Smart Materials Research Articles

The Impact of Smart Materials Usage in Buildings Envelope: an Approach to Investigate Energy Consumption Versus The Aesthetics Forming The City Image in New Agglomerations

Abstract The notion of creating New Agglomerations often demonstrates the challenge between maintaining city’s identity and the necessity to adopt contemporary building materials. The main target in the current era is to monitor the degree of sustainable strategies adopted while defining the potential materials used whether in the construction process or for final building envelopes. This study aims to evaluate the implications of energy-saving potential of smart glazing materials in building envelopes through a comparative analysis creating the emergent city image created by building façade systems. A thorough review presents various types of smart glazing materials performance versus traditional glazing systems, in terms of heating and cooling results. The research presents a case study of actual buildings deploying smart glazing systems to provide real-world evidence of their energy-saving potential. The results showed that smart glazing materials can significantly reduce energy consumption compared to traditional glazing systems. The results also indicated that the performance of smart glazing materials varies with different types of materials, and the specific energy-saving potential depends on factors such as building orientation, glazing area, and climate conditions. This study provides insights related to emergent design decisions for new agglomerations in terms of energy-efficient building envelopes and energy consumption strategies.

Preface

Dear Distinguished Authors and Guests, 2024 9th International Conference on Mechanical Structures and Smart Materials (ICMSSM 2024) was held on June 15-16, 2024 in Beijing, China. The conference program covered invited, oral presentation session and poster session from scientists working in similar areas to establish platforms for collaborative research projects in this field. The conference aimed to bring together leaders from mechanical structures and smart materials to exchange and share their experiences, present research results, explore collaborations and to spark new ideas, with the purpose of developing new projects and exploiting new technology in this field. We hope that the conference has resulted in significant contribution to the knowledge on mechanical structures and smart materials. To this end, this book contains the papers presented at ICMSSM 2024. All papers were accepted through a peer-review process conducted by the conference program committee and international reviewers. Finally, we would like to thank all authors and participants of ICMSSM 2024 for their contributions to making this conference a success. We look forward to your participation in the 10th ICMSSM in 2025. With our warmest regards, The Committee of ICMSSM 2024 List of Committee Members are available in this Pdf.

Design and FEA verification of high dimensional and multi-field smart soft material

Abstract We designed a sophisticated smart soft tissue material that simulates the properties of biological soft tissue and detects three-dimensional force. Inspired by electronic skin, this material uses capacitive pressure sensors and multi-layer sensor packaging. Finite element analysis and multi-field simulation were employed for structural design and verification. The study evaluated the theory and practicality of a flexible capacitive 3D force sensor for detecting pressure and shear force. Mechanical and electrical properties were confirmed through force and electric field simulations. The 3D force detection method proved feasible, achieving sensitivity levels of 10−4 kPa −1 in the X and Y directions, and 10−3 kPa −1 in the Z direction, demonstrating the effectiveness of our design.

Solid-state supercapacitors based on different electrolytes: structural characteristics and comparative performance

Abstract Solid-state supercapacitors bring huge potential for the next generation of energy storage systems and are especially significant for portable and wearable electronic devices, medical equipment, and smart textiles. This paper provides a concise overview of the device mechanism while discussing the developing status of solid-state supercapacitor electrolytes. The performance evaluation of solid-state supercapacitors is reviewed and compared based on their energy storage characteristics and electrode types (e.g., freestanding, fibre-based, and flexible), followed by an exploration of future research directions and key technical challenges in this field.

