Conductive MXene/Polymer Composites for Transparent Flexible Supercapacitors.

Transparent flexible energy storage devices are limited by the trade-off among flexibility, transparency, and charge storage capability of their electrode materials. Conductive polymers are intrinsically flexible, but limited by small capacitance. Pseudocapacitive MXene provides high capacitance, yet their opaque and brittle nature hinders their flexibility and transparency. Herein, the development of synergistically interacting conductive polymer Ti3C2Tx MXene/PEDOT:PSS composites is reported for transparent flexible all-solid-state supercapacitors, with an outstanding areal capacitance of 3.1 mF cm-2, a high optical transparency of 61.6%, and excellent flexibility and durability. The high capacitance and high transparency of the devices stem from the uniform and thorough blending of PEDOT:PSS and Ti3C2Tx, which is associated with the formation of O─H…O H-bonds in the composites. The conductive MXene/polymer composite electrodes demonstrate a rational means to achieve high-capacity, transparent and flexible supercapacitors in an easy and scalable manner.

High-Precision Printing of Cermets by Collapsable Matrix Assisted Digital Light Processing.

Shaping hard and brittle materials, e.g. cermets, at micrometer resolution has long been known challenging for both mechanical machining and high energy beam based additive manufacturing. Digital light processing (DLP), which features great printing quality and decent precision, unfortunately lacks capability to deal with the popular slurry-typed cermet precursor due to the tremendous optical absorption by its particles. Here, an innovative protocol based on a versatile collapsable matrix is devised to allow high-precision printing of WC-Co cermets on DLP platform. By tuning the external environment, this matrix attenuates composite powders to facilitate photopolymerization at the printing stage, and shrinks to condense green parts prior to thermal sintering. The as-obtained samples by collapsable matrix assisted DLP can reach a relative density of ≈90%, a record-breaking resolution of ≈10 µm, and a microhardness of up to 14.5 GPa. Complex delicate structures, including school emblem, honeycomb, and micro-drill can be directly fabricated, which has never been achieved before. Impressively, the as-obtained micro-drill is able to be directly used in drilling tasks. The above strategy represents a great progress in DLP by enabling shaping strong light attenuating materials at high resolution. Such advantages are ideal for the next generation ceramic-metal composite additive manufacturing.

Recent Progress in Polyaniline and its Composites for Supercapacitors.

Polyaniline (PANI) has piqued the interest of nanotechnology researchers due to its potential as an electrode material for supercapacitors. Despite its ease of synthesis and ability to be doped with a wide range of materials, PANI's poor mechanical properties have limited its use in practical applications. To address this issue, researchers investigated using PANI composites with materials with highly specific surface areas, active sites, porous architectures, and high conductivity. The resulting composite materials have improved energy storage performance, making them promising electrode materials for supercapacitors. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in PANI-based supercapacitors, focusing on using electrochemically active carbon and redox-active materials as composites. We discuss challenges and opportunities of synthesizing PANI-based composites for supercapacitor applications. Furthermore, we provide theoretical insights into the electrical properties of PANI composites and their potential as active electrode materials. The need for this review stems from the growing interest in PANI-based composites to improve supercapacitor performance. By examining recent progress in this field, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art and potential of PANI-based composites for supercapacitor applications. This review adds value by highlighting challenges and opportunities associated with synthesizing and utilizing PANI-based composites, thereby guiding future research directions.

Designing energy-efficient buildings in urban centers through machine learning and enhanced clean water managements.

Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) is increasingly recognized as a vital sustainable practice in urban environments, aimed at enhancing water conservation and reducing energy consumption. This study introduces an innovative integration of nano-composite materials as Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) into RWH systems to elevate water treatment efficiency and assess the resulting environmental and energy-saving benefits. Utilizing a regression analysis approach with Support Vector Machines (SVM) and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), this study will reach the study objective. In this study, the inputs are building attributes, environmental parameters, sociodemographic factors, and the algorithms SVM and KNN. At the same time, the outputs are predicted energy consumption, visual comfort outcomes, ROC-AUC values, and Kappa Indices. The integration of AgNPs into RWH systems demonstrated substantial environmental and operational benefits, achieving a 57% reduction in microbial content and 20% reductions in both chemical usage and energy consumption. These improvements highlight the potential of AgNPs to enhance water safety and reduce the environmental impact of traditional water treatments, making them a viable alternative for sustainable water management. Additionally, the use of a hybrid SVM-KNN model effectively predicted building energy usage and visual comfort, with high accuracy and precision, underscoring its utility in optimizing urban building environments for sustainability and comfort.

