Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xinyi Chang, Fan Wu, Xiaota Cheng, Hao Zhang, Lijuan He, Wenjing Li, Xia Yin, Jianyong Yu, Yi-Tao Liu, Bin Ding
Summary: The article proposes a spatially confined assembly strategy for multiscale nanocarbons to decouple stress and heat transfer. By using nanofiber frameworks and thin-film-like layers formed by the aggregation of nanoparticles, all-carbon aerogels with a hierarchical cellular structure and quasi-closed cell walls are achieved, exhibiting an optimal thermomechanical and insulation trade-off.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alejandro Pereira, Guidobeth Saez, Eduardo Saavedra, Juan Escrig
Summary: In this study, the magnetic properties of interconnected permalloy nanowire networks were investigated using micromagnetic simulations. The effects of interconnectivity on the hysteresis curves, coercivity, and remanence of the nanowire networks were analyzed. The findings provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of nanowire networks for applications requiring tailored magnetic properties.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiageng Pan, Haowen Zeng, Liang Gao, Qiang Zhang, Hongsheng Luo, Xuetao Shi, Huatang Zhang
Summary: This study fabricated a series of hydrogels with identical compositions but different properties by selectively controlling the water vapor-induced phase separation process, showing hierarchical differences in porous morphology, hydrophobic clusters, and molecular packing. These hydrogels exhibited excellent performance and biocompatibility, advancing the understanding of the relationship between structure and properties through imitation of hierarchical structures in nature.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Timur Ashirov, Ali Coskun
Summary: Membranes are crucial in gas separation for their low cost, energy efficiency, and durability. Researchers have developed a new concept to enhance selectivity of graphene-based membranes by depositing microislands of Pd and Ni on the support layer, enabling efficient separation of specific gases like H2 and CO2. This approach may offer a promising alternative for economical gas separation by selectively targeting individual gases in a membrane setting through adsorptive separation at room temperature.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Min Seok Kang, Incheol Heo, Kyung Gook Cho, Hyuna Kyung, Hee Soo Kim, Keun Hyung Lee, Won Cheol Yoo
Summary: Carbonaceous materials with superior features, such as light weight, high electrical conductivity, and specific surface area (SSA), have attracted extensive attention as electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage systems. In this study, we demonstrate the fabrication of hierarchically interconnected large pore carbonaceous materials with ultrahigh SSA through the infiltration of polymer into metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These materials show promising performance in both ultrahigh-energy-density supercapacitors and stretchable all-solid-state supercapacitors.
ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Hanxiao Huang, Joseph Ayariga, Haibin Ning, Elijah Nyairo, Derrick Dean
Summary: This study reports the fabrication of a pectin-based scaffold with high resolution, small pores, and interconnected porosity using a low temperature 3D printing process known as freeze-printing. The scaffolds successfully support the viability of chondrocytes and their synthesis of type II collagen. The research investigates the processing-structure relationship and fundamental science of structurally stable scaffold structures produced by additive manufacturing of natural polymers.
