Can interface conditions be modified by support surfaces to minimise the risk of pressure ulcer development?

PhDThe characteristics of a patient support interface can influence the susceptibility of subjects, particularly there who are immobilised and insensate, to pressure ulcer development. Accordingly, externally powered alternating pressure air mattresses (APAM) are utilised to produce intermittent pressure relief and control of the interface microclimate. These conditions will permit adequate blood and lymph flow within the soft tissues and favourable conditions at the loaded skin surface and thus minimise the risk of ulcer formation. Two sets of measurements were performed. Tissue viability was estimated, from a measure of transcutaneous gas tensions and sweat content, from healthy volunteers subjected to various alternating pressure regimens. The latter was achieved by two different strategies a) a custom–made controller which imposes the pressure profile on the subject and b) a prototype APAMs incorporating a novel sensor, which adjusts the profile according to individual subject characteristics. The latter prototype was placed on an articulated hospital bed, with an adjustable Head of Bed (HOB) angle. The second set of measurements involved monitoring the microclimate, namely temperature and humidity, at the interface loaded with a human analogue model supported on an APAM system. The interface was saturated with moisture to simulate sweating. The human studies, involving healthy subjects with BMI values ranging from 18.9 to 42.5 kg/m2, revealed significant differences in soft tissue response under various support surface profile by both strategies. In many cases, the TcPO2 levels either remained fairly stable during the loaded period or fluctuated at a periodicity equivalent to the cycle period of the APAM system, with the corresponding TcPCO2 levels remaining within the normal basal range. These findings were associated with II maximum interface pressures generally not exceeding 50 mmHg (6.67 kPa). By contrast in some cases, there was a significant compromise to the TcPO2 levels during the loaded period, which was often associated with an increase in TcPCO2 levels. These cases generally corresponded with the internal pressures in the mattress prescribed at a maximum amplitude of 100 / 0 mmHg or when the Head of Bed angle was raised to 45º or above. Changes in prototype covering sheet and air flow rates of the APAM system were found to influence both interface temperature and humidity. These results revealed enhanced levels of humidity often reaching 100% RH at the high simulated sweat rates. By contrast, at the lower sweat rate of 1.5 ml/min, the nature of the prototype covering sheets had an effect on the interface humidity profile, with values considerably reduced in the latter stages of the monitoring period. These results were compared with a compartmental model, which predicted the transport of moisture and heat using various mattress support systems. The results offer the potential for the development of intelligent APAM systems, whose characteristics can be adjusted to an individual morphology. These systems will need to be designed to ensure adequate tissue viability and maintain appropriate microclimate at the loaded interface. Such an approach will be directed at those subjects considered to be at high/medium risk of developing pressure ulcers

Analysis of Venous Blood Flow and Deformation in the Calf under External Compression

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common post-operative complication, and a serious threat to the patient’s general recovery. In recent years, there has been increasing awareness of the risk of DVT in healthy individuals after prolonged immobility, such as people taking long-period flights or sitting at a computer. Mechanical methods of DVT prophylaxis, such as compression stockings, have gained widespread acceptance, but the haemodynamic mechanism of their action is still not well understood. In this study, computational modelling approaches based on magnetic resonance (MR) images are used to (i) predict the deformation of calf and deep veins under external compression, (ii) determine blood flow and wall shear stress in the deep veins of the calf, and (iii) quantify the effect of external compression on flow and wall shear stress in the deep veins. As a first step, MR images of the calf obtained with and without external compression were analysed, which indicated different levels of compressibility for different calf muscle compartments. A 2D finite element model (FEM) with specifically tailored boundary conditions for different muscle components was developed to simulate the deformation of the calf under compression. The calf tissues were described by a linear elastic model. The simulation results showed a good qualitative agreement with the measurements in terms of deep vein deformation, but the area reduction predicted by the FEM was much larger than that obtained from the MR images. In an attempt to improve the 2D FEM, a hyperelastic material model was employed and a finite element based non-rigid registration algorithm was developed to calculate the bulk modulus of the calf tissues. Using subject-specific bulk modulus derived with this method together with a hyperelastic material model, the numerical results showed better quantitative agreement with MR measured deformations of deep veins and calf tissues. In order to understand the effect of external compression on flow in the deep veins, MR imaging and real-time flow mapping were performed on 10 healthy volunteers before and after compression. Computational fluid dynamics was then employed to calculate the haemodynamic wall shear stress (WSS), based on the measured changes in vessel geometry and flow waveforms. The overall results indicated that application of the compression stocking led to a reduction in both blood flow rate and cross sectional area of the peroneal veins in the calf, which resulted in an increase in WSS, but the individual effects were highly variable. Finally, a 3D fluid-structure interactions (FSI) model was developed for a segment of the calf with realistic geometry for the calf muscle and bones but idealised geometry for the deep vein. The hyperelastic material properties evaluated previously were employed to describe the solid behaviours. Some predictive ability of the FSI model was demonstrated, but further improvement and validation are still needed

