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Nanomaterials
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Hybrid Nanocomposites for Sustainable Development: Synthesis, Properties and Applications
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Hybrid Nanocomposites for Sustainable Development: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Nanoscience and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2021) | Viewed by 15214

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Maria Grazia Musolino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Energy, Environmental and Materials Engineering, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy
Interests: nanocomposites; nanoparticles; graphene oxide; graphene-based materials; synthesis; structural characterization; green chemistry; heterogeneous catalysis; selective hydrogenation; environmental catalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Increasing energy demand and serious environmental issues, such as air pollution and global warming, are drastically threatening sustainable development. This has sparked intensive research on the development of sustainable, environmentally friendly technologies. The challenge is to obtain innovative materials to use in technologies for renewable energy and sustainable applications. In this context, hybrid nanocomposites are emerging as some of the most advanced next-generation systems for a large variety of possible applications, ranging from sensing and energy storage to heterogeneous, electro-, and photocatalysis. These nanostructured hybrids, fabricated by embedding metal or oxide nanoparticles into carbon frameworks (e.g., carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphene oxide, and others), exhibit enhanced or novel properties thanks to their intrinsic physicochemical features, such as high specific surface area, chemical inertness, great mechanical strength, and excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. It then becomes fundamentally important to acquire a detailed understanding of the structure and properties of these hybrid nanocomposites with outstanding performances.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials will attempt to cover the current state-of-the-art in the field of hybrid nanocomposites, concerning their synthesis, properties, characterization, and applications in environmental processes and for energy conversion and storage

Prof. Dr. Maria Grazia Musolino
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • hybrid nanocomposites
  • carbon-based nanocomposites
  • metal and metal oxide nanoparticles
  • carbon frameworks
  • synthesis
  • characterization
  • properties
  • sustainable processes
  • energy conversion and storage

