Hybrid Poly Research Articles

Hybrid poly(lactide-co-glycolide) membranes incorporated with Doxycycline-loaded copper-based metal–organic nanosheets as antibacterial platforms

The rise of antimicrobial resistance necessitates innovative strategies to combat persistent infections. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted significant attention as antibiotic carriers due to their high drug loading capacity and structural adaptability. In particular, 2D MOF nanosheets are emerging as a notable alternative to their traditional 3D relatives due to their remarkable advantages in enhanced surface area, flexibility and exposed active region properties. Herein, we synthesized 2D copper 1,4-benzendicarboxylate (CuBDC) nanosheets and utilized them as a carrier and controlled release system for Doxycycline (Doxy@CuBDC), for the first time. The Doxy@CuBDC nanosheets were subsequently incorporated into Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) electrospun membranes (Doxy@CuBDC/PLGA). The resultant bioactive fibrous membranes exhibited double-barrier controlled release properties, extending the Doxy release up to ∼9 d at pH 7.4 and 5.5. Significant inhibitory effects againstStaphylococcus aureusandEscherichia coliwere observed. The morphological analyses revealed the deformed bacterial cell structures on Doxy@CuBDC/PLGA membranes that indicates potent bactericidal activity. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assays demonstrated the non-toxic nature of the fabricated membranes, underscoring their potential use for biomedical applications. Overall, the hybrid antibacterial PLGA membranes present a promising strategy for combating microbial infections while maintaining biocompatibility and offer a versatile approach for biomedical material design and surface coatings (e.g. wound dressings, implants).

Heat-Resistant Covalent Organic Framework (COF) PVA-Hybridized Gel Electrolyte for the Preparation of Dendrite-Free Zinc-Ion Batteries.

High-performance zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted a great deal of attention due to their high theoretical capacity and high level of safety. Herein, we propose a covalent organic framework (COF) hybrid poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based gel electrolyte, which can induce the uniform deposition of Zn2+ and achieve dendrite-free formation. By grafting sulfonic acid groups on the surface of COFs to absorb Zn2+, we can strengthen the interaction between strong ions and dipoles in the electrolyte, improve the ionic conductivity, and achieve stable Zn2+ electroplating and stripping. Due to the good thermal stability of the COF material itself, the gel electrolyte hybrid with the PVA hydrogel shows high mechanical strength and good heat resistance and is capable of stable cycling for >1000 h at 50 °C, with a capacity retention rate of ≤75%. This study provides a new approach for developing high-temperature-resistant and highly stable dendrite-free ZIBs.

Poly(vinyl chloride) composites reinforced with wood flour and calcinated halloysite

ABSTRACT Hybrid poly(vinyl chloride) composites were prepared by adding calcinated halloysite and wood flour to the PVC matrix by mixing in a molten state. The mechanical (DMTA analysis, tensile strength, strain at break, Young’s modulus, hardness and impact strength) and thermal (thermal stability, Vicat softening temperature and heat deflection temperature) properties of the composites were tested. The plastographometric analysis suggests that simultaneous addition of two fillers of different origins to the PVC matrix results in a longer gelation time and higher torque values than those observed for neat PVC. Moreover, the presence of calcinated halloysite in PVC/wood flour composites leads to the rise of weight loss temperature compared to PVC composites with only wood flour. When added to PVC/halloysite composites, wood flour improves their homogeneity by breaking halloysite agglomerates, which ensures approx. 116% better thermal stability (confirmed in the Congo red test) compared to unfilled PVC. The synergistic effect of the fillers used on the mechanical properties is demonstrated by the 14.4% higher stiffness and 22.5% higher tensile strength of the PVC composites containing wood flour and 5 wt% halloysite compared to the material loaded with wood flour only.

