Prospective Applications Research Articles

3D Printable Polyelectrolyte Complex‐Integrated Interpenetrating Network Hydrogels with Customizable Mechanical Strength and pH‐Responsiveness

AbstractHerein, a novel 3D printable ink designed for the fabrication of interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels is introduced, ingeniously integrating a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) of hyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan (CS) with a photo‐crosslinkable P(OEGMA‐co‐EGDEMA) polymer. Initially, the carboxyl group of HA is modified with a photo‐labile ortho‐nitrobenzyl group, preventing premature PEC formation during 3D ink formulation. Subsequent UV illumination via digital light processing (DLP) simultaneously triggers the photo‐deprotection of the carboxyl group of HA and the photopolymerization of OEGMA crosslinked hydrogel, together creating a PEC‐integrated IPN hydrogel. Comprehensive characterizations, including NMR, IR, UV/Vis, TGA, DSC, SEM, and mechanical tests are conducted to evaluate the structural, morphological, and rheological properties of these hydrogels. Furthermore, adjustments to the composition of the 3D ink enable the production of hydrogels with a spectrum of mechanical strength and elastic modulus ranging from 1 to 10 kPa. The resultant PEC‐IPN hydrogels display excellent flexibility, compressive strength, high strain tolerance, pH responsiveness, and thermal stability. In essence, the approach seamlessly merges natural polyelectrolytes with technological innovation to refine 3D ink production. This method could mark a pivotal advancement in the realm of 3D materials, unlocking numerous prospective applications.

From clinic to lab: Advances in porous titanium-based orthopedic implant research

Solid titanium alloys are extensively employed in orthopedic applications due to their reliable mechanical strength, but the stress shielding phenomenon caused by its high elastic modulus and the disadvantage of lack of bone integration may lead to clinical complications. The design of porous structure is a feasible approach to reduce the elastic modulus and promote bone and vascular ingrowth. This paper reviewed the application and current challenges of solid titanium implants in orthopedics. To address the drawbacks and explore porous titanium implants that can effectively integrate with bone tissue while possessing sufficient mechanical strength, this review discussed the latest preclinical research from the perspectives of structural design, surface modification, and material composition. The porous structure parameters that affect bone ingrowth and mechanical strength in implants, including porosity, pore size, cellular structure, and gradient structure, were presented. Based on the current research progress, various surface modification techniques aimed at enhancing the performance of porous titanium implants were overviewed. Moreover, a range of titanium alloys including nickel-titanium alloy, β-titanium alloy, high-entropy alloy, and composite alloys are investigated for their prospective applications in orthopedics. Overall, this review provided valuable insights into the current state of research and highlighted the potential of porous titanium alloys in improving clinical outcomes in orthopedics.

Aggregation induced strong photoluminescence at room temperature in large-area C8BTBT thin films

Study of optical properties of 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[2,3-b]benzothiophene (C8BTBT) is promising for applications in low-cost and flexible optoelectronic devices. Here, we systematically investigated the thickness dependent structural and photophysical properties of large-area C8BTBT films. The large-area C8BTBT thin films of different thickness below 80 nm were prepared by off-centre spin coating method. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction measurements confirm the highly crystalline nature of the thin films and reveal that crystal coherence length increases with increase of film thickness. The film morphology and its thickness were studied using atomic force microscopy. Further, optical absorption and emission behaviors of the thin films were analyzed. The results show strong ultraviolet (UV) emissions at room temperature. The photoluminescence behaviour of higher-thickness films differs from that of lower-thickness films. The thickness dependent UV emission spectra are explained in terms of defects and aggregation behavior of C8BTBT thin films. We determine the impact of thickness and aggregation (J- and H-type) on emission behaviors of the C8BTBT thin films. Our findings open a new avenue for the future optimization and prospective applications in photonics based on two-dimensional organic semiconductors.

Prediction of Postoperative Urinary Tract Infection Following Benign Gynecologic Surgery.

