Technologies for evaporation-driven electricity generation and solar-driven steam generation exhibit significant potential for addressing energy crises and freshwater shortages.Nevertheless,it is still a challenge to ...Technologies for evaporation-driven electricity generation and solar-driven steam generation exhibit significant potential for addressing energy crises and freshwater shortages.Nevertheless,it is still a challenge to develop multifunctional materials for efficient energy generation and seawater desalination via economical and simple methods.Here,we propose a Chinese ink-coated viscose fiber composite(Ink@VF),suitable for direct applications in evaporation-driven electricity generators(EEGs)and solar-driven steam generators(SSGs).The Ink@VF prepared by a simple dip-dyeing method exhibits excellent mechanical properties(Young’s modulus of 18.1 GPa),hydrophilicity,electrical conductivity(36.51Ω/sq),and photothermal conversion properties.Based on the synergy of water evaporation,capillary effect,and electric double layer(EDL)electrokinetic effect,the Ink@VF-based EEG can achieve a maximum open-circuit voltage(V_(oc))of 0.65 V and an optimal power density of 43.72 mW/m^(2)with 1 mol/L NaCl solution.It can also be integrated in series to develop a self-powered bracelet.Simultaneously,the evaporation rate and solar energy conversion efficiency of the Ink@VF-based SSG can reach 1.32 kg/(m^(2)·h)and 84.9%under 1 sun irradiation,respectively.Through utilizing the evaporation-condensation mechanism,it can achieve freshwater generation at a rate of 1.49 kg/(m^(2)·h)and metal ion removal in excess of 99.9%.This study provides a low-cost and efficient solution to the energy crisis and freshwater shortage in resource-poor remote areas by utilizing inexhaustible natural resources.展开更多
Multifunctionality has become a mainstream trend in the development of smart clothing and flexible wearable devices.Nevertheless,it remains a grand challenge to realize multiple functions,such as sensing,actuating and...Multifunctionality has become a mainstream trend in the development of smart clothing and flexible wearable devices.Nevertheless,it remains a grand challenge to realize multiple functions,such as sensing,actuating and information displaying,in one single multifunctional material.Here,we present one multifunctional integration strategy by employing monolithic superaligned carbon nanotube(SACNT)composite,which can leverage three different functions through fascinating features of SACNT.Firstly,by using thermochromic dye as a color-memorizing component and SACNT as a photothermal converter,the composite film can be utilized as a flexible rewritable medium.It demonstrates excellent rewriting performances(reversibility>500 times).Secondly,the composite can be tailored to fabricate an actuator,when its length direction is along the SACNT alignment.The actuator shows a bending-morphing when illuminated by near-infrared light.The morphing is attributed to a large difference in volume change between the SACNT and polymer when the SACNT absorbs the optical energy and heats the composite.Thirdly,owing to the unique anisotropy of SACNT,the composite is easily to be stretched in the direction perpendicular to the SACNT alignment,accompanied by a change in electrical resistance.Therefore,the composite is able to be used as a strain sensor.Finally,we fabricate two smart wearable devices to demonstrate the applications,which realize the functions of human-motion detection(sensing)and rewritable information display(rewriting)simultaneously.This multifunctional SACNT composite is expected to have potential applications in the next-generation wearable devices,smart clothing and so on.展开更多
Smart actuators integrated with sensing functions are taking a significant role in constructing intelligent robots.However,the detection of sensing signals in most actuators requires external electrical power,lacking ...Smart actuators integrated with sensing functions are taking a significant role in constructing intelligent robots.However,the detection of sensing signals in most actuators requires external electrical power,lacking in the self-powered feature.Herein,we report a graphene-based light-driven actuator with self-powered sensing function,which is designed by integrating a photothermoelectric generator into the actuator intelligently.When one part of the actuator is irradiated by near-infrared light,it shows a deformation with bending curvature up to 1.5 cm^(−1),owing to the