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Introduction: The demand for new rapid methods for development of medicines for health care is becoming more relevant. Detailed knowledge of the spatial structure of viral proteins and their complexes formed when the organism is infected with viruses is important for effective development of vaccines and antiviral drugs. Timely selection of sensitive animal models and the study of the pathogenesis of an infectious disease on them are important for quality testing of biological preparations. The synchrotron radiation source is a new powerful biological research tool. Objective: To analyze the potential of existing sources of synchrotron radiation for conducting virology research, from macroorganisms to individual viral proteins. Materials and methods: We searched for literary sources published in 1996–2022 and devoted to the use of synchrotron radiation in virology and its importance for public health in the future using relevant keywords in the PubMed and PDB databases. Fifty-one full-text publications were found eligible for inclusion in the review. Results: Currently, there are over 70 different synchrotron radiation sources worldwide and many of them are used for diverse biological studies of living systems. Phase-contrast X-ray imaging makes it possible to visualize soft tissues in vivo with resolution up to 1 µm in the absence of contrast agents. Synchrotron radiation allows real-time 3D-histology without the necessity to prepare ultra-thin slices. Obtaining the structure of viral proteins in solution and protein crystallography realized with synchrotron radiation sources has been actively used in antiviral drug development and the study of fundamental properties of viruses since 2000. Conclusion: The X-ray techniques realized in synchrotron radiation sources discussed in this review constitute the fundamental basis of many virology studies and have a promising future for ensuring biological safety of Russia. Keywords: synchrotron radiation, virology, animal microtomography, histology, protein crystallography.

Accurate measurement of tumor size and margins is crucial for successful oncotherapy. In the last decade, non-invasive imaging modalities, including optical imaging using non-radioactive substrates, deep-tissue imaging with radioactive substrates, and magnetic resonance imaging have been developed. Reporter genes play the most important role among visualization tools; their expression in tumors and metastases makes it possible to track changes in the tumor growth and gauge therapy effectiveness. Oncolytic viruses are often chosen as a vector for delivering reporter genes into tumor cells, since oncolytic viruses are tumor-specific, meaning that they infect and lyse tumor cells without damaging normal cells. The choice of reporter transgenes for genetic modification of oncolytic viruses depends on the study objectives and imaging methods used. Optical imaging techniques are suitable for in vitro studies and small animal models, while deep-tissue imaging techniques are used to evaluate virotherapy in large animals and humans. For optical imaging, transgenes of fluorescent proteins, luciferases, and tyrosinases are used; for deep-tissue imaging, the most promising transgene is the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS), which ensures an accumulation of radioactive isotopes in virus-infected tumor cells. Currently, NIS is the only reporter transgene that has been shown to be effective in monitoring tumor virotherapy not only in preclinical but also in clinical studies.

The characteristics of an atmospheric pressure glow discharge with a metal cathode and water anode and underwater plasma were compared during the formation of nanostructured molybdenum oxide. The electrical and spectral characteristics of both types of plasma were studied. In both cases, the emission continuum presents in the spectrum because of sputtering the electrode material. The analysis of obtained powder was performed using scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. Results showed that the mixture of molybdenum oxides is formed for both plasmas.

Two types of plasma in contact with water were employed for the synthesis of mixed-phase TiO2 in a liquid. This is glow discharge with a metal cathode and water anode and the underwater plasma. The plasmas were characterized by the optical emission spectroscopy. To detect the reactive species in the liquid phase the chemical dosimetry was used. X-ray diffraction, BET analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize obtained powders. The powders obtained by both types of plasma were an anatase-rutile mixture. The rutile content was higher in the sample, which synthesized by an underwater plasma. The sample obtained by the glow discharge had a more developed surface. The data on the sorption ability of the obtained powders for metal ions and organic dyes are presented. The advantages and limitations of using plasma in contact with water for the synthesis of titanium dioxide are considered.

