Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jeong Hui Kim, Kyung Gook Cho, Dae Hyun Cho, Kihyon Hong, Keun Hyung Lee
Summary: Increasing the sensitivity of ion gel-based strain sensors with ion-permeable electrodes and patterned zigzagged tracks can achieve highly sensitive stretchable sensors with a record-high gauge factor of 173. These sensors successfully monitor various motions and show promise for developing highly sensitive, stretchable sensing systems for E-skin sensors and soft robotics.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guoshuai Bian, Na Pan, Zhaohui Luan, Xin Sui, Wenxin Fan, Yanzhi Xia, Kunyan Sui, Lei Jiang
Summary: The study demonstrates the potential application of all-polysaccharide polyelectrolyte hydrogel membranes prepared by ultrafast reaction/diffusion in high-performance osmotic energy conversion, improving power density and avoiding adverse interfacial effects.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ruobing Yi, Yimin Zhao, Liang Chen, Lei Zhang
Summary: In this research, a two-dimensional nanofluidic gradient structure (TNGS) inspired by cell membrane potential was developed. By utilizing the built-in hygroscopic gradient and redox reaction, the selective migration of calcium ions and protons was converted into electrical energy, resulting in a solid-state power source with sustained voltage output and high volumetric power density.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wei Li, Jin Zhang, Jiarong Niu, Xin Jin, Xiaoming Qian, Changfa Xiao, Wenyu Wang
Summary: This paper reports an ionic skin device based on organogel with surface microstructure, which is flexible, highly sensitive, and conductive. The device can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and can be used as a flexible pressure sensor and tensile sensor. Moreover, it can generate stable electrical signal outputs and has the function of self-powered skin. Organogel can also be used as flexible electrodes in capacitive sensors and has the ability of 3D printing.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ayesha Sultana, Alois Wurger, Ziyauddin Khan, Mingna Liao, Magnus P. Jonsson, Reverant Crispin, Dan Zhao
Summary: This study investigates the mechanism of thermal voltages in ionic thermoelectric materials and finds that the concentration gradient significantly affects the thermal voltage in polyelectrolytes. The hydration of different cations influences the water concentration gradient, affecting the barrier height and ion-induced potential in the electrodes. The results demonstrate that the thermal voltage can be an order of magnitude larger than the contribution from thermoeffusion-induced potentials in ionic thermoelectric devices, particularly in ionic thermoelectric supercapacitors.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhenzhen Zhang, Md. Mushfequr Rahman, Ivonne Ternes, Barbara Bajer, Volker Abetz
Summary: This study reports on the development of positively charged isoporous block copolymer nanofiltration membranes with designed soft nanochannels. The membranes were obtained through self-assembly and non-solvent-induced phase separation. A versatile post-modification approach was used to engineer well-defined soft nanochannels. The membranes demonstrated the capability to separate mono-/divalent cations based on their ionic size difference, charge, and energy. The selectivity of the membranes was significantly higher in binary-salt systems compared to single-salt systems. The membranes also showed potential for recovering valuable ionic species from water, such as Mg, which is classified as a critical raw material in Europe.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuai Hao, Zhiyan Chen, Haozhe Li, Jushigang Yuan, Xihao Chen, Alexander Sidorenko, Jiang Huang, Yanlong Gu
Summary: This article introduces a method of using electron beam irradiation for crosslinking to fabricate gradient ionogels, which exhibit remarkable mechanical properties and highly sensitive attributes. The gradient ionogels show an ultra-fast response time, incredibly low detection limit, and exceptionally wide detection range comparable to skin, holding tremendous promise for applications in the field of smart sensors.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaofeng Pan, Qinhua Wang, Daniele Benetti, Yonghao Ni, Federico Rosei
Summary: This work presents the design and fabrication of a mechanical-electric conversion and self-powered sensing platform based on polyelectrolyte hydrogels. The compression deformation of the hydrogel leads to a localized increase in H+ concentration, which induces a directional H+ diffusion. The difference in mobility between ionized H+ and fixed PAA chain allows for the conversion of mechanical energy into electricity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yingyi Hu, Luyao Xu, Lei Wang, Yue Shao, Hong Wang
Summary: Polyelectrolyte porous membranes (PPMs) have wide-ranging practical applications due to their tunable pore sizes and charge nature. However, traditional polyelectrolytes are not suitable for scalable preparation of high-quality PPMs. Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs), a subclass of functional polyelectrolytes, have shown promising advancements in PPMs design through rational structure design. This review highlights the latest developments in PPMs and discusses the structure-property-function relationships based on PILs.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
John Tan Nguyen, Wenlong Cheng
Summary: Epidermal nanogenerators (ENGs) are emerging as a promising self-powered technology for wearable biomedical devices, capable of converting mechanical and thermal energy into electricity. They have diverse applications in human-machine interface, wound healing, and wearable biomedical sensors, with a particular focus on detecting physiological signals.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yingyi Hu, Luyao Xu, Wangqing Zhang, Hong Wang