A study of use of mini-bladders in active compression as a treatment for venous disease and lymphoedema

Venous disease of human lower limbs can cause a range of disorders that have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients. The sheer prevalence of varicose veins and its associated costs of treating late complications, such as chronic ulcers, contribute to a higher burden on health care resources as well as affecting the quality of life of people in the western world. The established gold standard of treatment is the application of graduated compression, applied mostly by medical compression bandages (MCB) and graduated compression stockings (GCS). Both systems are passive treatment methods as the pressure is generated by the component of the tangential force created due to the fabric tension resulted by the fabric stretch, which fails to provide uniform pressure around the leg circumference. This thesis presents the fundamental research of design, development, and evaluation of an active compression system consisting of an array of silicone based inflatable mini-bladders, which can provide a better solution for the treatment of venous disease and also lymphoedema. The mini-bladders were designed with two elastomeric layers; however, the mini-bladder inflation was limited only to one layer when the mini-bladder was filled with air. The minibladders could apply a radial force on to the treated surface when inflated, and the pressure in mini-bladders could be determined by measuring the back pressure, thus providing the ability to inflate mini-bladders to a predefined pressure. An array of mini-bladder can be used to apply pressure over a large area with a pre-determined resolution in order to create a graduated pressure profile. The 3-D deformation profile of mini-bladders was analysed using Finite Element Modelling and the simulations showed a good agreement with the experimental results within the pressure region which of interest for the compression therapy. The pressure transmission characteristics of the mini-bladders were investigated, initially on hard surfaces and then extended to a biofidelic leg surrogate. The hexagonal shaped mini-bladders provided the best pressure transmission properties. As a higher packing density can be achieved with hexagonal shaped mini-bladders in a honeycomb structure, a prototype active compression device was designed with hexagonal shape mini-bladders. Moreover, the interface pressure generated by the mini-bladders demonstrated a good linear relationship with the mini-bladder inflation pressure, which could be used as a calibration curve for the mini-bladders to inflate the mini-bladders to apply a predefined pressure. The second phase of the experiments, were conducted with a biofidelic lower leg surrogate covered with artificial skin and fat layers of different Young's modulus values. To the best of the author's knowledge this type of validation was the first of its kind in compression therapy research. The research has proved that mini-bladders can be used to apply a uniform circumferential pressure irrespective of the position of the lower leg surrogate; which proves the validity of the research hypothesis. The pressure propagation through the fat layers were around 35%-45% of the mini-bladder inflation pressure. Moreover, the propagation of the pressure through the fat layers varied with the modulus of the fat layers; the fat layer having lowest modulus recorded the highest pressure transmission percentage. A prototype of an active compression system was designed with mini-bladder arrays integrated within a silicone layer, in which the mini-bladders were directly in-contact with the skin. The laboratory experiments demonstrated that the developed active compression system was capable of delivering the required graduated pressure profiles

STABILIZATION OF EXTENDED DIFFUSE OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY MEASUREMENTS ON IN VIVO HUMAN SKELETAL MUSCLE DURING DYNAMIC EXERCISE

