In this paper, a dynamic impregnating device, which can generate supersonic vibration with the vacuum-adsorbing field, was used to prepare the hybrid graphene oxide (GO)/polyethylene glycol (PEG). Interestingly, the hybrid GO/PEG under dynamic impregnating and/or internal mixing was introduced into poly-(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix via melting-compounding, respectively. On one hand, compared with the internal mixing, the hybrid GO/PEG with the different component ratio using dynamic impregnation had a better dispersed morphology in the PLA matrix. On the other hand, compared with the high molecular weight (M_w) of PEG, the hybrid GO/PEG with low M_w of PEG had better an exfoliated morphology and significantly improved the heat distortion temperature (HDT) of the PLA matrix. Binding energies results indicate that low M_w of PEG with GO has excellent compatibility. Dispersed morphologies of the hybrid GO/PEG show that the dynamic impregnating had stronger blending capacity than the internal mixing and obviously improved the exfoliated morphology of GO in the PLA. Crystallization behaviors indicate that the hybrid GO/PEG with the low M_w of PEG based on dynamic impregnating effectively enhanced the crystallinity of PLA, and the cold crystallization character of PLA disappeared in the melting process. Moreover, the storage modulus and loss factor of the PLA-based composites were also investigated and their HDT was improved with the introduction of hybrid GO/PEG. Furthermore, a physical model for the dispersed morphology of the hybrid GO/PEG in the PLA matrix was established. Overall, the unique blending technique of hybrid GO/PEG via dynamic impregnating is an effective approach to enhance the property range of PLA and is suitable for many industrial applications.

MoS₂ nanosheet@TiO₂ nanotube hybrid nanostructures show enhanced cycling performance and rate capability as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

In the past decade, nanostructured polypyrrole (PPy) has been widely studied because of its many specific properties, which have obvious advantages over bulk-structured PPy. This review outlines the main structures, preparation methods, physicochemical properties, potential applications, and future prospects of PPy nanomaterials. The preparation approaches include the soft micellar template method, hard physical template method and templateless method. Due to their excellent electrical conductivity, biocompatibility, environmental stability and reversible redox properties, PPy nanomaterials have potential applications in the fields of energy storage, biomedicine, sensors, adsorption and impurity removal, electromagnetic shielding, and corrosion resistant. Finally, the current difficulties and future opportunities in this research area are discussed.

NiCoO₂ nanosheets@amorphous CNT composites show enhanced cycling performance and rate capability as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

TiO₂@SnO₂ nanosheets@nanotubes heterostructures were successfully prepared by a facile two-step method: prefabricated SnO₂@PNT coaxial nanocables based on the in situ growth of SnO₂ in the sulfonated gel matrix of polymeric nanotubes, and then the assembly of TiO₂ nanoclusters that consist of ultrathin nanosheets through a solvothermal process. These heterostructures were characterized for the morphological, structural and optical properties by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-visible (UV-vis) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalytic investigations showed that the TiO₂@SnO₂ heterostructures possessed enhanced photocatalytic efficiency in the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and photocatalytic H₂ evolution from water splitting under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, compared with the pristine TiO₂ nanosheets, SnO₂ nanotubes, the mechanically mixed two samples and P25. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the beneficial microstructure and synergistic effects of coupled TiO₂@SnO₂ nanosheets@nanotubes heterostructures.