The composites of carbon nanotube (CNT) supported by Sn-doped MnO2 with enhanced capacitance have been fabricated with varying dopant concentrations. The composites have been subjected to physiochemical, configurational, and morphological analyses by FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction studies. The electrochemical performance of the composite has been evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and charge/discharge techniques. Highest specific capacitances of 940 F g−1 at a current density of 0.35 A g−1 and 927 F g−1 at 5 mV s−1 in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte solution was achieved in the case of 5% Sn doped composite. Moreover, the electrode demonstrated good cycling performance and retaining 79.7% of the initial capacitance over 3000 cycles. The superior electrochemical performance is accredited mainly to the porous sheath hierarchical architecture, which consist of inter connected MnO2 nanoneedles uniformly coated over the CNT surface. This peculiar architecture is responsible for fast ion/electron transfer and easy access of the active material.

In the aerospace field, Carbon/Cork composites have been used for rocket propulsion systems as a light weight structural component with a high bending stiffness and high thermal insulation properties. For the fabrication of a carbon composite with a heat insulation cork part, the bonding properties between them are very important to determine the service life of the Carbon/Cork composite structure. In this study, the changes in the interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties of Carbon/Cork composites under accelerated aging conditions were investigated. The accelerated aging experiments were performed with different temperatures and humidity conditions. The properties of the aged Carbon/Cork composites were evaluated mainly with the interfacial strength. Finally, the lifetime prediction of the Carbon/Cork composites was performed with the long-term property data under accelerated conditions.

In the present study, we develop a conductive copper/carbon nanomaterial additive and investigate the effects of the morphologies of the carbon nanomaterials on the conductivities of composites containing the additive. The conductive additive is prepared by mechanically milling copper powder with carbon nanomaterials, namely, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and/or few-layer graphene (FLG). During the milling process, the carbon nanomaterials are partially embedded in the surfaces of the copper powder, such that electrically conductive pathways are formed when the powder is used in an epoxy-based composite. The conductivities of the composites increase with the volume of the carbon nanomaterial. For a constant volume of carbon nanomaterial, the FLG is observed to provide more conducting pathways than the MWCNTs, although the optimum conductivity is obtained when a mixture of FLG and MWCNTs is used.

In the present work, a comparative study of the mechanical behavior of two series of elastomeric composites, based on carboxylated styrene butadiene rubber (X-SBR) and reinforced with rice bran carbon (RBC) and graphite, is reported. Hybrid composites of X-SBR filled with RBC-graphite were also investigated in terms of the cure characteristics, hardness, tensile properties, abrasion resistance, and swelling. It was observed that the cure times decreased with the incorporation of a carbon filler whereas the torque difference, tensile strength, tensile modulus, hardness, and swelling resistance increased compared to the neat X-SBR revealing a favorable characteristic of crosslinking. Dynamic rheological analysis showed that the G' values of the composites, upon the addition of RBC-graphite, were changed to some extent. This demonstrates that the presence of a strongly developed network of fillers will ensure a reinforcing characteristic in a polymer matrix.

본 연구에서는 polypropylene glycol(PPG) 을 이용한 수분산 폴리우레탄에 카제인을 그래프트 합성한 다음 카본블랙을 분산하여 발생하는 변화를 분석하였다. 이를 위해 카제인을 그래프트한 수분산 폴리우레탄 (PUD와 CPUD’s) 시료를 준비한뒤 카본블랙이 분산된 CPCB’s 시료를 준비하였다. 준비된 시료를 이용하여 인장강도를 측정 한 결과 카제인이 높게 함유된 CPUD3 가 3.01 kgf/㎟ 로 인장강도가 증가하였으며, CPCB’s 에서는 카본 블랙이 증가할수록 인장강도가 2.54 kgf/㎟ 로 낮게 측정되었다. 연신율은 카제인이 적게 함유된 PUD 시료가 278 % 로 측정되었으며, CPCB’s에서는 CP3CB4 가 157% 로 측정되었다. 내마모성은 CPUD3 시료가 36.97 mg.loss, CP3CB4가 41.11 mg.loss 로 표면 강도가 측정되었다. 내용제성은 PUD’s 시료와 CPCB’s 시료 양쪽 모두 물성변화가 없음을 확인 할 수 있었다.

