Telemedicine platform for health assessment remotely by an integrated nanoarchitectonics FePS3/rGO and Ti3C2-based wearable device

Due to the emergence of various new infectious (viral/bacteria) diseases, the remote surveillance of infected persons has become most important, especially if hospitals need to isolate infected patients to prevent the spreading of pathogens to health care personnel. Therefore, we develop a remote health monitoring system by integrating a stretchable asymmetric supercapacitor (SASC) as a portable power source with sensors that can monitor the human physical health condition in real-time and remotely. An abnormal body temperature and breathing rate could indicate a person's sickness/infection status. Here we integrated FePS3@graphene-based strain sensor and SASC into an all-in-one textile system and wrapped it around the abdomen to continuously monitor the breathing cycle of the person. The real body temperature was recorded by integrating the temperature sensor with the SASC. The proposed system recorded physiological parameters in real-time and when monitored remotely could be employed as a screening tool for monitoring pathogen infection status.Web of Science61art. no. 7

Black phosphorous-based human-machine communication interface

Assistive technology involving auditory feedback is generally utilized by those who are visually impaired or have speech and language difficulties. Therefore, here we concentrate on an auditory human-machine interface that uses audio as a platform for conveying information between visually or speech-disabled users and society. We develop a piezoresistive tactile sensor based on a black phosphorous and polyaniline (BP@PANI) composite by the facile chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline on cotton fabric. Taking advantage of BP’s puckered honeycomb lattice structure and superior electrical properties as well as the vast wavy fabric surface, this BP@PANI-based tactile sensor exhibits excellent sensitivity, low-pressure sensitivity, reasonable response time, and good cycle stability. For a real-world application, a prototype device employs six BP@PANI tactile sensors that correspond to braille characters and can convert pressed text into audio on reading or typing to assist visually or speech-disabled persons. Overall, this research offers promising insight into the material candidates and strategies for the development of auditory feedback devices based on layered and 2D materials for human-machine interfaces.Web of Science14

Thermal insulating walls based on Ti3C2TX as energy storage panels for future smart house

Sustainable decentralized energy generation and storage in the cities are critical for a sustainable future. Here we design a smart energy storage device based on thermal insulation and MXene (Ti3C2Tx) for powered future smart homes. The modified surface of a common thermal insulation wall (TIW) using Ti3C2Tx and polyaniline (PANI) by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline monomer serves as an energy storage device in the wall and, at the same time, maintains the temperature inside the house. The as-fabricated PANI@Ti3C2Tx-TIW-based supercapacitor exhibited high specific capacitance with outstanding rate capability, cyclic stability, mechanical stability, and power density, and functions in extreme temperatures (-15 degrees C to 45 degrees C). Further, the device was integrated into real rock mineral wool insulation to develop a future house energy storage system that can store electricity in the house wall and supply power to operate emergency evacuation and alert devices in the event of a disaster.Web of Science454art. no. 14011

Wearable sensors for telehealth based on emerging materials and nanoarchitectonics

Wearable sensors have made significant progress in sensing physiological and biochemical markers for telehealth. By monitoring vital signs like body temperature, arterial oxygen saturation, and breath rate, wearable sensors provide enormous potential for the early detection of diseases. In recent years, significant advancements have been achieved in the development of wearable sensors based on two-dimensional (2D) materials with flexibility, excellent mechanical stability, high sensitivity, and accuracy introducing a new approach to remote and real-time health monitoring. In this review, we outline 2D materials-based wearable sensors and biosensors for a remote health monitoring system. The review focused on five types of wearable sensors, which were classified according to their sensing mechanism, such as pressure, strain, electrochemical, optoelectronic, and temperature sensors. 2D material capabilities and their impact on the performance and operation of the wearable sensor are outlined. The fundamental sensing principles and mechanism of wearable sensors, as well as their applications are explored. This review concludes by discussing the remaining obstacles and future opportunities for this emerging telehealth field. We hope that this report will be useful to individuals who want to design new wearable sensors based on 2D materials and it will generate new ideas.Web of Science71art. no. 2

