Plasticized polyvinyl chloride: From material properties to flexible applications.

The development of electroactive polymers (EAPs) affords novel integrated actuation and sensing technologies for intelligent flexible systems, enabling them to achieve remarkable flexibility and intelligence. Among EAPs, plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel stands out as an ideal candidate for next-generation intelligent flexible applications due to its combination of exceptional actuation and sensing properties. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of recent advances in PVC gel actuators and sensors, including fabrication, properties, modeling, and applications.

Mn-doped CsPbCl perovskite quantum dots: A dual-function probe for copper detection and temperature sensing.

The low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of CsPbCl perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) poses a significant challenge to their application as ion detection probes. To address this issue, we enhanced the PLQY of CsPbCl PQDs through Mn doping. These enhanced PQDs were then employed as probes for the highly sensitive detection of Cu ions and temperature.

Densification and Surface Carbon Transformation of Diamond Powders under High Pressure and High Temperature.

A new type of poly-diamond plate without a catalyst was produced via the high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) compression of diamond powders. The densification of diamond powders and sp to sp carbon on the surface under HPHT compression was investigated through the characterization of the microstructure, Raman spectroscopy analysis and electrical resistance measurement. The densification and sp-sp transformation on the surface are mainly affected by the pressure, temperature and particle size.

A Hierarchical Framework for Quadruped Robots Gait Planning Based on DDPG.

In recent years, significant progress has been made in employing reinforcement learning for controlling legged robots. However, a major challenge arises with quadruped robots due to their continuous states and vast action space, making optimal control using simple reinforcement learning controllers particularly challenging. This paper introduces a hierarchical reinforcement learning framework based on the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) algorithm to achieve optimal motion control for quadruped robots.

Research on Walking Gait Planning and Simulation of a Novel Hybrid Biped Robot.

A kinematics analysis of a new hybrid mechanical leg suitable for bipedal robots was carried out and the gait of the robot walking on flat ground was planned. Firstly, the kinematics of the hybrid mechanical leg were analyzed and the applicable relevant models were established. Secondly, based on the preliminary motion requirements, the inverted pendulum model was used to divide the robot walking into three stages for gait planning: mid-step, start and stop.

Modeling of Fiber-Constrained Planar PVC Gel Actuators.

In recent years, plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) gel has attracted increasing attention in soft robotics. However, there is scarce research on the deformation mechanism and modeling of PVC gel actuators. In this study, to investigate the deformation mechanism of fiber-constrained planar PVC gel actuators, we propose a complex nonlinear model based on traditional thermodynamic electroactive polymer (EAP) multi-field coupling theory.

The Injected Foaming Study of Polypropylene/Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Composite with In Situ Fibrillation Reinforcement.

This paper explored the injection foaming process of in situ fibrillation reinforced polypropylene composites. Using polypropylene (PP) as the continuous phase, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as the dispersed phase, multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the conductive filler, and PP grafted with maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) as the compatibilizer, a MWCNTs/PP-g-MA masterbatch was prepared by using a solution blending method. Then, a lightweight, conductive PP/PTFE/MWCNTs composite foam was prepared by means of extruder granulation and supercritical nitrogen (ScN) injection foaming.

Changes and response mechanism of sugar and organic acids in fruits under water deficit stress.

The content and the ratio of soluble sugars and organic acids in fruits are significant indicators for fruit quality. They are affected by multiple environmental factors, in which water-deficient is the most concern. Previous studies found that the content of soluble sugars and organic acids in fruit displayed great differences under varied water stress.

A novel electroactive plasticized polymer actuator based on chlorinated polyvinyl chloride gel.

Plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) gel is a promising electroactive polymer material for soft actuators and sensors, and it has attracted extensive attention and interest in multi-disciplinary fields. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) has enhanced mechanical and chemical properties and shows a promising potential for fabricating gel materials for electroactive polymer gel actuators. Thus, we proposed a novel soft actuator based on CPVC gels.