Manufacture and characterization of conductor-insulator composites based on carbon nanotubes and thermally reduced graphene oxide

AbstractIn this paper we present characterization data for carbon nanotube (CNT)-epoxy and thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO)-epoxy nano-composites. The frequency-dependent ac conductivity and permittivity are examined as a function of volume fraction of carbon-based filler. The measured electrical properties and their frequency dependency are evaluated on the basis that such composites can be considered as a network of resistors and capacitors, whereby the resistors represent the conductive component (CNT or TRGO) and the capacitors are the insulating component (epoxy matrix). Differences observed between the frequency-dependent electrical properties of the CNT-epoxy and TRGO-epoxy composites are explained in terms of the different electrical conductivities of the CNT and TRGO phase.</jats:p

Control of electro-chemical processes using energy harvesting materials and devices

A detailed overview of pyro-electric, piezo-electric, tribo-electric, flexo-electric thermo-electric and photovoltaic charge generation mechanisms which are used to control electro-chemical reactions.</p

Residual Energy Harvesting from Light Transients Using Hematite as an Intrinsic Photocapacitor in a Symmetrical Cell

Hematite as a sustainable photoabsorber material offers a band gap close to 2 eV and photoanode characteristics, but usually requires additional catalysts to enhance surface redox chemistry during steady state light energy harvesting for water splitting. Here, for a highly doped hematite film, sufficient intrinsic photocapacitor behavior is reported for the conversion of light transients into energy. Residual energy is harvested in a symmetric architecture with two opposing mesoporous hematite films on conductive glass. Transient light energy harvesting is shown to occur without the need for water splitting