Cannabidiol-loaded microparticles embedded in a porous hydrogel matrix for biomedical applications.

In this study, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles loaded with cannabidiol (CBD) were synthesized (PLGA@CBD microparticles) and embedded up to 10 wt% in a chondroitin sulfate/polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel matrix. In vitro chemical, physical, and biological assays were carried out to validate the potential use of the modified hydrogels as biomaterials. The microparticles had spherical morphology and a narrow range of size distribution. CBD encapsulation efficiency was around 52%, loading was approximately 50%. Microparticle addition to the hydrogels caused minor changes in their morphology, FTIR and thermal analyses confirmed these changes. Swelling degree and total porosity were reduced in the presence of microparticles, but similar hydrophilic and degradation in phosphate buffer solution behaviors were observed by all hydrogels. Rupture force and maximum strain at rupture were higher in the modified hydrogels, whereas modulus of elasticity was similar across all materials. Viability of primary human dental pulp cells up to 21 days was generally not influenced by the addition of PLGA@CBD microparticles. The control hydrogel showed no antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, whereas hydrogels with 5% and 10% PLGA@CBD microparticles showed inhibition zones. In conclusion, the PLGA@CBD microparticles were fabricated and successfully embedded in a hydrogel matrix. Despite the hydrophobic nature of CBD, the physicochemical and morphological properties were generally similar for the hydrogels with and without the CBD-loaded microparticles. The data reported in this study suggested that this original biomaterial loaded with CBD oil has characteristics that could enable it to be used as a scaffold for tissue/cellular regeneration.

A Visual Measurement Method for Deep Holes in Composite Material Aerospace Components.

The visual measurement of deep holes in composite material workpieces constitutes a critical step in the robotic assembly of aerospace components. The positioning accuracy of assembly holes significantly impacts the assembly quality of components. However, the complex texture of the composite material surface and mutual interference between the imaging of the inlet and outlet edges of deep holes significantly challenge hole detection. A visual measurement method for deep holes in composite materials based on the radial penalty Laplacian operator is proposed to address the issues by suppressing visual noise and enhancing the features of hole edges. Coupled with a novel inflection-point-removal algorithm, this approach enables the accurate detection of holes with a diameter of 10 mm and a depth of 50 mm in composite material components, achieving a measurement precision of 0.03 mm.

Monitoring of Curing Process of Epoxy Resin by Long-Period Fiber Gratings.

The curing of epoxy resin is a complex thermo-chemical process that is difficult to monitor using existing sensing systems. We monitored the curing process of an epoxy resin by using long-period fiber gratings. The refractive index of the epoxy resin increases during the curing process and can be measured to determine the degree of curing. We employed long-period fiber gratings that are sensitive to the refractive index of an external medium for the measurement of refractive index changes in the resin. We observed that the resonances of long-period fiber gratings increased their depth with the increased refractive index of the resin, which was well described by our simulation taking the coupling to radiation modes into account. We demonstrated that the degree of cure can be estimated from the depth of the grating resonances using a phenomenological model. At the same time, long-period fiber gratings are sensitive to temperature variations and internal strains that are induced during curing. These factors may affect the measurements of curing degree and should also be addressed.

Structure, Synthesis, and Catalytic Performance of Emerging MXene-Based Catalysts.

As traditional fossil fuel energy development faces significant challenges, two-dimensional layered materials have become increasingly popular in various fields and have generated widespread research interest. MXene is an exceptional catalytic material that is typically integrated into functional composite materials with other substances to enhance its catalytic-reaction performance. Improving the thermal stability, electrical conductivity, and electrochemical activity, as well as enhancing the specific surface structure, can make the material an excellent catalyst for photoelectrocatalysis and energy-regeneration reactions. The article mainly outlines the structural characteristics, preparation methods, and applications of MXene in the field of catalysis. This text highlights the latest progress and performance comparison of MXene-based catalytic functional materials in various fields such as electrochemical conversion, photocatalysis, renewable energy, energy storage, and carbon capture and conversion. It also proposes future prospects and discusses the current bottlenecks and challenges in the development of MXene-based catalytic materials.

The Determination of the Biocompatibility of New Compositional Materials, including Carbamide-Containing Heterocycles of Anti-Adhesion Agents for Abdominal Surgery.