This research investigates various applications of diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) on in-vivo human muscle tissue, both at rest and during dynamic exercise. Previously suspected muscle tissue relative blood flow (rBF) baseline shift during extended measurement with DCS and DCS-Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) hybrid optical systems are verified, quantified, and resolved by redesign of optical probe and alteration in optical probe attachment methodology during 40 minute supine bed rest baseline measurements. We then translate previously developed occlusion techniques, whereby rBF and relative oxygen consumption rV̇O2 are calibrated to initial resting absolute values by use of a venous occlusion (VO) and arterial occlusion (AO) protocol, respectively, to the lower leg (gastrocnemius) and these blood flows are cross validated at rest by strain gauge venous plethysmography (SGVP). Methods used to continuously observe 0.5Hz, 30% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) plantar flexion exercise via dynamometer are adapted for our hybrid DCS-Imagent diffuse optical flow-oximeter in the medial gastrocnemius. We obtain healthy control muscle tissue hemodynamic profiles for key parameters BF, V̇O2, oxygen saturation (StO2), deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin concentrations ([Hb], [HbO2], and THC respectively), as well as systemic mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse rate (PR), at rest, during VO/AO, during dynamic exercise and during 15 minute recovery periods. Next, we began investigation of muscle tissue hemodynamic disease states by performing a feasibility pilot study using limited numbers of controls and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients using the translated methods/techniques to determine the ability of our technology to assess differences in these populations

Utilisation of Cryotherapy in Sport: Understanding the Multifaceted Response

Cryotherapy is commonly used in sport for injury, rehabilitation, and recovery in readiness to perform. The principal aim of this thesis was to examine the effects of cryotherapy on several responses that underpin the optimisation of its application in sport. A substantial evidence base investigates the effects of various modes of cryotherapy across different populations and protocols, yet no body of literature examines multiple responses across several domains (biomechanical, biochemical, physiological, psychological) with an emphasis on contemporary in-field applied practices of cryotherapy in sport. This approach defines the originality of the thesis. Fifteen peer reviewed publications represent the body of work, structured by five themes: Theme 1: KINEMATIC RESPONSES TO CRYOTHERAPY Theme 2: MUSCLE STRENGTH RESPONSES TO CRYOTHERAPY Theme 3: THERMOGRAPHY AND SKIN SURFACE RESPONSES TO CRYOTHERAPY Theme 4: CONTEMPORARY CRYOTHERAPY APPLICATIONS AND RESPONSES Theme 5: MULTIFACETED RESPONSES TO CRYOTHERAPY AS A RECOVERY STRATEGY IN ELITE SPORT The studies representing several underpinning concepts from which key research questions evolved, adopted several methodologies and styles, presented in a conceptual arrangement within the five themes as opposed to chronological order. The purpose being to demonstrate synergy between concepts that might be considered important for the development of optimal cryotherapeutic applications in sport. This is an expression of the author’s interest in and evolution of research over several years working in sport rather than a pre-determined plan of studies which allowed adaptability to contemporary issues in practice as they emerged. Populations ranged from amateur to elite professional athletes, with data collection protocols developed from laboratory-based to high-performance sports environments within mid-competitive seasons. Key findings note the ability to reduce skin surface temperature for optimising intended physiological response differs between dose, modality type, compression adjunct and physical positional characteristics in team sport. Further, consensus on optimal protocols for cryo-compression is lacking, despite compression being known to increase the magnitude of cooling. Sports practitioners should appreciate the potentially detrimental biomechanical responses to local cooling at the lower limb when considering the multidirectional demands of sport. Consequently, several variables can influence the optimisation of cryotherapeutic protocols seen in biomechanical and perceptual responses over rewarming periods. Further, where cold-water immersion may be useful to ameliorate potential deficits in eccentric hamstring strength, differences in neuromuscular performance suggest periodisation and individualisation of cryotherapy protocols in these environments is important to negate responses that may be inhibiting readiness to perform. The progression of advantageous cooling protocols in sport are inherent to the understanding of the response and relationship between key variables that underpin the effected output and response in the working context of the cryotherapeutic application. Considerations for applied practitioners to optimise cryotherapy protocols are illustrated (Table 10. pg. 227) and an infographic (Figure 23. pg. 231) to provide recommendations for future applied research demonstrates the originality of the work

