Water-Triggered Self-Healing of Ti3C2Tx MXene Standalone Electrodes: Systematic Examination of Factors Affecting the Healing Process.

MXenes, with their remarkable attributes, stand at the forefront of diverse applications. However, the challenge remains in sustaining their performance, especially concerning Ti3C2Tx MXene electrodes. Current self-healing techniques, although promising, often rely heavily on adjacent organic materials. This study illuminates a pioneering water-initiated self-healing mechanism tailored specifically for standalone MXene electrodes. Here, both water and select organic solvents seamlessly mend impaired regions. Comprehensive evaluations around solvent types, thermal conditions, and substrate nuances underline water's unmatched healing efficacy, attributed to its innate ability to forge enduring hydrogen bonds with MXenes. Optimal healing environments range from ambient conditions to a modest 50 °C. Notably, on substrates rich in hydroxyl groups, the healing efficiency remains consistently high. The proposed healing mechanism encompasses hydrogen bonding formation, capillary action-induced expansion of interlayer spacing, solvent lubrication, Gibbs free energy minimizing MXene nanosheet rearrangement, and solvent evaporation-triggered MXene layer recombination. MXenes' resilience is further showcased by their electrical revival from profound damages, culminating in the crafting of Joule-heated circuits and heaters.

Solution process manufacture of a simple, multifunctional flexible sensor based on capacitance measurement.

Conventional sensors are rigid, involve complex processes and structures, and one sensor can detect only one type of stimulus. The manufacturing costs of such devices are high owing to the use of vacuum processes for the formation of thin films and electrodes and the complicated fabrication processes required to construct multiple layers. In addition, the multiple-layer design increases the risk of peeling due to mechanical movement. In this study, to solve the aforementioned problems, a simple two-layer multi-sensor has been fabricated using a non-vacuum solution process. The sensor consists of a light absorption layer comprising polyvinyl butyral and semiconductor particles and a top layer comprising two spiral-shaped Ag nanowire electrodes. The sensor experiences minimal damage by external adhesives and has a light-sensitive optical response at 420 nm and at 1.2 mW cm-2. Herein, the capacitance of the sensor applied to the two-electrode structure was determined, along with the light sensitivity and change in noise with frequency. We believe that the proposed multi-sensor can be applied in a wide range of fields because it can act as a touch sensor and light sensor.

Bioavailability of lutein in corn distillers dried grains with solubles relative to lutein in corn gluten meal based on lutein retention in egg yolk.

BACKGROUND: Dietary lutein and its food sources have gained great attention due to its health-promoting effects on humans, especially for certain eye diseases. However, relative bioavailability (RBV) of lutein among lutein-rich feed ingredients that lead to lutein-enriched egg production has not been determined. Thus, the RBV of lutein in corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as compared to lutein in corn gluten meal (CGM) was evaluated based on lutein retention in egg yolk. RESULTS: Increasing inclusion levels of DDGS or CGM in diets increased (linear, P < 0.01) Roche colour score and lutein concentrations of egg yolk without affecting laying performance. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the bioavailability of lutein in DDGS was less (P < 0.05) than that of lutein in CGM, with the RBV of lutein in DDGS being 61.6% when the bioavailability of lutein in CGM was assumed to be 100% for lutein retention in egg yolk. CONCLUSION: The results of the present experiment indicate that the DDGS can be a potential ingredient for laying hens to improve egg yolk colour and lutein concentrations of egg yolk although lutein in DDGS is less bioavailable than lutein in CGM. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Microwave Sintering of Silver Nanoink for Radio Frequency Applications.

