Disclosed are a member for a gas sensor, a gas sensor using the member, and a method of fabricating the same. Specifically, disclosed are a member for a gas sensor using a metal oxide nanofiber material in which nanocatalysts have been uniformly bound and functionalized using chitosans with which nanoparticle catalysts have been combined, a gas sensor using the member, and a method of fabricating the same.

Disclosed are a member for a gas sensor, a gas sensor using the member, and a method of fabricating the same. Specifically, disclosed are a member for a gas sensor using a metal oxide nanofiber material in which nanocatalysts have been uniformly bound and functionalized using chitosans with which nanoparticle catalysts have been combined, a gas sensor using the member, and a method of fabricating the same.

Provided herein are nanofibers and processes of preparing carbonaceous nanofibers. In some embodiments, the nanofibers are high quality, high performance nanofibers, highly coherent nanofibers, highly continuous nanofibers, or the like. In some embodiments, the nanofibers have increased coherence, increased length, few voids and/or defects, and/or other advantageous characteristics. In some instances, the nanofibers are produced by electrospinning a fluid stock having a high loading of nanofiber precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock comprises well mixed and/or uniformly distributed precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock is converted into a nanofiber comprising few voids, few defects, long or tunable length, and the like.

Provided herein are nanofibers and processes of preparing carbonaceous nanofibers. In some embodiments, the nanofibers are high quality, high performance nanofibers, highly coherent nanofibers, highly continuous nanofibers, or the like. In some embodiments, the nanofibers have increased coherence, increased length, few voids and/or defects, and/or other advantageous characteristics. In some instances, the nanofibers are produced by electrospinning a fluid stock having a high loading of nanofiber precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock comprises well mixed and/or uniformly distributed precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock is converted into a nanofiber comprising few voids, few defects, long or tunable length, and the like.

Refractory transition metal-carbide (RTM-C) fibers were synthesized via the Forcespinning™ method. This method allows for simple and rapid synthesis of these RTM-C fibers with the ability to make grams of fibers quickly.

A polymetalloxane is described having a constituent unit represented by the following general formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, M a, b and m are as defined.

Disclosed are porous multi-metal oxide nanotubes and a production method therefor. In one aspect, methods for producing porous multi-metal oxide nanotubes are provided comprising: (a) preparing an admixture comprising metal-acetylacetonate precursors, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and a solvent component; and (b) producing a nanocomposite from the admixture, wherein metals of the metal-acetylacetonate precursors comprise a non-radioactive alkali metal stable isotope and a non-radioactive alkaline earth metal stable isotope. As such, porous multi-metal oxide nanotubes having a single-phase multivalence may be obtained in high yield without using harmful chemical substances. In addition, the polymer electrolyte membrane including the porous multi-metal oxide nanotubes may have maintained and improved mechanical strength, and thus may have maintained durability even during cell operation and may also have improved proton conductivity even at low humidity. The fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane may have improved performance.

Disclosed are porous multi-metal oxide nanotubes and a production method therefor. In one aspect, methods for producing porous multi-metal oxide nanotubes are provided comprising: (a) preparing an admixture comprising metal-acetylacetonate precursors, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and a solvent component; and (b) producing a nanocomposite from the admixture, wherein metals of the metal-acetylacetonate precursors comprise a non-radioactive alkali metal stable isotope and a non-radioactive alkaline earth metal stable isotope. As such, porous multi-metal oxide nanotubes having a single-phase multivalence may be obtained in high yield without using harmful chemical substances. In addition, the polymer electrolyte membrane including the porous multi-metal oxide nanotubes may have maintained and improved mechanical strength, and thus may have maintained durability even during cell operation and may also have improved proton conductivity even at low humidity. The fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane may have improved performance.

The present application discloses and claims a method to make a flexible ceramic fibers (Flexiramics™) and polymer composites. The resulting composite has an improved mechanical strength (tensile) when compared with the Flexiramics™ respective the nanofibers alone. Additionally a composite has better properties than the polymer alone such as lower fire retardancy, higher thermal conductivity and lower thermal expansion. Several different polymers can be used, both thermosets and thermoplastics. Flexiramics™ has unique physical characteristic and the composite materials can be used for numerous industrial and laboratory applications.

The present application discloses and claims a method to make a flexible ceramic fibers (Flexiramics™) and polymer composites. The resulting composite has an improved mechanical strength (tensile) when compared with the Flexiramics™ respective the nanofibers alone. Additionally a composite has better properties than the polymer alone such as lower fire retardancy, higher thermal conductivity and lower thermal expansion. Several different polymers can be used, both thermosets and thermoplastics. Flexiramics™ has unique physical characteristic and the composite materials can be used for numerous industrial and laboratory applications.