Potential Applications of Magnesium-Based Polymeric Nanocomposites Obtained by Electrospinning Technique

In the last few decades, the development of new electrospun materials with different morphologies and advanced multifunctional properties are strongly consolidated. There are several reviews that describe the processing, use and characterization of electrospun nanocomposites, however, based on our knowledge, no review on electrospun nanocomposites reinforced with nanoparticles (NPs) based on magnesium, Mg-based NPs, are reported. Therefore, in the present review, we focus attention on the fabrication of these promising electrospun materials and their potential applications. Firstly, the electrospinning technique and its main processing window-parameters are described, as well as some post-processing methods used to obtain Mg-based materials. Then, the applications of Mg-based electrospun nanocomposites in different fields are pointed out, thus taking into account the current trend in developing inorganic-organic nanocomposites to gradually satisfy the challenges that the industry generates. Mg-based electrospun nanocomposites are becoming an attractive field of research for environmental remediation (waste-water cleaning and air filtration) as well as for novel technical textiles. However, the mayor application of Mg-based electrospun materials is in the biomedical field, as pointed out. Therefore, this review aims to clarify the tendency in using electrospinning technique and Mg-based nanoparticles to huge development at industrial level in the near future.

Enhancing the Capacitance of Battery-Type Hybrid Capacitors by Encapsulating MgO Nanoparticles in Porous Carbon as Reservoirs for OH- Ions from Electrolytes

A novel design of no-loading and bifunctional positive electrode, serving as an active material and current collector simultaneously, has been constructed by grass-like nickel foam which shows a battery-type performance and excellent areal specific capacity at 0.540 mA h·cm^-2 (over 4500 mF·cm^-2). To obtain a high-performance hybrid capacitor, layered porous carbonaceous composites C/MgO negative electrodes were fabricated, in which MgO nanoparticles serve as "reservoirs" for OH^- ions from the electrolyte. Compared with other carbon materials, such as carbon fibers, hollow nanospheres, and nanotubes, the three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical heterostructures of the C/MgO electrode exhibit a higher storage performance of 424.1 mF·cm^-2. Assembled by these two working electrodes, a hybrid capacitor with uncommon galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling curve has been well-investigated in an alkaline aqueous electrolyte system. This as-coupled hybrid capacitor exhibits an engaging activation process during multiple cycling tests and leads to a drastically improved energy density of 60% (from 80.4 to 128.8 μW h·cm^-2), which can be attributed to a "match behavior" between its positive and negative electrodes.

Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoclusters: Aqueous, Concentrated, Stable, and Catalytically Active Colloids toward Green Chemistry

Increasing attention has been dedicated to the development of nanomaterials rendering green and sustainable processes, which occur in benign aqueous reaction media. Herein, we demonstrate the synthesis of another family of green nanomaterials, layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoclusters, which are concentrated (98.7 g/L in aqueous solvent), stably dispersed (transparent sol for >2 weeks), and catalytically active colloids of nano LDHs (isotropic shape with the size of 7.8 nm as determined by small-angle X-ray scattering). LDH nanoclusters are available as colloidal building blocks to give access to meso- and macroporous LDH materials. Proof-of-concept applications revealed that the LDH nanocluster works as a solid basic catalyst and is separable from solvents of catalytic reactions, confirming the nature of nanocatalysts. The present work closely investigates the unique physical and chemical features of this colloid, the formation mechanism, and the ability to act as basic nanocatalysts in benign aqueous reaction systems.

Facile preparation of highly electrically conductive films of silver nanoparticles finely dispersed in polyisobutylene-b-poly(oxyethylene)-b-polyisobutylene triblock copolymers and graphene oxide hybrid surfactants

The melted morphologies revealed that the AgNPs possessed mobility, and melted on the film surface, giving a high electrical conductivity of 5.2 × 10⁻² Ω sq⁻¹ when heat-treated at 350 °C.

Preparation of 4A-zeolite-based Ag nanoparticle composite catalyst and research of the catalytic properties

4A-zeolite base silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) composite catalyst was prepared and the catalytic properties were researched.