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13 pages, 3636 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Stable Complementary Electrochromic Device Based on WO₃ Working Electrode and NiO-Pt Counter Electrode

by Yajie Ke, Zitao Wang, Haiyi Xie, Mahmoud A. Khalifa, Jianming Zheng and Chunye Xu

Membranes 2023, 13(6), 601; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13060601 - 15 Jun 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3458

Complementary electrochromic devices (ECDs) composed of WO₃ and NiO electrodes have wide applications in smart windows. However, they have poor cycling stability due to ion-trapping and charge mismatch between electrodes, which limits their practical application. In this work, we introduce a partially [...] Read more.

Complementary electrochromic devices (ECDs) composed of WO₃ and NiO electrodes have wide applications in smart windows. However, they have poor cycling stability due to ion-trapping and charge mismatch between electrodes, which limits their practical application. In this work, we introduce a partially covered counter electrode (CE) composed of NiO and Pt to achieve good stability and overcome the charge mismatch based on our structure of electrochromic electrode/Redox/catalytic counter electrode (ECM/Redox/CCE). The device is assembled using a NiO-Pt counter electrode with WO₃ as the working electrode, and PC/LiClO₄ containing a tetramethylthiourea/tetramethylformaminium disulfide (TMTU/TMFDS²⁺) redox couple as the electrolyte. The partially covered NiO-Pt CE-based ECD exhibits excellent EC performance, including a large optical modulation of 68.2% at 603 nm, rapid switching times of 5.3 s (coloring) and 12.8 s (bleaching), and a high coloration efficiency of 89.6 cm²·C⁻¹. In addition, the ECD achieves a good stability of 10,000 cycles, which is promising for practical application. These findings suggest that the structure of ECC/Redox/CCE could overcome the charge mismatch problem. Moreover, Pt could enhance the Redox couple’s electrochemical activity for achieving high stability. This research provides a promising approach for the design of long-term stable complementary electrochromic devices. Full article

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12 pages, 2606 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Versatile Photo/Electricity Responsive Properties of a Coordination Polymer Based on Extended Viologen Ligands

by Xiaohan Peng, Yuchen Shi, Zhiqiang Zeng, Jianming Zheng and Chunye Xu

Membranes 2022, 12(3), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12030277 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3016

Abstract

Responsive chromogenic materials have attracted increasing interest among researchers; however, up until now, few materials have exhibited multifunctional chromogenic properties. The coordination polymers (CPs) provide intriguing platforms to design and construct multifunctional materials. Here, a multifunctional photo/electricity responsive CP named Zn−Oxv, which is [...] Read more.

Responsive chromogenic materials have attracted increasing interest among researchers; however, up until now, few materials have exhibited multifunctional chromogenic properties. The coordination polymers (CPs) provide intriguing platforms to design and construct multifunctional materials. Here, a multifunctional photo/electricity responsive CP named Zn−Oxv, which is based on the “extended viologen” (ExV) ligand, was synthesized. The Zn−Oxv exhibited reversible photochromism, photomodulated fluorescence, electrochromism and electrofluorochromism. Furthermore, we prepared Zn−Oxv thin films and investigated electrochromic (EC) properties of viologen−based CPs for the first time. Zn−Oxv thin films showed excellent EC performance with a rapid switching speed (both coloring and bleaching time within 1 s), high coloration efficiency (102.9 cm²/C) and transmittance change (exceeding 40%). Notably, the Zn−Oxv is by far the fastest CP EC material based on redox−active ligands ever reported, indicating that the viologen−based CPs could open up a new field of materials for EC applications. Therefore, viologen−based CPs are attractive candidates for the design of novel multi−responsive chromogenic materials and EC materials that could promise creative applications in intelligent technology, dynamic displays and smart sensors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Membrane Materials and Membrane Processes)

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12 pages, 3123 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flexible Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor Based on Electrospun Rough Polyurethane Nanofibers Film for Human Motion Monitoring

by Bin Xue, Haiyi Xie, Jinxu Zhao, Jianming Zheng and Chunye Xu

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(4), 723; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12040723 - 21 Feb 2022

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 5094

Abstract

Flexible piezoresistive pressure sensors have been attracted a lot of attention due to their simple mechanism, easy fabrication, and convenient signal acquisition and analysis. Herein, a new flexible piezoresistive sensor based on microstructured electrospun rough polyurethane (PU) nanofibers film is assembled. The microstructured [...] Read more.