The objective was to develop a prediction model for urinary tract infection (UTI) after pelvic surgery. We utilized data from three tertiary care centers of women undergoing pelvic surgery. The primary outcome was a UTI within 8weeks of surgery. Additional variables collected included procedural data, severity of prolapse, use of mesh, anti-incontinence surgery, EBL, diabetes, steroid use, estrogen use, postoperative catheter use, PVR, history of recurrent UTI, operative time, comorbidities, and postoperative morbidity including venous thromboembolism, surgical site infection. Two datasets were used for internal validation, whereas a third dataset was used for external validation. Algorithms that tested included the following: multivariable logistic regression, decision trees (DTs), naive Bayes (NB), random forest (RF), gradient boosting (GB), and multilayer perceptron (MP). For the training dataset, containing both University of British Columbia and Mayo Clinic Rochester data, there were 1,657 patients, with 172 (10.4%) UTIs; whereas for the University of Calgary external validation data, there were a total of 392 patients with a UTI rate of 16.1% (n = 63). All models performed well; however, the GB, DT, and RF models all had an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.97. With external validation the model retained high discriminatory ability, DT: AUC = 0.88, RF: AUC = 0.88, and GB: AUC = 0.90. A model with high discriminatory ability can predict UTI within 8weeks of pelvic surgery. Future studies should focus on prospective validation and application of randomized trial models to test the utility of this model in the prevention of postoperative UTI.

Anticipated chilly climate for women: the development and validation of a measure

PurposeThis study develops a measure of anticipated chilly climate for women and provides initial evidence of its validity.Design/methodology/approachWe draw on three studies. Study 1 consisted of three focus groups to gain deeper insights into the meaning of the concept for prospective female jobseekers and generate scale items. In Study 2, we pre-tested job post vignettes (N = 203), refined the scale items and explored the factor structure (N = 136). Study 3 aimed to determine the convergent and discriminant validity of the new scale (N = 224) by testing its relationships with organisational attractiveness, person-organisation fit perceptions and gendered language.FindingsThe results show that the anticipated chilly climate is an important concept with implications for applicants’ career decision-making and career growth in the technology industry, where women tend to be underrepresented. Perceptions of anticipated chilly climate comprise expectations of devaluation, marginalisation and exclusion from the prospective employment. The masculine stereotypes embedded in the language of the job posts signalled a chilly climate for both genders, negatively affecting perceptions of fit and organisational attractiveness.Originality/valueMost previous studies have focussed on the actual experiences of chilly climates in organisations. We extend this body of literature to anticipatory climates and draw on social identity threat theory and signalling theory to highlight that job applicants make inferences about the climate they expect to find based on job ads. Specifically, they may anticipate a chilly climate based on cues from job ads signalling masculine stereotypes. Whilst the literature has emphasised women’s perceptions of chilly climates within organisations, our results show that both genders anticipate chilly climates with detrimental consequences for both organisations and prospective job applications.

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)-Protic ionic Liquid-Based anhydrous Proton-Conducting composite polymer electrolyte membranes for High-Temperature fuel cell applications

A high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has enormous potential to produce clean energy with minimal environmental pollution along with high energy density and conversion efficiency. In the present work, anhydrous proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membranes for prospective high-temperature fuel cell application were successfully prepared using different protic ionic liquids (PILs) and sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK). The protic ionic liquids (PILs), 2-hydroxyethylammonium formate, diethylmethyl ammonium triflate, 1-ethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1,2-dimethyl imidazolium bis(trifluoro methylsulfonyl)imide, and diethylmethylammonium methanesulfonate were selected based on their favorable physicochemical properties. The effect of the incorporation of the PIL on the structural, thermal, and electrical transport properties of the composite SPEEK polymer electrolyte membranes was studied. The prepared polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. FTIR results indicated an interaction between the PIL and the SPEEK, which resulted in homogeneous and flexible membranes. The DSC results confirmed good miscibility and elucidated plasticizing effect of the incorporated PIL on the SPEEK polymer matrix. All the PEMs showed good thermal stability and high-temperature anhydrous proton conductivity, achieving best proton conductivity, ≈8 × 10–3 S cm−1 at 120 °C and low activation energy ≈0.26 eV, making it suitable for prospective high-temperature PEMFC applications.

