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The majority of the cell wall of a plant is composed of cellulose. Cellulose is an outstanding abundant, fibrous, and water-insoluble polymer on earth. The excellent hierarchical structure and semicrystalline nature of plant cellulose permit the easy isolation of nanofibers and nanocrystals through mechanically and chemically applied top-down destruction strategies. The cellulose molecules in nanocomposites can be separated into types such as bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), crystalline nanocellulose (CNC), and cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), which are biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and possess remarkably improved properties compared to conventional materials. Generally, they are deliberated as second-generation renewable resources, which assist as a superior replacement for petroleum-based materials. Research studies on nanocellulose are extensively accelerating due to petroleum-based materials issues like CO2 emissions, plastic based-pollution, and the absence of renewable energy. Research studies regarding these materials are interestingly increasing due to their outstanding properties such as biocompatibility, renewability, higher mechanical and lower density values, while sustainable production still associated with various challenges. Here, we comprehensively review the recent developments in nanocellulose production structural dimensions, properties, and applications, dedicated to drug delivery system, food industry, piezoelectric sensors, actuators, energy generators biosensing and bioimaging electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flexible air electrode with high oxygen electrocatalytic performance and outstanding stability under various deformations plays a vital role in high‐performance flexible Zn‐air batteries (ZABs). Herein, a self‐supported Mo, N, and P co‐doped carbon cloth (CC) denoted as MoNP@CC with bark‐like surface structure is fabricated by a facile two‐step approach via a one‐pot method and pyrolysis. The surface of the electrode shows a nanoscale "rift valley" and uniformly distributed active sites. Taking advantage of the nano‐surface as well as transition metal and heteroatom doping, the self‐supported electrocatalysis air electrode exhibits considerable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance in terms of low overpotential (388 mV at 10 mA cm−2) for OER and a much positive potential (0.74 V) at 1.0 mA cm−2 for ORR. Furthermore, MoNP@CC is further used for the flexible ZAB to demonstrate its practical application. The MoNP@CC‐based ZAB displays a good cycling performance for 2800 min and an open‐circuit voltage of 1.44 V. This work provides a new approach to the construction of a high‐performance, self‐supported electrocatalysis electrode used for a flexible energy storage device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In nature, spider web is an interwoven network with high stability and elasticity from silk threads secreted by spider. Inspired by the structure of spider webs, light‐driven liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) active yarn is designed with super‐contractile and robust weavability. Herein, a novel biomimetic gold nanorods (AuNRs) @LCE yarn soft actuator with hierarchical structure is fabricated by a facile electrospinning and subsequent photocrosslinking strategies. Meanwhile, the inherent mechanism and actuation performances of the as‐prepared yarn actuator with interleaving network are systematically analyzed. Results demonstrate that thanks to the unique "like‐spider webs" structure between fibers, high molecular orientation within the LCE microfibers and good flexibility, they can generate super actuation strain (≈81%) and stable actuation performances. Importantly, benefit from the robust covalent bonding at the organic–inorganic interface, photopolymerizable AuNRs molecules are uniformly introduced into the polymer backbone of electrospun LCE yarn to achieve tailorable shape‐morphing under different light intensity stimulation. As a proof‐of‐concept illustration, light‐driven artificial muscles, micro swimmers, and hemostatic bandages are successfully constructed. The research disclosed herein can offer new insights into continuous production and development of LCE‐derived yarn actuator that are of paramount significance for many applications from smart fabrics to flexible wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-disinfecting materials that are both safe and scalable for production are increasingly in demand, particularly in healthcare settings where they can be used to combat hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Here, we employed the natural food colorant chlorophyllin (E140ii) as a photosensitizer to prepare photodynamic antimicrobial materials through both chemical conjugation and electrospinning, resulting in chlorophyllin-grafted cotton fabric (Chl-fabric) and chlorophyllin-embedded polyacrylonitrile nanofibers (Chl-NF), respectively. The materials were characterized by a number of physical methods, as was their ability to generate singlet oxygen upon visible light illumination. The best results with Chl-fabric yielded 99.998% inactivation of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium and 99.994% of methicillin-resistant S. aureus after 60 min visible light illumination (400–700 nm, 80 ± 5 mW/cm2), whereas Chl-NF inactivated both bacteria by 99.9999%. Feline calicivirus was also photodynamically susceptible, with 99.8% inactivation by both materials. Gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae was not initially susceptible to photodynamic inactivation by Chl-NF, however addition of the photothermal agent MoS2 fully inactivated (99.9999%) this pathogen under NIR illumination, indicative of synergistic photothermal and photodynamic activities. These findings suggest that chlorophyllin can be used in photodynamic antimicrobial materials against drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, and that its efficacy can be synergistically amplified in the presence of a photothermal agent against Gram-negative pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequent public health incidents have sounded the alarm for personal protection, and the massive consumption of petroleum-based personal protective equipment (PPE) has imposed a heavy burden on nature, making the development of efficient and environmentally friendly protective textiles imperative. Hence, with the principle of sustainability and continuous manufacture, a fully bio-based photodynamic nonwoven eco-textile was fabricated by marine renewable resource chitosan and agricultural waste silkworm excrement. Quaternized chitosan was firmly bonded to cotton fibers by the covalent cross-linking of citric acid, and silkworm excrement pigments were attached to the surface of cationic fibers by the plant dyeing method. Remarkably, photodynamic eco-textiles exhibited superior all-weather antimicrobial properties, eliminated 99.99% of MRSA within 15 min under simulated daylight conditions, killed 99% within 30 min under simulated cloudy conditions, and achieved 90% inhibition within 30 min under simulated office light conditions. Photodynamic eco-textiles featured outstanding anti-bacterial durability, maintaining more than 90% anti-bacterial efficiency after the daily simulation of light, washing, and abrasion. Moreover, photodynamic eco-textiles possessed superior wearing comfort, UV absorption (UPF > 40%), and biocompatibility. Photodynamic eco-textiles were in line with the concept of eco-friendly and sustainable development from the source to waste, especially the various post-processing solutions including soil degradation and reuse after disinfection, which were anticipated to be applied in the massive production of next-generation photodynamic textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylactic acid (PLA) fibre, as a renewable and biodegradable synthetic polymer, is attracting increasing attention in the field of