Topic Review
Graphene Sensors
Graphene is one of the most promising materials for gas-sensor applications.
  • 621
  • 07 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Design of Liquid-Crystalline Elastomeric Fluorescent Force Sensors
Liquid single crystal elastomers (LSCEs) containing carbazole fluorogenic components alter their luminescence when they are stretched along the director direction. The differential luminescent behavior arises from the distinct interaction between the carbazole fluorophores and their local environment before and after the application of the mechanical input. Indeed, the uniaxial deformation of the material, along its anisotropic direction, forces a closer mesogen–fluorophore interaction, which leads to the quenching of the carbazole luminescence. Importantly, this intermolecular interaction is intimately related to the intrinsic order present in the LSCE. As a result, the amount of light emitted by the material in the form of fluorescence diminishes upon deformation. Thus, the application of mechanical stimuli to liquid-crystalline elastomers furnishes to two interconvertible states for the system with distinct optical properties (with either different emission color or fluorescence intensity). The initial state of the material is completely restored once the applied force is removed. In this way, this kind of macromolecular system can transduce mechanical events into detectable and processable optical signals, thus, having great potential as optical force sensors. In this context, the realization of the distinct structural factors that govern the interactions established between the mesogenic and fluorogenic units at the supramolecular level upon deformation is essential for the development of efficient LSCE-based force sensors. In fact, not only the density of carbazole units and their connection to the main polymer backbone, but also the presence of long range molecular order in the system and the type of mesophase exhibited by the LSCE are key factors for the conception of efficient force sensors based on these self-organized polymer networks.
  • 615
  • 20 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Supercritical Carbon-di-Oxide Technology for Polymeric-Particles
Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2)  based techniques can be exploited for the formulation of polymeric nanocarriers, limiting the use of toxic organic solvent. The currently approved FDA pharmaceutical polymers like PLA and PLGA particles can be obtained in the micro-and nanometer range by techniques that involve SC-CO2 as solvent (RESS, RESOLV), anti-solvent (SAS, SEDS, SAILA) or extractant (SFEE), depending on the SC-CO2 compatibility with the system materials and the final product.
  • 606
  • 27 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Fiber–Hydrogel Composites for Wound Healing
The structural resemblance of fiber–hydrogel composites to natural tissues has been a driving force for the optimization and exploration of these systems in biomedicine. Indeed, the combination of hydrogel-forming techniques and fiber spinning approaches has been crucial in the development of scaffolding systems with improved mechanical strength and medicinal properties.
  • 605
  • 11 Mar 2021
Topic Review
SAPO-34 Zeolite Membranes
In the zeolite family, the silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO)-34 zeolite has a unique chemical structure, distinctive pore size, adsorption characteristics, as well as chemical and thermal stability, has attracted much research attention. Increasing global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions pose a serious environmental threat to humans, animals, plants, and the entire environment.
  • 602
  • 20 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Glass–fibre–reinforced Polymer
Wind barrier structures are usually installed on railway bridges to reduce wind effects on travelling trains for safety considerations. This however adversely transfers wind loads and causes associated aerodynamic effects to the bridge. An innovative concept of wind barriers using glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites is proposed in this work with experimental investigations and numerical modelling. This work provides a solution to mitigate the wind and associated aerodynamic loads. With an appropriate design of bending stiffness, the proposed barriers may deform adaptively in strong wind scenarios and let the wind to pass through their deformed shape and therefore transfer less load to the bridge. Wind-tunnel experiments and numerical studies are conducted on the aerodynamic responses of the train-barrier-bridge system under crosswind with various speeds. The influences of barrier height, air-flow speed and location of the train on the aerodynamic responses of the system were clarified. Both reduced-scale and full-scale finite element models were established for the train-barrier-bridge system and the results were validated with the experimental results to further support the research findings.
  • 601
  • 22 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Carbon Nanomaterials for Electro-Active Structures
The use of electrically conductive materials to impart electrical properties to substrates for cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation, represents an important strategy in the field of tissue engineering. Carbon nanomaterials have great potential for fabricating electro-active structures due to their exceptional electrical and surface properties, opening new routes for more efficient tissue engineering approaches. The concept of electro-active structures and their roles in tissue engineering is discussed in this review, the most relevant carbon-based nanomaterials used to produce electro-active structures are presented. Particular emphasis is put on the electrically conductive property, material synthesis and their applications on tissue engineering. Different technologies, allowing the fabrication of two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures in a controlled way, are also presented. Finally, challenges for future research are highlighted. 
  • 596
  • 18 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Material Reactions, Degradation and Applications of Polyvinylidene Fluoride
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), the chemical formula is (C2H2F2)n. Its basic building blocks are therefore carbon, hydrogen, and fluorine. These three elements can form several crystalline chain conformations. Conformations are defined by polar and nonpolar phases. Four phases are most commonly found in the literature: α-, β-, γ-, and δ-. 
  • 594
  • 17 Oct 2022
Topic Review
PEDOT-based Catalytic Counter Electrode Material
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) emerged in the early 1990s as a promising alternative to the classic silicon-based solar cell due to their unique combination of low cost, ease of fabrication, color palette for building integration, and high efficiency in indoor applications. 
  • 590
  • 08 May 2021
Topic Review
Soluble Chitosan Derivatives Nanoparticles
Herein, a novel chitosan derivative nanoparticle was proposed to function as a delivery carrier. First of all, an improvement was made to the way N-2-hydroxypropyl trimcthyl ammonium chloride chitosan (N-2-HACC) was synthesized. 
  • 590
  • 02 Dec 2021
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