A comparative analysis has been made for the dielectric and electrorheological properties of suspensions of highly dispersed powders of bismuth ferrites BiFeO3 and Bi2Fe4O9 in polydimethylsiloxane PMS-300. Dielectric characteristics (dielectric constant, dielectric loss tangent) for the suspensions in frequency range 2.5–106 Hz have been determined and non-Debye character of relaxation processes in these systems has been revealed. The measured values of dielectric constant for the disperse bismuth ferrites at zero and infinite frequency (e0 and e∞) are 150 and 59 for BiFeO3, 22 000 and 14 for Bi2Fe4O9, respectively. Electrorheological properties of bismuth ferrite suspensions in static electric field (up to 5 kV) in tension, compression, and shear modes have been analyzed. It has been found that the values of electrorheological effect for BiFeO3 suspensions in polydimethylsiloxane PMS-300 are small even at high concentrations of disperse phase (60 wt %). On the contrary, the suspensions of highly disperse Bi2Fe4O9 exhibit distinct electrorheological effect. For 80 wt % Bi2Fe4O9 suspension, the tensile yield point reached ~7 kPa in electric field of 5 kV, while compressive stress was 12 kPa.

Doping of TiO2 with various elements increases its photocatalytic activity due to the formation of new energy levels near the conduction band. Photocatalysis involving titanium dioxide is a heterogeneous process in which the surface of the catalyst plays an important role. The structural properties of TiO2 are influenced by the synthesis method, the doping method, and the dopants. In this work, we compare different doping elements for improving the photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide, which was synthesized by the sol–gel method. In the doping method, low-temperature underwater plasma was used. Al, Cu, Mo, and W acting as electrodes were chosen as doping elements. The obtained samples were characterized by various techniques. The incorporation of elements leads to the distortion of the TiO2 crystal lattice, thus changing its surface characteristics, and to a decrease in the band gap. The introduction of aluminum and copper increases the photocatalytic activity to 70% while doping with Mo and W increases the activity to 96% upon visible light irradiation for 60 minutes. Explanations of the effect of various doping elements on the photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide are presented.

Plasmas in contact with liquids represent a green chemistry method for the synthesis of metal oxides. In this work, underwater plasma was used for the synthesis of molybdenum and tungsten oxides. The obtained samples were analyzed by various techniques. Results showed that underwater plasma with Mo electrodes allows obtaining non-stoichiometric molybdenum oxide (MoOx). In the case of tungsten electrodes, monoclinic WO3 was formed. The synthesized oxides have a wide band gap (3.21 eV for MoOx and 3.27 eV for WO3). The photocatalytic and sorption activities of the synthesized oxides towards the decomposition of cationic and anionic dyes (Methylene Blue, Rhodamine B, and Reactive Red 6C) were studied. MoOx shows excellent photocatalytic performance under UV and visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of WO3 under visible light is less than that under UV irradiation.

Currently, the spectrum of agents against orthopoxviruses, in particular smallpox, is very narrow. Despite the fact that smallpox is well controlled, there is, for many reasons, a real threat of epidemics associated with this or a similar virus. In order to search for new low molecular weight orthopoxvirus inhibitors, a series of amides combining adamantane and monoterpene moieties were synthesized using 1- and 2-adamantanecarboxylic acids as well as myrtenic, citronellic and camphorsulfonic acids as acid components. The produced compounds exhibited high activity against the vaccinia virus (an enveloped virus belonging to the poxvirus family), which was combined with low cytotoxicity. Some compounds had a selectivity index higher than that of the reference drug cidofovir; the highest SI = 1123 was exhibited by 1-adamantanecarboxylic acid amide containing the (–)-10-amino-2-pinene moiety. The produced compounds demonstrated inhibitory activity against other orthopoxviruses: cowpox virus (SI = 30–406) and ectromelia virus (mousepox virus, SI = 39–707).

We report on the first experimental evidence of the electrorheological effect in suspensions of superfine pyrochlore-type Bi1.8Fe1.2SbO7 powders. Tensile-compressive and shear stress studies of the electrorheological fluids, with various filler contents, revealed an exceptionally high electrorheological effect in the materials – the tensile yield strength at 5 kV/mm reached about 20 kPa. The frequency dependencies of dielectric permittivity, dielectric loss tangent, and the conductivity of the suspensions with various filler contents allowed estimation of the dielectric permittivity values for superfine Bi1.8Fe1.2SbO7 particles at zero and infinite frequencies. The study reveals new oxide materials as promising fillers for electrorheological fluids.