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yousif Alsaid, Shuwang Wu, Dong Wu, Yingjie Du, Lingxia Shi, Roozbeh Khodambashi, Rossana Rico, Mutian Hua, Yichen Yan, Yusen Zhao, Daniel Aukes, Ximin He
Summary: A universal approach called cononsolvency photopolymerization has been developed to overcome the trade-off between swelling and mechanical properties in hydrogels. By using this method, hydrogels with unique open porous networks and continuous microchannels are created, resulting in record-high volumetric (de)swelling speeds.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jianyang Zhao, Yi-Yang Peng, Jinquan Wang, Diana Diaz-Dussan, Wendy Tian, Wei Duan, Lingxue Kong, Xiaojuan Hao, Ravin Narain
Summary: In this study, a temperature-responsive aldehyde hydrogel with dual physical-cross-linked networks and injectable and self-healing properties was developed. The gelation temperature and mechanical properties of the hydrogel could be tuned by adjusting the content of aldehyde groups in the triblock copolymer. The hydrogel demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, injectability, and self-healing properties, making it a promising candidate for tissue engineering applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hsin-Hua Huang, Kyung Seob Song, Alessandro Prescimone, Alexander Aster, Gabriel Cohen, Rajesh Mannancherry, Eric Vauthey, Ali Coskun, Tomas Solomek
Summary: The study reported the synthesis of chiral imine organic cages with three built-in rylene units and investigated their textural and optoelectronic properties. Results showed that the synthesized cages can be reversibly reduced at accessible potentials, absorb from UV up to green light, are porous, and preferentially adsorb CO2.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Haolan Tao, Gong Chen, Cheng Lian, Honglai Liu, Marc-Olivier Coppens
Summary: This article presents a new theoretical framework for ion transport in nanoporous materials, combining molecular dynamics simulations with the effective medium approximation. It highlights the enhanced ion transport through strong confinement and dominant surface properties at the nanoscale, and the significant effects of electric double layer overlap and ion-water interaction on ion distribution, flux, and conductance of electrolytes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shannon Anna Jung, Hanna Malyaran, Dan Eugen Demco, Anna Manukanc, Leonie Sophie Haser, Vytautas Kucikas, Marc van Zandvoort, Sabine Neuss, Andrij Pich
Summary: Hydrogels for tissue engineering are being extensively studied. Natural hydrogels have limitations in mechanical strength and degradation, while synthetic hydrogels face issues with biocompatibility and biodegradation. Therefore, a novel bio-based hydrogel using a combination of natural fibrin and synthetic dextran with tunable properties has been synthesized. These hydrogels show controllable mechanical properties, degradation, pore sizes, and support cell proliferation, with no cytotoxic effect.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zengkai Wang, Xiaolu Song, Xiangming Li, Xiaoyang Yue, Shuai Hou, Lei Liu
Summary: Regulating the mechanical properties of protein hydrogels is challenging but highly anticipated. The study proposes a strategy to prepare versatile hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties and demonstrates reversible switch between elasticity and plasticity. The hydrogels also show potential in drug release applications.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Liqian Zhu, Li Xu, Suyun Jie, Bogeng Li
Summary: This study investigated the mechanical and relaxation properties of different structures of polybutadiene (PB) vitrimers prepared through partial epoxidation of double bonds and ring-opening esterification reactions. Increasing crosslinking density was found to enhance tensile strength and activation energy for altering network topology. The influence of side-group effects showed that a higher number of epoxy groups on the polybutadiene chain increases the chance of an effective exchange of disulfide units.
Article
Environmental Sciences
E. Shigorina, F. Rudiger, A. M. Tartakovsky, M. Sauter, J. Kordilla
Summary: A new multiscale PFSPH model is proposed for flow characterization in fractured porous media, validated against FEM and laboratory experiments. Preferential flow dynamics for different infiltration rates are studied using the model, showing rapid water transmission in fractures compared to slow diffusion in the porous matrix.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Philippe Cosenza, Richard Giot, Albert Giraud, Stephen Hedan
Summary: A new homogenization scheme, the fractional differential scheme, is proposed to model the effects of surface phenomena on the effective transport properties of clayey geomaterials. By introducing parameters m and alpha, this scheme successfully captures the dependence of cation concentration on transport properties and indirectly indicates the amplitude of physico-chemical interactions at the pore fluid/solid interface.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jin-Hyeong Lee, Jaehee Bae, Jae Hyuk Hwang, Moon-Young Choi, Yong Seok Kim, Sungmin Park, Jun-Hee Na, Dong-Gyun Kim, Suk-kyun Ahn
