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Abstract. Denatured proteins, natural macromolecules are very attractive for advanced nanocomposites owing to their multiple functional chemical groups. However, denaturation processes were only successfully conducted in an aqueous environment, limiting their broad applications in hydrophobic polymers. In this study, we report an effective approach of denaturing soy protein at nanoscale in an organic solvent. Further, the denatured soy protein was found to be able to infiltrate between the graphite nanoplatelet (GNP) layers to reduce the thickness of GNPs and improve the dispersion of the nanoparticles in either the suspension or the final polymeric nanocomposites. As a result, remarkable improvements in transparency and electrical conductivity have been achieved for the nanocomposites with the GNPs treated by the denatured soy protein.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) dominate the market of rechargeable power sources. To meet the increasing market demands, technology updates focus on advanced battery materials, especially cathodes, the most important component in LIBs. In this review, we provide an overview of the development of materials and processing technologies for cathodes from both academic and industrial perspectives. We briefly compared the fundamentals of cathode materials based on intercalation and conversion chemistries. We then discussed the processing of cathodes, with specific focuses on the mechanisms of a drying process and the role of the binders. Several key parameters for the development of thick electrodes were critically assessed, which may offer insights into the design of next-generation batteries.

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