Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fang Wang, Meijin Liu, Cong Liu, Qilong Zhao, Ting Wang, Zuankai Wang, Xuemin Du
Summary: Slippery lubricant-infused porous (SLIPS) and superhydrophobic surfaces have emerged as promising interfacial materials. We developed a class of slippery material that harnesses the dual advantages of both solid and lubricant by constructing a photothermal-responsive composite matrix with real-time light-induced surface charge regeneration capability. The resulting light-induced charged slippery surface (LICS) allows for photocontrol of droplets with fast speed, long distance, antigravity motion, and directionally collective motion. The LICS is further extended to biomedical domains for specific morphological hydrogel bead formation and biological diagnosis and analysis.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nicolas T. Theodorou, Alexandros G. Sourais, Athanasios G. Papathanasiou
Summary: This study investigates the electrowetting-induced detachment of droplets from solid surfaces through simulation and experiments. The results show that optimal detachment can be achieved when the application of voltage is synchronized with the spreading time of the droplet. The droplet's ability to detach depends mainly on its contact angle, viscosity, and applied voltage.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fang Wang, Meijin Liu, Cong Liu, Chao Huang, Lidong Zhang, Anyang Cui, Zhigao Hu, Xuemin Du
Summary: Photo-induced charged superamphiphobic surfaces enable flexible and reliable droplet manipulation for droplet robots and bio-applications. The development of a new superamphiphobic material with the capability of photo-induced charge generation provides a novel approach for light control of droplets. The photo-induced charged surface (PICS) allows for controllable droplet motion with high velocity, unlimited distance, and multi-mode motions. This technology has potential applications in various fields, including robotics, biosensing, and biomedical applications.
NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ecem Yelekli Kirici, Mayssam Naji, Selim Canakci, E. Yegan Erdem
Summary: Droplet-based microfluidic systems offer a method of manipulating and transporting droplets using surface texture and local energy gradients. This study has made significant progress in controlling and manipulating oil droplets, with potential applications in biochemistry, smart surface development, and microsystem packaging.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mengjie Li, Yu Li, Yanzhou Qin, Yan Yin, Junfeng Zhang, Zhizhao Che
Summary: Water management is crucial for the performance and stability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). This study investigates the detachment characteristics of water droplets on the gas diffusion layer (GDL) surface under different contact angles and channel heights. The results show that droplet detachment is influenced by the gas Reynolds number and the presence of PTFE on the GDL surface. The study also suggests that reducing the channel height can improve water detachment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Alexandros G. Sourais, Athanasios G. Papathanasiou
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential capabilities of a continuum-level, sharp-interface modelling approach for simulating droplet detachment and jumping dynamics over solid surfaces under electrowetting actuation. Preliminary calculations reveal a significant connection between substrate micro-topography and energy efficiency, which could be extended to optimal design of micro-structured solid surfaces for droplet removal.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jinming Zhang, Wei Ding, Uwe Hampel
Summary: This study deconstructs a complex surface defect into three primary surface defects and uses large-scale Molecular Dynamics simulations to investigate the mechanisms of droplet-solid static friction forces induced by these defects. Three element-wise static friction forces related to the primary surface defects are revealed, and it is found that the static friction force induced by chemical heterogeneity is contact line length dependent while the static friction force induced by atomic structure and topographical defect is contact area dependent. The latter causes energy dissipation and leads to a wiggle movement of the droplet during the static-kinetic friction transition.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Feng Rong, Limin He, Yuling Lu, Ce Wang, Shipeng Wang
Summary: Microscopic adhesion of oil droplets has been a popular research topic in the petrochemical field. This paper uses a high-speed camera to study the impact of oil droplets on different materials in water and analyzes the effects of material wettability, droplet size, and inclination on adhesion behavior. The experimental results show that enhancing material lipophilicity can prolong drainage time and inhibit adhesion, while excessive lipophilicity can shorten drainage time and lead to rapid adhesion. Increasing droplet size also prolongs drainage time, but excessive initial kinetic energy hinders adhesion. Additionally, increasing inclination inhibits droplet bounce but increases lateral and normal displacements, resulting in longer drainage time.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Mahdi Shayan Nasr, Ehsan Esmaeilnezhad, Hyoung Jin Choi
Summary: Silicon-based nanoparticles play a significant role in enhanced oil recovery by altering wettability, reducing interfacial tension, adjusting fluid viscosity, preventing asphaltene precipitation, and plugging channels in porous media. The effects of nanofluid/oil/rock properties on each mechanism have been comprehensively analyzed.
