Wearable Sensor Based on a Tough Conductive Gel for Real-Time and Remote Human Motion Monitoring.

The usage of a conductive hydrogel in wearable sensors has been thoroughly researched recently. Nonetheless, hydrogel-based sensors cannot simultaneously have excellent mechanical property, high sensitivity, comfortable wearability, and rapid self-healing performance, which result in poor durability and reusability. Herein, a robust conductive hydrogel derived from one-pot polymerization and subsequent solvent replacement is developed as a wearable sensor.

Application of Self-Assembled Polyarylether Substrate in Flexible Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

The structure used in this study is as follows: substrate/PMMA/ZnS/Ag/MoO3/NPB/Alq3/LiF/Al. Here, PMMA serves as the surface flattening layer, ZnS/Ag/MoO3 as the anode, NPB as the hole injection layer, Alq3 as the emitting layer, LiF as the electron injection layer, and aluminum as the cathode. The properties of the devices with different substrates were investigated using P4 and glass, developed in the laboratory, as well as commercially available PET.

Efficiency Analysis of Fuel Cell Components with Ionic Poly-Arylether Composite Membrane.

We use polyethylene glycol as an additive to explore how the hydrogen bonding of this additive changes the properties of SA8 blended sulfonated polyetheretherketone (SPEEK) composite films. We mixed a 5%wt polyethylene glycol solution into a 12.5%wt SA8 solution, and then prepared a film with a total weight of 40 g at a ratio of 1:99.

Electric Field-Assisted Filling of Sulfonated Polymers in ePTFE Backing Material for Fuel Cell.

This study fabricated a composite ePTFE-backed proton-exchange membrane by filling the pores on the ePTFE backing with sulfonated polyarylene ethers through an externally supplied electric field. The morphology changes were observed under an SEM. The results suggested that the application of an electric field had led to the effective filling of pores by polymers.

Ionomer Membranes Produced from Hexaarylbenzene-Based Partially Fluorinated Poly(arylene ether) Blends for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells.

In this study, a series of high molecular weight ionomers of hexaarylbenzene- and fluorene-based poly(arylene ether)s were synthesized conveniently through condensation and post-sulfonation modification. The use a of blending method might increase the stacking density of chains and affect the formation both of interchain and intrachain proton transfer clusters. Multiscale phase separation caused by the dissolution and compatibility differences of blend ionomer in high-boiling-point solvents was examined through analysis and simulations.

Fe, N-Doped Metal Organic Framework Prepared by the Calcination of Iron Chelated Polyimines as the Cathode-Catalyst of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells.

Aromatic polyimine (PIM) was prepared through condensation polymerization between p-phenylene diamine and terephthalaldehyde via Schiff reactions. PIM can be physically crosslinked with ferrous ions into gel. The gel-composites, calcined at two consecutive stages, with temperatures ranging from 600 to 1000 °C, became Fe- and N-doped carbonaceous organic frameworks (FeNC), which demonstrated both graphene- and carbon nanotube-like morphologies and behaved as an electron-conducting medium.

Superparamagnetic, High Magnetic α-Fe & α″-FeN Mixture Prepared from Inverse Suspension-Polymerized FeO@polyaniline Composite.

Oleic acid (OA)-modified FeO nanoparticles were successfully covered with polyanilines (PANIs) via inverse suspension polymerization in accordance with SEM and TEM micrographs. The obtained nanoparticles were able to develop into a ferrite (α-Fe) and α″-FeN mixture with a superparamagnetic property and high saturated magnetization (SM) of 245 emu g at 950 °C calcination under the protection of carbonization materials (calcined PANI) and other iron-compounds (α″-FeN). The SM of the calcined iron-composites slightly decreases to 232 emu g after staying in the open air for 3 months.

Calcined Co(II)-Triethylenetetramine, Co(II)- Polyaniline-Thiourea as the Cathode Catalyst of Proton Exchanged Membrane Fuel Cell.

Triethylenetetramine (TETA) and thiourea complexed Cobalt(II) (Co(II)) ions are used as cathode catalysts for proton exchanged membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) under the protection of polyaniline (PANI) which can become a conducting medium after calcination. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra clearly reveal the presence of typical carbon nitride and sulfide bonds of the calcined Nitrogen (N)- or Sulfur (S)-doped co-catalysts. Clear (002) and (100) planes of carbon-related X-ray diffraction patterns are found for co-catalysts after calcination, related to the formation of a conducting medium after the calcination of PANI.

Melting and Recrystallization of Copper Nanoparticles Prepared by Microwave-Assisted Reduction in the Presence of Triethylenetetramine.

