Free‐Standing and Eco‐Friendly Polyaniline Thin Films for Multifunctional Sensing of Physical and Chemical Stimuli

Multifunctional flexible sensors that are sensitive to different physical and chemical stimuli but remain unaffected by any mechanical deformation and/or changes still present a challenge in the implementation of flexible devices in real‐world conditions. This challenge is greatly intensified by the need for an eco‐friendly fabrication technique suitable for mass production. A new eco‐friendly and scalable fabrication approach is reported for obtaining thin and transparent multifunctional sensors with regulated electrical conductivity and tunable band‐gap. A thin (≈190 nm thickness) freestanding sensing film with up to 4 inch diameter is demonstrated. Integration of the freestanding films with different substrates, such as polyethylene terephthalate substrates, silk textile, commercial polyethylene thin film, and human skin, is also described. These multifunctional sensors can detect and distinguish between different stimuli, including pressure, temperature, and volatile organic compounds. All the sensing properties explored are stable under different bending/strain states.     

The role of trust in government in crisis management: Fear of COVID-19 and compliance with social distancing

This study examines the mediating role of trust in government on the relationship between fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and compliance with social distancing. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 740 Jordanian citizens, and path analysis (SmartPLS 2.0) was conducted to analyze the data. Results show that fear of COVID-19 has a positive effect on both compliance with social distancing (t = 6.777, p = .000) and trust in government (t = 7.968, p = .000); trust in government has a positive effect on compliance with social distancing (t = 8.502, p = .000); and trust in government partially mediates the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and compliance with social distancing (Sobel test = 6.17, p = .000). The effect of fear of COVID-19 on compliance with social distancing, with trust in the government as a mediating variable, is greater than the direct effect without the mediating variable. Therefore, it is suggested that for social distancing measures imposed by the government on citizens to be effective, policymakers must work to enhance citizens' trust in the government and its measures aimed at curbing the outbreak of COVID-19. Limitations, implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed.