Publications by authors named "Meifang Zhu"

Neuromuscular abnormality is the leading cause of disability in adults. Understanding the complex interplay between muscle structure and function is crucial for effective treatment and rehabilitation. However, the substantial deformation of muscles during movement (up to 40%) poses challenges for accurate assessment.

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Functional fibrous membranes with high mechanical properties are intensively developed for different application fields. In this study, to enhance moisture and air permeability without compromising mechanical strength, a facile float-surface modification strategy is employed to fabricate Janus fibrous membranes with distinct hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity using the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fibrous membranes. By coating one side of the HDPE fibrous membranes with polydopamine (PDA) and a superhydrophilic polyelectrolyte, the obtained Janus HDPE fibrous membranes demonstrate an excellent water transmission rate (577.

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Moisture induced by wound exudate is crucial throughout the wound repair process. The dressing directly affects the absorption, permeation, and evaporation of the wound exudate. However, most dressings in clinical often result in excessive dryness or moisture of wound due to their monotonous structure and function, leading to ineffective thermodynamic control of evaporation enthalpy.

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Stretchable fibers with high conductivity are vital components for smart textiles and wearable electronics. However, embedding solid conductive materials in polymers significantly reduces conductive pathways when stretched, causing a sharp drop in conductivity. Here, a stretchable metastructured fiber with dynamic liquid metal-microfiber interlocking interface is reported to realize highly conductive yet ultrastable conductance.

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Betulin, a bioactive triterpenoid derived from Betulaceae bark with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, holds great potential as a therapeutic agent. In this work, cationic sulfonium-modified betulin derivatives were synthesized to enhance their antibacterial efficacy for wound healing application. Mono- and dual S-alkylated sulfonium derivatives significantly outperformed betulin in antibacterial activity against pathogens such as S.

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  • Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials are useful for applications in optical displays, information storage, and encryption, and can be induced by external mechanical forces in nonchiral systems.
  • This study demonstrates that mechanical twisting of a polymer matrix with embedded fluorescent molecules can create CPL by rearranging the molecular structure, revealing a mechanism of chiral transfer at the molecular level.
  • The research presents a method for easily producing CPL fibers with customizable colors and handedness by adjusting the twisting process, enhancing their potential use in secure, anti-counterfeit technologies through creative designs like embroidery.
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  • - The study investigates the challenges of interface stability in hybrid quasi-solid electrolytes (HQSE) due to complex interactions between inorganic solid electrolytes and liquid electrolytes, focusing on the ionic conductivity of the solid electrolyte's surface.
  • - A self-assembled monolayer using 4-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid (CBSA) is applied to the surface of LiLaZrTaO (LLZTO), resulting in improved interface stability and enhanced ionic conductivity and lithium transference in the HQSE.
  • - The enhanced performance of the modified HQSE is supported by experimental results showing no short-circuits after 1000 hours, with significant capacity retention in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells over
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  • * This study explores how adding propylene glycol methyl ether (PM) and zinc iodide (ZnI) to the electrolyte improves the battery's performance by enhancing redox reactions and electron transfer.
  • * The combined effect of PM and the iodine/redox mediator allows the Zn-S battery to achieve a remarkable capacity of 1456 mAh/g and an energy density of 471.8 Wh/kg at a current density of 0.2 A/g.
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  • Electrocorticography (ECoG) offers better signal resolution than traditional EEG but involves invasive electrodes that can harm brain tissue.* -
  • Innovative polymer electrodes improve ECoG signal acquisition by being both conductive and transparent, potentially ensuring better brain health while enhancing signal quality.* -
  • The review explores various sensitive and structural polymers in ECoG electrodes, their benefits, underlying mechanisms for improved performance, and future challenges in the field.*
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  • Electrothermal-driven polymer fiber-based artificial muscles are gaining attention for their affordability and high energy output but face limitations due to ineffective cooling methods, particularly for larger sizes.
  • In this study, a new fluidic pump was developed using carbon nanotube electrodes, significantly enhancing cooling efficiency and allowing for quicker actuation and increased power density.
  • The research also included integrating a sensing layer for better control of muscle actuation and showcased potential applications in advanced materials, flexible components, and bionic designs.
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Porphyrin derivatives serve as photocatalysts in reversible-deactivation radical polymerization and as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Herein, a triple function porphyrin, ZnTPPC6Br, was synthesized as a photocatalyst and initiator for photoATRP. Oxygen-tolerant photoATRP produced fructose-based star-shaped glycopolymers as targeted photosensitizers for PDT.

