Synthesis of sea urchin-like polystyrene/polyaniline microspheres by seeded swelling polymerization and their catalytic application

High-density, highly sensitive sensor array of spiky carbon nanospheres for strain field mapping

While accurate mapping of strain distribution is crucial for assessing stress concentration and estimating fatigue life in engineering applications, conventional strain sensor arrays face a great challenge in balancing sensitivity and sensing density for effective strain mapping. In this study, we present a Fowler-Nordheim tunneling effect of monodispersed spiky carbon nanosphere array on polydimethylsiloxane as strain sensor arrays to achieve a sensitivity up to 70,000, a sensing density of 100 pixel cm-2, and logarithmic linearity over 99% within a wide strain range of 0% to 60%. The highly ordered assembly of spiky carbon nanospheres in each unit also ensures high inter-unit consistency (standard deviation ≤3.82%). Furthermore, this sensor array can conformally cover diverse surfaces, enabling accurate acquisition of strain distributions. The sensing array offers a convenient approach for mapping strain fields in various applications such as flexible electronics, soft robotics, biomechanics, and structure health monitoring.

Chemical Imaging of Single Anisotropic Polystyrene/Poly (Methacrylate) Microspheres with Complex Hierarchical Architecture

Monodisperse polystyrene spheres are functional materials with interesting properties, such as high cohesion strength, strong adsorptivity, and surface reactivity. They have shown a high application value in biomedicine, information engineering, chromatographic fillers, supercapacitor electrode materials, and other fields. To fully understand and tailor particle synthesis, the methods for characterization of their complex 3D morphological features need to be further explored. Here we present a chemical imaging study based on three-dimensional confocal Raman microscopy (3D-CRM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focused ion beam (FIB), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for individual porous swollen polystyrene/poly (glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene di-methacrylate) particles. Polystyrene particles were synthesized with different co-existing chemical entities, which could be identified and assigned to distinct regions of the same particle. The porosity was studied by a combination of SEM and FIB. Images of milled particles indicated a comparable porosity on the surface and in the bulk. The combination of standard analytical techniques such as DRIFT and NMR spectroscopies yielded new insights into the inner structure and chemical composition of these particles. This knowledge supports the further development of particle synthesis and the design of new strategies to prepare particles with complex hierarchical architectures.

Binary Spiky/Spherical Nanoparticle Films with Hierarchical Micro/Nanostructures for High-Performance Flexible Pressure Sensors

Flexible pressure sensors have been widely explored for their versatile applications in electronic skins, wearable healthcare monitoring devices, and robotics. However, fabrication of sensors with characteristics such as high sensitivity, linearity, and simple fabrication process remains a challenge. Therefore, we propose herein a highly flexible and sensitive pressure sensor based on a conductive binary spiky/spherical nanoparticle film that can be fabricated by a simple spray-coating method. The sea-urchin-shaped spiky nanoparticles are based on the core-shell structures of spherical silica nanoparticles decorated with conductive polyaniline spiky shells. The simple spray coating of binary spiky/spherical nanoparticles enables the formation of uniform conductive nanoparticle-based films with hierarchical nano/microstructures. The two differently shaped particles-based films (namely sea-urchin-shaped and spherical) when interlocked face-to-face to form a bilayer structure can be used as a highly sensitive piezoresistive pressure sensor. Our optimized pressure sensor exhibits high sensitivity (17.5 kPa^-1) and linear responsivity over a wide pressure range (0.008-120 kPa), owing to the effects of stress concentration and gradual deformation of the hierarchical microporous structures with sharp nanoscale tips. Moreover, the sensor exhibits high durability over 6000 repeated cycles and practical applicability in wearable devices that can be used for healthcare monitoring and subtle airflow detection (1 L/min).

Quantum effect-based flexible and transparent pressure sensors with ultrahigh sensitivity and sensing density

Although high-performance flexible pressure sensors have been extensively investigated in recent years owing to their diverse applications in biomedical and information technologies, fabricating ultrasensitive sensors with high pixel density based on current transduction mechanisms still remains great challenging. Herein, we demonstrate a design idea based on Fowler-Nordheim tunnelling effect for fabrication of pressure sensors with ultrahigh sensitivity and sensing density by spin-coating extremely low urchin-like hollow carbon spheres (less than 1.5 wt.%) dispersed in polydimethylsiloxane, which is distinct from the current transduction mechanisms. This sensor exhibits an ultrahigh sensitivity of 260.3 kPa⁻¹ at 1 Pa, a proof-of-concept demonstration of a high sensing density of 400 cm⁻², high transparency and temperature noninterference. In addition, it can be fabricated by an industrially viable and scalable spin-coating method, providing an efficient avenue for realizing large-scale production and application of ultrahigh sensitivity flexible pressure sensors on various surfaces and in in vivo environments.

