Abstract: Methods include producing tunable carbon structures and combining carbon structures with a polymer to form a composite material. Carbon structures include crinkled graphene. Methods also include functionalizing the carbon structures, either in-situ, within the plasma reactor, or in a liquid collection facility. The plasma reactor has a first control for tuning the specific surface area (SSA) of the resulting tuned carbon structures as well as a second, independent control for tuning the SSA of the tuned carbon structures. The composite materials that result from mixing the tuned carbon structures with a polymer results in composite materials that exhibit exceptional favorable mechanical and/or other properties. Mechanisms that operate between the carbon structures and the polymer yield composite materials that exhibit these exceptional mechanical properties are also examined.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing a composite material is disclosed. In some implementations, the method includes supplying a thermoplastic resin having an initial density, mixing polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA) formed of a plurality of interconnected PPgMA molecules throughout the thermoplastic resin, distributing a plurality of carbon particles throughout the thermoplastic resin and the plurality of interconnected PPgMA molecules, and forming, by rotational molding, the composite material based on a combination of the thermoplastic resin, the PPgMA, and at least some of the plurality of carbon particles.

Abstract: A composite material is provided. In some aspects, the composite material may include a combination of a thermoplastic resin mixed with a polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA). Carbon particles may be mixed in the combination. In this way, the composite material may include between 80 wt. % and 90 wt. % of the thermoplastic resin, between 0.5 wt. % and 15 wt. % of PPgMA, and between 0.1 wt. % to 7 wt. % of carbon particles. Carbon particles may have exposed carbon surfaces with carbon atoms bonded to molecular sites on adjacent PPgMA molecules. At least some carbon atoms may be oxidized with one or more of oxygen-containing groups. Oxidation of carbon atoms may be associated with an increase in at least some PPgMA molecules chemically bonding with adjacent carbon atoms per unit volume. In this way, interaction between carbon atoms and PPgMA molecules may maintain composite material density within +/?3% of thermoplastic resin density.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing a composite material is disclosed. In some implementations, the method includes supplying a thermoplastic resin having an initial density, mixing polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA) formed of a plurality of interconnected PPgMA molecules throughout the thermoplastic resin, distributing a plurality of carbon particles throughout the thermoplastic resin and the plurality of interconnected PPgMA molecules, and forming, by rotational molding, the composite material based on a combination of the thermoplastic resin, the PPgMA, and at least some of the plurality of carbon particles.

Abstract: Methods include producing tunable carbon structures and combining carbon structures with a polymer to form a composite material. Carbon structures include crinkled graphene. Methods also include functionalizing the carbon structures, either in-situ, within the plasma reactor, or in a liquid collection facility. The plasma reactor has a first control for tuning the specific surface area (SSA) of the resulting tuned carbon structures as well as a second, independent control for tuning the SSA of the tuned carbon structures. The composite materials that result from mixing the tuned carbon structures with a polymer results in composite materials that exhibit exceptional favorable mechanical and/or other properties. Mechanisms that operate between the carbon structures and the polymer yield composite materials that exhibit these exceptional mechanical properties are also examined.

Abstract: A container may be formed from a composite material including a combination of thermoplastic resin and polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA) mixed with one another, a plurality of carbon particles mixed in the combination, and a plurality of pores formed in at least some of the mixed carbon particles. In some instances, the carbon particles may include a first region having a relatively low concentration of carbon particles, and a second region having a relatively high concentration of carbon particles. In various implementations, the plurality of pores may be formed in at least some of the mixed carbon particles, the thermoplastic resin, and the PPgMA. In some aspects, at least some of the pores may be configured to be infiltrated by the PPgMA.

Abstract: A composite material includes a combination including a thermoplastic resin mixed with a polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA), and a plurality of carbon particles mixed in the combination. The plurality of carbon particles may include a first region having a relatively low concentration of carbon particles, and a second region having a relatively high concentration of carbon particles, at least some of the plurality of carbon particles having exposed carbon surfaces with carbon atoms bonded to molecular sites on adjacent PPgMA molecules and oxidized with one or more oxygen-containing groups. In some aspects, composite material further includes between 80 wt. % and 90 wt. % of the thermoplastic resin, between 0.5 wt. % and 15 wt. % of the PPgMA, and between 0.1 wt. % to 7 wt. % of carbon particles. The composite material may also include a plurality of pores, formed in the combination, and configured to be infiltrated by the PPgMA.