The small sized copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs), prepared in the presence of triethylene tetramine (TETA) and assisted with microwave irradiation, have an extremely low melting temperature. Melting of the small sizezd Cu-NPs can be triggered by the heat generated from the e-beam irradiation during SEM and TEM image construction. The dispersed Cu atoms around the agglomerated big Cu particles can undergo recrystallization immediately due to the strong driving force of the huge temperature difference to normal melting temperature (T = 1085 °C).

Polyaniline Based Pt-Electrocatalyst for a Proton Exchanged Membrane Fuel Cell.

Calcination reduction reaction is used to prepare Pt/EB (emeraldine base)-XC72 (Vulcan carbon black) composites as the cathode material of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The EB-XC72 core-shell composite obtained from directly polymerizing aniline on XC72 particles is able to chelate and capture the Pt-ions before calcination. X-ray diffraction spectra demonstrate Pt particles are successfully obtained on the EB-XC72 when the calcined temperature is higher than 600 °C.

FeNxC Based Catalysts Prepared by the Calcination of Iron-Ethylenediamine@Polyaniline as the Cathode-Catalyst of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell.

Calcinated tris(ethylenediamine)iron(III) chloride was used as a non-precious metal catalyst (NPMCs) for a proton exchanged membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) under the protection of polyaniline (PANI), which behaves as both nitrogen source and carbon supporter. The optimal ratio of FeCl/EDA was found to be close to 1/3 under the consideration of the electrocatalytic performance, such as better oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and higher power density. Two-stage calcination, one at 900 °C in N and the other at 800 °C in mixed gases of N and NH, result in an FeNxC catalyst (FeNC-900-800-A) with pretty high specific surface area of 1098 m·g covered with both micro- and mesopores.

Preparation of Pt-Catalyst by Poly(-phenylenediamine) Nanocomposites Assisted by Microwave Radiation for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell.

The Pt elements are prepared via the redox reaction with microwave (MW) irradiation in the presence of poly(p-phenylenediamine) (PpPD) which is polymerized on XC72 carbon matrix (PpPD/XC72), behaving as reducing agent. The free primary amines of PpPD are actually converted (oxidized) to secondary ones (5,10-dihydrophenazine) after MW irradiation. Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) micrographs reveal the prepared Pt nanoparticles are well-dispersed on the carbon matrix like commercial Pt-implanted carbon nanocomposite (Pt/C).

Epigenetics regulates gene expression patterns of skeletal muscle induced by physical exercise.

As it is well known, proper exercise benefits our mind and body, especially the skeletal muscle. Exercise increases the capacity of muscle metabolism, enhances the biological function of mitochondria, regulates the transformation of muscle fiber types and increases the muscle power. In recent years, more and more researches show that epigenetic regulation plays an important role in strengthening the muscle, and these studies mainly include DNA methylation, histone modification, and regulation of miRNA expression.

Measurement uncertainty assessment of magnesium trisilicate column for determination of Sudan colorants in food by HPLC using C8 column.

This study aimed to conduct measurement uncertainty assessment of a new method for determination of Sudan colorants (Sudan I, II, III and IV) in food by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Samples were extracted with organic solvents (hexane, 20% acetone) and first purified by magnesium trisilicate (2MgO·3SiO2). The Sudan colorants (Sudan I-IV) were also initially separated on C8 by gradient elution using acetonitrile and 0.

Design of multi-porous layer for dye-sensitized solar cells by doping with TiO2 nanoparticles.

We propose a multi-layer dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Conventional DSSC components use a singular TiO2 particle size and a mono-layer active layer, but we demonstrate a multi-layer and multi-scale TiO2 particle based DSSC. Doping with large TiO2 particles can produce light scattering inside the DSSC component.

Hierarchical structured TiO2 photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells.

A novel approach has been developed to fabricate hills-like hierarchical structured TiO2 photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The appropriately aggregated TiO2 clusters in the photoanode layer could cause stronger light scattering and higher dye loading that increases the efficiency of photovoltaic device. For detailed light-harvesting study, different molecular weights of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were used as binders for TiO2 nanoparticles (P-25 Degussa) aggregation.

A novel chromogenic peptide for prekallikrein/kallikrein determination.

Objective: To determine the Km, Vmax, and Ki of BOC-Leu-Ser-Thr-Arg-pNA (B3644) in the determination of kallikrein, and then to establish the procedure for plasma prekallikrein/kallikrein determination. Method Chromogenic substrate assays on a semi-auto spectrophotometer were employed.

Results: The apparent activities of seven substrates: B3644, S2238, S2251, ChromozymPCa, T6140, ChromozymPK, and T1637, for porcine kallikrein were 0.