A facile and scalable 2D spatial confinement strategy is developed for in situ synthesizing highly crystalline MoS2 nanosheets with few layers (≤5 layers) anchored on 3D porous carbon nanosheet networks (3D FL-MoS2@PCNNs) as lithium-ion battery anode. During the synthesis, 3D self-assembly of cubic NaCl particles is adopted to not only serve as a template to direct the growth of 3D porous carbon nanosheet networks, but also create a 2D-confined space to achieve the construction of few-layer MoS2 nanosheets robustly lain on the surface of carbon nanosheet walls. In the resulting 3D architecture, the intimate contact between the surfaces of MoS2 and carbon nanosheets can effectively avoid the aggregation and restacking of MoS2 as well as remarkably enhance the structural integrity of the electrode, while the conductive matrix of 3D porous carbon nanosheet networks can ensure fast transport of both electrons and ions in the whole electrode. As a result, this unique 3D architecture manifests an outstanding lo...

2D Space-Confined Synthesis of Few-Layer MoS2 Anchored on Carbon Nanosheet for Lithium-Ion Battery Anode.

3D copper nanowires-thermally annealed graphene aerogel (CuNWs-TAGA) framework is firstly prepared by freeze-drying followed by thermal annealing from CuNWs, graphene oxide (GO) and L-ascorbic acid. Epoxy resin is then poured back into the above 3D CuNWs-TAGA framework to fabricate the CuNWs-TAGA/epoxy nanocomposites. CuNWs with average diameter of about 120 nm and length of approximate 10 μm are successfully prepared. When the mass fraction of CuNWs-TAGA is 7.2 wt% (6.0–1.2 wt% CuNWs-TAGA), the thermal conductivity coefficient (λ) value of the CuNWs-TAGA/epoxy nanocomposites reaches the maximum of 0.51 W/mK. Meantime, the CuNWs-TAGA/epoxy nanocomposites exhibit the maximum electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) value of 47 dB and electrical conductivity (σ) of 120.8 S/m, ascribed to perfect 3D CuNWs-TAGA conductive network structures. Meanwhile, the corresponding elasticity modulus, hardness, glass transition temperature (Tg) and heat-resistance index (THRI) of the CuNWs-TAGA/epoxy nanocomposites increase to 4.69 GPa, 0.33 GPa, 126.3 °C and 181.7 °C, respectively.

Synchronously improved electromagnetic interference shielding and thermal conductivity for epoxy nanocomposites by constructing 3D copper nanowires/thermally annealed graphene aerogel framework

Polymers are widely used in industry and in our daily life because of their diverse functionality, light weight, low cost and excellent chemical stability. However, on some applications such as heat exchangers and electronic packaging, the low thermal conductivity of polymers is one of the major technological barriers. Enhancing the thermal conductivity of polymers is important for these applications and has become a very active research topic over the past two decades. In this review article, we aim to: 1). systematically summarize the molecular level understanding on the thermal transport mechanisms in polymers in terms of polymer morphology, chain structure and inter-chain coupling; 2). highlight the rationales in the recent efforts in enhancing the thermal conductivity of nanostructured polymers and polymer nanocomposites. Finally, we outline the main advances, challenges and outlooks for highly thermal-conductive polymer and polymer nanocomposites.

Thermal conductivity of polymers and polymer nanocomposites

Owing to the growing heat removal issue of modern electronic devices, polymer composites with high thermal conductivity have drawn much attention in the past few years. However, a traditional method to enhance the thermal conductivity of the polymers by addition of inorganic fillers usually creates composite with not only limited thermal conductivity but also other detrimental effects due to large amount of fillers required. Here, novel polymer composites are reported by first constructing 3D boron nitride nanosheets (3D-BNNS) network using ice-templated approach and then infiltrating them with epoxy matrix. The obtained polymer composites exhibit a high thermal conductivity (2.85 W m(-1) K(-1)), a low thermal expansion coefficient (24-32 ppm K(-1)), and an increased glass transition temperature (T(g)) at relatively low BNNSs loading (9.29 vol%). These results demonstrate that this approach opens a new avenue for design and preparation of polymer composites with high thermal conductivity. The polymer composites are potentially useful in advanced electronic packaging techniques, namely, thermal interface materials, underfill materials, molding compounds, and organic substrates.

Ice‐Templated Assembly Strategy to Construct 3D Boron Nitride Nanosheet Networks in Polymer Composites for Thermal Conductivity Improvement

The development of renewable energy storage and conversion devices is one of the most promising ways to address the current energy crisis, along with the global environmental concern. The exploration of suitable active materials is the key factor for the construction of highly efficient, highly stable, low-cost and environmentally friendly energy storage and conversion devices. The ability to prepare two-dimensional (2D) metal dichalcogenide (MDC) nanosheets and their functional composites in high yield and large scale via various solution-based methods in recent years has inspired great research interests in their utilization for renewable energy storage and conversion applications. Here, we will summarize the recent advances of solution-processed 2D MDCs and their hybrid nanomaterials for energy storage and conversion applications, including rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors, electrocatalytic hydrogen generation and solar cells. Moreover, based on the current progress, we will also give some personal insights on the existing challenges and future research directions in this promising field.

Solution-Processed Two-Dimensional Metal Dichalcogenide-Based Nanomaterials for Energy Storage and Conversion.

Stress Controllability in Thermal and Electrical Conductivity of 3D Elastic Graphene-Crosslinked Carbon Nanotube Sponge/Polyimide Nanocomposite

Efficiently Controlling the 3D Thermal Conductivity of a Polymer Nanocomposite via a Hyperelastic Double‐Continuous Network of Graphene and Sponge

Toward highly thermally conductive all-carbon composites: Structure control

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with well aligned, highly regular structures possess advanced properties like high crystalline orientation and low thermal interface resistance. These properties enable them to become effective thermal interface materials (TIMs) in thermal management. However, the application is constrained by their fragility in the external environment. Additionally, air gaps and defects make aligned CNTs a poor thermally conducting model. Therefore, aligned CNT/polymer composites have been widely developed to acquire the combination of high thermal conductivity and other excellent properties. There are still some challenges which require further studies on improving the CNT quality, enhancing the interfacial strength and reducing the interface thermal resistance. This paper reviews recent progress in the thermal conduction of CNTs and their polymer composites. The synthesis methods are discussed along with the thermal conducting property dependence on the aligned CNT structure and morphology as well as the interface properties in details.

Mengmeng Qin

Papers

Stress Controllability in Thermal and Electrical Conductivity of 3D Elastic Graphene-Crosslinked Carbon Nanotube Sponge/Polyimide Nanocomposite

Efficiently Controlling the 3D Thermal Conductivity of a Polymer Nanocomposite via a Hyperelastic Double‐Continuous Network of Graphene and Sponge

Toward highly thermally conductive all-carbon composites: Structure control

Thermal conducting properties of aligned carbon nanotubes and their polymer composites

Improving thermal conductivity in the through-thickness direction of carbon fibre/SiC composites by growing vertically aligned carbon nanotubes