textiles. However, there are still some problems associated with PLA fibre dyeing, with a traditional water bath using disperse dyes restricting its industrialisation. Waterless dyeing, as a green and environmentally friendly dyeing method for PLA fibre, is expected to replace the traditional water bath dyeing method. However, the disperse dyes suitable for PLA fibre are different from those that are suitable for traditional poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibre. In the current study, the waterless dyeability of PLA fibre using disperse dyes with different chemical structures, and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) as the media, was investigated. First, the optimal dyeing process conditions of dye concentration, dyeing temperature, dyeing time and liquor ratio for PLA waterless dyeing were determined. The results indicated that the most suitable dyeing process conditions were: a dye concentration of 5%, dyeing temperature and time of 120°C and 40 minutes, respectively, and a liquor ratio of 1:10. Next, PLA was dyed with 10 disperse dyes with different structures using the determined optimum dyeing process conditions to compare their dyeing properties. The results showed that there were obvious differences in the K/S values for PLA dyed with dyes of different structures. The K/S values for PLA dyed with monoazo structure dyes were significantly higher than those for anthraquinones and heterocyclic structure dyes. Disperse dyes with a monoazo structure are suitable for PLA waterless dyeing. This study provides a research basis to develop suitable dyes for waterless dyeing PLA using D5 as the media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study adopted a casting film-forming method to prepare composite films with degradable cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) as the reinforcing filler, and polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) as the matrix. The silanization modification of CNC (S1-CNC, S2-CNC, S3-CNC) was carried out by adding different mass of γ-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH-550), and the effect of adding different S-CNC on the properties of composites was studied. The experimental results show that, compared with the PVA film, the composite film with CNC and S-CNC has a rougher section and poorer light transmittance. The elongation at break of the S1-CNC/PVA film is the largest, which is 120.6%, which is 285% higher than that of the PVA film. The tensile strength of S1-CNC/PVA is the largest, which is 14.02 MPa, which is 21.6% higher than that of PVA film. The contact angles of PVA, CNC/PVA, and S1-CNC/PVA films were 51°, 27.5°, and 56°, respectively. It can be seen that CNC is hydrophilic, and silanization modification will reduce the hydrophilicity of CNC. The weight loss range of PVA film was different from that of CNC/PVA film and S1-CNC/PVA film, indicating that adding CNC or S1-CNC would improve the thermal stability of the composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building a stable and controllable interlayer structure is the key to improving the sodium storage cycling stability and rate performance of two‐dimensional anode materials. This study explored the rich functional groups in bacterial cellulose culture medium in the way of biological self‐assembly. Mo precursors were used to produce chemical bond in bacterial cellulose culture medium, and intercalation groups are introduced to achieve MoS2 localized nucleation and in situ localized construction of carbon intercalation stable interlaminar structure, thus improving ion transport dynamics and cycle stability. In order to avoid structural irreversibility of MoS2 at low potential, an extended voltage window of 1.5–4 V was selected for lithium/sodium intercalation testing. It was found that there was a significant improvement in sodium storage capacity and stability. During the electrochemical cycling process, in‐situ Raman testing revealed that the structure of MoS2 was completely reversible, and the intensity changes of MoS2 characteristic peaks showed in‐plane vibration without involving interlayer bonding fracture. Moreover, after the lithium sodium was removed from the intercalation C@MoS2 all structures have good retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zeolite‐based hemostatic agents are considered as an outstanding material to achieve rapid and definitive hemostasis in pre‐hospital management. However, developing a safer zeolitic hemostat that avoids the potential thrombotic risk caused by tiny zeolite residue in bleeding wounds remains a critical challenge. In this research, we employ an in situ biosynthesis process to fabricate a sandwich‐like structured bacterial cellulose/zeolite (BC/zeolite) hybrid hemostat. Zeolite particles were firmly bonded into the BC membranes with <1% leaching after 24 soaking. This hemostat displays effective hemostatic performance after calcium ion‐exchange process. The BC/zeolite‐Ca hemostat can significantly decrease in vitro blood clotting time from 7.5 ± 0.3 min to 2.2 ± 0.3 min. This work achieves a low‐cost, eco‐friendly, and low‐risk approach through in situ biosynthesis in the preparation of BC‐ and zeolite‐based hybrid for pre‐hospital hemostasis applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon neutrality is one of the most urgent global missions and has promoted the development of clean and renewable energy sources. Sustainable photovoltaic cells have become ideal candidates for green energy harvesting owing to their high power conversion efficiencies and low production costs, which can efficiently reduce the carbon emissions. In recent years, with the increasing advancements in wearable electronics, flexible photovoltaic textile devices have been regarded as the most promising energy resources for Internet of Things. Accordingly, herein, an up‐to‐date account of the recent advancements in modern textile‐based solar cells (i.e., organic, perovskite, and dye‐sensitized solar cells) based on both fibers and fabrics for highly effective harvesting of solar energy is provided, and their fundamental designs and optimization strategies are comprehensively reviewed. This review emphasizes the unique characteristics, underlying mechanisms and potential applications of textile‐based solar cells. Moreover, a modern perspective on both challenges and opportunities in the advancements of the interesting textile‐based solar cells embedded in wearable devices is elucidated. This review offers new insights into advanced energy technologies and smart wearable devices that would facilitate multidisciplinary integration of basic science, device engineering, industrial applications, and other scientific domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating zero‐energy‐input cooling technology into personal thermal management (PTM) systems is a promising solution for preventing heat‐related illnesses while reducing energy consumption. Although concepts for passive radiative cooling materials are proposed, achieving subambient cooling performance while providing good wearing comfort remains a challenge. Here, a moisture‐wicking nonwoven metafabric is reported that assembles radiative cooling and evaporative heat dissipation to achieve high‐performance thermal and moisture comfort management. This metafabric demonstrates excellent spectral‐selectivity (sunlight reflection of ≈92%, atmospheric window thermal emissivity of ≈97%) and Janus wettability through large‐scale electrospinning and hierarchical design, and also inherits superior elasticity, air/moisture permeability of nonwoven fabric. Subambient temperature drops of ≈6.5 °C (≈750 W m−2 solar intensity) for stand‐alone metafabric are observed. Thanks to the moisture‐wicking effect (water evaporation rate of 0.31 g h−1 and water transport index of 1220%) of metafabric that enables fast evaporation of sweat, a maximum generation of 1 mL h−1 of sweat can cool the skin, thus reducing the excessive sweating risk after intense exercise. Additionally, the cooling performance of metafabric can be regulated by applying various strains (0–100%). The cost‐efficiency and good wearability of metafabric provide an innovative way to sustainable energy, smart textiles, and thermal wet comfort applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylactic acid (PLA) fibre as a new generation of eco‐friendly polyester fibre is expected to substitute polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibre to be an important textile fibre raw material. However, there exist severe strength loss and light dyeing colour by the traditional water bath dyeing method, which seriously affect the promotion and application of PLA fibre in the textile fields. Therefore, it is necessary to study waterless dyeing method for PLA. Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) possesses excellent physical and chemical properties with the characteristics of odourless, non‐flammable, and stable to various chemicals, which has been studied to be used as a waterless dyeing medium for PET fabric. In this study, D5 was selected as the medium to study the waterless dyeing process and properties for PLA. The effects of disperse dye dosage, dyeing temperature, dyeing time and liquor ratio on the dyeing properties of PLA fabric were investigated. The results showed that the optimal dyeing process conditions were as follows: the dye dosage was 4%, dyeing temperature and time were 120°C and 40 min, respectively, and the liquor ratio was 1:10. Then PLA was dyed by three different colour disperse dyes using the optimal process which were compared with the traditional water bath. The results showed that the properties of dyed PLA fabrics with D5 could reach the dyeing effect of the traditional water bath method, while causing less influence on its mechanical property. Therefore, this research proved that D5 can be used as a dyeing medium for PLA fabric to substitute the traditional water bath dyeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-based strain sensors have become a vital part for wearable electronics owing to their lightweight, flexibility, and easy processing. A poly-(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS)/MXene composite and coaxial fiber-based strain sensors were produced through a continuous, facile, and scalable wet-spinning approach, which exhibited both high stretchability and sensitivity. Electromechanical properties displayed that SBS/MXene composite fibers showed extremely high sensitivity (1.63 × 104), low strain detection (0.5%), and outstanding durability and reliability, which laid a foundation for detecting human motion including subtle activities, such as breathing and wrist pulse, and large-scale activities, such as bending of limb joints. The strain-sensing performance was further investigated by SBS/MXene coaxial fibers with SBS/MXene as sheath and SBS as core, presenting high sensitivity (4.69 × 103) and repeatability. SBS/MXene composite and coaxial fiber sensors demonstrated the potential application in wearable electronics with human motion detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic protective fabrics with fine wearability and great protective properties are highly desirable for aerospace, national defense, and wearable protective applications. The study of the controllable preparation method of Nd3+ doped in Fe3O4 nanoparticles with supposed magnetic properties remains a challenge. The characterization of the microstructure, elemental composition, and magnetic properties of NdFe2O4 nanoparticles was verified. Then, the surface of NdFe2O4 was treated with glyceric acid to provide sufficient –OH. Subsequently, the connection of the nanoparticle by the succinimide group was studied and then grafted onto cotton fabrics as its bridging effect. The optimal loading rate of the functional fabrics with nanoparticles of an average size of 230 nm was 1.37% after a 25% alkali pretreatment. The color fatness to rubbing results showed better stability after washing and drying. The corresponding hysteresis loop indicated that the functional fabrics exhibited typical magnetism behavior with a closed "S" shape and a magnetic saturation value of 17.61 emu.g−1 with a particle size of 230 nm. However, the magnetic saturation value of the cotton fabric of 90 nm was just 4.89 emu.g−1, exhibiting controllable preparation for the aimed electromagnetic properties and great potential in radiation protective fields. The electrochemical properties of the functional fabrics exhibited extremely weak electrical conductivity caused by the movement of the magnetic dipole derived from the NdFe2O4 nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "shuttle effect" of polysulfides hampers the commercialization of lithium–sulfur (Li‐S) batteries. Here, a thin molecular sieve film was decorated on the surface of an electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) membrane derived from recycled cigarette filters, where the truncated cone structure β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) was selected as the building block to physically block and chemically trap polysulfides while simultaneously dramatically speeding up ion transport. Furthermore, on the β‐CD free side of the separator facing the cathode, graphite carbon (C) was sputtered as an upper current collector, which barely increases the thickness. These benefits result in an initial discharge performance of 1378.24 mAh g−1 and long‐term cycling stability of 863.78 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 0.2 C for the battery with the β‐CD/CA/C separator, which is more than three times that of the PP separator after 500 cycles. Surprisingly, the funnel‐type channel of β‐CD generates a differential ionic fluid pressure on both sides, speeding up ion transport by up to 69%, and a 65.3% faster charging rate of 9484 mA g−1 was achieved. The "funnel effect" of a separator is regarded as a novel and high‐efficiency solution for fast charging of Li‐S and other lithium secondary batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction of molybdenum phosphides (MoP) that are connected to conductive composite materials has been demonstrated to be an effective strategy for improving the activity of MoP, and it is crucial for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, increasing the exposed active sites and simultaneously enhancing the synergistic effect between MoP and the conductive substrate is challenging. Herein, constructing a multi-hierarchical conducting connection based on carbon nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets was proposed. MoP nanoparticles were in situ grown in a carbon matrix to form flower-like MoP/C particles and were well scattered in stable lamellar rGO nanosheets. Benefiting from the conductive network and good dispersion of active sites, the resultant MoP/C-rGO hybrid exhibits efficient HER activity, with Tafel slopes of 69 mV dec−1 and 87 mV dec−1 under acidic and alkaline conditions. Significantly, even when applied as an anode for LIBs, it demonstrates excellent storage performance with a high specific capacity and long-term stability. It displays superior cycle performance of a reversible capacity of 624.6 mA h g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 after 500 cycles. This work provides insight into the construction of multi-hierarchical structures for efficient bifunctional nanostructural electrodes for energy conversion and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) based on solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs), although safe for high temperatures, are less capable of transferring ions at ambient temperatures, let alone at low temperatures. This work offers a simple and scalable technique to construct a nanofiber matrix composite electrolyte with boosting Na+ transport and interfacial compatibility for SIBs. Benefitting from the salt dissociation and selective cation conduction synergistic effect of the acylamino, carbonyl, and ester groups in the low‐cost copolymer synthesized from 2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl acetoacetate and