Microtentacle Actuators Based on Shape Memory Alloy Smart Soft Composite

Recent advances in miniature robotics have brought promising improvements in performance by leveraging the latest developments in soft materials, new fabrication schemes, and continuum actuation. Such devices can be used for applications that need delicate manipulation such as microsurgery or investigation of small‐scale biological samples. The shape memory effect of certain alloys is one of the promising actuation mechanisms at small scales because of its high work density and simple actuation mechanism. However, for sub‐millimeter devices, it is difficult to achieve complex and large displacement with shape memory alloy actuators because of the limitation in the fabrication process. Herein, a fabrication scheme for miniaturized smart soft composite actuator is proposed by utilizing two‐photon polymerization. The morphing modes are varied by changing the direction of the scaffold lamination. In addition, the actuation is controlled via local resistive heating of a carbon nanotube layer deposited inside of the actuators. The proposed design can generate a 390 µN force and achieve a bending angle up to 80°. Applications of the actuators are demonstrated by grasping small and delicate objects with single and two finger devices.     

In-situ cleaning and passivation of oxidized Cu surfaces by alkanethiols and its application to wire bonding

The treatment of oxidized Cu surfaces using an alkanethiol as a reducing agent has been investigated. Exposure to a dilute solution of 1-decanethiol resulted in the complete removal and/or conversion of CuO and subsequent formation of a passivating thiolate film, a so-called self-assembled monolayer (SAM), on the underlying Cu/Cu₂O surface as evidenced by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Morphological changes, monitored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), revealed transformation of the rough, porous CuO layer into a comparatively smooth Cu/Cu₂O surface. Experiments performed on integrated circuit back-end-of-line (BEOL) die structures, comprising Cu/SiO₂ bond pads used as substrates for Cu wire bonding, demonstrate the potential application of a thiol-based in-situ cleaning-passivation procedure in microelectronics.     

液压致裂法在PBX炸药拉伸强度测试中的适用性

为解决高聚物粘结炸药(Polymer Bonded Explosive,PBX)拉伸强度测试中哑铃直拉法(GJB772A-1997)测试效率不高以及巴西试验测试精度欠佳的问题,基于液压致裂原理自主搭建了测试平台,发展了拉伸强度液压致裂测试方法,实现了PBX炸药的拉伸强度的准确测试。为验证该测试方法的有效性,以某PBX模拟材料哑铃试样为研究对象,在同一发试样中先后进行了标准直拉法和液压致裂法拉伸强度测试实验,并将测试结果进行对比。结果表明,液压致裂法测得的拉伸强度((9.49±0.24)MPa)与直拉法测得的拉伸强度((9.24±0.43)MPa)相对误差仅为2.70%,具有很好的测试精度。液压致裂法可在单发哑铃的残样上获得至少四个有效的拉伸强度数据,相较于直拉法具有测试用量少、测试效率高的特点,且测试稳定性良好,表明该测试方法兼具了哑铃直拉法的高精度和巴西试验的低用量高效率,同时可作为一种原位测试手段广泛运用于配方研制以及结构件不同位置的拉伸强度测试。     

Regulating Intercalation of Layered Compounds for Electrochemical Energy Storage and Electrocatalysis

Layered materials have received extensive attention for widespread applications such as energy storage and conversion, catalysis, and ion transport owing to their fast ion diffusion, exfoliative feature, superior mechanical flexibility, tunable bandgap structure, etc. The presence of large interlayer space between each layer enhances intercalation of the guest ion or molecule, which is beneficial for fast ion diffusion and charge transport along the channels. This intercalation reaction of layered compounds with guest species results in material with improved mechanical and electronic properties for efficient energy storage and conversion, catalysis, ion transport, and other applications. This review extensively discusses the intercalation of guest ionic or molecular species into layered materials used for various types of applications. It assesses the intercalation strategies, mechanism of ionic or molecular intercalation reactions, and highlights recent advancements. The electrochemical performances of several typical intercalated materials in batteries, supercapacitors, and electrocatalytic systems have been thoroughly discussed. Moreover, the challenges in the design and intercalation of layered materials, as well as prospects of future development are highlighted.     

Precisely Controlled Microsphere Design via Visible‐Light Cross‐Linking of Functional Prepolymers

A new strategy for particle synthesis is enabled by utilizing modern synthetic, polymer, and photochemical techniques to facilitate the synthesis of highly narrow–disperse multifunctional microspheres from visible‐light induced crosslinking of prepolymers in both a single and dual polymer system. The approach requires no stabilizers, bases, or initiators, and proceeds at ambient temperature to yield microspheres with a tunable size range (0.25–5 µm) in less than 4 h, depending largely on solvent composition, but also polymer concentration (2–10 mg mL^?1), ratio, and irradiation intensity (3–20 W). Critically, the visible‐light induced dimerization reaction exploited herein enables simple functional particle syntheses via a single polymer system. Underpinned by an in‐depth kinetic analysis of the particle formation as well as a detailed small molecule study, the mechanism for particle formation is also elucidated. Importantly, inherent advantages of the system are exploited for surface functionalization of residual acrylate and hydroxyl groups (generating inherently fluorescent particles).     

