Fabrication of multi-walled carbon nanotube reinforced polyelectrolyte hollow nanofibers by electrospinning

Hybrid hollow multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/polyelectrolytes (PE) nanofibers were prepared by a combination of the electrospinning method and layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. The mixed polystyrene (PS)/MWCNTs nanofibers were obtained by electrospinning method, which were employed as templates to self-assembly multilayered polyelectrolytes by LbL technique. Hollow MWCNTs/PE nanofibers were obtained by selectively removed part of the template: PS, which is confirmed by Raman spectra, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Controlled Synthesis of Ag2S,Ag2Se,and Ag Nanofibers by Using a General Sacrificial Template and Their Application in Electronic Device Fabrication

Nanofiber bundles of Ag₂S, Ag₂Se, and Ag have been successfully synthesized by making use of Ag₂C₂O₄ template nanofiber bundles, utilizing both anion‐exchange and redox reactions. The obtained bundles were polycrystalline nanofibers composed of nanoparticles in which the precursor morphology was well‐preserved, indicating that Ag₂C₂O₄ nanofiber bundles acted as a general sacrificial template for the synthesis of silver‐based semiconductor and metal nanofibers. Dispersing media and transforming reactants were found to be key factors influencing the chemical transformation in the system. In particular, separate single‐crystalline Ag nanofibers were obtained via a nontemplate route when ascorbic acid was used as a relatively weak reductant. An electrical transfer and switching device was built with the obtained Ag₂S and Ag nanofiber bundles, utilizing the unique ion‐conductor nature of Ag₂S and revealing their potential applications in electronics.     

Carbon nanofibers as hydrogen adsorbing materials for power sources

Porous carbon nanofibers are synthesized by CVD method from acetylene with use of iron-containing catalysts. Activation of the nanofibers in melted potassium hydroxide results in increasing surface area from initial 300–400 m² g⁻¹ to 1700 m² g⁻¹. As follows from XRD data, activated nanofibers do not contain regular packages of graphene layers, but retain high electric conductivity. Deposition of copper improves electrochemical hydrogen storing characteristics of carbon nanofibers. Carbon nanomaterials obtained can be used as hydrogen storing materials in batteries instead of hydride forming metals.     

Supramolecular Nanofibers from Collagen-Mimetic Peptides Bearing Various Aromatic Groups at N-Termini via Hierarchical Self-Assembly

Self-assembly of artificial peptides has been widely studied for constructing nanostructured materials, with numerous potential applications in the nanobiotechnology field. Herein, we report the synthesis and hierarchical self-assembly of collagen-mimetic peptides (CMPs) bearing various aromatic groups at the N-termini, including 2-naphthyl, 1-naphtyl, anthracenyl, and pyrenyl groups, into nanofibers. The CMPs (R-(GPO)_n: n > 4) formed a triple helix structure in water at 4 °C, as confirmed via CD analyses, and their conformations were more stable with increasing hydrophobicity of the terminal aromatic group and peptide chain length. The resulting pre-organized triple helical CMPs showed diverse self-assembly into highly ordered nanofibers, reflecting their slight differences in hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance and configuration of aromatic templates. TEM analysis demonstrated that 2Np-CMP_n (n = 6 and 7) and Py-CMP₆ provided well-developed natural collagen-like nanofibers and An-CMP_n (n = 5–7) self-assembled into rod-like micelle fibers. On the other hand, 2Np-CMP₅ and 1Np-CMP₆ were unable to form nanofibers under the same conditions. Furthermore, the Py-CMP₆ nanofiber was found to encapsulate a guest hydrophobic molecule, Nile red, and exhibited unique emission behavior based on the specific nanostructure. In addition to the ability of CMPs to bind small molecules, their controlled self-assembly enables their versatile utilization in drug delivery and wavelength-conversion nanomaterials.     

