The ever‐increasing demand for large‐scale energy storage systems requires novel battery technologies with low‐cost and sustainable properties. Due to earth‐abundance and cost effectiveness, the development of rechargeable potassium ion batteries (PIBs) has recently attracted much attention. Since carbon‐based materials are abundant, inexpensive, nontoxic, and safe, extensive feasibility investigations have suggested that they can become promising anode materials for PIBs. This review not only attempts to provide better understanding of the potassium storage mechanism, but also summarizes the availability of new carbon‐based materials and their electrochemical performance covering graphite, graphene, and hard carbon materials plus carbon‐based composites. Finally, the critical issues, challenges, and perspectives are discussed to demonstrate the developmental direction of PIBs.

No abstract

Although the term nanotechnology (NT) is relatively new, the underlying technology is old, because the term "submicro" was used in the production of extremely small particles of polymers and copolymers. Today, the technology that deals with the science and engineering of materials at the dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nm (1 billion nm = 1 m) in length is called NT. At the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), NT is defined as the understanding, manipulation, and control of matter at the above stated length scale, such that the physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials (individual atoms, molecules, and bulk matter) can be engineered, synthesized, or altered to develop the next generations of improved materials, devices, structures, and systems [1]. Although, there is no clear indication of when and how the term evolved, Professor Richard Feynman, almost 50 years ago, in a lecture titled "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom," [2] demonstrated that matter at nanometer dimensions can be exploited to attain considerably improved material properties. Indeed, in the decades following, there have been numerous advances in NT and its many applications in the textile industry. Because of its limitless potential in consumer-oriented applications, the textile industry is one of the premier beneficiaries of advances in NT. Being one of the largest consumer-supported industries, with significant impact on a nation's economy, advances in applications of NT to improve textile properties offer obvious, high economic potential for the industry's growth. 1It was demonstrated in recent years that NT can be used to enhance textile attributes, such as fabric softness, durability, and breathability, water repellency, fire retardancy, antimicrobial properties, and the like in fibers, yarns, and fabrics. In addition to the millions of dollars invested by the private sector, it is estimated that for the year 2003, worldwide government funding for research and developAbstract Nanotechnology (NT) deals with materials 1 to 100 nm in length. At the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), NT is defined as the understanding, manipulation, and control of matter at the above-stated length, such that the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the materials (individual atoms, molecules, and bulk matter) can be engineered, synthesized, and altered to develop the next generation of improved materials, devices, structures, and systems. NT at the molecular level can be used to develop desired textile characteristics, such as high tensile strength, unique surface structure, soft hand, durability, water repellency, fire retardancy, antimicrobial properties, and the like. Indeed, advances in NT have created enormous opportunities and challenges for the textile industry, including the cotton industry. The focus of this paper is to summarize recent applications of NT as they relate to textile fibers, yarns, and fabrics.

One-step dual-shape memory polymers (SMPs) recover their original (permanent) shape upon small variation of environmental conditions such as temperature, electric field, light, magnetic field, and solvent/chemicals. For advanced applications such as aerospace and medical devices, complicated, multiple-step, spatially controllable, and two-way shape memory effects (SMEs) are required. In the past decade, researchers have devoted great effort to improve the versatility of the SME of SMPs to meet the needs of advanced applications. This paper is intended to review the up-to-date research endeavors on advanced SMEs. The problems facing the various SMPs are discussed. The challenges and opportunities for future research are discussed.

No abstract