In some examples, a method includes forming a material layer on a substrate, partially polymerizing a component of the material layer, to form fluid-filled droplets within a partially polymerized matrix, deforming the material layer to form anisotropic fluid-filled droplets, and further polymerizing the partially polymerized matrix to form an anisotropic voided polymer, including anisotropic voids in a polymer matrix. The anisotropic voids may include anisotropic nanovoids. Example methods may further include depositing electrodes on the anisotropic voided polymer so that at least a portion of the anisotropic voided polymer is located between the electrodes. Examples may include forming electroactive elements including an anisotropic nanovoided polymer, and devices (such as sensors and/or actuators) including electroactive elements.

In some examples, a device includes a multilayer structure, a first electrode, and a second electrode, where the multilayer structure is located at least in part between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the multilayer structure includes a nanovoided polymer layer, and a solid layer. The solid layer may include a non-nanovoided layer. The nanovoided polymer layer may be an electroactive layer. The device may further include a control circuit configured to apply an electrical potential between the first electrode and the second electrode, which may induce a mechanical deformation of the multilayer.

A composite proton conductive membrane, comprising an inorganic filler having covalently bonded acidic functional groups and a high surface area of at least 150 m.sup.2/g; and a water insoluble ionically conductive polymer. This membrane provides advantages over traditional polymeric proton conductive membranes for redox flow battery, fuel cell, and electrolysis applications include: 1) enhanced proton conductivity/permeance due to the formation of additional nanochannels for proton conducting; 2) improved proton/electrolyte selectivity for redox flow battery application; 3) reduced membrane swelling and gas or electrolyte crossover; 4) improved chemical stability; 5) increased cell operation time with stable performance, and 6) reduced membrane cost.

A method produces porous materials by expansion of polymer gels. The porous materials can be a micro- or nano-porous polymer materials.

A polymer composition can be used for selective absorbing sintering, SAS, or selective inhibition sintering, SIS. The polymer has open mesopores and the cumulative pore volume distribution of the mesopores, measured to DIN 66134, is at least 0.01 cm.sup.3/g.

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a nano- and/or microscale cellulose-based foam. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing a suspension (1) comprising nano- and/or microscale cellulose in an aqueous medium, (ii) simultaneously cooling and agitating the suspension (1) in a mechanical step (2a; 2b) to obtain an at least partially frozen suspension. (iii) freezing the at least partially frozen suspension (5) to obtain a substantially frozen suspension, (iv) treating the suspension under solvent-exchange (7; 8) and (v) removing the solvent (10; 13) to obtain a substantially dry foam (40A) comprising nano- and/or microscale cellulose.

Methods for manufacturing, re-activating and using compositions including fibrillated parenchymal cellulose and activator are provided. The activator has a low molecular weight and is used to facilitate reactivation.

An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The nanovoided polymer element may be located at least in part between the first electrode and the second electrode. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids. In some examples, anisotropic voids may be elongated along one or more directions. In some examples, the anisotropic voids are configured so that a polymer wall thickness between neighboring voids is generally uniform. Example devices may include a spatially addressable electroactive device, such as an actuator or a sensor, and/or may include an optical element. A nanovoided polymer layer may include one or more polymer components, such as an electroactive polymer.

A method of forming a nanovoided composite polymer includes forming a resin-containing layer over a substrate, the resin-containing layer including a polymer-forming phase and a sacrificial phase, curing the polymer-forming phase to form a polymer matrix containing the sacrificial phase, and removing the sacrificial phase selectively with respect to the polymer matrix to form a nanovoided composite polymer including the polymer matrix and nanovoids dispersed throughout the polymer matrix. The nanovoids may be randomly or regularly dispersed throughout the matrix. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.

Thermally treated aerogel compositions that include polyamic amides in an amount less than the aerogel compositions that include polyamic amides prior to thermal treatment, and articles of manufacture that include or are manufactured from the aerogel compositions are described.