Summary: This work presents a new class of liquid crystal elastomers that are cross-linked with poly(ether-thiourea) and possess hydrogen bonding capability and dynamic covalent bond exchange at elevated temperatures. These unique properties allow for welding, melt and solution reprocessing, reprogrammable actuation, and self-healing. The LCEs can be used to fabricate electrically powered artificial muscles and biomimetic artificial hands, which demonstrate excellent performance and various hand gestures.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jae Wook Lee, Byeongkyu Kim, Jung Yong Seo, Yong Seok Kim, Pil J. Yoo, Chan-Hwa Chung
Summary: In this study, a hybrid electrochemical system with three electrolyte chambers was constructed to reduce the energy required for water electrolysis. Through simultaneous operation of hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions under different pH conditions, the theoretical voltage for water electrolysis was significantly decreased. This system offers a lower voltage for water electrolysis compared to conventional systems.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shiyu Xu, Peng Zhang, Hao Li, Zhengyang Li, Zongfu An, Chan-Hwa Chung, Jin Yong Lee, Ji Man Kim, Pil J. Yoo
Summary: The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is an important process for clean hydrogen energy production. This study successfully synthesized a novel electrocatalyst consisting of Re nanoflowers grown on a carbon cloth surface. The ReNF@CC electrocatalyst exhibited high performance in HER, with low overpotentials and superior durability compared to commercial Pt/C. This study provides a versatile strategy for efficient water electrolysis in different media.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jun Hyuk Lee, Jong Chan Shin, Jihoon Kim, Jeong-Won Ho, Won Jang Cho, Moon Jeong Park, Gi-Ra Yi, Minjae Lee, Pil J. Yoo
Summary: Considering the safety risks of conventional liquid organic electrolytes, researchers have turned their attention to the development of safer solid-state alternatives, such as ionic liquid-containing ionogels. By immobilizing a zwitterionic surfactant on the surface of a polymeric matrix, this study successfully enhanced the lithium-ion conductivity of the ionogels, leading to improved performance in lithium iron phosphate half-cell tests. The best rate capability (116.8 mAh g(-1) at 1 C) and cycling performance (initial discharge capacity = 148.9 mAh g(-1), capacity fading rate = 0.069% per cycle) were achieved with a surfactant loading of only 2 wt%. This research paves the way for the design of high-performance zwitterion-containing ionogel electrolytes as safer and leak-resistant alternatives to conventional liquid organic electrolytes for lithium secondary batteries.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yong -Woo Choi, Seong Soo Yoo, Jun Hyuk Lee, Myoung-Woon Moon, Pil J. Yoo
Summary: Solar water evaporation techniques have attracted attention for their potential to disrupt existing desalination systems. In this study, a monolithic solar evaporator (MSE) with a hierarchical mass transfer layer was proposed, achieving high evaporation rates and autonomous rejection of salts through optimizing the bimodal porous structure and interfacial properties.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hyunho Seok, Minjun Kim, Jinill Cho, Eungchul Kim, Sihoon Son, Keon-Woo Kim, Jin Kon Kim, Pil J. Yoo, Muyoung Kim, Hyeong-U Kim, Taesung Kim
Summary: Polymorphic transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC)–TMDC heterostructures were fabricated at a 4-inch wafer scale under cold plasma conditions and process temperature. 1T/1T-MWH exhibited the highest electrocatalytic performance, indicating its potential application in hydrogen evolution reaction.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jae Hyuk Hwang, Sang Hwa Kim, Woongbi Cho, Woohwa Lee, Sungmin Park, Yong Seok Kim, Jong-Chan Lee, Kyung Jin Lee, Jeong Jae Wie, Dong-Gyun Kim
Summary: By utilizing self-crosslinkable 1,3,5-trivinylbenzene (TVB) for the inverse vulcanization of elemental sulfur, a highly IR-transparent sulfur-rich copolymer with remarkable thermomechanical properties is developed, overcoming the trade-off between IR optical and thermomechanical properties. This study is expected to provide important insights into the structure-property relationships of sulfur-rich copolymers and open up opportunities for practical applications.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Won-Jang Cho, Seok-Kyu Cho, Jun Hyuk Lee, Jeong Hoon Yoon, Sangwoo Kwon, Chanui Park, Won Bo Lee, Pil J. Yoo, Minjae Lee, Sungkyun Park, Tai Hui Kang, Gi-Ra Yi
