bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multifunctional Hydrogel Sensor with Curved Macro Cracks: A Strategy for High Sensitivity and Wide Detection Range
Authors: Guo Yuhan , Guo Haoyu , Han Yuwei , Chen Xi , Liu Jinyuan , Yang Meng , Lu Tongqing , Luo Junrong , Tao Ran , Yang Qingsheng , Jia Kun 
Published: August 2023

AbstractMulti‐sensing in simple devices, but with a high sensitivity and a large detection range, is desirable for soft machines. Stretchable sensors based on the resistance changes of bulk ionic hydrogels are inherently limited by the single function and low sensitivity at small deformations. Here, a design enabled by a highly cracked hydrogel (HCHG) that is hypersensitive to tensile strain, bending, and tactile force in a wide range is proposed. The mechanism relies on the continuous sharp changes of the cross‐sectional area flowing ionic current when pre‐cut curved cracks are closed/opened by external load. The high fracture toughness of the hydrogel inhibits the crack propagation, making the sensing robust. By designing the crack patterns, sensitivities of 80 for 0–20% tensile strain and 0.45 kPa−1 for tactile force are achieved. Compared to the sensor made from bulk hydrogel, the sensitivities are enhanced by two and three orders of magnitude, respectively, meanwhile the detectable strain range is maintained (up to 215%). A sandwich design is also developed to distinguish elongation, compression, and bending. Applications of HCHG sensors in manipulating a robotic arm and nondestructive grasping an even softer object by a soft gripper are demonstrated.
Novel Metal–Organic Framework Cocrystal Strategy for Significantly Enhancing Photocatalytic Performance
Authors: Liu Kexin , Wang Lingsong , Li Shuyu , Liu Huapeng , Zhang Dong , Jiang Mengjia , Chen Wei , Jiao Fei , Zhang Xiaotao , Hu Wenping 
Published: August 2023

AbstractOwing to their high carrier recombination speed and low spectral utilization, it is difficult to further improve the performance of photocatalysts. In this study, a novel metal–organic framework (MOF) self‐assembled cocrystal material is developed. The guest molecule is inserted and self‐assembled with the existing MOF ligand to form an organic cocrystal. The highly ordered molecular arrangement and tight intermolecular distances between donor and acceptor molecules promote a strong π–π charge transfer interaction, facilitating the migration and separation of photogenerated charge carriers. In addition, efficient redshifts in the absorption wavelength enhance the response to visible light. Further, the unique porous structure of MOFs is beneficial for increasing the interfacial area of photocatalytic reactions, and metal ions can become the center of photogenerated carrier capture, effectively inhibiting carrier recombination. Consequently, the MOF cocrystal demonstrates remarkable efficiency in the degradation of pollutants in water, achieving a noteworthy removal efficiency of 95.31% within 15 min. Moreover, the photocatalyic reaction kinetics constant of the MOF cocrystal is 46.5 times higher, indicating the success of this new strategy in developing highly efficient photocatalytic systems.
Proton‐Conducting Hierarchical Composite Hydrogels Producing First Soft Memcapacitors with Switchable Memory
Authors: Biswas Arnab , Das Bikash , Pal Pulak , Ghosh Aswini , Chattopadhyay Nitin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPerpetual exigency for environment friendly clean energy and powerful soft electronics has elevated the research on hydrogels in past two decades. Hydrogels are the amplifiers of material properties using manipulation in structure–property relationship via simple, economic yet effective routes. Herein, a set of composite and hybrid hydrogels are developed by hierarchical assembling of clay nanosheets and surfactant micelles those divulge the first example of memcapacitor gels and offer exceptional proton conductivity (1.66–4.34 × 10–2 S cm−1) as a gel material. Further, Congo red, Eosin Y, and Orange G are used to hybridize one of the composites to achieve three hybrid hydrogels. Such hybridization is found to regulate the memristive function selectively from the coupled effect of memcapacitance from the composite. The composite hydrogel highlights its volatile memory with encouraging robustness under environmental conditions, established through various current–voltage (I–V) experiments. The electrochemical behaviors including the high proton conductivity are realized from impedance measurements. Material characterizations, experimental results, and in silico optimized structures rationalize composite/hybrid network formation, capacitive/memristive responses, and enhanced proton conduction in the fabricated composite superstructures. Proposed structural models demonstrate two orthogonally oriented structural encryptions to be accountable for the expressed bifunctionality in the hierarchically designed superstructures.