N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide, a facilitating of Na+ transport at extreme temperatures is realized. Besides, flexible flame retardance ceramic SiO2 nanofibers greatly enhance high‐temperature safety. The ultrathin functional AlF3 layer generated by binder‐free magnetron sputtering suppresses the dendrites, eliminating the interfacial issues between the electrolyte and anode, which is proved by 5500 h of ultrasteady plating/stripping. Superior ionic conductivity of 0.153 mS cm−1 at −30 °C implies fast Na+ transport, which is further evidenced by molecular dynamics simulations. Rate performance at 0.05–10 C from −30 to 130 °C further demonstrates the excellent electrochemical performance of the electrolyte. This work provides encouraging guidance for high‐safety SSEs with rapid Na+ conduction for SIBs operating at extra‐wide temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germanium–polyamide 6 (Ge-PA6) fibers A, B and C containing germanium particles with sizes of D50 = 0.2, 2 and 7 μm were prepared using the melt spinning method. The effect of germanium particle size on the morphologies, mechanical properties, negative air ion (NAI) release and antimicrobial efficiencies of the two kinds of fibers were compared and analyzed. The NAI release and antimicrobial mechanisms of the Ge-PA6 fibers were also discussed. Results indicated that the germanium particles dispersed well inside the PA6 fiber substrate in the range of 1–3 wt%, and smaller particles help the fiber to obtain better diameter evenness and mechanical performance compared with larger ones. The stronger extranuclear electron activity and electrostatic voltage along the C -axis allow the fiber that contains smaller germanium particles to produce more NAIs compared to that containing larger particles. Some 780 and 1587 ions/m3 of NAIs could be produced by fiber A under the circumstance of 35°C and 40 N extrusion force when the germanium concentration was fixed at 3 wt%. The excellent NAI release property of the Ge-PA6 fiber endows it with inspiring antibacterial activity against S. aureus and C. albicans with a 12 h bacteriostasis rate of more than 90% at human body temperature. These results indicated Ge-PA6 fibers have great application potential in apparel and medical textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On‐skin electronic systems represent a burgeoning technology that develops wearable devices capable of adapting to the dynamic surfaces of the human body. Present film‐based electronics are constrained to single‐layered constructions on impermeable substrates that severely inhibit their wearing comfort and multi‐functionality. Herein, a thermal‐wet comfortable and antibacterial epidermal electrode is hierarchically designed on an ultra‐stretchable metafabric. Via the layer‐by‐layer assembly of trilayered elastomeric fibers with multi‐scale sizes and varied compositions, porosity and wettability asymmetries are established across the nonwoven fabric, rendering it with unidirectional liquid conduction and sweat self‐pumping performance. The successful printing of stretchable liquid‐metal (EGaIn) circuits on ZnO NPs anchored microfibers simultaneously equips the trilayered metafabric with robust antibacterial capability, low‐watt heating ability, and high‐fidelity detectability for surface electromyography signals of various physical activities. Moreover, the incorporation of thermochromic microcapsules in the outmost fibers also enables the fabric Joule heater with visual indicating ability via reversible color‐switching. Thus, this hierarchically engineered epidermal electrode with thermal‐wet comfort and antibacterial ability holds great promise in daily applicable healthcare and sports monitoring electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical excitation is widely acknowledged as one of the most effective means of balancing sensor responses and response/recovery properties at room temperature (RT, 25 °C). Moreover, noble metals have been proven to be suitable as photosensitizers for optical excitation. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) determines the liberalization of quasi-free electrons in noble metals under light irradiation, and numerous injected electrons in semiconductors will greatly promote the generation of chemisorbed oxygen, thus elevating the sensor response. In this study, pure SnO2 and Au/SnO2 nanowires (NWs) were successfully synthesized through the electrospinning method and validated using XRD, EDS, HRTEM, and XPS. Although a Schottky barrier led to a much higher initial resistance of the Au/SnO2 composite compared with pure SnO2 at RT in the dark, the photoinduced resistance of the Au/SnO2 composite became lower than that of pure SnO2 under UV irradiation with the same intensity, which confirmed the effect of LSPR. Furthermore, when used as sensing materials, a detailed comparison between the sensing properties of pure SnO2 and Au/SnO2 composite toward NO2 in the dark and under UV irradiation highlighted the crucial role of the LSPR effects. In particular, the response of Au/SnO2 NWs toward 5 ppm NO2 could reach 65 at RT under UV irradiation, and the response/recovery time was only 82/42 s, which far exceeded those under Au modification-only or optical excitation-only. Finally, the gas-sensing mechanism corresponding to the change in sensor performance in each case was systematically proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabric-based flexible sensors prepared from carbon materials as conductive media have promising prospects in human motion detection, gesture recognition, and telemedicine services. Their electro-mechanical properties are influenced by the microscopic nanostructure of the carbon material and the type of fabric substrate. However, choosing suitable carbon materials to fabricate strain sensors for joint movement monitoring has received little attention. In this work, we selected cotton knitted fabrics (CKF) with structures of plain, 1 × 1 rib and 2 × 2 rib as a flexible substrate and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), carboxylic multi-wall carbon nanotubes (c-MWCNTs), and carbon black (CB) as the conductive medium using a scalable impregnation method to prepare rGO/CKF, c-MWCNTs/CKF, and CB/CKF sensors respectively. The electro-mechanical characteristics of the three-carbon material decorated fabric sensors were investigated and compared. The different structures' knitted fabric sensors showed a bimodal curve under the stretch-release cycle at large elongation. The resistance models were developed to explain the bimodal phenomenon. Among three carbon materials, the fabric sensor made by graphene as a conductive material has the best electro-mechanical property. The rGO/CKF sensors showed highly stretchable and durable performance for joint activity monitoring, capable of being applied in smart clothes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oriented design and controllable preparation of sensing materials are extremely important and meaningful attributes that not only contribute to the realization of desirable gas-sensing properties but also facilitate the validation of the sensing mechanism. Because of the spatial effect derived from micelle assemblies formed by surfactant molecules under certain circumstances, radial growth of ZnO crystals is successfully suppressed in this work, which leads to the formation of ZnO nanowires with a larger aspect ratio. Furthermore, anionic surfactants of the same series but with longer carbon chains were utilized to create a greater spatial effect, which leads to more serious radial inhibition and, eventually, ever-increasing aspect ratios for the products. Except for a change in morphology, multiple characterization methods, such as XRD, FT-IR, and XPS, confirm the in situ doping/functionalization of surfactant molecules into ZnO crystals during the preparation process, which, on one hand, provide important evidence for the analysis of the product formation mechanism, and, on the other hand, serve as active sites for light-enhanced sensing. In