一种自组装型SnO_2纳米线氢传感器

为了能够对低体积分数的氢气进行灵敏探测,提高氢气生产、使用、运输、存储的安全性,通过热蒸发SnO2和活性炭的混合粉末的自组装方式直接在Cr-Au梳状交叉电极上制备了一层SnO2纳米线气敏层,构成了SnO2纳米线气体传感器。经测试,发现此传感器对于体积分数范围为10×10-6~500×10-6的氢气具有良好的探测灵敏度。     

Challenges and Opportunities of Implantable Neural Interfaces: From Material,Electrochemical and Biological Perspectives

The desirable implantable neural interfaces can accurately record bioelectrical signals from neurons and regulate neural activities with high spatial/time resolution, facilitating the understanding of neuronal functions and dynamics. However, the electrochemical performance (impedance, charge storage/injection capacity) is limited with the miniaturization and integration of neural electrodes. The “crosstalk” caused by the uneven distribution of elctric field leads to lower electrical stimulation/recording efficiency. The mismatch between stiff electrodes and soft tissues exacerbates the inflammatory responses, thus weakening the transmission of signals. Though remarkable breakthroughs have been made through the incorporation of optimizing electrode design and functionalized nanomaterials, the chronic stability, and long-term activity in vivo of the neural electrodes still need further development. In this review, the neural interface challenges mainly on electrochemistry and biology are discussed, followed by summarizing typical electrode optimization technologies and exploring recent advances in the application of nanomaterials, based on traditional metallic materials, emerging 2D materials, conducting polymer hydrogels, etc., for enhancing neural interfaces. The strategies for improving the durability including enhanced adhesion and minimized inflammatory response, are also summarized. The promising directions are finally presented to provide enlightenment for high-performance neural interfaces in future, which will promote profound progress in neuroscience research.     

Human‐Finger Electronics Based on Opposing Humidity‐Resistance Responses in Carbon Nanofilms

Carbon nanomaterials have excellent humidity sensing properties. Here, it is demonstrated that multiwalled carbon‐nanotube (MWCNT)‐ and reduced‐graphene‐oxide (rGO)‐based conductive films have opposite humidity/electrical resistance responses: MWCNTs increase their electrical resistance (positive response) and rGOs decrease their electrical resistance (negative response). The authors propose a new phenomenology that describes a “net”‐like model for MWCNT films and a “scale”‐like model for rGO films to explain these behaviors based on contributions from junction resistances (at interparticle junctions) and intrinsic resistances (of the particles). This phenomenology is accordingly validated via a series of experiments, which complement more classical models based on proton conductivity. To explore the practical applications of the converse humidity/resistance responses, a humidity‐insensitive MWCNT/rGO hybrid conductive films is developed, which has the potential to greatly improve the stability of carbon‐based electrical device to humidity. The authors further investigate the application of such films to human‐finger electronics by fabricating transparent flexible devices consisting of a polyethylene terephthalate substrate equipped with an MWCNT/rGO pattern for gesture recognition, and MWCNT/rGO/MWCNT or rGO/MWCNT/rGO patterns for 3D noncontact sensing, which will be complementary to existing 3D touch technology.     

Template-directed synthesis of nitrogen- and sulfur-codoped carbon nanowire aerogels with enhanced electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction

Heteroatom doping,precise composition control,and rational morphology design are efficient strategies for producing novel nanocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells.Herein,a cost-effective approach to synthesize nitrogen-and sulfur-codoped carbon nanowire aerogels using a hard templating method is proposed.The aerogels prepared using a combination of hydrothermal treatment and carbonization exhibit good catalytic activity for the ORR in alkaline solution.At the optimal annealing temperature and mass ratio between the nitrogen and sulfur precursors,the resultant aerogels show comparable electrocatalytic activity to that of a commercial Pt/C catalyst for the ORR.Importantly,the optimized catalyst shows much better long-term stability and satisfactory tolerance for the methanol crossover effect.These codoped aerogels are expected to have potential applications in fuel cells.     