Due to traumatic injuries, including those from surgical procedures, adhesions occur in over 50% of cases, necessitating exclusive surgical intervention for treatment. However, preventive measures can be implemented during abdominal organ surgeries. These measures involve creating a barrier around internal organs to forestall adhesion formation in the postoperative phase. Yet, the effectiveness of the artificial barrier relies on considerations of its biocompatibility and the avoidance of adverse effects on the body. This study explores the biocompatibility aspects, encompassing hemocompatibility, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial and antioxidant activities, as well as the adhesion of blood serum proteins and macrophages to the surface of new composite film materials. The materials, derived from the sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose modified by glycoluril and allantoin, were investigated. The research reveals that film materials with a heterocyclic fragment exhibit biocompatibility comparable to commercially used samples in surgery. Notably, film samples developed with glycoluril outperform the effects of commercial samples in certain aspects.

A Novel Magnetic ß-Cyclodextrin-Modified Graphene Oxide and Chitosan Composite as an Adsorbent for Trace Extraction of Four Bisphenol Pollutants from Environmental Water Samples and Food Samples.

In this study, a novel functionalized magnetic composite (MNCGC) for magnetic solid-phase extraction of bisphenols from environmental and food samples was developed, featuring a multistep synthesis with Fe3O4, chitosan, graphene oxide, and ß-cyclodextrin, crosslinked by glutaraldehyde. Characterization confirmed its advantageous morphology, intact crystal structure of the magnetic core, specific surface area, and magnetization, enabling efficient adsorption and separation via an external magnetic field. The optimized MSPE-HPLC-FLD method demonstrated excellent sensitivity, linearity, and recovery rates exceeding 80% for bisphenol pollutants, validating the method's effectiveness in enriching and detecting trace levels of bisphenols in complex matrices. This approach offers a new avenue for analyzing multiple bisphenol residues, with successful application to environmental water and food samples, showing high recovery rates.

Activation of Peroxymonosulfate by Co-Ni-Mo Sulfides/CNT for Organic Pollutant Degradation.

To explore advanced oxidation catalysts, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation by Co-Ni-Mo/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite catalysts was investigated. A compound of NiCo2S4, MoS2, and CNTs was successfully prepared using a simple one-pot hydrothermal method. The results revealed that the activation of PMS by Co-Ni-Mo/CNT yielded an exceptional Rhodamine B decolorization efficiency of 99% within 20 min for the Rhodamine B solution. The degradation rate of Co-Ni-Mo/CNT was 4.5 times higher than that of Ni-Mo/CNT or Co-Mo/CNT, and 1.9 times as much than that of Co-Ni/CNT. Additionally, radical quenching experiments revealed that the principal active groups were 1O2, surface-bound SO4•-, and •OH radicals. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited low metal ion leaching and favorable stability. Mechanism studies revealed that Mo4+ on the surface of MoS2 participated in the oxidation of PMS and the transformation of Co3+/Co2+ and Ni3+/Ni2+. The synergism between MoS2 and NiCo2S4 reduces the charge transfer resistance between the catalyst and solution interface, thus accelerating the reaction rate. Interconnected structures composed of metal sulfides and CNTs can also enhance the electron transfer process and afford sufficient active reaction sites. Our work provides a further understanding of the design of multi-metal sulfides for wastewater treatment.

A Novel Low-Density-Biomass-Carbon Composite Coated with Carpet-like and Dandelion-Shaped Rare-Earth-Doped Cobalt Ferrite for Enhanced Microwave Absorption.

A novel low-density composite for the absorption of microwaves was prepared by loading La-doped spinel cobalt ferrite (La-CFO) onto biomass carbon (BC) derived from corn stalks using a hydrothermal method. This composite (La-CFO@BC) not only maintained the advantageous properties of low density and abundant porosity, but also exhibited a unique morphology, with La-CFO displaying a carpet-like structure interspersed with dandelion-shaped particles. The incorporation of La-CFO effectively tuned the electromagnetic parameters of the composite, thereby improving its impedance-matching attributes and its ability to absorb microwave radiation. At a frequency of 12.8 GHz for electromagnetic waves and with a thickness of 2.5 mm, La-CFO@BC demonstrated remarkable performance in microwave absorption, attaining a noteworthy minimum reflection (RLmin) of -53.2 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6.4 GHz. Furthermore, by varying the thickness of the La-CFO@BC within the range of 1.0 to 5.5 mm, the EAB could be broadened to 13.8 GHz, covering the entire X-band, the entire Ku-band, and a substantial portion of the C-band. This study demonstrated that La-CFO@BC was a promising alternative for electromagnetic wave attenuation, which offered superior performance in microwave absorption.

