Multifunctional amorphous

Nanocarbon hybrids have recently been introduced as a new class of multifunctional composite materials [18]. In these hybrids, the nanocarbon is coated by a polymer or by the inorganic material in the form of a thin amorphous, polycrystalline or single-crystalline film. The close proximity and similar size domain/volume fraction of the two phases within a nanocarbon hybrid introduce the interface as a powerful new parameter. Interfacial processes such as charge and energy transfer create synergistic effects that improve the properties of the individual components and even create new properties [19]. We recently developed a simple dry wrapping method to fabricate a special class of nanocarbon hybrid, W03 /carbon nanotube (CNT) coaxial cable structure (Fig. 17.2), in which W03 layers act as an electrochromic component while aligned... 

The actual technology involves the formulation of multifunctional cracking catalysts which are composed of different amorphous and crystalline acid functions, and a series of additives for metal passivation, SOx removal, promotors for total combustion, and octane enhancing additives. Among them, zeolite Y is the main component controlling the activity and selectivity of the cracking catalysts. 

The occurrence of these reactions is restricted to the amorphous phase. Therefore, the photo-cross-linking process has to be performed at temperatures exceeding the crystalline melting point in the case of highly crystalline polymers such as polyethylene. The cross-linking efficiency can be strongly enhanced by the addition of small amounts of multifunctional compounds such as triallyl cyanurate, TAG (see Chart 7.9), or by the incorporation of special diene moieties into copolymers such as ethylene propylene diene copolymers (EPDM elastomers) [33]. 

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