Abstract: Disclosed here is a method of fabricating a covalently reinforced carbon nanotube (CNT) assembly. The method includes producing a CNT assembly by pulling entangled CNTs from a CNT array fabricated on a substrate, the CNT assembly including a plurality of CNTs that are aligned; and creating covalent bonding between the CNTs of the CNT assembly by applying a high energy ion irradiation to the CNT assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a method of fabricating a covalently reinforced carbon nanotube (CNT) assembly. The method includes producing a CNT assembly by pulling entangled CNTs from a CNT array fabricated on a substrate, the CNT assembly including a plurality of CNTs that are aligned; and creating covalent bonding between the CNTs of the CNT assembly by applying a high energy ion irradiation to the CNT assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a method of fabricating a covalently reinforced carbon nanotube (CNT) assembly. The method includes producing a CNT assembly by pulling entangled CNTs from a CNT array fabricated on a substrate, the CNT assembly including a plurality of CNTs that are aligned; and creating covalent bonding between the CNTs of the CNT assembly by applying a high energy ion irradiation to the CNT assembly.

Abstract: A method of making a nanoporous aerogel includes the steps of providing nanowire suspensions, freeze casting the nanowire suspensions to produce freeze-cast gels, extracting the frozen medium from the freeze-cast gels by freeze-substitution with a solvent to produce wet gels, modifying or functionalizing the wet gels as needed, and drying the wet gels to produce a nanoporous aerogel.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a method of fabricating a covalently reinforced carbon nanotube (CNT) assembly. The method includes producing a CNT assembly by pulling entangled CNTs from a CNT array fabricated on a substrate, the CNT assembly including a plurality of CNTs that are aligned; and creating covalent bonding between the CNTs of the CNT assembly by applying a high energy ion irradiation to the CNT assembly.

Abstract: Ultralow density ionic material foams, with density approaching 0.1% of the bulk density, and synthesis methods using interconnected metallic nanowires are provided. Nanowires of various sizes and metals are dispersed into a freezable liquid through a suitable fluid exchange. Surface treatments ensure that nanowires remain sufficiently metallic and physically separated. Wire-liquid solutions can be dropped directly into liquid nitrogen in the form of droplets or placed into molds of various shapes. A freeze drying technique is employed to turn the resulting ice-wire mixture into a freestanding, low-density foam composed of interlocked nanowires. Sintering or oxidation and reduction treatment of the foam material at elevated temperatures is used to connect the nanowires into an interconnected metallic foam. Metals of the metal foams are then processed into ionic materials including oxides, nitrides, chlorides, hydrides, fluorides, iodides and carbides.

Abstract: A method of making a nanoporous aerogel includes the steps of providing nanowire suspensions, freeze casting the nanowire suspensions to produce freeze-cast gels, extracting the frozen medium from the freeze-cast gels by freeze-substitution with a solvent to produce wet gels, modifying or functionalizing the wet gels as needed, and drying the wet gels to produce a nanoporous aerogel.

Abstract: Ultralow density pure metal foams, with density approaching 0.1% of the bulk density, and synthesis methods using interconnected metallic nanowires are provided. Nanowires of various sizes and metals are synthesized by electrodeposition into nanoporous templates such as anodized aluminum oxide or polycarbonate. The templates are etched away and the nanowires are dispersed into water through a suitable fluid exchange. Surface treatments ensure that nanowires remain sufficiently metallic and physically separated. Wire-water solutions can be dropped directly into liquid nitrogen in the form of droplets or placed into molds of various shapes. A freeze drying technique is employed to turn the resulting ice-wire mixture into a freestanding, low-density foam composed of interlocked nanowires. Finally, sintering or oxidation and reduction treatment of the foam material at elevated temperatures is used to connect the nanowires into an interconnected metallic foam, greatly improving the strength of the structure.

Abstract: Using SWNT-CA as scaffolds to fabricate stiff, highly conductive polymer (PDMS) composites. The SWNT-CA is immersing in a polymer resin to produce a SWNT-CA infiltrated with a polymer resin. The SWNT-CA infiltrated with a polymer resin is cured to produce the stiff and electrically conductive composite of carbon nanotube aerogel and polymer.

Abstract: Using SWNT-CA as scaffolds to fabricate stiff, highly conductive polymer (PDMS) composites. The SWNT-CA is immersing in a polymer resin to produce a SWNT-CA infiltrated with a polymer resin. The SWNT-CA infiltrated with a polymer resin is cured to produce the stiff and electrically conductive composite of carbon nanotube aerogel and polymer.

Abstract: Using SWNT-CA as scaffolds to fabricate stiff, highly conductive polymer (PDMS) composites. The SWNT-CA is immersing in a polymer resin to produce a SWNT-CA infiltrated with a polymer resin. The SWNT-CA infiltrated with a polymer resin is cured to produce the stiff and electrically conductive composite of carbon nanotube aerogel and polymer.

Abstract: Using SWNT-CA as scaffolds to fabricate stiff, highly conductive polymer (PDMS) composites. The SWNT-CA is immersing in a polymer resin to produce a SWNT-CA infiltrated with a polymer resin. The SWNT-CA infiltrated with a polymer resin is cured to produce the stiff and electrically conductive composite of carbon nanotube aerogel and polymer.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel according to one embodiment includes an assembly of nuclear fuel particles; and continuous open channels defined between at least some of the nuclear fuel particles, wherein the channels are characterized as allowing fission gasses produced in an interior of the assembly to escape from the interior of the assembly to an exterior thereof without causing significant swelling of the assembly. Additional embodiments, including methods, are also presented.

Abstract: Using SWNT-CA as scaffolds to fabricate stiff, highly conductive polymer (PDMS) composites. The SWNT-CA is immersing in a polymer resin to produce a SWNT-CA infiltrated with a polymer resin. The SWNT-CA infiltrated with a polymer resin is cured to produce the stiff and electrically conductive composite of carbon nanotube aerogel and polymer.

Abstract: A method of making a mechanically robust, electrically conductive ultralow-density carbon nanotube-based aerogel, including the steps of dispersing nanotubes in an aqueous media or other media to form a suspension, adding reactants and catalyst to the suspension to create a reaction mixture, curing the reaction mixture to form a wet gel, drying the wet gel to produce a dry gel, and pyrolyzing the dry gel to produce the mechanically robust, electrically conductive ultralow-density carbon nanotube-based aerogel. The aerogel is mechanically robust, electrically conductive, and ultralow-density, and is made of a porous carbon material having 5 to 95% by weight carbon nanotubes and 5 to 95% carbon binder.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel according to one embodiment includes an assembly of nuclear fuel particles; and continuous open channels defined between at least some of the nuclear fuel particles, wherein the channels are characterized as allowing fission gasses produced in an interior of the assembly to escape from the interior of the assembly to an exterior thereof without causing significant swelling of the assembly. Additional embodiments, including methods, are also presented.