mismatch volume changes between two layers of the actuator.Meanwhile,the temperature difference across the actuator generates a voltage signal due to the photo-thermoelectric effect.The Seebeck coefficient is higher than 40μV/K.Furthermore,the self-powered voltage signal is consistent with the deformation trend,which can be used to characterize the deformation state of actuator without external electrical power.We further demonstrate a gripper and a bionic hand.Their deformations mimic the motions of human hand(or finger),even making complex gestures.Concurrently,they can output self-powered voltage signals for sensing.We hope this research will pave a new way for selfpowered devices,state-of-the-art intelligent robots,and other integrated multi-functional systems.展开更多
Smart actuators have a wide range of applications in bionics and energy conversion.The ability to reconfigure shape is essential for soft actuators to achieve various shapes and deformations,which is a crucial feature...Smart actuators have a wide range of applications in bionics and energy conversion.The ability to reconfigure shape is essential for soft actuators to achieve various shapes and deformations,which is a crucial feature for next-generation actuators.Nonetheless,it is still an enormous challenge to establish a straightforward approach to creating programmable and reconfigurable actuators.MXene-cellulose nanofiber composite film(MCCF)with a brick-and-mortar hierarchical structure was produced through a vacuum filtration process.MCCF demonstrates impressive mechanical properties such as a tensile stress of 68 MPa and a Young’s modulus of 4.65 GPa.Besides,the MCCF highlights its potential for water-assisted shaping/welding due to the abundance of hydrogen bonds between MXene and cellulose nanofibers.MCCF also showcases capabilities as a humiditydriven actuator with a rapid response rate of 550°·s^(−1).Using the methods of water-assisted shaping/welding,several bionic actuators(such as flower,butterfly,and muscle)based on MCCF were designed,highlighting their versatility in applications of smart actuators.The research showcases the impressive capabilities of MXene-based actuators and offers beneficial insights for the advancement of future intelligent materials.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52103138 and 52201043)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(Nos.2022J01945 and 2023J01159)+1 种基金the STS Project of Fujian-CAS(No.2023T3043)College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program of China(No.202410388011).
文摘Technologies for evaporation-driven electricity generation and solar-driven steam generation exhibit significant potential for addressing energy crises and freshwater shortages.Nevertheless,it is still a challenge to develop multifunctional materials for efficient energy generation and seawater desalination via economical and simple methods.Here,we propose a Chinese ink-coated viscose fiber composite(Ink@VF),suitable for direct applications in evaporation-driven electricity generators(EEGs)and solar-driven steam generators(SSGs).The Ink@VF prepared by a simple dip-dyeing method exhibits excellent mechanical properties(Young’s modulus of 18.1 GPa),hydrophilicity,electrical conductivity(36.51Ω/sq),and photothermal conversion properties.Based on the synergy of water evaporation,capillary effect,and electric double layer(EDL)electrokinetic effect,the Ink@VF-based EEG can achieve a maximum open-circuit voltage(V_(oc))of 0.65 V and an optimal power density of 43.72 mW/m^(2)with 1 mol/L NaCl solution.It can also be integrated in series to develop a self-powered bracelet.Simultaneously,the evaporation rate and solar energy conversion efficiency of the Ink@VF-based SSG can reach 1.32 kg/(m^(2)·h)and 84.9%under 1 sun irradiation,respectively.Through utilizing the evaporation-condensation mechanism,it can achieve freshwater generation at a rate of 1.49 kg/(m^(2)·h)and metal ion removal in excess of 99.9%.This study provides a low-cost and efficient solution to the energy crisis and freshwater shortage in resource-poor remote areas by utilizing inexhaustible natural resources.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51773039 and 11974076)Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(Nos.2020J02036 and 2018J06001)+1 种基金Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of Fujian Province(No.J1-1318)Open Research Fund Program of the State Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Physics(No.KF201810).