Modular soft pneumatic actuator system design for compliance matching

The future of robotics is personal. Never before has technology been as pervasive as it is today, with advanced mobile electronics hardware and multi-level network connectivity pushing âsmartâ devices deeper into our daily lives through home automation systems, virtual assistants, and wearable activity monitoring. As the suite of personal technology around us continues to grow in this way, augmenting and offloading the burden of routine activities of daily living, the notion that this trend will extend to robotics seems inevitable. Transitioning robots from their current principal domain of industrial factory settings to domestic, workplace, or public environments is not simply a matter of relocation or reprogramming, however. The key differences between âtraditionalâ types of robots and those which would best serve personal, proximal, human interactive applications demand a new approach to their design. Chief among these are requirements for safety, adaptability, reliability, reconfigurability, and to a more practical extent, usability. These properties frame the context and objectives of my thesis work, which seeks to provide solutions and answers to not only how these features might be achieved in personal robotic systems, but as well what benefits they can afford. I approach the investigation of these questions from a perspective of compliance matching of hardware systems to their applications, by providing methods to achieve mechanical attributes complimentary to their environment and end-use. These features are fundamental to the burgeoning field of Soft Robotics, wherein flexible, compliant materials are used as the basis for the structure, actuation, sensing, and control of complete robotic systems. Combined with pressurized air as a power source, soft pneumatic actuator (SPA) based systems offers new and novel methods of exploiting the intrinsic compliance of soft material components in robotic systems. While this strategy seems to answer many of the needs for human-safe robotic applications, it also brings new questions and challenges: What are the needs and applications personal robots may best serve? Are soft pneumatic actuators capable of these tasks, or âusefulâ work output and performance? How can SPA based systems be applied to provide complex functionality needed for operation in diverse, real-world environments? What are the theoretical and practical challenges in implementing scalable, multiple degrees of freedom systems, and how can they be overcome? I present solutions to these problems in my thesis work, elucidated through scientific design, testing and evaluation of robotic prototypes which leverage and demonstrate three key features: 1) Intrinsic compliance: provided by passive elastic and flexible component material properties, 2) Extrinsic compliance: rendered through high number of independent, controllable degrees of freedom, and 3) Complementary design: exhibited by modular, plug and play architectures which combine both attributes to achieve compliant systems. Through these core projects and others listed below I have been engaged in soft robotic technology, its application, and solutions to the challenges which are critical to providing a path forward within the soft robotics field, as well as for the future of personal robotics as a whole toward creating a better society

Plant embolism : new techniques of measurements and the relationship with the xylem lignification

