The greigite (Fe3S4)/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) hierarchical structural composites (F–R) with the Fe3S4 nanoparticles attached to the RGO layers were successfully prepared via a simple one-pot solvothermal method. The microwave absorption properties were evaluated by calculating the reflection loss (RL) values. The results show that the RGO content and the filler loading of composites in paraffin mixture are very critical to the microwave absorption properties because they can improve the electromagnetic parameters. Sample F–R-3 presents the best microwave absorption capacity, in which an optimum RL value of ??62.3 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB, RL value?<???10 dB) of 3.04 GHz (14.96–18 GHz) can be obtained when the matching thickness is only 1.29 mm. Meanwhile, the widest EAB reaches 4.08 GHz (13.92–18 GHz) at the matching thickness of only 1.37 mm. Impressively, when the matching thickness is in the range of 1.2–5.5 mm, all RL peaks are below ??20 dB, and the EAB can be 14.98 GHz (3.02–18 GHz), covering the whole C, X and Ku bands. The distinguished absorption property is mainly ascribed to the combined effect of strong loss ability and good impedance matching. Apparently, the F–R composite with strong absorption ability, thin thickness and wide EAB is suitable for the efficient microwave absorber.
Graphical abstractSilica aerogel composites reinforced with different aramid fibres have been synthesized and compared considering their potential use in thermal protection systems of Space devices. These composites were prepared from tetraethoxysilane and vinyltrimethoxysilane and the network was strengthened with aramid fibres. The results showed that the physical and chemical properties of the fibres were relevant, leading to composites with different properties/performance. In general, the obtained values for bulk density were low, down to 150 kg m?3. Very good thermal properties were achieved, reaching thermal conductivities bellow 30 mW m?1 K?1, and thermal stability up to 550 °C in all cases. Short length fibres produce stiffer composites with lower thermal conductivities, while among longer fibres, meta-aramid-containing fibres lead to nanocomposites with best insulation performance. Standard tests for Space materials qualification, as thermal cycling and outgassing, were conducted to assess the compliance with Space conditions, confirming the suitability of these aerogel composites for this application.
Graphical abstractAl matrix composites reinforced with core@shell structured Ti3C2Tx@Ni particles have been prepared by pressureless-sintering and hot-extrusion technology. The as-prepared 1–3 wt% Ti3C2Tx@Ni/Al composites demonstrated improved mechanical properties and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE). The Vickers hardness and tensile strength of Ti3C2Tx@Ni/Al composites increased with increasing reinforcement content. A hardness of 0.36 GPa and a tensile strength of 163 MPa were achieved in the 3 wt% Ti3C2Tx@Ni/Al composite, increased by 33% and 66%, respectively, but the ductility did not compromise too much, as compared with pure Al. The main mechanisms for the enhanced tensile strength but the maintained plasticity of the composites are the homogeneous distribution of reinforcement Ti3C2Tx@Ni particles, the efficient transfer of the applied stress from the soft Al matrix to the reinforcing particles, and the multi-absorbing energy mechanisms: delamination, buckling and kinking of Ti3C2Tx particles, crack branching and crack deflection. The 3 wt% Ti3C2Tx@Ni/Al composite also exhibited an enhanced EMI SE performance due to the synergic effect of the absorption loss of the Ti3C2Tx core and the magnetic loss of the Ni shell.
Graphical abstractShort hemp fibers, an agricultural waste, were used for producing biochar by pyrolysis at 1000 °C. The so-obtained hemp-derived carbon fibers (HFB) were used as filler for improving the properties of an epoxy resin using a simple casting and curing process. The addition of HFB in the epoxy matrix increases the storage modulus while damping factor is lowered. Also, the incorporation of HFB induces a remarkable increment of electrical conductivity reaching up to 6 mS/m with 10 wt% of loading. A similar trend is also observed during high-frequency measurements. Furthermore, for the first time wear of these composites has been studied. The use of HFB is an efficient method for reducing the wear rate resistance and the friction coefficient (COF) of the epoxy resin. Excellent results are obtained for the composite containing 2.5 wt% of HFB, for which COF and wear rate decrease by 21% and 80%, respectively, as compared with those of the unfilled epoxy resin. The overall results prove how a common waste carbon source can significantly wide epoxy resin applications by a proper modulation of its electrical and wear properties.