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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15 pages, 7414 KiB  
Article
Enhancement in Electromagnetic Wave Shielding Effectiveness through the Formation of Carbon Nanofiber Hybrids on Carbon-Based Nonwoven Fabrics
by Hyun-Ji Kim, Gi-Hwan Kang, Sung-Hoon Kim and Sangmoon Park
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 2910; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112910 - 30 Oct 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2000
Abstract
The selective hybrid formation of numerous tiny carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in carbon-based nonwoven fabrics (c-NFs), namely CNFs formed only on the surfaces of individual carbon fibers (i-CFs) constituting c-NFs and not on the surfaces of carbon microcoils (CMCs), could be formed by the [...] Read more.
The selective hybrid formation of numerous tiny carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in carbon-based nonwoven fabrics (c-NFs), namely CNFs formed only on the surfaces of individual carbon fibers (i-CFs) constituting c-NFs and not on the surfaces of carbon microcoils (CMCs), could be formed by the incorporation of H2 gas flow into the C2H2 + SF6 gas flow in a thermal chemical vapor deposition system. On the other hand, the nonselective hybrid formation of numerous tiny CNFs in c-NFs, that is, tiny CNFs formed on the surfaces of both i-CFs and CMCs, could be achieved by simply modulating the SF6 gas flow on and off in continuous cycles during the reaction. Detailed mechanisms are suggested for the selective or nonselective formation of tiny CNFs in c-NFs. Furthermore, the electromagnetic wave shielding effectiveness (SE) values of the samples were investigated across operating frequencies in the 8.0–12.0 GHz range. Compared with previously reported total SE values, the presently measured values rank in the top tier. Although hybrid formation reduced the electrical conductivity of the native c-NFs, the total SE values of the native c-NFs greatly increased following hybrid formation. This dramatic improvement in the total SE values is ascribed to the increased thickness of c-NFs after hybrid formation and the electromagnetic wave absorption enhancement caused by the intrinsic characteristics of CMCs and the numerous intersections of tiny CNFs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nanocomposites for Sustainable Development: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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11 pages, 620 KiB  
Article
Multiferroic, Phonon and Optical Properties of Pure and Ion-Doped YFeO3 Nanoparticles
by Angel Apostolov, Iliana Apostolova and Julia Wesselinowa
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(10), 2731; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11102731 - 15 Oct 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2013
Abstract
The magnetic, electric, phonon and optical properties of pure and ion-doped orthorhombic YFeO3 nanoparticles are studied for the first time theoretically. The spontaneous magnetization Ms in YFeO3 decreases with decreasing particle size. Ms is also shape dependent. The magnetization [...] Read more.
The magnetic, electric, phonon and optical properties of pure and ion-doped orthorhombic YFeO3 nanoparticles are studied for the first time theoretically. The spontaneous magnetization Ms in YFeO3 decreases with decreasing particle size. Ms is also shape dependent. The magnetization increases by Co and Er ion doping and decreases by Ti doping, which is caused by the different strain which appears in the nanoparticles and changes the exchange interaction constants in the doped states. The phonon energy for the Ag mode ω = 149 cm−1 and their damping decreases or increases with increasing temperature, respectively. Both show a kink near the Neel temperature, TN, which disappears by applying an external magnetic field. The influence of different ion doping on the band gap energy is also discussed. The doping effects can be used for different applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nanocomposites for Sustainable Development: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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11 pages, 3183 KiB  
Article
Luminescent Ionogels with Excellent Transparency, High Mechanical Strength, and High Conductivity
by Lumi Tao, Yuchuan Liu, Dan Wu, Qiao-Hua Wei, Andreas Taubert and Zailai Xie
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(12), 2521; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10122521 - 15 Dec 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3070
Abstract
The paper describes a new kind of ionogel with both good mechanical strength and high conductivity synthesized by confining the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide ([Bmim][NTf2]) within an organic–inorganic hybrid host. The organic–inorganic host network was synthesized by the reaction [...] Read more.
The paper describes a new kind of ionogel with both good mechanical strength and high conductivity synthesized by confining the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide ([Bmim][NTf2]) within an organic–inorganic hybrid host. The organic–inorganic host network was synthesized by the reaction of methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of a coupling agent, offering the good mechanical strength and rapid shape recovery of the final products. The silane coupling agent 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH-570) plays an important role in improving the mechanical strength of the inorganic–organic hybrid, because it covalently connected the organic component MMA and the inorganic component SiO2. Both the thermal stability and mechanical strength of the ionogel significantly increased by the addition of IL. The immobilization of [Bmim][NTf2] within the ionogel provided the final ionogel with an ionic conductivity as high as ca. 0.04 S cm−1 at 50 °C. Moreover, the hybrid ionogel can be modified with organosilica-modified carbon dots within the network to yield a transparent and flexible ionogel with strong excitation-dependent emission between 400 and 800 nm. The approach is, therefore, a blueprint for the construction of next-generation multifunctional ionogels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nanocomposites for Sustainable Development: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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16 pages, 3100 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Activity of Hierarchical Nanostructural Birnessite-MnO2-Based Materials Deposited onto Nickel Foam for Efficient Supercapacitor Electrodes
by Shang-Chao Hung, Yi-Rong Chou, Cheng-Di Dong, Kuang-Chung Tsai and Wein-Duo Yang
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(10), 1933; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10101933 - 27 Sep 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4034
Abstract
Hierarchical porous birnessite-MnO2-based nanostructure composite materials were prepared on a nickel foam substrate by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method (SILAR). Following composition with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), the as-obtained MnO2, MnO [...] Read more.
Hierarchical porous birnessite-MnO2-based nanostructure composite materials were prepared on a nickel foam substrate by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method (SILAR). Following composition with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), the as-obtained MnO2, MnO2/rGO and MnO2/rGO-MWCNT materials exhibited pore size distributions of 2–8 nm, 5–15 nm and 2–75 nm, respectively. For the MnO2/rGO-MWCNT material in particular, the addition of MWCNT and rGO enhanced the superb distribution of micropores, mesopores and macropores and greatly improved the electrochemical performance. The as-obtained MnO2/rGO-MWCNT/NF electrode showed a specific capacitance that reached as high as 416 F·g−1 at 1 A·g−1 in 1 M Na2SO4 aqueous electrolyte and also an excellent rate capability and high cycling stability, with a capacitance retention of 85.6% after 10,000 cycles. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses showed a low resistance charge transfer resistance for the as-prepared MnO2/rGO-MWCNT/NF nanostructures. Therefore, MnO2/rGO-MWCNT/NF composites were successfully synthesized and displayed enhanced electrochemical performance as potential electrode materials for supercapacitors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nanocomposites for Sustainable Development: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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18 pages, 3013 KiB  
Article
Effect of Hematite Doping with Aliovalent Impurities on the Electrochemical Performance of α-Fe2O3@rGO-Based Anodes in Sodium-Ion Batteries
by Vincenza Modafferi, Claudia Triolo, Michele Fiore, Alessandra Palella, Lorenzo Spadaro, Nicolò Pianta, Riccardo Ruffo, Salvatore Patanè, Saveria Santangelo and Maria Grazia Musolino
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(8), 1588; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10081588 - 12 Aug 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3284
Abstract
The effect of the type of dopant (titanium and manganese) and of the reduced graphene oxide content (rGO, 30 or 50 wt %) of the α-Fe2O3@rGO nanocomposites on their microstructural properties and electrochemical performance was investigated. Nanostructured composites were [...] Read more.
The effect of the type of dopant (titanium and manganese) and of the reduced graphene oxide content (rGO, 30 or 50 wt %) of the α-Fe2O3@rGO nanocomposites on their microstructural properties and electrochemical performance was investigated. Nanostructured composites were synthesized by a simple one-step solvothermal method and evaluated as anode materials for sodium ion batteries. The doping does not influence the crystalline phase and morphology of the iron oxide nanoparticles, but remarkably increases stability and Coulombic efficiency with respect to the anode based on the composite α-Fe2O3@rGO. For fixed rGO content, Ti-doping improves the rate capability at lower rates, whereas Mn-doping enhances the electrode stability at higher rates, retaining a specific capacity of 56 mAhg−1 at a rate of 2C. Nanocomposites with higher rGO content exhibit better electrochemical performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Nanocomposites for Sustainable Development: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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