Abstract: Methods for synthesizing macroscale 3D heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials (such as boron doped carbon nanotube materials) and compositions thereof. Macroscopic quantities of three-dimensionally networked heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials are directly grown using an aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition method. The porous heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube material is created by doping of heteroatoms (such as boron) in the nanotube lattice during growth, which influences the creation of elbow joints and branching of nanotubes leading, to the three dimensional super-structure. The super-hydrophobic heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube sponge is strongly oleophilic and can soak up large quantities of organic solvents and oil. The trapped oil can be burnt off and the heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube material can be used repeatedly as an oil removal scaffold.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing macroscale 3D heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials (such as boron doped carbon nanotube materials) and compositions thereof. Macroscopic quantities of three-dimensionally networked heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials are directly grown using an aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition method. The porous heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube material is created by doping of heteroatoms (such as boron) in the nanotube lattice during growth, which influences the creation of elbow joints and branching of nanotubes leading to the three dimensional super-structure. The super-hydrophobic heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube sponge is strongly oleophilic and can soak up large quantities of organic solvents and oil. The trapped oil can be burnt off and the heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube material can be used repeatedly as an oil removal scaffold.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to adhesive compositions that include a fluorinated molecule and a hydrogen-containing molecule that are non-covalently associated with one another. The molecules may be non-covalently associated with one another through dipole-dipole interactions that create a fluorine-hydrogen electronegativity difference between at least some of the fluorine atoms of the fluorinated molecule and at least some of the hydrogen atoms of the hydrogen-containing molecule. The fluorinated molecule and the hydrogen-containing molecule may be in different phases, such as a liquid phase for one molecule and a solid phase for the other molecule. Additional embodiments pertain to methods of enhancing an adhesiveness of a surface by applying an adhesive composition of the present disclosure to the surface.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing macroscale 3D heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials (such as boron doped carbon nanotube materials) and compositions thereof. Macroscopic quantities of three-dimensionally networked heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube materials are directly grown using an aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition method. The porous heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube material is created by doping of heteroatoms (such as boron) in the nanotube lattice during growth, which influences the creation of elbow joints and branching of nanotubes leading to the three dimensional super-structure. The super-hydrophobic heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube sponge is strongly oleophilic and an soak up large quantities of organic solvents and oil. The trapped oil can be burnt off and the heteroatom-doped carbon nanotube material can be used repeatedly as an oil removal scaffold.

Abstract: Mechanically flexible and optically transparent thin film solid state supercapacitors are fabricated by assembling nano-engineered carbon electrodes in porous templates. The electrodes have textured graphitic surface films with a morphology of interconnected arrays of complex shapes and porosity. The graphitic films act as both electrode and current collector, and when integrated with solid polymer electrolyte function as thin film supercapacitors. The nanostructured electrode morphology and conformal electrolyte packaging provide enough energy and power density for electronic devices in addition to possessing excellent mechanical flexibility and optical transparency.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to methods of protecting a surface (e.g., a metal surface) from corrosion by conformably attaching a hybrid device comprising at least one multilayer energy storage device and at least one energy conversion device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of growing chalcogen-linked metallic films on a surface in a chamber. In some embodiments, the method comprises placing a metal source and a chalcogen source in the chamber, and gradually heating the chamber, where the heating leads to the chemical vapor deposition of the chalcogen source and the metal source onto the surface, and facilitates the growth of the chalcogen-linked metallic film from the chalcogen source and the metal source on the surface. In some embodiments, the chalcogen source comprises sulfur, and the metal source comprises molybdenum trioxide. In some embodiments, the growth of the chalcogen-linked metallic film occurs by formation of nucleation sites on the surface, where the nucleation sites merge to form the chalcogen-linked metallic film. In some embodiments, the formed chalcogen-linked metallic film includes MoS2.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of forming electrodes on a surface. In some embodiments, the formed electrodes have a three-dimensional current collector layer. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to the formed electrodes. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to energy storage devices that contain the formed electrodes.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to catalysts for mediating oxygen reduction reactions, such as the conversion of oxygen to at least one of H2O, H2O2, O2?, OH?, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of utilizing the catalysts to mediate oxygen reduction reactions. In some embodiments, the catalyst includes a carbon source and a dopant associated with the carbon source. In some embodiments, the catalyst has a three-dimensional structure, a density ranging from about 1 mg/cm3 to about 10 mg/cm3, and a surface area ranging from about 100 m2/g to about 1,000 m2/g. In some embodiments, the carbon source includes graphene nanoribbons, and the dopant includes boron-nitrogen heteroatoms. In some embodiments, the dopant is covalently associated with the edges of the carbon source. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making the aforementioned catalysts.

Abstract: The invention is directed to carbon nanostructure composite systems which may be useful for various applications, including as dry adhesives, electronics and display technologies, or in a wide variety of other areas where organized nano structures may be formed and integrated into a flexible substrate. The present invention provides systems and methods wherein organized nanotube structures or other nanostructures are embedded within polymers or other flexible materials to provide a flexible skin-like material, with the properties and characteristics of the nanotubes or other nanostructures exploited for use in various applications. In one aspect, the invention is directed to a carbon nanotube/polymer composite material having a plurality of carbon nanotubes formed into a predetermined architecture, with each of the plurality of nanotubes having a desired width and length.

