Articles tagged with Polymer Engineering
Researchers at Aston University will explore gel electrolyte materials to improve lithium-ion batteries' safety and environmental sustainability. The project aims to replace harmful components with renewable ionogels, addressing the need for scalable methods of storing electrical energy.
A new method for phase-modulated stimulated Raman scattering tomography enables rapid, label-free 3D chemical imaging of live cells and tissues. This technique improves lateral resolution and imaging depth compared to conventional methods.
Researchers create a simple method to instantly bond layers made of the same or different types of hydrogels using a thin film of chitosan. The new approach has potential to broadly advance new biomaterials solutions for multiple unmet clinical needs, including regenerative medicine and surgical care.
Researchers developed a sustainable technique to 3D print multiple dynamic colors from a single ink using UV-assisted direct-ink-write printing. The new method produces structural colors in the visible wavelength spectrum, offering vibrant and potentially more sustainable alternatives.
A small, wearable ultrasound sticker can monitor organ stiffness and detect subtle changes that signal disease progression. The device has been shown to identify early signs of acute liver failure in rats and may one day help doctors diagnose internal organ failure more effectively.
A new nanocomposite porous antifouling coating has been developed, enabling higher numbers of biomarker-detecting probes and up to 17-fold higher sensitivities than previous best-in-class sensors. This breakthrough broadens the diagnostic horizon for multiplexed electrochemical sensors across multiple diseases.
Drexel University researchers develop a lightweight alternative to metal components in satellites by coating 3D-printed polymers with MXene, a conductive nanomaterial. The MXene-coated waveguides weigh up to eight times less than traditional aluminum ones and maintain nearly 95% transmission efficiency.
Researchers have developed a wearable patch that can detect and respond to human muscle signals, allowing people to control robotic exoskeletons more efficiently. The patch, called SNAP, uses microneedles to pick up tiny signals from muscles and sends them to outside equipment for processing.
The study proposes technical, legal, and economic interventions to transition the global plastics system to net zero emissions by 2050. The authors emphasize the need for concerted action across four target areas: smart materials design, waste management, recycling, and reducing future demand.
Researchers at Linköping University have developed a new, sustainable way to create conductive inks for use in organic electronics. The new process uses benign solvents like water and has been shown to improve material properties and device performance.
Amanda Marciel, assistant professor at Rice University, receives a $670,406 NSF CAREER Award to develop synthetic networks with gel-like softness and high elasticity. Her research aims to create new elastomers with controlled structure-function relationships.
Researchers at RIKEN successfully spin artificial spider silk that closely matches natural production, mimicking the complex molecular structure of silk. The eco-friendly innovation has potential benefits for environment and biomedical fields.
Researchers at the University of Michigan developed a metal-free magnetic gel that can power soft robots and guide medical capsules. The gel's strong, non-toxic magnetism enables flexible robotics applications, while its biodegradable properties make it suitable for medical operations.
Researchers at The University of Tokyo developed a bio-tagging method using dissolvable microneedle arrays for permanent animal identification. The approach, called 'MAPs,' uses customizable molds to tattoo unique identifiers into the skin, offering a safer and more humane alternative to traditional ear tags or RFID chips.
Scientists at the University of Illinois have created polymer networks with dynamic bonds that can selectively absorb specific frequencies of sound and vibrations. This innovative material has the potential to improve hearing protection for individuals exposed to loud noises, such as military personnel or helicopter pilots.
Rice University researchers have developed a new method for making covalent organic frameworks (COFs) that could revolutionize various fields such as energy applications, semiconductor devices, and drug delivery. The fast and low-cost approach uses vapor deposition to produce ordered 2D crystalline COFs.
Researchers developed a new approach to improve particle-reinforced rubber's fatigue threshold by increasing polymer chain length and entanglement density. This multiscale stress deconcentration method increases the material's resistance to crack growth under repeated stretching, reducing pollution from shed rubber particles.
Researchers from MIT have developed a new method to integrate fragile 2D materials into devices, opening the path to next-generation devices with unique optical and electronic properties. The technique relies on engineering surface forces available at the nanoscale, allowing for pristine interfaces.
Drexel University's 'BioFiber' technology uses living tissue systems to stabilize and heal damaged concrete. The system incorporates biomineralizing bacteria that can create a stone-like material to repair cracks in concrete, improving durability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A research team led by Michele Galizia aims to create polymer membranes that can efficiently separate gases, reducing energy consumption. The project has the potential to apply in various fields such as fossil fuels, healthcare, and the airline industry.
