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1H spin–lattice relaxation experiments have been performed for ionic liquid–polymer gel membranes, including 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF4]) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP) with different proportions. The experiments have been performed in a broad range of resonance frequencies (from about 5 Hz to 40 MHz) vs temperature and complemented with analogous studies for [BMIM][BF4] in bulk as a reference. A model of the relaxation processes in the membranes has been proposed. The model includes two relaxation contributions. One of them corresponds to the concept of restricted, two-dimensional translation diffusion with a residence lifetime, while the second one has the form characteristic of polymers (mathematically similar to the limiting behavior of two-dimensional translation diffusion with a very long residence lifetime). The extensive dataset has been consistently interpreted in terms of the model, revealing two dynamical processes on the time scales of 10−7 s (for the second relaxation contribution) and 10−9 s (for the first one). The relationship of these relaxation contributions to the motion of the polymer or ionic liquid–polymer complexes and to the translation diffusion of BMIM cations in the matrix has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supramolecular polymer networks exhibit unique and tunable thermodynamic and dynamic properties that are attractive for a wide array of applications, such as adhesives, rheology modifiers, and compatibilizers. Coherent states (CS) field theories have emerged as a powerful approach for describing the possibly infinite reaction products that result from associating polymers. Up to this point, CS theories have focused on relatively simple polymer architectures. In this work, we develop an extension of the CS framework to study polymers with reversible bonds distributed along the polymer backbone, opening a broad array of new materials that can be studied with theoretical methods. We use this framework to discern the role of reactive site placement on sol–gel phase behavior, including the prediction of a microstructured gel phase that has not been reported for neutral polymer gels. Our results highlight the subtleties of thermodynamics in supramolecular polymers and the necessity for theories that capture them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental understanding of the relationship between ion transport and segmental dynamics of polymer chains in polymer electrolytes is crucial for achieving high ionic conductivity at room temperature for technological applications in supercapacitors, batteries, etc. In this work, the ion dynamics and relaxation have been studied for gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) containing P(VdF-HFP) as host polymer, adiponitrile as a plasticizer, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide as ionic liquid, and diphenylamine and copper iodide redox additives as fillers. The crystallization temperature of the ionic liquid and the melting temperature of the plasticizer play important roles in ion dynamics. The highest room-temperature ionic conductivity (3.3 × 10−3 S/cm) was obtained for the GPE filled with dual redox additives. The broadband ac conductivity spectra have been analyzed by using the Universal Power law model coupled with the Poisson–Nernst–Planck (PNP) model. The solid–solid phase transition of the ionic liquid affects the grain and grain boundary regions of the GPEs due to the presence of redox fillers. The temperature dependence of the dielectric spectra of the GPEs containing redox fillers confirms the phase transition at the crystallization temperature. The electric modulus and dielectric spectra have been analyzed by using the Havrilliak–Nigami, Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts, and derivative dielectric constant functions. The scaling of ac conductivity and modulus spectra confirms a common ion conduction and relaxation mechanism for the GPEs. The influence of dual redox additives is clearly observed in the values of ionic conductivity, ion diffusivity, and relaxation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, ionic microgels have garnered much attention due to their unique properties, especially their stimulus-sensitive swelling behavior. The tunable response of these soft, permeable, compressible, charged colloidal particles is increasingly attractive for applications in medicine and biotechnologies, such as controlled drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biosensing. The ability to model and predict variation of the osmotic pressure of a single microgel with respect to changes in particle properties and environmental conditions proves vital to such applications. In this work, we apply both nonlinear Poisson–Boltzmann theory and molecular dynamics simulation to ionic microgels (macroions) in the cell model to compute density profiles of microions (counterions, coions), single-microgel osmotic pressure, and equilibrium swelling ratios of spherical microgels whose fixed charge is confined to the macroion surface. The basis of our approach is an exact theorem that relates the electrostatic component