Graphical abstractPolyimide (PI) possesses high heat resistance and low dielectric loss, but exhibits low dielectric constant (k) and energy storage density, which constrains its further application in the field of high-temperature energy storage dielectric. The compounding of high-k filler and PI can greatly improve the dielectric constant of polymer-based dielectric composites, but it is often accompanied by the increase of dielectric loss and deterioration of breakdown strength. This issue can be effectively solved by the fabrication of dielectric filler with core–shell structure and construction of a layered structure. Therefore, in this research, a new SiC@polydopamine (PDA)@Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs)/PI flexible composite film with a sandwich structure (SSP) was prepared by a step-by-step casting method, in which the insulating layer (pristine PI) was intercalated between two polarization layers (SiC@PDA@Ag/PI composites). Pristine PI in the middle layer effectively hinders the transmission of carriers in the middle layer of the composite multilayer film. The SSP shows the highest energy storage density (1.35 J cm?3 under 273.4 kV mm?1), and the tanδ is as low as 0.0057. Additionally, SSP also shows excellent thermal stability and moisture resistance.
Graphical abstractCoordination polymers (CPs) and/or metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are new active materials for supercapacitors (SC). In this study, by solvothermal route, we conduct the melamine-assisted synthesis of bimetallic CPs (Co–Ni CPs) with controllable structures. The concentration of melamine plays an important role in the morphology of Co–Ni CPs, and the CPs can be turned from microspheres to nanorods. The Co–Ni CPs are used as electrode materials for SC. The spherical Co–Ni–CP-M exhibits the highest capacitances of 677 F g?1 and 585 F g?1 at current densities of 1 A g?1 and 10 A g?1, respectively, indicating an outstanding rate capability in a three-electrode system with 2.0 M KOH electrolyte. Furthermore, the Co–Ni–CP-M//active carbon device shows superior long-term cycling stability, i.e., approximately 92.6% of the initial capacitance can be retained after 10,000 cycles at 10 A g?1 in 2.0 M KOH electrolyte. In addition, the asymmetric SC device achieves an excellent energy density of 28.35 W h kg?1 at a power density of 700 W kg?1.
Graphical abstractMultiphase particle-reinforced strategy shows promise for efficiently improving the comprehensive properties of aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) such as thermophysical and mechanical properties. In this work, AMC reinforced with β-eucryptite (LAS), and silicon carbide (SiC) particles were successfully prepared via a powder forging process. The microstructure morphology, interface compatibility, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of these composites were evaluated. Microstructural characterization illustrated that the co-effect of SiC and LAS resulted in a discontinuous phase with a microporous and deformation-free structure. The microporous structure of these composites was conducive for inward expansion and the elimination of internal stress, effectively limiting the outward thermal expansion behavior of the Al alloys. Moreover, SiC and LAS exhibited tight interfacial bonds with the Al grains, enhancing interfacial bonding strength. These composites provided practical and robust tensile stress that limited the thermal expansion of the Al matrix under heating. A fine Al grain size (53.5 nm) and low micro-strain (0.4?×?10–4) were obtained with increasing LAS content. Consequently, the composites achieved a low CTE of 17.27?×?10–6 K?1 at 500 °C. The experimental CTE values were also compared with theoretical values calculated by a rule of mixture model to confirm that the excellent interfacial bonding between the LAS and SiC reinforcements and the Al matrix imposed an effective constraint on matrix expansion.