The presence of pharmaceutical pollutants in the environment is one of the most pressing environmental problems. Adsorption from solution is an effective way to remove pharmaceuticals from liquid media, but the problem then is to separate the adsorbent from the liquids. The objective of the present study was to remove nitrofurazone from aqueous solutions using a bentonite/magnetite composite, prepared by co-precipitation of magnetite with bentonite, which could then be collected by magnetic separation. The bentonite/magnetite composite was characterized using diverse techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, low-temperature N2 adsorption/desorption, laser diffraction, and magnetization measurements. The particle size of the composite material did not exceed 50 μm and the particle size distribution was mono-modal with a maximum at 3.2 μm. The strong hysteresis in the magnetization curve revealed that the bentonite/magnetite particles were ferromagnetic. Adsorption of nitrofurazone by the bentonite/magnetite composite from aqueous solutions was measured and the amount of nitrofurazone adsorbed was 3.2×10–2 mmol/g. The adsorption kinetics of nitrofurazone to the bentonite/magnetite composite followed a pseudo-second-order kinetics equation. Upon adsorption, hydrogen bonds were formed between the amide groups of nitrofurazone and oxygen groups in bentonite.

The paper is a review of the recent developments in the field of creation and application of new promising composites of ionic liquids with inorganic oxide nanomaterials. The combination of properties of inorganic materials—high thermal stability, chemical inertness, different combinations of dielectric properties and low-temperature melts of organic electrolytes that are characterized, in addition to high ionic conductivity, by low vapor pressure, high thermal stability, solvation ability—is the basis for developing new types of functional materials. The paper considers two types of nanocomposites: physical mixtures—ionic liquids thickened with inorganic oxide fillers and systems formed by porous oxide materials and ionic liquids, in which the ionic liquids can be included into the nanocavities of the inorganic materials. It also describes the methods of synthesizing composite materials of different types. They include methods of direct mixing, sol-gel synthesis of hybrid organo-inorganic mesostructures and inclusion into the inter-layer spaces of natural layered alumosilicates. The paper also discusses mutual effects of ionic liquids and inorganic oxides as well as the role of confinement of an organic electrolyte in the pores of inorganic materials on the formation of new structures, thermal and transport properties of the composites. Possible application areas of the new types of nanocomposites are electrochemical devices (lithium chemical sources of electrical energy, supercapacitors, sensors), environment protection (ion-exchangers, adsorbents of organic pollutants), biomedicine (antibacterial coatings, surface modifiers, gels), functionalized polymer films, plastics.

Nanoparticles of MnO2 with different shapes (needle-like α-MnO2 and spherical δ-MnO2) were proposed as promising fillers for electrorheological fluids (ERFs). A thorough study of the dielectric properties of α-MnO2 and δ-MnO2 suspensions in silicone oil enabled estimation of the values of their dielectric permittivity and dielectric relaxation times. The study of MnO2-filled materials with various filler contents, and under various electric field strengths, in shear and uniaxial tensile and compressive stress regimes, revealed that needle-like α-MnO2 nanoparticles, in comparison with spherical δ-MnO2 particles, lead to better mechanical properties of the fluids. The most intriguing property of MnO2-based electrorheological fluids is their high electrorheological response at low filler content: ERF containing only 4.5 vol.% of α-MnO2 in silicone oil demonstrated a 18 kPa tensile strength in a 5 kV electric field.

The combination of an atmospheric pressure plasma afterglow operated in air with wet grafting was utilized for the immobilization of chitosan on the surface of polypropylene foil. The plasma treatment results in a local modification of polymer surface along the sample axis with a modified zone of width 2 cm. Moreover, plasma treatment initiates etching and melting of the polymer on micro-level. Processing in combination with chitosan solution in-line prevents thermal effects and results in the formation of island-like chitosan structures. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) reveal the presence of chemical groups typical for chitosan structure.

Reversible photochromic hybrid organic–inorganic films containing nanocrystalline cellulose as a matrix and tungsten oxide as a photochromic component (CNC/WO3) were obtained via a simple and quick solvent casting method. The films were studied by scanning electron microscopy, together with element mapping, FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, confirming successful incorporation of WO3 nanoparticles into a nanocellulose matrix. Thermal analysis data indicated that the modification of a nanocellulose matrix with WO3 increases its thermal stability. The CNC/WO3 films showed a quick coloration-bleaching transition with good reversibility within 20 min, without notable degradation of photochromic properties after 10 cycles. The synthetic method proposed allows for scalable preparation of highly efficient low-cost WO3-based photochromic materials.

