Application of carbon nanotube prepared from waste plastic to phase change materials: The potential for battery thermal management.

Carbon nanotube (CNT), has been demonstrated as a promising high-value product from thermal chemical conversion of waste plastics and securing new applications is an important prerequisite for large-scale production of CNT from waste-plastic recycling. In this study, CNT, produced from waste plastic through chemical vapor deposition (pCNT), was applied as a nanofiller in phase change material (PCM), affording pCNT-PCM composites. Compared with pure PCM, the addition of 5.

High-Density Lignin-Derived Carbon Nanofiber Supercapacitors with Enhanced Volumetric Energy Density.

Supercapacitors are increasingly used in short-distance electric transportation due to their long lifetime (≈15 years) and fast charging capability (>10 A g ). To improve their market penetration, while minimizing onboard weight and maximizing space-efficiency, materials costs must be reduced (<10 $ kg ) and the volumetric energy-density increased (>8 Wh L ). Carbon nanofibers display good gravimetric capacitance, yet their marketability is hindered by their low density (0.

Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging of LiNiMnCoO Primary Particles within Commercially Printed NMC811 Electrode Sheets.

Due to complex degradation mechanisms, disparities between the theoretical and practical capacities of lithium-ion battery cathode materials persist. Specifically, Ni-rich chemistries such as LiNiMnCoO (or NMC811) are one of the most promising choices for automotive applications; however, they continue to suffer severe degradation during operation that is poorly understood, thus challenging to mitigate. Here we use Bragg coherent diffraction imaging for 4D analysis of these mechanisms by inspecting the individual crystals within primary particles at various states of charge (SoC).

X-ray micro-computed tomography as a non-destructive tool for imaging the uptake of metal nanoparticles by graphene-based 3D carbon structures.

Graphene-based carbon sponges can be used in different applications in a large number of fields including microelectronics, energy harvesting and storage, antimicrobial activity and environmental remediation. The functionality and scope of their applications can be broadened considerably by the introduction of metallic nanoparticles into the carbon matrix during preparation or post-synthesis. Here, we report on the use of X-ray micro-computed tomography (CT) as a method of imaging graphene sponges after the uptake of metal (silver and iron) nanoparticles.

Identifying the Cause of Rupture of Li-Ion Batteries during Thermal Runaway.

As the energy density of lithium-ion cells and batteries increases, controlling the outcomes of thermal runaway becomes more challenging. If the high rate of gas generation during thermal runaway is not adequately vented, commercial cell designs can rupture and explode, presenting serious safety concerns. Here, ultra-high-speed synchrotron X-ray imaging is used at >20 000 frames per second to characterize the venting processes of six different 18650 cell designs undergoing thermal runaway.

Template-Free Synthesis of Highly Porous Boron Nitride: Insights into Pore Network Design and Impact on Gas Sorption.

Production of biocompatible and stable porous materials, e.g., boron nitride, exhibiting tunable and enhanced porosity is a prerequisite if they are to be employed to address challenges such as drug delivery, molecular separations, or catalysis.