thin Indium Tin Oxide Film
PublicationOrdered titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2NTs) modified with indium tin oxide (ITO) films were obtained via magnetron sputtering, in which ITO plate was used as a target, onto the as-anodized titania support followed by the calcination process. The morphology of fabricated material with deposited oxide was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Raman and UV–Vis spectroscopies were utilized to characterize crystalline phase...
-
TiO2 and Reducing Gas: Intricate Relationships to Direct Reduction of Iron Oxide Pellets
PublicationIn response to the imperative for sustainable iron production with reduced CO2 emissions, this study delves into the intricate role of TiO2 in the direct reduction of iron oxide pellets. The TiO2-dependent reducibility of iron oxide pellets utilizing H2 and CO gas across varied temperatures and gas compositions is thoroughly investigated. Our findings unveil the nuanced nature of the TiO2 effect, underscored by its concentration-dependent...
-
High temperature oxidation behavior of SUS430 SOFC interconnects with Mn-Co spinel coating in air
PublicationIn this study, SUS430 alloy is evaluated for its high temperature corrosion properties as a possible material for interconnects of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Samples are coated with Mn-Co by commercial physical vapor deposition (PVD) process and oxidized in air for 1250 h at 800 °C. A dense cubic Mn-Co-Fe spinel layer is formed on the surface, showing great effect on corrosion reduction compared with the samples without coating....
-
Properties of chitosan/CuNPs coatings electrophoretically deposited on TiO2 nanotubular oxide layer of Ti13Zr13Nb alloy
PublicationCoatings based on chitosan/CuNPs (chit/CuNPs) were obtained by a one-step electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on nanotubular oxide layer of Ti13Zr13Nb alloy. The deposition was carried out for 1 min applying voltages of 10 and 20 V with and without the addition of dispersing agent (Polysorbate 20) to the suspension. The coatings obtained for the lower voltage were more uniform than for the higher voltage. By adding a dispersing agent,...
-
Photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide nanorods incorporated graphitic carbon nitride catalyst
PublicationBackground Photocatalysts are user-friendly and serve as compatible materials for degrading industrial dye pollutants. This study utilizes zinc oxide/graphitic carbon nitride (ZnO/g-C3N4) nanocomposites against degrading methylene blue (MB). Methods The hydrothermal method assisted sonication technique was used to fabricate the ZnO/g-C3N4 composite with varying ratios of ZnO/g-C3N4 (1:0.25, 1:0.50, 1:1). The synthesized materials...
-
A study of a reduction of a micro- and nanometric bismuth oxide in hydrogen atmosphere
PublicationA reduction of bismuth oxide in hydrogen atmosphere was investigated. The reaction was performed with a material in various structural forms: powder: with micrometric grains, powder with nanometric grains and powder pressed into pellets. The process was performed in both isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. An activation energy of the reaction calculated with Friedman method was found to be about 85 kJ/mol for the reduction...
-
Formation of High Corrosion Resistant Nanotubular Layers on TitaniumAlloy Ti13Nb13Zr
PublicationThis paper presents results of oxidation tests and corrosion investigations of titanium alloy Ti13Nb13Zr performed at different conditions. The oxide layers have been formed by electrochemical method in 2M H3PO4 + 0.3% HF solution for 30 min. and 1 h at 20 V constantvoltage. The corrosion tests have been made by potentiodynamic method in Ringer`s solution at pH ranged between 3 and 7. It has been shown that the nano-oxide films,...
-
X-Ray Computer Tomography Study of Degradation of the Zircaloy-2 Tubes Oxidized at High Temperatures
PublicationThe investigations of high-temperature oxidation of zirconium alloys, applied for fuel pellets in nuclear power plants, are usually limited to oxidation kinetics, phase transformations and microstructural characterization. The purpose of this research was to characterize the degradation phenomena occurring within oxide layer and at the interface oxide/metal, on internal and external Zircaloy-2 tube...