Microwave sintering is a promising method for low-temperature processes, as it provides advantages such as uniform, fast, and volumetric heating. In this study, we investigated the electrical characteristics of inkjet-printed silver (Ag) circuits sintered by microwaves. The microstructural evolutions of inkjet-printed Ag circuits sintered at various temperatures for different durations were observed with a field emission scanning electron microscope. The electrical properties of the inkjet-printed Ag circuits were analysed by electrical resistivity measurements and radio frequency properties including scattering-parameters in the frequency range of 20 MHz to 20 GHz. The experimental results show that the signal losses of the Ag circuits sintered by microwave heating were lower than those sintered by conventional heating as microwave heating led to granular films which were nearly fully sintered without pores on the surfaces. When the inkjet-printed Ag circuits were sintered by microwaves at 300 °C for 4 min, their electrical resistivity was 5.1 µΩ cm, which is 3.2 times larger than that of bulk Ag. Furthermore, microwave sintering at 150 °C for 4 min achieved much lower signal losses (1.1 dB at 20 GHz) than conventional sintering under the same conditions.

Full integration of highly stretchable inorganic transistors and circuits within molecular-tailored elastic substrates on a large scale.

The emergence of high-form-factor electronics has led to a demand for high-density integration of inorganic thin-film devices and circuits with full stretchability. However, the intrinsic stiffness and brittleness of inorganic materials have impeded their utilization in free-form electronics. Here, we demonstrate highly integrated strain-insensitive stretchable metal-oxide transistors and circuitry (442 transistors/cm2) via a photolithography-based bottom-up approach, where transistors with fluidic liquid metal interconnection are embedded in large-area molecular-tailored heterogeneous elastic substrates (5 × 5 cm2). Amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide transistor arrays (7 × 7), various logic gates, and ring-oscillator circuits exhibited strain-resilient properties with performance variation less than 20% when stretched up to 50% and 30% strain (10,000 cycles) for unit transistor and circuits, respectively. The transistors operate with an average mobility of 12.7 ( ± 1.7) cm2 V-1s-1, on/off current ratio of > 107, and the inverter, NAND, NOR circuits operate quite logically. Moreover, a ring oscillator comprising 14 cross-wired transistors validated the cascading of the multiple stages and device uniformity, indicating an oscillation frequency of ~70 kHz.

Characterization of reliability of printed indium tin oxide thin films.

Recently, decreasing the amount of indium (In) element in the indium tin oxide (ITO) used for transparent conductive oxide (TCO) thin film has become necessary for cost reduction. One possible approach to this problem is using printed ITO thin film instead of sputtered. Previous studies showed potential for printed ITO thin films as the TCO layer. However, nothing has been reported on the reliability of printed ITO thin films. Therefore, in this study, the reliability of printed ITO thin films was characterized. ITO nanoparticle ink was fabricated and printed onto a glass substrate followed by heating at 400 degrees C. After measurement of the initial values of sheet resistance and optical transmittance of the printed ITO thin films, their reliabilities were characterized with an isothermal-isohumidity test for 500 hours at 85 degrees C and 85% RH, a thermal shock test for 1,000 cycles between 125 degrees C and -40 degrees C, and a high temperature storage test for 500 hours at 125 degrees C. The same properties were investigated after the tests. Printed ITO thin films showed stable properties despite extremely thermal and humid conditions. Sheet resistances of the printed ITO thin films changed slightly from 435 omega/square to 735 omega/square 507 omega/square and 442 omega/square after the tests, respectively. Optical transmittances of the printed ITO thin films were slightly changed from 84.74% to 81.86%, 88.03% and 88.26% after the tests, respectively. These test results suggest the stability of printed ITO thin film despite extreme environments.

Microwave annealing of indium tin oxide nanoparticle ink patterned by ink-jet printing.

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is one of the most widely used transparent conducting oxides because of its two chief properties, electrical conductivity and optical transparency, as well as the ease with which it can be deposited as a thin film. In this study, we fabricated the ITO nanoparticles, and dispersed them in an organic mixture of liquid to make a solution for printing. The solution was ink-jet printed on a glass, and we employed microwave heating technology to make the ITO coated layer conductive and transparent. Microwave technology uses electromagnetic waves that pass through material and cause its molecules to oscillate, generating heat. It generates heat within the material and heats the entire volume at about the same rate. The ITO layers could be successfully annealed by the microwave irradiation, which is resulted in the sheet resistance of 365 ohm/sq and the transmittance of 84% within only 15 min of heating.

Application of rapid milling technology for fabrication of SiC nanoparticles.