Pharmacokinetics and antioxidant activity of dihydrocaffeic acid grafted chitosan nanomicelles loaded with chicoric acid in broilers

Chicoric acid (CA) is a natural nutrient found in plants, showcasing diverse biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Despite its valuable properties, CA faces limitations in bioavailability and susceptibility to oxidative breakdown during utilization. Previous research introduced synthesized dihydrocaffeic acid grafted chitosan self-assembled nanomicelles (DA-g-CS), demonstrating its potential to enhance CA absorption. This study aims to investigate the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and antioxidant activity of both CA and DA-g-CS loaded CA (DA-g-CS/CA) in broilers. An IPEC-J2 cell model was established and evaluated to delve deeper into the transport mechanism and antioxidant potential. The in vivo pharmacokinetic analysis in broilers highlighted a substantial difference: the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of DA-g-CS/CA exceeded CA by 2.6-fold, yielding a notable increased relative bioavailability to 214%. This evidence underscores the significant enhancement in CA's oral absorption, facilitated by DA-g-CS. The collective evaluation outcomes affirm the successful development of the cell model, indicating its suitability for drug transporter experiments. The findings from the intestinal transit analysis revealed that both CA and DA-g-CS/CA underwent passive entry into IPEC-J2 cells. Notably, the cellular uptake rate of DA-g-CS loaded with CA was significantly amplified, reaching 2.1 times higher than that of CA alone. Intracellular transport mechanisms involved microtubules, lysosomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum, with an additional pathway involving the endoplasmic reticulum observed specifically for DA-g-CS/CA, distinguishing it from CA. Moreover, the results from both in vivo and in vitro antioxidant assessments highlight the potent antioxidant activity of DA-g-CS/CA, showcasing its efficacy in preventing and treating cellular damage induced by oxidative stress. In summary, these findings underscore the significant enhancement of CA's efficacy facilitated by DA-g-CS, establishing a robust theoretical foundation for the prospective application of CA within livestock and poultry farming.

Three-Step Ferroelastic Transitions from Hexagonal to Triclinic Phases in a Hybrid Perovskite: (1-Fluoromethyl-1-methylpyrrolidine)[CdCl3

Hybrid ferroelastic crystals have emerged as a hot research topic in recent years owing to their prospective applications in piezoelectric sensors, mechanical switches, and optoelectronic devices. Nevertheless, most of the documented materials exhibit one-step or two-step ferroelastic phase transition(s), and those with multistep ferroelastic transitions are extremely scarce. We present a new hexagonal molecular perovskite based on a fluoro-substituted flexible cyclic ammonium cation, (1-fluoromethyl-1-methylpyrrolidine)[CdCl3] (1), undergoing unusual three-step ferroelastic phase transitions from hexagonal paraelastic phase to orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic ferroelastic phases at 388, 376, and 311 K, respectively, with Aizu notation of 6/mmmFmmm, mmmF2/m, and 2/mF-1, featuring spontaneous strain of 0.002, 0.023, and 0.110, respectively. Furthermore, variable-temperature single-crystal diffraction reveals that the phase-transition mechanism in 1 principally originates from intriguing dynamic change of organic cations and synchronous displacement of inorganic chains. This scarce instance of multistep hybrid ferroelastic provides important clues for finding advanced ferroelastic materials.

Large-Scale Fabrication of Customized, Tunable, Ultrathin, and Flexible Metamaterial Absorbers Based on Laser-induced Graphene

Developing various 3D graphene microwave absorbers is a hotspot strategy to address the issue of continuous electromagnetic pollution, but remains great challenges in realizing high-performance microwave absorption capability at thin thickness. Herein, a series of flexible metamaterial absorbers (MAs) composed of periodical laser-induced graphene (LIG) surface, dielectric substrate and metallic ground fabric from top to bottom are fabricated. The LIG meta-surface is customized by means of regulating parameters including laser power density (LPD), laser engraving rate (LER) and input patterns to well balance impedance matching and electromagnetic loss. LIG MAs exhibit minimum reflection loss (RL) of −39.7 dB (with effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.5 GHz) and maximum EBA of 12.1 GHz (with RL of −18.9 dB) at thickness less than 1.1 mm, and the simulated and experimental results are highly consistent. In addition, radar cross section (RCS) simulation of LIG MA with multi-angles endows its potential for prospective applications in in-orbit satellites electromagnetic protection.