Laser‐Printed Plasmonic Metasurface Supporting Bound States in the Continuum Enhances and Shapes Infrared Spontaneous Emission of Coupled HgTe Quantum Dots
Authors: Sergeeva Kseniia A. , Pavlov Dmitrii V. , Seredin Albert A. , Mitsai Eugeny V. , Sergeev Aleksandr A. , Modin Evgeny B. , Sokolova Anastasiia V. , Lau Tsz Chun , Baryshnikova Kseniia V. , Petrov Mihail I. , Kershaw Stephen V. , Kuchmizhak Aleksandr A. , Wong Kam Sing , Rogach Andrey L. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn order to advance the development of quantum emitter‐based devices, it is essential to enhance light‐matter interactions through coupling between semiconductor quantum dots with high quality factor resonators. Here, efficient tuning of the emission properties of HgTe quantum dots in the infrared spectral region is demonstrated by coupling them to a plasmonic metasurface that supports bound states in the continuum. The plasmonic metasurface, composed of an array of gold nanobumps, is fabricated using single‐step direct laser printing, opening up new opportunities for creating exclusive 3D plasmonic nanostructures and advanced photonic devices in the infrared region. A 12‐fold enhancement of the photoluminescence in the 900–1700 nm range is observed under optimal coupling conditions. By tuning the geometry of the plasmonic arrays, controllable shaping of the emission spectra is achieved, selectively enhancing specific wavelength ranges across the emission spectrum. The observed enhancement and shaping of the emission are attributed to the Purcell effect, as corroborated by systematic measurements of radiative lifetimes and optical simulations based on the numerical solution of Maxwell's equations. Moreover, coupling of the HgTe photoluminescence to high quality factor modes of the metasurface improves emission directivity, concentrating output within an ≈20° angle.
High Comprehensive Circularly Polarized Electroluminescence Performance Improved by Chiral Coassembled Host Materials
Authors: Zhang Yu , Li Dong , Li Qihuan , Quan Yiwu , Cheng Yixiang 
Published: August 2023

AbstractCircularly polarized organic light‐emitting diodes are of great significance in 3D displays. However, achieving circularly polarized electroluminescence (CP‐EL) simultaneously with a large dissymmetry factor (gEL) and high efficiency still remains a formidable challenge. Herein, a facile and efficient strategy is developed for improving the performance of CP‐EL devices using device emitting layers of chiral coassembled helix nanofiber host materials. Chiral coassembled helix nanofiber host materials ((S‐/R‐2Cz)0.2‐(PFpy)0.8) could be smartly constructed through intermolecular π–π stacking interactions between the achiral conjugated pyridine‐based polymer acceptor (PFpy) and the chiral binaphthyl‐based donor (S‐/R‐2Cz). Significantly, the resulting chiral coassembled hosts (S‐/R‐2Cz)0.2‐(PFpy)0.8 greatly promote a commercially available achiral phosphorescence emitter to achieve solution‐processed red CP‐EL device performances at 620 nm with a high external quantum efficiency of 4.1% and a large |gEL| value of 0.014.
Dynamic Stiffening Hydrogel with Instructive Stiffening Timing Modulates Stem Cell Fate In Vitro and Enhances Bone Remodeling In Vivo
Authors: Li Xiaomeng , Liu Shuaibing , Han Shanshan , Sun Qingqing , Yang Jianmin , Zhang Yuhang , Jiang Yongchao , Wang Xiaofeng , Li Qian , Wang Jianglin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBiomechanical stimuli derived from the extracellular matrix (ECM) extremely tune stem cell fate through 3D and spatiotemporal changes in vivo. The matrix stiffness is a crucial factor during bone tissue development. However, most in vitro models to study the osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are static or stiffening in a 2D environment. Here, a dynamic and controllable stiffening 3D biomimetic model is created to regulate the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs with a dual‐functional gelatin macromer that can generate a double‐network hydrogel by sequential enzymatic and light‐triggered crosslinking reactions. The findings show that these dynamic hydrogels allowed cells to spread and expand prior to the secondary crosslinking and to sense high stiffness after stiffening. The MSCs in the dynamic hydrogels, especially the hydrogel stiffened at the late period, present significantly elevated osteogenic ECM secretion, gene expression, and nuclear localization of Yes‐associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ‐binding motif (TAZ). In vivo evaluation of animal experiments further indicates that the enhancement of dynamic stiffening on osteogenesis of MSCs substantially promotes bone remodeling. Consequently, this work reveals that the 3D dynamic stiffening microenvironment as a critical biophysical cue not only mediates the stem cell fate in vitro, but also augments bone restoration in vivo.
