Search Results (2,169)

The rapid advancement of microelectronic packaging has created a critical need for lead-free solder joints with enhanced mechanical and thermal reliability. This study introduces a novel approach to improve Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC 305) solder joints by incorporating Sn-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). To address the poor wettability and agglomeration of carbon nanotubes in molten solder, MWCNTs were functionalized and uniformly coated with ~70 nm Sn nanoparticles via electroless plating. Soldering was conducted using intense pulsed light (IPL), a rapid, energy-efficient heat source, and was compared with conventional reflow soldering. The study systematically investigated the influence of MWCNT content (0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 wt.%) and IPL soldering conditions with pulse numbers: 27–36 for shear tests, and 30–42 for drop impact tests. IPL processing produced thinner Cu₆Sn₅ IMC layers than reflow soldering due to its shorter duration. The composite solder with 0.1 wt.% Sn-decorated MWCNTs achieved the highest density, superior thermal dissipation in LED packages, and maximum shear strength and drop impact resistance. These results demonstrate that optimizing Sn-MWCNT content, especially at 0.1 wt.%, and precisely controlling IPL energy can yield highly reliable, mechanically robust, and thermally efficient lead-free solder joints for advanced electronic packaging. Full article

Historical buildings are highly prone to degradation because they are continuously exposed to the external environment, which represents an extremely aggressive factor. Globally, there are so many historical buildings that need urgent restoration. This paper focuses on finding a new consolidant for real oak old wood and presents a new recipe based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles dispersed in PHBHV solution, aimed at improving old wood properties. The research was conducted on Banloc Castle oak wood, which is predominant throughout the castle. The obtained treatment was applied by brushing onto the wood surface, while the retention and uniform application of the consolidation were confirmed by optical microscopy. One major advantage of the treatment is that the natural color of the wood is not affected, with the total color difference being very small. Another advantage gained after consolidation was the enhanced hydrophobic behavior of the old wood confirmed through water absorption, humidity and contact angle tests. In contrast, untreated wood exhibited hydrophilic behavior and high water and moisture absorption capacity, making aged wood extremely vulnerable to environmental degradation over time. Mechanical tests confirmed that the consolidant solution significantly improved the properties of the wooden material, due to the effective impregnation of the treatment into the wood structure. Furthermore, the MWCNT-based consolidant inhibited the growth of the Aspergillus niger strain, providing antifungal protection and preventing the colonization of microorganisms within the wood structure and its subsequent degradation. Through the methods investigated in this work, it was proven that the treatment is suitable for the consolidation of aged and degraded oak wood materials. Full article

Effective regulation of the adsorption strength of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) intermediates on active sites is the key to enhancing their catalytic performance. This study proposes an axial coordination modulation strategy by successfully anchoring the dioxin-linked FePcF₁₆-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) onto amino-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (NH₂-MWCNTs), constructing a FePcF₁₆-COF/NH₂-MWCNT hybrid catalyst. Experimental results demonstrate that the catalyst exhibits outstanding ORR activity (E_1/2 = 0.901 V; J_L = 5.133 mA cm⁻²), outperforming commercial 20% Pt/C and most reported Fe-based non-precious metal catalysts. Furthermore, the robust dioxin-linked COF skeleton endows the catalyst with excellent electrochemical stability. A zinc–air battery using this catalyst as the cathode also demonstrates superior power density and cycling performance. This work provides a new strategy for designing highly efficient ORR catalysts through axial coordination environment engineering. Full article

