Graphene/carbon nanotube-based conductive materials

This project is basically an investigation of graphene and carbon nanotube (CNT) based material’s electrical properties. In its first part, graphene (G) and graphene oxide (GO)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) hybrid films were successfully fabricated as highperformance electrode materials for an energy storage application using a simple water solution casting method and with an assistance of strong ultra-sonication. This was done with different contents of G, GO, single-wall CNT (SWCNT), multi-wall CNT (MWCNT) and multi-wall CNT with a hydroxyl group (MWCNT-OH). The films with MWCNTs showed well interconnected layered structures at the nanoscale range where GO worked as support insulated plates for the CNTs. [Continues.]</div

Materials Chemistry of Fullerenes, Graphenes, and Carbon Nanotubes

This Special Issue is intended as a platform for interactive material science articles with an emphasis on the preparation, functionalization chemistry, and characterization of nanocarbon compounds, as well as all aspects of physical properties of functionalized, conjugated, or hybrid nanocarbon materials, and their associated applications. Some recent advances in the field are here collected, providing new ideas for discussion of researchers working in this multidisciplinary scenario

Technologies Involved in the Manufacture of Smart Nonwoven Fabrics

Many methods can be used to protect humans against hazardous chemicals in the environment such as personal protective equipment and protective clothing. However, what matters most is prevention and early detection of threats. Detecting the presence of hazardous chemicals such as organic liquids and the vapours they give off is possible using sensors. Effective chemosensory properties are revealed by conductive polymers and carbon particles, where the electrical resistance of chemicals changes. Still open to debate is finding the optimum means of applying chemical sensors that would provide high sensitivity, durability, reliability, and resistance but at the same time would not be expensive. The authors propose introducing chemical sensors in the form of nonwoven fabrics produced by the melt-blown method and by electrospinning. The analysis takes account of melt-blown nonwoven fabric ​​based on polylactide (PLA)-containing carbon nanotubes, nonwoven fabric made by electrospinning based on polyethylene oxide–containing carbon nanotubes and carbon nonwoven fabric from polyacrylonitrile submicron precursor fibres formed by electrospinning. Assessment of the effectiveness of the sensors to liquid vapours including methanol, acetone, benzene and toluene (concentration 200 ppm) has been carried out. The resulting nonwoven sensors are characterized by good electrical conductivity and altered electrical resistance as a result of the presence of vapours

FABRICATION AND STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF PEEK COMPOSITES USING FUNCTIONALIZED MULTIWALL NANOTUBES

Incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into a polymer matrix can provide structural materials with dramatically increased mechanical and electrical properties. These properties combined with their low density makes them useful for the transport industry, especially for aerospace structures, where the reduction of weight is one of the main goals in order to reduce fuel consumption. However, several limitations exist firstly related to the dispersion of nanotubes and their compatibility with the matrix and secondarily to the nature of the binding between nanotubes and the polymer chains. These setbacks need to be resolved prior to successful application

Green Approaches to Carbon Nanostructure-Based Biomaterials

The family of carbon nanostructures comprises several members, such as fullerenes, nano-onions, nanodots, nanodiamonds, nanohorns, nanotubes, and graphene-based materials. Their unique electronic properties have attracted great interest for their highly innovative potential in nanomedicine. However, their hydrophobic nature often requires organic solvents for their dispersibility and processing. In this review, we describe the green approaches that have been developed to produce and functionalize carbon nanomaterials for biomedical applications, with a special focus on the very latest reports

A review of electrical and thermal conductivities of epoxy resin systems reinforced with carbon nanotubes and graphene-based nanoparticles

Epoxy (EP) resins exhibit desirable mechanical and thermal properties, low shrinkage during cuing, and high chemical resistance. Therefore, they are useful for various applications, such as coatings, adhesives, paints, etc. On the other hand, carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene (Gr), and their derivatives have become reinforcements of choice for EP-based nanocomposites because of their extraordinary mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Herein, we provide an overview of the last decade's advances in research on improving the thermal and electrical conductivities of EP resin systems modified with CNT, Gr, their derivatives, and hybrids. We further report on the surface modification of these reinforcements as a means to improve the nanofiller dispersion in the EP resins, thereby enhancing the thermal and electrical conductivities of the resulting nanocomposites