Bimodal Gating Mechanism in Hybrid Thin‐Film Transistors Based on Dynamically Reconfigurable Nanoscale Biopolymer Interfaces
Authors: Kim Beom Joon , Bonacchini Giorgio Ernesto , Ostrovsky‐Snider Nicholas A. , Omenetto Fiorenzo G. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn recent years, increased control over naturally derived structural protein formulations and their self‐assembly has enabled the application of high‐resolution manufacturing techniques to silk‐based materials, leading to bioactive interfaces with unprecedented miniaturized formats and functionalities. Here, a hybrid biopolymer–semiconductor device, obtained by integrating nanoscale silk layers in a well‐established class of inorganic field‐effect transistors (silk‐FETs), is presented. The devices offer two distinct modes of operation—either traditional field‐effect or electrolyte‐gated—enabled by the precisely controlled thickness, morphology, and biochemistry of the integrated silk layers. The different operational modes are selectively accessed by dynamically modulating the free‐water content within the nanoscale protein layer from the vapor phase. The utility of these hybrid devices is illustrated in a highly sensitive and ultrafast breath sensor, highlighting the opportunities offered by the integration of nanoscale biomaterial interfaces in conjunction with traditional semiconductor devices, enabling functional outcomes at the intersection between the worlds of microelectronics and biology.
Construction of Multi‐Stimuli Responsive Highly Porous Switchable Frameworks by In Situ Solid‐State Generation of Spiropyran Switches
Authors: Sheng Jinyu , Perego Jacopo , Bracco Silvia , Czepa Włodzimierz , Danowski Wojciech , Krause Simon , Sozzani Piero , Ciesielski Artur , Comotti Angiolina , Feringa Ben L. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractStimuli‐responsive molecular systems support within permanently porous materials offer the opportunity to host dynamic functions in multifunctional smart materials. However, the construction of highly porous frameworks featuring external‐stimuli responsiveness, for example by light excitation, is still in its infancy. Here a general strategy is presented to construct spiropyran‐functionalized highly porous switchable aromatic frameworks by modular and high‐precision anchoring of molecular hooks and an innovative in situ solid‐state grafting approach. Three spiropyran‐grafted frameworks bearing distinct functional groups exhibiting various stimuli‐responsiveness are generated by two‐step post‐solid‐state synthesis of a parent indole‐based material. The quantitative transformation and preservation of high porosity are demonstrated by spectroscopic and gas adsorption techniques. For the first time, a highly efficient strategy is provided to construct multi‐stimuli‐responsive, yet structurally robust, spiropyran materials with high pore capacity which is proved essential for the reversible and quantitative isomerization in the bulk as demonstrated by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. The overall strategy allows to construct dynamic materials that undergoes reversible transformation of spiropyran to zwitterionic merocyanine, by chemical and physical stimulation, showing potential for pH active control, responsive gas uptake and release, contaminant removal, and water harvesting.
Liquids with High Compressibility
Authors: Lai Beibei , Liu Siyuan , Cahir John , Sun Yueting , Yin Haixia , Youngs Tristan , Tan Jin‐Chong , Fonrouge Sergio F. , Pópolo Mario G. Del , Borioni José L. , Crawford Deborah E. , Alexander Francesca M. , Li Chunchun , Bell Steven E. J. , Murrer Barry , James Stuart L. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractCompressibility is a fundamental property of all materials. For fluids, that is, gases and liquids, compressibility forms the basis of technologies such as pneumatics and hydraulics and determines basic phenomena such as the propagation of sound and shock waves. In contrast to gases, liquids are almost incompressible. If the compressibility of liquids could be increased and controlled, new applications in hydraulics and shock absorption could result. Here, it is shown that dispersing hydrophobic porous particles into water gives aqueous suspensions with much greater compressibilities than any normal liquids such as water (specifically, up to 20 times greater over certain pressure ranges). The increased compressibility results from water molecules being forced into the hydrophobic pores of the particles under applied pressure. The degree of compression can be controlled by varying the amount of porous particles added. Also, the pressure range of compression can be reduced by adding methanol or increased by adding salt. In all cases, the liquids expand back to their original volume when the applied pressure is released. The approach shown here is simple and economical and could potentially be scaled up to give large amounts of highly compressible liquids.
