bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Soft, Strong, Tough, and Durable Bio‐Hydrogels Via Maximizing Elastic Entropy
Authors: Liu Dani , Feng Shi , Huang Qingqiu , Sun Shuofei , Dong Gening , Long Feifei , Milazzo Mario , Wang Mingkun 
Published: April 2023

AbstractLoad‐bearing soft tissues are soft but strong, strong yet tough. These properties can only be replicated in synthetic hydrogels, which do not have the biocomplexity required by many biomedical applications. By contrast, natural hydrogels, although retaining the native complexity, are weak and fragile. Here a thermomechanical casting method is presented to achieve the mechanical capabilities of synthetic materials in biopolymer hydrogels. The thermomechanical cast and chemically crosslinked biopolymer chains form a short‐range disordered but long‐range ordered structure in water. Upon stretch, the disordered structure transforms to a hierarchically ordered structure. This disorder‐order transformation resembles the synergy of the disordered elastin and ordered collagen in load‐bearing soft tissues. As entropy drives a reverse order‐disorder transformation, the hydrogels can resist repeated cycles of loads without deterioration in mechanical properties. Gelatin hydrogels produced by this method combine tissue‐like tunable mechanical properties that outperform the gelatin prepared by synthetic approaches, and in vivo biocomplexity beyond current natural systems. Unlike polymer engineering approaches, which rely on specific crosslinks provided by special polymers, this strategy utilizes the entropy of swollen chains and is generalizable to many other biopolymers. It could thus significantly accelerate translational success of biomaterials.
Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Actuators: The Role of Material, Form, and Scaling Effects
Authors: Kim Min‐Soo , Heo Jae‐Kyung , Rodrigue Hugo , Lee Hyun‐Taek , Pané Salvador , Han Min‐Woo , Ahn Sung‐Hoon 
Published: April 2023

AbstractShape memory alloys (SMAs) are smart materials that are widely used to create intelligent devices because of their high energy density, actuation strain, and biocompatibility characteristics. Given their unique properties, SMAs are found to have significant potential for implementation in many emerging applications in mobile robots, robotic hands, wearable devices, aerospace/automotive components, and biomedical devices. Here, the state–of–the–art of thermal and magnetic SMA actuators in terms of their constituent materials, form, and scaling effects are summarized, including their surface treatments and functionalities. The motion performance of various SMA architectures (wires, springs, smart soft composites, and knitted/woven actuators) is also analyzed. Based on the assessment, current challenges of SMAs that need to be addressed for their practical application are emphasized. Finally, how to advance SMAs by synergistically considering the effects of material, form, and scale is suggested.
Hairy‐Skin‐Adaptive Viscoelastic Dry Electrodes for Long‐Term Electrophysiological Monitoring
Authors: Tian Qiong , Zhao Hang , Wang Xin , Jiang Ying , Zhu Mingxing , Yelemulati Huoerhute , Xie Ruijie , Li Qingsong , Su Rui , Cao Zhengshuai , Jiang Naifu , Huang Jianping , Li Guanglin , Chen Shixiong , Chen Xiaodong , Liu Zhiyuan 
Published: April 2023

AbstractLong‐term epidermal electrophysiological (EP) monitoring is crucial for disease diagnosis and human–machine synergy. The human skin is covered with hair that grows at an average rate of 0.3 mm per day. This impedes a stable contact between the skin and dry epidermal electrodes, resulting in motion artifacts during ultralong‐term EP monitoring. Therefore, accurate and high‐quality EP signal detection remains challenging. To address this issue, a new solution—the hairy‐skin‐adaptive viscoelastic dry electrode (VDE) is reported. This innovative technology is capable of bypassing hair and filling into the skin wrinkles, leading to long‐lasting and stable interface impedance. The VDE maintains a stable interface impedance for a remarkable period of 48 days and 100 cycles. The VDE is highly effective in shielding against hair disturbances in electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring, even during intense chest expansion, and in electromyography (EMG) monitoring during large strain. Furthermore, the VDE is easily attachable to the skull without requiring any electroencephalogram (EEG) cap or bandage, making it an ideal solution for EEG monitoring. This work represents a substantial breakthrough in the field of EP monitoring, providing a solution for the previously challenging issue of monitoring human EP signals on hairy skin.
Terpolymerization and Regioisomerization Strategy to Construct Efficient Terpolymer Donors Enabling High‐Performance Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Cheng Fuliang , Cui Yongjie , Ding Feng , Chen Zeng , Xie Qian , Xia Xinxin , Zhu Peipei , Lu Xinhui , Zhu Haiming , Liao Xunfan , Chen Yiwang 
Published: April 2023