文摘Multifunctionality has become a mainstream trend in the development of smart clothing and flexible wearable devices.Nevertheless,it remains a grand challenge to realize multiple functions,such as sensing,actuating and information displaying,in one single multifunctional material.Here,we present one multifunctional integration strategy by employing monolithic superaligned carbon nanotube(SACNT)composite,which can leverage three different functions through fascinating features of SACNT.Firstly,by using thermochromic dye as a color-memorizing component and SACNT as a photothermal converter,the composite film can be utilized as a flexible rewritable medium.It demonstrates excellent rewriting performances(reversibility>500 times).Secondly,the composite can be tailored to fabricate an actuator,when its length direction is along the SACNT alignment.The actuator shows a bending-morphing when illuminated by near-infrared light.The morphing is attributed to a large difference in volume change between the SACNT and polymer when the SACNT absorbs the optical energy and heats the composite.Thirdly,owing to the unique anisotropy of SACNT,the composite is easily to be stretched in the direction perpendicular to the SACNT alignment,accompanied by a change in electrical resistance.Therefore,the composite is able to be used as a strain sensor.Finally,we fabricate two smart wearable devices to demonstrate the applications,which realize the functions of human-motion detection(sensing)and rewritable information display(rewriting)simultaneously.This multifunctional SACNT composite is expected to have potential applications in the next-generation wearable devices,smart clothing and so on.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51773039 and 11974076)Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(No.2020J02036)Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of Fujian Province(No.J1-1318).
文摘Smart actuators integrated with sensing functions are taking a significant role in constructing intelligent robots.However,the detection of sensing signals in most actuators requires external electrical power,lacking in the self-powered feature.Herein,we report a graphene-based light-driven actuator with self-powered sensing function,which is designed by integrating a photothermoelectric generator into the actuator intelligently.When one part of the actuator is irradiated by near-infrared light,it shows a deformation with bending curvature up to 1.5 cm^(−1),owing to the mismatch volume changes between two layers of the actuator.Meanwhile,the temperature difference across the actuator generates a voltage signal due to the photo-thermoelectric effect.The Seebeck coefficient is higher than 40μV/K.Furthermore,the self-powered voltage signal is consistent with the deformation trend,which can be used to characterize the deformation state of actuator without external electrical power.We further demonstrate a gripper and a bionic hand.Their deformations mimic the motions of human hand(or finger),even making complex gestures.Concurrently,they can output self-powered voltage signals for sensing.We hope this research will pave a new way for selfpowered devices,state-of-the-art intelligent robots,and other integrated multi-functional systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52103138 and 52201043)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(Nos.2023J01159 and 2022J01945)+1 种基金Starting Research Fund from Fujian University of Technology(No.GY-Z220199)the Fuzhou City Science and Technology Cooperation Project(Nos.2021-S-091 and 2022-R-003).
文摘Smart actuators have a wide range of applications in bionics and energy conversion.The ability to reconfigure shape is essential for soft actuators to achieve various shapes and deformations,which is a crucial feature for next-generation actuators.Nonetheless,it is still an enormous challenge to establish a straightforward approach to creating programmable and reconfigurable actuators.MXene-cellulose nanofiber composite film(MCCF)with a brick-and-mortar hierarchical structure was produced through a vacuum filtration process.MCCF demonstrates impressive mechanical properties such as a tensile stress of 68 MPa and a Young’s modulus of 4.65 GPa.Besides,the MCCF highlights its potential for water-assisted shaping/welding due to the abundance of hydrogen bonds between MXene and cellulose nanofibers.MCCF also showcases capabilities as a humiditydriven actuator with a rapid response rate of 550°·s^(−1).Using the methods of water-assisted shaping/welding,several bionic actuators(such as flower,butterfly,and muscle)based on MCCF were designed,highlighting their versatility in applications of smart actuators.The research showcases the impressive capabilities of MXene-based actuators and offers beneficial insights for the advancement of future intelligent materials.