Researchers discover chemical injection strengthens sandy soil through increased cohesion and internal friction angle, with no long-term strength loss. The treatment also enhances water-sealing capacity, mitigating flood risks and improving infrastructure durability.
A new hydrogel drug delivery system has been developed that can transform daily injections of diabetes and weight control drugs into once every four months. The system has shown promising potential in laboratory tests and could improve management of Type 2 diabetes, patient drug compliance, and long-term health outcomes.
Researchers from ICIQ describe a circular process to recycle biobased polycarbonates, which can contribute to a more sustainable circular economy. The study uses a multi-task catalyst to promote depolymerization and repolymerization of the polymer.
Engineers at MIT have developed a new laser-based technique to probe metamaterial structures with ultrafast pulses, enabling the dynamic characterization of microscale metamaterials. The LIRAS system excites and measures vibrations in hundreds of miniature structures within minutes, accelerating the discovery of optimal materials for a...
Researchers have developed a new self-assembling nanosheet that can create functional and sustainable nanomaterials for various applications. The material is recyclable and can extend the shelf life of consumer products, enabling a sustainable manufacturing approach.
Researchers introduced a cost-effective solution to correct tilt and curvature errors in two-photon polymerization 3D printing. The method uses Fourier scatterometry, which offers lower uncertainties than traditional methods, resulting in improved image quality and precision.
A new polymer binder is introduced to address durability issues in dual-ion batteries. The binder features azide and acrylate groups, which enhance the structural integrity of graphite during charge and discharge cycles. Dual-ion batteries equipped with this binder demonstrate exceptional performance, even after 3,500 recharge cycles.
A team of researchers developed soft yet durable materials that glow in response to mechanical stress, using single-celled algae and a seaweed-based polymer. The materials demonstrate inherent simplicity, no electronics needed, and can be used as mechanical sensors or soft robotics, while also being resilient and self-sustaining.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed new polymer membranes that can improve distillation processes, reducing the global energy and water use. The DUCKY polymers use a novel combination of characteristics to selectively bind desirable molecules, making them a promising solution for industries.
Multistable mechanical metamaterials can switch between multiple stable configurations under external loading, making them reusable and efficient for quick action. Their unique properties make them promising for various engineering applications, including energy absorption, soft actuators/robots, and wave control.
Researchers introduce a game-changing technology that enables fabrication of high-resolution, transformable 3D structures at the micro/nanoscale using Two-photon polymerization-based (TTP-based) 4D printing. The technology has vast potential for applications in biomedicine, flexible electronics, soft robotics, and aerospace.
A University at Buffalo-led research team has created a new, sturdier membrane that can withstand harsh environments associated with industrial separation processes. The membrane, made from an inorganic material called carbon-doped metal oxide, is a potential alternative to energy-intensive processes like distillation and crystallization.
Researchers at Rice University developed a way to convert carbon dioxide into methane using copper-based catalysts. The method relies on electrolysis and involves modifying the distances between copper atoms in polymer templates, which improves the chemical conversion rate.
Researchers developed a novel solid-state mechanochemical reaction to synthesize FCMs from PTFE and graphite, producing materials with enhanced storage capacity and electrochemical stability. The new method bypasses toxic reagents and offers a safer alternative for practical applications.
Lehigh University researchers have discovered that applying magnetic forces to individual 'microroller' particles can spur collective motion, allowing the grains to flow uphill, up walls, and climb stairs. This counterintuitive phenomenon has potential applications in mixing, segregating materials, and microrobotics.
Researchers found that adding OEG-based side chains to polymer donors enhances the hydrophilicity of the material, improving interactions between the donor and small molecule acceptors. This leads to improved power conversion efficiency and device stability in non-halogenated processing solvents.
Scientists have engineered trees to be easier to disassemble into simpler building blocks using callose-enriched wood. This approach increases the efficiency of converting woody plant biomass to fuel and other useful products.
Researchers at Binghamton University have developed genetically engineered nanovesicles that can target cancer cells more effectively than traditional chemotherapy. These nanocarriers can deliver therapeutic agents directly to the interior of cancer cells, reducing harm to healthy cells and increasing treatment efficacy.
Researchers from Aarhus University have developed a simple chemistry method to recycle polyurethane foam from old mattresses, extracting its main components and reusing them as raw materials. The process has been repeated several times, replacing up to 64% of the mattress without impairing quality.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a system that uses fluid mechanics and chemo-mechanical processes to autonomously assemble hierarchical 3D structures. The system utilizes sticky bonds to drive self-organization, allowing for the construction of complex devices with minimal external intervention.
