Abstract: Provided herein are nanofibers and processes of preparing carbonaceous nanofibers. In some embodiments, the nanofibers are high quality, high performance nanofibers, highly coherent nanofibers, highly continuous nanofibers, or the like. In some embodiments, the nanofibers have increased coherence, increased length, few voids and/or defects, and/or other advantageous characteristics. In some instances, the nanofibers are produced by electrospinning a fluid stock having a high loading of nanofiber precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock comprises well mixed and/or uniformly distributed precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock is converted into a nanofiber comprising few voids, few defects, long or tunable length, and the like.

Abstract: Provided herein are nanofibers comprising carbon precursors, nanofibers comprising carbon matrices, and processes for preparing the same. In specific examples, provided herein are high performance lithium ion battery anodic nanofibers comprising non-aggregated silicon domains in a continuous carbon matrix.

Abstract: Provided herein are high performance reinforcing nanostructure additives, high throughput processes for using such additives, and composites comprising such additives. Such nanostructure additives include nanofibers, including nanofiber fragments, of various matrix materials, including metal(s) (e.g., elemental metal(s), metal alloy(s), etc.), metal oxide(s), ceramic(s), metal carbide(s), carbon (e.g., carbon nanocomposites comprising carbon matrix with metal component embedded therein), and/or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are high performance reinforcing nanostructure additives, high throughput processes for using such additives, and composites comprising such additives. Such nanostructure additives include nanofibers, including nanofiber fragments, of various matrix materials, including metal(s) (e.g., elemental metal(s), metal alloy(s), etc.), metal oxide(s), ceramic(s), metal carbide(s), carbon (e.g., carbon nanocomposites comprising carbon matrix with metal component embedded therein), and/or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are electrospinning systems, apparatuses, components, and processes for the preparation of nanofibers, including high throughput systems, apparatuses, and processes for producing high performance nanofibers.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for forming nanofibers. The current disclosure provides ceramic nanofibers, morphology-controlled ceramic-polymer hybrid nanofibers, morphology-controlled ceramic nanofibers, core-sheath nanofibers and hollow core nanofibers using ceramic precursor materials and polymer materials which are combined and undergo electrospinning. The current disclosure provides for methods of forming these nanofibers at low temperatures such as room temperature and in the presence of oxygen and moisture wherein the ceramic precursor cures to a ceramic material during the electrospinning process. Also disclosed are the nanofibers prepared by the disclosed methods.

Abstract: Provided herein are lithium-air battery cells comprising nanostructured (e.g., nanofiber) anode, cathode, and/or separator/electrolyte components.

Abstract: Described herein are nanofibers and methods for making porous carbon nanofibers. The pores have of any suitable size or shape. The presence and/or ordering of the pores results in a high surface area and/or high specific surface area. Such carbon is useful in a number of applications where high surface area carbon is desirable.

Abstract: Provided herein are ceramic nanofibers and processes for preparing the same. In specific examples, provided herein are ceramic nanofiber mats for use as separators in batteries, particularly lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: Provided herein are nanofibers and processes of preparing carbonaceous nanofibers. In some embodiments, the nanofibers are high quality, high performance nanofibers, highly coherent nanofibers, highly continuous nanofibers, or the like. In some embodiments, the nanofibers have increased coherence, increased length, few voids and/or defects, and/or other advantageous characteristics. In some instances, the nanofibers are produced by electrospinning a fluid stock having a high loading of nanofiber precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock comprises well mixed and/or uniformly distributed precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock is converted into a nanofiber comprising few voids, few defects, long or tunable length, and the like.