Though flexible pressure sensors with high sensitivity are attractive for health monitoring applications, existing device sensing mechanisms limit their practical applicability. Here, the authors report quantum tunnelling-based pressure sensors with high sensitivity and fast signal readout.

Recent Progress on Graphene/Polyaniline Composites for High-performance Supercapacitors

Electrode materials are crucial for the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors. In view of the high specific surface area, high conductivity of graphene nanosheets and the high pseudocapacitance of polyaniline (PANI), the combination of graphene with PANI has become a research hotspot. In this work, we summarize the recent advance on the synthesis of PANI and graphene/PANI composites, and their application in supercapacitors. The synthesis of PANI is the basis of preparing graphene/PANI composites, so we first introduce the synthesis methods of PANI. Then, the advances of two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) graphene/PANI composites are summarized according to the inherent feature of graphene. The 2D composites of pristine graphene and functionalized graphene with PANI are introduced separately; furthermore, the 3D composites are classified into three sections, including flexible graphene/PANI composites, graphene framework based composites, and printable graphene/PANI composites. At last, aiming at solving the current challenges of graphene/PANI composites, we put forward some strategies for preparing high performance graphene/PANI composite electrodes.

Synthesis of a Polyaniline Nanoparticle Using a Solution Plasma Process with an Ar Gas Bubble Channel

This work researched polymerization of liquid aniline monomer by solution plasma with a gas bubble channel and investigated characteristics of solution plasma and polyaniline (PANI). The injected gas bubble channel in the proposed solution plasma process (SPP) played a significant role in producing a stable discharge in liquid aniline monomer at a low voltage and furthermore enhancing the contact surface area between liquid aniline monomer and plasma, thereby achieving polymerization on the boundary of the liquid aniline monomer and plasma. Solution plasma properties were analyzed with voltage⁻current, optical emission spectroscopy, and high-speed camera. Conductivity, percentage yield, and firing voltage of PANI nanoparticle dispersed solution were measured. To investigate the characteristics of synthesized PANI nanoparticles, field emission scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, selective area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography, ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR), and X-ray photo spectroscopy (XPS) were examined. The FTIR, ¹H-NMR, and XPS analysis showed the PANI characteristic peaks with evidence that some quinoid and benzene rings were broken by the solution plasma process with a gas bubble channel. The results indicate that PANI nanoparticles have a spherical shape with a size between 25 and 35 nm. The SAED pattern shows the amorphous pattern.

Modification of colloidal particles by unidirectional silica deposition for urchin-like morphologies

Silica rods were grown onto the surface of various colloidal particles, resulting in urchin-like morphologies.

Controlled Fabrication of Polypyrrole Surfaces with Overhang Structures by Colloidal Templating

Here we present the fabrication of polypyrrole (PPy) surfaces with a controlled overhang structure. Regularly structured PPy films were produced using interfacial polymerization around a sacrificial crystalline colloidal monolayer at the air/water interface. The morphology of the final inverse colloidal PPy film is controlled by the amount of monomer, the monomer: oxidant ratio and polymerization time. The PPy films exhibit an overhang structure due to depth of particle immersion in the water phase. As a result of the overhang structure, the PPy films are made hydrophobic, although the material itself is hydrophilic. The apparent contact angle of water on the structured surfaces is 109.5°, which is in agreement with the predicted contact angle using the Cassie-Baxter equation for air-filled cavities. This fabrication technique is scalable and can be readily extended to other systems where controlled wettability is required.

Seeded swelling polymerized sea urchin-like core–shell typed polystyrene/polyaniline particles and their electric stimuli-response

Sea urchin-like polystyrene/polyaniline particles were synthesized by a seeded swelling polymerization. When dispersed in silicone oil to produce an electrorheological (ER) fluid, they exhibit typical ER behaviors with better dispersion stability.