-
Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Microporous Polyurethanes Modified with Reduced Graphene Oxide
PublicationMicroporous polyurethanes (MPU) were modified by adding 0.25%–1.25 wt% of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The materials were prepared without solvent via in situ polymerization. From a technological point of view, it is very important to obtain functional materials by using reacting compounds only. The thermal characteristics of obtained MPU were investigated using TGA, DSC, and DMA techniques. In comparison to nonmodified microporous...
-
Facilitated water transport in composite reduced graphene oxide pervaporation membranes for ethanol upgrading
PublicationHigh purity ethanol is one of the most sought-after renewable energy sources. However, standard production methods yield ethanol of insufficient quality. Membrane processes such as pervaporation are recognized as a viable method for upgrading ethanol. Their performance and selectivity depend solely on membrane employed. Hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) membranes are used industrially for this purpose, but there is a trade-off...
-
Functional fluorine-doped tin oxide coating for opto-electrochemical label-free biosensors
PublicationSensors operating in multiple domains, such as optical and electrochemical, offer properties making biosensing more effective than those working in a single domain. To combine such domains in one sensing device, materials offering a certain set of properties are required. Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) thin film is discussed in this work as functional optically for guiding lossy modes and simultaneously electrochemically, i.e....
-
Graphene Oxide as Mine of Knowledge: Using Graphene Oxide To Teach Undergraduate Students Core Chemistry and Nanotechnology Concepts
PublicationThe aim of this laboratory experiment is to utilize graphene oxide (GO) material to introduce under-graduate students to many well-known concepts of general chemistry. GO is a new nanomaterial that has generated worldwide interest and can be easily produced in every well-equipped undergraduate chemical laboratory. An in-depth examination of GO synthesis, as well as a study of its structure and properties, allows students to familiarize...
-
Influence of synthesis conditions on zinc oxide nanorode layer morphology
PublicationIn recent years one dimensional (1D) nanostructures (nanotubes, nanowires, nanoribbons and nanorods) have been widely studied. Among studied nano-materials, the greatest interest can be seen for zinc oxide (ZnO). However, there is still a need for simple, inexpensive and reproducible fabrication method. In the literature different fabrication methods can be found, most of them requires expensive equipment and involve complex...
-
Annealing of indium tin oxide (ITO) coated optical fibers for optical and electrochemical sensing purposes
PublicationGlass and fiber structures with Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) coating were subjected to annealing in order to identify impact of the thermal treatment on their optical and electrochemical properties. It is shown that the annealing process significantly modifies optical properties and thickness of the films, which are crucial for performance of optical fiber sensors. Moreover, it visibly improves electrochemical activity of ITO on glass...
-
Experimental study and numerical simulation on porosity dependent direct reducibility of high-grade iron oxide pellets in hydrogen
PublicationThe transition to more environmentally friendly steel production methods has intensified research into hydrogen-based direct reduction (HyDR) of iron oxide pellets. The aim of this study is to systematically investigate the kinetics of the reduction process, the evolution of porosity and the resulting microstructural changes on the reduction behavior of high-quality pellets during HyDR of iron ore at different temperatures. A modified...
-
Recent Advances in Graphene Oxide-Based Membranes for Heavy Metal Ions Separation
PublicationGraphene oxide (GO)-based membranes have been widely investigated for separation of dyes, salt ions, heavy metal ions, and biomolecules due to their high mechanical strength, single-layered structure, large surface area, and high affinity. However, due to irregular pore structure, nanochannels, interlayer distance, easy functionalization, swelling effect, and chemical stability under aqueous environment limited their separation...
-
Thermoelectric properties of bismuth-antimony-telluride alloys obtained by reduction of oxide reagents
PublicationThe BieSbeTe alloys with different Bi/Sb/Te ratio were fabricated by an innovative method. For that purpose the oxide reagents were melted at high temperature, then quenched to form pellets, milled to a powder and finally reduced in hydrogen at various temperatures. Complex structures consisting of connected thin layers forming a continuous path between nano- and micrometer size grains have been obtained. The electrical conductivity,...