Summary: We report a synthetic procedure for scalable and controllable fabrication of covalently crosslinked poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) nanoporous membranes (CPILMs) in water solution under ambient conditions. By choosing the structure of PIL, diketone, and aldehyde, the pore sizes, flexibility, and compositions of CPILMs can be finely tailored. The formation mechanism involves hydrogen bonding-induced phase separation and Debus Radsizewski reaction-triggered ambient covalent crosslinking, resulting in a stable three-dimensional interconnected pore system. The structurally stable CPILMs exhibit excellent Li+/Mg2+ separation efficiency, making them a commercially interesting strategy for making useful nanoporous functional polyelectrolyte membranes.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Meiru Zhao, Peng Ren, Quanqian Lyu, Xiaodong Chen, Hui Wang, Miaomiao Li, Lianbin Zhang, Jintao Zhu
Summary: In this study, a mechanochromic and electromechanical PI-skin with superior adhesion, sensitivity, stability, and self-healing ability is presented for visualizing wearable strain distributions and monitoring human motions.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Qingning Li, Ziyang Liu, Sijie Zheng, Weizheng Li, Yongyuan Ren, Lingling Li, Feng Yan
Summary: The development of hydrogels and ionic gels in fields such as soft electronics and wearable sensors is hindered by issues like liquid evaporation and leakage. Ionic conductors without volatile liquids are better options, and this study introduces a liquid polymer electrolyte (LPE) and a solvent-free ionic elastomer (IE). The IE, created through photopolymerization, shows improved conductivity and stretchability with the presence of a high content of lithium salt. The light-curing 3D printing allows for pattern design capability of the IE.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaobin Zhu, Pengfei Qi, Wenxin Fan, Haojie Wang, Kunyan Sui
Summary: This study demonstrates a versatile strategy for constructing multifunctional self-powered ionic receptors/sensors using gradient polyelectrolyte hydrogel, stretchable ionic hydrogel electrodes, and a sandwiched structure. The self-powered receptors are highly transparent, stretchable, and capable of perceiving pressure, temperature, salinity, and pH variations.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yueqin Li, Yong Yang, Xiaohui Liu, Chen Chen, Changhao Qian, Lin Han, Qingshan Han
Summary: The article discusses a self-powered strain sensor based on hydrogel, which exhibits self-healing, stretchable, and resilient properties due to the formation of dynamic chemical bonds. The sensor can monitor various human activities without requiring an external power supply.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meng Yang, Hongmei Zhong, Tao Li, Bangyao Wu, Zuankai Wang, Dazhi Sun
Summary: This study proposes a temperature-adaptive design for passive radiative cooling (PRC) by integrating PRC with temperature control of room-temperature phase change material. The phase change material-enhanced radiative cooler (PCMRC) can adjust its performance according to the temperature of day and night, reducing the temperature difference between them. The PCMRC achieved an average subambient temperature drop of -6.3 degrees C under direct sunlight and an average temperature rise of -2.1 degrees C above ambient temperature at night, showing great promise for the regulation of passive radiative cooling.
Article
Thermodynamics
Shiwei Zhang, Gong Chen, Xingchi Jiang, Yuanjie Li, Syed Waqar Ali Shah, Yong Tang, Zuankai Wang, Chin Pan
Summary: This study develops a hierarchical gradient mesh surface that exhibits strong wicking effect and rapid bubble detachment, surpassing traditional predictions and providing a new direction for efficient phase change heat transfer.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Huanxi Zheng, Hao Wu, Zhiran Yi, Yuxin Song, Wanghuai Xu, Xiantong Yan, Xiaofeng Zhou, Steven Wang, Zuankai Wang
Summary: To achieve carbon neutrality, it is important to design materials and structures that can simultaneously collect and convert energy. However, directly coupling energy collection and conversion modules can lead to problems such as material wearing, spatial constraints, and low conversion efficiency. This study presents a remote-controlled energy harvesting strategy that utilizes diffusive airflow within a confined channel. The device separates the energy collection unit from the conversion units, and uses two drain electrodes to collect and release electrostatically induced charges, resulting in efficient output performance.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nan Zhang, Huimin Zhang, Zhourui Liu, Wanghuai Xu, Huanxi Zheng, Yuxin Song, Zuankai Wang, Xiaofeng Zhou
Summary: Harvesting electrical energy from water droplet is a sustainable and promising way to meet challenges in energy scarcity. The impact of top electrode arrangement on the output performance of the droplet-based electricity generator (DEG) is studied, and an optimal top electrode arrangement is acquired, providing guidance in DEG design.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jing Sun, Zuankai Wang
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Renhua Yang, Siping Huang, Yiwen Zhang, Chao Zhang, Jingui Qian, Raymond H. W. Lam, Joshua E-Y Lee, Zuankai Wang
Summary: In this work, a high-throughput multi-sample acoustofluidic aggregation device is proposed, which can manipulate up to 12 samples simultaneously using a single reusable acoustic tweezer. The device utilizes a polydimethylsiloxane frame as a selective acoustic-absorbing feature to create asymmetric acoustic waves over multiple detachable superstrates. The device can efficiently aggregate multiple samples of various compositions and sizes, ranging from non-bioactive microparticles to bioactive cells.