Fabrication and Evaluation of PCL/PLGA/β-TCP Spiral-Structured Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Natural bone is a complex material that has been carefully designed. To prepare a successful bone substitute, two challenging conditions need to be met: biocompatible and bioactive materials for cell proliferation and differentiation, and appropriate mechanical stability after implantation. Therefore, a hybrid Poly ε-caprolactone/Poly(lactic-co-glycolide)/β-tricalcium phosphate (PCL/PLGA/β-TCP) scaffold has been introduced as a suitable composition that satisfies the above two conditions. The blended PCL and PLGA can improve the scaffold's mechanical properties and biocompatibility compared to single PCL or PLGA scaffolds. In addition, the incorporated β-TCP increases the mechanical strength and osteogenic potential of PCL/PLGA scaffolds, while the polymer improves the mechanical stability of ceramic scaffolds. The PCL/PLGA/β-TCP scaffold is designed using spiral structures to provide a much better transport system through the gaps between spiral walls than conventional cylindrical scaffolds. Human fetal osteoblasts (hFOBs) were cultured on spiral PCL/PLGA/β-TCP (PPBS), cylindrical PCL/PLGA/β-TCP (PPBC), and cylindrical PCL scaffolds for a total of 28 days. The cell proliferation, viability, and osteogenic differentiation capabilities were analyzed. Compared with PCL and PPBC scaffolds, the PPBS scaffold exhibits great biocompatibility and potential to stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation and, therefore, can serve as a bone substitute for bone tissue regeneration.

Development of Bioactive Hybrid Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PLA/PMMA) Electrospun Fibers Functionalized with Bioglass Nanoparticles for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications.

Hybrid scaffolds that are based on PLA and PLA/PMMA with 75/25, 50/50, and 25/75 weight ratios and functionalized with 10 wt.% of bioglass nanoparticles (n-BG) were developed using an electrospinning technique with a chloroform/dimethylformamide mixture in a 9:1 ratio for bone tissue engineering applications. Neat PLA and PLA/PMMA hybrid scaffolds were developed successfully through a (CF/DMF) solvent system, obtaining a random fiber deposition that generated a porous structure with pore interconnectivity. However, with the solvent system used, it was not possible to generate fibers in the case of the neat PMMA sample. With the increase in the amount of PMMA in PLA/PMMA ratios, the fiber diameter of hybrid scaffolds decreases, and the defects (beads) in the fiber structure increase; these beads are associated with a nanoparticle agglomeration, that could be related to a low interaction between n-BG and the polymer matrix. The Young's modulus of PLA/PMMA/n-BG decreases by 34 and 80%, indicating more flexible behavior compared to neat PLA. The PLA/PMMA/n-BG scaffolds showed a bioactive property related to the presence of hydroxyapatite crystals in the fiber surface after 28 days of immersion in a Simulated Body Fluids solution (SBF). In addition, the hydrolytic degradation process of PLA/PMMA/n-BG, analyzed after 35 days of immersion in a phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS), was less than that of the pure PLA. The in vitro analysis using an HBOF-1.19 cell line indicated that the PLA/PMMA/n-BG scaffold showed good cell viability and was able to promote cell proliferation after 7 days. On the other hand, the in vivo biocompatibility evaluated via a subdermal model in BALC male mice corroborated the good behavior of the scaffolds in avoiding the generation of a cytotoxic effect and being able to enhance the healing process, suggesting that the materials are suitable for potential applications in tissue engineering.

Echogenic Gold Nanorod Incorporated Hybrid Poly(2-oxazoline) Nanocapsules for Real-Time Ultrasound/Fluorescent Imaging and Targeted Cancer Theranostics.

In recent years, various nanocarrier systems have been explored to enhance the targeting of cancer cells by improving the ligand-receptor interactions between the nanocarrier and cancer cells for selective cancer cell imaging and targeted delivery of anticancer drugs. Herein, we report multifunctional hydrogen-bonded multilayer nanocapsules functionalized with both folic acid-derived quantum dots (FAQDs) and gold nanorods (AuNRs) for targeted cancer therapy and cancer cell imaging using fluorescence microscopy and medical-range ultrasound imaging systems. The encapsulation efficiency of nanocapsules was found to be 49% for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The release percentage reached a plateau at 37% after 1 h at pH 7.4 and increased to 57% after 3 h when the release pH was decreased to pH 5.5 (i.e., the pH of the tumor environment). Under ultrasound irradiation, the release was significantly accelerated, with a total release of 52% and 68% after only 6 min at pH 7.4 and pH 5.5, respectively. While the sonoporation process plays an important role in anticancer activity experiments under ultrasound exposure by generating temporary pores, the targeting ability of FAQDs brings the capsules closer to the cell membrane and improves the cellular uptake of the released drug, thereby increasing local drug concentration. In vitro cytotoxicity experiments with HCT-116 and HEp-2 cells demonstrated anticancer activities of 96% and 98%, respectively. The nanocapsules showed enhanced ultrasound scattering signal intensity and bright spots under ultrasound exposure, most likely caused by high scattering ability and internal reflections of preloaded AuNRs in the interior structure of the nanocapsules. Hence, the demonstrated nanocapsule system not only has the potential to be used as an integrated system for early- stage detection and treatment of cancer cells but also has the ability for live tracking and imaging of cancer cells while undergoing treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Hybrid poly(dopamine/phenosafranin) microparticles as replicas of yeast capsules for the immobilization of myoglobin

