Registered charity number: 207890 rsc.li/materials-horizons Showcasing a nacre-nanomimetic structure conformally deposited around the circumference of multiple carbon fibres by layer-by-layer assembly by researchers at Imperial College London. Artwork designed and created by Eloise De Luca.Increasing carbon fiber composite strength with a nanostructured "brick-and-mortar" interphase Toughening mechanisms occurring in nacre, such as crack deflection and platelet interlocking mechanisms, were reproduced in a nanomimetic coating. The coating was transferred onto the modified surface of carbon fibre tows for use as an interphase. Impregnated fibre tow model composites demonstrated increases in absolute tensile strength and strain-to-failure, as compared to composites containing conventionally sized fibres. As featured in:See an optimized ''brick-and-mortar'' nanostructured interphase was developed, in order to absorb energy at fiber breaks and alleviate local stress concentrations whilst maintaining effective load transfer. The coating was designed to exploit crack bifurcation and platelet interlocking mechanisms known in natural nacre. However, the architecture was scaled down by an order of magnitude to allow a highly ordered conformal coating to be deposited around conventional structural carbon fibers, whilst retaining the characteristic phase proportions and aspect ratios of the natural system.Drawing on this bioinspiration, a Layer-by-Layer assembly method was used to coat multiple fibers simultaneously, providing an efficient and potentially scalable route for production. Single fiber pull-out and fragmentation tests showed improved interfacial characteristics for energy absorption and plasticity. Impregnated fiber tow model composites demonstrated increases in absolute tensile strength (+15%) and strain-to-failure (+30%), as compared to composites containing conventionally sized fibers.

Joule heating characteristics of functional nanoparticles decorated nanocarbon aerogels are systemically investigated in terms of electrical-thermal responses. Studies verify that nanocarbon aerogels are exceptional supporting and electric-conducting monolithic frameworks for...

The synthesis, characterization and DNA binding studies of a series of polycationic fullerene adducts are reported. These cationic species, exhibiting reasonably high water solubility and a heterogeneous distribution of positive charges, can efficiently complex plasmid DNA. Electrophoresis studies show different DNA binding efficiencies for different adducts, some of which can be considered excellent candidates for DNA binding therapies.