PAN/FPU Composite Nanofiber Membrane with Superhydrophobic and Superoleophobic Surface as a Filter Element for High-Efficiency Protective Masks

Recently, because of the outbreak of COVID-19, the demand for various types of filter elements in protective materials has increased globally. Furthermore, new requirements for the filtration performance of PM2.5 liquid (oil) particles have been put forward. In this work, Superhydrophobic and superoleophobic composite nanofibers with excellent filtration capacity for oil and salt particles are developed through the modification of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) by fluoro-polyurethane (FPU) doping. The results show that the PAN/FPU composite nanofibers doped with 9 wt% FPU has a uniform fiber morphology with a diameter of 240 ± 30 nm. Compared to the pure PAN nanofibers, the water-based contact angle of PAN/FPU increases from 90 ± 5° to 151 ± 5°, and the oil-based contact angle increases from 58 ± 2° to 152 ± 3°. Importantly, at a high flow rate of 95 L min⁻¹, the filtration efficiency of the PAN/FPU nanofiber membrane for 0.3 µm oil particles increases from 92 ± 1% to 99.2 ± 0.1%. After cyclic loading, the filtration efficiency of 0.3 µm oil particles remains above 98%. Meanwhile, the filtration efficiency for 0.3 µm salt particles remains at 98.23 ± 0.1%. The PAN/FPU nanofiber membrane developed in this work is effective in applications and has good market prospects as a protective filtration material.     

Carbon nanofibers: Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical properties

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have been synthesized by co-catalyst deoxidization process by a reaction between C₂H₅OC₂H₅, Zn and Fe powder at 650 °C for 10 h. These nanofibers exhibit diameters of ∼80 nm and lengths ranging from several micrometers to tens of micrometers. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy indicate that as-prepared CNFs possess low graphitic crystallinity. The resultant CNFs as electrode shows capacity of ∼220 mAh/g and high reversibility with little hysteresis in the insertion/deintercalation reactions of lithium-ion. In addition, the possible growth of CNFs is discussed.     

应用静电纺丝法制备PZT纳米纤维薄膜

提出应用静电纺丝法制备PZT纳米纤维薄膜。研究中配制PZT溶液后再进行静电纺丝,获得了PZT纳米纤维薄膜,并且通过调整纺丝时间和沉积次数来控制纳米纤维薄膜的厚度。运用SEM对获得的热处理前后的薄膜进行了观察对比,测量其平均直径约为200 nm;运用XRD对退火后的样品进行分析,测得样品的主要成分为Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3,证明所制备的正是PZT薄膜;运用AFM测得薄膜的表面粗糙度为1.034 nm,说明该纳米薄膜材料非常的均匀整齐。     

Novel high strength graphitic foams

A novel high strength graphitic foam was produced through the incorporation of carbon nanofibers into a pitch based precursor. The nanofiber reinforced cellular foams were mechanically tested both from a localized and bulk perspective with results indicating enhanced foam performance with nanofiber addition. The magnitude of increased performance was a result of both the nanofiber itself as well as its heat treatment as an increase in each was found to cause an associated increase in foam performance. The increase in mechanical capability is attributed to the formation of a zigzag structure in the ligaments and nodes of the foam. This zigzag structure serves as an interlocking mechanism, preventing easy shearing of the graphene layers. The in situ fracture mechanics experiment shows brittle behavior of a single ligament indicating that only reinforced foam behaves like that of a carbon fiber.     

Toughened electrospun nanofibers from crosslinked elastomer‐thermoplastic blends

A crosslink‐able elastomeric polyester urethane (PEU) was blended with a thermoplastic, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and electrospun into nanofibers. The effects of the PEU/PAN ratio and the crosslinking reaction on the morphology and the tensile properties of the as‐spun fiber mats were investigated. With the same overall polymer concentration (9 wt %), the nanofiber containing higher composition of PEU shows a slight decrease in the average fiber diameter, but the tensile strength, the elongation at break and tensile modulus of the nanofiber mats are all improved. These tensile properties are further enhanced by slight crosslinking of the PEU component within the nanofibers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Encapsulation mechanism of N2 molecules into the central hollow of carbon nitride multiwalled nanofibers

Nitrogen molecules have been encapsulated into the central hollows of vertically aligned carbon nitride (CN) multiwalled nanofibers by dc plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition with C₂H₂, NH₃, and N₂ gases on a Ni/TiN/Si(1 0 0) substrate at 650 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra showed the existence of nitrogen molecules in CN nanofibers. Elemental mapping images with electron energy loss spectroscopy of the CN nanofiber and catalyst metal, and optical emission spectroscopy spectra of the plasma showed the distribution of nitrogen atoms and molecules in the CN nanofiber, catalyst metal, and gaseous precursor, respectively. These studies showed that atomic nitrogen diffused into the catalytic metal particle because of the concentration gradient and then saturated at the bottom of the particle. Saturated nitrogen atom participated in the formation of the CN nanofiber wall but most of nitrogen was trapped in the central hollow of the nanofiber as molecules.