A method of the modification of the silicon surface that is used as an anode active material in lithium ion batteries, with all of the monomers and derivatives thereof (acrylate group, methacrylate group, styrene, vinyl acetate, acrylic acid and salts thereof) that contain an acrylic or methacrylic group.

Silica particles bonded to polymer chains consisting of at least one polymer comprising at least one fluorinated styrene repeating unit comprising at least one proton-conducting group, optionally in the form of a salt, the bonding between the particles and each of the chains being carried out by an organic spacer group.

Silica particles bonded to polymer chains consisting of at least one polymer comprising at least one fluorinated styrene repeating unit comprising at least one proton-conducting group, optionally in the form of a salt, the bonding between the particles and each of the chains being carried out by an organic spacer group.

Methods for synthesizing a polymer functionalized nanoparticle are provided. The method can include attaching a polymeric chain to a nanoparticle, wherein the polymeric chain comprises a plurality monomers, wherein the plurality of monomers comprise alkyl (meth)acrylate monomers. Polymer functionalized nanoparticles are also provided that comprise a nanoparticle defining a surface, and a polymeric chain covalently bonded to the surface of the nanoparticle, wherein the polymeric chain comprises a poly alkyl (meth)acrylate. Nanocomposites are also provided that include a plurality of these polymer functionalized nanoparticles dispersed within a polymeric matrix (e.g., a polyolefin matrix).

Methods for synthesizing a polymer functionalized nanoparticle are provided. The method can include attaching a polymeric chain to a nanoparticle, wherein the polymeric chain comprises a plurality monomers, wherein the plurality of monomers comprise alkyl (meth)acrylate monomers. Polymer functionalized nanoparticles are also provided that comprise a nanoparticle defining a surface, and a polymeric chain covalently bonded to the surface of the nanoparticle, wherein the polymeric chain comprises a poly alkyl (meth)acrylate. Nanocomposites are also provided that include a plurality of these polymer functionalized nanoparticles dispersed within a polymeric matrix (e.g., a polyolefin matrix).

Methods for synthesizing a polymer functionalized nanoparticle are provided. The method can include attaching a polymeric chain to a nanoparticle, wherein the polymeric chain comprises a plurality monomers, wherein the plurality of monomers comprise alkyl (meth)acrylate monomers. Polymer functionalized nanoparticles are also provided that comprise a nanoparticle defining a surface, and a polymeric chain covalently bonded to the surface of the nanoparticle, wherein the polymeric chain comprises a poly alkyl (meth)acrylate. Nanocomposites are also provided that include a plurality of these polymer functionalized nanoparticles dispersed within a polymeric matrix (e.g., a polyolefin matrix).

A thermoplastic polymeric nanocomposite particle made by a method comprising: forming a polymer by polymerizing a reactive mixture comprising at least one of a monomer, an oligomer, or combinations thereof; said monomer and oligomer having two reactive functionalities, said polymerizing occurring in a medium also containing dispersed nanofiller particles possessing a length that is less than 0.5 microns in at least one principal axis direction, wherein said nanofiller particles comprise at least one of dispersed fine particulate material, fibrous material, discoidal material, or combinations of such materials, whereby said nanofiller particles become incorporated into the polymer.

A nonlimiting example method of forming highly spherical carbon nanomaterial-graft-polyolefin (CNM-g-polyolefin) particles may comprising: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) a CNM-g-polyolefin comprising a polyolefin grafted to a carbon nanomaterial, (b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the polyolefin of the CNM-g-polyolefin, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not grafted to a CNM, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the polyolefin of the CNM-g-polyolefin and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the CNM-g-polyolefin in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form the CNM-g-polyolefin particles; and separating the CNM-g-polyolefin particles from the carrier fluid.

A nonlimiting example method of forming highly spherical carbon nanomaterial-graft-polyolefin (CNM-g-polyolefin) particles may comprising: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) a CNM-g-polyolefin comprising a polyolefin grafted to a carbon nanomaterial, (b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the polyolefin of the CNM-g-polyolefin, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not grafted to a CNM, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the polyolefin of the CNM-g-polyolefin and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the CNM-g-polyolefin in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form the CNM-g-polyolefin particles; and separating the CNM-g-polyolefin particles from the carrier fluid.

Nanostructures and associated compositions, systems, and methods are provided. In some embodiments, a nanostructure may comprise polymers, intermolecular bonding groups, and a particle. The polymers may be associated with the particle and the intermolecular bonding groups may be associated with at least some of the polymers. In some embodiments, at least some of the intermolecular bonding groups may have a different chemical composition and/or chemical property than the polymers. In some embodiments, nanostructures may reversibly associate with each other via the intermolecular bonding groups to form a material. In some such cases, the intermolecular bonding groups on different nanostructures may reversibly associate with each other. In some embodiments, the nanostructures may be designed, such that the energy required to disassociate at least a portion of the nanostructures in the material is greater than the energy required to dissociate a single association between intermolecular bonding groups.