Flexible piezoresistive pressure sensors have been attracted a lot of attention due to their simple mechanism, easy fabrication, and convenient signal acquisition and analysis. Herein, a new flexible piezoresistive sensor based on microstructured electrospun rough polyurethane (PU) nanofibers film is assembled. The microstructured PU film with tiny bumps is prepared in one step via electrospinning technology, which imparts a microstructured rough upper surface and a smooth lower surface. With this unique microstructure, we have made it possible for PU/Ag films to serve as sensing layers for piezoresistive sensors by introducing a silver conductive layer on the surface of electrospun PU film. The fabricated piezoresistive pressure sensor delivers high sensitivity (10.53 kPa⁻¹ in the range of 0–5 kPa and 0.97 kPa⁻¹ in the range of 6–15 kPa), fast response time (60 ms), fast recovery time (30 ms), and long-time stability (over 10,000 cycles). This study presents a fabrication strategy to prepare the microstructured PU nanofiber film using electrospinning technology directly, and the as-developed sensor shows promise in applications such as wrist pulse measurement, finger movement monitoring, etc., proving its great potential for monitoring human activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Nanoelectronics, Nanosensors and Devices)

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12 pages, 1295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Health Risk Assessment of Metals via Multi-Source Oral Exposure for Children Living in Areas with Intense Electronic Manufacturing Activities

by Beibei Wang, Chunye Lin, Hongguang Cheng, Xiaoli Duan, Qin Wang and Dongqun Xu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11409; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111409 - 29 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2372

Abstract

Oral ingestion is the predominant pathway of metal(loid)s exposure. In this study, the health risks of typical metal(loid)s (including Mn, As, Cr, Cd, and Pb) via multi-source, oral pathways for children aged 3–12 years, living in an area of China dominated by the [...] Read more.

Oral ingestion is the predominant pathway of metal(loid)s exposure. In this study, the health risks of typical metal(loid)s (including Mn, As, Cr, Cd, and Pb) via multi-source, oral pathways for children aged 3–12 years, living in an area of China dominated by the electronic manufacturing industry, were studied based on the field sampling of duplicated diet, soil, and drinking water. Child-specific ingestion parameters were measured (except the soil ingestion rates, which were from a previous study of the same population), and a Monte Carlo method was applied to determine the uncertainty of the risk assessment. It was observed that children living in such environments were at risk of metal(loid)s exposure, with the accumulative carcinogenic risk exceeding the maximum acceptable level. Food intake was identified to be the primary exposure pathway. Moreover, Pb and Cr were the major risk elements to local children’s health. Compared with primary school students, kindergarten children experienced a higher risk. This study highlights that high attention should be paid to children living in suburban areas dominated by the electronic manufacturing industry, and that priority should be given to studies on metal(loid)s exposure deriving from different types of food and their corresponding bioavailability, in order to further discern the precise risk sources to protect children’s health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Exposure, Health Effects and Risk)

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14 pages, 5760 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal Infrared Imagery Integrated with Multi-Field Information for Characterization of Pile-Reinforced Landslide Deformation

by Chang Zhou, Chunye Ying, Xinli Hu, Chu Xu and Qiang Wang

Sensors 2020, 20(4), 1170; https://doi.org/10.3390/s20041170 - 20 Feb 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2796

Abstract

Physical model testing can replicate the deformation process of landslide stabilizing piles and analyze the pile-landslide interaction with multiple field information, thoroughly demonstrating its deformation and failure mechanism. In this paper, an integrated monitoring system was introduced. The instrumentation used included soil pressure [...] Read more.

Physical model testing can replicate the deformation process of landslide stabilizing piles and analyze the pile-landslide interaction with multiple field information, thoroughly demonstrating its deformation and failure mechanism. In this paper, an integrated monitoring system was introduced. The instrumentation used included soil pressure cells, thermal infrared (TIR) imagery, 3D laser scanner, and digital photography. In order to precisely perform field information analysis, an index was proposed to analyze thermal infrared temperature captured by infrared thermography; the qualitative relationship among stress state and deformation as well as thermal infrared temperature is analyzed. The results indicate that the integrated monitoring system is expected to be useful for characterizing the deformation process of a pile-reinforced landslide. Difference value of TIR temperature (

T I R_{m}

) is a useful indicator for landslide detection, and its anomalies can be selected as a precursor to landslide deformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Remote Sensors)

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9 pages, 870 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Distinct Properties of Nanofibrous Amorphous Ice

by Fanyi Cai, Chunye Xu and Jianming Zheng

Materials 2014, 7(12), 7653-7661; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7127653 - 26 Nov 2014

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5653

Abstract

We make glassy water in the form of nanofibers by electrospraying liquid water into a hyperquenching chamber. It is measured with means of differential scanning calorimetry, wide angle X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. It is found that two apparent glass transitions at T [...] Read more.