Processing, microstructure, and electrical properties of PMMA/ZnO nanocomposite films for prospective energy-conversion applications

Processing, microstructure, and electrical properties of PMMA/ZnO nanocomposite films for prospective energy-conversion applications

The effects of different equivalence ratios and initial pressures on the explosion of methane/air premixed gas in closed space

Methane/air is a widely used fuel. The effects of equivalent ratio (0.8–1.2) and initial pressure (1.0 atm–1.2 atm) on the flame propagation process and explosion overpressure of methane/air premixed gas were studied using a high-speed camera and pressure sensor in a rectangular closed container. Four flame modes in the late propagation stage are distinguished according to the different modes of secondary cup movement. The flame propagation velocity and structure evolution are analyzed by defining the characteristic times. The relationship between the flame structure evolution and the growth of flame propagation velocity and explosion overpressure is revealed. The results show that, in lean combustion, the maximum flame propagation velocity increases with initial pressure increase, and the explosion overpressure fluctuates more significantly. However, the opposite is true with fuel-rich combustion. The interaction between pressure waves and flame fronts can enhance the growth of explosion overpressure in fuel-rich combustion but can inhibit the growth in lean combustion. This work can provide more data support and reference for the application prospect and safe application of methane.

Improving Pb(II) Removal via Ascorbic Acid-Enhanced Red Mud Adsorption: Kinetics and Isotherm Analysis

This study explored the efficacy of red mud, an aluminum production by-product, as an adsorbent for Pb(II) ion removal from contaminated water and assessed the adsorption isothermal model and kinetics. Red mud, characterized by its richness in oxide minerals with reactive surfaces, has potential for heavy metal adsorption, but its capacity for larger ions like Pb(II) is limited. This research aimed to enhance red mud’s adsorption properties through modification with ascorbic acid. The modification process involved heating a mixture of red mud and ascorbic acid to its boiling point, followed by the formation of adsorbent beads using red mud and Na-alginate mixture dropped into a 2 % CaCl2 solution at −2 °C. The beads were tested over varying durations ranging from 30 to 210 min. The results indicated that ascorbic acid modification led to the transformation of minerals in red mud, improving its pore diameter, pore volume, and specific surface area of the adsorbent. The modified and unmodified red mud adhered to both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, with R² values converging to one, and displayed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Notably, the introduction of ascorbic acid augments the adsorption efficacy of red mud for Pb(II) ions from 84.8 % to a compelling 99.3 %. This underscores the augmented capability of ascorbic acid-modified red mud, highlighting its prospective applicability as a potent adsorbent in the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated water. HIGHLIGHTS Innovative Use of Red Mud: Explored the potential of red mud, a by-product of aluminum production, as an adsorbent for removing Pb(II) ions from contaminated water Ascorbic Acid Modification: Developed a novel modification process using ascorbic acid, including heating the red mud and ascorbic acid, enhancing the adsorption properties of red mud as pore diameter, pore volume, and specific surface area of the adsorbent Adsorption Isotherms and Kinetics: Conducted a comprehensive assessment of adsorption isothermal models and kinetics, with modified and unmodified red mud adhering to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and displaying pseudo-second-order kinetics Enhanced Adsorption Efficacy: the adsorption effectiveness is enhanced from 84.8 to 99.3 %, emphasizing its potential applicability for Pb(II) GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Review of Metal-Resistant Structures for Radio Frequency Identification Tag Antennas

Amidst the rapid expansion of e-commerce and the consequential surge in industries such as transportation, logistics, and supply chain management, there has been remarkable growth. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, along with its associated tags, plays a pivotal role in the transmission and tracking of crucial information within these sectors. However, the presence of metallic components within RFID systems poses a significant obstacle to efficient antenna transmission. Consequently, there is a pressing need for the development of RFID tag antennas endowed with metal-resistant properties. This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of existing designs and structures for metal-resistant RFID tag antennas, providing valuable insights into their prospective developmental trajectories and potential applications. Such analysis serves as a pertinent reference for research and engineering endeavors across related domains.