of the osmotic pressure to the microion density profiles. Close agreement between theory and simulation serves as a consistency check to validate our approach. We predict that surface-charged microgels progressively deswell with increasing microgel concentration, starting well below close packing, and with increasing salt concentration, in qualitative agreement with experiments. Comparison with previous results for microgels with fixed charge uniformly distributed over their volume demonstrates that surface-charged microgels deswell more rapidly than volume-charged microgels. We conclude that swelling behavior of ionic microgels in solution is sensitive to the distribution of fixed charge within the polymer-network gel and strongly depends on bulk concentrations of both microgels and salt ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electric double layer (EDL) has a pivotal role in screening charges on surfaces as in supercapacitor electrodes or colloidal and polymer solutions. Its structure is determined by correlations between the finite-sized ionic charge carriers of the underlying electrolyte, and, this way, these correlations affect the properties of the EDL and of applications utilizing EDLs. We study the structure of EDLs within classical density functional theory (DFT) in order to uncover whether a structural transition in the first layer of the EDL that is driven by changes in the surface potential depends on specific particle interactions or has a general footing. This transition has been found in full-atom simulations. Thus far, investigating the in-plane structure of the EDL for the primitive model (PM) using DFT has proved a challenge. We show here that the use of an appropriate functional predicts the in-plane structure of EDLs in excellent agreement with molecular dynamics simulations. This provides the playground to investigate how the structure factor within a layer parallel to a charged surface changes as a function of both the applied surface potential and its separation from the surface. We discuss pitfalls in properly defining an in-plane structure factor and fully map out the structure of the EDL within the PM for a wide range of electrostatic electrode potentials. However, we do not find any signature of a structural crossover and conclude that the previously reported effect is not fundamental but rather occurs due to the specific force field of ions used in the simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Traditional kinesiology tape (KT) is an elastic fabric tape that clinicians and sports trainers widely use for managing ankle sprains. However, inadequate mechanical properties, adhesive strength, water resistance, and micro-damage generation could affect the longevity of the tape on the skin during physical activity and sweating. Therefore, autonomous room-temperature self-healing elastomers with robust mechanical properties and adequate adhesion to the skin are highly desirable to replace traditional KT. Ionic aggregates were introduced into the polymer matrix via electrostatic attraction between polymer colloid and polyelectrolyte to achieve such elastic tape. These ionic aggregates act as physical crosslink points to enhance mechanical properties and dissociate at room temperature to provide self-healing functions. The obtained elastic tape possesses a tensile strength of 3.7 MPa, elongation of 940 %, toughness of 16.6 MJ∙m−3, and self-healing efficiency of 90 % for 2 h at room temperature. It also exhibits adequate reversible adhesion on the skin via van der Waals force and electrostatic interaction in both dry and wet conditions. The new elastic tapes have great potential in biomedical engineering for preventing and rehabilitating ankle sprain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Electrostatic interactions between colloids are governed by the overlap of their electric double layers (EDLs) and the ionic screening of the structural charges distributed at their core surface and/or in their peripheral ion-permeable shell, relevant to soft particles like polymer colloids and microorganisms. Whereas ion size-mediated effects on the organization of isolated EDLs have been analysed, their contribution to the electrostatic energy of interacting soft particles has received less attention Herein, we elaborate a formalism to evaluate the electrostatic interaction energy profile between spherical core/shell particles, building upon a recent Poisson-Boltzmann theory corrected for the sizes of ions and particle structural charges, for ion correlations and dielectric decrement. Interaction energy is derived from pairwise disjoining pressure and exact Surface Element Integration method, beyond the Derjaguin approximation. The theory is sufficiently flexible to tackle homo- and hetero-interactions that involve weakly to highly charged hard, porous or core/shell nano- to micro-sized particles in asymmetric multivalent electrolytes. Results illustrate how ion steric effects, ion correlations and dielectric decrement impact the sign, magnitude and range of the interactions depending on the particle size, the Debye length, and the geometric and electrostatic properties of the particle core and shell components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conductive