Yeast capsules (YCs) were loaded with a photosensitive phenosafranin (PSF) dye through electrostatic force-driven spontaneous deposition and served as templates for synthesizing biocompatible microparticles. Oppositely charged dopamine and PSF were encapsulated and deposited onto the yeast polysaccharide scaffold through ionic complexation. Subsequently, self-oxidative polymerization was carried out in situ, forming YC@(PDPSF) microparticles. To extend an innovative idea for diverse design and multipurpose YC@(PDPSF) applications, we immobilized myoglobin (Mb) on their surface. The multifunctional coating facilitated the immobilization of Mb involved in oxygen (O2) storage utilizing the carbodiimide method with 6-aminocaproic acid (ACA) as a linker. The biological activity of Mb encapsulated in YCs and immobilized on the surface of YC@(PDPSF) microparticles was compared using UV–vis spectrophotometry. The assays showed that the catalytic activity of Mb was sufficiently retained after immobilization. This new YC@(PDPSF)-Mb microparticles will have potential applications in biosensors, particularly for detecting and separating specific analytes and small molecules (e.g. NO, CO). Their unique properties could make them valuable for various biomedical purposes including enzyme assays, chromatography, air pollution control devices, and filtration processes in gas mask filters.

Investigation of the effect of permeation and antifouling characteristics of hybrid poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes tailored with ZIF‐67 metal–organic frameworks

AbstractHerein the ZIF‐67, a hydrophilic cobalt‐based zeolitic imidazolate framework is synthesized and incorporated with a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) to fabricate hybrid ultrafiltration membranes by phase inversion method. The characteristics of PVDF/ZIF‐67 membranes are examined using different analytical techniques such as Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, and contact angle analysis. The membrane performance is probed using pure water flux (PWF), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and humic acid (HA) rejection. The maximum water flux of 162.5 Lm2 h−1 with BSA and HA rejection of 97% and 98.2%, respectively, exhibited by 1.5 wt% ZIF‐67. The contact angle value is reduced from 83.5 to 58.6° indicating the increase in hydrophilic nature of PVDF membranes by the addition of ZIF‐67. The presence of ZIF‐67 in the PVDF membrane matrix showed outstanding anti‐bacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Overall, the PVDF/ZIF‐67 ultrafiltration membranes demonstrate the potential for water treatment applications.

Regulating and understanding the compatibility of sulfide composite solid-state electrolyte in nickel-rich lithium metal batteries

In the pursuit of high-energy-density lithium batteries, composite solid-state electrolytes are highly favored due to the combination of flexibility and acceptable ionic conductivity. However, challenges such as unpredictable lithium dendrite growth, cathode material structural instability, and oxidative resistance at high voltages pose significant hurdles for solid-state batteries. To investigate the synergistic interactions of polymers and sulfides, a hybrid poly (1,3-dioxolane) and poly (polyethylene glycol diacrylate) blend was designed through in-situ polymerization, allowing LiFePO4//Li batteries to achieve an average coulombic efficiency exceeding 99% at 0.5C and stable cycling for at least 1000 h in lithium symmetric cells. Computational analysis and component detection demonstrate the stability of the components and the formation of a LiF-stabilized anode from lithium salt decomposition. Similarly, on the cathode side, when Li3PO4-coated LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 is used as the cathode material, a more stable interface suppresses cathode particles' collapse and harmful electrolytes’ decomposition. In ambient environments, after 200 cycles at 0.5C, the capacity retention remains as high as 90.48%. Impedance changes by in-situ methods and component composition were further analyzed. This work integrates multiple methods and stabilizes and validates the anode and cathode interface, providing a promising approach and strategy for designing high-performance sulfide composite solid-state batteries.

Efficient mesoporous cross-linkable hybrid poly Schiff-base based on polyimide as a promising molecular sieve for sustainable CO2 capturing and separation

ABSTRACT A cross-linked hybrid poly Schiff-base (PSB) was synthesized and characterized through spectroscopic, morphological, and structural approaches. The BET surface area (SBET) of the PSB is 20.33 m2/g, the pore volume (Vp) is 0.024 cm3/g, and the pore diameter (Dp) is 4.13 nm. The current study elucidates PSB’s strong chemical and thermal stability, as well as the remarkable capacity to adsorb CO2 with perfect selectivity. This property is accomplished by the synergistic interaction of the polymer’s physicochemical and structural features when exposed to CO2, N2 and CH4 molecules. This mesoporous polymer exhibits a CO2/N2 = 60 and CO2/CH4 = 10.5 selectivity, and can adsorb 3.22 mmol/g CO2 (at 298 K/1 bar). Furthermore, the isotherms of CO2 gas adsorption and desorption in the porous polymer are reversible. The use of PSB having effective imide, imine, and meta-hydroxyl functional groups in the adsorption and selectivity of CO2 gas produced excellent results, which make it a suitable candidate for CO2 storage and separation applications.

Screen-printed electrodes based on hybrids of poly(ortho-ethoxyaniline) and reduced graphene oxide

Screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) based on hybrids of the conducting polymer poly(ortho-ethoxyaniline) (POEA), graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were produced and characterized. The SPEs were produced from conductive inks based on graphite and alkyd resin and were modified with hybrids of POEA with GO, and rGO. The hybrids POEA-GO and POEA-rGO were produced by chemical polymerization of o-ethoxyaniline (orthophenitidine) in 1.0 mol L−1 with GO or rGO dispersed into the monomer solution. The SPEs were modified by the replacement of 5 % in mass of graphite by 5 % in mass of POEA-GO or POEA-rGO hybrids. The hybrids were characterized by Raman and FT-IR spectroscopies and XRD analyses. The modified SPEs, SPE/POEA, SPE/POEA-GO, and SPE/POEA-rGO were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and by cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The electrodes based on the rGO hybrid, SPE/POEA-rGO, showed a significant reduction of the charge transfer resistance obtained by EIS by a factor of 3 compared with SPE/POEA, from 4.62 kΩ to 1.48 kΩ, without changing the redox behaviour of POEA. The methodology used to produce SPE/POEA-rGO is a simple, effective, scalable, and low-cost alternative to produce POEA-based electrodes for applications such as in electrochemical sensors and charge storage devices.

Poly(urethane-imides) as perspective materials for the development of gas separation, pervaporation and filtration membranes

This review presents the separation properties of membranes based on poly(urethane-imides), polymers that are modern products of the chemical modification of polyimides and polyurethanes. An overview of the membrane properties of poly(urethane-imides) is based on the principles of their chemical design. The following membranes are considered: multiblock (segment) polymers, polyimides crosslinked with polyurethanes, hybrid poly(urethane-imide) materials, poly(urethane-imides) subjected to selective destruction of urethane blocks. In the cases under consideration, ideas are given about the main directions in the synthesis of membrane poly(urethane-imides), reagents and reaction conditions are given. The transport and separation properties of poly(urethane-imide) membranes in the processes of gas separation, pervaporation and ultrafiltration are given in detail. Applications for which poly(urethaneimide) membranes have been developed are described. In general, an idea is given about the importance of poly(urethane-imide) gas separation, pervaporation and filtration membranes for separation processes.

A hybrid fluorescent nanofiber membrane integrated with microfluidic chips towards lung-on-a-chip applications.

Here, we report a fluorescent electrospun nanofiber membrane for integration into microfluidic devices towards lung-on-a-chip applications complemented with the results of computational fluid dynamics modelling. A proposed hybrid poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-collagen membrane was developed, characterized, tested, and integrated into a prototype microfluidic chip for biocompatibility studies. The resulting membrane has a thickness of approximately 10 μm, can be adjusted for appropriate porosity, and offers excellent biocompatibility for mimicry of a basement membrane to be used in lung-on-a-chip device applications. Several membrane variations were synthesized and evaluated using SEM, FTIR, AFM, and high-resolution confocal fluorescence microscopy. A sample microfluidic chip made of cyclic olefin copolymer and polydimethylsiloxane was built and integrated with the developed PCL-collagen membrane for on-chip cell culture visualisation and biocompatibility studies. The sample chip design was modelled to determine the optimal fluidic conditions for using the membrane in the chip under fluidic conditions for future studies. The integration of the proposed membrane into microfluidic devices represents a novel strategy for improving lung-on-a-chip applications which can enhance laboratory recapitulation of the lung microenvironment.