Biofunctionalized upconverting CaF<Subscript>2</Subscript>:Yb,Tm nanoparticles for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida albicans</Emphasis> detection and imaging

Versatile optimization of the synthesis method and composition of Yb3+ and Tm3+ co-doped CaF2 nanoparticles as well as a novel biofunctionalization method were developed and evaluated.Through multistep synthesis,the luminescence intensity of the Tm3+ activator was enhanced by more than 10-fold compared to standard one-step synthesis.The proposed methods were used to homogenously distribute the doping ions within the nanoparticle's volume and thus reduce luminescence quenching.Optimization of dopant ions concentration led to the selection of the most efficient visible and near-infrared up-converting nanoparticles,which were CaF2 doped with 10％ Yb3+ 0.05％ Tm3+ and 20％ Yb3+ 0.5％ Tm3+,respectively.To illustrate the suitability of the synthesized nanoparticles as bio-labels,a dedicated biofunctionalization method was used,and the nanoparticles were applied for labeling and imaging of Candida albicans cells.This method shows great promise because of extremely low background and high specificity because of the presence of the attached molecules.     

Three‐Dimensional Printing of Multifunctional Nanocomposites: Manufacturing Techniques and Applications

The integration of nanotechnology into three‐dimensional printing (3DP) offers huge potential and opportunities for the manufacturing of 3D engineered materials exhibiting optimized properties and multifunctionality. The literature relating to different 3DP techniques used to fabricate 3D structures at the macro‐ and microscale made of nanocomposite materials is reviewed here. The current state‐of‐the‐art fabrication methods, their main characteristics (e.g., resolutions, advantages, limitations), the process parameters, and materials requirements are discussed. A comprehensive review is carried out on the use of metal‐ and carbon‐based nanomaterials incorporated into polymers or hydrogels for the manufacturing of 3D structures, mostly at the microscale, using different 3D‐printing techniques. Several methods, including but not limited to micro‐stereolithography, extrusion‐based direct‐write technologies, inkjet‐printing techniques, and popular powder‐bed technology, are discussed. Various examples of 3D nanocomposite macro‐ and microstructures manufactured using different 3D‐printing technologies for a wide range of domains such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), lab‐on‐a‐chip, microfluidics, engineered materials and composites, microelectronics, tissue engineering, and biosystems are reviewed. Parallel advances on materials and techniques are still required in order to employ the full potential of 3D printing of multifunctional nanocomposites.     

功能型聚丙烯酸酯/无机纳米复合皮革涂饰剂的研究进展

随着现代技术的飞速发展以及高新技术向皮革产业的渗透,传统的聚丙烯酸酯涂饰剂不足以满足功能化的需求。而聚丙烯酸酯/无机纳米复合皮革涂饰剂具有卫生、耐黄变、抗菌、防水、抗紫外等一系列优异性能,成为当前的研究热点。基于当今产业背景下的发展需求,综述了聚丙烯酸酯/无机纳米复合皮革涂饰剂的制备方法和性能特点,并对其发展前景进行了展望。     

改性碳纳米材料在低温燃料电池中的应用

碳纳米材料(如炭黑、介孔碳、碳纳米管、石墨烯、碳纳米纤维、碳纳米角等)因其优异的电学性能和结构特性(良好的导电性能和超大的比表面积),被研究者广泛用作低温燃料电池贵金属催化剂的载体。然而,作为催化剂载体的这类碳纳米材料通常都存在电化学腐蚀的问题,碳载体的腐蚀通常会导致贵金属纳米催化剂的聚集,这将使催化剂的性能降低。为了改善碳载体的抗腐蚀性能,提高金属纳米粒子的活性和稳定性,许多研究工作致力于制备特殊结构的碳纳米材料,或对碳纳米材料进行表面修饰、掺杂等。与此同时,为了取代价格昂贵的贵金属催化剂,非贵金属催化剂的研究也成为一大热点,掺杂碳纳米材料就是研究热点之一。对近几年来围绕碳纳米材料制备、改性,以及这些改性碳纳米材料作为金属纳米粒子载体等的研究工作做了较为详细的综述,同时介绍了掺杂碳纳米材料作为氧还原催化剂的研究进展。