Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials最新文献

Constructing highly stretchable and sensitive flexible strain sensors is significant for applications in human–computer interaction, wearable devices, and electronic skins. However, integrating high stretchability and sensitivity into a single system is challenging. In this study, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was interpenetrated into an acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AAc), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel matrix to form a three-dimensional structure. Through simple coordination with polyaniline (PANI) and zinc chloride (ZnCl₂), a high-performance hydrogel, PANI/PVA/CMC-Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (P(AM-co-AA))-Zn²⁺ hydrogel, was prepared as the base material. The tensile strength, elongation at break, and elastic modulus of the base hydrogel were 421 kPa, 246%, and 80 kPa, respectively, when the amount of AAc was introduced at 6 mL. To further improve its antifreeze and moisture-preserving properties, the base hydrogel was immersed in a mixed solvent of ethylene glycol (EG) and water, resulting in the optimized PANI/PVA/CMC-P(AM-co-AA)-Zn²⁺/EG hydrogel. The optimized hydrogel exhibited significantly enhanced mechanical properties, including a fracture tensile strength of 838 kPa, a strain of 330%, and an elastic modulus of 302 kPa, when the volume ratio of EG to water reached 1:3. The formation of numerous hydrogen bonds between EG and water molecules prevented ice crystal formation and hindered water evaporation. As a result, the hydrogel exhibited excellent freezing tolerance (-41.6 ℃) and long-lasting moisture (83.7% weight retention after 7 days), maintaining stable mechanical flexibility over a wide temperature range. Due to the presence of conductive polymers and ions, the optimized hydrogel demonstrated high sensitivity (GF = 2.94 for a tensile strain range of 0%-200%) and was able to monitor body movements such as elbow, finger, wrist, and leg bending. These features, combined with its responsiveness to changes in temperature, sweat, and pH, make the optimized hydrogel a promising material for multifunctional sensor applications.

Graphical Abstract

PVA-based hydrogels offer high performance in flexible sensors.

Advancements in electronic devices have driven the fabrication of flexible supercapacitors (SCs) to power electronic devices in twisted or bent states. In this regard, we report the fabrication of nanoflower-like arrays of cobalt molybdenum sulfide (Co_xMo_3-xS₃) on flexible and conductive carbon cloth via a facile single-step electrodeposition technique as a positive electrode. The morphological, physiochemical, and electrochemical characteristics of the corresponding electrodes are evaluated. For optimization, the Co_xMo_3-xS₃ electrodes with various stoichiometric ratios of Co/Mo in the precursor solution are fabricated. The optimized Co_xMo_3-xS electrode shows a maximum areal capacitance value of 1008.7 mF cm⁻² at 2 mA cm⁻² and an excellent life duration with areal capacitance retention value of ~ 100% over 10,000 galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) cycles. Furthermore, Te-infused carbon derived from radish is explored as a green negative electrode. A flexible hybrid SC (FHSC) device is fabricated using optimized Co_xMo_3-xS₃ and Te-infused radish-derived bio-carbon as the positive and negative electrodes, respectively. The corresponding FHSC device exhibits excellent electrochemical properties with power and energy density values of 7500 W kg⁻¹ and 19.2 Wh kg⁻¹, respectively, followed by outstanding long-term durability with a specific capacitance retention value of ~ 100% over 10,000 GCD cycles. Finally, the FHSC device successfully powers various electronic gadgets in contorted states, thereby demonstrating its practical feasibility. The ecoflex-packaged FHSC device is also employed to power temperature and humidity sensors in the wearable condition for wireless internet of things applications.

Zn-Mn alloys are particularly promising biodegradable implant materials, but they are plagued by poor mechanical performance. In this work, a Zn-Mn alloy with ultrahigh strength and excellent ductility was achieved through addition of trace Mg (0.1 wt%) and equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). Specifically, the ECAP processed Zn-0.5Mn-0.1 Mg alloy exhibits an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 428 MPa, which is highest ever achieved in Zn-Mn-based alloys, along with a good elongation (EL) of 39%. In addition, the alloy exhibits excellent antibacterial performance against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Trace Mg addition results in the formation of Mg₂Zn₁₁ and MgZn₂ nano-precipitates in the alloy, which effectively pins grain growth during dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and postpones the inverse Hall–Petch relation. Consequently, the alloy possesses quite fine grains of an average grain size (AGS) of 0.71 μm, much smaller than that of its counterpart without Mg (AGS = 2.54 μm). The ultrahigh strength of the alloy is mainly ascribed to grain boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening. The remarkable ductility of the alloy is related to deformation twinning suppression, pyramidal < c + a > slip activation, and low dislocation density.