AbstractTerpolymerization and regioisomerization strategies are combined to develop novel polymer donors to overcome the difficulty of improving organic solar cells (OSCs) performance. Two novel isomeric units, bis(2‐hexyldecyl)‐2,5‐bis(4‐chlorothiophen‐2‐yl)thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐3,6‐dicarboxylate (TTO) and bis(2‐hexyldecyl) 2,5‐bis(3‐chlorothiophen‐2‐yl)thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐3,6‐dicarboxylate (TTI), are obtained and incorporated into the PM6 backbone via random copolymerization to form a series of terpolymers. Interestingly, it is found that different chlorine (Cl) substituent positions can significantly change the molecular planarity and electrostatic potential (ESP) owing to the steric hindrance effect of the heavy Cl atom, which leads to different molecular aggregation behaviors and miscibility between the donor and acceptor. The TTO unit features a higher number of multiple S···O non‐covalent interactions, more positive ESP, and fewer isomer structures than TTI. As a result, the terpolymer PM6‐TTO‐10 exhibits a much better molecular coplanarity, stronger crystallinity, more obvious aggregation behavior, and proper phase separation in the blend film, which are conducive to more efficient exciton dissociation and charge transfer. Consequently, the PM6‐TTO‐10:BTP‐eC9‐based OSCs achieve a champion power conversion efficiency of 18.37% with an outstanding fill factor of 79.97%, which are among the highest values reported for terpolymer‐based OSCs. This work demonstrates that terpolymerization combined with Cl regioisomerization is an efficient approach for achieving high‐performance polymer donors.
Enhancing Bioavailability of Fertilizer through an Amyloid‐Like Protein Coating
Authors: Su Hao , Zhang Yujia , Liu Yongchun , Lu Runqiu , Gao Aiting , Han Qian , Wen Bin , Hu Bowen , Yang Peng 
Published: April 2023