Nanocomposites of ionic liquids with layered aluminosilicates represent a new class of functional materials that are promising when creating electrochemical devices, in environmental protection, in biomedicine, etc. Such nanocomposites contain environmentally friendly (clay) and easily regenerable components (ionic liquids), which makes them promising objects of green chemistry. In this paper, the interaction of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide ionic liquid with clays such as montmorillonite K10 (MMT K10), bentonite (Bent) and halloysite (Hal), which have a different molecular and mesoporous structure, as well as particles of different size and shape, was studied for the first time. Physicochemical methods such as FT-IR, TG, DSC, electron microscopy, viscosimetry and conductometry were used. The effect of the confinement of ionic liquid in the pores and immobilization on the surface of clays on the physicochemical properties of nanocomposites has been revealed. It was found that the interaction of ionic liquid with clays depends on the type of nanoclay, and the interaction strength changes in the following order: MMT K10 ≈ Bent >> Hal. The resulting materials have the properties of pseudoplasticity, high ionic conductivity, which is promising when creating electrochemical devices. At low temperature, the electrical conductivity of the halloysite-based composite is higher than that of a pure ionic liquid. The conductivity of the studied materials obeys to a general trend, which depends on the specific interactions and the properties of the clay-filled ionic liquid. Keywords: Composite nanomaterials, Ionic liquid, Clay, Interaction, Decomposition temperature, Glass transition, Conductivity

In studied blood serum samples from Russian patients hospitalized with suspected dengue fever, one or more markers of dengue fever have been detected, namely, viral RNA, NS1 antigen, and IgM or IgG antibodies. Moreover, only the combined use of various immunological and genetic methods provided a more effective diagnosis of dengue fever. The detection of IgG to dengue virus in patients with high titers of IgG to tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and, conversely, the detection of IgG to TBEV virus in patients with high titers of IgG to dengue has been documented. The results confirm the literature data on pronounced antigenic cross-sections between different representatives of flaviviruses, which may complicate the ELISA diagnosis of TBEV and dengue in patients. Genotyping of obtained dengue virus isolates showed that imported cases of dengue fever are caused by subtypes 1–4 of the dengue virus, with the prevalence of infection cases caused by dengue virus 1. Sequencing of these dengue virus isolates, including genome-wide, showed that viral isolates obtained on the territory of Russia are phylogenetically close to modern variants of the dengue virus circulating in the countries of Southeast Asia.

X-ray amorphous powder was obtained via template-free synthesis, including the sol–gel process and coprecipitation. We showed that mesoporous calcium titanate is formed during the calcination of a powder up to 800°C. The structure and morphology of the samples thermally processed at 200, 400, 600, and 800°C are studied with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray phase analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Low-temperature adsorption–desorption of nitrogen vapors and laser diffraction analysis showed that calcium titanate powder has a highly developed surface of over 100 m2/g with average particle size from 99 to 290 nm and significant pore volume.

Mesoporous alumina and γ-Al2O3–NaAlO2 composites with different morphology were produced by soft chemistry methods using polyethylenimine (PEI), pluronic P123 (P123), and polymer–colloid complex (PCC) derived from them as templates in solution. Sodium aluminate was applied as an additive for production of the mesoporous γ-Al2O3–NaAlO2 composite. The obtained samples were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform IR spectrometry, X-ray diffraction analysis, and low-temperature N2 adsorption–desorption analysis. The effect of sodium aluminate introduction on the morphological features of the obtained samples was investigated. Mesostructured aluminum oxide obtained using individual templates such as P123 and PEI possesses cylindrical pores, whereas applying PCC resulted in the formation slit-shaped pores. The produced mesoporous aluminum oxide and γ-Al2O3–NaAlO2 composite had a narrow pore size distribution and large surface area. This approach was demonstrated to allow for the control of pore sizes and shapes.

Background: The threat of pandemic A/H1N1 influenza is still a matter of considerable public concern. Influenza outbreak in 2009 underlined the importance of rapid production of a sufficient vaccine reserve for pandemic and interpandemic periods. One promising way to allay this concern is development of cell culture-derived live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV), because this technology makes it possible to produce a considerable amount of vaccine over a short period of time.