SiC nanoparticles were successfully fabricated by a high energy ball milling method, so that can be used in the printed electronics to make SiC thin film patterns. Here we utilized the waste of Si sludge for making the SiC nanoparticles. In order to achieve uniform thin film from the nanoparticle ink, fine sized SiC nanoparticles less than 100 nm has to be uniformly dispersed. In this study, we employed the ultra apex milling (UAM) system for particle comminution and dispersion. We investigated the effects of milling parameters, e.g., size of ZrO2 bead and milling time. The size of the SiC particles reached about 103 nm after 4 hours of UAM, when the ZrO2 beads of 50 microm were used. Then SiC ink was formulated with organic solvents and a dispersing agent. A specially designed pattern was printed by an ink-jet printer for evaluating the feasibility of the SiC nanoparticle inks.

Fabrication of SiC nanoparticles by physical milling for ink-jet printing.

Here we tried to show the possibility of mechanical milling method for fabrication of SiC nanoparticles and ink-jet printing method to make SiC patterns for use as several applications, e.g., micro hotplates. Planetary milling was employed to fabricate the nano-scale SiC particles from coarse powders. After 100 hours of milling, the size of the SiC particles decreased to about 100 nm, which was sufficient for the formulation of ink for ink-jet printing. The SiC particles were dispersed in an ink system consisted of ethylene glycol and ethanol with a small amount of additives. The ink with SiC nanoparticles could be successfully printed on an alumina substrate by the ink-jet printing method.

Synthesis of Ag nanowires for the fabrication of transparent conductive electrode.

Recently, advances in nano-materials research have opened the door for various transparent conductive materials, which include CNTs, graphene, Ag and Cu nanowires, and printable metal grids. Among them, Ag nanowires are particularly interesting to synthesize because bulk Ag exhibits the highest electrical conductivity among all metals. We tried to synthesize the Ag nanowires with a small diameter and long length, resulting in large aspect ratios. For the synthesis of the Ag nanowires, effects of various experimental parameters, i.e., the reaction time for synthesis, molar ratio of Ag source to surfactant, and molar weight of the surfactant were investigated with the physical shape of synthesized products. The Ag nanowire suspensions were formulated with the synthesized Ag nanowires, and a bar coating method with a Meyer rod was used to fabricate the transparent and conductive film on a glass substrate. For the thinnest wet coating, the transparent conductive layer of 90.6% transmittance at 550 nm of light wavelength and 66 ohm/sq sheet resistance could be obtained, while 13 ohm/sq was achieved at the transmittance of 76%.

Convolution Neural Networks for Motion Detection with Electrospun Reversibly-Cross-linkable Polymers and Encapsulated Ag Nanowires.

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and implementation of a novel composite film, a polybutadiene-based urethane (PBU)/AgNW/PBU sensor (PAPS), demonstrating remarkable mechanical stability and precision in motion detection. The sensor capitalizes on the integration of Ag nanowire (AgNW) electrodes into a neutral plane, embedded within a reversibly cross-linkable PBU polymer. The meticulous arrangement confers pore-free and interfaceless sensor formation, resulting in an enhanced mechanical robustness, reproducibility, and long-term reliability. The PBU polymer is subjected to an electrospinning process, followed by sequential Diels-Alder (DA) and retro-DA reactions to produce a planarized encapsulation layer. This pioneering technology, based on electrospinning, allows for more flawless engineering of the neutral plane as compared to conventional film lamination or layer-by-layer spin-coating processes. This encapsulation, matching the thickness of the preformed PBU film, effectively houses the AgNW electrodes. The PAPS outperforms conventional AgNW/PBU sensors (APS) in terms of mechanical stability and bending insensitivity. When affixed to various body parts, the PAPS generates distinctive signal curves, reflecting the specific body part and degree of motion involved. The PAPS sensor's utility is further magnified by the application of machine learning and deep learning algorithms for signal interpretation. K-means clustering algorithm authenticated the superior reproducibility and consistency of the signals derived from the PAPS over the APS. Deep learning algorithms, including a singular 1D convolutional neural network (1D CNN), long short-term memory (LSTM) network, and dual-layered combinations of 1D CNN + LSTM and LSTM + 1D CNN, were deployed for signal classification. The singular 1D CNN model displayed a classification accuracy exceeding 98%. The PAPS sensor signifies a pivotal development in the field of intelligent motion sensors.