AbstractFoliar fertilization acts as a ubiquitous component of conventional crop production, which brings considerable economic and ecological costs. Due to droplets rebounding and splashing during spraying and rain erosion, low bioavailability of fertilizer results in severe environmental pollution. Contrary to conventional fertilizer formulations with polymers, surfactants, and organic reagents, a method of improving fertilizer bioavailability based on a biocompatible protein coating is presented herein. In this system, whey protein concentrate (WPC) can undergo amyloid‐like aggregation after the reduction of its disulfide bond by the reducing agent tris(2‐carboxyethyl) phosphine (TCEP). Such aggregation affords a fast formation of the optically transparent and colorless phase‐transitioned WPC (PTW) coating at the solid/water interface, with robust interfacial adhesion stability. Upon packaging with fertilizers through electrostatic and hydrogen‐bonding interactions, such reliable interfacial adhesion thereby facilitates the effective deposition of fertilizers on superhydrophobic and hydrophobic leaf surfaces, with excellent adhesion stability. Based on practical farmland test, this work demonstrates that the application of PTW can significantly boost the bioavailability of fertilizers and decrease at least 30% fertilizer use in large‐scale crop planting. This innovative strategy has the great potential to offer a transformative step forward in managing fertilizer contamination and overuse in future agriculture.
Probing transport energies and defect states in organic semiconductors using energy resolved electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
Authors: Shahi Maryam , Atapattu Harindi R. , Baustert Kyle N. , Anthony John E. , Brill Joseph W. , Johnson Stephen , Graham Kenneth R. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractDetermining the relative energies of transport states in organic semiconductors is critical to understanding the properties of electronic devices and in designing device stacks. Futhermore, defect states are also highly important and can greatly impact material properties and device performance. Recently, energy‐resolved electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (ER‐EIS) is developed to probe both the ionization energy (IE) and electron affinity (EA) as well as sub‐bandgap defect states in organic semiconductors. Herein, ER‐EIS is compared to cyclic voltammetry (CV) and photoemission spectroscopies for extracting IE and EA values, and to photothermal deflection spectroscopy (PDS) for probing defect states in both polymer and molecular organic semiconductors. The results show that ER‐EIS determined IE and EA are in better agreement with photoemission spectroscopy measurements as compared to CV for both polymer and molecular materials. Furthermore, the defect states detected by ER‐EIS agree with sub‐bandgap features detected by PDS. Surprisingly, ER‐EIS measurements of regiorandom and regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) show clear defect bands that occur at significantly different energies. In regioregular P3HT the defect band is near the edge of the occupied states while it is near the edge of the unoccupied states in regiorandom P3HT.
Tunable Encapsulation and Doping of Monolayer MoS2 by In Situ Probing of Excitonic Properties During Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Henning Alex , Levashov Sergej , Qian Chenjiang , Grünleitner Theresa , Primbs Julian , Finley Jonathan J. , Sharp Ian D. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractHere, it is shown that in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is a powerful method for probing the effects of reactant adsorption and film formation on the excitonic properties of 2D materials during atomic layer deposition (ALD), thus allowing optimization of both film growth and opto(electronic) characteristics in real time. Facilitated by in situ SE during ALD on monolayer MoS2, a low temperature (40 °C) process for encapsulation of the 2D material with a nanometer‐thin alumina (AlOx) layer is investigated, which results in a 2D/3D interface governed by van der Waals interactions rather than chemical bonding. Charge transfer doping of MoS2 by AlOx is found to be an interfacial phenomenon that initiates from the earliest stages of film formation, but saturates upon deposition of a closed layer. However, the lack of chemical binding interactions at the 2D/3D interface enables physical removal of the AlOx that results in a reversal of the charge transfer doping effect. Overall, it is demonstrated that in situ SE of 2D materials during ALD can precisely probe the impact of film formation on sensitive optoelectronic characteristics of 2D materials, which is of key importance in the development of integrated 2D/3D systems.
Atomic Layer Deposition of Ru Thin Film Using a Newly Synthesized Precursor with Open‐Coordinated Ligands
Authors: Oh Seung Hoon , Hwang Jeong Min , Park Hyeonbin , Park Dongseong , Song Young Eun , Ko Eun Chong , Park Tae Joo , Eom Taeyong , Chung Taek‐Mo 
Published: April 2023

AbstractRu films are grown on Pt, TiN, and SiO2 substrates via atomic layer deposition (ALD) using Ru(II)(η5‐C7H7O)(η5‐C7H9) as the novel Ru metalorganic precursor and O2 as the reactant. The ALD self‐limiting film growth is confirmed at the low temperature of 200 °C by manipulating the injection time and purge time of the Ru precursor and O2, and the saturated growth per cycle is 0.22 Å cy−1. It is confirmed that the combustion reaction occurs during the deposition process from the formation of the H2O and CO2 by‐products. Thin films with a low resistivity of 17–19 µΩ cm are grown at a thickness of ≈15 nm. The Ru incubation times are remarkably short at 200 °C (negligible on Pt, ≈30 cycles on TiN and SiO2), but increase with increasing temperature. The energy dispersive X‐ray mapping image of the Ru film on the pattern in which TiN is formed on SiO2 shows that the Ru film with a novel precursor has the intrinsic substrate selectivity at the deposition temperature of 300 °C. Furthermore, the substrate affects the properties of the Ru film. Particularly because Ti serves as an oxygen reservoir, a relatively large amount of RuOx is produced on the TiN substrate.
Effects of the Polymer Amount and pH on Proton Transport in Mesopores
Authors: Despot Laura , Andrieu‐Brunsen Annette 
Published: April 2023

