PtPd NPs-functionalized metal-organic framework-derived α-FeO porous spindles for efficient low-temperature detection of triethylamine.

In recent years, metal-organic framework (MOF) derivatives have gradually become ideal materials for gas sensors due to their controllable composition, diverse structures and open metal sites. In this research, a simplified hydrothermal method was applied to successfully prepare MOF-derived α-FeO spindles, and an reduction method was then utilized to deposit Pt, Pd and PtPd bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) on the α-FeO spindles. The effects of noble metals Pt, Pd and PtPd on the gas-sensing properties of FeO were systematically examined.

ZrB-Based "Brick-and-Mortar" Composites Achieving the Synergy of Superior Damage Tolerance and Ablation Resistance.

The intrinsic brittleness and poor damage tolerance of ultrahigh-temperature ceramics are the key obstacles to their engineering applications as nonablative thermal protection materials. Biomimetic layered or "brick-and-mortar" hybrid composites composed of alternative strong/weak interfaces exhibit excellent strength and high toughness; however, the commonly used interfacial materials are weak and have poor thermal stability and ablation resistance, which strictly limit their use in high-temperature and oxidative environments. In this work, ZrB-based "brick-and-mortar" hybrid ceramics were constructed with a hierarchical biomimetic design to improve the fracture resistance and damage tolerance.

Constructing hydrothermal carbonization coatings on carbon fibers with controllable thickness for achieving tunable sorption of dyes and oils via a simple heat-treated route.

Tremendous efforts have been dedicated to developing sorbents for water remediation due to their high efficiency and non-secondary pollution. However, the majority of sorbents still face the challenges of complex processing, low mechanical strength and volume absorption. Hence, the functional hydrothermal carbonization coatings (HTCCs) were prepared on carbon fibers in carbon fiber braid via a facile hydrothermal carbonization process of widely sourced carbohydrate to obtain a robust sorbent, which possessed the controllable microstructure and composition for various requirements of water remediation.

Enhanced mechanical, thermal, and electric properties of graphene aerogels via supercritical ethanol drying and high-temperature thermal reduction.

Graphene aerogels with high surface areas, ultra-low densities and thermal conductivities have been prepared to exploit their wide applications from pollution adsorption to energy storage, supercapacitor, and thermal insulation. However, the low mechanical properties, poor thermal stability and electric conductivity restrict these aerogels' applications. In this paper, we prepared mechanically strong graphene aerogels with large BET surface areas, low thermal conductivities, high thermal stability and electric conductivities via hydrothermal reduction and supercritical ethanol drying.

In Situ Growth of Core-Sheath Heterostructural SiC Nanowire Arrays on Carbon Fibers and Enhanced Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Performance.

Large-scale core-sheath heterostructural SiC nanowires were facilely grown on the surface of carbon fibers using a one-step chemical vapor infiltration process. The as-synthesized SiC nanowires consist of single crystalline SiC cores with a diameter of ∼30 nm and polycrystalline SiC sheaths with an average thickness of ∼60 nm. The formation mechanisms of core-sheath heterostructural SiC nanowires (SiC) were discussed in detail.

Ordered Silica Nanoparticles Grown on a Three-Dimensional Carbon Fiber Architecture Substrate with Siliconborocarbonitride Ceramic as a Thermal Barrier Coating.

Hierarchical structure consisting of ordered silica nanoparticles grown onto carbon fiber (CF) has been fabricated to improve the interfacial properties between the CFs and polymer matrix. To improve the reactivity of CFs, their surface was modified using poly(1,4-phenylene diisocyanate) (PPDI) via in situ polymerization, which also resulted in the distribution of numerous isocyanate groups on the surface of CFs. Silica nanoparticles were modified on the interface of CF-PPDI by chemical grafting method.