Silicon‐linked polyethylene glycol‐polyethylene terephthalate (PEG‐PET) nanostructures loaded with Eu3+‐complexes for hybrid luminescent PET materials

AbstractIn this work, innovative hybrid poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) materials with strong luminescence were successfully synthesized by doping PET with silicon‐linked poly(ethylene glycol)‐PET copolymer nanostructures either with (Si‐PEG‐PET) or with (ETP@Si‐PEG‐PET) luminescent Eu3+‐complexes. The chemical properties and nanostructures of the hybrid materials were characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. PET composites ranging from 0.25 to 4 wt% silicon additive were prepared by the melt blending method. The crystal properties, mechanical properties, and fluorescence properties of the composites were systematically studied by differential scanning calorimetry, x‐ray diffractometry, tensile testing, and fluorescence spectrometry. When the addition of Si‐PEG‐PET or ETP@Si‐PEG‐PET was 0.75 wt%, the relative crystallinity and maximum tensile strength increase substantially. Moreover, the fluorescence intensity of hybrid luminescent PET materials is the strongest at 0.75 wt% loading. ETP@Si‐PEG‐PET not only endows PET polyester with stronger fluorescence properties and mechanical properties but also acts as an effective nucleation additive for PET.Highlights Silicon‐linked poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PEG‐PET) nanostructures generate hybrid luminescent PET materials. ETP@Si‐PEG‐PET improves the crystallization rate and crystallinity of PET. The composite with 0.75% addition showed the best fluorescence performance. Three‐dimensional‐grid structure of ETP@Si‐PEG‐PET enhances the mechanical property of PET.

Exploration of coating alternatives for the protection of bare steel and brass in scientific-technical artefacts

The development of new alternatives for the protection of metallic heritage aims to improve the performance of the coatings used in recent decades. For this purpose, the performance of three novel or poorly explored coatings in this field of study has been evaluated: Owatrol Oil, TiO2-modified Paraloid B-72 and a hybrid of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), PEOX and poly(4-hydroxy styrene), PHS as a self-healing coating. These have been compared with coatings widely used in conservation such as: Paraloid B-72, Incralac and microcrystalline wax C80. The coatings were evaluated after accelerated ageing in terms of aesthetic changes (visual observation under stereomicroscope and colour measurements), protective ability (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and chemical stability (FTIR). After 500 h of exposure to Xenon-arc lamp, it was observed how the addition of TiO2 to Paraloid B-72 partially reduces photo-oxidation of the polymer, but at the same time harms the protective ability due to the appearance of defects. The self-healing coating is quite stable and can also regenerates superficial scratches of about 100 µm if subjected to 90% RH. On the other side, Owatrol demonstrated a very poor performance. These advantages and disadvantages in their use have been compared with those of B-72, Incralac and C80 microcrystalline wax, identifying in which cases their application for protection on scientific-technical artefacts may be feasible.

Copolyimide Brushes as a Component of a Hybrid Poly(phenylene Oxide) Membrane for Controlling Gas Separation: Effect of Water, Methanol, and Hexane Vapors.

The effect of water, methanol, and hexane vapors on gas permeability was studied in a hybrid membrane containing 5 wt% copolyimide brushes with poly(methyl methacrylate) side chains (PI-g-PMMA) in a poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) matrix, and in a pristine PPO membrane. These membranes in the form of dense nonporous films were further examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as by measuring their mechanical and gas transport properties. A gas separation study of the membranes in a dry state and the membranes saturated with water, methanol, and hexane vapors was performed to estimate the effect of each vapor on the H2, CO2, N2 permeability and selectivity in the separation of H2/N2 and CO2/N2 pairs. In general, saturation with water, methanol, and hexane vapors caused a decrease in the gas permeability of both membranes. The hybrid membrane containing copolyimide brushes demonstrated enhanced selectivity in the separation of H2/N2 and CO2/N2 pairs. It was found that a special effect of the vapors used for membrane saturation is associated with their molar volume. The solubility and diffusion coefficients of N2 and CO2 were obtained by Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

How phosphinated hydroxyurethane groups improve chemical resistance and flame retardant properties of alkyd resins?