JOURNAL OF MICROMECHANICS AND MICROENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Miaomiao Cui, Yawei Feng, Hao Wu, Yuankai Jin, Wanbo Li, Zuankai Wang
Summary: Engineering materials in marine surroundings are subject to corrosion. Utilizing the corrosive marine conditions to harvest kinetic ocean wave energy is a promising solution. Leveraging water-solid triboelectrification for active anticorrosion by collecting low-frequency wave energy is efficient.
Article
Materials Science, Coatings & Films
Hanheng Du, Huawei Chen, Zhiwei Zhu, Zuankai Wang, Suet To
Summary: This study proposes a novel hybrid machining process to texture microstructure arrays on titanium alloy surfaces. Laser-assisted diamond turning is used to improve machinability, and slow-tool-servo cutting is used to generate various microstructure arrays. Experimental results showed that sine-shaped and honeycomb-shaped microstructure arrays were smoothly generated on the titanium alloy surfaces.
SURFACE & COATINGS TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pengcheng Sun, Yuankai Jin, Yingying Yin, Chenyang Wu, Chuanhui Song, Yawei Feng, Peiyang Zhou, Xuezhi Qin, Yusheng Niu, Qiankai Liu, Jie Zhang, Zuankai Wang, Xiuqing Hao
Summary: Static repellency and pressure resistance are essential for high-performance super-omniphobic surfaces. However, these two properties are usually mutually exclusive. Inspired by the Springtail, researchers have developed a surface with micrometric and nanometric reentrant structures that can simultaneously provide static liquid repellency and pressure resistance. This design avoids the structural conflicts and achieves the highest-pressure resistance ever reported.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yu Fang, Cheng-Ye Zhu, Hao-Cheng Yang, Chao Zhang, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: This study demonstrates the advantages of vacuum-assisted interfacial polymerization (VAIP) in fabricating polyimide nanofiltration membranes. By using vacuum filtration, aqueous solutions of PIP can be evenly distributed on different microfiltration substrates, leading to the fabrication of uniform and ultra-thin polyamide layers with excellent performance. The membranes exhibit high rejection rates and water permeance, as well as satisfactory long-term stability.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jin-Bo Li, Cheng-Ye Zhu, Bian-Bian Guo, Chang Liu, Chao Zhang, Jian Wu, Lin Zhang, Hao-Cheng Yang, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: Synthesizing ultrathin polyamide nanofilms through glycerol-regulated interfacial polymerization (IP) at the hexane-water/glycerol interface enables large-scale synthesis, defect-free transfer, and seamless compositing. The nanofilms exhibit ultrafast and robust nanofiltration performance when integrated using a facile and universal transfer printing method. The resulting sub-5 nm polyamide composite membrane demonstrates extraordinary water permeance and salt rejection, making it highly promising for practical separation scenarios.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Wei Zhang, Wei Jiang, Chao Zhang, Xuezhi Qin, Huanxi Zheng, Wanghuai Xu, Miaomiao Cui, Bin Wang, Jianing Wu, Zuankai Wang
Summary: This study reports a previously unexplored solid repellency on a honeybee's comb and describes its mechanism. It demonstrates that the comb's stiffness gradient allows for the immediate ejection of particles, offering potential applications in the development of bioinspired stiffness-gradient materials and catapult-based actuators.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shouwei Gao, Zuankai Wang
Summary: Addressing the global water crisis requires technologies capable of collecting alternative freshwater sources. A bifunctional fog harvester now offers a promising approach to simultaneous water collection and purification.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jia-Hui Xin, Hong-Yu Fan, Bian-Bian Guo, Hao-Cheng Yang, Cheng-Ye Zhu, Chao Zhang, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: This review summarizes recent advances in tailoring interfacial polymerization using interfaces beyond the conventional alkane-water interface to achieve high-performance separation films with designed structures. Diverse liquid-liquid interfaces are introduced for synthesizing separation films by adding co-solvents into the organic phase and/or the aqueous phase, respectively, or by replacing one of the liquid phases with other solvents. Innovative liquid-gel and liquid-gas interfaces are then summarized for the synthesis of polymer thin films for separation. Novel strategies to form reaction interfaces, such as spray-coating, are also presented and discussed. In addition, the review discusses the details of how a physically or chemically patterned substrate affects interfacial polymerization. Finally, the potential of unconventional interfaces in interfacial polymerization is forecast with both challenges and opportunities.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