Copolymer/Clay Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications

Nanoclays still hold a great strength in biomedical nanotechnology applications due to their exceptional properties despite the development of several new nanostructured materials. This article reviews the recent advances in copolymer/clay nanocomposites with a focus on health care applications. In general, the structure of clay comprises aluminosilicate layers separated by a few nanometers. Recently, nanoclay‐incorporated copolymers have attracted the interest of both researchers and industry due to their phenomenal properties such as barrier function, stiffness, thermal/flame resistance, superhydrophobicity, biocompatibility, stimuli responsiveness, sustained drug release, resistance to hydrolysis, outstanding dynamic mechanical properties including resilience and low temperature flexibility, excellent hydrolytic stability, and antimicrobial properties. Surface modification of nanoclays provides additional properties due to improved adhesion between the polymer matrix and the nanoclay, high surface free energy, a high degree of intercalation, or exfoliated morphology. The architecture of the copolymer/clay nanocomposites has great impact on biomedical applications, too, by providing various cues especially in drug delivery systems and regenerative medicine.     

In-situ monitoring of surface stoichiometry and growth kinetics study of GaN (0001) in MOVPE by spectroscopic ellipsometry

GaN surface stoichiometry and growth kinetics in MOVPE were studied by in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. The effect of MOVPE conditions on both the surface stoichiometry and growth kinetics was investigated. The surface stoichiometry, such as N-rich, Ga-rich and Ga-excess surfaces, was monitored, and was drastically changed by the variation of the NH₃ partial pressure. When the TMG supply was interrupted during the growth, the layer-by-layer decomposition/revaporation was observed in H₂/NH₃ ambient. The decomposition rate was measured as a function of the NH₃ flow rate at the conventional epilayer growth temperatures (1050–1140 C). The decomposition rate was decreased with the increase in the N coverage on the GaN surface. it was found that the surface stoichiometry is a very important parameter for the control of the MOVPE growth kinetics.     

熔石英亚表面微缺陷原位表征及损伤阈值研究

通过对熔石英表面和亚表面划痕的原位测量,研究划痕的表面均方根(RMS)粗糙度、宽度和深度在HF溶液中刻蚀不同时间后的变化规律,测试了不同刻蚀时间下熔石英的损伤阈值。实验结果表明:随刻蚀时间的增加,表面RMS、划痕深度及宽度的总体变化趋势是增加的;熔石英的损伤阈值随刻蚀时间的增加,在1～10min时间段呈增加趋势,在20～40 min时间段呈下降趋势,而在60～120 min时间段先增加后降低。综合熔石英划痕的微观形貌损伤阈值的测量结果认为,刻蚀10 min时效果最佳。     

沉淀聚合包覆硝酸铵的吸湿性研究

在环己烷介质中采用丙烯腈单体沉淀聚合反应对硝酸铵进行了包覆,测试了包覆前后硝酸铵的吸湿性、结块性,利用扫描电子显微镜观察了包覆效果,利用接触角测试仪测量了AN在不同测试液中的接触角,分析了改性后硝酸铵吸湿性降低的原因和机理。     

In‐Plane Assembled Orthorhombic Nb2O5 Nanorod Films with High‐Rate Li+ Intercalation for High‐Performance Flexible Li‐Ion Capacitors

Organic hybrid supercapacitors that consist of a battery electrode and a capacitive electrode show greatly improved energy density, but their power density is generally limited by the poor rate capability of battery‐type electrodes. In addition, flexible organic hybrid supercapacitors are rarely reported. To address the above issues, herein an in‐plane assembled orthorhombic Nb₂O₅ nanorod film anode with high‐rate Li⁺ intercalation to develop a flexible Li‐ion hybrid capacitor (LIC) is reported. The binder‐/additive‐free film exhibits excellent rate capability (≈73% capacity retention with the rate increased from 0.5 to 20 C) and good cycling stability (>2500 times). Kinetic analyses reveal that the high rate performance is mainly attributed to the excellent in‐plane assembly of interconnected single‐crystalline Nb₂O₅ nanorods on the current collector, ensuring fast electron transport, facile Li‐ion migration in the porous film, and greatly reduced ion‐diffusion length. Using such a Nb₂O₅ film as anode and commercial activated carbon as cathode, a flexible LIC is designed. It delivers both high gravimetric and high volumetric energy/power densities (≈95.55 Wh kg^?1/5350.9 W kg^?1; 6.7 mW h cm^?3/374.63 mW cm^?3), surpassing previous typical Li‐intercalation electrode‐based LICs. Furthermore, this LIC device still keeps good electrochemical attributes even under serious bending states (30°–180°).