A novel phosphorus containing polyhydroxyurethane (PHU) oligomer (DGGDAC-MXDA-DOPO), has been synthetized and grafted onto the remaining acid groups of alkyd resins in order to obtain hybrid poly(alkyd hydroxyurethane) (PAHU) resins with flame retardant properties. PAHU resins have demonstrated better alkali resistance than pure alkyd resins without PHU oligomer. Moreover, the grafting of PHU onto alkyd resin through the formation of amide bonds has exhibited thixotropic properties. The thermal and flame retardancy properties have been investigated through differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis and pyrolysis-combustion flow calorimeter. The alkyd resins were applied as a coating on a wood surface and fire behavior was tested by cone calorimeter analysis. The most effective coating, by taking into account, the film properties and the flame retardant behavior contains 24 wt% of PHU (1.5 wt% P) and exhibited a 40% reduction in peak of Heat Release Rate (pHRR) compared to the resins without PHU.

Optimized geometric structure of Zn-BTC/POAP and Fe-BTC/POAP systems as electroactive materials in pseudocapacitors

In this work, Fe(II)-based metal organic framework (MOF), Zn-based MOF and hybrid poly orthoaminophenol/MOF composite were synthesized via a chemical method. Synthesized composite films have been characterized by conventional electrochemical methods and computational approach. The computational results show that both Zn-BTC and Fe-BTC interact well with 3POAP. Meanwhile, the adsorption energy of 3POAP on Fe-BTC is 2.03 eV higher than that of Zn-BTC. Therefore, it can be mentioned that the high adsorption energy of conductive polymer POAP on Fe-BTC compared to Zn-BTC has led to its better performance as the electrode of supercapacitors and these findings confirm the electrochemical results. It was found that in Zn-BTC/3POAP and Fe-BTC/3POAP systems the charge is transferred from the 3POAP to the MOFs. The results showed that the charge transfer from 3POAP to Fe-BTC is more than Zn-BTC which is a confirmation of the higher adsorption of 3POAP on Fe-BTC. The 3D periodic structure of Fe-BTC is generated by binuclear Fe(II) paddlewheel building units (PBUs) connected via the 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate organic ligands. Also, the adsorption energy of 3POAP on Fe2(PhCOO)4 and Zn2(PhCOO)4 was calculated using supermolecular approach. These results are compatible with the adsorption energy obtained from the periodic calculations, so that the adsorption of Fe structure was more than that of Zn. The Fe2(PhCOO)4…3POAP structure has the lowest band gap energy, so it can be concluded that the better adsorption of 3POAP on Fe-BTC not only results in higher adsorption energy, but also better electrical conductivity than the Zn-BTC. Computational results are in agreement with electrochemical results.

Responsive Hybrid Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogel Membranes with Embedded Microgels as Valves

Responsive Hybrid Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogel Membranes with Embedded Microgels as Valves

Boosting Charge Utilization in Self-Powered Photodetector for Real-Time High-Throughput Ultraviolet Communication.

Ultraviolet (UV) communication is a cutting-edge technology in communication battlefields, and self-powered photodetectors as their optical receivers hold great potential. However, suboptimal charge utilization has largely limited the further performance enhancement of self-powered photodetectors for high-throughput communication application. Herein, a self-powered Ti3 C2 Tx -hybrid poly(3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene):poly-styrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)/ZnO (TPZ) photodetector is designed, which aims to boost charge utilization for desirable applications. The device takes advantage of photothermal effect to intensify pyro-photoelectric effect as well as the increased conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS, which significantly facilitated charge separation, accelerated charge transport, and suppressed interface charge recombination. Consequently, the self-powered TPZ photodetector exhibits superior comprehensive performance with high responsivity of 12.3mA W-1 and fast response time of 62.2 µs, together with outstanding reversible and stable cyclic operation. Furthermore, the TPZ photodetector has been successfully applied in an integrated UV communication system as the self-powered optical receiver capable of real-time high-throughput information transmission with ASCII code under 9600 baud rate. This work provides the design insight of highly performing self-powered photodetectors to achieve high-efficiency optical communication in the future.