Surface stiffening and enhanced photoluminescence of ion implanted cellulose – polyvinyl alcohol – silica composite. (20th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shanthini, G.M.; Sakthivel, N.; Menon, Ranjini; Nabhiraj, P.Y.; Gómez-Tejedor, J.A.; Meseguer-Dueñas, J.M.; Gómez Ribelles, J.L.; Krishna, J.B.M.; Kalkura, S. Narayana
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 153(2016)
• Page Start: 619
• Page End: 630
• Publication Date: 2016-11-20
• Subjects: Cellulose -- Silica -- Ion implantation -- Elastic modulus -- Composites -- Photoluminescence; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.08.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: Synthesis of a novel composite of cotton cellulose, PVA and mesoporous silica. Rarely utilized low energy ion implantation was employed in enhancing the surface properties. Ion implantation has improved the stiffness of the sample by 50 times. Tailored the surface morphology, topography and roughness. Better photoluminescence and electrical conductivity were attained. Abstract: Novel Cellulose (Cel) reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-Silica (Si) composite which has good stability and in vitro degradation was prepared by lyophilization technique and implanted using N 3+ ions of energy 24 keV in the fluences of 1 × 10 15, 5 × 10 15 and 1 × 10 16 ions/cm 2 . SEM analysis revealed the formation of microstructures, and improved the surface roughness on ion implantation. In addition to these structural changes, the implantation significantly modified the luminescent, thermal and mechanical properties of the samples. The elastic modulus of the implanted samples has increased by about 50 times compared to the pristine which confirms that the stiffness of the sample surface has increased remarkably on ion implantation. The photoluminescence of the native cellulose has improved greatly due to defect site, dangling bonds and hydrogen passivation. Electric conductivity of the ion implanted samples was improved by about 25%. Hence, low energy ion implantation tunes the mechanical property, surface roughness and further induces the formation of nano structures. MG63 cells seeded onto the scaffolds reveals that with the increase in implantation fluence, the cell attachment, viability and proliferation have improved greatly compared to pristine. The enhancement of cell growth of about 59% was observed in the implanted samples compared to pristine. These properties will enable the scaffolds to be ideal for bone tissue engineering and imaging applications.