Self-Repairing and Energy-Harvesting Triboelectric Sensor for Tracking Limb Motion and Identifying Breathing Patterns.

The increasing prevalence of health problems stemming from sedentary lifestyles and evolving workplace cultures has placed a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Consequently, remote health wearable monitoring systems have emerged as essential tools to track individuals' health and well-being. Self-powered triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have exhibited significant potential for use as emerging detection devices capable of recognizing body movements and monitoring breathing patterns. However, several challenges remain to be addressed in order to fulfill the requirements for self-healing ability, air permeability, energy harvesting, and suitable sensing materials. These materials must possess high flexibility, be lightweight, and have excellent triboelectric charging effects in both electropositive and electronegative layers. In this work, we investigated self-healable electrospun polybutadiene-based urethane (PBU) as a positive triboelectric layer and titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene as a negative triboelectric layer for the fabrication of an energy-harvesting TENG device. PBU consists of maleimide and furfuryl components as well as hydrogen bonds that trigger the Diels-Alder reaction, contributing to its self-healing properties. Moreover, this urethane incorporates a multitude of carbonyl and amine groups, which create dipole moments in both the stiff and the flexible segments of the polymer. This characteristic positively influences the triboelectric qualities of PBU by facilitating electron transfer between contacting materials, ultimately resulting in high output performance. We employed this device for sensing applications to monitor human motion and breathing pattern recognition. The soft and fibrous-structured TENG generates a high and stable open-circuit voltage of up to 30 V and a short-circuit current of 4 µA at an operation frequency of 4.0 Hz, demonstrating remarkable cyclic stability. A significant feature of our TENG is its self-healing ability, which allows for the restoration of its functionality and performance after sustaining damage. This characteristic has been achieved through the utilization of the self-healable PBU fibers, which can be repaired via a simple vapor solvent method. This innovative approach enables the TENG device to maintain optimal performance and continue functioning effectively even after multiple uses. After integration with a rectifier, the TENG can charge various capacitors and power 120 LEDs. Moreover, we employed the TENG as a self-powered active motion sensor, attaching it to the human body to monitor various body movements for energy-harvesting and sensing purposes. Additionally, the device demonstrates the capability to recognize breathing patterns in real time, offering valuable insights into an individual's respiratory health.

Static electricity-based motion artifact-free electrocardiography with novel Ti3C2Tx MXene/Ag nanowire/polymer hybrid dry electrodes.

With wearable devices featuring electrocardiogram (ECG) capabilities increasingly common, demand for accurate, simple ECG measurements has escalated. Although single-lead ECGs, which capture real-time heart rate and rhythm, are typically used in such devices, they encounter challenges related to the device-skin contact state, complicating serious heart disease prediction. While 12-lead ECGs provide superior measurements, they require wet electrodes, which are unsuitable for long-term use due to skin irritation and signal degradation over time. Dry electrodes have been explored as a potential resolution to this issue, yet they necessitate a substantial conductive surface area coupled with a stable contact to achieve low contact impedance with the skin. For the first time, we hereby propose a novel approach that simultaneously addresses the exigencies for substantial conductive surface coverage and remarkable contact stability, facilitating an ECG free from motion artifacts. The electrodes we propose are constituted by silver nanowires (AgNWs) entrenched beneath the surface of a polymer film, thereby displaying superior mechanical flexibility and lateral electrical conductivity. To counterbalance the restricted surface coverage of the embedded AgNW electrode, we integrated Ti3C2-based MXene nanosheets on the surface, thereby significantly enhancing the conductive coverage of the electrode surface. The electrostatic interaction between the functional groups on the MXene nanosheets' surface and the positively charged human skin facilitates spontaneous contact, yielding stable contact and diminished vulnerability to motion artifacts. This novel electrode design holds considerable potential for the long-term monitoring of cardiac health, offering signal quality superior to that of existing wet and dry electrodes.