Graphical abstractThe electrical conductivity and piezoresistivity of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polypropylene (PP) composites obtained by extrusion are investigated, with particular attention to the possible directional effects generated during the extrusion process. This is accomplished by investigating the electrical and electromechanical responses of the nanocomposites at three MWCNT weight concentrations (3, 4 and 5 wt%) in three directions, viz. the extrusion direction, transverse to extrusion (in-plane) and through thickness. Higher electrical conductivity in the extrusion direction was more evident for the lowest MWCNT content. However, the piezoresistive sensitivity was similar in all directions. Films with 4 wt% showed the highest piezoresistive sensitivity, reaching gage factors of?~?4.5 for strains between 0 and 0.8%, and?~?10.2 for strains between 1 and 3%. After an initial drop in the electrical resistance, concomitant with stress relaxation, the changes in electrical resistance showed large reproducibility. Digital image correlation conducted during cyclic piezoresistive testing at 0.8% strain indicates small accumulation of local plasticity as the number of cycles increases, especially in zones near the electrodes. These irreversible changes in the material are expected to trigger the permanent changes in the electrical resistance measured.
Graphical abstractWe review the literature describing the use of interleaves to increase interlaminar fracture toughness in fibre-reinforced polymer composites and hence to improve damage tolerance. From an analysis of data provided in the literature from the use of microfibre and nanofibre interleaves, we show that the performance of these widely researched systems is clearly differentiated when plotted against the mean coverage of the interleaf. Using a simple analysis, we suggest that this can be attributed to the influence of their porous architectures on the infusion of resin. We show also that the superior toughening performance of microfibre interleaves is only weakly influenced by the choice of fibre. We find also that the inclusion of carbon nanotubes within interleaves to deliver multifunctional composites can be optimised by using a hybrid system with microfibres.
Graphical abstractSilver nanowires find use in a myriad of applications, including communication systems, sensors, medical devices and electrical equipment. Temperature-dependent electrical and thermal properties of chemically derived silver nanowires are rarely explored. In the present work, seed-mediated synthesis of silver nanowires has been carried out, and their electrical and thermal conductivity at 300 K is found to be 1.848?×?107 S/m and 64.8 W/mK, respectively. A screen-printable ink of silver nanowires is formulated and printed on low-cost and widely used substrates like paper and cotton fabrics. Flexible printed electrodes could be made possible with uniform printed structures obtained in cotton fabric and paper substrate. The printed pattern exhibited sheet resistance of 0.7 Ω/sq. Screen-printed silver nanowires on paper show shielding efficiency of 99.9% in X band, which promotes them as excellent candidates in fabricating lightweight electronic devices by a one-step printing process.
Graphical abstractPlanar perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have excellent photoelectric properties and show great commercialization potential. However, there are a lot of crystal defects in the perovskite films prepared by solution method, which reduces the development process of solar cells. In this work, alizarin red s (ARS) was doped into MAPbI3 films to passivate the defect. It was shown that the addition of ARS increased the quality of perovskite film and doped perovskite film exhibited improved light absorption. In addition, it was found that there was a strong interaction between ARS and perovskite, which reduced the density of defect states. The results showed that the passivated perovskite device had improved PL intensity, increased carrier lifetimes and reduced charge recombination. After passivation, the device obtained a higher open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.103 V where the control device was 1.055 V, and the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the doped device was 18.82%, which is 11.36% higher than that of the control device of 16.90%.
Graphical abstractThe effect of thermal pretreatment on the porous structure and adsorption properties of asphalt-based carbons activated with potassium hydroxide was investigated by FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, TEM, N2 and CO2 adsorption. Two series of the activated carbons were prepared by a one-stage method using KOH as the activating agent and a two-stage method including pretreatment of asphalt at 450 °C. A cross-effect of the KOH/asphalt ratio and pretreatment conditions on the characteristics of the porous structure of the activated carbons was revealed. The pretreatment of asphalt before activation is demonstrated to be a necessary stage for the effective control of the carbon porous structure by variation the KOH/asphalt ratio from 2 to 4. The porous carbon derived from petroleum asphalt exhibited the high CO2 adsorption capacity of 3.8 mmol/g at 25 °C and 1 atm and good selectivity for CO2 over N2, indicating possible applications in CO2 capture technology.
