Interfacial interaction is one of the most critical issues in carbon nanotube/polymer
composites. In this paper the role of nonionic surfactant is investigated. With the surfactant
as the processing aid, the addition of only 1 wt % carbon nanotubes in the composite increases
the glass transition temperature from 63 °C to 88 °C. The elastic modulus is also increased
by more than 30%. In contrast, the addition of carbon nanotubes without the surfactant
only has moderate effects on the glass transition temperature and on the mechanical
properties. This work points to the pathways to improve dispersion and to modify interfacial
bonding in carbon nanotube/polymer composites.
Large‐scale electrical energy storage has become more important than ever for reducing fossil energy consumption in transportation and for the widespread deployment of intermittent renewable energy in electric grid. However, significant challenges exist for its applications. Here, the status and challenges are reviewed from the perspective of materials science and materials chemistry in electrochemical energy storage technologies, such as Li‐ion batteries, sodium (sulfur and metal halide) batteries, Pb‐acid battery, redox flow batteries, and supercapacitors. Perspectives and approaches are introduced for emerging battery designs and new chemistry combinations to reduce the cost of energy storage devices.
Simple synthesis methods for mesoporous fibers and powders by
rapid evaporation of
hydrolyzed silicon alkoxide−surfactant solutions are described.
Mesoporous fibers are
prepared by dry spinning, and mesoporous powders by spray drying of
alkoxide−surfactant
solutions. Precursor solutions, containing fully hydrolyzed
tetraethoxysilane, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride surfactant, and, in the case of the fibers, a
fiber-forming polymer,
in an acidic alcohol/water mixture, are drawn into continuous filaments
or atomized into
droplets in a heated air stream. During solvent drying, silica and
surfactant self-assemble
to form the hexagonally ordered mesophase structure, and all of the
nonvolatile components
(silica, polymer, and surfactant) are incorporated into the mesophase.
The pore diameter
and surface area of calcined fibers were 20 Å and 1100
m2/g, respectively. For the powders,
pore sizes of 25 Å and surface areas as high as 1770 m2/g
were measured. Spray-dried
powders consisting of hollow spherical particles with mesoporous shells
were also produced
with this approach.
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