Simultaneous quantification of ascorbic acid, dopamine, and uric acid is crucial for clinical diagnostics. Here, an electrochemical sensor was developed by modifying a glassy carbon electrode with a ternary composite of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, graphene, and Vulcan XC72 carbon black via a simple mixing method. The synergistic interaction of these carbon materials significantly increases the electroactive surface area and introduces defect-driven catalytic sites, enhancing electron transfer kinetics. The sensor enables interference-free simultaneous detection, exhibiting linear ranges of 100–1000 μM ascorbic acid, 5–50 μM dopamine, and 10–100 μM uric acid with sensitivities of 0.044, 0.47, and 0.95 μA μM⁻¹, respectively, and corresponding limits of detection of 34.1, 4.23, and 11.1 μM. The platform also demonstrated excellent stability, reproducibility, and anti-interference performance, with satisfactory recoveries in human urine samples. These results highlight the ternary composite sensor as a reliable and practical tool for multiplexed monitoring in complex physiological matrices. Full article

The severe performance degradation of lithium-ion batteries at low temperatures limits their applications in extreme environments. Herein, we report the development of a low-temperature-capable 2.5 Ah 18650 cylindrical battery employing a LiNi_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂ cathode with optimized conductive additive formulations. The ternary conductive architecture is rationally designed based on dimensional complementarity: a zero-dimensional Super P (SP) nanoparticle ensures percolation through point-to-point contacts, a one-dimensional multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) establishes long-range electron highways via line-to-point bridging, and a two-dimensional graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) provides face-to-point encapsulation of active particles, mechanically buffering volume expansion and suppressing interfacial degradation. This hierarchical point–line–plane network generates redundant electron transport pathways while steric hindrance effects mitigate aggregation of each component. Through systematic comparative investigation of GNP/MWCNT/SP ternary and MWCNT/SP binary conductive systems, we elucidate the distinct roles of low-dimensional nanocarbons in electrochemical performance enhancement. Film resistivity measurements reveal that the ternary system achieves a 67% reduction in cathode resistivity (to 9.1 Ω·cm at 20 °C) compared to conventional SP (27.5 Ω·cm), outperforming previously reported binary nanocarbon systems for high-nickel cathodes (typically 40–55% reduction at comparable loadings). This enhancement is achieved at a constant total conductive additive loading of 2.5 wt%, demonstrating that dimensional optimization rather than quantity increase governs electrical transport properties. Electrochemical evaluations demonstrate that the fabricated 18650 cells deliver exceptional rate capability (10C continuous and 20C pulse discharge) and remarkable low-temperature performance (76.8% capacity retention at −40 °C under 1C). Notably, while both conductive formulations exhibit comparable rate performan ce and temperature adaptability, the ternary GNP/MWCNT/SP system demonstrates significant superiority in cycling stability, achieving 94.9% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at ambient temperature versus inferior retention for the binary counterpart. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses indicate reduced polarization and enhanced lithium-ion diffusion kinetics in the ternary system. This study establishes a high-performance low-temperature 18650 battery chemistry and provides quantitative mechanistic insights into how dimensional synergy in conductive additive design governs the rate capability, thermal behavior, and cycling stability of nickel-rich cathodes operating under extreme conditions. Full article

Polysulfone (PSF) nanofiltration membranes incorporating oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (o–MWCNTs) and terbium oxide (Tb₂O₃) nanoparticles were fabricated via the non-solvent-induced phase inversion technique. The effect of Tb₂O₃ loading (0, 1, 3, and 5% w/w) on membrane morphology, hydrophilicity, water permeability, dye rejection, and antibiofouling performance was systematically investigated. Membrane structure was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, EDX, XRD, and water contact angle measurements. The results confirmed the successful incorporation of Tb₂O₃ within the membrane matrix, and morphological analysis revealed a relatively dense membrane structure without macrovoid formation. Filtration experiments conducted in a dead-end cell under pressures of 1–4 bar demonstrated a maximum water flux of 53 L m⁻² h⁻¹, with dye rejection exceeding 99.9% for both methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR) at 4 bar. Antibiofouling performance, evaluated by colony-forming unit analysis, revealed bacterial growth reductions of 59% against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and 89% against Gram-positive Candida albicans, attributed to the dark-active generation of reactive oxygen species by Tb₂O₃, eliminating the need for UV irradiation. These results demonstrate that the synergistic integration of o–MWCNTs and Tb₂O₃ effectively addresses the permeability-selectivity trade-off and mitigates biofouling limitations associated with pristine PSF membranes, thereby offering a promising multifunctional platform for sustainable industrial wastewater treatment. Full article