-
Fabrication of La-Doped Bi4Ti3O12 Ceramics
PublicationLa-modified Bi4Ti3O12 is a typical ferroelectric, piezoelectric and electro-optic material, having relatively low coercive field, low dielectric constant, high Curie temperature and high breakdown strength. Goal of the present research was to apply mixed oxide method for fabrication of BiTLax ceramics, study its chemical composition, crystalline structure and microstructure. The compound BiTLax for x=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 ceramic...
-
Corrosion Properties of Dissimilar AA6082/AA6060 Friction Stir Welded Butt Joints in Different NaCl Concentrations
PublicationA solid-state friction stir welding method which is increasingly used in the marine and shipbuilding industry, has been developed to produce welds with high mechanical properties. In seawater, the oxide layer of aluminium is attacked by Cl− ions resulting in its disruption and formation of pitting corrosion. It is particularly important to determine the electrochemical properties of the produced welds and to evaluate the efect...
-
Cytocompatibility, antibacterial, and corrosion properties of chitosan/polymethacrylates and chitosan/poly(4‐vinylpyridine) smart coatings, electrophoretically deposited on nanosilver‐decorated titania nanotubes
PublicationThe development of novel implants subjected to surface modification to achieve high osteointegration properties at simultaneous antimicrobial activity is a highly current problem. This study involved different surface treatments of titanium surface, mainly by electrochemical oxidation to produce a nanotubular oxide layer (TNTs), a subsequent electrochemical reduction of silver nitrate and decoration of a nanotubular surface with...
-
Hydrogen-enhanced degradation and oxide effects in zirconium alloys for nuclear applications
PublicationThe zirconium alloys used in nuclear industry include mainly ZreSn and ZreNb alloys ofdifferent chemical composition, microstructure and susceptibility to both hydrogendegradation and oxidation. The hypothetic nuclear accidents can create a real danger tothe Zr alloys and stability of parts made of these alloys, and especially such as loss ofcoolant accident (LOCA) and reactivity initiated accidents (RIA). The hydrogen degradationcan...
-
Cement kiln dust
PublicationThe volume of cement production in the world has remained at the level of approxi mately 4.1 billion tons/year. The cement production process is energy intensive and is the world’s leading emitter of carbon dioxide. Therefore, the main activities cement plants are aimed at introducing technologies changes in production of clinkier.The construction industry is responsible for the majority of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere: the...
-
Flexural behavior of composite structural insulated panels with magnesium oxide board facings
PublicationThe current report is devoted to the flexural analysis of a composite structural insulated panel (CSIP) with magnesium oxide board facings and expanded polystyrene (EPS) core, that was recently introduced to the building industry. An advanced nonlinear FE model was created in the ABAQUS environment, able to simulate the CSIP’s flexural behavior in great detail. An original custom code procedure was developed, which allowed to include...
-
Influence of titanium layer on counter electrode on electrical parameters of DSSC
PublicationIn this paper the influence of the Ti layer thickness at counter-electrode on electrical parameters of DSSCs was examined. The transparent conductive oxide – less (TCO-less) counter electrodes (CE) with titanium layers and platinum as catalyst on Bk7 glass were prepared. Thin metallic films were deposited by means of magnetron sputtering (titanium) and Pulsed Laser Deposition (platinum). The counter electrode with Pt layer on Fluorine...
-
Tailoring properties of reduced graphene oxide by oxygen plasma treatment
PublicationWe report an easily controllable, eco-friendly method for tailoring the properties of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) by means of oxygen plasma. The effect of oxygen plasma treatment time (1, 5 and 10 minutes) on the surface properties of rGO was evaluated. Physicochemical characterization using microscopic, spectroscopic and thermal techniques was performed. The results revealed that different oxygen-containing groups (e.g. carboxyl,...