PEDOT hollow spheres fabricated by a template-assisted interfacial polymerization serve as promising spacers rendering the MXene film highly capacitive performances. [Display omitted] • The PEDOT HSs are successfully prepared by a template-assisted interfacial oxidation polymerization. • Incorporation of PEDOT HSs between MXene nanosheets yields highly flexible MP film. • The MP film exhibits a forty-folds enhancement in current response and nearly thickness-independent performances with film thickness varying from 10 to 40 μm. • The MP-based polymer-gel supercapacitor retains 90% capacitance and 100% Coulombic efficiency over the 5000 cycles, Sheets stacking of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene dramatically reduces the ion-accessible sites and brings a sluggish reaction kinetics. While introducing transitional metal oxides or polymers in the MXene films could partially alleviate such issue, their enhanced performances are realized at the expense of electrode conductivity or cycling stability. Herein, we report an alternative spacer of conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) hollow spheres (HSs) which are fabricated by a facile template-assisted interfacial polymerization. The Fe3+ ions electrostatically adsorbed on the –SO 3 H groups of the sulfonated polystyrene spheres (S-PS) initiate the polymerization of uniform PEDOT shell, yielding uniform PEDOT HSs after dissolving the S-PS core. Introducing these PEDOT HSs in the MXene film generates the highly flexible MXene-PEDOT (MP) films featuring hierarchically porous network and high conductivity (283 S cm−1). Consequently, specific capacitance of 218 F g−1 at 3 mV s–1, along with a forty-folds decrease in relaxation time constant (1.0 vs 39.8 s) has been achieved. Moreover, the MP film also exhibits nearly thickness-independent capacitive performances with film thickness in the range of 10–46 μm. A maximal energy density of 21.2 μWh cm−2 at 1015 μW cm−2 together with 92 % capacitance retention over 5000 cycles are achieved for the MP-based solid-state supercapacitor. The intrinsic high conductivity, excellent mechanical flexibility and good structure integrity are responsible for such outstanding electrochemical behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochromic devices (ECDs) have broad application prospects in smart windows, low-power displays, anti-glare rearview mirrors, and so on. The electrolyte layer is one of the crucial components of ECDs acting as an interface layer between two electrodes to provide ions transport. Conventional liquid electrolytes have disadvantages of easy leakage, low safety and complex encapsulation, while inorganic solid electrolytes (ISEs) have very poor room temperature conductivity. Polymer electrolytes are composites consisting of polymeric matrices, solvents, conductive salts and curing agents, including solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs), gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) and composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs). They are widely used in ECDs because of their excellent ionic conductivity, superior electrochemical stability, high transparency and simplicity of processing. This review provides a detailed discussion of the types, mechanisms, characteristics and preparation methods of polymer electrolytes for ECDs. The latest research progresses in the design and application of CPEs based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) are highlighted, and the potential applications of polymer electrolytes in the field of electrochromism are reviewed. Furthermore, the future development of polymer electrolytes in ECDs with stability, significant coloration efficiency and high ionic conductivity is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing of (quasi−) solid‐state (QSS) electrochemical energy storage devices (EES) highlights the significance of gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) design. Creating well‐bonded electrode‐GPEs interfaces in the electrode percolative network via printing leads to large‐scale production of customized EES with boosted electrochemical performance but has proven to be quite challenging. Herein, we report on a versatile, universal and scalable approach to engineer a controllable, seamless electrode‐GPEs interface via free radical polymerization (FRP) triggered by MXene at room temperature. Importantly, MXene reduces the dissociation enthalpy of persulfate initiators and significantly shortens the induction period accelerated by SO4−, enabling the completion of FRP within minutes. The as‐formed well‐bonded electrode‐GPEs interface homogenizes the electrical and concentration fields (i.e., Zn2+), therefore suppressing the dendrites formation, which translates to long‐term cycling (50,000 times), high energy density (105.5 Wh kg−1) and power density (9231 W kg−1) coupled with excellent stability upon deformation in the zinc‐ion hybrid capacitors (ZHCs). Moreover, the critical switch of the rheological behaviours of the polymer electrolyte (as aqueous inks in still state and become solids once triggered by MXene) perfectly ensures the direct all‐printing of electrodes and GPEs with well‐bonded interface in