Role of Trichoderma asperelloides and Trichoderma brevicompactum in improving drought tolerance in rice

Drought is considered as one of the major abiotic stresses affecting rice production under rainfed ecologies of Bangladesh hampering the country's self-sufficiency in rice production through reduced crop yield and quality. In the present study, we studied the effect of two species of plant growth promoting Trichoderma v iz; Trichoderma asperelloides and Trichoderma brevicompactum on rice plant development under drought stress and their role in inducing tolerance to drought at physiological and biochemical level. Results reveal that both species are capable of inducing plant tolerance to drought stress when tested on drought tolerant (BRRI dhan56) and drought susceptible (IR64) varieties. As the number of drought stress days increased, there was an increase in root length of both the varieties but increase in root length was more in BRRI dhan56 as compared to IR 64 when seeds of both varieties were primed with Trichoderma. There was significant change in proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), total Phenolic content (TFC), H2O2 content in Trichoderma treated versus non-treated plants for both varieties. These biochemical changes were verified with the expression of aquaporin (AQU), dehydrin (DHN) and DREB genes in both rice varieties treated with both Trichoderma species. Interaction studies of Trichoderma species with two rice genotypes suggested that AQU-2 expressed more in tolerant variety (BRRI dhan56) when primed with Trichoderma asperelloides whereas, both Trichoderma spp. up regulated the expression of DHN-4 and DREB genes in both rice genotypes under drought conditions. The present findings suggest that the both Trichoderma asperelloides and Trichoderma brevicompactum are most effective in improving drought tolerance in rice, and its prospective application will contribute to the advancement of rice genotypes to sustain crop productivity under drought stress.

Density functional theory based analyses of beryllium oxide fullerene assisted adsorptions of ammonia, phosphine, and arsine toxic gases towards sensing and removal prospective applications

The gas sensing and removal prospective was investigated in the current work to analyze a beryllium oxide (BeO) fullerene for the adsorptions of ammonia (NH3), phosphine (PH3), and arsine (AsH3) toxic gases along with applications density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The optimization of models yielded the formations of interacting BeO-NH3, BeO-PH3, and BeO-AsH3 complexes with the adsorption strengths of −25.96, −8.75, −29.09 kcal/mol, respectively. The models were analyzed further based on the nature of interactions, in which the beryllium atom showed a significant role of the existence of interactions through the formation of direct Be…N, Be…P, and Be…As interactions. Analyses of structural features indicated a priority of formation for the BeO-AsH3 complex in comparison with the BeO-NH3 and BeO-PH3 complexes. The evaluated electronic features based on the frontier molecular orbitals and transferred charges also indicated a differential diagnosis of models along with a meaningful sensing activity of BeO for the gas substances. As a consequence, the successful formation of BeO-NH3, BeO-PH3, and BeO-AsH3 complexes and their featured properties were found useful for approaching the sensing and removal prospective applications.

Macroscopic Characteristic and Properties of Inconel 625 Cladding Layers on a Cylinder Liner Based on Laser Cladding Assisted by a Steady-State Magnetic Field

Cylinder liners, which are an vital part of marine diesel engines, are prone to damage owing to the pool working conditions of reciprocating friction and electrochemical corrosion. As a burgeoning manufacturing technology, laser cladding has a prospective application on repairing and performance enhancement of cylinder liners. The performance of cladding layers on cylinder liners reported by current studies is not satisfactory. The laser cladding, assisted by the steady state magnetic field on the cylinder liner, is an effectual method to cover the shortage. However, there are few studies about that. In this study, single-track Inconel 625 cladding layers were carried out on a cylinder liner, assisted by a steady-state magnetic field. The effects of the magnetic field intensity and direction on the geometrical characteristics (width, height, penetration, and dilution ratio), microstructure, phase composition, microhardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance were investigated. According to the results obtained, adding a magnetic field with a small magnetic field intensity can significantly enhance the flatness, hardness, friction, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of the cladding layer. Applying a magnetic field in the horizontal direction was conducive to improving the corrosion resistance of the sample. With the application of a vertical magnetic field, the microhardness increased, and wear resistance, as well as the flatness of the cladding layer, were improved.

