High-energy consumption in our day-to-day life can be balanced not only by harvesting pollution-free renewable energy sources, but also requires proper storage and distribution of energy. In this regard, lithium ion batteries are currently considered as effective energy storage devices and are involved in the most active research.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS(2))-multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) hybrids have been prepared by simple dry grinding. Excellent initial charge capacity (1214 mA h g(-1)) and ~85% retention after 60 discharge-charge cycles at different current densities (100-500 mA g(-1)) make MoS(2)-MWCNT (1 : 1) hybrids a superior anode in Li-ion batteries.

The rapid increase of toxic dye wastewater generated from various industries remains a severe public health problem and of prime environmental protection concern. Therefore, it has imposed a major challenge...

No abstract

The present work reports fabrication of trilaminar core–shell composites of Fe3O4@C@PANI as efficient lightweight electromagnetic wave absorber by facile hydrothermal method and subsequent high-temperature calcination followed by its encapsulation through oxidative polymerization of aniline. The prepared composite structure was characterized by FTIR, XRD, XPS, TEM, HRTEM, and SQUID. The measurement of reflection loss, complex permittivity, complex permeability, and total shielding efficiency of the composites has been carried out in the frequency range of 2–8 GHz. Our findings showed lowest reflection loss (∼33 dB) in composite comprised of Fe3O4@C:aniline (1:9 wt/wt) corresponding to shielding efficiency predominantly due to absorption (∼47 dB) than reflection (∼15 dB). Such high value of shielding efficiency could be ascribed to the presence of dual interfaces and dielectric–magnetic integration in Fe3O4@C@PANI. In all probability, higher dielectric loss through interface polarization and relaxation effects in Fe3O4@C@PANI could also contribute toward superior microwave absorption ability of Fe3O4@C@PANI compared to Fe3O4@C and Fe3O4/PANI binary composites. This is likely to enhance the interfacial polarization, natural resonance, dielectric polarization, trapping of EM waves by internal reflection, and effective anisotropy energy in Fe3O4@C@PANI.

Ethylene vinyl acetate rubber (45% vinyl acetate content, EVA-45) and organomodified clay (12Me-MMT) composites were prepared by solution blending of the rubber and the clay. A combination of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy studies showed that the composites obtained are on the nanometer scale. The measurements of the dynamic mechanical properties for different compositions over a temperature range (Ϫ100 to ϩ100°C) showed that the storage moduli of these rubber-clay nanocomposites are higher above the glass to rubber transition temperature compared to the neat rubber. The tensile strength of the nanocomposites is about 1.6 times higher than that of the EVA-45.

The homogeneous dispersion of nanofillers and filler–matrix interfacial interactions are important factors in the development of high‐performance polymer materials for various applications. In the present work, a simple solution‐mixing method was used to prepare multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)–graphene (G) (3:1, 1:1, 1:3) hybrids followed by their characterization through wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analyses. Subsequently, MWCNT–G (1:1) hybrid was used as reinforcing filler in the formation of silicone rubber (VMQ) nanocomposites by solution intercalation, and their morphology and properties were investigated. Our findings showed that MWCNT–G (0.75 wt%)/VMQ composite exhibited significant improvements in tensile strength (110%) and Young's modulus (137%) compared to neat VMQ. The thermal stability of MWCNT–G (1 wt%)/VMQ was maximally improved by 154 °C compared to neat VMQ. Differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated the maximum improvement of glass transition temperature (4 °C), crystallization temperature (8 °C) and melting temperature (5 °C) for MWCNT–G (1 wt%)/VMQ nanocomposite with respect to neat VMQ. Swelling measurements confirmed that the crosslink density and solvent resistance were a maximum for hybrid nanocomposites. Such improvements in the properties of MWCNT–G/VMQ nanocomposites could be attributed to a synergistic effect of the hybrid filler. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry

Polymer blending coupled with nanofillers has been widely accepted as one of the cheaper methods to develop highperformance polymeric materials for various applications. In the present work, dodecyl sulfate intercalated Mg-Al-based layered double hydroxide (DS-LDH) was used as nanofiller in the synthesis of polyurethane blended with nitrile butadiene rubber (PU/NBR; 1 : 1 w/w) nanocomposites, which were subsequently characterized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the partial dispersion of Mg-Al layers in PU/NBR blends at lower filler content followed by aggregation at higher filler loading. In comparison to the neat PU/NBR blend, the tensile strength (156%) and elongation at break (21%) show maximum improvement for 1 wt% filler loading. The storage and loss moduli, thermal stability and limiting oxygen index of the nanocomposites are higher compared to the neat PU/NBR blend. Glass transition temperature and swelling measurements increase up to 3 wt% DS-LDH loading in PU/NBR compared to either neat PU/NBR or its other corresponding nanocomposites. XRD and TEM analyses indicate the partial distribution of DS-LDH in PU/NBR blends suggesting the formation of partially exfoliated nanocomposites. The improvements in mechanical, thermal and flame retardancy properties are much greater compared to the neat blend confirming the formation of high-performance polymer nanocomposites.