In various embodiments an improved binder composition, electrolyte composition and a separator film composition using discrete carbon nanotubes. Their methods of production and utility for energy storage and collection devices, like batteries, capacitors and photovoltaics, is described. The binder, electrolyte, or separator composition can further comprise polymers. The discrete carbon nanotubes further comprise at least a portion of the tubes being open ended and/or functionalized. The utility of the binder, electrolyte or separator film composition includes improved capacity, power or durability in energy storage and collection devices. The utility of the electrolyte and or separator film compositions includes improved ion transport in energy storage and collection devices.

Fibers sized with a coating of amorphous polyetherketoneketone are useful in the preparation of reinforced polymers having improved properties, wherein the amorphous polyetherketoneketone can improve the compatibility of the fibers with the polymeric matrix.

A carbon fiber-reinforced resin composition of the present invention includes: sizing agent-coated carbon fibers in which carbon fibers are coated with a sizing agent; and a matrix resin. The sizing agent includes at least an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic epoxy compound (B1) as an aromatic compound (B). The sizing agent-coated carbon fibers have a ratio (a)/(b) of 0.50 to 0.90 where (a) is the height (cps) of a component having a binding energy (284.6 eV) attributed to CHx, CC, and CC and (b) is the height (cps) of a component having binding energy (286.1 eV) attributed to CO in a C.sub.1s core spectrum of the surface of the sizing agent measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at a photoelectron takeoff angle of 15.

A functionalized carbon fiber having covalently bound on its surface a partially cured epoxy or amine-containing sizing agent, wherein at least a portion of epoxide or amine groups in the sizing agent are available as uncrosslinked epoxide or amine groups, which corresponds to a curing degree of epoxide or amine groups of no more than about 0.6. Composites comprised of these functionalized carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix are also described. Methods for producing the functionalized carbon fibers and composites thereof are also described.

Reinforcement bars for concrete structures, comprising continuous, parallel fibers, made of basalt, carbon, glass fiber, or the like, embedded in a cured matrix, each bar being made of at least one fiber bundle comprising a number of parallel, cylindrical cross section fibers and said bars being provided with a surface shape and/or texture which contributes to good bonding with the concrete. Part of the surface of each bar being deformed prior to or during the curing by: a) strings of an elastic or inelastic, and/or b) at least one deformed section of each reinforcement bar; thereby producing a roughened surface.

Provided are carbon fiber bundles which have high knot strength even if the single fiber fineness is large, and which have excellent handling properties and processability. The carbon fiber bundles have a single fiber fineness of 0.8-2.5 dtex, knot strength of 298 N/mm.sup.2 or greater. This method of producing carbon fibers having knot strength of 298 N/mm.sup.2 or greater involves a heat treatment step for heat treating, for 50-150 minutes, specific polyacrylonitrile-based precursor fiber bundles described in the description in an oxidizing atmosphere rising in temperature in the temperature range of 220-300? C.

A method of making a solid composite containing carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix, the method comprising admixing carbon fibers with a polymer precursor resin, and curing the polymer precursor resin to form a cured polymeric matrix that contains said carbon fibers embedded therein, wherein said carbon fibers have covalently bonded on their surfaces a partially cured epoxy-containing or amine-containing sizing agent, wherein at least a portion of epoxide groups or amine groups in the sizing agent are available as uncrosslinked epoxide groups or amine groups, which corresponds to a curing degree of epoxide groups or amine groups of no more than about 0.6.

The present invention relates to a graphene conjugate fiber and a method for manufacturing same, and more particularly, to a conjugate fiber including graphene and a polymer, wherein a wrinkled structure of the graphene is maintained in a fiber state. The graphene conjugate fiber manufactured thereby has superior mechanical properties, is flexible, and has high utility by being manufactured as a fiber.

A molybdenum disulfide/graphene/carbon composite material having a hierarchical pore structure includes a composite nanofiber having a diameter of 60 to 500 nm. The composite nanofiber comprises, in mass percentage, 3% to 35% of molybdenum disulfide, 0.2% to 10% of graphene, and 60% to 95% of carbon. The composite nanofiber has a hierarchical pore structure distributed along the axial direction, and has a pore diameter continuously distributed between 0.1 nm and 5 ?m and an average pore diameter between 1.5 nm and 25 nm. On the basis of the pore volume, in the hierarchical pore structure, a micropore structure accounts for 25% to 60%, and a mesoporous structure accounts for 40% to 75%. The microporous structure is distributed on the surface of the nanofiber and the pore wall of the mesoporous structure.

A method of making a carbon fiber having on its surface a partially cured sizing agent, the method comprising covalently binding on the surface of said carbon fiber a sizing agent comprised of an epoxy resin, and partially curing said sizing agent by contact thereof with a curing agent such that at least a portion of epoxide groups remain uncrosslinked on said surface, which corresponds to a curing degree of epoxide groups of no more than about 0.6, and further comprising reacting at least a portion of said epoxide groups with a bifunctional molecule that contains first and second reactive groups, the first reactive group being reactive with and forming a covalent bond with the epoxy group, and the second reactive group being unsaturated and accessible for reaction with a carbon-carbon double bond of an unsaturated resin via a vinyl addition reaction.