Embedding Carbon Dots in Superabsorbent Polymers for Additive Manufacturing

Yiqun Zhou; Keenan  J. Mintz; Cagri  Y. Oztan; Sajini  D. Hettiarachchi; Zhili Peng; Elif  S. Seven; Piumi  Y. Liyanage; Sabrina De La Torre; Emrah Celik; Roger  M. Leblanc

doi:10.3390/polym10080921

Polymers (Aug 2018)

Embedding Carbon Dots in Superabsorbent Polymers for Additive Manufacturing

Yiqun Zhou,
Keenan J. Mintz,
Cagri Y. Oztan,
Sajini D. Hettiarachchi,
Zhili Peng,
Elif S. Seven,
Piumi Y. Liyanage,
Sabrina De La Torre,
Emrah Celik,
Roger M. Leblanc

Affiliations

Yiqun Zhou: Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
Keenan J. Mintz: Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
Cagri Y. Oztan: Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
Sajini D. Hettiarachchi: Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
Zhili Peng: Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
Elif S. Seven: Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
Piumi Y. Liyanage: Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
Sabrina De La Torre: Department of Biology, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Emrah Celik: Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
Roger M. Leblanc: Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym10080921
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 8
p. 921

Abstract

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A type of orange carbon dots (O-CDs) synthesized via an ultrasonication route with citric acid and 1,2-phenylenediamine as precursors was embedded into sodium polyacrylate (SPA) as the ink for 3D printing. Characterizations of these spherical O-CDs revealed an ultra-small size (~2 nm) and excitation-independent, but solvent dependent, emission. The O-CDs were evenly distributed with low degree of aggregation in sodium polyacrylate (SPA), which was achieved due to the property that SPA can absorb water together with O-CDs. The 3D printed photoluminescent objective with the ink revealed a great potential for high yield application of these materials for additive manufacturing. This also represents the first time, bare CDs have been reported as a photoluminescent material in 3D printing, as well as the first time SPA has been reported as a material for 3D printing.

Published in Polymers

ISSN: 2073-4360 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers/

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