The detection of influenza A virions with a nanoribbon detector (NR detector) has been demonstrated. Chips for the detector have been fabricated based on silicon-on-insulator nanoribbon structures (SOI nanoribbon chip), using a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible technology—by means of gas-phase etching and standard optical photolithography. The surface of the SOI nanoribbon chip contains a matrix of 10 nanoribbon (NR) sensor elements. SOI nanoribbon chips of n-type conductance have been used for this study. For biospecific detection of target particles, antibodies against influenza virus have been covalently immobilized onto NRs. Influenza A virus detection was performed by real-time registration of the source-drain current through the NRs. The detection of the target viral particles was carried out in buffer solutions at the target particles concentration within the range from 107 to 103 viral particles per milliliter (VP/mL). The lowest detectable concentration of the target viral particles was 6 × 10−16 M (corresponding to 104 VP/mL). The use of solutions containing ~109 to 1010 VP/mL resulted in saturation of the sensor surface with the target virions. In the saturation mode, detection was impossible.

Although the World Health Organisation had announced that smallpox was eradicated over 40 years ago, the disease and other related pathogenic poxviruses such as monkeypox remain potential bioterrorist weapons and could also re-emerge as natural infections. We have previously reported (+)-camphor and (-)-borneol derivatives with an antiviral activity against the vaccinia virus. This virus is similar to the variola virus (VARV), the causative agent of smallpox, but can be studied at BSL-2 facilities. In the present study, we evaluated the antiviral activity of the most potent compounds against VARV, cowpox virus, and ectromelia virus (ECTV). Among the compounds tested, 4-bromo-N'-((1R,4R)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ylidene)benzohydrazide 18 is the most effective compound against various orthopoxviruses, including VARV, with an EC50 value of 13.9 μM and a selectivity index of 206. Also, (+)-camphor thiosemicarbazone 9 was found to be active against VARV and ECTV.

Purpose: The aim of the work is to identify the quality properties of labor resources and determinants of quality development, as well as the possibilities of applying the methodology of holism and individualism in managing the quality of labor resources in socio-economic systems of various hierarchical levels. Design/methodology/approach: In researches focused on the study and development of management methodology, an interdisciplinary approach is increasingly being used to enrich scientific tools and solve pressing problems. Application of interdisciplinary approach and fundamental philosophical knowledge in this work allowed synthesizing achievements of economic, sociological, behavioral sciences, theory of systems, etc. That provided an opportunity to correlate the properties of the quality of labor resources with properties of the cumatoid, in order to determine development of qualitative characteristics and to consider the applicability of philosophical and methodological approaches of holism and individualism to manage the quality of labor. Findings: It is determined that the study of the development of individual quality attributes of labor resources can be carried out from the standpoint of definitive, probabilistic or Laplace determinism. Possibilities and limitations of methodology of individualism and holism in development of conceptual principles of quality labor management are revealed. Originality/value: This study revealed that it is advisable to manage the quality of labor resources in the socio-economic systems of the macro level on the basis of the definitive determination. If necessary, study the causes and consequences of a certain state of development of the qualitative characteristics from Laplacean determinism. Also, the laws of quality development at the individual level are probabilistic determinism. Properties of labor resources and dissipation of measures determined the possibility of using methodology of holism and individualism in management of quality of labor resources. For this reason, we synthesize provisions of methodologies under consideration, with a view to ensuring unidirectional quality management across different socio-economic systems.

In this work we tested two reagent kits developed by us for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA using a fragment of the ORF1ab gene in digital PCR and real-time PCR formats. Data were obtained on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA in nasopharyngeal swabs of patients with COVID-19 and asymptomatic carriers. The developed reagent kits provided 100% sensitivity and a detection limit of 103 GE / ml for qPCR, and at least 200 copies / ml of viral RNA when performing digital PCR. These methods were tested using a panel of 1,328 samples collected from patients with suspected COVID-19 at the beginning of 2020 in the Russian Federation. It has been shown that dPCR is more sensitive and can be used to analyze samples with low viral load, including those from patients without clinical symptoms. dPCR significantly improves the accuracy of laboratory research and significantly reduces the number of false negative results in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. Determination of the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in patients with different clinical course of the disease showed that the concentration of viral RNA can sharply decrease in the first days of the disease. A low concentration of viral RNA in samples from patients is also characteristic of asymptomatic disease. Digital PCR provides a higher detection rate for asymptomatic cases, which is approximately 75% of those infected, as opposed to 45% for real-time PCR. The results obtained on the use of the digital PCR method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA showed that this method is especially suitable for detecting RNA in case of its low concentration in contacts, as well as for monitoring changes in viral load in convalescent patients.

