In this study, we analyzed the contribution of NH4I and glycerol on the ionic conductivity of carboxymethyl κ/ι-hybrid carrageenan-based solid bio-electrolytes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to assess the electrochemical properties of the developed biopolymeric films and their interfaces over a wide range of frequencies (1& Hz–7& MHz). X-ray diffractograms demonstrated the increment of the amorphous fraction in the material as the NH4I content increases, suggesting an enhancement of ion transport processes and the successful incorporation of the salt into the host matrix.

This work was supported by the Vice-Rectorate for Research of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, the National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation of Peru (CONCYTEC/FONDECYT) and The National Innovation Program for Competitiveness and Productivity (INNOVATE-PERU) of the Peruvian Ministry of Production.

This research was funded by FONDECYT-CONCYTEC , grant number 063-2018-FONDECYT-BM .

The eggshell membrane (ESM) is a biopolymer network that may have potential applications in biomedicine, but it also may reveal important details regarding the behaviour of biopolymer networks. In this paper, we have studied the mechanical and morphological properties of the ESM in order to reveal important structure-property relationships. Light optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to assess the morphology of the ESM. The mechanical properties of membranes and individual fibres were studied by means of tensile tests and nanoindentation tests, respectively. The mechanical behaviour of ESM networks in different environmental conditions showed a non-linear and a linear regime. As for elastomers and other biopolymer systems, the non-linear regime was modelled by the Mooney-Rivlin relation. The Young's modulus in the linear regime of the network was related to the Young's...

Bacterial cellulose (BC) and graphene are materials that have attracted the attention of researchers due to their outstanding properties. BC is a nanostructured 3D network of pure and highly crystalline cellulose nanofibres that can act as a host matrix for the incorporation of other nano-sized materials. Graphene features high mechanical properties, thermal and electric conductivity and specific surface area. In this paper we review the most recent studies regarding the development of novel BC-graphene nanocomposites that take advantage of the exceptional properties of BC and graphene. The most important applications of these novel BC-graphene nanocomposites include the development of novel electric conductive materials and energy storage devices, the preparation of aerogels and membranes with very high specific area as sorbent materials for the removal of oil and metal ions from water ...

The authors would like to thank the vice-rectorate for research of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and the Peruvian Council of Science and Technology (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica–Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico) for financial support. Dr Vicente Lorenzo from the Polytechnical University of Madrid is acknowledged for providing technical support during the microhardness tests.

This work was supported by the Dirección General de Ciencia y Tecnología (DGCYT) [MAT2015-63955-R]; the Vice-Rectorate for Research of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and the National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation of Peru (CONCYTEC/FONDECYT).

This work was supported by the DGCYT [MAT2015-63955-R]; the Vice-Rectorate for Research of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and the National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation of Peru (CONCYTEC/FONDECYT).

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation [CONCYTEC-FONDECYT]; and the Vice-Rectorate for Research of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru [VRI-PUCP].

The Vice-Rectorate for Research (VRI-PUCP) of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru and the National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation (CONCYTEC-FONDECYT) are greatly acknowledged for financial support. The Institute of Polymer Science and Technology of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (ICTP-CSIC, Madrid, Spain) is acknowledged for experimental assistance.