subsequent gas-sensing tests, all surfactant–induced ZnO samples were applied as sensing materials to detect NO2 at room temperature (RT, 25 °C) in the dark, which show an increased response with increasing aspect ratio. In particular, at RT, the response toward 10 ppm NO2 of C16–ZnO with the highest aspect ratio reaches 271% in the dark, which is 24.64 times higher than that of pure ZnO without surfactant-assisted synthesis. Under UV irradiation, the response of C16–ZnO toward 10 ppm NO2 is further enhanced to 602% at RT, and this magnitude (2.22 times) of response improvement compared with that in the dark is maximal among all surfactant–induced ZnO samples. Moreover, the response/recovery time of C16–ZnO toward 10 ppm NO2 at RT is found to be drastically decreased from 393/953 s in the dark to 58/91 s under UV irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid‐state zinc‐air batteries (ZABs) are regarded as one of the most promising flexible energy storage systems for wearable electronic devices beyond lithium‐ion batteries. Unfortunately, continuous water loss of electrolyte and zinc electrode corrosion severely limit service life of ZABs. Herein, a "water‐in‐salt" (WIS) nonalkaline gel polymer electrolyte with a double network (polyacrylic acid and cellulose nanofibers) is prepared in one step via UV light‐initiated free radical polymerization. The WIS electrolyte is realized by coordination interactions between zinc trifluoromethylsulfonate and acetamide and exhibits extraordinary thermodynamic stability. Benefiting from strong interactions between water and other components, the electrolyte can capture water from ambient air and realize dynamic balance of adsorption and desorption. Therefore, flexible ZAB achieves an ultra‐long cycle time of 1300 h. In addition, the gel polymer electrolyte possesses excellent adhesion property and can be tightly bonded to the electrodes without fixation measures. The fabricated sandwich‐ and cable‐type batteries adapt to complex deformations without sacrificing electrochemical performance, which demonstrates enormous potential for practical wearable applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), as a green energy harvesting technology, has aroused tremendous interest across many fields, such as wearable electronics, implanted electronic devices, and human-machine interfaces. Fabric and fiber-structured materials are excellent candidates for TENG materials due to their inherent flexibility, low cost, and high wearing comfort. Consequently, it is crucial to combine TENG with fabric/fiber materials to simultaneously leverage their mechanical energy harvesting and wearability advantages. In this review, the structure and fundamentals of TENG are briefly explained, followed by the introduction of three distinct methods for preparing fabric/fiber structures: spinning and weaving, wet spinning, and electrospinning. In the meantime, their applications have been discussed, focusing primarily on energy harvesting and wearable self-powered sensors. Finally, we discussed the future and challenges of fabric and fiber-based TENGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid solution is a type of substance with rich physicochemical properties and significant internal adjustability. Thus, it has been widely used in various areas, including gas sensing. In this study, several In/Fe oxide solid solutions were successfully synthesized using the cospinning method and annealing process. Affirmatively, the solute In3+ substituted the original host Fe3+ in lattices of iron oxide, and vice versa. Thus, phases of α-(Fe1–xInx)2O3 and C-(Fe1–xInx)2O3 solid solutions appeared in sequence as the proportion of In3+ increased. When In3+ was introduced, composite nanowires (NWs) became porous, but when the amount of In3+ was increased, the gas permeability worsened. When the amount of In3+ became comparable to that of Fe3+ in the precursor, abundant amorphous regions emerged in the product due to the mutual interference between the respective crystallization courses of In3+ and Fe3+. Satisfactorily, the gas-sensing properties of as-synthesized samples maintained a close relationship with the composition and structure. For example, the product with the highest response and fastest response time toward the triethylamine detection had a 20.0 mol % ratio of In3+ in the precursor. However, despite having a higher initial resistance, the sensor response was reduced by overproportioned amorphous phases caused by excessive In3+ addition. Importantly, the response time of the optimal Fe1.6In0.4O3 NWs was only 4 s, and recovery speeds of Fe3+-containing samples maintained a positive correlation with the gas permeability of products. Band stuctures of samples were obtained to give a reasonable explanation on the gas-sensitivity improvement. This study will promote the application of solid solutions to a gas-sensing area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been much concern about germanium because of its special atomic nuclear structure to generate negative electrons and far-infrared ray. In this study, novel germanium-polyamide6 fibers were prepared by using micro–nano structured germanium particles as a functional component via melt spinning. The effects of germanium concentration on the morphology, mechanical, negative air ion-releasing, and far-infrared radiation properties of the germanium-polyamide6 fibers were systematically investigated. Besides, the antibacterial activity and mechanism of the fibers against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were also discussed. Even though the added germanium particles negatively affected the mechanical performance of the fiber, they were distributed well in the polyamide6 substrate when the concentration was increased from 2% to 6%. Increasing the temperature and pressure induced the germanium-polyamide6 fibers to produce more negative air ions and high far-infrared emissivity. The negative air ion-releasing property of the fiber led to antibacterial performance against S. aureus with more than 99% antibacterial rate. The results confirmed the great application potential of germanium in healthcare, medical, home, and apparel textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting magnetron sputtering continuous automatic production line equipment for industrial production, polyester fabrics as the substrates were coated with nano-Ag/TiO2 composite films prepared by direct current sputtering method and direct current/radio frequency reactive sputtering method, respectively. The microstructure of Ag/TiO2 composite films deposited on the surface of the fabrics was dense and uniform. Structural colors were generated on the surface of the fabrics coated with the composite films and the coloring mechanism was consistent with the single-layer film interference principle. The color fastness, mechanical properties, comfortable properties were not significantly changed and had better antistatic property, anti-ultraviolet property, and antibacterial property compared with the original polyester fabrics. Therefore, the multi-functional and structurally colored fabrics can be prepared by magnetron sputtering technology, and can achieve industrial production, and have wide application prospects in apparel, home textile, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The output performance of the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) greatly depends on the surface charge density. However, the surface charge dissipation and the electron transfer would result in a sharp decrease in the output performance. In this work, we proposed a functional multilayer negative structure of TENG, using polystyrene interface material to provide high electron trapping holes and conductive carbon black doped polystyrene to accelerate charge transfer rate to improve the charge density further. It was indicated that the open-circuit voltage generated by the TENG with the polystyrene layer was 460% of that of the PVDF single-layer structure and was 694% enhanced by introducing conductive carbon