JOURNAL OF THE TAIWAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
An Li, Rui Li, Ci Yan, Han Wang, Qingxia Liu, Jacob H. Masliyah, Hongbo Zeng, Zhenghe Xu
Summary: This study aims to understand the effects of different types and wettability of clays on bitumen extraction from mined oil sands. The results showed that hydrophilic clays had a detrimental effect on the extraction process, with montmorillonite being the worst. The crucial role of clays in slime-coating on bitumen was studied, and clay concentration was found to determine the hetero-coagulation process between bitumen and clay.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jie Tan, Yufeng Guo, Wanlin Guo
Summary: The spreading of water nanodroplets on solid surfaces after impinging has been systematically studied using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations. It was found that the spreading rates of nanodroplets initially increase and then decrease with increasing diameter, with the highest spreading rates observed at diameters of 17-19 nm. This is due to the combined effect of the strongest interfacial and surface interactions within water molecules. The results also revealed the nonmonotonic characteristics of spreading velocity, interface work of adhesion, and surface tension with nanodroplet diameter.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chenrui Li, Beomsu Kim, Jonghun Yoon, Soumyadip Sett, Junho Oh
Summary: This comprehensive review summarizes previous research and emphasizes the structures and working principles of directional wetting surfaces. Researchers have employed different strategies to manipulate the wetting behavior of liquids through both passive and active control mechanisms. Passive directional transport surfaces enable large-scale and continuous fluid control, while active directional wetting surfaces offer flexibility and precise control of liquid movement.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Senyou An, Yuting Zhan, Hassan Mahani, Vahid Niasar
Summary: In this study, an advanced model is proposed to investigate the dynamics of droplet detachment from a surface, taking into account the impact of buoyancy and interfacial forces. The results demonstrate that the detachment time of droplets is not only determined by the Bond number, but also influenced by the diffusion length scale.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jack Dawson, Samual Coaster, Rui Han, Johannes Gausden, Hongzhong Liu, Glen McHale, Jinju Chen
Summary: This study investigates the dynamics of droplets impacting three hydrophobic slippery surfaces and finds that the impact regime strongly depends on the surface properties. The findings provide insights for selecting surface properties to achieve desirable droplet impact characteristics.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Hai Wang, Xin Zhao, Junfeng Wang, Zhentao Wang, Dongbao Wang, Jiameng Tian
Summary: The study developed superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic hybrid surfaces for enhancing condensation heat transfer on copper substrates. The synergistic combination of superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces was effective in improving droplet nucleation rate, coalescence control, and condensate removal efficiency. Experimental results showed that the SSH-2 surface outperformed the SSH-3 and SSH-1 surfaces in heat transfer performance, with a heat transfer coefficient 1.1 and 1.3 times higher at a surface subcooling of 7.1 K, respectively.
CASE STUDIES IN THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Si-Ming Chen, Si-Chao Zhang, Huai-Ling Gao, Quan Wang, LiChuan Zhou, Hao-Yu Zhao, Xin-Yu Li, Ming Gong, Xiao-Feng Pan, Chen Cui, Ze-Yu Wang, YongLiang Zhang, HengAn Wu, Shu-Hong Yu
Summary: Spatial heterostructure of the bamboo node is identified and its mechanical properties are investigated. Three hierarchical fiber reinforcement schemes originating from the bamboo node are discovered, which govern the structural stability of the bamboo. Additionally, the spatial liquid transport within the bamboo node is experimentally verified, providing evidence for multidirectional fluid exchange.
NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiao-Feng Pan, Zhiwei Bao, WenLong Xu, Huai-Ling Gao, Bao Wu, YinBo Zhu, Guan-Hua Yu, Jungen Chen, Si-Chao Zhang, Liangbin Li, Heng-An Wu, Xiaoguang Li, Shu-Hong Yu
Summary: The emerging aramid-mica nanopapers exhibit superior electrical insulation compared with commercial aramid-mica micropapers. By improving their microstructures, the mechanical and electrical insulating properties of the nanopapers are significantly enhanced. These nanopapers also show high resistance to high-temperature and oil-bath environments, making them highly potential for advanced electrical equipment.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jianfeng Gu, Fengchao Li, Yinbo Zhu, Donghui Li, Xue Liu, Bao Wu, Heng-An Wu, Xiangqian Fan, Xinyi Ji, Yongsheng Chen, Jiajie Liang
Summary: A high-performance multifunctional nanocomposite fiber was designed by crosslinking titanium carbide (MXene) nanosheets with a slide-ring polyrotaxane. This fiber exhibited strain-hardening mechanical behavior, exceptional load-bearing capability, high electrical conductivity, and electrochemical performance. The fiber also retained its properties after extensive and long-term repeated strain loading, allowing for the fabrication of various robust wearable devices.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
WenLong Xu, Hao Yu, Marembo Micheal, HanWei Huang, He Liu, HengAn Wu
Summary: This paper presents an integrated framework based on the cohesive zone method and multi-physics coupling gas production model for evaluating the hydraulic stimulation and production performance of thermal enhanced shale gas recovery. The reliability of the integrated fracturing model is verified through analysis and field data, and the production performance of shale gas reservoirs under various engineering factors is investigated.
Article
Energy & Fuels
XiangYu Hong, HengYu Xu, Hao Yu, Xu Jin, He Liu, FengChao Wang, HengAn Wu
Summary: A large proportion of shale gas/oil reserves is trapped in blind pores and needs to be further exploited. This study investigates the migration and recovery behavior of shale gas/oil mixture through a pore throat connecting blind pores and microfractures. Simulations show that oil molecules migrate in clusters, causing possible blockage of the pore throat. The recovery ratio of gas/oil mixture strongly depends on the pore size, and the presence of heavy fractions of shale oil inhibits extraction through multiple mechanisms. The findings provide insights into the recovery mechanisms of remaining gas/oil in blind pores and offer practical guidelines for shale gas/oil exploitation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Guoqiang Yuan, Yang-Yi Liu, Jun Xia, Yichun Su, Wenxian Wei, YinBo Zhu, Yang An, HengAn Wu, Qiang Xu, Huan Pang
Summary: In this study, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) was grown uniformly on Cu nanosheets, and carbon-coated CuZn alloy nanosheets were prepared by calcination under H-2/Ar atmosphere. The CuZn@C nanosheets acted as zincophilic sites to uniformly absorb Zn ions and inhibit the formation of Zn dendrites. They also prevented the direct contact between zinc anode and electrolyte, preventing side reactions. The CuZn@C nanosheets exhibited excellent zinc plating/exfoliation performance and long cycle life.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
YuanZhen Hou, Jun Xia, ZeZhou He, YinBo Zhu, HengAn Wu
Summary: This study reveals the molecular levers effect in cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) through multiscale theoretical modeling. It is found that hydrogen bonds in the nanocrystals behave like covalent bonds under cryogenic conditions, providing exceptional strength and toughness. Thermodynamic analyses show that the unique mechanical behavior of CNCs at different temperatures is a result of the cooperation between molecular levers and overall thermo-induced destabilization/amorphization of the nanocrystals. This research not only establishes the relationship between hydrogen bonding thermodynamics and crystal-scale mechanical properties, but also opens up potential applications of cellulose-based materials at extremely low temperatures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhen-Bang Zhang, ZeZhou He, Xiao-Feng Pan, Huai-Ling Gao, Si-Ming Chen, YinBo Zhu, Saisai Cao, Chunyu Zhao, Shuang Wu, Xinglong Gong, HengAn Wu, Shu-Hong Yu
