The Electric Current Injection (ECI) method of nondestructive evaluation is applied to materials that are electrically conductive but not magnetically permeable, such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. It consists of detecting current-flow anomalies due to voids, nonmetallic inclusions and open cracks in the conducting material, through distortions introduced in the magnetic field generated ...

Ultralong, highly oriented Ni nanowire arrays are used as the electrode scaffold to support metal-oxide- and conductive-polymer-based electrode materials with a high mass loading; the as-obtained asymmetric supercapacitor can be compressed by fourfold and exhibits superior energy and power densities with ultrahigh cycle stability.

Cellulous-fiber papers are used as 3D structural templates for the assembly of graphene and graphitic carbon nitrate (g-C3N4) ultrathin nanosheets. The resultant materials, which possess highly active centers, rich porosity, and 3D conductive networks, can catalyze the oxygen evolution reaction with competitive activity and much better durability compared to the benchmark noble metal electrocat...

This paper presents the development of novel "home-made" touch sensors using conductive pigments and various substrate materials. We show that it is possible to build one's own position, pressure and bend sensors with various electrical characteristics, sizes and shapes, and this for a very competitive price. We give examples and provide results from experimental tests of such developments.

Microwave irradiation can be used to heat conductive materials and metallocene precursors to initiate ultrafast CNT growth. It takes only 15-30 seconds to grow CNTs at room temperature in air, without the need for any inert gas protection and additional feed stock gases.

In this Progress Report we provide an update on recent developments in inkjet printing technology and its applications, which include organic thin-film transistors, light-emitting diodes, solar cells, conductive structures, memory devices, sensors, and biological/pharmaceutical tasks. Various classes of materials and device types are in turn examined and an opinion is offered about the nature o...

In this video, we describe a series of techniques for building sensors, actuators and circuit boards that behave, look, and feel like paper. By embedding electro-active inks, conductive threads and smart materials directly into paper during the papermaking process, we have developed seamless composites that are capable of supporting new and unexpected application domains in ubiquitous and perva...

Particle reinforced composite materials can be characterized as having electrical conductive properties due to their fillers’ material behavior. The paper aims to present a virtual instrumentation layout (Labview design) to aid electrical resistivity changes measurements for iron reinforced polymeric composite samples subjected to an external stress state. A LabJack U12 acquisition board will a...

We report on the production of Carbon Nano Networks (CNNs) from dense microemulsions in which catalyst nanoparticles have been synthesized. CNNs are 3D carbon networks, consisting of branches and junctions, and are mesoporous, graphitic, and conductive being suitable as electrode materials.

Elastomeric petals directly replicated from natural rose petal are new versatile substrates for stretchable and printable electronics. Compared with conventional flat polydimethylsiloxane substrates, elastomeric petals have biomimicking topographic surfaces that can effectively inhibit the propagation of microcracks formed in the conducting layer, which is deposited on top, regardless of the ty...