It is imperative that composite systems with high performance, low-cost, enhanced simplicity, and scalability be developed in order to convert and store energy. This, however, has been a challenging endeavor throughout the years. In this study, we present a cost-effective, efficient, scale-up-friendly, and environmentally friendly method of producing in situ sandwich layers of ZnO-CuO composite between NiCo₂O₄ nanostructures and nickel foam using lemon peel extract (LPE) during hydrothermal processes. NiCo₂O₄/ZnO-CuO/nickel foam was analyzed using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). According to XRD and HRTEM studies of NiCo₂O₄/ZnO-CuO/nickel foam, NiCo₂O₄, ZnO, and CuO exhibit cubic, hexagonal, and monoclinic phases, respectively. With NiCo₂O₄/ZnO-CuO/nickel foam as the active anode electrode, an asymmetric supercapacitor has been developed in an alkaline solution of 3 M KOH. At a low current density of 2 Ag⁻¹, the asymmetric supercapacitor exhibited a high specific capacitance of 3614.8 F g⁻¹, a power density of 1549.2 W kg⁻¹, and an energy density of 75.3 Wh kg⁻¹. Upon repeatable 40,000 galvanic charge–discharge cycles, the asymmetric device demonstrated a high specific capacitance retention percentage of approximately 100 to 95 and a columbic efficiency of 98%. Moreover, NiCo₂O₄/ZnO-CuO/nickel foam composite had a low overpotential of 210 mV at 40 mA cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 70 mV dec⁻¹ for OER in 1 M KOH. During continuous OER measurements over a period of 40 h, NiCo₂O₄/ZnO-CuO/nickel foam composites demonstrated high durability and stability. NiCo₂O₄/ZnO-CuO/nickel foam exhibits good electrochemical performance as a result of its synergetic effects, its high conductivity, its abundant exposed catalytic sites, its oxygen vacancies, and its high durability.

Graphical Abstract

The illustration for the synthesis of high-performance in situ NiCo₂O₄/ZnO-CuO/nickel foam composite for OER and supercapacitor application.

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was synthesized via reduction of graphitized household tea-waste utilizing neem leaves extract. The synergistic effect of rGO decoration and Cr³⁺ doping within pristine Fe₂O₃ enhanced surface adsorption property, defect density, and oxygen vacancies, facilitating the detection of ppm-levels (1 to 10 ppm) acetone at room temperature. Noticeably, the formation of ‘inversion space-charge-layer’ on sensing material surface at lower operating temperature resulted p-type sensing response using n-type nanomaterial that was transformed to n-type response when the operating temperature was elevated. The maximum sensing response (R_g/R_a) ~ 6.8 towards ~ 10 ppm acetone was obtained from optimized rGO decorated Cr³⁺ doped Fe₂O₃ sensor (FC3R3) at ambient condition. This sensor also revealed a rapid response/recovery time (~ 10 s/ ~ 10 s) and was able to detect as low as ~ 1 ppm acetone. The sensor exhibited improved selectivity towards acetone over other interfering VOCs, attributed to significant dipole moment, low bond dissociation energy, and strong affinity of acetone towards surface-adsorbed oxygenated ions. Notably, the sensor showed negligible deterioration in sensing performance even after ~ 150 days. Furthermore, this sensor was capable to differentiate between acetone concentration in breath sample of healthy and diabetic person for non-invasive diabetes detection. 