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Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a type of extracellular polymeric nanomaterial secreted by microorganisms over the course of their growth. It has gained significant attention in the field of bone tissue engineering due to its unique structure of three-dimensional fibrous network, excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and exceptional mechanical properties. Nevertheless, BC still has some weaknesses, including low osteogenic activity, a lack of antimicrobial properties, small pore size, issues with the degradation rate, and a mismatch in bone tissue regeneration, limiting its standalone use in the field of bone tissue engineering. Therefore, the modification of BC and the preparation of BC composite materials have become a recent research focus. Herein, we summarized the relationships between the production, modification, and bone repair applications of BC. We introduced the methods for the preparation and the modification of BC. Additionally, we elaborated on the new advances in the application of BC composite materials in the field of bone tissue engineering. We also highlighted the existing challenges and future prospects of BC composite materials.

Hybrid Multimaterial 3D Printing Using Photocuring-While-Dispensing.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, such as vat photopolymerization (VPP) and direct-ink-writing (DIW) processes, are known for their high-resolution and multimaterial capabilities, respectively. Here a novel hybrid 3D printing technique that combines the strengths of VPP and DIW processes to achieve multimaterial and high-resolution printing of functional structures and devices, is presented. The method involves dispensing liquid-like materials via syringes into a photocurable matrix material and subsequently using a Galvano mirror-controlled laser beam to selectively photocure the dispensed material trace or the matrix material surrounding the trace. The laser beam scanning and syringe dispensing are synchronized with a set delay to control liquid diffusion and in situ fixture. The versatility of the method is demonstrated by fabricating intricate 3D ant and wheel prototypes using various materials available for VPP and DIW technologies. The proposed photocuring-while-dispensing strategy offers advantages over conventional multimaterial 3D printing methods, such as integrating materials regardless of photocurability and viscosity, and fabricating heterogeneous structures with complex geometries and high resolution. With its principle demonstrated, this multimaterial 3D printing process will open up a wide range of potential applications with diverse functionalities and materials.

Exploring CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) Perovskite Nanocrystals in Amorphous Oxide Glasses: Innovations in Fabrication and Applications.

Metal halide perovskites with excellent optical and electronic properties have become a trending material in the current research. However, their limited stability under ambient conditions degrades quality and threatens their potential commercialization as optoelectronic devices. Various approaches are adopted to improve the stability of perovskite nanocrystals (PeNC) while maintaining their advantageous optical properties, particularly strong luminescence. Among different possible improvement strategies, encapsulation of PeNCs within the amorphous glass matrices of inorganic oxides has drawn widespread attention because it ensures high resistance against chemical corrosion and high temperature, thus enhancing their chemical, thermal, and mechanical stability with improved light-emission characteristics. In this article, two types of materials, namely all-inorganic metal halide PeNCs and amorphous oxide glasses are briefly introduced, and then the methods are reviewed to fabricate and improve the quality of PeNC@glass composites. These methods are classified into three universal categories: compositional modification, structural modification, and dual encapsulation. In the final part of this review paper, examples of applications of PeNCs@glass composites in light-emitting devices and displays, data storage and anti-counterfeiting, lasing, photodetectors and X-ray detectors, photocatalysis, optical filters, solar concentrators, and batteries are provided.

Highly Transparent, Yet Photoluminescent: 2D CdSe/CdS Nanoplatelet-Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Composites Sensitive to Gas Adsorption.

In this work, thin composite films of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) and colloidal two-dimensional (2D) core-crown CdSe/CdS nanoplatelet (NPL) emitters with minimal scattering are formed by a cycled growth method and yield highly transparent coatings with strong and narrow photoluminescence of the NPLs at 546 nm (FWHM: 25 nm) in a solid-state composite structure. The porous ZIF matrix acts as functional encapsulation for the emitters and enables the adsorption of the guest molecules water and ethanol. The adsorption and desorption of the guest molecules is then characterized by a reversable photoluminescence change of the embedded NPLs. The transmittance of the composite films exceeds the values of uncoated glass at visible wavelengths where the NPL emitters show no absorption (>540 nm) and renders them anti-reflective coatings. At NPL absorption wavelengths (440-540 nm), the transmittance of the thin composite film-coated glass lies close to the transmittance of uncoated glass. The fast formation of innovative, smooth NPL/ZIF composite films without pre-polymerizing the colloidal 2D nanostructures first provides a powerful tool toward application-oriented photoluminescence-based gas sensing.

