Method of depositing nanoscale materials within a nanofiber network and networked nanofibers with coating

Abstract

Provided herein is an electrically conductive, chemically insulated network of nanofibers that includes first carbon nanofibers electrically connected to second carbon nanofibers to form an electrically conductive network, and second carbon nanofibers electrically connected to other second carbon nanofibers, wherein at least one of the second carbon nanofibers is in direct surface contact with another of the second carbon nanofibers; and an active material that provides electrochemical insulation on surfaces of the first carbon nanofibers and partial surfaces of at least a portion of the second carbon nanofibers, wherein the active material comprises at least 50% by weight of the electrically conductive, chemically insulated network, and wherein the active material provides electrochemical insulation to the entirety of the electrically conductive, chemically insulated network of nanofibers including the area between the first carbon nanofibers and the second carbon nanofibers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrically conductive, chemically insulated network of nanofibers, comprising:
 first carbon nanofibers electrically connected to second carbon nanofibers to form an electrically conductive network, and second carbon nanofibers electrically connected to other second carbon nanofibers, wherein at least one of the second carbon nanofibers is in direct surface contact with another of the second carbon nanofibers; and   an active material that provides electrochemical insulation on surfaces of the first carbon nanofibers and partial surfaces of at least a portion of the second carbon nanofibers, wherein the active material comprises at least 50% by weight of the electrically conductive, chemically insulated network, and wherein the active material provides electrochemical insulation to the entirety of the electrically conductive, chemically insulated network of nanofibers including the area between the first carbon nanofibers and the second carbon nanofibers.   
     
     
         2 . The electrically conductive, chemically insulated network of nanofibers of  claim 1 , wherein the active material chemically insulates first carbon nanofibers by surrounding surfaces of the first carbon nanofibers, and partially chemically insulates second carbon fibers by partially surrounding surfaces of the second carbon nanofibers. 
     
     
         3 . The electrically conductive, chemically insulated network of nanofibers of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive, chemically insulated network of nanofibers has a volume of porosity of 50 to 90 vol. %. 
     
     
         4 . The electrically conductive, chemically insulated network of nanofibers of  claim 1 , wherein the first carbon nanofibers and the second carbon nanofibers also form interstitial spaces with a maximum dimension of less than 200 nm, wherein the active material is located on the surfaces of the first carbon nanofibers and the second carbon nanofibers within the interstitial spaces, and wherein the at least one of the second carbon nanofibers is in direct surface contact with another of the second carbon nanofibers. 
     
     
         5 . The electrically conductive, chemically insulated network of nanofibers of  claim 1 , wherein the active material comprises a compound of Ni, Zn, Cd, Fe, Pb, Mn, Co, Ag, Al, or Mg. 
     
     
         6 . A nanoscale coated network, comprising:
 first carbon nanotubes;   second carbon nanotubes, wherein at least one first carbon nanotube is electrically connected to at least one other second carbon nanotube to form a nanofiber network, wherein at least one second carbon nanotube is in electrical contact with an additional second carbon nanotube; and   an active material coating, wherein the active material coating covers at least a portion of the one or more first carbon nanotubes and does not cover the electrical contact between the at least one second carbon nanotube and the additional second carbon nanotube.   
     
     
         7 . The nanoscale coated network of  claim 6 , wherein the active material coating does not physically interfere with the electrical contact between the at least one carbon nanotube which is in electrical contact with the additional second carbon nanotube. 
     
     
         8 . The nanoscale coated network of  claim 6 , wherein the active material coating does not electrically disrupt the electrical contact between the at least one carbon nanotube which is in electrical contact with the additional second carbon nanotube. 
     
     
         9 . The nanoscale coated network of  claim 6 , wherein the nanoscale coated network has a volume porosity of 50 to 90 vol. %. 
     
     
         10 . The nanoscale coated network of  claim 6 , wherein the active material coating comprises an electroactive agent. 
     
     
         11 . The nanoscale coated network of  claim 6 , wherein the active material coating comprises Ni or Zn. 
     
     
         12 . A coated nanofiber network, comprising:
 first carbon nanotubes;   second carbon nanotubes, wherein at least one first carbon nanotube is entangled with at least two second carbon nanotube to form a nanofiber network, and wherein at least one of the second carbon nanotubes is in electrical contact with an additional one of the second carbon nanotubes; and   a coating comprising nanoscale particles that covers at least a portion of the nanofiber network to form the coated carbon nanofiber network, wherein the coated carbon nanofiber network has a volume porosity of 50 to 90 vol. %.   
     
     
         13 . The coated nanofiber network of  claim 12 , wherein the coating coats an entire length of the first carbon nanotubes and less than an entire length of the second carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         14 . The coated nanofiber network of  claim 12 , wherein the coating comprises an electroactive agent. 
     
     
         15 . The coated nanofiber network of  claim 12 , wherein the coating comprises Ni or Zn.