between, opening vast possibilities for all‐printed QSS EES beyond ZHCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer gels have been widely used in flexible electronics, soft machines and impact protection materials. Conventional gels usually suffer from the inherent conflict between stiffness and toughness, severely hampering their applications. This work proposes a facile yet versatile strategy to break through this trade-off via the synergistic effect of crystal-domain cross-linking and chelation cross-linking, without the need for specific structure design or adding other reinforcements. Both effects are proven to boost the mechanical performance of the originally weak gel, and result in a stiff and tough conductive gel, achieving significant enhancements in elastic modulus and toughness by up to 366-, and 104-folds, respectively. The resultant gel achieves coordinatively enhanced stiffness (110.26 MPa) and toughness (219.93 MJ m−3), reconciling the challenging trade-off between them. In addition, the presented strategy is found generalizable to a variety of metal ions and polymers, offering a promising way to expand the applicability of gels. Polymer gels have potential in both flexible electronics and impact protections materials, but the balance between stiffness and toughness can be hard to achieve. Here, the authors report a gel with high-density crystalline domains linked by soft chelation crosslinking domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid‐state lithium‐metal batteries (SSLMBs) have attracted great attention due to their outstanding advantages in safety, electrochemical stability and interfacial compatibility. However, the low ionic conductivity and narrow electrochemical window restrict their practical application. Herein, in‐situ polymerization electrolytes (IPEs) crosslinked by acrylonitrile (AN) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) exhibit the superior ionic conductivity of 1.77×10−3 S cm−1 at 25 °C, the ultrahigh lithium transference number (tLi+) of 0.784 and the wider electrochemical stable window (ESW) of 5.65 V. The IPEs make the symmetrical Li||Li cells achieve the highly stable lithium stripping/plating cycling for over 3000 h at 0.1 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, IPE endows the solid‐state LiFePO4||Li batteries with an excellent long‐cycle performance over 700 cycles at 2.5 C with a capacity retention ratio over 95 %, as well as 1000 cycles at 1 C and superior capacity retention of 85 %. More importantly, the in‐situ polymerized electrolytes containing polyacrylonitrile (PAN) open up a new frontier to promote the practical application of solid‐state batteries with high safety and high energy density via in‐situ solidification technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon‐based anodes are becoming promising materials due to their high specific capacity. However, the intrinsically large volume change brought about by the alloying reaction results in the crushing of the active particles and destruction of the electrode structure, which severely limits its practical application. Various structured and modified silica‐based anodes exhibit improved cycling stability and the demonstrated ability to mitigate their volume changes through interfacial and binder strategies. However, the issue of large volume changes in silicon‐based anodes remains. Herein, we report a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) prepared through an in situ thermal polymerization process that is suitable for SiOx anode materials and achieving long‐term cycling stability. GPE‐based cells essentially mitigate the volume change of SiOx anodes by guiding the unique lithiation/delithiation mechanism that tends to favor the formation and delithiation of amorphous‐LixSi (a‐LixSi) with smaller volume change, thereby mitigating electrode damage and cracking, and achieving the significant improvement in cycling performance. The prepared GPE‐SiOx cells retained 693.80 mAh g−1 reversible capacity after 450 cycles at 500 mA g−1. In addition, the prelithiation process was incorporated to mitigate capacity fluctuations and improve the Initial Coulombic Efficiency (ICE), and a reversible capacity of 641.90 mAh g−1 was retained after 480 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A poly(methylmethacrylate)-based Mg-ion conducting polymer gel electrolyte immobilizing a liquid electrolyte of magnesium perchlorate in tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME) solvent is presented. In order to enhance the electrolytic properties of the electrolyte, the impact of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles on the structural, thermal, and electrochemical properties has been investigated. The optimized composition of the polymer gel electrolyte (PMMA + TEGDME + MgClO4 + 2.5 wt% Al2O3) showed increased ionic conductivity of 4.94 × 10−5 S cm−1 with a significantly low activation energy of 0.18 eV. Ion dynamics in the polymer gel electrolyte have been quantitatively analyzed by investigating various frequency-dependent parameters such as the real and imaginary components of dielectric permittivity, loss tangent, and the modulus. The possible conformational changes in the electrolyte system on addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles have been investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). These studies have revealed CH3-Mg-Al2O3 interaction in the electrolyte with significantly affected crystallinity and sufficient gel phase range with variation in temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal batteries offer increased energy density compared to traditional lithium‐ion batteries. Commercial carbonate‐based electrolytes are incompatible with lithium metal anodes, while ether‐based electrolytes, though more suitable, tend to degrade under high potentials. Here, a fluorine‐free ether‐based gel polymer electrolyte (FEGPE) has been developed via incorporating lithium bis((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)azanide (LiTFSI) as lithium salt, 1,2‐dimethoxyethane (DME) and 1,3‐dioxolane (DOL) as solvents, and indium trifluoromethanesulphonate (In(OTF)3) as an initiator. DME is used to promote dissolution of the In(OTF)3 in DOL, along with enhanced ion transport of the FEGPE. Compared to traditional ether‐based liquid electrolytes, the FEGPE demonstrates significantly improved antioxidant decomposition ability at high potentials, stemming from intermolecular hydrogen bond formation and decreased lone‐pair electron activity of ether oxygen. Additionally, the FEGPE reduces the lithium deposition energy barrier and enables a stable electrolyte/electrode interface by forming Li‐In alloys and LiF components in solid electrolyte interphases. In turn, Li|FEGPE|LiFePO4 cells exhibit a high initial capacity of 151 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C, with an outstanding capacity retention of 97% over 300 cycles. For high‐voltage cathodes, Li|FEGPE|LiN0.8iCo0.1Mn0.1O2 cells deliver an initial capacity of 167 mAh g−1 at 1 C, achieving a capacity retention of 75% over 500 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structurally colored objects with 3D geometries are intriguing in optical devices and visual sensors, but their preparation is bottlenecked by complicated procedures and limited material choices. Herein, a facile supramolecular 3D printing strategy is proposed via direct ink writing (DIW) supramolecular colloidal inks (SCIs) consisting of polymers and colloids based on supramolecular interactions to construct healable and recyclable structurally colored objects. Optimized supramolecular interactions balance the rheological requirements for DIW and the high particle volume fraction for the one‐step and immediate generation of structural color. The shear‐thinning and thixotropy features of the SCIs, characterized by a two‐order‐of‐magnitude decrease in viscosity during the printing process and 50% storage modulus recovery thereafter, ensure the reversible solid–liquid transition during the extrusion and deposition process. The short‐range ordered arrangements of colloids within the matrix give rise to angle‐independent structural color. Moreover, 3D structurally colored objects from the SCIs are healable and, more importantly, can be closed‐looped recycled thanks to the reversibility of supramolecular interactions. Leveraging optimized supramolecular interactions, various SCIs with a wide range of material choices meeting the DIW process are extended to construct 3D structurally colored objects directly. This study paves the way for constructing advanced 3D materials with a supramolecular strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with conventional lithium‐ion battery systems, anion‐intercalation in graphite cathodes opens avenues for the development of batteries with groundbreaking power density. This study explores the enhancement of dual‐ion batteries (DIBs) by gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) enhanced with surface‐charged nanoclays, focusing on overcoming traditional challenges such as electrolyte decomposition, anion‐solvent co‐intercalation, and interfacial instability at the graphite cathode. Three nanoclays including montmorillonite, kaolinite, and halloysite are compared by incorporating them into GPE and evaluating their effect on the electrochemical properties, ion conduction, and mechanical integrity of DIBs. Particular attention is paid to the halloysite because of its differential internal and external surface charges, which generate charge separation, facilitate optimal lithium‐ion transport, and mitigate undesirable anion‐solvent interactions. These results indicate that halloysite‐incorporated GPE (HS‐G) significantly improves DIB performance, as demonstrated by extended cycle life, robust capacity retention at fast charge/discharge rates of 20 C, and operational stability over a wide temperature range (0–60 °C). These improvements are attributed to the unique structural advantages of HS‐G, including effective charge separation, enhanced anion diffusion, and reduced solvent co‐intercalation, which provide an environmentally friendly and cost‐effective approach to advanced DIB applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightly crosslinked polymeric gel‐supported catalysts have the potential to retain the recyclability and ease of product isolation of traditional polymer‐supported catalysts, while at the same time, they can provide greater