Researchers investigated the fatigue behavior of 2D hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs), discovering they can survive over one billion cycles, outperforming most polymers under similar loading conditions. The study provides insights into designing and engineering these materials for long-term mechanical durability.
Researchers at Nagoya University developed a method to process cholesteric liquid crystals into micrometer-sized spherical particles, creating a unique anti-counterfeiting QR code that can only be displayed under a specific circular polarizer. The use of chirality in these particles enables the creation of more secure codes with potent...
Researchers from Japan and Germany have created an eco-friendly light-emitting electrochemical cell using dendrimers combined with biomass-derived cellulose acetate as the electrolyte and a graphene electrode. The device has a long lifespan of over 1000 hours and is environmentally friendly.
Scientists at the University of Surrey have developed a new degradable adhesive that can dissolve adhesive residue left on recyclable materials, improving recycling processes and product quality. The additive, similar to commercial packaging tape, allows for faster label detachment and reduces environmental impact.
Researchers developed a soft robotic exoskeleton glove using AI to improve hand dexterity and classify song variations. The device provides real-time feedback and adjustments, making it easier for users to grasp correct movement techniques, with an accuracy of 97.13% in classifying correct and incorrect song versions.
Researchers discovered a way to strengthen polymers by introducing weaker bonds, increasing resistance to tearing up to tenfold. The approach doesn't alter other physical properties and can be used to improve the toughness of other materials like rubber.
MIT engineers have developed a new technology to probe the connections between the brain and gut, using fibers embedded with sensors and light sources. The researchers demonstrated that they can control neural circuits connecting the gut and brain in mice, inducing feelings of fullness or reward-seeking behavior.
Researchers at MIT have developed a superabsorbent material that can soak up record amounts of moisture from the air, even in dry conditions. The material is made by infusing hydrogel with lithium chloride and has shown to absorb and retain unprecedented amounts of water vapor.
Researchers at Waseda University have developed a novel, completely solid, rechargeable air battery that uses a benzoquinone-based negative electrode and solid Nafion polymer electrolyte. The battery exhibits high performance and close to maximum capacity, overcoming metal-based battery limitations and liquid electrolyte safety concerns.
The new Collaborative Research Center will explore opportunities of defect engineering in soft matter, aiming to develop a novel design concept. The researchers will focus on doping, connectivity, and topological defects, with the ultimate goal of combining them into one single system.
Researchers discovered a hydrogel material that maintains its ability to absorb moisture despite rising temperatures, contradicting intuition. The material, polyethylene glycol (PEG), doubles its water absorption between 25-50 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for passive cooling and water harvesting applications.
Scientists at the University of Chicago have created a new material that can bend in half or stretch to twice its original length while still emitting light. The stretchable OLED display has applications in wearable electronics, health sensors, and foldable computer screens.
A team at UC San Diego developed a biodegradable polymer system to treat rheumatoid arthritis by working with the immune system. The method uses encapsulated all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) that transforms disease-causing cells into regulatory T cells.
Researchers engineered a lightweight material by fine-tuning interlayer interactions in 2D polymers, retaining desirable mechanical properties even as a multilayer stack. The material's strong interlayer interaction is attributed to hydrogen bonding among special functional groups.
Researchers have developed a functional polymeric binder for stable, high-capacity anode material that can increase the current EV range at least 10-fold. The new polymer utilizes hydrogen bonding and Coulombic forces to control volumetric expansion, resulting in a thick high-capacity electrode and maximum energy density.
A new study suggests that acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), a leading phthalate alternative, can disrupt neuron-like cells and interfere with the growth and maintenance of neurons. The findings indicate that ATBC could harm brain development and health.
A bilayer, nonwoven PET microfiber/polyvinylidene fluoride nanofiber membrane acts as a separator for LIB systems and prevents short circuits. The substrate significantly improves the mechanical and thermal properties of solid polymer electrolytes, enabling cells to operate over 2000 hours.
Researchers at Pusan National University have developed a novel solvent-resistant hole injection layer material, enabling the creation of efficient solution-processed OLED devices. The material exhibits high mobility and excellent film-forming properties, leading to improved efficiency and lifetime compared to existing materials.
The new technique allows for the production of a dozen different soft polymer material morphologies, including ribbons, nanoscale sheets, rods, and branched particles. By precisely controlling three sets of parameters during manufacturing, researchers can fine-tune the morphology of polymeric materials at the micro- and nano-scale.
The team creates software and hardware for a 4D printer that can control shape-changing materials in response to external magnetic fields or mechanical deformation. This technology enables the design of soft robots, smart sensors, and substrates with self-healing capabilities.