Orientador: Paulo MazzaferaTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: A formação de bolhas - embolia - nos conduítes do xilema tem ganho crescente interesse científico, considerando sua importância nas estratégias de plantas na resistência à seca. No entanto, continua a ser desconhecida a forma como os componentes químicos das paredes dos conduítes estão relacionados com a resistência à embolia. A lignina, o segundo composto mais abundante nas plantas depois da celulose, é essencial para o transporte de água e deve ter algum papel na resistência à embolia. A essência do presente trabalho foi criar condições (estabelecer métodos) e apontar evidências de que o conteúdo e/ou tipos de lignina estão relacionados com a resistência à embolia. A estimativa correta da embolia tem sido um desafio, principalmente devido à alta tensão nos conduítes e às estruturas microscópicas ou nanoscópicas do sistema de transporte de água, além dos artefatos em que os métodos disponíveis estão propensos. Assim, nos capítulos 1 e 2 são apresentados novos métodos e aparatos para se estudar o sistema hidráulico de plantas, procurando principalmente eliminar os artefatos que os métodos disponíveis possuem. No capítulo 1: "A low cost apparatus for measuring the xylem hydraulic conductance in plants", publicado em Bragantia, foi descrita a montagem de um aparato e a sua calibração, bem como adaptações de baixo custo que tornam o equipamento acessível. O aparato permite medir a condutância em partes de raízes ou ramos, ou em todo o sistema, no caso de pequenas plantas ou mudas. O aparato também pode ser utilizado para se estimar embolia. No capítulo 2: "Plant pneumatics: stem air flow is related to embolism ¿ new perspectives on methods in plant hydraulics", publicado em New Phytologist, nós descrevemos um novo método para se estimar embolia, baseado em medições de fluxo de ar de ramos inteiros. Para calcular a quantidade de ar que flui para fora do ramo, um vácuo é aplicado aos ramos cortados, que são submetidos à diferentes potenciais hídricos. Propusemos um novo método para se estimar embolia, que é simples, eficaz, rápido e barato e permite várias medições no mesmo ramo, abrindo novas possibilidades para se estudar hidráulica de plantas. No capítulo 3: "Is embolism resistance in plant xylem associated with quantity and characteristics of lignin?", nós sugerimos que há relação entre conteúdo de lignina na madeira e resistência ao embolismo. Para chegar a isto, reunimos dados de conteúdo total de lignina na madeira e potencial de água em que 50% da condutividade no xilema de 99 espécies. Essas análises indicam uma relação limítrofe entre a resistência à embolia e o conteúdo de lignina. Nossas conclusões são que espécies com baixo conteúdo de lignina parecem ser mais vulneráveis à embolia, ao passo que espécies com maior conteúdo demonstram grande variabilidade de resistência. A lignina pode desempenhar algum papel indireto na resistência à embolia, uma vez que o maior conteúdo total de lignina está relacionado com paredes celulares mais espessas. Discutimos também neste capítulo, funções de diferentes tipos de lignina, diferenciando gimnospermas e angiospermas, e o desempenho de plantas transgênicas (com teor de lignina modificado) e sua relação com a vulnerabilidade à embolia. Os aparatos e os métodos aqui descritos, além das análises dos dados de literatura, permitirão futuros estudos experimentais para confirmar os modelos sobre lignina e embolia aqui propostosAbstract: Embolism formation in the xylem conduits has gained increased interest, considering its importance on the strategies of drought resistance in plants. However, remains unknown how the chemical components of conduits wall are related to embolism resistance. The lignin, the second most abundant compound of the plants, is essential to water transport and must have some role in the embolism resistance. The main objective of the present work was to evaluate whether content and/or types of lignin are related to embolism resistance. However, the correct estimative o embolism has been a challenge, mainly due to the high tension in xylem conduits and the microscopic or nanoscopic structures of water transport system, and the available methods are prone to several artifacts. Thus, in the chapter 1 and 2 we developed apparatus and methods as alternatives to study plant hydraulics. In the chapter 1: "A low cost apparatus for measuring the xylem hydraulic conductance in plants" we described the assembling of an apparatus and its calibration, as well as low cost adaptations that make the equipment accessible. The apparatus allows measuring the conductance in parts of roots or shoots, or in the whole system, in the case of small plants or seedlings. The apparatus can also be used to estimate embolism formation. In the chapter 2: "Plant pneumatics: stem air flow is related to embolism ¿ new perspectives on methods in plant hydraulics", we describe a new method for estimating estimate embolisms that is based on air flow measurements of entire branches. To calculate the amount of air flowing out of the branch, a vacuum was applied to the cut bases of branches under different water potentials. We proposed a new embolism-measurement method that is simple, effective, rapid, and inexpensive and allows several measurements on the same branch, opening new possibilities to study plant hydraulic. In the chapter 3: "Is embolism resistance in plant xylem associated with more, less, or different types of lignin?", we suggest, based on data available for lignin content and ?50 (the water potential when 50% of conductivity in the xylem is lost), a boundary relationship between embolism resistance and lignin content across various groups of seed plants. Species with low lignin content seem to be more vulnerable to embolism, whereas species with higher content show wide variability in embolism resistance. Lignin content may play some indirect role in the embolism resistance, since higher total lignin content is related to thicker cell walls. We also discuss several possible functions of lignin with different composition between gymnosperms and angiosperms and the performance of transgenic plants with modified lignin content and composition regarding vulnerability to embolism. The apparatus and methods here described and the analysis from literature data will allow further experimental studies to confirm the models of lignin and embolism here proposedDoutoradoBiologia VegetalDoutor em Biologia Vegeta

Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A cumulative index to the 1974 issues of a continuing bibliography

This publication is a cumulative index to the abstracts contained in supplements 125 through 136 of Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A Continuing Bibliography. It includes three indexes--subject, personal author, and corporate source

Engineered morphologic material structures: physical/chemical properties and applications