black in the multilayer performance-enhanced TENG (PE-TENG). The peak output power was up to 52.3 μW in a contact area of 3 × 3 cm2. In short, it proves an effective way to improve the output performance of flexible triboelectric nanogenerators with comprehensive applications in wearable energy sources and human health monitoring sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial cellulose is a glucose biopolymer produced by microorganisms and widely used as a natural renewable and sustainable resource in the world. However, few bacterial cellulose-producing strains and low yield of cellulose greatly limited the development of bacterial cellulose. In this review, we summarized the 30 cellulose-producing bacteria reported so far, including the physiological functions and the metabolic synthesis mechanism of bacterial cellulose, and the involved three kinds of cellulose synthases (type I, type II, and type III), which are expected to provide a reference for the exploration of new cellulose-producing microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible physical sensors have attracted increasing attention due to their wide applications in human motion monitoring, human–machine interfaces, smart robots, and personalized medicine in recent years. As a natural biomass, bacterial cellulose (BC) plays an important role in the development of new generation sensors due to the low cost, renewability and biodegradability, 3D porous structure, mechanical flexibility, and robustness, which acts as a substrate, a reinforcing agent, and an active material in the forms of hydrogel, 3D aerogel, nanofiber dispersion, etc. Herein, three construction strategies of BC‐based functional sensing materials including in‐situ biosynthesized method, physical method, and chemical modification are briefly introduced. The focus then turns to the recent advances of functional BC for various sensing applications. Finally, an outlook of the future prospects for developing BC‐based functional sensing materials is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the influence of substrates on the structure and properties of deposited functional nanocomposite film, polyester fabrics with different structures were used as substrates, metal silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) were used as targets, and nanocomposite films were deposited by DC(direct current) and RF(radio frequency) co-sputtering. Surface morphology and structure of samples were analyzed, and anti-ultraviolet, electromagnetic shielding, and water repellency properties of samples were measured. The experimental results show that Ag/Cu nanocomposite film on the surface of the nonwoven fabric is uniform and continuous, the diameter of nanoparticles on the surface of woven fabric is small, and particle distribution on the surface of knitted fabric is continuous, with some island-like clusters. Cu (111), Cu (200), Ag (111) and Ag (200) diffraction peaks of nanocomposite film on the surface of the sample are not obvious due to low crystallinity. XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectrometer) image shows that nanoscale film is not oxidized but exists in elemental form. The anti-ultraviolet and anti-electromagnetic shielding properties of nanocomposite film with non-woven fabric as substrates are the highest, whereas the knitted fabric lowest. The contact angle results suggest that Ag/Cu nanocomposite film deposited on polyester fabrics provides excellent hydrophobicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the biosynthesis of microbial cellulose–electrospun nano-fibrous membrane hybrid nano-fabric via the use of a modified bioreactor. Microbial cellulose is known for its high liquid absorbency and hygienic nature. Electrospun nano-fibrous membranes, on the other hand, exhibit excessive surface hydrophobicity in typical conditions. As such, this research intends to improve the hydrophilic property of electrospun membranes through in situ self-assembly of microbial cellulose nano-fibrils on membrane's surface. Scanning electron microscopy showed successful growth of microbial cellulose nano-fibrils on the surface and within the structure of electrospun membranes which could possibly contribute toward improved tensile properties. Some functional properties of hybrid nano-fabric, including water absorbency, drying time, and amount of vertical wicking, were determined and compared with pure electrospun membrane samples. Results showed that water absorbency, wicking ability, and drying time increased, as a result of microbial cellulose reinforcement. The average increase in water absorption capability and water-holding time was 72.8 and 32.65%, respectively, whereas wicking ability increased up to 16.5%. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that microbial cellulose contribution has importance for hybrid nano-fabric in terms of key material characteristics that are appropriate for wound dressing and related applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the NiCo2O4 nanofibers derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are produced through electrospinning, in situ growth with following calcination. The electrode materials with various morphologies are developed by adjusting the in situ growth duration. The NiCo2O4-6 (NCO-6) nanofibers grown for 6 h exhibit large specific surface area (SSA, 151 m2 g−1) and massive pore structures. Upon applying as anode for LIBs, high discharge capacities of 1584 and 877 mAh g−1 are delivered in the first and 300th cycle at 0.3 A g−1. After cycling at different current densities ranging from 0.3 to 1.2 A g−1, the reversible capacity of 970 mAh g−1 is sustained once the current density is reversed to 0.3 A g−1. Such an excellent cycle and rate stability of the prepared NCO-6 electrode is attributed to its distinct structure which significantly reliefs the volume expansion and consequently improves lithium-ion intercalation/deintercalation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel, as a promising soft material, possesses many functional advantages such as stretchability, viscoelasticity, and biocompatibility. An advanced electronic platform for strain sensor is constructed by modifying hydrogels with various doping techniques. Herein, a novel flexible conductive hydrogel is synthesized by combination of bacterial cellulose/sodium alginate/polyacrylamide with the polyaniline (BSP‐PANI) through multiple intermolecular interactions. In the obtained BSP‐PANI hydrogel system, the incorporated BC serves the function of mechanically toughening and the formation of polyaniline conducting network endows the hydrogels electrical conductivity. The assembled hydrogel strain sensor can detect electrical response under different applied strains (1–200%) and monitor human motion in real time. Therefore, it is believed that the BSP‐PANI hydrogel prepared by the feasible synergetic strategy proposed in this work has greatly diversified application in smart epidermal sensors and artificial intelligence devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fatty acid ternary eutectics such as capric-lauric-myristic acid, capric-lauric-palmitic acid, capric-lauric-stearic acid, capric-myristic-palmitic acid, capric-myristic-stearic acid, and capric-palmitic-stearic acid and quaternary eutectics such as capric-lauric-myristic-palmitic acid, capric-lauric-myristic-stearic acid, capric-lauric-palmitic-stearic acid, capric-myristic-palmitic-stearic acid, and lauric-myristic-palmitic-stearic acid were selected as solid-liquid phase-change materials (PCMs). And then the innovative ternary eutectic/polystyrene (PS)/ternary eutectic and ternary eutectic/PS/quaternary eutectic form-stable phase-change composite fibrous membranes (PCCFMs) were directly prepared by the co-electrospinning method under the same spinning parameters. The as-prepared form-stable PCCFMs exhibited three-dimensional fibrous network structure with the average fiber diameter of about 410–780 nm according to the scanning electron microscopy images. The adhesion among nanofiber intersections