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Polystyrene is an important and commonly used synthetic thermoplastic polymer. This state-of-the-art review is an endeavor to describe the unique capabilities of polystyrene to form the high performance nanocomposite nanofibers. Different types of nanofillers have been introduced in polystyrene nanocomposite nanofibers such as carbon nanotube, graphene, nanoclay, and metal nanoparticles. Accordingly, the article introduces the categories of the polystyrene/carbon nanotube, polystyrene/graphene, polystyrene/nanoclay, and polystyrene/metal nanoparticle nanocomposites. The comprehensive deliberations on design, morphology, physical properties, and developments related to polystyrene nanocomposite nanofibers are presented. The nanocomposite characteristics have been considerably enhanced with the addition of the nanoparticles. High performance polystyrene based nanocomposite nanofibers was found to be related to the interactions between the matrix and the nanofillers. The polystyrene nanocomposite nanofibers have found applications for electromagnetic interference shielding, sensors, membranes, and drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In search of cutting-edge poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based nanomaterials, nanodiamond (ND) nanofiller has been amalgamated. This article essentially appraises current state of poly(methyl methacrylate)/nanodiamond (PMMA/ND) nanocomposites. Relative to neat PMMA and other nanocarbon-based nanocomposites, PMMA/ND possess augmented thermal stability, mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, thermal transport, microstructure and other physical characteristics. Performance of PMMA/ND was enhanced through chemically modified nanodiamond and affinity with the matrix. Applications of PMMA/ND nanocomposites were observed for coatings (anti-corrosion, radiation shielding), lubricants, drug delivery, tissue engineering, bone cement and implants. In future, challenges for well-dispersed and processable PMMA/ND nanocomposites must be sought for novel opportunities in methodological fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of porous carbon nanofibres, with network-like structures and high surface area, were prepared using low-cost renewable bacterial cellulose, fabricated from the raw materials of coconut. The performances of these coconut-based bacterial cellulose carbon nanofibres (BCCNFs) strongly rely on their porous network-like graphitised structure. The carbonisation temperatures affect both the graphitic degree of BCCNFs and the uniformity of their porous structure. The specific capacitance of BCCNFs at 900 °C drops off due to the decrease in the uniformity of their porous structure. The prepared BCCNFs materials exhibited high electrochemical energy storage performance (with its specific capacitance in 6 M KOH solution being 289 F g−1) and cycling excellent stability (after 5000 charge–discharge cycles, the material still maintained more than 80% of its initial capacitance), making them potential for the practical application of supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the mechanical properties of polylactic acid reinforced with carboxylic functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes were investigated. The polylactic acid/multiwalled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites were prepared using direct melt-blending method in a counter-rotating twin screw extruder with various loadings of nanotube. The extruded nanocomposites were then pelletized and injection moulded into test specimens for mechanical testing. The effects of the increased content of nanotube on the mechanical properties of polylactic acid nanocomposites were investigated through tensile, flexural and impact tests. The analysis showed that the tensile strength and modulus increase with increasing amount of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, indicating the ability of multiwalled carbon nanotubes to improve the stiffness of polylactic acid. The optimum loading of 5 phr gave the best tensile and flexural strength of 40·949 and 54·132 Mpa, respectively. However, both flexural and the tensile strength experienced rapid decrease after the optimum loading owing to agglomeration of nanotubes. The highest modulus was observed at 7 phr with 3·483 GPa, while the highest flexural modulus was observed at 7 phr with 4·244 GPa. On the other hand, the impact strength decreases with increasing amount of multiwalled carbon nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indium oxide nanowires encapsulated in amorphous carbon nanostructures have been synthesised on iron coated indium tin oxide substrate via the chemical vapour deposition of acetylene (C2H2). The growth of indium oxide nanowires encapsulated in amorphous carbon nanostructures via solid-liquid-solid mechanism was suggested. The morphology, composition and structure of indium oxide nanowires encapsulated in amorphous carbon nanostructures were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]