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In this study, a highly efficient and simple in situ one-step hydrothermal process is demonstrated to synthesize the yolk-shell polysiloxane@3D flower-like hollow Mg Al layered double hydroxides (LDH). The morphology analysis further confirmed its unique structure and the polysiloxane@3D flower-like hollow Mg Al LDH was 2–3 μm in diameter with 100 nm shell thickness. Moreover, solvent-free UV curing process was employed to prepare the optical diffusers based on the polysiloxane@3D flower-like hollow Mg Al LDH and the optical properties of the diffusers were investigated in detail. Interestingly, suitable light transmittance, good diffusion capacity, and low incident angle dependence can be achieved by the as-prepared films. Especially, when the concentration of the fillers was up to 15 wt%, the optical diffusers possessed superior diffusing properties. Therefore, this study may help to open up a new door in developing light scattering materials for the high-performance optical diffusers.

A series of fluorine-silicon block urethane acrylates (PSi-FMPG-IPDI-HEMA) were synthesized from hydroxypropyl-terminated polysiloxane (PSi), newly-prepared fluorodiol (FMPG), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Their molecular structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and gel permeation chromatography. The compatibility of the oligomers with HFMA was validated using UV–vis transmittance analysis. The thermal stability, water and chemical resistance, contact angles and anti-adhesive performance of the films were measured. It was found all the films had good thermal properties, and excellent water and chemical resistance. The FMPG content affected the surface energy and anti-adhesive performance of the films. The films with more FMPG presented lower surface energy, lower peel strength, and higher residual adhesion. More importantly, the release films designed based on the fluorine-silicon block urethane acrylates had tremendous application potential.

Hollow microtubule structured nano-/micromaterials of hollow tubular g-C3N4 (TCN) enwrapped with nanosheets were fabricated by a three-step method. By calcining NiCo-layered-double-hydroxides/tubular-cyanuric acid-melamine (NiCo-LDH/TCM) precursor prepared through using 2-methylimidazole as precipitant and methanol as solvent, the as-prepared NiCo-alloy@tubular-g-C3N4 (NC@TCN) shown excellent microwave absorption in the frequency range of 2–18 GHz. The optimal reflection loss (RL) of −35.63 dB was observed at 5.00 GHz and an effective absorption bandwidth of 4.80 GHz at a matching layer thickness of 2.0 mm. Our results indicated that the deposition of NiCo-alloy nanoparticles on g-C3N4 microtubule was an efficient way to fabricate g-C3N4-based high-performance microwave absorbers.

Passively responsive thermochromic smart window, which can modulate indoor incident solar light automatically at relatively high outdoor temperature, is a practical energy-saving device for construction and automotive industries. In this paper, a thermochromic composite hydrogel film based on W-doped vanadium dioxide (W-VO2), poly N-isopropyl acrylamide (PNIPAM) and polyacrylamide (PAM) is presented and this hydrogel film was prepared between two quartz substrates to form the sandwich structured smart window. In this thermochromic system, 2 wt% monoclinic W-VO2 were dispersed in the hydrogel film with the thickness of 0.1 mm. The introduction of PAM changes the flow-state PNIPAM microgel to hydrogel, which dramatically improved the practicality of the PNIPAM-based smart window. When the outdoor temperature is higher than 40 °C, the solar modulation capacity of this passive smart window, with a high luminous transmittance of 72% at 25 °C, can reach 46.3%. The smart window possesses high solar modulation ability and more than 20% luminous transmittance even after 40 times high temperature durability tests.