A soft conductive composition can include: a crosslinked silicone composition; and single-walled or multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the silicone composition. A neural probe or other implant can include the soft conducive composition on a least a portion of the implant body. A method of making an implant can include: selecting PDMS precursors; cross-linking the PDMS precursor to obtain an elastic modulus of about 3-9 kPa or +/−1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, or 50%; selecting the carbon nanotubes; introducing the carbon nanotubes into the crosslinked PDMS to form a soft conductive composite composition; and coating the soft conductive composite composition onto at least a portion of an implant. A method of measuring properties at a neural interface can include: providing a neural probe having a soft conductive composition; implanting the neural probe having the soft conductive composition at a neural interface; and measuring a property with the neural probe.

A soft conductive composition can include: a crosslinked silicone composition; and single-walled or multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the silicone composition. A neural probe or other implant can include the soft conducive composition on a least a portion of the implant body. A method of making an implant can include: selecting PDMS precursors; cross-linking the PDMS precursor to obtain an elastic modulus of about 3-9 kPa or +/−1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, or 50%; selecting the carbon nanotubes; introducing the carbon nanotubes into the crosslinked PDMS to form a soft conductive composite composition; and coating the soft conductive composite composition onto at least a portion of an implant. A method of measuring properties at a neural interface can include: providing a neural probe having a soft conductive composition; implanting the neural probe having the soft conductive composition at a neural interface; and measuring a property with the neural probe.

A composition and method for fabricating graphitic nanocomposites in solid state matrices is presented. The process for fabricating graphitic nanocomposites in solid state matrices may include selecting one or a mixture of specific graphitic nanomaterials. The graphitic nanomaterial(s) may be functionalizing with a moiety similar to the building blocks of the solid state matrices. The functionalized graphitic nanomaterials are mixed with the building blocks of the solid state matrices. The mixture may be cured, which causes in situ formation of the sol-gel solid state matrices that entraps and/or covalently links with the graphitic nanomaterials during the network growing process. This process allows the nanomaterials to be introduced into the matrices homogeneously without forming large aggregations.

A composition and method for fabricating graphitic nanocomposites in solid state matrices is presented. The process for fabricating graphitic nanocomposites in solid state matrices may include selecting one or a mixture of specific graphitic nanomaterials. The graphitic nanomaterial(s) may be functionalizing with a moiety similar to the building blocks of the solid state matrices. The functionalized graphitic nanomaterials are mixed with the building blocks of the solid state matrices. The mixture may be cured, which causes in situ formation of the sol-gel solid state matrices that entraps and/or covalently links with the graphitic nanomaterials during the network growing process. This process allows the nanomaterials to be introduced into the matrices homogeneously without forming large aggregations.

The present disclosure relates to a corona shielding material. The teachings thereof may be embodied in a material with an adjustable resistance and/or a corona shielding system which comprises an overhang corona shielding system (OCS). In some embodiments, a corona shielding material may include: a matrix; and a filler comprising doped and undoped particles in a given size fraction. A resistance of the corona shielding material is set by a concentration of doped particles in the filler particle size fraction.

The present disclosure relates to a corona shielding material. The teachings thereof may be embodied in a material with an adjustable resistance and/or a corona shielding system which comprises an overhang corona shielding system (OCS). In some embodiments, a corona shielding material may include: a matrix; and a filler comprising doped and undoped particles in a given size fraction. A resistance of the corona shielding material is set by a concentration of doped particles in the filler particle size fraction.

A carbon nanotube dispersion liquid contains a carbon nanotube-containing composition, a dispersant with a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 400,000, a volatile salt, and an aqueous solvent. The carbon nanotube dispersion liquid can maintain a high dispersion of carbon nanotubes even with a smaller amount of dispersant than conventionally used.

In a method of manufacturing a highly stretchable three-dimensional (3D) percolated conductive nano-network structure, a 3D nano-structured porous elastomer including patterns distributed in a periodic network is formed. A surface of the 3D nano-structured porous elastomer is changed to a hydrophilic state. A polymeric material is conformally adhered on the surface of the 3D nano-structured porous elastomer. The surface of the 3D nano-structured porous elastomer is wet by infiltrating a conductive solution in which a conductive material is dispersed. A 3D percolated conductive nano-network coupled with the 3D nano-structured porous elastomer is formed by evaporating a solvent of the conductive solution and removing the polymeric material.

In a method of manufacturing a highly stretchable three-dimensional (3D) percolated conductive nano-network structure, a 3D nano-structured porous elastomer including patterns distributed in a periodic network is formed. A surface of the 3D nano-structured porous elastomer is changed to a hydrophilic state. A polymeric material is conformally adhered on the surface of the 3D nano-structured porous elastomer. The surface of the 3D nano-structured porous elastomer is wet by infiltrating a conductive solution in which a conductive material is dispersed. A 3D percolated conductive nano-network coupled with the 3D nano-structured porous elastomer is formed by evaporating a solvent of the conductive solution and removing the polymeric material.

Described herein are improved composite anodes and lithium-ion batteries made therefrom. Further described are methods of making and using the improved anodes and batteries. In general, the anodes include a porous composite having a plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites. At least one of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites is formed from a dendritic particle, which is a three-dimensional, randomly-ordered assembly of nanoparticles of an electrically conducting material and a plurality of discrete non-porous nanoparticles of a non-carbon Group 4A element or mixture thereof disposed on a surface of the dendritic particle. At least one nanocomposite of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites has at least a portion of its dendritic particle in electrical communication with at least a portion of a dendritic particle of an adjacent nanocomposite in the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites.