Advances in solid-state fiber batteries for wearable bioelectronics

Powering wearable bioelectronics with decent skin conformability and wearing comfort is highly desired. Fiber batteries could provide an attractive alternative to traditional rigid ones and present a compelling solution to this problem. In this review, we will discuss the various classes of fiber batteries, including lithium batteries, zinc batteries, and other types of fiber batteries. We will then report the latest research progress on each battery category through its working mechanism, materials usage, structure design, and wearable applications. Finally, we provide insights into current challenges and future applications of fiber batteries, aiming to promote the development of low-cost and high-performance fiber battery technologies for wearable bioelectronics.     

Influence of bio-clogging on permeability characteristics of soil

It is necessary to enhance the barrier performance of cutoff walls in order to improve the contamination control level, especially for reconstruction or expansion of existing landfill sites. This paper presents a comprehensive laboratory investigation on the synergistic effects of microorganisms and fibers on the hydraulic conductivity of silty sand to evaluate the applicability to the field condition as an alterative barrier material. Inside the soil, the added carbon fibers not only provided good biocompatibility, but also formed spatial three-dimensional network between soil particles to improve the bacterial adhesion that eventually caused 2–3 orders of magnitude decrease in soil permeability. The resistance of the biofilm to extreme conditions was tested by permeation with solutions of different salinity and pH values, and by subjecting specimens to various hydraulic gradients and soil conditions. Despite the microbial growth inhibition occurred at these conditions, however, biofilm can largely remain intact and continue to reduce k, which due to the gradual adaptation of microorganisms to the extreme environment and the gradual recovery of their activity. Results of these tests demonstrate that biofilm treatment may be a feasible technology for creating waste containment barriers in soil.     

Characteristics of polycarbosilanes produced under different synthetic conditions and their influence on SiC fibers: Part I

SiC fibers can be obtained by the spinning, curing, and heat treatment of polycarbosilane (PCS); however, the properties of the PCS precursor must be considered to set the correct spinning conditions. Although many studies have focused on the synthesis conditions, the characterization (in particular, the structural characteristics) of PCS fibers, and the polymer itself has limitations. In this study, PCS was prepared in two steps, and the growth of the polymer with respect to the reaction conditions was analyzed. We found that PCS is formed and grown by the rearrangement and subsequent condensation reactions of polydimethylsilane (PDMS). Further, fiber formation was affected by the reaction temperature, time, and pressure. Three types of PCS were obtained under different synthetic conditions, and they were all characterized. Regardless of the structural similarity of the PCS fibers (based on the spectroscopic analysis), the polymers showed different thermal and rheological properties. Our findings will be important in improving the production of PCS fibers (and subsequent SiC fibers) with finely controlled properties.     

Erbium doped Bi2O3-B2O3 glass-ceramics containing Bi3B5O12 and CaF2 nanocrystallites for 1.53 μm fiber lasers

Trivalent erbium ions doped Bi₂O₃-B₂O₃ transparent glass ceramics containing CaF₂ were prepared and characterized through X -ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared absorption, optical absorption, and near infrared emission for 1.53 μm fiber lasers. The glass ceramics obtained by applying thermal treatment at 575 °C for 5 h and 575 °C for 10 h contain Bi₃B₅O₁₂ and CaF₂ crystallites. The Judd-Ofelt theory was applied to evaluate various spectroscopic and laser characteristic properties. The NIR emission corresponding to the ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 (∼1.53 μm) transition was studied by exciting the samples at 514.5 nm laser radiation. The stimulated emission cross-sections of ∼1.53 μm luminescence were also obtained applying the Mc Cumber theory. The experimental results confirm that the transparent glass ceramic obtained at a thermal treatment of 575 °C for 10 h is more suitable to design fiber lasers for diverse applications in the fields of industry, medicine and scientific research.     

3D打印连续芳纶纤维/聚乳酸波纹夹层结构复合材料的压缩性能研究

以连续芳纶纤维(Kevlar)为增强体,热塑性聚乳酸(PLA)为基体,采用熔融沉积成型(FDM)工艺,设计并制备了一体成型的Kevlar/PLA波纹夹层结构复合材料。研究了Kevlar/PLA波纹夹层结构复合材料在压缩载荷下的断裂模式,分析了结构参数、工艺参数对试样的压缩性能和结构密度的影响。结果表明,随着芯层波纹数量的增加,试样的压缩性能与结构密度均呈增大趋势;随着芯层波纹高度的增大,试样的压缩强度先增大后减小,结构密度不断减小;随着打印层高的增大,试样中的纤维体积含量不断减少,试样的压缩强度略有下降。     

Influence of fibers on the microstructure and compressive response of directional ice-templated alumina ceramics

Directional ice-templated ceramics have unique lamellar porous channels between ceramic walls which run from bottom to top of the samples. This highly oriented morphology results in the anisotropy in mechanical properties both parallel and perpendicular to freezing direction. In this research, fiber-enhanced ice-templated porous ceramics were fabricated by introducing fibers into alumina slurry for freezing. The trans-lamellar fiber bridges connecting adjacent ceramic walls were formed by adjusting the aspect ratio of fibers and freezing velocity, which greatly enhanced the compressive response in two directions and weakened the anisotropy in mechanical properties of the directional ice-templated ceramics. The results showed that the of fiber bridges increased with the increase of fiber aspect ratio and the longitudinal and transverse mechanical properties increased by 73.5% and 232.6%, respectively.     

Analysis of Radio over Fiber system for mitigating four-wave mixing effect

In this paper, an efficient 8-channel 32Gbps RoF (Radio over Fiber) system incorporating Bessel Filter (8/32 RoF-BF) has been demonstrated to reduce the impact of non-linear transmission effects, specifically Four-Wave Mixing (FWM). The simulation results indicate that the proposed 8/32 RoF-BF system provides an optimum result w.r.t. channel spacing (75 GHz), input source power (0 dBm) and number of input channels (8). In comparison with the existing RoF system, the proposed 8/32 RoF-BF system has been validated analytically and it is found that the performance of the proposed system is in close proximity particularly in FWM sideband power reduction of the order of 4 dBm for the 8-channel 32Gbps RoF system.     

Impact behavior and fractographic study of carbon nanotubes grafted carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix multi-scale hybrid composites

Carbon nanotubes are the most promising reinforcement for high performance composites. Multiwall carbon nanotubes were directly grown onto the carbon fiber surface by catalytic thermal chemical vapor deposition technique. Multi-scale hybrid composites were fabricated using the carbon nanotubes grown fibers with epoxy matrix. Morphology of the grown carbon nanotubes was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The fabricated composites were subjected to impact tests which showed 48.7% and 42.2% higher energy absorption in Charpy and Izod impact tests respectively. Fractographic analysis of the impact tested specimens revealed the presence of carbon nanotubes both at the fiber surface and within the matrix which explained the reason for improved energy absorption capability of these composites. Carbon nanotubes presence at various cracks formed during loading provided a direct evidence of micro crack bridging. Thus the enhanced fracture strength of these composites is attributed to stronger fiber–matrix interfacial bonding and simultaneous matrix strengthening due to the grown carbon nanotubes.     

Diversity of Biogas Plant Realizations

A techno‐economic analysis for four different types of biogas plant realizations was performed, including one biogas biorefinery concept. For each concept detail, a process flow diagram was created. Mass and energy balances were estimated. The net present value and payback were calculated for each concept for a better feasibility understanding. The results showed that with the used expensive substrate, namely, wheat straw, the obtained paybacks appeared to be more than 100 years. Sensitivity analysis was done for the price range of a substrate. Critical factors were defined to improve feasibility.     

Effect of fiber orientation on Liquid–Gas flow in the gas diffusion layer of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

In this study, the lattice Boltzmann method was used to simulate the three-dimensional intrusion process of liquid water in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The GDL was reconstructed by the stochastic method and used to investigate fiber orientation's influence on liquid water transport in the GDL of a PEMFC. The fiber orientation can be described by the angle between a single fiber and the in-plane direction; three different samples were simulated for three different fiber orientation ranges. The simulated permeability correlated well with the anisotropic characteristics of reconstructed carbon papers. It was concluded that the fiber orientation had a significant effect on the liquid invasion pattern in the GDL by changing the pore shape and distribution of the GDL. The results indicated that the stochastically reconstructed GDL, taking into account the fiber orientation, better demonstrates the mass transport properties of the GDL.