Related papers: Sensing solvents with ultra-sensitive porous poly(…
We use coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulations to study the elastic properties of charged membranes in solutions of monovalent and pentavalent counterions. The simulation results of the two cases reveal trends opposite to each other. The…
Active systems contain self-propelled particles and can spontaneously self-organize into patterns making them attractive candidates for the self-assembly of smart soft materials. One key limitation of our present understanding of these…
We present a model treating the kinetics of adsorption of soluble surface-active molecules at the interface between an aqueous solution and another fluid phase. The model accounts for both the diffusive transport inside the solution and the…
A flow-through sensing platform based on open-ended porous silicon (PSi) microcavity membranes that are compatible with integration in on-chip sensor arrays is demonstrated. Due to the high aspect ratio of PSi nanopores, the performance of…
A new computational method is presented to resolve hydrodynamic interactions acting on solid particles immersed in incompressible host fluids. In this method, boundaries between solid particles and host fluids are replaced with a continuous…
Soft pair potentials predict a reentrant liquid phase for high concentrations, a behavior not observed experimentally. Here, very soft microgels confined at an oil-water interface are used as a model system of particles interacting via a…
Ultraviolet (UV) electro-optic modulation system based on graphene-plasmonic metamaterials nanomechanical system (NEMS) with superlubricity is investigated. Due to the strong optical absorption intensity of graphene in the UV region and the…
Sympathetic cooling with ultracold atoms and atomic ions enables ultralow temperatures in systems where direct laser or evaporative cooling is not possible. It has so far been limited to the cooling of other microscopic particles, with…
Selecting appropriate sensors and actuators is a pivotal aspect of design and engineering, particularly in projects involving interactive systems. This article introduces the Design Thinking Based Iterative Sensor and Actuator Selection…
An analytical method of studying strong long-range electron-phonon and Coulomb interactions in complex lattices is presented. The method is applied to a perovskite layer with anisotropic coupling of holes to the vibrations of apical atoms.…
Inspired by the cellular design of plant tissue, we present a new approach to make versatile, tough, highly water-swelling composites. We embed highly swelling hydrogel particles inside tough, water-permeable, elastomeric matrices. The…
A commercially available membrane filter paper composed of mixed cellulose esters bearing typically an interconnected pore structure was transformed into a stimuli-responsive bilayer actuator by depositing a thin film of poly(ionic…
Among smart materials, piezoelectric materials occupy a very prominent position for sensing and actuation functions. Combined with simple or more advanced shunts, they are also proposed in various vibration mitigation schemes. However, the…
Soft robotics has the potential to revolutionize robotic locomotion, in particular, soft robotic swimmers offer a minimally invasive and adaptive solution to explore and preserve our oceans. Unfortunately, current soft robotic swimmers are…
Additive manufacturing is enabling soft robots with increasingly complex geometries, creating a demand for sensing solutions that remain compatible with single-material, one-step fabrication. Optical soft sensors are attractive for…
Developments in touch-sensitive textiles have enabled many novel interactive techniques and applications. Our digitally-knitted capacitive active sensors can be manufactured at scale with little human intervention. Their sensitive areas are…
Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are promising candidates for replacing proton exchange membranes (PEMs) in electrochemical devices such as fuel cells, electrolyzers, batteries, and osmotic energy extraction systems. However, optimizing the…
We firstly demonstrate physically-prepared compliant PVA hydrogel electrodes as a promising supplement in dielectric elastomer actuators. They are capable of conducting high voltages over 5 kV without electrolysis by an electrical double…
In recent years, the interest in high intensity proton beams in excess of several milli-Amperes has risen. Potential applications are in neutrino physics, materials and energy research, and isotope production. Continuous wave proton beams…
Ion hydration and interfacial water play crucial roles in numerous phenomena ranging from biological to industrial systems. Although biologically relevant (and mostly smaller) ions have been studied extensively in this context, very little…