Dissertation committee:
Ιατρού Ερμόλαος Καθηγητής (Επιβλέπων), Πιτσικάλης Μαρίνος Καθηγητής , Ταγματάρχης Νίκος Διευθυντής Ερευνών ΕΙΕ
Summary:
In this thesis, the integration of the block copolymer poly(isoprene-b-acrylic
acid) (PI-b-PAA) with exfoliated graphene was achieved. The carboxyl groups of
the copolymer were exploited toward the immobilization of cadmium sulfide
nanoparticles (CdS). Moreover, the photocatalytic activity of the prepared
chimeric material was examined.
Following, the simultaneous exfoliation of graphite and its covalent
functionalization via polymerization with three different polymers was
achieved. Particularly, thepolymerizationandthe grafting of the polymeric
chains onto the graphitic lattice resulted to the exfoliation of graphite and
to polymer functionalized graphene.
Subsequently, our interest focused to other carbon nanostructures, such as
nanodiamonds (NDs). The hybrid materials composed from NDs and the polymer
qP2VP were found stable in water and were electrostatically bound to the
protein albumin, creating a stable in aqueous media, chimeric material, ideal
for biological applications.
Finally, the hydrothermal synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) was achieved.
After their comprehensive characterization, which proved their successful
synthesis and the examination of their properties, they were attached to carbon
nanotubes. Energy or/and charge transfer phenomena were found between the
components. Furthermore, CQDs interacted electrostatically with the copolymer
poly[sodium (sulfamate – carboxylate) – isoprene)] –b– poly(ethyleneoxide),
while a protein was integrated to the so-prepared hybrid material. The final
chimeric material was found biocompatible after viability tests that were
performed to colon cancer cells, while its introduction in the cells was also
proved by confocal microscopy.