Morphologies include the study of shape, size and structure for materials from atomic scale to macroscales. Properties/functions of material structures in general are dependent on morphologies, and tunable properties in chemical and physical can be realized through changing morphologies on surfaces and in bulk systems of materials. For low-dimensional materials, atomic modifications and changes in lattice morphologies can introduce varieties of fascinating phenomena and unconventional intrinsic properties in electric, mechanics chemistry and etc. The reason behind such controllability is that morphological undulation usually is consistent with the mapping of strain, which is related to atomic structures of materials. For micro/macro scale materials, interactions of surface tension, mechanical deformation, etc. dominate the morphological evolution. Structural designs and morphological control can achieve desirable functionalities, for example mechanical flexibility and liquid wettability for practical applications. Herein, strain-engineering strategies including mechanical loading and atomic displacement were applied to modify and control morphologies in materials with different length scales. We firstly investigated the fundamental mechanism of morphological evolution through various load strategies, and relationship between morphologies and the properties of material structures across from nanoscale, microscale to macroscale, including graphene, phosphorene, core-shell microparticles and soft materials/bilayers, etc. Furthermore, we demonstrated to two applications of utilizing designed morphologies, which targeted to figures out challenges in the field of energy conversion and storage to close energy loop. Therefore, we mainly focus on the relation of engineered strategy-morphology-mechanism/property-functional devices in this thesis. Firstly, engineered morphologies in nanomaterials of graphene and phosphorene were investigated through strain-localization, gradient strain, bending/pressing. The effects of surface morphologies on fundamental properties including thermal conductivities, mechanics, electrics, surface energy and chemical reactivities were studied through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and first-principle calculations combined with experimental verifications: Increased applications of nanoporous graphene in nanoelectronics and membrane separations require ordered and precise perforation of graphene, whose scalablility and time/cost effectiveness represent a significant challenge in existing nanoperforation methods, such as catalytical etching and lithography. We reported a strain-guided perforation of graphene through oxidative etching, where nanopores nucleate selectively at the bulges induced by the pre-patterned nano-protrusions underneath. Using reactive molecular dynamics and theoretical models, we uncover the perforation mechanisms through the relationship between bulge-induced strain and enhanced etching reactivity. Parallel experiments of CVD graphene on SiO2 NPs/ SiO2 substrate verify the feasibility of such strain-guided perforation and evolution of pore size by exposure durations to oxygen plasma. When a nanodroplet is placed on a lattice surface, an inhomogeneous surface strain field perturbs the balance of van der Waals force between the nanodroplet and surface, thus providing a net driving force for nanodroplet motion. Using molecular dynamics and theoretical analysis, we studied the effect of strain gradient on modulating the movement of a nanodroplet. Both modeling and simulation showed that the driving force is opposite to the direction of strain gradient, with a magnitude that is proportional to the strain gradient as well as nanodroplet size. Two representative surfaces, graphene and copper (111) plane, were exemplified to demonstrate the controllable motion of nanodroplet. When the substrate underwent various types of reversible deformations, multiple motion modes of nanodroplets could be feasibly achieved, including acceleration, deceleration and turning, becoming a facile strategy to manipulate nanodroplets along a designed 2D pathway. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we explored the structural stability and mechanical integrity of phosphorene nanotubes (PNTs), where the intrinsic strain in the tubular PNT structure plays an important role. It was proposed that the atomic structure of larger-diameter armchair PNTs (armPNTs) could remain stable at higher temperature, but the high intrinsic strain in the hoop direction renders zigzag PNTs (zigPNTs) less favorable. The mechanical properties of PNTs, including the Young’s modulus and fracture strength, are sensitive to the diameter, showing a size dependence. A simple model is proposed to express the Young’s modulus as a function of the intrinsic axial strain which in turns depends on the diameter of PNTs. A new phosphorous allotrope, closed-edged bilayer phosphorene nanoribbon, was proposed via radially deforming armchair phosphorene nanotubes. Using molecular dynamics simulations, the transformation pathway from round phosphorene nanotubes falls into two types of collapsed structures: arc-like and sigmoidal bilayer nanoribbons, dependent on the number of phosphorene unit cells. The fabricated nanoribbions are energetically more stable than their parent nanotubes. It was also found via ab initio calculations that the band structure along tube axis substantially changes with the structural transformation. The direct-to-indirect transition of band gap was highlighted when collapsing into the arc-like nanoribbons but not the sigmoidal ones. Furthermore, the band gaps of these two types of nanoribbons showed significant size-dependence of the nanoribbon width, indicative of wider tunability of their electrical properties. Secondly, we studied fundamental mechanisms of generating fascinating surface