We report the synthesis of silicon oxycarbonitride ceramic‐graphene oxide (SiCNO–GO) composites by using polyvinylsilazne (PVSZ) and GO as precursors through cross‐linking processes, in which GO organizes into microspheres in the SiCNO matrix. The formation of GO microspheres significantly enhances the electrical conductivity of SiCNO. The electrical resistivity of SiCNO–GO composites shows a negative temperature coefficient in the range from 25°C to 600°C. We demonstrate the application of SiCNO–GO composites as the functional component of high‐temperature sensors.
Conductive polymer (CP) nanotubes are fascinating nanostructures with high electrical conductivity, fast charge/discharge capability, and high mechanical strength. Despite these attractive physical properties, progress in the synthesis of CP nanotube hydrogels is still limited. Here, we report a facile and effective approach for the synthesis of polypyrrole (PPy) nanotube hydrogels by using the weakly interconnected network of self-assembled nanotubes of lithocholic acid as a soft template. The PPy nanotube hydrogels are then converted to aerogels by freeze drying, in which PPy nanotubes form elastic and conductive networks with a density of 38 mg/cm 3 and an electrical conductivity of 1.13 S/m. The PPy nanotube aerogels are able to sustain a compressive strain as high as 70% and show an excellent cyclic compressibility due to their robust nanotube networks and hierarchically porous structures, which allow the compressive stress to be easily dissipated. Furthermore, PPy nanotube aerogels show negative strain-dependent electrical resistance changes under compressive strains. The lightweight, elastic, and conductive PPy nanotube aerogels may find potential applications in strain sensors, supercapacitors, and tissue scaffolds.
Supramolecular aggregates of organic dyes through noncovalent interactions have attracted great interest because they exhibit collective optical and excitonic properties. We report the formation of spherulitic J-aggregates from the coassembly of lithocholic acid (LCA) and 3,3'-diethylthiacarbocyanine iodide (DiSC(3)) in ammonia solution. Each spherulite contains a core, which serves as a nucleus for the growth of radially oriented J-aggregate fibrils. We find that the growth of spherulitic J-aggregates exhibits a sigmoidal kinetic curve with an initial lag time, followed by a period of rapid growth and a finally slow approach to equilibrium.
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