NZ – Page 3 – TechConnect Briefs

Sonic Electrospinning – Turning Nanofibre into Products

Hosie I., Revolution Fibres Ltd, NZ

Revolution Fibres is a nanofibre manufacturer based in Auckland New Zealand. Strong advocates of nanofibre’s potential in many sectors; its mission is to enable companies to produce superior products using Revolution Fibres’ designed functional nanofibres. [...]

Photocatalytic Silver/Silver Halide Polymer Nanocomposites

Tate E., Johnston J.H., Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, NZ

Recently it has been shown that hybrid silver/silver halide nanoparticles exhibit interesting photocatalytic properties, and are known plasmonic photocatalysts. Enhanced photostability and photocatalysis are observed in the nanoparticles due to the surface plasmon resonance of [...]

Scale-up of Novel Gold Nanoparticle-Wool Fiber Composites: A Commercialisation Success Story

Nilsson T.W., Johnston J.H., Victoria University of Wellington and MacDiarmid Institute of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, NZ

The development of novel nanocomposites of metal nanoparticles and natural fibers has allowed the engineering of flexible materials with the desirable properties of metal nanoparticles for numerous applications. One class of novel nanocomposites uses gold [...]

New Generation Nanogold and Nanosilver Polymer Composites and Their Applications

Johnston J.H., Parry M., Victoria University of Wellington, NZ

A new generation of nanogold and nanosilver polymer composites with polyurethane and nylon, and nanofunctionalised polyurethane paints, have been developed. This novel nanoscience provides the opportunity to impart new functionality to these polymer substrates for [...]

Merino Wool Surfaces Made Superhydrophobic

Herzog M.B., Johnston J.H., Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, NZ

Natural merino wool fibres have been used to fabricate wash-fast nonwoven textile surfaces with superhydrophobic and oleophobic properties. Wet felted samples were used to study the effect of the fibre diameter and the degree of [...]

Novel Syntheses of Silica-Gold Core-Shell Particles

Cook M.J., Johnston J.H., Victoria University of Wellington, NZ

Methods for the synthesis of silica-gold core-shell particles presented in literature are not considered commercially viable due to various requirements: high reaction temperatures, the use of light-sensitive reagents, the use of ex-situ gold seeding adding [...]

Synthesis and Characterization of Copper (i) Oxide and Zinc Oxide Quantum Dot Materials and the Development of New Fluorescent Fibre Composites

Johnston J.H., Zeller A.J., Victoria University of Wellington, NZ

New fluorescent composites of Cu2O and ZnO quantum dots with wool and paper fibres for potential use in photoluminescent fabrics, packaging and labelling papers, have been developed. The fluorescent colours can be tuned by varying [...]

Recovery of phosphate from surface waters using a calcium silicate composite material for potential application in environmental remediation

Cairns M.J., Krauss C., Johnston J.H., Victoria University of Wellington, NZ

In many locations, contamination of surface waters by phosphate due to agricultural run-off is becoming a major environmental concern. Currently, there are no effective means for its removal, due to the low phosphate concentration (< [...]

Recovery of phosphate from surface waters using a calcium silicate composite material for potential application in environmental remediation

Cairns M.J., Krauss C., Johnston J.H., Victoria University of Wellington, NZ

In many locations, contamination of surface waters by phosphate due to agricultural run-off is becoming a major environmental concern. Currently, there are no effective means for its removal, due to the low phosphate concentration (< [...]

Superhydrophobic and Superhydrophilic Surfaces

Herzog M.B., Johnston J.H., Franzreb M., Victoria University of Wellington, NZ

A new generation of materials possessing a wide range of possible consumer applications such as water harvesting, stain resistant self-cleaning and water-repellent breathable surfaces are being fabricated. Based on nature’s example of the stenocara beetle, [...]