Electronic textiles: New age of wearable technology for healthcare and fitness solutions.

Sedentary lifestyles and evolving work environments have created challenges for global health and cause huge burdens on healthcare and fitness systems. Physical immobility and functional losses due to aging are two main reasons for noncommunicable disease mortality. Smart electronic textiles (e-textiles) have attracted considerable attention because of their potential uses in health monitoring, rehabilitation, and training assessment applications. Interactive textiles integrated with electronic devices and algorithms can be used to gather, process, and digitize data on human body motion in real time for purposes such as electrotherapy, improving blood circulation, and promoting wound healing. This review summarizes research advances on e-textiles designed for wearable healthcare and fitness systems. The significance of e-textiles, key applications, and future demand expectations are addressed in this review. Various health conditions and fitness problems and possible solutions involving the use of multifunctional interactive garments are discussed. A brief discussion of essential materials and basic procedures used to fabricate wearable e-textiles are included. Finally, the current challenges, possible solutions, opportunities, and future perspectives in the area of smart textiles are discussed.

Measurement of proximal contact of single crowns to assess interproximal relief: A pilot study.

Background: It is common for dental technicians to adjust the proximal surface of adjacent teeth on casts when fabricating single crowns. However, whether the accuracy of the proximal contact is affected if this step is eliminated is unclear. Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of the proximal contact of single crowns for mandibular first molars fabricated from four different restorative materials, without adjustment of the proximal surface of the adjacent teeth by the laboratory/dental technician. Methods: This study was in vitro; all the clinical procedures were conducted on a dentoform. The mandibular first molar tooth on the dentoform was prepared using diamond burs and a high speed handpiece. Twenty single crowns were fabricated, five for each group (monolithic zirconia, lithium disilicate, metal ceramic, and cast gold). No proximal surface adjacent to the definitive crowns was adjusted for tight contact in the dental laboratory. Both the qualitative analyses, using dental floss and shimstock, and the quantitative analyses, using a stereo microscope, were performed to evaluate the accuracy of the proximal contact of the restoration with the adjacent teeth. In the quantitative analysis, one-way analysis of variance was used to compare mean values at a significance level of 0.05. Results: In quantitative analysis, the differences between the proximal contact tightness of the four groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.802 for mesial contacts, P = 0.354 for distal contacts). In qualitative analysis, in most crowns, dental floss passed through the contact with tight resistance and only one film of shimstock could be inserted between the adjacent teeth and the restoration. However, one specimen from the cast gold crown had open contact. Conclusions: Even without proximal surface adjustment of the adjacent teeth during the crown fabrication process, adequate proximal contact tightness between the restoration and adjacent teeth could be achieved.

Role of Oxygen in the Ti3AlC2 MAX Phase in the Oxide Formation and Conductivity of Ti3C2-Based MXene Nanosheets.

Ti3C2Tx MXene, a two-dimensional transition metal carbide, has attracted substantial interest due to its unique physical properties and a wide range of potential applications. Although the properties of devices using MXene have been substantially enhanced in recent years, it is not fully understood how the oxygen concentration in Ti3AlC2 MAX affects oxide formation in Ti3C2-based MXene nanosheets and their fundamental properties. To this end, we compared two types of MAX phases: MAX with low oxygen content (LO-MAX) and MAX synthesized by a conventional process. Since the conventional MAX synthesis employs metal (Ti) as a primary material, it is referred to as metal-based MAX (MB-MAX) from here. The oxygen content of the LO-MAX was only 0.56 wt %, which was about 20% compared to that of MAX synthesized using conventional methods. We compared the properties of MXene nanosheets prepared from the LO-MAX with MXene nanosheets obtained from the MB-MAX. Microscopic and chemical analyses revealed smooth and wrinkle-free morphology and small amounts of oxygen in MXene nanosheets prepared from LO-MAX (LO-MXene). The LO-MXene nanosheet film exhibited an exceptionally high conductivity of 10,540 S/cm and an ultralow surface roughness of 1.7 nm, which originated from inhibited surface oxide formation. Moreover, the inhibition of oxide formation strengthened the function of -O or -OH groups on the surface of MXene, thereby facilitating strong hydrogen bonding to the polymer with hydroxyl groups. To clearly reveal these properties, we prepared a pressure sensor by coating these MXene nanosheets on nylon/polyester fibers. The fabricated sensor exhibited a high sensitivity of up to 85.6/kPa and excellent stretch stability and reliability. These results clearly revealed that lowering the oxygen content in MAX can make a decisive contribution to improving the fundamental properties of MXene nanosheets prepared therefrom.

