Silver/polyaniline composite nanotubes have been successfully synthesized via a self-assembly process assisted by excess ammonium persulfate and silver nitrate as oxidant without using any acid molecule reagent or hard template. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectra (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet−visible absorption spectra (UV−vis), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were performed to characterize the resulting polyaniline samples. SEM and TEM images indicate that the as-obtained polyaniline composite entirely consists of uniform nanotubes in high yield with a diameter of about 100 nm. The TEM image shows that the average size of the dispersed silver nanoparticles decorated on the surface of the silver/polyaniline composite nanotubes is about 10 nm. A tentative mechanism is proposed in detail to elucidate the formation of the tubular nanostructures in such system. The composite nanotubes are immobilized on the surface of an indium tin oxide and applied to construct a sensor, which exhibits higher electrocatalytic activity toward reduction of dopamine than pure polyaniline. Furthermore, the high surface area, small diameter, and porous nature of the silver/polyaniline composite nanotubes and introduction of the silver nanoparticles give significantly better performance in both gas sensitivity and time response.

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The 2050 carbon‐neutral vision spawns a novel energy structure revolution, and the construction of the future energy structure is based on equipment innovation. Insulating material, as the core of electrical power equipment and electrified transportation asset, faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities. The goal of carbon neutral and the urgent need for innovation in electric power equipment and electrification assets are first discussed. The engineering challenges constrained by the insulation system in future electric power equipment/devices and electrified transportation assets are investigated. Insulating materials, including intelligent insulating material, high thermal conductivity insulating material, high energy storage density insulating material, extreme environment resistant insulating material, and environmental‐friendly insulating material, are categorised with their scientific issues, opportunities and challenges under the goal of carbon neutrality being discussed. In the context of carbon neutrality, not only improves the understanding of the insulation problems from a macro level, that is, electrical power equipment and electrified transportation asset, but also offers opportunities, remaining issues and challenges from the insulating material level. It is hoped that this paper envisions the challenges regarding design and reliability of insulations in electrical equipment and electric vehicles in the context of policies towards carbon neutrality rules. The authors also hope that this paper can be helpful in future development and research of novel insulating materials, which promote the realisation of the carbon‐neutral vision.

A route for producing polyaniline nanotubes using the inner eggshell membrane as a template is demonstrated. Because the template substitutes the inner eggshell membrane with the outer eggshell membrane in the same reaction process, the resulting morphology of polyaniline correspondingly changes. A series of experimental results indicate that the pore size of the template plays a key role in the formation of the polyaniline nanotubes. By imaging the template before, during, and after the polymerization, a possible formation condition and process of polyaniline nanotubes is proposed. Meanwhile, fiber mats imitating an eggshell membrane—electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) fiber mats—are successfully used as a template for synthesizing polyaniline nanotubes in the same polymerization process. Using the PVA fiber mats as the template for different pore size and using an electrospinning method for different hours, respectively, the resulting morphology of the polyaniline correspondingly changes. When the pore size of PVA fiber mats is similar to that of the inner eggshell membrane, polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes can be obtained. The high surface areas, small diameter, and porous nature of the PANI nanotubes give significantly better performance in both gas sensitivity and time response. The gas-responses to trimethylamine, ammonia, and hydrazine are examined at room temperature. Compared with polyaniline prepared without a template, the polyaniline nanotubes prepared using the imitating template show higher selectivity and quicker response to trimethylamine gas. Meanwhile, the reversible circulation response change of polyaniline nanotubes has a reasonable reproducibility and has more potential applications in the area of sensor development.