A structured multi-phase composite which include a metal phase, and a low stiffness, high thermal conductivity phase or encapsulated phase change material, that are arranged to create a composite having high thermal conductivity, having reduced/controlled stiffness, and a low CTE to reduce thermal stresses in the composite when exposed to cyclic thermal loads. The structured multi-phase composite is useful for use in structures such as, but not limited to, high speed engine ducts, exhaust-impinged structures, heat exchangers, electrical boxes, heat sinks, and heat spreaders.

A low carbon footprint material is used to decrease the carbon dioxide emission for production of a high carbon footprint substance. A method of forming composite materials comprises providing a first high carbon footprint substance; providing a carbon nanomaterial produced with a carbon-footprint of less than 10 unit weight of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) emission during production of 1 unit weight of the carbon nanomaterial; and forming a composite comprising the high carbon footprint substance and from 0.001 wt % to 25 wt % of the carbon nanomaterial, wherein the carbon nanomaterial is homogeneously dispersed in the composite to reduce the carbon dioxide emission for producing the composite material relative to the high carbon footprint substance.

A low carbon footprint material is used to decrease the carbon dioxide emission for production of a high carbon footprint substance. A method of forming composite materials comprises providing a first high carbon footprint substance; providing a carbon nanomaterial produced with a carbon-footprint of less than 10 unit weight of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) emission during production of 1 unit weight of the carbon nanomaterial; and forming a composite comprising the high carbon footprint substance and from 0.001 wt % to 25 wt % of the carbon nanomaterial, wherein the carbon nanomaterial is homogeneously dispersed in the composite to reduce the carbon dioxide emission for producing the composite material relative to the high carbon footprint substance.

Carbon nanoparticle-porous skeleton composite material, its composite with lithium metal, and their preparation methods and use A carbon nanoparticle-porous skeleton composite material, its composite with lithium metal, and their preparation methods and use. In the carbon nanoparticle-porous skeleton composite material, the porous skeleton is a carbon-based porous microsphere material with a diameter of 1 to 100 μm or a porous metal material having internal pores with a micrometer-scale pore size distribution, and the carbon nanoparticles are distributed in pores and on the surface of the carbon-based porous microsphere material or the porous metal material. The carbon nanoparticle-porous skeleton composite material is mixed with a molten lithium metal to form a lithium-carbon nanoparticle-porous skeleton composite material. The carbon nanoparticles present in the material can better conduct lithium ions during the battery cycle, thereby inhibiting the formation of lithium dendrites, and improving the safety and cycle stability of the battery.

The present invention relates to a composite material based on aluminium or copper and tin oxide-functionalized carbon nanotubes, to the method for producing same and to a cable comprising said composite material as the electrically conductive element.

A low carbon footprint material is used to decrease the carbon dioxide emission for production of a high carbon footprint substance. A method of forming composite materials comprises providing a first high carbon footprint substance; providing a carbon nanomaterial produced with a carbon-footprint of less than 10 unit weight of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) emission during production of 1 unit weight of the carbon nanomaterial; and forming a composite comprising the high carbon footprint substance and from 0.001 wt % to 25 wt % of the carbon nanomaterial, wherein the carbon nanomaterial is homogeneously dispersed in the composite to reduce the carbon dioxide emission for producing the composite material relative to the high carbon footprint substance.

Disclosed herein are methods of producing metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes. The methods include forming a reaction mixture by combining a first solution with a second solution, wherein the first solution comprises polymer-coated metal nanoparticles comprising metallic nanoparticles coated with a polymer, and wherein the second solution comprises carbon nanotubes. The methods also include heating the reaction mixture to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the polymer for a time sufficient to cause the polymer-coated metal nanoparticles to bind to the carbon nanotubes forming the metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes.

Disclosed herein are methods of producing metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes. The methods include forming a reaction mixture by combining a first solution with a second solution, wherein the first solution comprises polymer-coated metal nanoparticles comprising metallic nanoparticles coated with a polymer, and wherein the second solution comprises carbon nanotubes. The methods also include heating the reaction mixture to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the polymer for a time sufficient to cause the polymer-coated metal nanoparticles to bind to the carbon nanotubes forming the metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes.

An electrically conductive, flexible, strain resilient product is produced by mixing metal coated carbon nanotube networks with a liquid polymeric resin to produce a liquid mixture, and the mixture is cured to produce the product. The networks may include welded junctions between nanotubes formed by depositing and melting metal nanoparticles on the nanotubes to form the metal coating. After the mixing step the liquid mixture may be deposited on a flexible substrate in the form of an electrical circuit. The mixing step may further include mixing the composite with a volatile solvent to produce a selected viscosity. Then, a three-dimensional printer may be used to print the product, such as an electrical circuit, on a substrate. The product is cured in an atmosphere that absorbs the solvent. The conductivity of the mixture may be adjusted by adjusting the weight percentage of the metal coated carbon nanotube networks from 50% to 90%, but a preferred range is between 75% and 85%.

A transmission line cable with conductors includes a metal-matrix composite (MMC) conductor of carbon nanotubes (CNT) dispersed in aluminum (Al) metal matrix. The concentration of CNT is uniform throughout an entirety of the MMC conductor.