We demonstrated the sensitivity of optically active single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with a diameter below 1 nm that were homogeneously dispersed in cement composites under a mechanical load. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was selected as the dispersing agent to achieve a homogeneous dispersion of SWCNTs in an aqueous solution, and the dispersion state of the SWCNTs were characterized using various optical tools. It was found that the addition of a large amount of DNA prohibited the structural evolution of calcium hydroxide and calcium silicate hydrate. Based on the in-situ Raman and X-ray diffraction studies, it was evident that hydrophilic functional groups within the DNA strongly retarded the hydration reaction. The optimum amount of DNA with respect to the cement was found to be 0.05 wt%. The strong Raman signals coming from the SWCNTs entrapped in the cement composites enabled us to understand their dispersion state within the cement as well as their interfacial interaction. The G and G’ bands of the SWCNTs sensitively varied under mechanical compression. Our results indicate that an extremely small amount of SWCNTs can be used as an optical strain sensor if they are homogeneously dispersed within cement composites.

In this study, we used activated carbon(AC) as a carbon source, along with zeolite, to prepare spherical carbons using sucrose, starch and phenolic resin(PR) as binder material. The physicochemical characteristics of the three samples(AZ4P, AZ6P and AZ8P) were examined by BET, XRD, SEM, EDX, H2S/NH3 gas adsorption, compressive strength and ignition test techniques. Through comparative analysis of the compressive strength and ignition test results the AZ8P sample was found to have the best hardness and the highest temperature resistance capacity. After activation, the AZ8P sample had the best H2S adsorption capacity, and AZ6P was the most suitable for the adsorption of ammonia.

In this work, the effects of maleic anhydride (MA) content on mechanical properties of chopped carbon fibers (CFs)-reinforced MA-grafted-polypropylene (MAPP) matrix composites. A direct oxyfluorination on CF surfaces was applied to increase the interfacial strength between the CFs and MAPP matrix. The mechanical properties of the CFs/MAPP composites are likely to be different in terms of MA content. Surface characteristics were observed by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and single fiber contact angle method. The mechanical properties of the composites were also measured by a critical stress intensity factor (KIC). From the KIC test results, the KIC values were increased to a maximum value of 3.4 MPa with the 0.1 % of MA in the PP, and then decreased with higher MA content.

Ni nanoparticles (NPs)-graphitic carbon nanofiber (GCNF) composites were fabricated using an electrospinning method. The amounts of Ni precursor used as catalyst for the catalytic graphitization were controlled at 0, 2, 5, and 8 wt% to improve the photovoltaic performances of the nanoparticles and make them suitable for use as counter electrodes for dyesensitized solar cells (DSSCs). As a result, Ni NPs-GCNF composites that were fabricated with 8 wt% Ni precursors showed a high circuit voltage (0.73 V), high photocurrent density (14.26 mA/cm2), and superb power-conversion efficiency (6.72 %) when compared to those characteristics of other samples. These performance improvements can be attributed to the reduced charge transport resistance that results from the synergetic effect of the superior catalytic activity of Ni NPs and the efficient charge transfer due to the formation of GCNF with high electrical conductivity. Thus, Ni NPs-GCNF composites may be used as promising counter electrodes in DSSCs.

Ni nanoparticles (NPs)-graphitic carbon nanofiber (GCNF) composites were fabricated using an electrospinning method. The amounts of Ni precursor used as catalyst for the catalytic graphitization were controlled at 0, 2, 5, and 8 wt% to improve the photovoltaic performances of the nanoparticles and make them suitable for use as counter electrodes for dyesensitized solar cells (DSSCs). As a result, Ni NPs-GCNF composites that were fabricated with 8 wt% Ni precursors showed a high circuit voltage (0.73 V), high photocurrent density (14.26 mA/cm2), and superb power-conversion efficiency (6.72 %) when compared to those characteristics of other samples. These performance improvements can be attributed to the reduced charge transport resistance that results from the synergetic effect of the superior catalytic activity of Ni NPs and the efficient charge transfer due to the formation of GCNF with high electrical conductivity. Thus, Ni NPs-GCNF composites may be used as promising counter electrodes in DSSCs.

Octahedral Co3O4/carbon nanofiber (CNF) composites are fabricated using electrospinning and hydrothermal methods. Their morphological characteristics, chemical bonding states, and electrochemical properties are used to demonstrate the improved photovoltaic properties of the samples. Octahedral Co3O4 grown on CNFs is based on metallic Co nanoparticles acting as seeds in the CNFs, which seeds are directly related to the high performance of DSSCs. The octahedral Co3O4/CNFs composites exhibit high photocurrent density (12.73 mA/m2), superb fill factor (62.1 %), and excellent power conversion efficiency (5.61 %) compared to those characteristics of commercial Co3O4, conventional CNFs, and metallic Co-seed/CNFs. These results can be described as stemmnig from the synergistic effect of the porous and graphitized matrix formed by catalytic graphitization using the metal cobalt catalyst on CNFs, which leads to an increase in the catalytic activity for the reduction of triiodide ions. Therefore, octahedral Co3O4/CNFs composites can be used as a counter electrode for Pt-free dye-sensitized solar cells.