Progress 05/01/22 to 04/30/23
Outputs
Target Audience:1. Researchers and Academicians: During this reporting period, weparticipated in the 4thInternational Conference on Materials Science and Engineering, held in Houston, Texas. At the event, we presented key insights and updates on theprogress of this ongoing research projects. Significant breakthroughs were highlighted, such as the development of carbon nanotubes/hydrogel composite self-assembly and the enhancement of water retention properties. These advancements have triggered wide interests amount worldwide researchers in the fields of material science,agriculture and environmental conservation. 2. Underrepresented College Students:During this reporting period, the graduate student supported by this project,Ms. Favour Ezeogu,attended the Annual PVAMU student research day and the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS)Pathway Research Symposium, and presended her research work on the proposedcarbon nanotube/hydrogel composite developement and optimization.The presentationinspired and informed the underrepresented undergraduatestudents at PVAMU, as well as students from other TAMUS members,pursuing careers in agriculture and related fields. We will continue toencourage these students to explore agriculture research opportunities, internships, and mentorship programs that align with their interests and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive agricultural workforce. Changes/Problems:Challenge 1: Project Initiation Delay The project's starting date was initially set for May 1, 2022, but due to several factors, including new PVAMU administrators brought on during the COVID-19 pandemic, the PI being a new researcher with no previously established IDC accounts, and the project involving sub-awards, the project initiation documents were repeatedly started over three timesat PVAMU. The grant only became ready for research expenses in August 2022, causing a significant delay in the project's progress. Challenge 2: Temporarily Lack of Graduate Students The PVAMU Department of Chemistry was unable to secure new graduate students for the Fall semester of 2022 as planned, largely due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19. Eight graduate students from Africa were expected, but VISA delays prevented their timely arrival. As a result, the PI's lab did not have enough research personnel after the previous graduate student graduated in Summer 2022. To address Challenge 2, the PI took the following actions: The PI tried his best to increasehisown time in the lab and conducted CNT-hydrogel composite preparation research independently while waiting for new students to become available. The PI advertised a research assistant position onlinecampus-wide, successfully hiring a student from the College of Engineering to work on the CNT-hydrogel composite development starting from mid-October 2022. In Spring 2023, international students from Africa joined the department after resolving their VISAissues. The PI trained one student, Ms. Favour Ezeogu, who has since made rapid progress and presented her work at two research symposiums. The PVAMU Departmentof Chemistryhassecured another10 graduate students to join inFall 2023, and the PI has reservedat least one of the new studentsfor this USDA-supported research. Challenge 3:Progress in Greenhouse Application Tests Although the team has made significant progress in XCNT/Hydrogel development, delays from Challenge 1 and 2 have resulted in a slower pace for greenhouse and field application tests. However, as the composite material development and optimization are nearing completion and the issues related to project initiation and available student researchers have been resolved, the team expects to accelerate pot-scale and greenhouse-scale tests in the second year. ?Challenge 4: Publication Delay Due to the challenges mentioned above and the team's desire to publish more comprehensive and influential work, no publications have been made based on the current results. The first project-based paper is expected to be published in the second half of 2023, focusing on the discovery of self-assembled XCNT/Hydrogel composites and their superior properties in mechanical strength and water retention, alongside initial pot-scale application studies. More extensive greenhouse-scale studies are planned for publication in 2024. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided valuable opportunities for training and professional development, particularly for an M.S. chemistry student from Nigeria, Ms. Favour Ezeogu, who has been actively involved in the research. The student has gained hands-on experience in preparing the hydrogel-urea composites embedded with XCNT nano-skeletons. Additionally, they have acquired proficiency in using advanced analytical equipment such as Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) for characterizing the samples. Moreover, the student has learned how to design and conduct experiments to study the water retention capacity of the composites at different temperatures. This involvement in the project has not only allowed the student to apply their theoretical knowledge but also to develop practical skills and a deeper understanding of the subject matter. As a result, the project has significantly contributed to the student's professional growth and prepared them for a successful career in the field of agriculture, chemistry and material science. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Research Communities: Weparticipated in the 4thInternational Conference on Materials Science and Engineering, held in Houston, Texas. The attendees were from all discipinary fields in materials science.At the event, theprogress of this ongoing research projects have triggered wide interests amount worldwide researchers in the fields of material science,agriculture and environmental conservation. Future young-generation of workforce in Agriculture: We presented our research progressonthe Annual PVAMU student research day and the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS)Pathway Research Symposium. The presentationinspired and informed the underrepresented undergraduatestudents at PVAMU, as well as students from other TAMUS members,pursuing careers in agriculture and related fields. The PI also included the content of this research in his undergraduate courses toencourage students to explore agriculture research opportunities, internships, and mentorship programs that align with their interests and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive agricultural workforce. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. We plan to complete the Sample Optimization for the XCNT/PAAm hydrogel composite with a few more charactorizations (most have been done) 2. We plan to systematically compare the differencceandimpact of crosslinked single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, respectively,on the water retention and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites 3. We plan to embed fertilizers into the optimizedXCNT/hydrogel composite and study the fertilizer releasing behaviors, extending the composites to a multifuntional soil amendment. 4. We plan to start pot-scale, and then greenhouse-scale, application tests for the water retention and controlled fertilizing properties ofXCNT/hydrogel composites in soil. 5. We plan topublish,in the second half of 2023, the first project-based research paper focusing on the discovery ofself-assembledXCNT/Hydrogel composites and their superior properties in mechanical strength and water retention, alongside initial pot-scale application studies. More single-walled CNT/multi-walled CNT comparisionand extensive greenhouse-scale studies are planned for multiple publications in 2024.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The research project aimed to develop hydrogelcomposites embedded with crosslinked carbon nanotube (XCNT) nano-skeletons for addressing water-shortage challenges in agriculture while reducing fertilizer loss and environmental impact. The main goal was to build light-and-robust nano-skeletons in hydrogels for maximal swelling ratio in soil under pressure. Three specific objectives were set to achieve this goal. Significant Progress and Results: Objective 1: Synthesis and characterization of hydrogel-urea composites embedded with XCNT nano-skeletons. A highly efficient method was developed to form fluorinated carbon nanotubes (FCNTs)/polyacrylamide(PAAm)hydrogel self-assemblies. We have systematically study the formation of FCNT/PAAm self-assembly via a simple and never reported method, involving controlling to form microgels, selecting the proper solvents, and applying ultrasonication. FCNTs, which do not dissolves in water, can be dispersed well after being assebled on microgels. This is the first discovery of FCNT/Hydrogel self assembly in the field. The optimal percentage of FCNTs was found to be in low dosages between 1-5%. Both the preparation of fluorinated multi-walled CNT composites and fluorinated single-walled CNT composites were optimized, requiring different preparation procedures. TheCNTs in FCNT/Hydrogel composites have been successfully crosslinked to form XCNT/hydrogel composites for water retention and mechanical analysis. The thermal stability of bothFCNT/Hydrogel and XCNT/Hydrogel composites werecharacterized, which showed that their thermal stability following this order:XCNT/Hydrogel > FCNT/Hydrogel >> Hydrogel only. The mechanical strength of the composites was studied. It was discovered that composites with the crosslinked CNT skeleton prevent CNT-hydrogel slippage during drying or centrifuge. Objective 2: Study the efficacy of XCNT-hydrogel-urea nanocomposite in water retention, sustained urea release, and plant growth in the greenhouse This goal is partically achieved water retention studies. It was found that at 35 oC, a temperature facilitating fast evaporation, to release 97% of the uptaken water, the composites with the crosslinked CNT skeleton (XCNT/PAAm)retained the water 70% longer than the non-crosslinked composites (FCNT/PAAm). Accomplishment Summary: Significant progress has been made in the first objective, with a highly efficient method developed for creating hydrogel composites embedded with XCNT nano-skeletons. Thermal stability and mechanical strength were characterized and improved, paving the way for further optimization and testing. The second objective was partially achieved, with initial results showing promising water retention properties. Future Work: We will work on the first publication and patent addressing the novel FCNT/hydrogel self-assembly in the second half of 2023. In order to make accurate controls of CNT/hydrogel composite formation, we need to minimize the possible influence factors. Thus, urea was not included in the first stage study. Further studies will embedded the third component, urea,and study their sustainedrelease. Plantsgrowth in greenhouse conditions will also be studied in the second year. This will be followed by the third objective, which will involve field testing of the XCNT-hydrogel-urea composites to monitor soil moisture, soil quality, and water quality. In conclusion, the research project has made significant progress in synthesizing and characterizing hydrogelcomposites embedded with XCNT nano-skeletons. The initial results are promising and provide a strong foundation for further investigation and optimization of the composites to address the water-shortage challenge in agriculture.
Publications
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