Summary: This study presents a scalable-manufactured aramid nanofiber (ANF)-based composite with lightweight, impact-resistance, and self-monitoring capabilities. By introducing dense hydrogen bonds into the ANF interfaces, the material achieves high tensile strength, toughness, and impact resistance. Additionally, the composite is designed with a real-time self-monitoring capability, making it highly promising for protective applications.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hao Wu, Yiyu Chen, Wenlong Xu, Chen Xin, Tao Wu, Wei Feng, Hao Yu, Chao Chen, Shaojun Jiang, Yachao Zhang, Xiaojie Wang, Minghui Duan, Cong Zhang, Shunli Liu, Dawei Wang, Yanlei Hu, Jiawen Li, Erqiang Li, HengAn Wu, Jiaru Chu, Dong Wu
Summary: Miniaturized rotors based on Marangoni effect have attracted great attentions for their promising applications in propulsion and power generation. To address the challenge of achieving high rotation output and fuel economy, an asymmetric porosity strategy is introduced to fabricate a Marangoni rotor composed of thermoresponsive hydrogel and low surface tension anesthetic metabolite. The rotor exceeds previous studies in rotation output (around 15 times) and fuel economy (around 34% higher) by combining enhanced Marangoni propulsion with drag reduction. Additionally, the rotor demonstrates diverse functionalities including kinetic energy transmission, mini-generator, and environmental remediation, inspiring new perspectives in designing miniaturized rotating machineries.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
ZeZhou He, HengAn Wu, Jun Xia, YuanZhen Hou, YinBo Zhu
Summary: The hygroscopic nature of wood and nanocellulose materials leads to structural deformation and mechanical attenuation, limiting their applications. Understanding the micromechanical mechanisms of interfacial hydration is crucial for tailoring the macroscopic properties. In this study, we discovered that weak hydration interfaces can simultaneously strengthen and toughen nanocellulose materials by transitioning the interfacial deformation mode. Increasing interfacial hydration reduces the sliding barrier and shear strength, promoting slip motion and enhancing load transfer capability. This mechanism can be applied to design strong and tough nanocomposites using hydrogen bond-dominated building blocks.
EXTREME MECHANICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhao Cheng, Linfeng Bu, Yin Zhang, HengAn Wu, Ting Zhu, Lei Lu
Summary: This study aims to reveal the distribution of plastic strain gradients in gradient nanotwinned copper (GNT Cu). Full-field strain mapping reveals the gradient distributions of lateral strains in GNT Cu samples undergoing uniaxial tensile deformation. The results show that with an increasing structural gradient, the lateral strain gradient increases while the maximum lateral strain difference decreases. This gradient distribution of local extra strengths is due to the combined effects of plastic strain gradient and grain size.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
LiChuan Zhou, ZeZhou He, ZhongTing Zhang, YinBo Zhu, HengAn Wu
Summary: An ingenious critical damage state (CDS) control method is demonstrated to fully exert the energy absorption potential of nacre-mimetics, achieving maximum utilization of platelet strength advantages. Architecture manipulation results reveal that small aspect ratio platelets can generate superb toughness amplification, while stiffening effect is favored for large-size platelets. The uniform staggered pattern is recommended for superior energy-absorbing design, owing to its pronounced strengthening-toughening effect and looser compatibility restriction compared with the random staggered pattern.
COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
HanWei Huang, Hao Yu, WenLong Xu, ChengSi Lyu, Marembo Micheal, HengYu Xu, He Liu, HengAn Wu
Summary: The fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) model is established to consider the mechanical response during the in-situ conversion process (ICP) of oil shale. The model incorporates rock deformation, mass source terms from kerogen pyrolysis, and a stress- and temperature-dependent model for porosity and permeability evolution. The results demonstrate that the heating process significantly alters the porosity and permeability, affecting the heat transfer and fluid flow processes. Various engineering parameters are analyzed to optimize the ICP technology.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Quan Wang, Hao Yu, WenLong Xu, ChengSi Lyu, JiaNing Zhang, Marembo Micheal, HengAn Wu
Summary: We propose a unified criterion based on dimensional analysis to model fluid-driven fracture. The correlation between discretization and physical parameters of fluid-driven fracture is still unclear due to the nonlinear interaction between solid deformation and fluid flow. Through dimensionless analysis, this work establishes a correlation between cohesive element and time step sizes in a discrete regime. The proposed criterion is validated through numerical tests and provides spatial and temporal constraints for modeling fluid-driven fracture.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Guoqiang Yuan, Yang-Yi Liu, Jun Xia, Yichun Su, Wenxian Wei, YinBo Zhu, Yang An, HengAn Wu, Qiang Xu, Huan Pang
Summary: The growth of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) on CuO nanosheets (NSs) and the preparation of carbon-coated CuZn alloy NSs (CuZn@C NSs) under H-2/Ar atmosphere have been used to tackle the issues hindering the development of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). The Cu-Zn and Zn-N bonds in CuZn@C NSs act as zincophilic sites to uniformly absorb Zn ions and prevent the formation of Zn dendrites, while also hindering the side reactions between the zinc anode and electrolyte. The CuZn@C NSs exhibited excellent zinc plating/exfoliation performance, long cycle life, and high capacity retention when used as anodes in CuZn@C/V2O5 full cells.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiping Yin, Zhe Wang, Hua Zou
Summary: This study presents a novel method for preparing dimpled polymer-silica nanocomposite particles using interfacial swelling-based seeded polymerization. The optimized conditions allow for a relatively high percentage of dimpled particles to be achieved.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Brenden D. Hoehn, Elizabeth A. Kellstedt, Marc A. Hillmyer
Summary: Porous materials with nanometer-scale pores have important applications as nanoporous membranes. In this study, ABA triblock copolymers were used as precursors to produce nanoporous polymeric membranes (NPMs) in thin film form by degrading the end blocks. Polycyclooctene (PCOE) NPMs with tunable pore sizes were successfully prepared using solvent casting technique. Oxygen plasma etching was employed to improve the surface porosity and hydrophilicity of the membranes. This study provides a straightforward method to produce tough NPMs with high porosity and hydrophilic surface properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladislav S. Petrovskii, Stepan I. Zholudev, Igor I. Potemkin
Summary: This article investigates the behavior of linear and ring polypeptide chains in aqueous solution and explores the properties of the complexes formed by these chains with oppositely charged surfactants. The results demonstrate that the complexes of linear supercharged unfolded polypeptides and the corresponding surfactants exhibit impressive adhesive properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Merve Cevik, Serkan Dikici
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally, and vascular grafts are a promising treatment option. This study focuses on tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) using decellularized parsley stems as a potential biomaterial. The decellularized parsley stems showed suitable properties for TEVGs, providing a suitable environment for human endothelial cells to form a pseudo endothelium. This study showcases the potential of using parsley stems for TEVGs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gustavo A. Vasquez-Montoya, Tadej Emersic, Noe Atzin, Antonio Tavera-Vazquez, Ali Mozaffari, Rui Zhang, Orlando Guzman, Alexey Snezhko, Paul F. Nealey, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: The optical properties of liquid crystals are typically controlled by electric fields. In this study, we investigate the effects of microfluidic flows and acoustic fields on the molecular orientation and optical response of nematic liquid crystals. We identify several previously unknown structures and explain them through calculations and simulations. These findings hold promise for the development of new systems combining sound, flow, and confinement.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinjun Wu, Xin Guan, Shushu Chen, Jiangpeng Jia, Chongyi Chen, Jiawei Zhang, Chuanzhuang Zhao
Summary: This research presents a novel shape memory hydrogel with a remodelable permanent shape and programmable cold-induced shape recovery behavior. The hydrogel is prepared using specific treatment methods to achieve shape fixation by heating and shape recovery by cooling. Additionally, deformable devices can be obtained by assembling hydrogel blocks with different concentrations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rebecca Hengsbach, Gerhard Fink, Ulrich Simon
Summary: This study examines the properties of DNA functionalized pNipmam microgels and pure pNipmam microgels at different concentrations of sodium chloride and in PBS solutions using temperature dependent H-1-NMR measurements. The results show that DNA modification affects the volume phase transition temperature and the addition of salt and PBS further enhances this effect.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ningyi Li, Junhong Li, Lijingting Qing, Shicheng Ma, Yao Li, Baohui Li
Summary: This paper investigates the self-assembly behavior of colloids with competing interactions under spherical confinement and finds that different ordered structures can be formed under different sized spherical confinements. Moreover, more perforated structures are formed in smaller spheres.
