Abstract: A method of fabricating electrodes having protruding nanofeatures includes growing metal oxide nanofeatures on a metal or metal alloy wire using a heat treatment in an oxidizing environment. An electrically conducting material is deposited on the nanofeatures to form coated nanofeatures. An electrochemically active material (active material) is deposited to form a coating onto the coated nanofeatures to form at least one nanofeatured electrode. An energy storage coaxial cable (ESCC) can be formed from a first nanofeatured electrode and a second nanofeatured electrode, wherein the first nanofeatured electrode is configured as a linear electrode and the second nanofeatured electrode is configured as a tubular electrode, and the ESCC includes an ion porous separator and an electrolyte between the first nanofeatured electrode as an inner electrode and the second nanofeatured electrode as an outer electrode.

Abstract: A method of fabricating electrodes having protruding nanofeatures includes growing metal oxide nanofeatures on a metal or metal alloy wire using a heat treatment in an oxidizing environment. An electrically conducting material is deposited on the nanofeatures to form coated nanofeatures. An electrochemically active material (active material) is deposited to form a coating onto the coated nanofeatures to form at least one nanofeatured electrode. An energy storage coaxial cable (ESCC) can be formed from a first nanofeatured electrode and a second nanofeatured electrode, wherein the first nanofeatured electrode is configured as a linear electrode and the second nanofeatured electrode is configured as a tubular electrode, and the ESCC includes an ion porous separator and an electrolyte between the first nanofeatured electrode as an inner electrode and the second nanofeatured electrode as an outer electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for fabricating polymer nanostructures and nanostructured electrodes are disclosed. Material layers are deposited onto polymer nanostructures to form nanostructured electrodes and devices including the nanostructured electrodes, such as photovoltaic cells, light-emitting diodes, and field-effect transistors. Embodiments of the disclosed methods are suitable for commercial-scale production of large-area nanostructured polymer scaffolds and large-area nanostructured electrodes.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for fabricating polymer nanostructures and nanostructured electrodes are disclosed. Material layers are deposited onto polymer nanostructures to form nanostructured electrodes and devices including the nanostructured electrodes, such as photovoltaic cells, light-emitting diodes, and field-effect transistors. Embodiments of the disclosed methods are suitable for commercial-scale production of large-area nanostructured polymer scaffolds and large-area nanostructured electrodes.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, a nano-architectured carbon structure is fabricated by forming a unit (e.g., a film) of a liquid carbon-containing starting material and at least one dopant. A surface of the unit is nano-molded using a durable mold that is pre-formed with a pattern of nano-concavities corresponding to a desired pattern of nano-features to be formed by the mold on the surface of the unit. After nano-molding the surface of the unit, the first unit is stabilized to render the unit and its formed nano-structures capable of surviving downstream steps. The mold is removed from the first surface to form a nano-molded surface of a carbonization precursor. The precursor is carbonized in an inert-gas atmosphere at a suitable high temperature to form a corresponding nano-architectured carbon structure. A principal use of the nano-architectured carbon structure is a carbon electrode used in, e.g., Li-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and battery-supercapacitor hybrid devices.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, a nano-architectured carbon structure is fabricated by forming a unit (e.g., a film) of a liquid carbon-containing starting material. A surface of the unit is nano-molded using a durable mold (122) that is pre-formed with a pattern of nano-concavities corresponding to a desired pattern of nano-features to be formed by the mold on the surface of the unit. After nano-molding the surface of the unit, the first unit is stabilized to render the unit and its formed nano-structures capable of surviving downstream steps. The mold is removed from the first surface to form a nano-molded surface of a carbonization precursor (152). The precursor is carbonized in an inert-gas atmosphere at a suitable high temperature to form a corresponding nano-architectured carbon structure (62). A principal use of the nano-architectured carbon structure is a carbon electrode used in, e.g., Li-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and battery-supercapacitor hybrid devices.

Abstract: Composites, designed “MNPC” materials, are formed by methods of which an exemplary method includes preparing a liquid suspension of magnetic nanoparticles in a carrier liquid in which the nanoparticles are not soluble. The carrier liquid can form a rigid polymer matrix for the nanoparticles whenever the carrier liquid is exposed to a rigidification condition. A first rigidification condition is applied to the suspension to rigidify the carrier liquid into the polymer matrix and thus form a rigid MNPC material. A fluidizing condition is applied to the rigid MNPC material to fluidize the matrix and allow movement of the nanoparticles in the matrix. While the matrix is fluid, the MNPC material is magnetically poled by exposure to an external magnetic field. Poling aligns at least some of the nanoparticles with the field and allows at least some particles to self-assemble with each other.