This disclosure provides a nano-graphitic sponge (NGS) and methods for preparing the nano-graphitic sponge. The disclosed nano-graphitic sponge possesses many excellent properties, including large surface areas and pore volumes, low-mass densities, good electrical conductivities and mechanical properties. These excellent properties make the nano-graphitic sponge an ideal material for many applications, such as electrodes for batteries and supercapacitors, fuel cells and solar cells, catalysts and catalyst supports, and sensors.

A substrate for use in an electronic skin is disclosed herein. The substrate comprises a base polymer layer, a first intermediate polymer layer is attached to the base polymer layer by a first adhesive layer, and the first intermediate polymer layer comprises a first intermediate polymer in which electron-rich groups are linked directly to one another or by an optionally substituted C.sub.1-4 alkanediyl groups. A first conductive layer is attached to the first intermediate polymer layer by a second adhesive layer or by multiple second adhesive layers between which a second intermediate polymer layer or a second conductive layer is disposed. Nanowires are present on the first conductive layer.

A curing agent composition contains at least one multifunctional aromatic amine that forms a crystalline solid at 25° C., and at least one halo-substituted diethyltoluenediamine, in an amount effective to inhibit crystallization of the at least one multifunctional aromatic amine. A curable resin composition contains at least one epoxy compound having at least two epoxide groups per molecule of the epoxy compound and the curing agent composition. Methods for inhibiting phase separation of a curing agent composition or curable resin composition that contains at least one multifunctional aromatic amine that forms a crystalline solid at 25° C. include a step of adding to the respective composition at least one halo-substituted diethyltoluenediamine in an amount effective to inhibit crystallization of the at least one multifunctional aromatic amine. The compositions and methods are useful in making fiber reinforced resin matrix composite articles.

This disclosure describes a polymer composition that includes a polymer, crystalline cellulose, and functionalized carbon nanotubes, and systems and method of formation thereof. The polymer composition includes functionalized carbon nanotubes, crystalline cellulose, and one or more polymers.

Provided are sensors comprising one or both of MXene-coated fibers and MXene-coated yarns. The MXene-coated yarns can be utilized for various types of smart textile applications where conductivity is required. These include but are not limited to sensors (e.g. pressure, strain, moisture, and temperature), supercapacitors, triboelectric generators, antennas, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding textiles.

A method of forming a composite material includes disposing dried plant material, nanoparticles, and a supercritical fluid in a vessel. A cellular structure of the dried plant material expands when disposed in the supercritical fluid and the nanoparticles migrate into and are embedded within the expanded cellular structure of the disposed dried plant material. The disposed dried plant fibers with embedded nanoparticles are removed from the vessel and mixed with a polymer to form a polymer-nanoparticle mixture. A chemical additive can be added to the supercritical fluid and the chemical additive can remove at least one of hemicellulose, lignin and pectins from the dried plant material.

A method for forming a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite by distributing carbon fibers or nanotubes into a molten polymer phase comprising one or more molten polymers; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase breaks the carbon fibers successively with each event, producing reactive edges on the broken carbon fibers that react with and cross-link the one or more polymers. The composite shows improvements in mechanical properties, such as stiffness, strength and impact energy absorption.

Provided are a composite material that adequately obtains the effect of carbon nanotubes, a prepreg in which the composite material is used, a carbon-fiber-reinforced molded article having greater resistance to the progression of the interlayer peeling crack, and a method for manufacturing the composite material. A composite material includes a carbon fiber bundle in which a plurality of continuous carbon fibers are arranged, carbon nanotubes adhering to respective surfaces of the carbon fibers, and a plurality of fixing resin parts partly fixing the carbon nanotubes on the surfaces of the carbon fibers, where the fixing resin parts cover 7% or more and 30% or less of the surfaces of the carbon fibers to which the carbon nanotubes adhere.

A composite film having a high dielectric permittivity engineered particles dispersed in a high breakdown strength polymer material to achieve high energy density.

A method of producing a resin modifier, the method comprising a process of polymerizing an ethylene unsaturated monomer in the presence of a cellulose nanofiber, the cellulose nanofiber being reacted with an amine or a quaternary ammonium salt compound.