Epoxy resins have been extensively applied in aerospace and automotive fields. Nevertheless, their inherent flammability significantly restricts broader applications. In this study, carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (COOH-MWCNTs) were first aminated to obtain aminated Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (NH₂-MWCNTs). Subsequently, NH₂-MWCNTs and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) were incorporated into the epoxy resin via mechanical stirring, thereby constructing a phosphorus–carbon synergistic flame-retardant system. Compared with the neat epoxy thermoset, the EP/17.5APP/0.1NH₂-MWCNTs composite showed a limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of 29.6% and attained a UL-94 V-0 rating. In addition, for the modified composite material, the maximum thermal decomposition rate (R_Tmax) is 12.4 wt%/min, the char residue at 600 °C (C₆₀₀) reaches 44.2%, and the smoke density is 425.8. The impact strength and tensile modulus are increased to 10.1 Mpa and 3.0 Gpa, respectively, while the compressive strength remains essentially unchanged. Furthermore, the synergistic flame-retardant mechanism between phosphorus and carbon was investigated by analyzing the char residues of the epoxy resin and its composites. This study offers a promising approach for designing epoxy composites with improved flame retardancy and enhanced thermal stability for high fire-safety applications, such as electronic encapsulation and structural materials. Full article

The present research article deals with the thermal degradation study of epoxy resins filled with hybrid nanostructured forms of carbon under oxidative conditions. In particular, the formulated polymer composites (denoted as HYB_0.1%_CNTs:GNs and HYB_0.5%_CNTs:GNs, respectively) consist of two kinds of fillers, namely multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanosheets (GNs), mixed together with two different total mass amounts: 0.1 and 0.5%. In both kinds of nanocomposites, three different CNT:GN mixing ratios were considered (5:1, 1:1, and 1:5, respectively), thus providing a total of six hybrid samples. The thermal behavior of these samples was studied by simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) under flowing air, and two processes took place in distinct temperature ranges. In each step, about 50% of mass loss is detected with an exothermic effect in the corresponding DTA curve, with the second one accompanied by an intense heat release. The kinetic analysis of the two-stage oxidative thermal degradation was investigated using a model-free isoconversional approach. A non-Arrhenian behavior of the temperature function k(T) was assumed, and lifetime prediction was estimated at temperatures close to those of the possible applications. Isoconversional analysis shows nearly constant activation energies for all composites except HYB_0.1%_5:1 (from 142 to 96 kJ·mol⁻¹), while lifetime predictions indicate that thermal stability increases with graphene content at 0.1% loading (HYB_0.1%_1:5) and with CNT content at 0.5% loading (HYB_0.5%_5:1), with uncertainties below 7%. Finally, because of the π–π bond interactions between the CNTs and the GNs dispersed in the epoxy resin matrix, an effective and remarkable electrical performance was found and a correlation with both electrical and morphological properties was established. In this regard, Tunneling Atomic Force Microscopy (TUNA) proved to be particularly powerful in allowing the simultaneous mapping of topography and localized conductive networks with exceptional sensitivity to nanofiller dispersion, such as CNTs and GNs. DC conductivity increased by up to nine orders of magnitude at 0.1 wt% hybrid loading (up to 3.73 × 10⁻⁴ S/m vs. 1.06 × 10⁻¹³ S/m for CNT-only), with nanoscale TUNA currents (−1.9 to 4.5 pA) mirroring macroscopic trends, while at 0.5 wt% all hybrids reached 10⁻² S/m, indicating reduced synergy once a fully developed conductive network is established. Full article

