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Abstract: A novel fiber consisted of nano-Fe2O3 particles/polyamide-6 (PA-6) nanocomposite has been prepared successfully. The thermal stability of the composite material was enhanced about 16 °C (from 440 °C to 456 °C) by the addition of Fe2O3 nanoparticles with 15.0% content (part per hundred parts of resin). In situ polymerization can make the materials possess homogeneously dispersed nanoparticles. The Fe2O3 reinforced materials processed by melt spinning displayed improved tensile modulus compared to similarly processed pure polyamide-6, the improvements of tensile strength and modulus were 21.22% and 112%, respectively. Moreover, this fiber has the property of ultraviolet and visible light absorption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Rutile structure SnO2 nano-single crystals have been synthesized using tin (IV) chloride as precursor by the modified hydrothermal method. Controllable morphology and size of SnO2 could be obtained by adjusting the concentration of the hydrochloric acid. The SnO2 nanoparticles were characterised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrochemical methods. The SnO2 nanoparticles as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries exhibit high lithium storage capacities. The reversible capacities are more than 630 mA h g−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: TiO2/short MWNTs nanocomposites were prepared by the sol–gel method using butyl titanate and short MWNTs as starting materials in the solvent of isopropyl alcohol. Their photocatalytic activity in the degradation of X-3B was studied. The effects of mass ratio of short MWNTs to butyl titanate, and heat-treatment temperature on the photoactivity of TiO2/short MWNTs nanocomposites were discussed. For comparison purpose, other photocatalysts were also employed in the photodegradation experiment. Thermogravimetric–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV–Vis absorption spectra were utilized to characterize the prepared photocatalysts. The results showed that the TiO2/short MWNTs nanocomposites synthesized with 1% mass ratio of short MWNTs to butyl titanate had the best photoactivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: FeCl3–CuCl2–graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) were applied to synthesize graphite/carbon spiral nanoribbons (G/CSNRs) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of acetylene and hydrogen. The G/CSNRs were characterized by XRD, SEM and Raman spectra. The XRD patterns confirmed the G/CSNRs did contain graphite. The as-grown CSNRs were thin and twisted, owning a width of ~92nm, a thread pitch of ~56nm and a length in micrometer scale. The Raman spectra showed the imperfect crystallinity of CSNRs. During this CVD process, FeCl3–CuCl2–GICs acted as providers of graphite substrates as well as catalyst carriers. The CVD method mediated by GICs also provided possibilities to design and prepare a variety of hybrid carbon structures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]