Summary: In this study, nanostructured solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with functionally separated ion transporting channels and solid-phase walls were successfully synthesized. These SPEs exhibit high ionic conductivity and mechanical strength, and show promising performance in solid-state lithium metal batteries.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hoang Gia Vinh Ho, Pil J. Yoo
Summary: Dye contamination in water is a significant threat to public health and the environment. A study has developed microbead-based micromotors using a microfluidic technique that can remove contaminants from water through fuel decomposition. These micromotors show promising potential for wastewater treatment and other bio- and environment-related applications.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ki Heon Kim, Myeong Gyun Nam, Min Jun Kim, Pil J. Yoo
Summary: We demonstrate a method of selectively incorporating inorganic solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) via chemical prelithiation and subsequent vacuum drying processes in ambient atmospheric conditions, which is used as a filler to reinforce the carbon layer coating silicon anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This strategy effectively reduces the specific surface area and increases the mechanical strength of the carbon-coated silicon anode, leading to simultaneous improvements in specific capacity and cell stability.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
He Guo, Xin Yang, Jun Zhu, Zongfu An, Oh Yeong Gong, Zijia Li, Pil Jin Yoo, Soochan Kim, Gill Sang Han, Hyun Suk Jung
Summary: In this study, a sulfonic acid group was introduced into poly-L-lysine (PLL) via a one-step ring-opening reaction to modify the interface between the TiO2 and perovskite layers. The sulfonic acid group in PLLS improved the electron transport layer by reducing oxygen vacancies and defects on the surface of the TiO2 film. Additionally, amine groups passivated deep-level defects on the surface of the perovskite, reducing non-radiative recombination. The modified PLLS significantly increased the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the solar cell devices and showed good stability.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ki Jung Kim, Jin Hui Jo, Seong Jin An, Somi Yu, Yong Seok Kim, Sungmin Park, Won Seok Chi
Summary: A simple metal-ion infiltration method was used to modify the properties of 6FDD polyimide membranes. Metal ions formed coordination bonds with the polyimide, increasing d-spacing and reducing polymer chain mobility. The coordination between metal ions and the carboxylate groups enhanced the mechanical properties and gas permeability of the membranes.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gwan Hyun Choi, N. Clament Sagaya Selvam, Hyunwoo Kim, Young Sang Park, Jiyoon Jung, Myeong Gyun, Hyo Sang Jeon, Albert S. Lee, Won-Sub Yoon, Pil J. Yoo
Summary: The study demonstrates the design of heterointerface-structured catalysts with tunable active sites using an interfacial engineering strategy based on the anionic diffusion-limited Kirkendall effect. A FeCo/FeCoP catalyst with highvalent Fe sites was successfully synthesized through the phosphidation of carbon-encapsulated FeCo nanoparticles. The FeCo/FeCoP catalyst exhibited highly efficient and stable oxygen evolution reaction performance, highlighting the importance of understanding the water oxidation chemistry of heterointerface-structured catalysts for potential energy conversion applications.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Characterization & Testing
Se Hyeon Ju, Eun Jin Jeong, Hui Il Jeon, Yong Seok Kim, Youngjae Yoo, Sungmin Park
Summary: This study investigates the miscibility, rheological properties, and physical/optical properties of PC/PMMA-co-PPhMA blends. It was found that the blends exhibited a single glass transition behavior and differences in blend homogeneity were observed. PMMA-co-PPhMA with 14 mol% PhMA showed the best miscibility and phase homogeneity. Increasing the weight percentage of PMMA-co-PPhMA improved the scratch resistance but reduced the optical transparency. The PC/PMPA-2 blend demonstrated optimal rheological, mechanical, and optical properties. This study provides insights into PC-based blend materials for various industrial applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gwan Hyun Choi, Hyun Jun Song, Seolhwa Lee, Jeong Yoon Kim, Myoung-Woon Moon, Pil J. Yoo
Summary: To achieve the ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, it is necessary to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from human activities. Traditional wet scrubbing carbon capture technology requires high energy consumption and extensive use of amine CO2 sorbents. Electrochemical direct carbon capture (EDCC) technology, on the other hand, offers the potential for capturing CO2 from diluted sources and achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Therefore, it is crucial to design cost-effective and energy-efficient CO2 adsorbent molecules for EDCC applications.