morphologies on the micro materials/structures of core/shell microsphere driven by surface instability, which is not different those in nanoscale. The island-like dot pattern on spherical substrate were investigated: Through strain-induced morphological instability, protruding patterns of roughly commensurate nanostructures are self-assembled on the surface of spherical core/shell systems. A three-dimensional (3D) phase field model was established for closed substrate. We investigated both numerically and analytically the kinetics of the morphological evolution, from grooves to separated islands which are sensitive to substrate curvature, misfit strain and modulus ratio between core and shell. The faster growth rate of surface undulation was associated with the core/shell system of harder substrate, larger radius or misfit strain. Based on a Ag core/SiO2 shell system, the self-assemblies of SiO2 nano-islands were explored experimentally. The numerical and experimental studies herein could guide the fabrication of ordered quantum structures via surface instability on closed and curved substrates. Up to macroscale material structures, the variety and controllability surface morphologies on soft materials and bilayer films were realized through pre-pattern defects of cavities and in-plane compression. The checkboard and wrinkling surface patterns were observed in different systems through both finite element simulations and 3D printing technique: A rich diversity of surface topologies is controllably engineered by patterning cavities embedded beneath the surface of soft materials. Upon external compression, the surface undergoes the reversible transformation from the flat surface to various surface topographies, including the periodic checkerboard pattern with alternatively convex and concave features. To design the surface features, both 2D and 3D finite element based-simulations were performed. It was demonstrated that the periodic surface features with controllable morphology, such as 1D waves, checkerboard pattern and mutually perpendicular apexes, etc. can be realized through varying cavity geometries (e.g., relative inter-cavity distance, shapes and biaxial/uniaxial load). Based on 3D printed prototypes, we further conducted experiments to validate the simulation results of 2D morphologies. The patterned cavities in soft materials made designing a variety of reversible surface features possible, offering an effective fabrication approach for wide application across multiple scales. Wrinkle formation followed by sharp strain localization is commonly observed in compressed stiff film/soft substrate systems. However, cavities or defects beneath the film may directly trigger the formation of local ridges and then folding configurations at a relatively small compressive strain, and a mixture of wrinkles and folds upon further compression. The morphological transition is different than those of defect-free substrates. Numerical simulations of continuously compressed bilayer with pre-patterned cavities were carried out to elucidate the transition mechanism of surface patterns. Parallel experiments of cavities-patterned bilayer prototypes by 3D-printing were also performed to validate the findings in simulations. A rich diversity of periodic surface topologies, including overall spreading waves, localizations, saw-like and co-existing features of folds and wrinkles can be obtained by varying the diameter, depth and spacing of cavities, which provides a potential approach to engineer various surface patterns for applications. Since these discussed material structures are promising candidates for energy/environmental applications, two device-level functional systems/products here utilize intriguing morphologies in both nanoscale and macroscale. To close energy loop, the energy conversion reactor (chemical loop reduction of CO2) and the energy storage device (flexible lithium ion battery) were demonstrated: We reported an effective reduction method for splitting air-containing CO2 into CO for high-value chemicals, through a chemical looping redox scheme with Cu-doped LaFeO3 perovskites as efficient oxygen carriers for splitting CO2 with a high-concentration of O2 (e.g. 1:5 O2/CO2 molar ratio, mimicking 1:1 CO2/air mixture). Up to 2.28 mol/kg CO yield was achieved with good stability in the CO2 splitter, five times higher than that with the conventional pristine LaFeO3 perovskite. Through ab initio calculations, we uncovered that the exsolution of metallic Cu on the surface of reduced perovskite is capable of mitigating the competition between CO2 and O2 for the re-oxidation step. This air-stable and scalable scheme can economically integrate with upstream DAC and downstream gas-to-liquids plants, exhibiting up to 94.5% and 42.8% reduction in net CO2 emission for valuable chemicals production (methanol and acetic acid) when compared with the coal gasifier-based route and this redox scheme using pure CO2, respectively. Flexible batteries, seamlessly compatible with flexible and wearable electronics, attract a great deal of research attention. Current designs of flexible batteries are unable to meet one of the most extreme yet common deformation scenarios in practice, folding, while retaining high energy density. Inspired by origami folding, we proposed a novel strategy to fabricate zigzag-like lithium ion batteries with superior foldability. The battery structure could approach zero-gap between two adjacent energy storage segments, achieving an energy density that is 96.4% of that in a conventional stacking cell. A foldable battery thus fabricated demonstrated an energy density of 275 Wh L-1 and was resilient to fatigue over 45,000 dynamic cycles with a folding angle of 130°, while retaining stable electrochemical performance. Additionally, the power stability and resilience to nail shorting of the foldable battery were also examined