homogeneity of catalytic sites and improved reaction rates, especially in the solvent‐swollen state. In the present study, a strategy is devised to covalently anchor a film of swellable crosslinked polymer onto a suitably surface‐derivatized glass vial, and have utilized this coating to bind to Cu, Pd, and Au catalysts; these coated vials are then utilized for azide‐alkyne click, Suzuki coupling and catalytic reduction reactions, respectively. In all cases, simply stirring the reactant mixture in the vial delivers high yields, and the vials can be rinsed and reused several times with little loss of activity. Several control experiments confirm that the catalysis largely occurred within the coated gel film and is not due to leached‐out metal in the reaction medium. Importantly, this strategy can be very useful, when adapted for critical labeling reactions of biomolecules, wherein reactions are often carried out on very small scales, and ease of product isolation with zero contamination is critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a polymer gel electrolyte based on polyacrylonitrile was synthesized with varying polymer-to-liquid-electrolyte ratios. DSSCs incorporating a 1:3 ratio showed optimum PV parameters. Choosing this proportion, the effect of incorporating the photoresponsive AZO dye into this polymer electrolyte was studied. When irradiated with a UV light of 365 nm, the AZO dye underwent photoisomerization, which allowed the gel electrolyte to absorb heat from the UV irradiation and increase its ionic conductivity. It was found that by the addition of azopyridine into the polymer electrolyte, there was an improvement in the photovoltaic parameters of cells. By increasing the dye content from 1% to 10% by weight in the electrolyte, an 11% growth in short current density was observed, resulting in about a 10% rise in cell efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have developed a Chitin(Ch)‐Poly(dioxanone)(PDO) gel system, which can be potentially used for tissue engineering. Hydrogel has been widely used in biomedical applications for its tuneable properties and biocompatibility. Chitin (Ch) is a natural biopolymer used for its ability to mimic the natural extracellular matrix due to its N‐acetyl glucosamine structural units. Poly (dioxanone) (PDO) is a FDA‐approved synthetic biopolymer known for its mechanical properties, good biocompatibility, and poor inflammatory response. Based on this, we have developed Ch‐PDO composite gel using simple regeneration chemistry and characterized it using FT‐IR and SEM. The developed composite gel showed improved gel strength, good swelling ability, and controlled degradation behaviour. It also showed good inject ability with shear thinning properties and hemocompatibility. Further, the biocompatibility and cell adhesion studies of the prepared gels were studied using dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs). The prepared Ch‐PDO gel was biocompatible and showed DFSCs cell attachment. Osteogenic mineralization, RUNX2 and OPN expression of the prepared Ch and Ch‐PDO gel was studied and Ch‐PDO gel showed an enhanced mineralization and RUNX2 and OPN expression showed enhanced osteogenic activity in Ch‐PDO. Therefore, the developed chitin‐PDO gel could be potentially used for bone tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The encapsulation of salt hydrate phase change materials (PCMs) in uniform microscale bodies has yet been reported in research due in part to the delicate relationship between thermal performance and water‐to‐salt ratios which are easily altered during manufacturing. Herein, core–shell composite fibers comprised of a salt hydrate PCM core and a poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) shell are wet spun in a continuous process using a syringe pump and coaxial die. The PCM phase comprises calcium chloride hexahydrate (CaCl2·6H2O) with strontium chloride hexahydrate (SrCl2·6H2O) (3 wt%) and fumed silica (SiO2) (2 wt%) as additive, acomposition that is prepared from homogenous melt at 40 °C. 15 wt% PAN in dimethylsulfoxide solvent is used to prepare the shell‐forming polymer gel. PCM and polymer gel injection rates of 10–40 mL h−1 are used tospin coaxial fibers through a coagulation bath, yielding continuous microtubules with diameters in the range of 850–1500 μm. Cyclic testing shows that after 1000 cycles, melting enthalpies incurred only a 3.5% decline from 131.46 to 126.9 J g−1. Success here overcomes several coincidental drawbacks of PCM fiber performance and manufacturing and delivers the first example of scalable roll‐to‐roll PCM fiber produced by wet spinning for building material applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐concentration electrolytes have been reported to form an anion‐derived, inorganic‐rich solid electrolyte interphase on lithium metal electrodes; however, these electrodes suffer from high Li corrosion by the coordinated anions and consequent anion depletion. Herein, the study reports a composite layer comprising single‐ion conducting ceramic (SICC) nanoparticles and a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE), which can suppress the Li corrosion in a high‐concentration electrolyte based on lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) and a weakly solvating solvent (N,N‐dimethylsulfamoyl fluoride, FSA). The lithium‐ion space charges formed at the SICC/GPE interface reduce the coordination of anions in the composite layer, suppressing their decomposition. A Li | LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) pouch bi‐cell with a composite layer‐coated thin lithium metal anode (N/P = 1, thickness: 20 µm) delivers projected gravimetric (316 Wh kg−1) and projected volumetric (1433 Wh L−1) energy densities and exhibits stable operation for 350 cycles, with 70% capacity retention at 1/3 C charge–discharge rate. The engineering of the solvation structure through the inorganic–organic composite layer represents a practical strategy for developing corrosion‐resistant lithium metal anodes in high‐concentration electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of energy technologies, self‐charging batteries are receiving extensive attention. However, the existing technologies are highly dependent on the available sources of O2, have long self‐charging duration, and have complex architectures. Herein, a novel ultrafast chemical self‐charging Zn‐quinhydrone polymer gel (QPG) battery, composed of acid/base free quinhydrone as a cathode material is reported. The prepared Zn–QPG battery exhibits a specific capacity of 209.7 mAh g−1 at 10C rate and maintains 86.4% of the initial discharge capacity even after 3000 cycles with a high coulombic efficiency of 99.4%. The aqueous amphiphilic block co‐polymer‐driven selective oxidation of hydroquinone (HQ) to benzoquinone (BQ) compels the chemical self‐charging feature wherein the device attains ≈1.1 V within ten minutes of complete discharge. The chemical self‐charging generated a high specific capacity of 197.8 mAh g−1 at 10C rate with a capacity retention of 91.2% after 100 cycles. Moreover, a flexible Zn–QPG battery also demonstrates excellent rechargeability and power‐delivering ability even in a wrist‐bend geometry. This work paves the way to develop ultrafast energy storage systems, which are not dependent on an external power supply and broaden the horizon of aqueous zinc–organic batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium metal batteries have gained attention as a potential solution to the low energy densities presented by current sodium‐ion batteries. However, the commonly available electrolyte systems usually fall short in safety performance. Gel polymer electrolytes, closely resembling liquid electrolytes, offer a promising balance of performance and developmental potential. A proposed polymer plastic‐crystal ionic gel composite electrolyte, featuring a polycation auxiliary chain, innovatively copolymerizes ionic liquid cations with electrolyte additives. These auxiliary chains crosslink with the main chain, attracting anions from the ionic liquid and sodium salts. Both experimental evidence and theoretical calculations affirm that this electrolyte exhibits high cation transference numbers and significant mean square displacement radii. By facilitating uniform sodium ion migration, the electrolyte has powered sodium symmetrical cells for over 550 h and has supported stable cycling of Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP)‐sodium metal batteries at a 1 C rate for more than 800 cycles. These achievements underscore its potential in advancing the development of condensed‐state sodium metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium is gaining recognition as a promising alternative to lithium for battery applications, particularly in sodium metal batteries (SMBs), where the performance is critically influenced by the choice of electrolyte. Although conventional organic liquid electrolytes are widely used, they pose significant issues. Gel membrane (GM)‐based electrolytes have demonstrated enhanced reliability and stability. Nevertheless, there remains a pressing need to improve their electrochemical and mechanical properties to fulfill the demands of next‐generation batteries, which require extended lifespan, rapid charging capabilities, and excellent flexibility. To address these challenges, a compact and flexible GM is developed by gelating a cast Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) blend film. The resulting GM possesses a suitable sodium ionic conductivity of 0.507 mS cm−1 and an impressive ion transference number of 0.47, enabling dendrite‐free reversible sodium plating and stripping for up to 300 h at a current density of 0.8 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the effectiveness of sodium dendrite suppression is demonstrated in Na/GM/Na3V2(PO4)3 cells, which exhibit a high discharge capacity and excellent cycling stability. The flexible SMB retains stable voltage output and continues to function even when bent or twisted. This study introduces a novel strategy for creating gel electrolytes for high‐performance flexible SMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer electrolytes serve as highly efficient alternatives to liquid electrolytes, especially in terms of safety in lithium ion batteries. Among various polymers, Cellulose contains electron‐donating atoms which can coordinate with lithium salts and be used as polymer electrolyte. Also, cellulose can be blended with other polymers to improve their properties. Polymer electrolytes suffer from poor mechanical properties. Adding nanoparticles not only surmounts the drawback of poor mechanical properties but also improves physical and electrochemical properties. In this study, different weight ratios of PVDF/cellulose blend films containing silicon dioxide (SiO2) are prepared via solution casting method. The results explored ionic conductivity in order of 10−4 S cm−1. In addition, high transfer numbers (0.74

