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Many challenges remain in the effort to realize the exceptional mechanical and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes in composite materials. Here, we report on highly electrically conductive and mechanically stiff composites of polymers and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). Conductive SWNT-based nanofoams (aerogels) are used as scaffolds to create polymer [poly(dimethylsiloxane)] composites. The resulting composites possess electrical conductivities over 1 S cm−1and exhibit an ∼300% increase in the elastic modulus with as little as 1 vol% nanotube content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-density nanoporous solids have notoriously poor mechanical properties. Here, we show that light-ion irradiation can significantly improve the elastic modulus and hardness of low-density silica nanofoams (aerogels). Both elastic modulus and hardness saturate with ion fluence, and the saturation level increases with the ion stopping power. Such ion-beam stiffening is attributed to local material modification along ion tracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a general approach to prepare metal/aerogel nanocomposites via template directed atomic layer deposition (ALD). In particular, we used a Ru ALD process consisting of alternating exposures to bis(cyclopentadienyl)ruthenium (RuCp2) and air at 350?°C to deposit metallic Ru nanoparticles on the internal surfaces of carbon and silica aerogels. The technique does not affect the morphology of the aerogel template and offers excellent control over metal loading by simply adjusting the number of ALD cycles. We also discuss the limitations of our ALD approach and suggest ways to overcome these. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]