Abstract: Provided herein are high performance reinforcing nanostructure additives, high throughput processes for using such additives, and composites comprising such additives. Such nanostructure additives include nanofibers, including nanofiber fragments, of various matrix materials, including metal(s) (e.g., elemental metal(s), metal alloy(s), etc.), metal oxide(s), ceramic(s), metal carbide(s), carbon (e.g., carbon nanocomposites comprising carbon matrix with metal component embedded therein), and/or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are nanofibers, nanofiber mats, and processes for preparing the same. In particular, provided herein are improved nanofibers and nanofiber mats, as well as processes for preparing nanofibers and nanofiber mats, having high performance characteristics. In some instances, such processes involve depositing nanofibers in a distinctly layered structure, which allows nanofibers to retain structural integrity upon post-electrospinning processing, which in turn provides resultant nanofibers with high performance characteristics.

Abstract: Provided herein are nanofibers and processes of preparing nanofibers. In some instances, the nanofibers are metal and/or ceramic nanofibers. In some embodiments, the nanofibers are high quality, high performance nanofibers, highly coherent nanofibers, highly continuous nanofibers, or the like. In some embodiments, the nanofibers have increased coherence, increased length, few voids and/or defects, and/or other advantageous characteristics. In some instances, the nanofibers are produced by electrospinning a fluid stock having a high loading of nanofiber precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock comprises well mixed and/or uniformly distributed precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock is converted into a nanofiber comprising few voids, few defects, long or tunable length, and the like.

Abstract: Provided herein are button cell housing components configured to be suitable for lithium ion battery cells.

Abstract: Lithium-containing nanofibers, as well as processes for making the same, are disclosed herein. In some embodiments described herein, using high throughput (e.g., gas assisted and/or water based) electrospinning processes produce nanofibers of high energy capacity materials with continuous lithium-containing matrices or discrete crystal domains.

Abstract: A surface treatment method is described herein where a stabilizing (e.g., crosslinking agent) is pre-mixed into a fluid stock comprising a processable polymer. The stock is processed to form products (e.g., nanofibers or films), followed by exposing the products to a stabilizing (e.g., crosslinking catalyst, such as acid vapors), which results in stabilization (e.g., polymer cross-linking on the surface of the product). In some embodiments, the morphology of the product is not changed upon crosslinking. Moreover in some instances, this method does not need strong acids and is performed with weak acids such as acetic acid which reduces environmental pollution. In addition to water soluble polymers (e.g., PVA), this method is applicable to proteins such as soy protein, and combinations of polymers and proteins in various embodiments.

Abstract: Lithium ion batteries, electrodes, nanofibers, and methods for producing same are disclosed herein. Provided herein are batteries having (a) increased energy density; (b) decreased pulverization (structural disruption due to volume expansion during lithiation/de-lithiation processes); and/or (c) increased lifetime. In some embodiments described herein, using high throughput, water-based electrospinning process produces nanofibers of high energy capacity materials (e.g., ceramic) with nanostructures such as discrete crystal domains, mesopores, hollow cores, and the like; and such nanofibers providing reduced pulverization and increased charging rates when they are used in anodic or cathodic materials.

Abstract: Provided herein are silicon nanocomposite nanofibers and processes for preparing the same. In specific examples, provided herein are nanocomposite nanofibers comprising continuous silicon matrices and nanocomposite nanofibers comprising non-aggregated silicon domains.

Abstract: Provided herein are nanofibers comprising carbon precursors, nanofibers comprising carbon matrices, and processes for preparing the same. In specific examples, provided herein are high performance lithium ion battery anodic nanofibers comprising non-aggregated silicon domains in a continuous carbon matrix.

Abstract: Described herein are nanofibers and methods for making nanofibers that have a plurality of pores. The pores have of any suitable size or shape. In some embodiments the pores are “mesopores”, having a diameter between 2 and 50 nm. In some embodiments, the pores are “ordered”, meaning that they have a substantially uniform shape, a substantially uniform size and/or are distributed substantially uniformly through the nanofiber. Ordering of the pores results in a high surface area and/or high specific surface area. Ordered pores, without limitation, result in a nanofiber that is substantially flexible and/or non-brittle. The nanofibers and methods for making nanofibers may be used, without limitation, in batteries, capacitors, electrodes, solar cells, catalysts, adsorbers, filters, membranes, sensors, fabrics and/or tissue regeneration matrixes.