Polymers synthesized directly from plant oils such as castor oil usually exhibit poor mechanical properties and cannot be reprocessed due to the soft, highly cross-linked and permanent cross-linking structures. Herein, we report a novel approach to synthesize high performance and malleable polymer networks, namely poly­(ester amide) vitrimers, from castor oil via melt condensation polymerization with sebacic acid, polyamide 1010 monomer salt and 4-aminophenyl disulfide. 4-Aminophenyl disulfide with excellent thermal stability is applicable for high temperature polymerization and endows the poly­(ester amide) network with malleability. Polyamide 1010 segments introduced by polyamide 1010 monomer salt endow the poly­(ester amide) network with improved and tunable mechanical properties. This investigation demonstrates a new powerful strategy for developing high performance and reprocessable polymer networks from plant oils.

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The adsorption equilibria of pure methane and ethane gases as well as their binary mixtures were measured on a template-synthesized carbon. The pure component isotherm data were fitted to the Sips equation, while the binary equilibria were studied by the extended Sips equation as well as the ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST). It was found that the IAST performed better than the extended Sips in predicting the binary data on the highly heterogeneous carbon sample.

Three-dimensional (3D) rigidity-reinforced SiO x anodes are prepared using the aqueous multicomponent binders to stabilize the performances of lithium-ion batteries. Considering an elastic skeleton, adhesiveness, electrolyte absorption, etc., four kinds of binders [polyacrylamide (PAM), poly­(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), carboxymethyl cellulose, and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)] are selected to prepare aqueous multicomponent binders. The SiO x anodes with the binder PAM/SBR/PTFE (PSP) exhibit a 3D rigidity-reinforced structure, larger adhesive force, and moderate electrolyte adsorption capacity compared to other anodes with single and multicomponent binders. Specifically, the electrochemical performances of the SiO x anodes with the binder PSP663 are stabilized, and a retention capacity of 770 mAh g–1 at 500 mA g–1 after 300 cycles and a rate capacity of 993 mAh g–1 at 1200 mA g–1 are obtained. The enhanced performances are attributed to the good chemical stability of PTFE to protect SiO x particles from the electrolyte corrosion and to ensure electrode integrity. SBR acts as the binder backbone due to the strong adhesion force and specific three-dimensional structure. The rigidity of PAM limits the excessive expansion of SiO x particles well and shortens the ion migration. These results indicate that the 3D rigidity-reinforced SiO x anode with the aqueous binder PSP663 has promising prospects for practical application, and the results also provide a reference for solving the expansion problem of the silicon materials.

Aerogel is a nanoporous solid material with ultrahigh porosity, ultralow density, and thermal conductivity, which is considered to be one of the most promising high‐performance insulation materials today. However, traditional pure inorganic aerogels (i.e., silica aerogel) exhibit inherent structural brittleness, making their processing and handling difficult, and their manufacturing costs are relatively high, which limits their large‐scale practical use. The recently developed aerogel based on polymer nanofibers has ultralow thermal conductivity and density, excellent elasticity, and designable multifunction. More importantly, one‐dimensional polymer nanofibers are directly used as building blocks to construct the network of aerogels via a gelation‐free process. This greatly simplifies the aerogel preparation process, thereby bringing opportunities for large‐scale aerogel applications. The aggregation of inorganic nanomaterials and polymer nanofibers is considered to be a very attractive strategy for obtaining highly flexible, easily available, and multifunctional composite aerogels. Therefore, this review summarizes the recent advances in novel aerogels through the hybrid aggregation of inorganic nanomaterials and polymeric fibers for thermal insulation. The main processing routes, porous microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal properties and applications of these aerogels are highlighted. In addition, various future challenges faced by these aerogels in thermal insulation applications are discussed in this review.

The Schulze-Hardy rule is a well-established observation in colloid science (can be derived from the DLVO theory) that demonstrates the relationship between the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) of colloids and the valence of extra counterionic electrolytes (z), with a simple mathematical relationship of CCC≈z . Here the Schulze-Hardy Rule is expanded to much smaller, nano-scaled soluble macroions in aqueous solution, by examining the stability of the macroions in the presence of additional electrolytes. The CCC values of the macroions follow the general trend of CCC≈z but the n value is significantly dependent on the surface charge density of the macroions, ranging from n=2 at very low surface charge density to n=6 at a high surface charge density. In addition, different cations with the same valence showed clear different impacts on the CCC values, with an interesting trend being connected to the Hofmeister series originally discovered in protein solutions.

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