University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Xiaodong Li

Zan Gao

Yunya Zhang

Yellapu V Murty

Jiadeng Zhu

Kenneth Brown

Clifton Bumgardner

A new technique for treating non-PAN-based pre-cursor polymeric fibers, tows, yarns, and films has been created for use in making stabilized pre-cursor polymers. By applying stepwise or non-stepwise microwave and/or ultraviolet radiation to the pre-cursor polymeric fibers, tows, yarn, or films prior to the stabilization thereof, a reduction in time for the costly stabilization process is achieved. Application of this technique extends to less-costly production of carbon fibers, for uses in industries such as automotive, aviation, trains, medical, military, sporting goods, orthopedics, and other industries. The pre-cursor polymeric fibers, tows, yarns, or films may be a multi-component polymer composite comprised of a non-PAN-based polymeric fiber, tow, yarn, or film and at least one or more constituent materials. Carbonization of such pre-cursor polymeric fibers, tows, yarns, or films results in less-costly carbon fibers that perform equally, if not better, than traditional costly PAN-based carbon fibers.

System and method of accelerating polymer fiber stabilization via irradiation treatment

A graphene/metal-oxide hybrid reinforced composite and a method for a graphene/metal-oxide hybrid reinforced composite. The method includes freeze drying a slurry comprising graphene oxide and flakes to form a flake-graphene oxide foam. The graphene/metal-oxide hybrid reinforced composite comprises graphene, metal, and metal oxide nanoparticles. The metal is arranged in parallel lamellar structure to form metal layers in the composite. The metal oxide nanoparticles are present at the interfaces between the metal layers and the graphene.

Method of forming graphene/metal-oxide hybrid reinforced composites and product thereof

A flexible electrode comprises an activated cotton textile composite comprising activated carbon fibers, nickel sulfide nanoparticles and graphene and a process for making the flexible electrode. The process may comprise preparing a cotton textile containing Ni(NO). Then, the cotton textile containing Ni(NO)may be heated at a first temperature to produce an activated cotton textile composite comprising activated carbon fibers, nickel nanoparticles and graphene. The activated cotton textile composite may be then treated with sulfur to produce an activated cotton textile composite comprising activated carbon fibers, nickel sulfide nanoparticles and graphene. The nickel sulfide particles may be NiSnanoparticles in a form of nanobowls, and distributed on a surface and inside the activated carbon fibers. The activated carbon fibers and the nickel sulfide nanoparticles may be coated with graphene. Banana peels may be activated and treated with the similar processes to form electrodes for both supercapacitor and battery applications.

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Charlottesville, VA, United States of America

Xiaodong Li