Activating Selenium Cathode Chemistry for Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Cui Fuhan , Pan Rui , Su Lin , Zhu Chongyang , Lin Hezhe , Lian Ruqian , Fu Ruining , Zhang Guoju , Jiang Zhenjing , Hu XueChen , Pan Yuchen , Hou Shisheng , Zhang Fuchun , Zhu Kai , Dong Yanhao , Xu Feng 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAqueous rechargeable zinc‐ion batteries (ARZIBs) are a promising next‐generation energy‐storage device by virtue of the superior safety and low cost of both the aqueous electrolyte and zinc‐metal anode. However, their development is hindered by the lack of suitable cathodes with high volumetric capacity that can provide both lightweight and compact size. Herein, a novel cathode chemistry based on amorphous Se doped with transition metal Ru that mitigates the resistive surface layer produced by the side reactions between the Se cathode and aqueous electrolyte is reported. This improvement can permit high volumetric capacity in this system. Distinct from the conventional conversion mechanisms between Se and ZnSe in Se||Zn cells, this strategy realizes synchronous proton and Zn2+ intercalation/deintercalation in the Ru‐doped amorphous Se||Zn half cells. Moreover, an unanticipated Zn2+ deposition/stripping process in this system further contributes to the superior electrochemical performance of this new cathode chemistry. Consequently, the Ru‐doped amorphous Se||Zn half cells are found to deliver a record‐high capacity of 721 mAh g−1/3472 mAh cm−3, and superior cycling stability of over 800 cycles with only 0.015% capacity decay per cycle. This reported work opens the door for new chemistries that can further improve the gravimetric and volumetric capacity of ARZIBs.
Step‐Nucleation In Situ Self‐Repair to Prepare Rollable Large‐Area Ultrathin MOF Membranes
Authors: Yu Caijiao , Cen Xixi , Zhang Zhengqing , Sun Yuxiu , Xue Wenjuan , Qiao Zhihua , Guiver Michael D. , Zhong Chongli 
Published: August 2023

AbstractUltrathin membranes with ultrahigh permeance and good gas selectivity have the potential to greatly decrease separation process costs, but it requires the practical preparation of large area membranes for implementation. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are very attractive for membrane gas separation applications. However, to date, the largest MOF membrane area reported in the literature is only about 100 cm2. In the present study, a new step‐nucleation in situ self‐repair strategy is proposed that enables the preparation of large‐area (2400 cm2) ultrathin and rollable MOF membranes deposited on an inexpensive flexible polymer membrane support layer for the first time, combining a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‒metal‐ion layer and a pure metal‐ion layer. The main role of the pure metal‐ion layer is to act as the main nucleation sites for MOF membrane growth, while the PVA‒metal‐ion layer acts as a slow‐release metal‐ion source, which supplements MOF crystal nucleation to repair any defects occurring. Membrane modules are necessary components for membrane applications, and spiral‐wound modules are among the most common module formats that are widely applied in gas separation. A 4800 cm2 spiral‐wound membrane module was successfully prepared, demonstrating the practical implementation of large‐area MOF membranes.
Microfluidic bubble‐generator enables digital light processing 3D printing of porous structures
Authors: Weber Philipp , Cai Ling , Rojas Francisco Javier Aguilar , Garciamendez‐Mijares Carlos Ezio , Tirelli Maria Celeste , Nalin Francesco , Jaroszewicz Jakub , Święszkowski Wojciech , Costantini Marco , Zhang Yu Shrike 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThree‐dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging technique that has shown promising success in engineering human tissues in recent years. Further development of vat‐photopolymerization printing modalities has significantly enhanced the complexity level for 3D printing of various functional structures and components. Similarly, the development of microfluidic chip systems is an emerging research sector with promising medical applications. This work demonstrates the coupling of a digital light processing (DLP) printing procedure with a microfluidic chip system to produce size‐tunable, 3D‐printable porosities with narrow pore size distributions within a gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel matrix. It is found that the generation of size‐tunable gas bubbles trapped within an aqueous GelMA hydrogel‐precursor can be controlled with high precision. Furthermore, the porosities are printed in two‐dimensional (2D) as well as in 3D using the DLP printer. In addition, the cytocompatibility of the printed porous scaffolds is investigated using fibroblasts, where high cell viabilities as well as cell proliferation, spreading, and migration are confirmed. It is anticipated that the strategy is widely applicable in a range of application areas such as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, among others.