AbstractProton exchange membranes (PEMs) have various applications, such as in electrolysis technology for hydrogen generation, vanadium flow batteries for energy storage, and fuel cells for energy conversion. To increase PEM performance and expand the range of PEM applications, the underlying transport mechanisms of PEMs need to be understood. Mesoporous silica thin films are versatile model materials for proton transport investigation and are prepared with a pore size of ≈12 nm and film thickness of ≈565 nm by evaporation‐induced self‐assembly, providing an ordered, mesoporous, rigid matrix that allows us to deduce the structure‐property relationship with respect to proton conductivity. Different amounts of sulfonic acid‐bearing groups are introduced into the mesopores using the grafting‐through polymerization of sulfopropylmethacrylate. The relationship between proton transport and the pH of the surrounding solution in poly‐sulfopropylmethacrylate‐functionalized mesopores is investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The proton conductivity is found to depend on both the proton concentration in solution and the number of proton transporting groups inside the pore, indicating the major role of charge regulation and the confinement effect on proton transport.
Additively Manufactured Iron‐Based Bulk Metallic Glass Composite Electrocatalysts: Effect of Microstructural States on the Oxygen Evolution Reaction Activity
Authors: Wegner Jan , Martínez‐Hincapié Ricardo , Čolić Viktor , Kleszczynski Stefan 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe influence of crystallinity on the electrocatalytic activity of complex alloys requires further clarification to optimize their properties. In this work, the electrocatalytic properties of additively manufactured Fe‐based bulk metallic glasses (BMG), namely, their activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction are studied in alkaline media. Laser powder bed fusion (PBF‐LB/M) is applied to fabricate electrodes with different numbers of glass‐forming Fe75Mo14.3Ni1.6P6C2.2B1 layers on 316L stainless steel substrates. Electrochemical and physicochemical characterization techniques are used to characterize the surface of the electrodes both as‐built and after annealing and devitrification. Although different process parameters lead to similar electrochemical responses, certain differences are observable. Namely, the thickness of the BMG‐coating and the ratio of crystalline/amorphous phases seems to determine the catalytic activity. In particular, it is noticeable that partially crystallized samples display higher activities, contrary to some previous observations on different materials. The measurements indicate a complex interplay between crystallinity and active surface area that determines the electrochemical properties of the investigated electrode material.
Synergistically Improving the Thermal Conductivity and Mechanical Strength of PEEK/MWCNT Nanocomposites by Functionalizing the Matrix with Fluorene Groups
Authors: Jiang Zilong , Jiang Bo , Yang Boyin , Liu Xin , Yang Yang , Zhang Chunling , Shang Yingshuang , Zhang Haibo 
Published: April 2023

AbstractNanofiller reinforcement is an effective method to prepare high thermally conductive polymer‐matrix composites. However, the poor dispersion of nanofillers and high interfacial thermal resistance between the filler and matrix seriously affect the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of composites. To solve this problem, a small amount of conjugated fluorene group is introduced into the polymer chain of poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) to afford the fluorene‐functionalized copolymer matrix (FD‐PEEK). In an in situ polymerization procedure, the matrix non‐covalently binds to multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to allow highly filled PEEK/MWCNT nanocomposites. With the filler dispersion and matrix–filler interfacial bonding improved, the prepared nanocomposites possess both high thermal conductivity and tensile strength. At the optimal ratio of 2 mol% fluorene groups in the polymer chain, the nanocomposite with 10 wt% MWCNT exhibits an excellent thermal conductivity of 2.41 W m−1 K−1, which is 868% higher than pristine PEEK, with tensile strength remaining 104.3 MPa. The PEEK/MWCNT nanocomposites can be further used as matrix resins to build double‐segregated network multi‐component composites, which contributes to an innovative strategy to design high‐performance thermally conductive materials.
Multiscale Superhydrophobic Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Coating for Static and Dynamic Anti‐Icing Purposes
Authors: Saeidiharzand Shaghayegh , Sadaghiani Abdolali K. , Yürüm Alp , Koşar Ali 
Published: April 2023

AbstractIce formation is a major challenge for engineering systems. Superhydrophobic surfaces constitute an effective approach to address this challenge. However, in addition to complex preparation methods, surface texture‐ and chemistry‐related shortcomings reduce their effectiveness. In this study, a functionalized metal–organic framework (ZIF‐8) based micro‐nano‐subnano scale coating (SuperHydrophobic Multiscale Coating – SHMC) with CA (contact angle) > 172°, rolling angle < 5°, and CAH (contact angle hysteresis) < 3° is developed and applied to metallic surfaces by spray coating. A fractal theory‐based model of contact angle is adapted to reveal its non‐wetting mechanism. SHMC extends the icing time by at least 300% and maintains its superhydrophobicity for > 30 icing/deicing cycles. The generated capillary pressure ranges within the multiscale coating are studied. The three‐phase contact line characteristics including contact times, contact diameters, and interfacial heat transfer during droplet impact are assessed. A numerical model is developed using dynamic contact angle physics for transient heat transfer during the impact. Compared to the plain surface, which leads to instant icing at 60 ms after impact, no icing is observed on the developed coating. At least an order of magnitude reduction in heat transfer rate during the droplet contact time is obtained with SHMC.
Flat Solenoidal Ice‐Binding Proteins as Scaffolds for Solid‐Binders
Authors: de Haas Robbert J. , van Ossenbruggen Jannick , van der Hoeven Jeffrey , Timmermans Roel J. , Tas Roderick P. , Voets Ilja K. , de Vries Renko 
Published: April 2023