For the first time, electroactive nanocomposite elastomers based on polydimethylsiloxane and filled with rod-like &alpha, MnO2 nanoparticles have been obtained. The curing of the filled elastomer in an electric field, resulting in the ordering of the &alpha, MnO2 particles, had a significant effect on the degree of polymer crosslinking, as well as on the electrorheological characteristics of the nanocomposites obtained through this process, namely the values of the storage and loss moduli. The dielectric spectra of filled elastomers in the frequency range 25&ndash, 106 Hz were analysed in terms of interfacial relaxation processes. It has been shown, for the first time, that the application of an electric field leads to a decrease in the value of the Payne effect in composite elastomers. Analysis of the rheological effect in the obtained materials has demonstrated the possibility of designing highly efficient electrorheological elastomers that change their elastic properties by 4.3 times in electric fields of up to 2 kV/mm.

For the first time, electroactive nanocomposite elastomers based on polydimethylsiloxane and filled with rod-like α-MnO2 nanoparticles have been obtained. The curing of the filled elastomer in an electric field, resulting in the ordering of the α-MnO2 particles, had a significant effect on the degree of polymer crosslinking, as well as on the electrorheological characteristics of the nanocomposites obtained through this process, namely the values of the storage and loss moduli. The dielectric spectra of filled elastomers in the frequency range 25–106 Hz were analysed in terms of interfacial relaxation processes. It has been shown, for the first time, that the application of an electric field leads to a decrease in the value of the Payne effect in composite elastomers. Analysis of the rheological effect in the obtained materials has demonstrated the possibility of designing highly efficient electrorheological elastomers that change their elastic properties by 4.3 times in electric fields of up to 2 kV/mm.

Electrorheological elastomers based on polydimethylsiloxane filled with hydrated titanium dioxide with a particle size of 100&ndash, 200 nm were obtained by polymerization of the elastomeric matrix, either in the presence, or in the absence, of an external electric field. The viscoelastic and dielectric properties of the obtained elastomers were compared. Analysis of the storage modulus and loss modulus of the filled elastomers made it possible to reveal the influence of the electric field on the Payne effect in electrorheological elastomers. The elastomer vulcanized in the electric field showed high values of electrorheological sensitivity, 250% for storage modulus and 1100% for loss modulus. It was shown, for the first time, that vulcanization of filled elastomers in the electric field leads to a significant decrease in the degree of crosslinking in the elastomer. This effect should be taken into account in the design of electroactive elastomeric materials.

Electrorheological elastomers based on polydimethylsiloxane filled with hydrated titanium dioxide with a particle size of 100–200 nm were obtained by polymerization of the elastomeric matrix, either in the presence, or in the absence, of an external electric field. The viscoelastic and dielectric properties of the obtained elastomers were compared. Analysis of the storage modulus and loss modulus of the filled elastomers made it possible to reveal the influence of the electric field on the Payne effect in electrorheological elastomers. The elastomer vulcanized in the electric field showed high values of electrorheological sensitivity, 250% for storage modulus and 1100% for loss modulus. It was shown, for the first time, that vulcanization of filled elastomers in the electric field leads to a significant decrease in the degree of crosslinking in the elastomer. This effect should be taken into account in the design of electroactive elastomeric materials.

Sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT) was synthesized as a result of two-stage processing of natural bentonite (Bent), and its particle-size distribution, structure and morphology were studied. It was found that the two-stage processing of the original clay resulted in a significant increase in the specific surface area (from 72 to 120 m2 g−1). The prepared Na-MMT powder was modified by two ionic liquids (ILs), namely, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMImNTf2) and 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMImNTf2). Several methods, such as SEM, XRD, TG, DSC, FTIR spectroscopy were used to study the structure and thermal behavior of the produced ionogels. The effects of the IL cation on thermal characteristics of the Na-MMT/IL ionogels were studied. Using the DSC, characteristic temperatures of glass transition, crystallization and melting were determined for Na-MMT/IL composites. Taking into account the literature data and using the method of thermogravimetric analysis, it was shown that ionogel formation was accompanied by a decrease in the thermal stability of the IL.