Graphical abstractCarbon nanomaterials have shown great potential as electric heating elements in electrothermal applications. However, carbon-based heating elements with high flexibility, ultrafast electrothermal response, low driving voltage, high heating temperature, and stretchability are still lacking. Here, continuous electrospun carbon nanofiber films (CNFFs) and corresponding composite films additionally containing silicone (CSCFs) as electric heating elements are proposed. CNFFs were prepared by electrospinning and subsequent heat treatment, and CSCFs were prepared by composing CNFFs with silicone via hot-pressing procedure. Both of them have shown excellent performance as electrothermal films, such as ultrafast electrothermal response, high resistance adjustability, high flexibility, high operation stability, and high infrared emissivity. In particular, a temperature as high as 200 °C can be reached within 2 s at 8 V. Suitable robustness and flexibility allow CSCFs to bear various deformations, such as bending, twisting, folding, and even stretching by a factor of 1.3, without worsening electrothermal performance. Also, excellent water resistance has been confirmed. The superior electrothermal performance is mainly attributed to the high electrical conductivity, continuous fiber structure, high specific surface area, and adjustability of nanofiber stacking density and thickness of CNFFs.
Graphical abstractThe caloric effects under combined applications of magnetic field and hydrostatic pressure to a MnCoSi meta-magnet were investigated. Under a magnetic field change of 0–5 T, the maximum magnetic entropy change was enhanced by 35.7% when a 3.2kbar hydrostatic pressure was applied, and the cooling temperature span was extended by 60 K when a hydrostatic pressure of 9.7 kbar was applied. The coupled caloric entropy change, which originates from the coupling between the magnetism and volume, was calculated and accounted for the enhanced entropy change of MnCoSi. The present work facilitates the use of MnCoSi as a solid-state refrigerant and also enriches the investigation of the multicaloric effect under multiple external fields.
Graphical abstractHere, we report a multiferroic relaxor material 0.41Bi(Ni1/2Zr1/2)O3–0.59PbTiO3, which exhibits a large piezoelectric coefficient (d33, 391 pC/N), high remnant polarization (Pr, 52.3 μC/cm2) and a high electrical freezing temperature (Tf, 498 K). The electric-field-induced transition from a cubic-like phase to a tetragonal phase was confirmed by the XRD patterns and first-cycle bipolar electrostrain loop. The magnetization and magnetic field relationship changes from nonlinear to linear when cooled from 300 to 2 K. The unusual trend in magnetic behavior could be interpreted as the transitions between the super short-range orderings. Furthermore, the maximum value of magnetization shows a 14% decrease at 300 K after electrical poling.
Graphical abstractIn this study, poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA)/low molar mass alkali lignin (aL) (1%, 5% and 10% w/w) composites were prepared primarily for a comprehensive understanding of the effect of aL on their antimicrobial properties, biocompatibility and cytotoxic behavior. The properties were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry and X-ray diffraction. The mechanical, water vapor barrier properties and photodegradability were analyzed as well. The results showed a significant inhibiting effect of aL on the crystallization behavior of PLA, increased water barrier properties (up to 73%) and photodegradability. PLA/aL composites showed a tenfold reduction in Gram-positive bacteria viability, very good cellular response and very low cytotoxicity levels, thus validating these materials as non-cytotoxic and with high potential to be used as food packaging.