Ductile fracture mechanism of low-temperature In-48Sn alloy joint under high strain rate loading.

The failure behaviors of In-48Sn solder ball joints under various strain rate loadings were investigated with both experimental and finite element modeling study. The bonding force of In-48Sn solder on an Ni plated Cu pad increased with increasing shear speed, mainly due to the high strain-rate sensitivity of the solder alloy. In contrast to the cases of Sn-based Pb-free solder joints, the transition of the fracture mode from a ductile mode to a brittle mode was not observed in this solder joint system due to the soft nature of the In-48Sn alloy. This result is discussed in terms of the relationship between the strain-rate of the solder alloy, the work-hardening effect and the resulting stress concentration at the interfacial regions.

Self-powered image array composed of touch-free sensors fabricated with semiconductor nanowires.

We successfully develop a self-powered image array (IA) composed of 16 touch-free sensors (TFSs) fabricated with semiconductor InN nanowires (NWs) as a response medium. Without using a power supply, the InN-NW TFS can detect the position of a human hand 30 cm away from the device surface. It also distinguishes different materials such as polyimide, Al foil, printing paper, latex, and polyvinyl chloride in non-contact mode at a distance of 1 cm. The self-powered TFS-IA clearly distinguishes square-shaped transparent polydimethylsiloxane film attached to the back of a human hand positioned 5 cm from the device, indicating the possibility for detecting changes in the surface texture of human skin, such as skin burns or skin cancer. The performance of the self-powered TFS and TFS-IA is attributed to high electrostatic induction of InN NWs by external triboelectricity resulting from the simple movement of the target object, which differs markedly from conventional sensors designed to detect variations in the temperature or light essentially using a power supply.

Flexibility of silver conductive circuits screen-printed on a polyimide substrate.

The microstructural evolution and mechanical characteristics, especially folding endurance, of screen-printed Ag circuits under various sintering conditions were investigated. The circuits were constructed on a polyimide (PI) film by a screen printing technique using a commercial Ag nanopaste. The sintering temperature and time were raised from 150 to 300 degrees C and from 15 min to 1 hour while the sintering time and temperature were fixed at 30 min and 200 degrees C, respectively. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)-type folding endurance tester was used to measure the flexibility of the screen-printed Ag circuits. We observed the change of electrical resistance while the printed Ag patterns were being folded. The folding endurance was better at lower sintering temperature and time, which was explained by the microstructural evolution and macrostructural change of the screen-printed Ag circuits; however, the electrical characteristics were generally poor. Further research is therefore required to improve the electrical and mechanical properties of patterns using direct printing technologies simultaneously.

Synthesis of Cu nanoparticles with self-assembled monolayers via inert-gas condensation.

Cu nanoparticles with vaporized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) for the prevention of oxidation were synthesized via inert-gas condensation (IGC). When processing the nanoparticles, the convection in the vacuum chamber was controlled using carrier gases such as Ar and He. Cu shots (2-8 mm) were used as raw materials and were evaporated via resistance heating. Octanethiol (CH3(CH2)7SH) was used for the SAMs and was introduced with the carrier gases during the process. The prepared samples were examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to determine the particle sizes, the coating thicknesses of the SAMs, and the particle distribution states. The ingredients were confirmed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The particle size and morphology were controlled by introducing various combinations of carrier gases, such as He, Ar and H2. Finally, stabilized Cu nanoparticles stably coated with octanethiol were successfully fabricated.