Hybrid AgNP–TiO2 thin film based photoanode for dye sensitized solar cell

This article addresses two major issues in the plasmonic dye solar cell; (i) protection of plasmonic nanoparticles from electrolyte attack and (ii) design of appropriate molecular dye to harvest photon near the plasmonic resonance. This report reveals the synthesis of D-π-A carbazole dye and incorporation of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) into TiO2 film using Ag–TiO2 gel. We have designed and synthesized an efficient D-π-A carbazole dye molecule whose absorption maxima matches the plasmonic resonance of AgNPs leading to augmented near field effect, enhancing photon harvesting property of dye molecule. This article also describes a strategy to incorporate AgNPs into the TiO2 photoelectrode by Ag–TiO2 gel. The plasmonic photoanode was characterized using SEM and optical spectroscopy. Dye solar cells were characterized by J–V characteristics and electrochemical impedance technique in order to take insight into photovoltaic performance and electron transfer kinetic. This engineered DSSC achieves 45% enhancement in current due to the plasmon enhanced near field effect at thin film (3 μm)

Flexible energy storage patch based on NiPS3/graphene zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitor for integrated biosensors

The rapidly developing self-powered biosensor technologies require flexible, robust, and safe energy storage devices. One of the key factors of a self-powered system is the integration of energy storage device components with bio-sensors. Here, we developed a hybrid self-powered biosensor system for health monitoring comprising zinc-ion supercapacitor (ZISC) wearable patch, introducing a two-dimensional (2D) NiPS3 as a metal phosphorus chalcogenide capacitive electrode. Due to its inherent 2D nanosheet morphology, NiPS3 electrode confined with graphene (NiPS3@graphene) shows good electrochemical performance. The ZISC printed with NiPS3@graphene and zinc on cellulose substrate followed by hydrogel electrolyte results in a powerful, robust, and flexible device. It exhibits stable energy storage performance, retaining 86% capacity after 1000 charge–discharge cycles and good mechanical flexibility at different bending angles, with a retaining capacity of 97.7% compared to initial performance after 500 bending cycles. Finally, a self-powered biosensor was developed by transforming a thin and lightweight ZISC tandem device on a medical-grade cellulose patch. This patch is demonstrated to power a wearable temperature sensor with a connection via a Bluetooth module and stationary glucose sensor to establish real-time health monitoring. Our results show the significance of 2D NiPS3@graphene-based zinc-ion supercapacitors in an application as an integrated patch for powering health monitoring systems.Web of Science473art. no. 14520

Flexible aqueous Zn–S battery based on an S-decorated Ti3C2Tx cathode

Flexible aqueous zinc-ion batteries can store energy safely and at a low cost, which benefits wearable electronic gadgets; however, currently used cathodes restrict these devices with a low specific capacity and energy density. Herein, we developed a flexible zinc sulfur (Zn–S) battery constructed by Ti3C2Tx decorated with sulfur (S@Ti3C2Tx) as a cathode and Zn metal anode with iodine-added amphiphilic gel electrolyte (AGE). Benefiting from the confinement synergy of S@Ti3C2Tx cathode, the Zn-S battery exhibited a high storage capacity of 772.7 mAh g−1 at 300 mA g−1 , which is higher than a conventional S-decorated carbon cathode (491.7 mAh g−1 ). More specially, the flexible device offers good cycling stability (82.7%) and excellent mechanical stability with 91% capacity retention after 90° bending (500 cycles). To demonstrate real applications, the flexible Zn–S batteries were integrated in series to power electrical gadgets (e.g., digital clock, light-emitting diode, and robot). It exhibits exceptional flexibility to sustain different deformations and maintains a steady supply of power to run the wearable electronic gadget. These findings offer a fresh starting point for flexible energy storage technologies and show the promising potential of the Zn–S battery in real-world applications.Web of Science71art. no. 4

Multi-sensing platform based on 2D monoelement germanane

Covalently functionalized germanane is a novel type of fluorescent probe that can be employed in material science and analytical sensing. Here, a fluorometric sensing platform based on methyl-functionalized germanane (CH3Ge) is developed for gas (humidity and ammonia) sensing, pH (1–9) sensing, and anti-counterfeiting. Luminescence (red–orange) is seen when a gas molecule intercalates into the interlayer space of CH3Ge and the luminescence disappears upon deintercalation. This allows for direct detection of gas absorption via fluorometric measurements of the CH3Ge. Structural and optical properties of CH3Ge with intercalated gas molecules are investigated by density functional theory (DFT). To demonstrate real-time and on-the-spot testing, absorbed gas molecules are first precisely quantified by CH3Ge using a smartphone camera with an installed color intensity processing application (APP). Further, CH3Ge-paper-based sensor is integrated into real food packets (e.g., fish and milk) to monitor the shelf life of perishable foods. Finally, CH3Ge-based rewritable paper is applied in water jet printing to illustrate the potential for secret communication with quick coloration and good reversibility by water evaporation.Web of Science354