The Impact of Wearable Technology on Health Monitoring

Wearable technology is transforming health monitoring by enabling real-time, continuous tracking of various physiological parameters. This paper examines the evolution, benefits, challenges, and future trends of wearables in healthcare. The integration of sensors and mobile technology allows for more efficient personal and population health management. However, concerns about data accuracy, privacy, and ethical implications persist. As innovations such as smart clothing and AI-driven diagnostics emerge, the role of wearables in healthcare is expected to expand, offering new possibilities for early detection, preventive care, and personalized medicine. Keywords: Wearable technology, Health monitoring, Smart devices, Physiological sensors, Data privacy

Recent developments in space suits textiles using smart materials

Recent developments in space suits textiles using smart materials

Novel constitutive models, challenges and opportunities of shape memory polymer composites

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are smart materials that have been widely accepted in potential applications ranging from biomedical devices to aerospace. Despite their limitations in engineering applications, SMPs have been utilized for strengthening, innovation and improvement of driving methods, leading to an increase in research on SMP composites (SMPCs). In this review, SMPs used in the production, actuation mechanisms, fabrication and testing methods of SMPCs are presented. Current and potential applications and novel constitutive models that have a very important place in elucidating the interface of SMPCs are introduced. Finally, challenges and opportunities are presented to provide future prospects for SMPCs.

Smart Materials for Modern Facades: An AI-Powered Selection Process

Abstract According to the mid-21st century’s technological advancements, artificial intelligence has gained popularity as a transformative tool due to its immense integration in the evolving field of architecture. Evidently, it is being used in the building skin design to enhance the energy efficiency and to reduce the continuously rising energy waste and consumption problem in office buildings. Despite AI’s immense advancements, it lacks sufficient data with regards to the turf of smart skin design in office building for energy optimisation. Hence, this research aims to develop a framework for the optimal integration of artificial intelligence in the selection process of smart materials for energy efficient design for office buildings’ skin. To reach this aim, a mixed-method approach using quantitative and qualitative analysis will be implemented. First, theoretical research utilising archives and case study analysis is conducted to determine the various applications of AI in architecture, the components of a smart office building skin focusing on smart materials, the definition of energy efficiency and its measurement tools and the miscellaneous AI tools that are inaugurated to design an office building skin. As a result, a framework will be created by integrating the optimal AI tools in the selection process of smart materials for energy efficient smart skin design. Second, the applied studies are performed using empirical and experimental analysis to test and support the framework through case study analysis and comparison to test the framework obtained from the literature review aiming to cover the gap identified in the selection process of the materials.

Phase field study on the grain size dependent electrical resistivity-strain response in superelastic nanocrystalline NiTi alloys

The superelastic NiTi alloy's electrical resistivity exhibits significant variations in response to deformation, making it a highly attractive material for sensing applications. However, there exists a lack of comprehensive knowledge of the effects of grain size (GS) on the electrical properties of NiTi alloy. To address this gap, a novel electro-mechanical coupled phase field simulation model is developed, with crucial parameters determined through experimental investigations. The results demonstrate a notable change in the relationship between electrical resistivity and strain, transitioning from a quasi-linear pattern to a piecewise nonlinear one as the GS increases. The observed modification is found to be primarily influenced by the martensitic transformation, characterized by a transition from a uniform mode to a localized mode. As the GS increases, there is an initial drop in the total change of electrical resistivity at peak strain, followed by a subsequent stabilization. This is because the GS, through the stress and the degree of phase transformation, exerts two opposing effects on the variation of electrical resistivity. Furthermore, the combined influence of hysteresis and hysteresis in the martensite fraction contributes to a consistent decrease in resistivity hysteresis as the GS diminishes. This study improves the understanding of how GS affects NiTi alloy's electrical resistivity-strain response and lays the foundation for future sensing performance regulation, expanding its multi-functionality as an intelligent material.

Ultrahigh Responsivity and Robust Semiconducting Fiber Enabled by Molecular Soldering-Governed Defect Engineering for Smart Textile Optoelectronics.