Graphical abstractHighly efficient adsorbents, which can effectively remove both metal ions and dyes from wastewater with robust stability, are strongly required for the remediation of current polluted aqueous system, but still a challenge to be realized. Herein, a new adsorbent has been designed to solve this problem by anchoring diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) grafted polyethyleneimine (PEI) onto carboxylated GO (GOC-g-PD). Given the amino and carboxyl active groups from PEI and GOC/DTPA, our GOC-g-PD displays good adsorption capacity against not only inorganic metal ions (Cu2+ and Pb2+) but also organic dye (methylene blue: MB). The maximum adsorption capacity of GOC-g-PD for Cu2+, Pb2+ and MB reached 309.60 mg·g?1, 316.17 mg·g?1 and 262.10 mg·g?1, respectively. Furthermore, our GOC-g-PD also exhibits good cycling stability and chemical stability against wide pH values. These outstanding properties revealed our GOC-g-PD held great potential in purifying the sewage discharged from industries.
Graphical abstractThis study analysed the influence of the codeposition of SiC particles with different sizes: 50 nm, 500 nm and 5 μm, and the type of bath agitation (stirring or ultrasonic) on the electrocrystallisation of nickel coatings. The composites matrix microstructure was analysed by means of SEM, EBSD and XRD, to evaluate the grain size, crystal orientation, and internal stresses and was benchmarked against pure nickel samples electrodeposited in equivalent conditions. The codeposition of nano- and microsize particles with an approximate content of 0.8 and 4 vol.%, respectively, caused only a minor grain refinement and did not vary the dominant?<?100?>?crystal orientation observed in pure Ni. The internal stress was, however, increased by particles codeposition, up to 104 MPa by nanoparticles and 57 MPa by microparticles, compared to the values observed in pure nickel (41 MPa). The higher codeposition rate (11 vol.%) obtained by the addition of submicron-size particles caused a change in the grain growth from columnar to equiaxial, resulting in deposits with a fully random crystal orientation and pronounced grain refinement. The internal stress was also increased by 800% compared to pure nickel. The ultrasound (US) agitation during the deposition caused grain refinement and a selective particle inclusion prompting a decrease in the content of the particles with the larger particles. The deposits produced under US agitation showed an increase in the internal stresses, with double values compared to stirring. The increase in the deposits microhardness, from 280 HV in pure Ni to 560 HV in Ni/SiC submicron-US, was linked to the microstructural changes and particles content.
Graphical abstractOrganic/inorganic thermoelectric composites have played an important role in the development of new, green, and renewable energy sources with potential applications in efficient thermal management, flexible electronics, and bioelectronics. Electrochemical syntheses, including electropolymerization, electrochemical deposition, electrochemical doping, electrochemical post-processing, etc., require no addition of surfactants or oxidants, the products of which are easy to separate and purify, providing clean, efficient, and facile routes for the preparation of organic thermoelectric materials and their composites. In this review, the preparation, properties, and applications of organic/inorganic thermoelectric composites from electrochemical synthesis were reviewed in detail, offering a perspective on the recent advances in the field.
Graphical abstractA novel bilirubin adsorbent with high hydrophilicity was facilely synthesized via one-step hydrothermal carbonization reaction by using glucose and [3-(methacryloylamino)propyl]trimethylammonium chloride (MAPTAC) as precursors, in which sustainable carbohydrate could be converted into functionalized carbonaceous materials enriched with quaternary ammonium groups using an environmentally mild process. The properties of synthesized adsorbents were characterized by helium ion microscopy, static water contact angle measurement, FT-IR, elemental analysis and nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurement. The contact angle results indicated that these materials possessed very good hydrophilicity along with the lowest contact angle at 16.2°. Moreover, the hydrophilic adsorbent prepared by only one-step demonstrated good adsorption capacity toward bilirubin (141 mg/g) than commercialized activated carbon (70 mg/g) and low non-specific adsorption toward albumin (0.21%), which had great potential to be used in hemoperfusion. In addition, kinetic adsorption behaviors were conducted using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The regression results showed that the kinetic adsorption data were more accurately represented by pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed using two widely applied isotherm models: Langmuir and Freundlich. The results revealed that Langmuir isotherm matched the experimental results well.
Graphical Abstract