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are important indicators of environmental pollution and metabolic activity, making their sensitive and selective detection highly relevant for applications in health monitoring and air quality assessment. Graphene, owing to its exceptional charge transport properties, large surface area, and tunable surface chemistry, is a promising candidate for advanced gas and VOCs sensing. Here we report chemoresistive sensors based on pristine graphene and graphene decorated with platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and gold (Au) nanoparticles toward both aromatic (benzene, toluene, and xylene) and non-aromatic (ethanol, methanol, and acetone) vapor compound detection. The detection is achieved at room temperature, and the results demonstrate that graphene functionalized with noble metal nanoparticles shows significant enhancements in sensitivity compared to pristine graphene, mainly against ethanol, toluene and xylene vapors for the Au–graphene sensors. A comparative study with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) sensors decorated with the same type of nanoparticles revealed clear advantages of graphene, attributed to the microstructure and porous structure of graphene powders, which facilitate efficient charge transfer upon vapor adsorption. Full article

Constructing efficient conductive networks in flexible polymer matrices remains a central challenge in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material design. In this work, a ‘point-line’ hybrid filler system combining conductive carbon black (CB) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was incorporated into a silicone rubber matrix to systematically engineer the conductive network architecture. By optimising the CB/MWCNT blending ratio, a composite with a tensile strength of 8.5 MPa, elongation at break of 180%, and EMI shielding effectiveness of 50 dB was achieved at a 1:1 weight ratio. Further surface modification of the hybrid fillers using five surfactants, including sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPEO), and octylphenol ethoxylate (OPEO), was systematically investigated. OPEO modification was proved the most effective, improving EMI shielding performance to 58 dB while enhancing tensile strength by 11.8% and elongation at break by 50%. These results demonstrate that rational filler hybridisation combined with targeted surfactant modification offers a practical and scalable route to high-performance flexible EMI shielding composites. Full article

Hydrogels have emerged as a crucial category of polymeric materials in materials science due to their three-dimensional network structure and remarkable capacity for water absorption and retention. However, conventional single-function hydrogels do not satisfy the increasing demands of advanced applications in biomedicine and environmental engineering. This paper focuses on the design, preparation, and performance characterization of nanofiber-reinforced polyacrylamide hydrogels to overcome this limitation. A bilayer structure, consisting of tensile layers and actuator layers based on a polyacrylamide/sodium alginate (PAM/SA) matrix integrated with functional materials, was developed. Nanocellulose (CNF) was incorporated to regulate mechanical properties by adjusting its content ratio with PAM, while poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were added to confer photothermal responsiveness. The deformation of the hydrogel was induced by temperature changes resulting from infrared illumination. The results indicate that the CNF-reinforced hydrogels exhibit enhanced mechanical strength—with the tensile strength reaching 17 kPa (89% higher than pure PAM) and fracture strain approaching 900% when the CNF content is 0.44 wt.% and PAM/SA mass ratio is 4:1—and they display reversible thermosensitive responses (reaching 60 °C within 100 s under near-infrared irradiation) following the incorporation of carbon nanotubes. This paper presents a novel strategy for the development of multifunctional hydrogel-based actuated systems, expanding the application potential of hydrogels in human motion tracking and drug delivery. Full article

Modern electronics demand materials that simultaneously manage heat and provide electromagnetic responses due to high integration and multifunctionality. Therefore, polymer composites with high thermal conductivity and tunable dielectric properties are critical for next-generation electronic devices. Here, natural rubber (NR) was engineered with multi-dimensional fillers—hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxyvalerate) (P34HB), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)—to systematically tailor thermal, dielectric, and mechanical properties. Synergistic combinations of h-BN and MWCNTs form an effective three-dimensional thermal network, while HNTs and MWCNTs generate highly effective phonon pathways, achieving a peak thermal conductivity of 0.287 W/(m·K). Dielectric tunability is enabled via percolating h-BN/MWCNT networks, where interfacial polarization allows broad-frequency modulation of the dielectric constant. MWCNTs also regulate curing behavior and provide mechanical reinforcement. In contrast, phase separation between P34HB and NR disrupts the filler network, enabling good electrical insulation while retaining partial thermal pathways, whereas weak interfacial bonding in HNT/MWCNT composites constrains mechanical enhancement. This study demonstrates a systematic multi-dimensional filler strategy enabling tunable thermal and dielectric properties in NR composites and provides a versatile platform for multifunctional polymer materials in flexible and wearable devices. Full article