Abstract: An opto-electronic sensor may provide one or more layers of atomically layered photo-sensitive materials. The sensor may include a gate electrode layer, a dielectric layer in contact with the gate electrode layer, and a working media layer that is photo-sensitive deposited on the dielectric layer. The working media layer may provide one or more layers of one or more materials where each of the one or more layers is an atomic layer. The sensor may also include side electrodes in contact with the working media layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of strengthening composites. In some embodiments, such methods generally comprise a step of applying a dynamic stress to the composite in order to increase at least one of the stiffness or strength of the composite. In some embodiments, the composite comprises: a polymer matrix; nanomaterial fillers; and an interphase between the polymer matrix and the nanomaterial fillers. In some embodiments, the stiffness or strength of the composite increases permanently in response to the applied stress. In some embodiments, the increase in the stiffness or strength of the composite may be associated with an increase in the storage modulus of the composite, a decrease in the loss modulus of the composite, and a decrease in the loss tangent of the composite. In some embodiments, the applied stress results in a rearrangement of the interphase.

Abstract: An opto-electronic sensor may provide one or more layers of atomically layered photo-sensitive materials. The sensor may include a gate electrode layer, a dielectric layer in contact with the gate electrode layer, and a working media layer that is photo-sensitive deposited on the dielectric layer. The working media layer may provide one or more layers of one or more materials where each of the one or more layers is an atomic layer. The sensor may also include side electrodes in contact with the working media layer.

Abstract: A fabrication process for conformal coating of a thin polymer electrolyte layer on nanostructured electrode materials for three-dimensional micro/nanobattery applications, compositions thereof, and devices incorporating such compositions. In embodiments, conformal coatings (such as uniform thickness of around 20-30 nanometer) of polymer Polymethylmethacralate (PMMA) electrolyte layers around individual Ni—Sn nanowires were used as anodes for Li ion battery. This configuration showed high discharge capacity and excellent capacity retention even at high rates over extended cycling, allowing for scalable increase in areal capacity with electrode thickness. Such conformal nanoscale anode-electrolyte architectures were shown to be efficient Li-ion battery system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to patterned graphite oxide films and methods to make and use same. The present invention includes a novel strategy developed to imprint any required conductive patterns onto self-assembled graphene oxide (GO) membranes.

Abstract: Mechanically flexible and optically transparent thin film solid state supercapacitors are fabricated by assembling nano-engineered carbon electrodes in porous templates. The electrodes have textured graphitic surface films with a morphology of interconnected arrays of complex shapes and porosity. The graphitic films act as both electrode and current collector, and when integrated with solid polymer electrolyte function as thin film supercapacitors. The nanostructured electrode morphology and conform al electrolyte packaging provide enough energy and power density for electronic devices in addition to possessing excellent mechanical flexibility and optical transparency.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of making carbon particles by mixing a carbon source (e.g., a carbohydrate) with a dehydrating agent (e.g., concentrated sulfuric acid) to result in the assembly of the carbon particles from the carbon source. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of associating the carbon particles with a filler, such as a scale inhibitor. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to carbon particles that are assembled by the methods of the present disclosure. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of chemically treating a reservoir by introducing the carbon particles of the present disclosure into the reservoir, where at least one component of the filler is released into the reservoir from the carbon particles to chemically treat the reservoir in various manners (e.g., scale inhibition, corrosion inhibition, and/or shale inhibition).

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of making three-dimensional graphene compositions. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: (1) associating a graphene oxide with a metal source to form a mixture; and (2) reducing the mixture. In some embodiments, the method results in formation of a three-dimensional graphene composition that includes: (a) a reduced metal derived from the metal source; and (b) a graphene derived from the graphene oxide, where the graphene is associated with the reduced metal. In some embodiments, the metal source is (NH4)2MoS4, and the reduced metal is MoS2. In some embodiments, the metal source is V2O5, and the reduced metal is VO2. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the formed three-dimensional graphene compositions and their use as electrode materials in energy storage devices.

Abstract: The invention is directed to carbon nanostructure composite systems which may be useful for various applications, including as dry adhesives, electronics and display technologies, or in a wide variety of other areas where organized nanostructures may be formed and integrated into a flexible substrate. The present invention provides systems and methods wherein organized nanotube structures or other nanostructures are embedded within polymers or other flexible materials to provide a flexible skin-like material, with the properties and characteristics of the nanotubes or other nanostructures exploited for use in various applications. In one aspect, the invention is directed to a carbon nanotube/polymer composite material having a plurality of carbon nanotubes formed into a predetermined architecture, with each of the plurality of nanotubes having a desired width and length.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of forming electrodes on a surface. In some embodiments, the formed electrodes have a three-dimensional current collector layer. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to the formed electrodes. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to energy storage devices that contain the formed electrodes.