Magnetic biocomposite scaffold based on decellularized tendon ECM and MNP-deposited halloysite nanotubes: physicochemical, thermal, rheological, mechanical and in vitro biological evaluations

The development of new three-dimensional biomaterials with advanced versatile properties is critical to the success of tissue engineering (TE) applications. Here, (a) bioactive decellularized tendon extracellular matrix (dECM) with a sol-gel transition feature at physiological temperature, (b) halloysite nanotubes (HNT) with known mechanical properties and bioactivity, and (c) magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) with superparamagnetic and osteogenic properties were combined to develop a new scaffold that could be used in prospective bone TE applications. Deposition of MNPs on HNTs resulted in magnetic nanostructures without agglomeration of MNPs. A completely cell-free, collagen- and glycosaminoglycan- rich dECM was obtained and characterized. dECM-based scaffolds incorporated with 1%, 2% and 4% MNP-HNT were analysed for their physical, chemical, and in vitro biological properties. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray powder diffractometry and vibrating sample magnetometry analyses confirmed the presence of dECM, HNT and MNP in all scaffold types. The capacity to form apatite layer upon incubation in simulated body fluid revealed that dECM-MNP-HNT is a bioactive material. Combining dECM with MNP-HNT improved the thermal stability and compressive strength of the macroporous scaffolds upto 2% MNP-HNT. In vitro cytotoxicity and hemolysis experiments showed that the scaffolds were essentially biocompatible. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells adhered and proliferated well on the macroporous constructs containing 1% and 2% MNP-HNT; and remained metabolically active for at least 21 d in vitro. Collectively, the findings support the idea that magnetic nanocomposite dECM scaffolds containing MNP-HNT could be a potential template for TE applications.

Solar Powered Floor Cleaning Robot

Solar-powered floor cleaning robots are an innovative combination of robotics and renewable energy technology designed to provide long-term and efficient solutions for automated floor cleaning activities. These robots use solar panels to collect solar energy, which is utilized to power their operation and charge onboard batteries, allowing for autonomous and ecologically responsible cleaning tasks. Solar-powered floor cleaning robots are outfitted with cleaning mechanisms, sensors, navigation systems, and complex control algorithms to roam indoor and outdoor settings independently, completing cleaning chores while reducing energy consumption and environmental effect. These solar-powered robots provide longer operating times, less dependency on grid electricity, and increased sustainability, making them appropriate for a variety of home, commercial, and industrial applications. This abstract investigates the design, functioning, advantages, and prospective applications of solar-powered flooring.

Topological Phonons and Thermoelectric Conversion in Crystalline Materials

AbstractTopological phononics, a fascinating frontier in condensed matter physics, holds great promise for advancing energy‐related applications. Topologically nontrivial phonons typically possess gapless edge or surface states. These exotic states of lattice vibrations, characterized by their nontrivial topology, offer unique opportunities for manipulating and harnessing energy transport. The exploration of topological phonons opens new avenues in understanding and controlling thermal transport properties, with potential applications in fields such as thermoelectric materials, phononic devices, and waste heat recovery. Here, an overview of concepts such as Berry curvature and topological invariants, along with the applications of phonon tight‐binding method and nonequilibrium Green's function method in the field of topological phononics is provided. This review encompasses the latest research progress of various topological phonon states within crystalline materials, including topological optical phonons, topological acoustical phonons, and higher‐order topological phonons. Furthermore, the study delves into the prospective applications of topological phonons in the realm of thermoelectric conversion, focusing on aspects like size effects and symmetry engineering.

Preparation and performance of biaxially stretched CNT-SBS/POE flexible strain sensor with a double percolation structure

Wearable flexible strain sensors have prospective application prospects in human motion monitoring, human-computer interaction, and information transmission. However, facilely manufacturing flexible strain sensors with a high sensitivity and extended sensing range remains challenging. Herein, a flexible strain sensor with a double percolation structure was prepared through simple melting mixing and biaxial stretching. To this end, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) filled styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) and polyolefin elastomer (POE) were employed as the conductive and insulating phases, respectively. The effects of biaxial stretching on sensor performance were systematically studied. During biaxial stretching, the as-obtained CNT-SBS/POE nanocomposites with double percolation structure exhibited better processing performance and stability than conventional CNT-SBS binary composites. Biaxial stretching results in better dispersion and planar orientation of CNTs in polymers, improving the sensing property of strain sensors. The optimized stretching ratio of double percolation structured composites was determined as 1.5, with 3 wt% CNT-SBS/POE sensor exhibiting high sensitivity (gauge factor = 7501.69) over a wide strain monitoring range (0–300% strain). Additionally, the flexible strain sensors could monitor physiological activities and information transmission with good reliability, thereby promising for human-machine interaction, wearable, and medical monitoring.