A Targeted Review of Current Progress, Challenges and Future Perspective of g-C3 N4 based Hybrid Photocatalyst Toward Multidimensional Applications.

The increasing demand for searching highly efficient and robust technologies in the context of sustainable energy production totally rely onto the cost-effective energy efficient production technologies. Solar power technology in this regard will perceived to be extensively employed in a variety of ways in the future ahead, in terms of the combustion of petroleum-based pollutants, CO2 reduction, heterogeneous photocatalysis, as well as the formation of unlimited and sustainable hydrogen gas production. Semiconductor-based photocatalysis is regarded as potentially sustainable solution in this context. g-C3 N4 is classified as non-metallic semiconductor to overcome this energy demand and enviromental challenges, because of its superior electronic configuration, which has a median band energy of around 2.7 eV, strong photocatalytic stability, and higher light performance. The photocatalytic performance of g-C3 N4 is perceived to be inadequate, owing to its small surface area along with high rate of charge recombination. However, various synthetic strategies were applied in order to incorporate g-C3 N4 with different guest materials to increase photocatalytic performance. After these fabrication approaches, the photocatalytic activity was enhanced owing to generation of photoinduced electrons and holes, by improving light absorption ability, and boosting surface area, which provides more space for photocatalytic reaction. In this review, various metals, non-metals, metals oxide, sulfides, and ferrites have been integrated with g-C3 N4 to form mono, bimetallic, heterojunction, Z-scheme, and S-scheme-based materials for boosting performance. Also, different varieties of g-C3 N4 were utilized for different aspects of photocatalytic application i. e., water reduction, water oxidation, CO2 reduction, and photodegradation of dye pollutants, etc. As a consequence, we have assembled a summary of the latest g-C3 N4 based materials, their uses in solar energy adaption, and proper management of the environment. This research will further well explain the detail of the mechanism of all these photocatalytic processes for the next steps, as well as the age number of new insights in order to overcome the current challenges.

Materials used to prevent adhesion, growth, and biofilm formation of Candida species.

The species of the Candida genus are opportunistic pathogenic fungi found in humans and are responsible for ∼80% of worldwide fungal infections. Aimed at diminishing and preventing Candida adhesion to cells or implanted devices in the human host, a large diversity of materials has been developed and functionalized that have attracted much interest. Furthermore, these materials have been focused almost exclusively on Candida albicans, followed by C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis. Although an important diversity of materials has been synthesized to prevent adherence and formation of biofilms by Candida species, it is however important to evaluate the capacity of each material in terms of its property to diminish the adherence of Candida. These materials are discussed in this review.

The Addition of an Ultra-Small Amount of Black Phosphorous Quantum Dots Endow Self-Healing Polyurethane with a Biomimetic Intelligent Response.

This study explores new applications of black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) by adding them to self-healing material systems for the first time. Self-healing polyurethane with an ultra-small amount of BPQDs has biomimetic intelligent responsiveness and achieves balance between its mechanical and self-healing properties. By adding 0.0001 wt% BPQDs to self-healing polyurethane, the fracture strength of the material increases from 3.0 to 12.3 MPa, and the elongation at break also increases from 750% to 860%. Meanwhile, the self-healing efficiency remains at 98%. The addition of BPQDs significantly improves the deformation recovery ability of the composite materials and transforms the surface of self-healing polyurethane from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, making it suitable for applications in fields such as electronic skin and flexible wearable devices. This study provides a simple and feasible strategy for endowing self-healing materials with biomimetic intelligent responsiveness using a small amount of BPQDs.

A peridynamic approach to simulating fatigue crack propagation in composite materials.

In this article, a numerical tool is proposed in the framework of bond-based peridynamics to simulate fatigue crack propagation in composite materials and structures. The cycle-dependent damage-cumulative model derived from Peerlings' law and applied to a bilinear constitutive law is used to evaluate the fatigue degradation of the bond stiffness. Several benchmark cases are studied to validate the proposed approach. Finally, static and fatigue crack propagations in composite systems with single or multi-inclusions are simulated to illustrate the capabilities and characteristics of the developed approach. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ageing and durability of composite materials'.