was observed occasionally. The differential scanning calorimetry results showed that fatty acid eutectics have been successfully combined into the form-stable PCCFMs, and their melting peak temperatures mostly ranged from 15°C to 21°C with a temperature interval of 1°C. Moreover, the phase-change enthalpies reached about 40–61 kJ kg−1. It is concluded that these electrospun form-stable PCCFMs with appropriate phase-change temperatures could be considered as potential PCMs to be applied in thermo-regulating fibers and textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel high-performance polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based pre-oxidized fibers (i.e. OPFHA-MEA-L) with improved thermal stability and flame-retardant and mechanical properties were designed and made from the pristine PAN fibers through chemical pretreatment with hydroxylamine hydrochloride (HA) and monoethanolamine (MEA) aqueous solutions, then coated with chitosan (CS) and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) via layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly, and finally followed by stabilization in the air. The morphological structure, flammability, and thermal and mechanical properties of fabricated OPFs were systemically investigated. The results indicated that the PAN fibers after chemical pretreatment with HA and MEA had a large amount of hydrophilic groups. It would facilitate the increase of pre-oxidation degree for PAN fibers during stabilization and the deposition of positively and negatively charged CS-STPP flame-retardant coating. The fabricated OPFs (i.e. OPFHA-MEA-10) demonstrated superior comprehensive properties with charred residue of about 68.2%, breaking strength of about 295.1 N, breaking elongation of 12.6%, and limiting oxygen index value of about 41.5%, respectively, contributing to the improved thermal stability and flame-retardant and mechanical properties. It is envisioned that this innovative type of high-performance OPFs could be utilized for potential applications as flame retardant and in high temperature filtration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multifunctional electrospun polyurethane mat with unique multi‐dimensional conductive networks is fabricated with carbon nanotubes (CNT) and MXene weight ratio of 1:2 and twice Ag adsorption–reduction processes. 0D silver nanoparticles are designed to be loaded on 2D MXene sheets and combined with 1D CNT in ternary conductive networks. The obtained composite mats present outstanding strain sensitivity, wide strain sensing range, shorter response time, and long‐term stability and repeatability, precisely detecting large‐scale and subtle human motions. Triggered by the unique conductive networks, the mats also exhibit excellent Joule heating and electromagnetic interference shielding performance. The development of flexible, stretchable, and multifunctional mats is highly promising for smart wearable devices of integrated strain sensing, thermal management, and electromagnetic shielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design of experiments was adopted to evaluate the effect of selected test parameters on the viscoelastic behaviors of polyester tire cords through dynamic mechanical analysis systematically. Design of experiments results showed that temperature, static load, and dynamic amplitude had significant effects on the responses of complex modulus (E*) and Tan δ. Furthermore, temperature had significant interactions with static load and dynamic amplitude factors on the responses. None of the test parameters had any significant effect on the response of glass transition temperature (Tg). Below Tg, thermoplastic tire cords exhibited a high and constant dynamic modulus, whereas, beyond this point, the modulus decreased dramatically. The thermosetting tire cords exhibited a constant performance due to an ordered and tight molecular chain arrangement. The magnitude of Tan δ reached its peak value at Tg due to the increase in internal friction as a result of increasing temperature. The dynamic modulus increased and Tan δ decreased with the increasing static load as a result of restricting the mobility of chain segments. The reverse was true when the dynamic amplitude increased, most probably because of higher chain segment mobility and early stage of polymer chain slippage. Activation energy (Ea), derived from Arrhenius equation, can be used to predict its long-term performance. Tg shifted to a higher temperature as the frequency increased. In addition, by increasing the twist level of the polyester tire cord, the dynamic modulus decreased and Tan δ increased. Tg was evaluated as the upper limit working temperature, Tan δ was related to energy dissipation, and E* determined the overall performance of the tire cord. By displacing Tg to a higher temperature, reducing the magnitude of Tan δ and increasing the dynamic modulus are of great importance to a tire cord's performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyacrylonitrile-based pre-oxidized fibers with improved thermal stability, flame retardant, and mechanical properties were made from the pristine polyacrylonitrile fibers through chemical pretreatment followed by pre-oxidation in air. The morphological structure of the polyacrylonitrile-based pre-oxidized fibers was investigated by Fourier transfer infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer. The changes of characteristic functional groups and chemical compositions confirmed the successful modification of the polyacrylonitrile fibers during pre-treatment. The grooves and cracks on the surface of polyacrylonitrile-based pre-oxidized fibers were remarkably decreased in comparison with that of pristine polyacrylonitrile fibers. The evolution of crystalline structure of the polyacrylonitrile fibers proved the occurrence of cyclization reactions during pre-oxidation. Meanwhile, thermal stability, flame retardant, and mechanical properties of polyacrylonitrile-based pre-oxidized fibers were also investigated by thermogravimetric analyzer, oxygen index meter, micro combustion calorimeter, and single fiber tensile tester, respectively. The results demonstrated that the polyacrylonitrile-based pre-oxidized fibers initially pre-treated by hydroxylamine hydrochloride, followed by monoethanolamine, had a high limiting oxygen index of 40.1 and breaking strength of 2.03 cN/dtex. The peak of heat release rate and total heat release of polyacrylonitrile-based pre-oxidized fibers decreased significantly while its charred residues increased, contributing to the improved flame retardant property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem of antibacterial durability and fragrance durability of wool fabrics, the odor and antibacterial properties of wool fabric were further studied by means of dip rolling method. The results show that the best processing technology for wool fabric fragrance finishing by dip rolling method is as follow; microcapsule mass concentration is 80 g/L, adhesive mass concentration is 20 g/L, finishing temperature is 40 t, finishing time is 40 min, baking temperature is 140 . The optimal process of antibacterial finishing is as follow; the mass concentration of antibacterial agent is 80 g/L, the mass concentration of cross-linking agent is 60 g/L, the finishing time is 40 min, and the stretching temperature is 150 t. The wool fabric treated with fragrance has no obvious change within 30 days on standing, that means a good standing durability. However, the fragrance concentration tends to decrease after washing for 5 times. The antibacterial properties ol the antibacterial finishing wool fabric are 99% both to staphylococcus aureus and escherichia coli, and the antibacterial properties of the wool fabric still reach up to 99.99% and 98. 