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) particles and zinc sulfide@multiwalled carbon nanotubes (ZnS@MWCNT) composites were synthesized and characterized using energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Raman spectroscopy. Photocatalytic degradation activity of methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet (UV) at 254 nm light irradiation was assessed by UV-visible spectroscopy. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of MB within 300 min reached 78.85% for ZnS particles and 82.85% for the ZnS@MWCNT composites. Therefore, in comparison to the ZnS nanoparticles, the hybrid ZnS@MWCNT composites exhibited higher photocatalytic degradation activity. The kinetics study for photocatalytic degradation of MB using both ZnS particles and hybrid ZnS@MWCNT nanocomposites followed the pseudo-first-order reaction rate law. Full article

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) remain attractive as low-cost photovoltaic devices; however, their practical efficiency is still constrained by electron-transport losses, interfacial recombination, and incomplete light harvesting in conventional titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photoanodes. The effects of TiO₂ film thickness, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) incorporation, and multilayer oxide interface engineering on DSSC performance were examined. Degussa P25-TiO₂ photoanodes were first optimized with respect to thickness, after which controlled MWCNT loadings and sequential compact sol–gel TiO₂ and tin dioxide (SnO₂) sublayers were introduced. The optimum pristine P25-TiO₂ photoanode thickness was 9.11 μm, yielding an open-circuit voltage of 0.74 ± 0.01 V, a short-circuit current density of 14.10 ± 0.40 mA/cm², a fill factor of 56.24 ± 1.00%, and a power-conversion efficiency of 5.93 ± 0.20%. The incorporation of 0.025 wt% MWCNTs increased the efficiency to 6.04 ± 0.20%, corresponding to an absolute gain of 0.11 percentage points. The best performance was obtained with the sol–gel SnO₂/sol–gel TiO₂/P25-CNT multilayer photoanode, which delivered 0.74 ± 0.02 V, 16.22 ± 0.40 mA/cm², 57.59 ± 1.00%, and 6.89 ± 0.30%, respectively. FE-SEM, EIS, XRD, Heated Ultrasonic Cleaner and UV–visible analyses indicate that the multilayer architecture preserves porosity, enhances light harvesting, and suppresses interfacial recombination, while the CNT network facilitates charge transport. Full article

Electrolysis of water is a promising emission-free approach of hydrogen production, making water electrolyzers important for many renewable energy systems. Electrochemical electrodes enriched with nanocatalysts can significantly advance such technologies, but the use of nanomaterials, deployed as packed powders or painted films, is generally limited by durability and reusability challenges. To overcome these deficiencies, we have fabricated hierarchical hybrid electrode (HHE) monoliths comprising carpet-like arrays of multiwalled carbon nanotubes covalently bonded to porous reticulated carbon foams that are further functionalized with strongly attached nanocatalysts. This paper presents our investigation of HHE materials with CNT carpets and palladium nanoparticle (PdNP) catalysts in two key electrolysis reactions: hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Their performances in different electrolytes have been evaluated using cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and Tafel analysis. This architecture provided multi-faceted advantages, and the contribution of each nanocomponent in the monolith has been analyzed. The presence of Pd-NP in the HHE also improved the electrode’s tolerance to Cl⁻ ions, which is very promising for saline water electrolysis. These studies indicate that the HHE architecture of electrochemical electrodes can be a versatile and tunable option for future electrochemical systems relevant to renewable energy applications. Full article