11 research outputs found
Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous silicon films made by electrodeposition from an ionic liquid
Review on Mechanoresponsive Smart Windows: Structures and Driving Modes
The growing awareness about the global energy crisis and extreme weather from global warming drives the development of smart windows market. Compared to conventional electrochromic, photochromic, or thermochromic smart windows, mechanoresponsive smart windows present advantages of simple construction, low cost, and excellent stability. In this review, we summarize recent developments in mechanoresponsive smart windows with a focus on the structures and properties. We outline the categories and discuss the advantages and disadvantages. Especially, we also summarize six unconventional driving modes to generate mechanical strain, including pneumatic, optical, thermal, electric, magnetic, and humidity modes. Lastly, we provide practical recommendations in prospects for future development. This review aims to provide a useful reference for the design of novel mechanoresponsive smart windows and accelerate their practical applications
Enhanced IR Radiative Cooling of Silver Coated PA Textile
Smart textile with IR radiative cooling is of paramount importance for reducing energy consumption and improving the thermal comfort of individuals. However, wearable textile via facile methods for indoor/outdoor thermal management is still challenging. Here we present a novel simple, yet effective method for versatile thermal management via silver-coated polyamide (PA) textile. Infrared transmittance of coated fabric is greatly enhanced by 150% due to the multi-order reflection of silver coating. Based on their IR radiative cooling, indoors and outdoors, the skin surface temperature is lower by 1.1 and 0.9 °C than normal PA cloth, allowing the textile to be used in multiple environments. Moreover, the coated fabric is capable of active warming up under low voltage, which can be used in low-temperature conditions. These promising results exemplify the practicability of using silver-coated textile as a personal thermal management cloth in versatile environments
Underwater Highly Pressure-Sensitive Fabric Based on Electric-Induced Alignment of Graphene
Wearable pressure sensors have received widespread attention owing to their potential applications in areas such as medical diagnosis and human–computer interaction. However, current sensors cannot adapt to extreme environments (e.g., wet and underwater) or show moderate sensitivity. Herein, a highly sensitive and superhydrophobic fabric sensor is reported based on graphene/PDMS coating. This wearable sensor exhibits great superhydrophobicity (water contact angle of 153.9°) due to the hydrophobic alkyl long chains and rough structure introduced by the Ar plasma. Owing to the network structure created by the electric-induced alignment of graphene sheets, an enhanced sensitivity (ΔI/I0 of 55) and fast response time (~100 ms) are observed. Due to its superhydrophobicity and sensitivity, this wearable sensor demonstrates efficient and stable monitoring of various underwater activities, including pressure, blowing, and tapping. Our approach provides an alternative idea for highly sensitive wearable sensors while broadening the practical application scope
In Situ Synthesis of Hybrid Aerogels from Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Polyaniline Nanoribbons as Free-Standing, Flexible Energy Storage Electrodes
Hybrid aerogels consisting of interpenetrating
single-walled carbon
nanotubes and polyaniline (SWCNT/PANI) nanoribbons were prepared as
free-standing, flexible lithium ion battery (LIB) electrodes. Assisted
by camphorsulfonic acid, the anilinium cations formed complexation
with micelles of dodecylbenzene sulfonate anions within the wet SWCNT
network. Very thin PANI nanoribbons (thickness of 10–100 nm,
width of 50–1000 nm, and length of 10–20 μm) were
formed within the network after polymerization of aniline. By varying
the concentration of aniline, we were able to fine-tune the morphologies
of final PANI nanostructures, including nanoribbons, porous nanofibers,
and nanoparticles. Specifically, SWCNT/PANI nanoribbon aerogels showed
high capacity (185 mAh/g) and good cycle performance (up to 200 times),
which could be attributed to synergistic effects of efficient ion/electron
transport within the 3D carbon nanotubes network, shortened ion diffusion
distance and optimized strain relaxation from nanoribbons and nanotubes,
and effective penetration of electrolyte within interconnected nanopores
in the network
Cuts Guided Deterministic Buckling in Arrays of Soft Parallel Plates for Multifunctionality
Harnessing buckling
instability in soft materials offers an effective strategy to achieve
multifunctionality. Despite great efforts in controlling the wrinkling
behaviors of film-based systems and buckling of periodic structures,
the benefits of classical plate buckling in soft materials remain
largely unexplored. The challenge lies in the intrinsic indeterminate
characteristics of buckling, leading to geometric frustration and
random orientations. Here, we report the controllable global order
in constrained buckling of arrays of parallel plates made of hydrogels
and elastomers on rigid substrates. By introducing patterned cuts
on the plates, the randomly phase-shifted buckling in the array of
parallel plates transits to a prescribed and ordered buckling with
controllable phases. The design principle for cut-directed deterministic
buckling in plates is validated by both mechanics model and finite
element simulation. By controlling the contacts and interactions between
the buckled parallel plates, we demonstrate on-demand reconfigurable
electrical and optical pathways, and the potential application in
design of mechanical logic gates. By varying the local stimulus within
the plates, we demonstrate that microscopic pathways can be written,
visualized, erased, and rewritten macroscopically into a completely
new one for potential applications such as soft reconfigurable circuits
and logic devices
Cuts Guided Deterministic Buckling in Arrays of Soft Parallel Plates for Multifunctionality
Harnessing buckling
instability in soft materials offers an effective strategy to achieve
multifunctionality. Despite great efforts in controlling the wrinkling
behaviors of film-based systems and buckling of periodic structures,
the benefits of classical plate buckling in soft materials remain
largely unexplored. The challenge lies in the intrinsic indeterminate
characteristics of buckling, leading to geometric frustration and
random orientations. Here, we report the controllable global order
in constrained buckling of arrays of parallel plates made of hydrogels
and elastomers on rigid substrates. By introducing patterned cuts
on the plates, the randomly phase-shifted buckling in the array of
parallel plates transits to a prescribed and ordered buckling with
controllable phases. The design principle for cut-directed deterministic
buckling in plates is validated by both mechanics model and finite
element simulation. By controlling the contacts and interactions between
the buckled parallel plates, we demonstrate on-demand reconfigurable
electrical and optical pathways, and the potential application in
design of mechanical logic gates. By varying the local stimulus within
the plates, we demonstrate that microscopic pathways can be written,
visualized, erased, and rewritten macroscopically into a completely
new one for potential applications such as soft reconfigurable circuits
and logic devices