A bending sensor includes a flexible substrate made of polyimide; a laser-induced graphene electrode formed into a top surface of the flexible substrate; and first and second pads formed as a laser-induced graphene into the top surface of the flexible substrate, wherein the first and second pads are in electrical contact with the laser-induced graphene electrode. A bending of the flexible substrate and the laser-induced graphene electrode changes a resistivity of the laser-induced graphene electrode, which is indicative of an amount of bending.

Provided is method of producing graphene directly from a pulp, paper, or paper product, the method comprising a procedure of subjecting the pulp, paper, or paper product (preferably containing post-consumer, reclaimed, or recycled product) to a graphitization treatment at a graphitization temperature in the range of 1,500° C. to 3,400° C. (preferably >2,500° C.) in a substantially non-oxidizing environment for a length of time sufficient for converting the product to a graphene material product. Preferably and typically, the method does not involve the use of an externally added undesirable chemical (other than those paper chemicals already present in the paper product) or catalyst. The method is environmentally benign, ecologically friendly, and highly scalable.

Provided is method of producing graphene directly from a pulp, paper, or paper product, the method comprising a procedure of subjecting the pulp, paper, or paper product (preferably containing post-consumer, reclaimed, or recycled product) to a graphitization treatment at a graphitization temperature in the range of 1,500° C. to 3,400° C. (preferably >2,500° C.) in a substantially non-oxidizing environment for a length of time sufficient for converting the product to a graphene material product. Preferably and typically, the method does not involve the use of an externally added undesirable chemical (other than those paper chemicals already present in the paper product) or catalyst. The method is environmentally benign, ecologically friendly, and highly scalable.

A precision graphene nanoribbon (GNR) bridge molecule can include: a central GNR having a precision structure selected the following structural types: armchair, zigzag, cove, chevron, and fjord; a functional anchoring group at either end of the GNR selected from the following: amine, thiol, thioether, stannane, halide, boronic acid, boronic ester, azide, and carbene; a central functional conjugation group at a precisely specified location; and edge group functionalization with solubilizing groups selected from the following: linear and branched alkyl chains, substituted aromatic rings, oligoethylene glycol, carboxylic acids, and sulfonic acids.

Provided are a carbon-silicon three-dimensional structural composite material and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method includes: dissolving graphene quantum dots in ultrapure water, dropwise adding a CuCl.sub.2 or ZnCl.sub.2 solution, and performing oscillation to generate a mixed emulsifier; mixing the mixed emulsifier with a graphite oxide aqueous solution and a cyclohexane solution containing nanosilicon spheres, and performing homogenization to form a uniform oil-in-water emulsion; adding hydrazine hydrate into the obtained emulsion for reduction, and performing a hydrothermal reaction to obtain a reduced emulsion; and freeze-drying the reduced emulsion, performing washing with a washing liquid, and performing vacuum drying to obtain a carbon-silicon three-dimensional structural composite material.

Provided are a carbon-silicon three-dimensional structural composite material and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method includes: dissolving graphene quantum dots in ultrapure water, dropwise adding a CuCl.sub.2 or ZnCl.sub.2 solution, and performing oscillation to generate a mixed emulsifier; mixing the mixed emulsifier with a graphite oxide aqueous solution and a cyclohexane solution containing nanosilicon spheres, and performing homogenization to form a uniform oil-in-water emulsion; adding hydrazine hydrate into the obtained emulsion for reduction, and performing a hydrothermal reaction to obtain a reduced emulsion; and freeze-drying the reduced emulsion, performing washing with a washing liquid, and performing vacuum drying to obtain a carbon-silicon three-dimensional structural composite material.

Inventive techniques for forming unique compositions of matter are disclosed, as well as various advantageous physical characteristics, and associated properties of the resultant materials. In particular, metal(s) (including various alloys, such as Inconel superalloys) are characterized by having carbon disposed within the metal lattice structure thereof. The carbon is primarily, or entirely, present at interstitial sites of the metal lattice, and may be present in amounts ranging from about 15 wt % to about 90 wt %. The carbon, moreover, forms non-polar covalent bonds with both metal atoms of the lattice and other carbon atoms present in the lattice. This facilitates substantially homogeneous dispersal of the carbon throughout the resultant material, conveying unique and advantageous properties such as strength-to-weight ratio, density, mechanical toughness, sheer strength, flex strength, hardness, anti-corrosiveness, electrical and/or thermal conductivity, etc. as described herein. In some approaches, the composition of matter may be powderized, or the powder may be pelletized.

A fluid system component can include a body that includes a multidimensional shape defined in orthogonal directions and layers stacked along one of the orthogonal directions, where at least one of the layers includes polymeric material and graphene nanoplatelets formed in situ from the polymeric material, and where the graphene nanoplatelets increase stiffness of the polymeric material.

A fluid system component can include a body that includes a multidimensional shape defined in orthogonal directions and layers stacked along one of the orthogonal directions, where at least one of the layers includes polymeric material and graphene nanoplatelets formed in situ from the polymeric material, and where the graphene nanoplatelets increase stiffness of the polymeric material.

Disclosed is a process for producing graphene-semiconductor nanowire hybrid material, comprising: (A) preparing a catalyst metal-coated mixture mass, which includes mixing graphene sheets with micron or sub-micron scaled semiconductor particles to form a mixture and depositing a nano-scaled catalytic metal onto surfaces of the graphene sheets and/or semiconductor particles; and (B) exposing the catalyst metal-coated mixture mass to a high temperature environment (preferably from 100° C. to 2,500° C.) for a period of time sufficient to enable a catalytic metal-catalyzed growth of multiple semiconductor nanowires using the semiconductor particles as a feed material to form the graphene-semiconductor nanowire hybrid material composition. An optional etching or separating procedure may be conducted to remove catalytic metal or graphene from the semiconductor nanowires.