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Functional Nanocomposites with Controlled Surface and Mechanical Properties

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2024) | Viewed by 3072

Special Issue Editors

School of Materials Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
Interests: 2D materials; electronic and optoelectronic devices; nanocomposites; polymer composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Institute of Flexible Electronics Technology of THU, Jiaxing 314000, China
Interests: advanced carbon materials; flexible electronics; thermal conductivity composite materials; sensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Functional nanocomposites have unique functional properties with hosts of applications. As a unique mixture, functional nanocomposites may be composed of zero-dimensional, one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional or mixed-dimensional structures. This leads to the complexity of the interface structure of functional nanocomposites. The surface interface is an extremely important microstructure of functional nanocomposites and is a key factor in determining the properties of composites and focusing on them as a research field. The comprehensive mechanical properties of functional nanocomposites are very sensitive to the state and properties of the interface layer and interface defects, and they largely depend on the state and properties of the interface layer. At the same time, the toughness, heat resistance, compression and other properties of functional nanocomposites and the realization of their special functions are related to the surface and interface properties. Therefore, the control of the surface interface is a prerequisite for regulating the mechanical properties of composite materials, and it is also the key to the realization of functions of composites. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to present the latest outlook of the surface and interface structure and mechanical properties control technology of functional nanocomposites. It provides a great opportunity for researchers around the world to disseminate different aspects of their work and report results related to this topic.

The fields of study can include but are not limited to: 

  • hydrogel;
  • aerogel;
  • fiber composites;
  • rubbers;
  • two-dimensional composite materials;
  • bionic composites.

Dr. Fulai Zhao
Dr. Fei Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanomaterials
  • composite materials
  • functional materials
  • surface interface structures
  • mechanical properties

Published Papers (3 papers)

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15 pages, 12574 KiB  
Article
Electrochemical and Mechanical Properties of Hexagonal Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes Formed by Sonoelectrochemical Anodization
by Katarzyna Arkusz, Aleksandra Jędrzejewska, Piotr Siwak and Mieczysław Jurczyk
Materials 2024, 17(9), 2138; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17092138 - 2 May 2024
Viewed by 417
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the fabrication and characterization of hexagonal titanium dioxide nanotubes (hTNTs) compared to compact TiO2 layers, focusing on their structural, electrochemical, corrosion, and mechanical properties. The fabrication process involved the sonoelectrochemical anodization of titanium foil in various electrolytes [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the fabrication and characterization of hexagonal titanium dioxide nanotubes (hTNTs) compared to compact TiO2 layers, focusing on their structural, electrochemical, corrosion, and mechanical properties. The fabrication process involved the sonoelectrochemical anodization of titanium foil in various electrolytes to obtain titanium oxide layers with different morphologies. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of well-ordered hexagonal TNTs with diagonals in the range of 30–95 nm and heights in the range of 3500–4000 nm (35,000–40,000 Å). The electrochemical measurements performed in 3.5% NaCl and Ringer’s solution confirmed a more positive open-circuit potential, a lower impedance, a higher electrical conductivity, and a higher corrosion rate of hTNTs compared to the compact TiO2. The data revealed a major drop in the impedance modulus of hTNTs, with a diagonal of 46 ± 8 nm by 97% in 3.5% NaCl and 96% in Ringer’s solution compared to the compact TiO2. Nanoindentation tests revealed that the mechanical properties of the hTNTs were influenced by their diagonal size, with decreasing hardness and Young’s modulus observed with an increasing diagonal size of the hTNTs, accompanied by increased plastic deformation. Overall, these findings suggest that hTNTs exhibit promising structural and electrochemical properties, making them potential candidates for various applications, including biosensor platforms. Full article
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20 pages, 4368 KiB  
Article
Three-Dimensional Pore Structure Characterization of Bituminous Coal and Its Relationship with Adsorption Capacity
by Bingyi Jia, Shugang Li, Kui Dong, Haifei Lin, Bin Cheng and Kai Wang
Materials 2023, 16(16), 5564; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16165564 - 10 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 718
Abstract
Bituminous coal reservoirs exhibit pronounced heterogeneity, which significantly impedes the production capacity of coalbed methane. Therefore, obtaining a thorough comprehension of the pore characteristics of bituminous coal reservoirs is essential for understanding the dynamic interaction between gas and coal, as well as ensuring [...] Read more.
Bituminous coal reservoirs exhibit pronounced heterogeneity, which significantly impedes the production capacity of coalbed methane. Therefore, obtaining a thorough comprehension of the pore characteristics of bituminous coal reservoirs is essential for understanding the dynamic interaction between gas and coal, as well as ensuring the safety and efficiency of coal mine production. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the pore structure and surface roughness of six bituminous coal samples (1.19% < Ro,max < 2.55%) using various atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. Firstly, we compared the microscopic morphology obtained through low-pressure nitrogen gas adsorption (LP-N2-GA) and AFM. It was observed that LP-N2-GA provides a comprehensive depiction of various pore structures, whereas AFM only allows the observation of V-shaped and wedge-shaped pores. Subsequently, the pore structure analysis of the coal samples was performed using Threshold and Chen’s algorithms at ×200 and ×4000 magnifications. Our findings indicate that Chen’s algorithm enables the observation of a greater number of pores compared to the Threshold algorithm. Moreover, the porosity obtained through the 3D algorithm is more accurate and closely aligns with the results from LP-N2-GA analysis. Regarding the effect of magnification, it was found that ×4000 magnification yielded a higher number of pores compared to ×200 magnification. The roughness values (Rq and Ra) obtained at ×200 magnification were 5–14 times greater than those at ×4000 magnification. Interestingly, despite the differences in magnification, the difference in porosity between ×200 and ×4000 was not significant. Furthermore, when comparing the results with the HP-CH4-GA experiment, it was observed that an increase in Ra and Rq values positively influenced gas adsorption, while an increase in Rsk and Rku values had an unfavorable effect on gas adsorption. This suggests that surface roughness plays a crucial role in gas adsorption behavior. Overall, the findings highlight the significant influence of different methods on the evaluation of pore structure. The 3D algorithm and ×4000 magnification provide a more accurate description of the pore structure. Additionally, the variation in 3D surface roughness was found to be related to coal rank and had a notable effect on gas adsorption. Full article
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10 pages, 2727 KiB  
Article
Comparative Studies of c- and m-Plane AlN Seeds Grown by Physical Vapor Transport
by Xiaogang Yao, Zhen Kong, Shengfu Liu, Yong Wang, Yongliang Shao, Yongzhong Wu and Xiaopeng Hao
Materials 2022, 15(24), 8791; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248791 - 9 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1120
Abstract
The ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor AlN has attracted a great deal of attention owing to its wide application potential in the field of electronics and optoelectronic devices. In this report, based on the mechanism of the physical vapor transport (PVT) growth of AlN crystal, [...] Read more.
The ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor AlN has attracted a great deal of attention owing to its wide application potential in the field of electronics and optoelectronic devices. In this report, based on the mechanism of the physical vapor transport (PVT) growth of AlN crystal, the c- and m-plane AlN seed crystals were prepared simultaneously through special temperature field design. It is proved that AlN crystals with different orientations can be obtained at the same temperature field. The structure parameter of AlN crystal was obtained through the characteristic evaluations. In detail, XPS was used to analyze the chemical states and bonding states of the surface of seed crystals. The content of oxygen varied along with distinct orientations. Raman spectrum documented a small level of compressive stress on these crystal seeds. Tested results confirmed that the prepared AlN crystal seeds had high quality. Full article
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