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  • - Aerogels are great for thermal clothing but face challenges with mechanical fragility and structural instability, which can limit their use.
  • - Researchers have found a solution by creating industrial-scale sea-island melt-spun ultrafine fibers that are assembled into durable aerogel felts using freeze-shaping technology.
  • - These new aerogels are not only strong and flexible but also self-cleaning, waterproof, and provide excellent thermal insulation, making them ideal for extreme environments and a viable alternative to traditional insulating clothing like down jackets.
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Herein, a bioinspired metal-organic framework (MOF) cocrystal produced from the co-assembly of a MOF [Ni(hexaiminobenzene), Ni(HIB)] and p-chloranils (CHLs) is reported. Because of the 2D conjugation nature and the formation of persistent anion radicals, this cocrystal shows an excellent photothermal property, and is further used as an absorber in solar-driven interfacial water evaporation. The solar-driven interfacial water evaporation rate (4.

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  • * Traditional methods to enhance filtration usually involve making materials thicker, which increases costs; however, a new approach uses dual-scale mullite nanofiber (MNF) films that combine thick and thin fibers.
  • * These MNF films can filter out 98.23% of particulate matter at low pressure drops and are also flexible and heat-resistant, making them ideal for high-temperature air filtration applications.
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The environmental problems caused by the abuse of antibiotics are raising serious attention, and the removal of antibiotics in wastewater is meaningful yet challenging. In this work, lignin-derived carbon fibers loaded layered double hydroxides (LDH@LCF) has been prepared for the removal of ofloxacin (OFX) from wastewater via photocatalysis, which exhibit a high degradation efficiency of 96 % under visible light and maintained 90 % after five reuses. The effects of Zn/Fe in the samples and other parameters affecting the photocatalytic efficiency of OFX have been systematically investigated.

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This study sheds light on the exploration of photoresponsive host-guest systems, highlighting the intricate interplay between confined spaces and photosensitive guest molecules. Conducting nonadiabatic molecular dynamics (NAMD) simulations based on electronic structure calculations for such large systems remains a formidable challenge. By leveraging machine learning (ML) as an accelerator for NAMD simulations, we analytically constructed excited-state potential energy surfaces along relevant collective variables to investigate photoisomerization processes efficiently.

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This paper summarizes the recent progress of diverse high-performance fibers in their properties, applications and the challenges.

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Uncontrollable side reactions at the metal interface have been identified as the root cause of the formation of a fragile solid electrolyte interphase, leading to irreversible sodium loss in sodium metal batteries. Here, we proposed an interface engineering strategy that employed a carboxyl functionalized cellulose separator to provide strong dipole moments and induce the cleavage of P-F bond to construct a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) rich in NaF. In addition, we employed nuclear magnetic resonance technology confirmed that the separator with strong dipole moments prevented the reduction of organic solvents by attracting electrons, thereby inhibiting the formation of organic oligomers.

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  • - Elastocaloric cooling is a solid-state technology aimed at enhancing cooling efficiency while reducing energy consumption, addressing global warming and energy shortages.
  • - A new heat pump design using fiber twisting and periodic non-linear stress improves cooling performance, achieving a high coefficient of performance (COP of 30.8) and low hysteresis work.
  • - This innovative design significantly extends the device's cycle life to 14,752 cycles and delivers effective cooling with a temperature span of 25.6 K and a specific cooling power of 1850 W/kg.
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  • * Hydrogel-based sensors show promise for motion detection, but current versions suffer from low strength and stability issues.
  • * A new high-strength fibrous sensor made from PVA and rGO demonstrates improved mechanical properties and real-time monitoring capabilities, enhancing its potential for medical applications.
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This work explores the pivotal breakthroughs and historical developments in fibers over the past century, while also identifying future research directions and emerging trends that promise to shape the future of this field.

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Quick-drying fabrics, renowned for their rapid sweat evaporation, have witnessed various applications in strenuous exercise. Profiled fiber textiles exhibit enhanced quick-drying performance, which is attributed to the excellent wicking effect within fibrous bundles, facilitating the rapid transport of sweat. However, the evaporation process is not solely influenced by macroscopic liquid transport but also by microscopic liquid spreading on the fibers where periodic liquid knots induced by spontaneous fluidic instability significantly reduce the evaporation area.

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Cephalopod skins evolve multiple functions in response to environmental adaptation, encompassing nonlinear mechanoreponse, damage tolerance property, and resistance to seawater. Despite tremendous progress in skin-mimicking materials, the integration of these desirable properties into a single material system remains an ongoing challenge. Here, drawing inspiration from the structure of reflectin proteins in cephalopod skins, a long-term anti-salt elastomer with skin-like nonlinear mechanical properties and extraordinary damage resistance properties is presented.

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