We make glassy water in the form of nanofibers by electrospraying liquid water into a hyperquenching chamber. It is measured with means of differential scanning calorimetry, wide angle X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. It is found that two apparent glass transitions at T_g1 = 136 K and T_g2 = 228 K are detected and non-crystallized water is observed at temperatures up to 228 K. This finding may expand the research objects for liquid water at low temperatures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Advanced Materials Characterization)

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11 pages, 844 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sensitivity of Pressure Sensors Enhanced by Doping Silver Nanowires

by Baozhang Li, Chengyi Xu, Jianming Zheng and Chunye Xu

Sensors 2014, 14(6), 9889-9899; https://doi.org/10.3390/s140609889 - 4 Jun 2014

Cited by 71 | Viewed by 9481

Abstract

We have developed a highly sensitive flexible pressure sensor based on a piezopolymer and silver nanowires (AgNWs) composite. The composite nanofiber webs are made by electrospinning mixed solutions of poly(inylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and Ag NWs in a cosolvent mixture of dimethyl formamide and [...] Read more.

We have developed a highly sensitive flexible pressure sensor based on a piezopolymer and silver nanowires (AgNWs) composite. The composite nanofiber webs are made by electrospinning mixed solutions of poly(inylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and Ag NWs in a cosolvent mixture of dimethyl formamide and acetone. The diameter of the fibers ranges from 200 nm to 500 nm, as demonstrated by SEM images. FTIR and XRD results reveal that doping Ag NWs into PVDF greatly enhances the content of β phase in PVDF. This β phase increase can be attributed to interactions between the Ag NWs and the PVDF matrix, which forces the polymer chains to be embedded into the β phase crystalline. The sensitivity of the pressure sensors agrees well with the FTIR and XRD characteristics. In our experiments, the measured sensitivity reached up to 30 pC/N for the nanofiber webs containing 1.5 wt% Ag NWs, which is close to that of poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE), (77/23)]. This study may provide a new method of fabricating high performance flexible sensors at relatively low cost compared with sensors based on [P(VDF-TrFE), (77/23)]. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Micro Sensors and Actuators)

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14 pages, 202 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Detection of Carcinoembryonic Antigens Using a Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor

by Fengyu Su, Chunye Xu, Minoru Taya, Kimie Murayama, Yasuro Shinohara and Shin-Ichiro Nishimura

Sensors 2008, 8(7), 4282-4295; https://doi.org/10.3390/s8074282 - 18 Jul 2008

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 12566

Abstract

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an oncofoetal cell-surface glycoprotein that serves as an important tumor marker for colorectal and some other carcinomas. In this work, a CEA immunoassay using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor has been developed. SPR could provide label-free, real-time detection [...] Read more.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an oncofoetal cell-surface glycoprotein that serves as an important tumor marker for colorectal and some other carcinomas. In this work, a CEA immunoassay using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor has been developed. SPR could provide label-free, real-time detection with high sensitivity, though its ability to detect CEA in human serum was highly dependent on the analytical conditions employed. We investigated the influences of various analytical conditions including immobilization methods for anti-CEA antibody and composition of sensor surface on the selective and sensitive detection of CEA. The results show that anti-CEA antibody immobilized via Protein A or Protein G caused a large increase in the resonance signal upon injection of human serum due to the interactions with IgGs in serum, while direct covalent immobilization of anti-CEA antibody could substantially reduce it. An optimized protocol based on further kinetic analysis and the use of 2^nd and 3^rd antibodies for the sandwich assay allowed detecting spiked CEA in human serum as low as 25 ng/mL. Furthermore, a self-assembled monolayer of mixed ethylene-glycol terminated alkanethiols on gold was found to have a comparable ability in detecting CEA as CM5 with thick dextran matrix and C1 with short flat layer on gold. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioanalysis in Vivo/in Vitro)

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