There is provided a method of making a fiber having improved resistance to microfracture formation at a fiber-matrix interface. The method includes mixing a plurality of nanostructures and one or more first polymers in a first solvent to form an inner-volume portion mixture, mixing one or more second polymers in a second solvent to form an outer-volume portion mixture, spinning the inner-volume portion mixture and the outer-volume portion mixture to form a precursor fiber, heating the precursor fiber to oxidize the precursor fiber and to change a molecular-bond structure of the precursor fiber, and obtaining a fiber. The fiber has an inner-volume portion with a first outer diameter, the nanostructures, and with the one or more first polymers, and has an outer-volume portion with a second outer diameter and the one or more second polymers, the outer-volume portion being in contact with and completely encompassing the inner-volume portion.

A method of making carbon fibers, includes converting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrene sulfonate) fibers into the carbon fibers by direct carbonization without previously oxidizing the precursor fibers.

A method of making carbon fibers, includes converting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrene sulfonate) fibers into the carbon fibers by direct carbonization without previously oxidizing the precursor fibers.

Laser fabricated graphene fiber which can be prepared from a fluorinated polyimide fiber is disclosed. The graphene fiber exhibits an ultrahigh specific surface area, facilitating excellent electrochemical properties, useful for example in tranducers, capacitors, and micro-supercapacitors.

Laser fabricated graphene fiber which can be prepared from a fluorinated polyimide fiber is disclosed. The graphene fiber exhibits an ultrahigh specific surface area, facilitating excellent electrochemical properties, useful for example in tranducers, capacitors, and micro-supercapacitors.

A cured epoxy resin material is depolymerized by using a composition including a compound represented by the chemical formula of XO.sub.mY.sub.n (wherein X is hydrogen, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, Y is halogen, m is a number satisfying 1m8 and n is a number satisfying 1n6), and a reaction solvent, wherein X is capable of being dissociated from XO.sub.mY.sub.n and Y radical is capable of being produced from XO.sub.mY.sub.n in the reaction solvent. It is possible to carry out depolymerization of a cured epoxy resin material, for example, at a temperature of 200 C., specifically 100 C. or lower, and to reduce processing cost and energy requirement. It is also possible to substitute for a reaction system using an organic solvent as main solvent, so that the contamination problems caused by the organic solvent functioning as separate contamination source may be solved and environmental contamination or pollution may be minimized.

A cured epoxy resin material is depolymerized by using a composition including a compound represented by the chemical formula of XO.sub.mY.sub.n (wherein X is hydrogen, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, Y is halogen, m is a number satisfying 1m8 and n is a number satisfying 1n6), and a reaction solvent, wherein X is capable of being dissociated from XO.sub.mY.sub.n and Y radical is capable of being produced from XO.sub.mY.sub.n in the reaction solvent. It is possible to carry out depolymerization of a cured epoxy resin material, for example, at a temperature of 200 C., specifically 100 C. or lower, and to reduce processing cost and energy requirement. It is also possible to substitute for a reaction system using an organic solvent as main solvent, so that the contamination problems caused by the organic solvent functioning as separate contamination source may be solved and environmental contamination or pollution may be minimized.

The present disclosure teaches a method of processing chitin, including providing a source of chitin; and pyrolyzing at least a portion of the source of chitin using a microwave plasma. Pyrolyzing includes producing a nanostructured carbon material including at least one of diamond, ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD), graphite, and graphene. Compositions of matter and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.

The present disclosure teaches a method of processing chitin, including providing a source of chitin; and pyrolyzing at least a portion of the source of chitin using a microwave plasma. Pyrolyzing includes producing a nanostructured carbon material including at least one of diamond, ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD), graphite, and graphene. Compositions of matter and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.

A composition for use in the formation of a lignin-based carbon fibre precursor is disclosed. The composition is a blend of a lignin and at least 10 wt % of a thermoplastic elastomer. The thermoplastic elastomer may improve the mechanical properties of the lignin-based blend to the extent that conventional carbon fibre precursor formation processes can be carried out using the blend whereas said processes would have been problematic and/or failed when using only lignin to form the carbon fibre precursors. The thermoplastic elastomer is suitably a thermoplastic polyurethane. A carbon fibre precursor produced using the composition is also disclosed, as is a carbon fibre produced from said carbon fibre precursors. Methods of forming said carbon fibre precursors and carbon fibres are also disclosed.