AbstractSolid interfacing biomaterials is a crucial aspect of bionanotechnology and important for applications such as biosensing. Because of their potentially large contact area, flat solenoidal proteins are ideal scaffolds for designing proteins binding to surfaces of man‐made solids such as minerals, metals, and plastics. To explore this opportunity, a naturally occurring flat solenoidal protein: the Rhagium inquistor Antifreeze Protein from the insect Rhagium inquisitor is re‐designed. By mutating 4, 6, and 10 out of its 4 × 5 arrays of threonines into arginines, it have arrived at the silica‐binding proteins RiSiBP‐4, RiSiBP‐6, and RiSiBP‐10. Variants with increasing numbers of arginines bind stronger to silica, but are also less stable and increasingly difficult to produce. It is found that the RiSiBP‐6 variant binds strongly to silica yet still has good stability and easy production. It is shown that sfGFP‐RiSiBP‐6 fusions allow for the functional display of a monolayer of sfGFP cargo on silica surfaces, suggesting the general usefulness of flat solenoidal proteins as scaffolds for designing solid‐binding proteins.
Surface Oxidation State Variations and Insulator–Metal Transition Modulations in Vanadium Oxides with Pulsed Hydrogen Plasma
Authors: Zhang Lepeng , Niu Linkui , Yang Wanli , Huang Tiantian , Zhang Rui , Xu Peiran , Liu Feng , Chen Zhimin , Chen Xin , Dai Ning 
Published: April 2023

AbstractSurface often determines the formation and function of nanoscale thin films and nanomaterials. In correlated vanadium oxides, oxidation states and stoichiometry play important roles in regulating reversible insulator–metal transition (IMT) behaviors. This study presents the surface oxidation state reductions and IMT modulations in vanadium oxides. Oxidation states of vanadium in the surface layer are changed in the nanostructures of vanadium oxides through pulsed hydrogen plasma (PHP). The thickness‐dependent variations are also observed with Raman and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and verified in vanadium oxides with different oxidation states. Obvious modulations on IMT behaviors are then demonstrated and related to such variation of surface oxidation states in the VO2 thin film and nanobeam. It is expected that such surface manipulations are beneficial to a better understanding of the IMT in correlated vanadium oxides and the fabrication of advanced functional electronic and photoelectronic devices.
Inkjet‐Printed p‐NiO/n‐ZnO Heterojunction Diodes for Photodetection Applications
Authors: González Sergio , Vescio Giovanni , Frieiro Juan Luis , Hauser Alina , Linardi Flavio , López‐Vidrier Julian , Oszajca Marek , Hernández Sergi , Cirera Albert , Garrido Blas 
Published: April 2023

AbstractTransparent Conducting Oxides (TCOs) are an enticing family of optoelectronic materials which have been proven to increase efficiency when incorporated into perovskite light emitting diode (PE‐LED) and organic OLED architectures as transport layers. Solution‐processed metal oxide inks have already been demonstrated, although there is still a need for high‐quality inkjet‐printable metal oxide inks with a thermal post‐process below 200 °C. The set of inks in this work are adapted from low‐boiling point colloidal suspensions of metal oxide nanoparticles synthesized via flame spray pyrolysis. High quality, pinhole‐ and wrinkle‐free inkjet‐printed layers are obtained at low temperatures through vacuum oven post process, as proven by scanning electron microscopy. The crystallinity of the layers is confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, showing the expected hexagonal and cubic structures respectively for ZnO and NiO. The thin film layers reach over 70% (ZnO) and 90% (NiO) transparency in the visible spectrum. Their implementation in the inkjet‐printed p–n diode shows excellent I–V rectifying behavior with an ON/OFF ratio of two orders of magnitude at ±3 V and a forward threshold voltage of 2 V. Furthermore, the device exhibits an increase in photocurrent around four orders of magnitude when illuminated under a 1‐sun solar simulator.