Insights into MWCNTs/polyimide nanocomposites: from synthesis to application as free-standing flexible electrodes in low-cost micro-supercapacitors

In the pursuit to enlarge the library of polyimide materials for energy applications, new polyimide/MWCNTs composite films have been developed by MWCNTs-assisted polycondensation reaction of a hydroxyl and triphenylmethane-containing diamine with benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride targeting to highlight their electrical storage capability as flexible electrodes in micro-supercapacitors (mSCs). The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, UV–vis, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopies were used to demonstrate the evolution of interfacial interactions between MWCNTs and the precursors (diamine monomer and intermediate polyamidic acid) and polyimide matrix that proved to be the origin of MWCNTs homogeneous dispersion. Thus, composite films incorporating 1, 3, 5, and 10 w.t.% MWCNTs were obtained and thoroughly investigated with regard to their morphology, mechanical behavior, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity. The electrochemical performance of these composites was first analyzed in a classical three-electrode cell by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge in both aqueous and organic electrolyte systems. By far, the best electrical storage capacity was obtained with the composite polyimide film containing 10% MWCNTs that was further used as both active material and current collector in a flexible symmetric mSC realized by a straightforward and low-cost procedure. In the attempt to better exploit the advantages of this composite film, it was layered with a graphite-containing paint and tested as an electrode in a flexible mSC, which provided satisfactory results. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the electrical charge storage capability of a polyimide/MWCNTs free-standing film as a flexible electrode in mSCs, which do not require time- and resource-consuming processing steps.     

Functional Groups Assisted Tunable Dielectric Permittivity of Guest-Free Zn-Based Coordination Polymers for Gate Dielectrics

The dielectric properties of coordination polymers has been a topic of recent interest, but the role of different functional groups on the dielectric properties of these polymers has not yet been fully addressed. Herein, the effects of electron-donating (R=NH₂) and electron-withdrawing (R=NO₂) groups on the dielectric behavior of such materials were investigated for two thermally stable and guest-free Zn-based coordination polymers, [Zn(L₁)(L₂)]_n ( 1 ) and [Zn(L₁)(L₃)]_n ( 2 ) [L₁=2-(2-pyridyl) benzimidazole (Pbim), L₂=5-aminoisophthalate (Aip), and L₃=5-nitroisophthalate (Nip)]. The results of dielectric studies of 1 revealed that it possesses a high dielectric constant (κ=65.5 at 1 kHz), while compound 2 displayed an even higher dielectric constant (κ=110.3 at 1 kHz). The electron donating and withdrawing effects of the NH₂ and NO₂ substituents induce changes in the polarity of the polymers, which is due to the inductive effect from the aryl ring for both NO₂ and NH₂. Theoretical results from density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which also support the experimental findings, show that both compounds have a distinct electronic behavior with diverse wide bandgaps. The significance of the current work is to provide information about the structure-dielectric property relationships. So, this study promises to pave the way for further research on the effects of different functional groups on coordination polymers on their dielectric properties.     

(O-Si)-Chelate acetic and benzoic acid N-(fluorosilylmethyl)amides: synthesis and structure

Russian Chemical Bulletin - New representatives of (O-Si)-chelate compounds, N-(fluorosilyl)methyl derivatives of N-methylacetamide, N-methylbenzamide, N-phenylacetamide, and N-phenylbenzamide,...     

Epoxy Nanocomposites with Metal-Containing Fillers: Synthesis,Structure, and Properties

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - Recent achievements in the field of the development of preparation methods and study of structure and properties of epoxy nanocomposites with metal-containing...     

Synthesis and Properties of Magnetically Susceptible Porous Carbon Materials Based on Hydrolysis Lignin Modified with ZnCl2 and FeCl3

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - A method for the disposal of hydrolysis lignin waste based on its modification with ZnCl2 and FeCl3 and subsequent carbonization at 800°C was proposed....     

Cosmological constant,scalar field,and the coincidence problem

Theoretical and Mathematical Physics - We study a phenomenological model in which dark matter in the cosmological constant form is identified with the mean energy–momentum tensor of a...     

Magnetic Properties of FeBO3 in the Low-Spin State

JETP Letters - Changes in the magnetic properties of FeBO3 single crystals in the course of spin crossover occurring with increasing pressure up to 63 GPa are studied both experimentally and...     

Thermoheliox: effect on the functional hemodynamics of the human brain

A kinetic study of the effect of thermoheliox (inhalation of a helium and oxygen mixture, 70 °C) on the functional hemodynamics of the human brain by functional magnetic resonance imaging was carried out. The dynamic responses of the BOLD signal were found to be biphasic. An empirical equation describing the first phase of the hemodynamic response to visual stimulus was proposed. It was shown that preliminary inhalation of thermoheliox stimulates the hemodynamic responses by slowing down the vasoconstriction.

     

High-performance nonfused ring electron acceptor with a steric hindrance induced planar molecular backbone

Three nonfused ring electron acceptors (NFREAs) TTC6,TT-C8T and TT-TC8 were purposefully designed and synthesized.The molecular geometry can be adjusted by the steric hindrance of lateral substituents.According to the DFT calculations,from TTC6 to TT-C8T and TT-TC8,planarity of the molecular backbone is gradually improved,accompanying with the enhancing of intramolecular charge transfer effect.As for TT-TC8,the two phenyl substituents are almost perpendicular to the molecular backbone,which endues the acceptor with good solubility and suppresses it to form over-aggregation.Multidirectional regular molecular orientation and closer molecular stacking are formed in TT-TC8 film.As a result,TT-TC8 based devices afford the highest PCE of 13.13%,which is much higher than that of TTC6 (4.41%) and TT-C8T (10.42%) and among the highest PCE values based on NFREAs.     

Multiparticle Effects in the Spectrum of Collective Excitations of Strongly Interacting Two-Dimensional Electron Systems (Brief Review)

JETP Letters - Extraordinary multiparticle effects in quantizing magnetic fields that are manifested in strongly interacting two-dimensional electron systems in MgZnO/ZnO heterostructures have been...