Racial/ethnic and gender inequities in the sufficiency of paid leave during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Evidence from the service sector
Authors: Goodman Julia M. , Schneider Daniel 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundAccess to paid family and medical leave (PFML), including leave to care for a seriously ill loved one or recover from one's own serious illness, conveys health and economic benefits for workers and their families. However, without a national PFML policy, access to paid leave remains limited and unequal. Previous work documenting inequitable access by socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity primarily focuses on parental leave, measures theoretical access to paid leave rather than actual leave uptake, and lacks an accounting for why workers of color and women may have less access to PFML. We extend this literature by looking at leave‐taking for medical needs or caregiving among a high‐risk population during the COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsWe draw on data from 2595 service‐sector workers surveyed by the Shift Project in 2020 and 2021 to estimate inequities in leave uptake among workers who experienced qualifying events. We then estimate the relative importance of worker demographic characteristics, qualifying event types (medical vs. caregiving leave), proxies for access to state and employer PFML policies, job characteristics, and ultimately within‐firm differences to these gaps.ResultsOverall, one‐fifth of workers reported sufficient leave. Women are significantly more likely than men to report insufficient or no leave. Hispanic and Black workers are more likely to take insufficient or no leave, respectively, but these differences were attenuated when controlling for covariates.ConclusionsThe dearth of PFML laws leaves women and workers of color without access to leave that is paid and of sufficient duration when facing a qualifying event.
Photocatalytic activity of co‐doped NPs based on ZnO as a new class of anti‐microbial agents: Synthesis, characterization, kinetics, isotherm, and in silico molecular docking simulation
Authors: Basseem Mohga , Emam Abeer A. , Kamal Fatma H. , Gamal Azaa M. , Abo Faraha Samia A. 
Published: August 2023

This work effectively synthesized pure ZnO (PZ) and the co‐doped ZnO as Sm‐La CDZ NPs, La‐Sr CDZ NPs, and Sm‐Sr CDZ NPs using a hydrothermal technique. To characterize synthetic nanomaterials used, several techniques, including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectra, ultraviolet and visible (UV/Vis), photoluminescence (PL), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and graphs by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (XPS), Zeta potential, point of (pHpzc), and specific surface areas. Furthermore, the XRD, SEM, and TEM confirmed the hexagonal crystalline structure. However, XPS and EDX showed that Sm3+, La3+, and Sr2+ions integrated into the ZnO lattice. The UV‐estimated band gaps increased in the co‐doped ZnO; BET surface areas declined. The Zeta potential proved the positivity surface charge of nanomaterials. Consequently, they utilized it to investigate the breakdown of reactive red 43 (RR43). The degradation percentages for PZ, Sm‐La CDZ NPs, La‐Sr CDZ NPs, and Sm‐Sr CDZ NPs were 72.88%, 82.63%, 87.08%, and 91.31%, respectively. According to the results, the Sm‐Sr CDZ NPs exhibit high photocatalytic activity. In addition, the pseudo‐first‐order kinetic model and Langmuir model were a better fit. The photocatalytic nanomaterials were also recyclable, which added to their stability. The prepared nanoparticles were evaluated against four bacterial strains and two fungal pathogenic, and the result exhibited a broad spectrum against tested strains. The co‐doped NPs revealed MIC values ranging between1.95 and 62.5 μg/mL and MBC values of (31.3–250 μg/mL) compared with PZ (MIC = 7.81–62.5 μg/mL and MBC = 31.3–250 μg/mL) against bacterial strains. Surprisingly, most of these NPs expressed bacteriocidal and fungicidal potential. In silico molecular docking simulation suggested that the antibacterial activity may be related to the inhibition of DNA gyrase, cell wall synthesis (Upps and Fos A), and biofilm activity (PqsR).