80% respectively after 20 times of washing. The wool fabric after finishing has good antibacterial and water-resistant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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As the recovery of patients with motor dysfunction can be a time‐consuming process, flexible wearable electronics with a large workable strain range and high sensitivity for detecting various human motions may be useful for real‐time monitoring and evaluation of treatment progress. In this study, cotton/spandex core‐spun yarns are chosen as weft yarns and interwoven with acrylic plied yarn to prepare an elastic fabric, which is sequentially coated with carboxylic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticle‐based conductive layers to finally obtain a high‐performance strain sensor (resistance = 60 Ω). The strain sensor displays high sensitivity (gauge factor = 1799) and a large detectable strain range (tolerable strain up to 100%). After 1000 stretching–releasing tests, the sensor still shows favorable electromechanical stability. It is confirmed that large‐scale human joint motions and subtle signals can be detected and identified based on relative resistance variations. In addition, the sensor shows a satisfactory photothermal effect (temperature rises from 18.6 to 35.8 °C within 2 min under IR light illumination) and good antibacterial efficiency (99.74% against Escherichia coli and 97.67% against Staphylococcus aureus). This strain sensor has great potential for future application as an auxiliary tool for evaluating motor recovery in patients with motor dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel solid bacterial cellulose/cotton fibers (BCF) composite with a sandwich-like structure as active and intelligent food packaging was formed in situ. BCF or bacterial cellulose (BC) films were vacuum dried and different concentrations of curcumin were absorbed in the films. Scanning electron microscopy showed cotton fibers were combined with BC, and formed a sandwich-like structure. The elongation at break, water solubility, swelling degree, thermal stability, UV barrier property and antioxidant property of films were increased with the cotton fibers in the films. For studying the interaction between solid support and curcumin, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy were conducted. Curcumin was successfully doped into solid support films. With the addition of curcumin, the water solubility, tensile strength and swelling degree of films decreased, while elongation at break, thermal stability and UV barrier property increased. When the concentration of curcumin was the same, BCF based films presented improved antioxidant property and more visible color changes than BC based films. The BCF-curcumin films exhibited a color change from bright yellow to brownness with pH variations ranging from 7 to 10. These results indicated that BCF-curcumin films have the ability to be utilized as an active and intelligent food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(lactic acid)/hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride-modified montmorillonite clay nanofiber membranes have been fabricated by the electrospinning technique. The nanofiber membranes were then characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy. Nanofiber membranes with different ratios of Poly(lactic acid) and hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride-modified montmorillonite have been spun by varying voltage supply during electrospinning. These parameters were found to have a substantial effect on the morphologies of these membranes. It was found that 8% (w/w) Poly(lactic acid)/hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride-modified montmorillonite concentration is an ideal condition to obtain thinner and uniform Poly(lactic acid) fibers. The results also suggested the coexistence of exfoliated hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride-modified montmorillonite layers over the studied hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride-modified montmorillonite contents. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy revealed that there might be possible interactions between the hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride-modified montmorillonite clay and Poly(lactic acid) matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper aims to evaluate the influence of atmospheric environment on the conductivity of nanoscale copper films sputtered on polyester substrates; process parameters of optimal conductivity were firstly analyzed by orthogonal test scheme design, and then the surface morphology, crystal structures and conductivity of samples were performed after samples were placed in the atmospheric conditions for some time according to the optimization of process parameters. Design/methodology/approach: Nanoscale copper films was prepared by RF (radio frequency) magnetron sputtering and low-temperature plasma technology with polyester fabrics as substrates and metal copper as targets under the conditions of low temperature and high vacuum. Findings: The experimental results showed that copper films were broken and the continuity of samples was destroyed after 60 days, while exposed in atmospheric environment for 90 days, cracks of copper films gradually expanded, there was no change in the atomic species for samples placed in the atmospheric conditions. However, the conductivity of the samples hardly had changed with the ambient temperature, humidity and degree of water washing, which is mainly decided by the internal structures of substrates. Originality/value: This paper has some theoretical and applicable value to the functional textile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+/SiO2-coated red-emitting coumarin color converter (SiO2@RECC)/polyamide 6 (PA6) luminous fibers with warm-toned luminescence color were prepared on the basis of the energy transfer and color conversion from SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ to RECC. The mass concentrations of RECC used in the fibers were adjusted to obtain different luminescence colors. Scanning electron microscopy images, photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra, RGB color coordinates, luminescence photos, and luminescence lifetimes were analyzed. Results demonstrated that the PL emission spectra of luminous fibers contain two emission peaks in the range of 475–700 nm. The increase in RECC concentration contributed to the gradual redshift of the second emission peak, and the ratio of the second emission maximum to the first emission maximum also increased gradually. The luminescence color of the fibers shifted gradually toward red in the dark. Moreover, the fibers showed light yellow, yellow, orange, and orange-reddish luminescence in the dark when the mass concentrations of RECC were fixed at 0.1%, 0.6%, 1.0%, and 1.4%, correspondingly. The luminescence lifetimes of the fibers can be sustained for at least 13,288 s. The prepared warm-toned SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+/SiO2@RECC/PA6 luminous fibers have considerable application prospects, given their excellent luminescence properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile strategy for synthesizing MnCo2O4/carbon (MCO/C) composite nanofibers is introduced in this work, in which MCO nanoparticles with an average size of about 40 nm are distributed uniformly in carbon nanofiber matrix by electrospinning and subsequent heat treatment. When adopted as anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), MCO/C exhibits better lithium storage capabilities in comparison with bare MCO. The initial discharge/charge capacity of MCO/C is up to 1484/1140 mAh g−1 and can maintain a stable capacity of 933 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 over 200 cycles. Meanwhile, a reversible capacity of 500 mAh g−1 can be retained even at a high current density of 2 A g−1 after 1000 long cycles. The superior electrochemical properties are mainly resulted from the conductive carbon matrix which can not only promote electron transfer but also act as a buffer to alleviate volume change of MCO during the lithiation/delithiation process. It is demonstrated that MCO/C nanofiber can be used as prospective anode materials for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]