Polymeric Carbon Nanocomposites - Preparation, Characterization, and Properties

Excellent thermal properties of carbon nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and newly discovered graphene make them the filler of choice for the development of thermal management materials. Graphene has been viewed as “ unrolled single-walled carbon nanotube and as a wonder material with many superlatives to its name ” thus there is an excessive interest in developing new synthetic routes towards large scale production of high quality graphene nanosheets. In this dissertation, we report different methods that could further exfoliate the commercially available expanded graphite to nanometer sized carbon structures, “carbon nanosheets ”, for their use in highly thermal conductive polymeric nanocomposites. Initially, an overview of recent advances in the development of thermal conductive polymeric/carbon nanocomposites is provided. Then, the “ carbon nanosheets ” from the specific processes will carefully be characterized by spectroscopic techniques and the effectiveness of the processing methods is demonstrated in terms of polymeric carbon nanocomposites thermal diffusivity. While the focus of this manuscript will be on the enhancement of thermal diffusivity we will also discuss the chemical modification and functionalization of these “ carbon nanosheets ” with matrix polymer. Finally, the critical research opportunities and challenges in the development of functional graphene nanocomposites for thermal management materials will be discussed

Highly Thermal Conductive Nanocomposites

Disclosed are methods for forming carbon-based fillers as may be utilized in forming highly thermal conductive nanocomposite materials. Formation methods include treatment of an expanded graphite with an alcohol/water mixture followed by further exfoliation of the graphite to form extremely thin carbon nanosheets that are on the order of between about 2 and about 10 nanometers in thickness. Disclosed carbon nanosheets can be functionalized and/or can be incorporated in nanocomposites with extremely high thermal conductivities. Disclosed methods and materials can prove highly valuable in many technological applications including, for instance, in formation of heat management materials for protective clothing and as may be useful in space exploration or in others that require efficient yet light-weight and flexible thermal management solutions

Highly Thermal Conductive Nanocomposites

Disclosed are methods for forming carbon-based fillers as may be utilized in forming highly thermal conductive nanocomposite materials. Formation methods include treatment of an expanded graphite with an alcohol/water mixture followed by further exfoliation of the graphite to form extremely thin carbon nanosheets that are on the order of between about 2 and about 10 nanometers in thickness. Disclosed carbon nanosheets can be functionalized and/or can be incorporated in nanocomposites with extremely high thermal conductivities. Disclosed methods and materials can prove highly valuable in many technological applications including, for instance, in formation of heat management materials for protective clothing and as may be useful in space exploration or in others that require efficient yet light-weight and flexible thermal management solutions

Highly Thermal Conductive Nanocomposites

Disclosed are methods for forming carbon-based fillers as may be utilized in forming highly thermal conductive nanocomposite materials. Formation methods include treatment of an expanded graphite with an alcohol/water mixture followed by further exfoliation of the graphite to form extremely thin carbon nanosheets that are on the order of between about 2 and about 10 nanometers in thickness. Disclosed carbon nanosheets can be functionalized and/or can be incorporated in nanocomposites with extremely high thermal conductivities. Disclosed methods and materials can prove highly valuable in many technological applications including, for instance, in formation of heat management materials for protective clothing and as may be useful in space exploration or in others that require efficient yet light-weight and flexible thermal management solutions

3D Graphene Foam by Chemical Vapor Deposition: Synthesis, Properties, and Energy-Related Applications

In this review, we highlight recent advancements in 3D graphene foam synthesis by template-assisted chemical vapor deposition, as well as their potential energy storage and conversion applications. This method offers good control of the number of graphene layers and porosity, as well as continuous connection of the graphene sheets. The review covers all the substrate types, catalysts, and precursors used to synthesize 3D graphene by the CVD method, as well as their most viable energy-related applications

Self-Sustained Three-Dimensional Macroporous TiO2-Graphene Photocatalyst for Sunlight Decolorization of Methyl Orange

The development of highly efficient sunlight-driven photocatalysts has triggered increased attention due to their merit in effluent treatment through a chemically green approach. To this end, we present herein the synthesis and characterization of the TiO2/3D-GF/Ni hybrid emphasizing the main structural and morphological properties and the photodegradation process of a highly resistant aromatic azo dye, methyl orange, under both UV light and simulated sunlight. Three-dimensional (3D) graphene was grown by the thermal CVD method on the nickel foam and subsequently coated with thin films of anatase employing the sol–gel method. Thereafter, it was gratifyingly demonstrated that the hybrid nanomaterial, TiO2/3D-GF-Ni, was able to bring about more than 90% decolorization of methyl orange dye after 30 min under simulated sunlight irradiance. Moreover, the efficiency of the methyl orange decolorization was 99.5% after three successive cycles. This high-performance photocatalyst which can effectively decolorize methyl orange will most likely make a great contribution to reducing environmental pollution by employing renewable solar energy

The MIMOSE approach to support large-scale statistics on forest ecosystem services

In the last decades, Mediterranean landscapes have been transformed by anthropogenic processes, such as changes in land use and climate. In particular, forest transition in mountain areas, and urban sprawl in lowlands could strongly undermine the ability of ecosystems to provide benefits over time. Under these changing conditions, forest ecosystems have reduced their functionality, resilience and stability. In this way, important forest ecosystem services, such as timber, non-wood products, climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and cultural and spiritual values, will be eroded if forest resilience is not effectively maintained. Accordingly, forest planning is called to spatially allocate management alternatives and strategies in order to balance the final provision of forest goods and services demanded by local communities with the ecosystem functionality. In this study, we implement the “Multi-scale mapping of Ecosystem Services” (MIMOSE) approach in Sicily region to (i) assess the forest ecosystem services bundle over a 20-year time period; and (ii) evaluate how ecosystem services can be balanced to support sustainable forest management at the regional scale. Through the MIMOSE approach, at first we spatially assessed, in biophysical and monetary terms, timber provision and carbon sequestration, according to three forest management alternatives: business as usual conditions, maximizing economic incomes, and prioritizing conservation purposes. We then calculated the trade-offs among these ecosystem services and carried out a cross-case analysis. Finally, sustainable future-oriented strategies for forest landscape planning were identified, in agreement with the best balanced set of ecosystem services. The most important outcomes are the following: (i) timber provision is in general a conflicting service, especially when adaptation strategies are promoted; (ii) the best balanced set of forest ecosystem services is achieved by adopting a more conservative approach; and (iii) the bundle of ecosystem services is generally influenced by ecological and management conditions (e.g., differences among forest landscapes in the two regions), and is sensitive to harvest intensity and frequency, as well as to the length of the period used for the simulation. The MIMOSE approach demonstrated to be a spatially-explicit tool particularly suitable to support landscape planning towards balancing forest ecosystem potentialities with local communities’ needs. Moreover, the approach can be considered an easy-to-use and replicable tool to cope with sustainable development goals in the Mediterranean area. In this light, the MIMOSE approach can improve the monitoring and assessment of ecosystem services demand and budget from local to national scale, thus contributing to the statistics and environmental accounting for the forestry sector