Semiconducting fibers (SCFs) are of significant interest to design next-generation wearable and comfortable optoelectronics that seamlessly integrate with textiles. However, the practical applications of current SCFs are always limited by poor optoelectronic performance and low mechanical robustness caused by uncontrollable multiscale structural defects. Herein, a versatile in situ molecular soldering-governed defect engineering strategy is proposed to construct ultrahigh responsivity and robust wet-spun MoS2 SCFs, by using a π-conjugated dithiolated molecule to simultaneously patch microscale sulfur vacancies within MoS2 nanosheets, diminish mesoscale interlayer voids/wrinkles, promote macroscale orientation, build long-range photoelectron percolation bridges, and provide n-doping effect. The derived MoS2 SCFs exhibit over two orders of magnitude higher responsivity (144.3 A W-1) than previously reported fiber photodetectors, 37.3-fold faster photoresponse speed (52ms) than pristine counterpart, and remarkable bending robustness (retain 94.2% of the initial photocurrent after 50000 bending-flattening cycles). Such superior robustness and photodetection capacity of MoS2 SCFs further enable large-scale weaving of reliable smart textile optoelectronic systems, such as direction-identifiable wireless light alarming system, modularized mechano-optical communication system, and indoor light-controlled IoT system. This work offers a universal strategy for the scalable production of mechanically robust and high-performance SCFs, opening up exciting possibilities for large-scale integration of wearable optoelectronics.

Competence of Carbonaceous Fibers/Nanofillers (Graphene, Carbon Nanotube) Reinforced Shape Memory Composites/Nanocomposites Towards Aerospace—Existent Status and Expansions

Abstract Shape memory or stimuli responsive polymers have established a unique grouping of smart materials. The technical merit of these polymers has been evaluated in aerospace sector, since last few decades. Particularly, the stimuli responsive polymers render inherent competences to recuperate the structural damages in exterior/interior space architectures. In this context, both the thermoplastics as well as thermosetting polymers depicted essential stimuli responsive behaviour. As interpreted in this state-of the-art review, the carbonaceous reinforcement like carbon fibers and nano-reinforcements including nanocarbons (graphene, carbon nanotube) have been employed in the shape recovering matrices. The performance of ensuing shape retrieving aerospace materials was seemed to be reliant on the polymer chain crosslinking effects, filler/nanofiller dispersal/alignment, microstructural specs, interfacial contour and interactions, and processing techniques used. Consequently, the shape actuations of polymer/carbon fiber composites were found to be instigated and upgraded through the inclusion of nanocarbon nano-additives. The ensuing high-tech shape memory composites/nanocomposites have anomalous significance for various aero-structural units (fuselage, wings, antennas, engines, etc.) due to prevention of possible thermal/shock/impact damages. Future implications of carbonaceous shape memory composites/nanocomposites in aerospace demands minimizing the structure-property-performance challenges and large scale fabrication for industrial scale utilizations. In this way, deployment of carbonaceous nanofiller/filler based composites revealed enormous worth due to low density, anti-fatigue/wear, anti-corrosion, non-flammability, self-healing, and extended durability and long life operations. However, there are certain challenges associated with the use of nanocarbons and ensuing nanocomposites in this field markedly the adoption of appropriate carbon fiber coating technique, aggregation aptitude of nanocarbons, additional processing steps/cost, nanoparticle initiated invisible defects/voids, difficulty in machinability operations due to presence of nanoparticles, and corrosion risk of composite structures in contact with metal surfaces. By overcoming these hinderances, nanoparticles modified carbon fiber based composites can be promising towards a new look of upcoming modernized aerospace industry.

Investigating the nonlinear dynamics of photosensitive Belousov-Zhabotinsky gels via bifurcation analyses.