Abstract: A lithium-sulfur battery including an anode, a cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte is provided. The lithium-sulfur battery may be formed as a jelly roll. The anode may output lithium cations (Li+) and a solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) may be formed on the anode. A protective layer may be formed at least partially within and on the SEI. In addition, the protective layer may be positioned proximal to the anode and include wrinkled graphene nanoplatelets and fluorinated poly(meth)acrylates. For example, multiple wrinkled graphene nanoplatelets may be adjoined to one another by flexure points, where each flexure point may provide exposed carbon atoms. In this way, the fluorinated poly(meth)acrylates may be grafted onto at least some exposed carbon atoms. At least some fluorinated poly(meth)acrylates may be compatible with polymerization and cross-linking with one another responsive to exposure to one or more of free-radical initiators or an ultraviolet (UV) energetic environment.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lithium-sulfur battery in a cylindrical cell format is provided. In some aspects, the method includes providing an anode current collector and providing an anode on the anode current collector. The method may include depositing a protective layer on and along the length of the anode, providing a cathode current collector opposite to the anode, and providing a cathode on the cathode current collector. The method may include providing a separator between the anode and the cathode, disposing an adhesive carbon-containing layer along the bottom edge of the anode (e.g., to replace one or more conventional anode tabs), and dispersing an electrolyte throughout the lithium-sulfur battery. The method may include forming the lithium-sulfur battery in the cylindrical cell format by collectively winding into a jelly roll.

Abstract: A lithium-sulfur battery may include a cathode, an anode structure positioned opposite to the cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte. In some instances, the anode structure may include an artificial solid-electrolyte interphase (A-SEI) that may form on and within the anode structure. A protective layer may form within and on the A-SEI, and may include exposed carbon surfaces formed by coalescence of several wrinkled graphene nanoplatelets with one another. Metal-containing substances may be decorated on and/or attached with at least some exposed carbon surfaces and regulate flow of lithium (Li+) cations within the lithium-sulfur battery and correspondingly moderate one or more of a plating rate or a de-plating rate of lithium onto the anode structure. The separator may be positioned between the anode structure and the cathode. The electrolyte may be dispersed throughout the cathode and in contact with the anode structure.

Abstract: Methods include producing tunable carbon structures and combining carbon structures with a polymer to form a composite material. Carbon structures include crinkled graphene. Methods also include functionalizing the carbon structures, either in-situ, within the plasma reactor, or in a liquid collection facility. The plasma reactor has a first control for tuning the specific surface area (SSA) of the resulting tuned carbon structures as well as a second, independent control for tuning the SSA of the tuned carbon structures. The composite materials that result from mixing the tuned carbon structures with a polymer results in composite materials that exhibit exceptional favorable mechanical and/or other properties. Mechanisms that operate between the carbon structures and the polymer yield composite materials that exhibit these exceptional mechanical properties are also examined.

Abstract: A lithium-sulfur battery including an anode structure, a cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte is provided. A protective layer may form within the anode structure responsive to operational discharge-charge cycling of the lithium-sulfur battery. The protective layer may include a polymeric backbone chain formed of interconnected carbon atoms collectively defining a segmental motion of the protective layer. Additional polymeric chains may be cross-linked to one another and at least some carbon atoms of the polymeric backbone chain. Each additional polymeric chain may be formed of interconnected monomer units. A plasticizer may be dispersed throughout the protective layer without covalently bonding to the polymeric backbone chain. The plasticizer may separate adjacent monomer units of at least some additional polymeric chains. Increasing separation of adjacent monomer units increases a cooperative segmental mobility of the additional polymeric chains and ionic conductivity of the protective layer.

Abstract: An lithium-sulfur battery including an anode structure, a cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte is provided. The electrolyte may be dispersed throughout the cathode and in contact with the anode. An artificial solid-electrolyte interphase (A-SEI) may form on the anode, and a protective layer (e.g., that may be pinhole free) may form within and/or on the A-SEI to face the cathode. The protective layer may be formed from carbonaceous materials, which may provide exposed carbon atoms grafted with one or more ions, such as fluorine anions (F?), uniformly dispersed throughout the protective layer. In addition, the protective layer may include polymeric chains positioned generally opposite to each other. The polymeric chains may cross-link upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) energetic radiation to form a three-dimensional (3D) lattice having a defined cross-linking density suitable to trap one or more anions during discharge-charge operational cycling of the lithium-sulfur battery.

Abstract: Methods include producing tunable carbon structures and combining carbon structures with a polymer to form a composite material. Carbon structures include crinkled graphene. Methods also include functionalizing the carbon structures, either in-situ, within the plasma reactor, or in a liquid collection facility. The plasma reactor has a first control for tuning the specific surface area (SSA) of the resulting tuned carbon structures as well as a second, independent control for tuning the SSA of the tuned carbon structures. The composite materials that result from mixing the tuned carbon structures with a polymer results in composite materials that exhibit exceptional favorable mechanical and/or other properties. Mechanisms that operate between the carbon structures and the polymer yield composite materials that exhibit these exceptional mechanical properties are also examined.

Abstract: Methods include producing tunable carbon structures and combining carbon structures with a polymer to form a composite material. Carbon structures include crinkled graphene. Methods also include functionalizing the carbon structures, either in-situ, within the plasma reactor, or in a liquid collection facility. The plasma reactor has a first control for tuning the specific surface area (SSA) of the resulting tuned carbon structures as well as a second, independent control for tuning the SSA of the tuned carbon structures. The composite materials that result from mixing the tuned carbon structures with a polymer results in composite materials that exhibit exceptional favorable mechanical and/or other properties. Mechanisms that operate between the carbon structures and the polymer yield composite materials that exhibit these exceptional mechanical properties are also examined.