Lignocellulose nanofibers (LCNFs) are highly regarded for their ability to significantly enhance the rigidity of formed structures. When integrated into cellulose nanofiber (CNF) hydrogels, they hold substantial promise in augmenting mechanical strength, as well as improving adsorption capacity. Herein, the preparation of hydrogels from an aqueous suspension of CNFs and LCNFs extracted from eucalyptus cellulose pulp through a homogenization process is outlined. Suspensions of different concentrations were prepared to assess the influence of lignin and nanofiber content on the properties of the hydrogels. The hydrogels cellulose nanofibers (HCNF) and lignocellulose nanofibers (HLCNF) were formed through a freeze–thaw process, revealing an enhancement in rigidity with increasing nanofiber concentration. DFT (density functional theory) calculations illustrated the cross-linking mechanism between cellulose chains induced by the crystallization of water molecules, thus, corroborating the postulated hydrogel formation mechanism. Microstructural analysis revealed honeycomb-shaped matrices in longitudinal sections, with HLCNF hydrogels presenting less smooth walls. Studies on water adsorption capacity showed rapid swelling in both hydrogels, correlated with the nanofiber content reaching 8750% and 5500% for HLCNF and HCNF, respectively. HLCNF hydrogels exhibited higher adsorption capacity due to the influence of lignin on cross-linking rates. Mechanical compression tests demonstrated exceptional resilience in all hydrogels. Despite having a lower cross-linking density compared to hydrogels made from 2 wt.% cellulose nanofibers, hydrogels composed of 2 wt.% lignocellulose nanofibers exhibited a Young’s modulus of 2.83 kPa. This underscores the superior mechanical properties of lignin-based hydrogels, highlighting the effect of lignin on the hydrogel matrix.

Radiation therapy (RT) remains the primary treatment modality for advanced cervical cancer, however, recurrence due to radioresistance presents a significant challenge. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) are key contributors to this resistance, driven by their inherent radioresistance and radiation-induced phenotypic adaptations. Addressing this issue requires strategies specifically designed to target CAFs and enhance their radiosensitivity. In this study, we developed a biomimetic metal–organic framework (MOF) nanoplatform for the dual-targeted co-delivery of the FAK inhibitor IN10018 and Bismuth (Bi), aimed at improving radiosensitivity in cervical cancer. The IN10018 and Bi-loaded zeolitic imidazolate framework 8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles (IZB) were further coated with hybrid membranes derived from CAFs and cancer cells, enabling precise targeting of both cell types. Upon exposure to an acidic environment, the nanoparticles disassemble, releasing IN10018, which reduces CAFs infiltration and enhances radiosensitivity. Simultaneously, the incorporation of Bi enhances radiation absorption efficiency, further sensitizing tumor cells to radiotherapy. This dual-target strategy represents a promising approach to overcoming radioresistance in cervical cancer and exemplifies how integrating nanotechnology with targeted therapies can enhance RT efficacy and improve patient outcomes.

Graphic Abstract

Schematic Illustration of IZB@CCM Construction and Application for Cervical Cancer to Improve Radiosensitivity. (1) IZB was fabricated through the one-pot method. (2) Preparation of hybrid CAF-cancer cell membrane. (3) IZB@CCM were obtained by co-extrusion of IZB and hybrid membrane (CCM). (4) IZB@CCM demonstrated the ability to target CAFs and cancer cells. (5) IZB@CCM inhibited the expression of FAK and released radiosensitizer Bi to enhance the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy with a poor prognosis that is usually advanced at the time of diagnosis. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), with its safety and reproducibility, offers significant potential for advanced NPC treatment, though its efficacy is hindered by the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and continuous oxygen depletion during therapy. This study presents a versatile nanoformulation (CGP) co-loaded with chlorin e6 (Ce6) and genistein (Gen) within peptide dendritic nanogel (PDN) for enhanced NPC treatment. The positively charged CGP is efficiently internalized by NPC cells, followed by glutathione (GSH)-responsive degradation, releasing Ce6 and Gen. The released Gen reduces intracellular oxygen consumption and tumor metastability by inhibiting the HIF-1 signaling pathway, thereby efficiently boosting PDT efficacy. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed that the combination of Gen and PDT effectively eliminates tumors and inhibits metastasis. Multi-omics analysis (RNA sequencing and targeted energy metabolomics) revealed that CGP suppresses HIF-1α, GLUT1, and VEGFA expression, downregulating the HIF-1 pathway and reducing anaerobic glycolysis, thereby successfully remodeling the hypoxia-associated tumor microenvironment. This study demonstrates that the Gen-PDT combination is a versatile approach capable of enhancing PDT efficacy and holds promise for NPC management.