Controlling the dynamics of active stimuli-responsive smart materials is essential to replicate the biomimetic functionalities at different length scales for a variety of biological systems-based applications. Photosensitive Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) gels, powered by a nonlinear chemical oscillator, called a BZ reaction are one of the stimuli-responsive smart materials in demand due to their ability to continuously transduce chemical oscillations into mechanical deformations. The chemical oscillations in a BZ reaction and subsequent mechanical oscillations in photosensitive BZ gels occur due to the redox cycle of photosensitive ruthenium complex-based catalysts. In this work, our objective is to identify how the behavior of photosensitive BZ gels can be tuned and used for biomimetic applications by investigating its dynamical characteristics using bifurcation analyses. Specifically, we use the normal form approach and perform linear and nonlinear stability analyses to identify high-order bifurcations by computing higher-order Lyapunov and frequency coefficients. We revealed the existence of domains that encompass coexisting stable and unstable limit cycles (LCs), which merge to form a semi-stable LC at the limit point of cycle (LPC). Their existence shows how a slight variation in the BZ gel recipe can significantly alter its dynamics. Subsequently, we quantify the amplitude and frequency of oscillations in different domains under the effect of variation of BZ reaction formulations. We believe that the outcomes of our work serve as an efficient template for the design and control of BZ gel-based applications. The usage of a normal form and a systematic representation of nonlinear dynamics allow our framework to be extended for other nonlinear dynamical systems.

Nanostructured NiO-polyaniline fibers composite smart material as a room temperature ammonia sensor

Nanostructured NiO-polyaniline fibers composite smart material as a room temperature ammonia sensor

Ceramic/Polymer Nanodielectrics: Towards a Multifunctional or Smart Performance

Ceramic nanoparticles/polymer composite nanodielectrics constitute a novel class of engineering materials, which exhibit tunable mechanical, thermal, electrical and magnetic properties, energy storing/recovering ability in tandem with processability and corrosion resistance. By these means the produced nanocomposites are characterized by multifunctionality since structural components are able to perform a wide range of desirable functions. When the embedded nanoparticles are polar oxides and/or piezo/ferro-electrics, or any kind of stimuli responsive materials additional functional performance is induced in the nanocomposites, providing a suitable basis for the development of smart materials.

DNA-Based Nanocarriers for Extended Release of NZ2114 Peptide and Epidermal Growth Factors in Chronic Wound Healing

Chronic wounds, often accompanied by bacterial infection, pose significant clinical challenges. Recognizing this, there has been a growing interest in leveraging nucleic acids as intelligent materials for targeted cargo delivery. Herein, we introduced a pioneering method for encapsulating the anti-S. aureus peptide NZ2114 and epidermal growth factors (EGF) within crosslinked DNA nanomaterials, creating biodegradable and biocompatible antimicrobial agents with high efficacy. Our research validated that the NZ2114-EGF-Gel could exhibit a specific inhibitory effect on S. aureus growth while simultaneously accelerating human dermal fibroblasts’ proliferation. The crosslinked DNA nanostructures demonstrate an enhanced capacity to promote wound therapy rates during in vivo treatment. These findings present a prospective avenue for facilitating therapeutic wound healing.

Stretchable and Self-Powered Mechanoluminescent Triboelectric Nanogenerator Fibers toward Wearable Amphibious Electro-Optical Sensor Textiles.

Flexible electro-optical dual-mode sensor fibers with capability of the perceiving and converting mechanical stimuli into digital-visual signals show good prospects in smart human-machine interaction interfaces. However, heavy mass, low stretchability, and lack of non-contact sensing function seriously impede their practical application in wearable electronics. To address these challenges, a stretchable and self-powered mechanoluminescent triboelectric nanogenerator fiber (MLTENGF) based on lightweight carbon nanotube fiber is successfully constructed. Taking advantage of their mechanoluminescent-triboelectric synergistic effect, the well-designed MLTENGF delivers an excellent enhancement electrical signal of 200% and an evident optical signal whether on land or underwater. More encouragingly, the MLTENGF device possesses outstanding stability with almost unchanged sensitivity after stretching for 200%. Furthermore, an extraordinary non-contact sensing capability with a detection distance of up to 35cm is achieved for the MLTENGF. As application demonstrations, MLTENGFs can be used for home security monitoring, intelligent zither, traffic vehicle collision avoidance, and underwater communication. Thus, this work accelerates the development of wearable electro-optical textile electronics for smart human-machine interaction interfaces.

2D material-enhanced multi-fold self-sensing and programmable deployable lattice structure

The development of intelligent and programmable smart composite structure that can remember and restore their original shape after being extensively deformed is highly sought after for a wide variety of applications, such as deployable and morphing structures, soft robots, and smart infrastructure. Despite recent advancements, there remains a plethora of unexplored possibilities in the field of deployable structures utilizing shape programmable and intelligent composite materials. The aim of this research is to manufacture a deployable structure that is intelligent enough to monitor the deployment and programmable to be deployed in specific way. Here, a smart deployable auxetic structure is reported that not only possesses thermal and piezoresistive sensing properties but also acts as a thermally activated intelligent shape memory polymer composite (iSMPC). We have fabricated an intelligent fabric and embedded it as reinforcement within a polyurethane-based shape memory polymer matrix to make an intelligent auxetic (A-iSMPC) structure. It has been demonstrated that the intelligent fabric enhances the overall mechanical properties of the auxetic structure and allows monitoring the temperature variation and strain changes during shape programming and recovery. The A-iSMPC offered a negative Poisson’s ratio of − 0.44, shape recovery ratio of 96%, shape fixity ratio of 88% and compaction ratio of 62%. With its shape memory, auxetic, thermal and piezoresistive sensing capabilities, this iSMPC has the potential to be a multifunctional and multipurpose structure for a variety of applications.

Application and progress of NiTi alloys in vascular interventional medical devices

Nowadays there has been a substantial escalation in the consumption of the global annual mortality rate due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and the traditional stainless-steel materials used for interventional treatments are sometimes unsuitable for thinner vascular walls. Hence it is imperative to undertake a comprehensive analysis of novel materials in the field of vascular intervention, and NiTi alloys are one of the best materials among them. NiTi alloys are the shape-memory alloys that undergo a phase transformation under certain temperatures and pressures. Owing to its shape memory effect and superelastic properties, it is extensively utilized in the medical filed, representing a future direction for smart materials. As the field of medical intervention evolves, the advantages of NiTi alloys in vascular interventional medical devices are increasingly recognized due to their superior performance, garnering widespread attention. As a result, analyzing their medical applications is required in order to promote interdisciplinary integration. This review summarizes the structural properties, preparation methods, and application areas of NiTi alloys as medical devices for vascular interventions. It also analyzes the properties of NiTi alloys when used as stents or guidewires in specific scenarios, and discusses the current shortcomings, future development directions and application prospects.

Applications of Machine Learning in Textile Industry

It is a question to all of us that what is machine learning and its importance for business sectors. Smart textile when using AI and computer vision try to act on knitting machines and to reduce production rate of defective types with real-time defects along with irregularities to identify with the objective to bring defective production at zero level. When ML and SC technique, artificial neural network, genetic algorithm, and fuzzy logic have preponderance over all others like Bibliographic analysis revealed a drastic rise in number of studies since 2015. It is proposed that demand forecasting is quite volatile and sensitive to several factors. Data mining studies with classification and clustering techniques, ML algorithms were implemented in textile industry. In a study it was found that machine productivity is having negative effect on quality which was confirmed by the management and confirmed a huge important in quality processing in industrial sectors. Demand forecasting by ML driven techniques has proved minimization of forecasting errors by 50%. ML is being used by Adidas to forecast demand in products since 2016. Ridge Regression estimated the correlation between predictor and observation variables.

A Comprehensive Review of Stimuli-Responsive Smart Polymer Materials-Recent Advances and Future Perspectives.

Today, smart materials are commonly used in various fields of science and technology, such as medicine, electronics, soft robotics, the chemical industry, the automotive field, and many others. Smart polymeric materials hold good promise for the future due to their endless possibilities. This group of advanced materials can be sensitive to changes or the presence of various chemical, physical, and biological stimuli, e.g., light, temperature, pH, magnetic/electric field, pressure, microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, toxic substances, and many others. This review concerns the newest achievements in the area of smart polymeric materials. The recent advances in the designing of stimuli-responsive polymers are described in this paper.