The behavior of cross-linking polymer solutions as they transition from liquid-like to solid-like material in flow determines success or failure in several applications. Dilute polymer solutions flow easily, while concentrated polymers or crosslinked polymer gels can clog pores, nozzles, or channels. We have recently described a third regime of flow dynamics in polymers that occurs when cross-linking happens during flow: persistent intermittency. When a dilute alginate solution meets calcium at a Y-shaped microfluidic junction, a persistent and regular pattern of gel deposition and ablation emerges when driven at a constant volumetric flow rate. Chemical concentrations and flow rate control both the gel deposition and critical shear stress required to ablate the adhered gel. In this work, we provide an analytical framework to quantitatively describe the intermittent behavior as resulting from diffusively driven deposition in a high Peclet number flow. Fitting the experimental data shows that higher component concentrations lead to more efficient deposition and more swollen gels. Increasing the flow rate increases the deposition rate, but the resulting gels are much less swollen. Ablation occurs when applied shear stresses overcome either the adhesive energy of the gel or its yield stress. The shear stress required at ablation decreases with increased component concentrations. By correlating the results of the analytical analysis with bulk rheology measurements, we find that deposition efficiency increases with the stiffness of the gel formed in flow. Softer gels withstand higher shear stresses before ablation. Both deposition efficiency and gel stiffness increase in flow conditions nearing complete clogging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium metal batteries (SMBs) can be developed on a large scale to achieve low‐cost and high‐capacity energy storage systems. Gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) can relieve volatilization of liquid electrolyte, adapt to volume changes in electrodes, and better satisfy the requirements of long‐term SMBs. Herein, a dense polyurethane‐based GPE modified with polyacrylonitrile is synthesized by rapidly swelling two‐component polyurethane/polyacrylonitrile electrospun fiber film. Compared to traditional porous GPEs obtained by swelling porous matrixes, the fiber film provides uniform high Na+ flux inside GPE due to its partial solubility property and ability to dissociate salts. Therefore, it can reduce the polarization effect and induce uniform metal deposition under high current in conjunction with its constructed hybrid N/F‐containing solid electrolyte interface (SEI) that possesses low ionic diffusion barrier. The study demonstrates that GPE has an ionic conductivity of 1.816 mS cm−1 at 20 °C and an ion transference number of 0.53. The full battery (NVP/GPE/Na) assembled with this GPE and Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) cathode shows 90.8% capacity retention rate after 1000 cycles at 10 C. Considering the convenient preparation and outstanding electrochemical performances of the obtained GPE, it can also be matched with other electrodes in the future to expand the application of sodium‐based batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a theoretical framework to calculate depletion potential between colloid particles induced by non-adsorbing ideal polymer chains (s -species) and correlation functions in a coarse-grained one-component system of colloids (c -species). A Padé approximant is used to express the depletion potential as a pair potential with many-body contributions subsumed in it. The depletion potential and correlation functions of c -species are calculated using a self-consistent procedure. Results for several values of size ratio q = σ s σ c (σ s and σ c are, respectively diameters of the polymer chain and a colloid particle) and packing fractions of s - and c -species are reported. The spinodal curve and critical point of demixing transition are determined for several values of q. Calculated values are compared with values found from other theories and simulations. • A self consistent theory is developed to calculate the ideal polymer induced depletion potential and correlation functions. • Results are reported for several particle size ratio, colloidal and polymer packing fractions. • The fluid-fluid phase separation curves and critical points are determined and compared with simulation results. • Three-body potential and third virial coefficient are calculated and got an excellent agreement with the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Basrah Journal of Science / Magallat Al-Barat Li-L-ulum is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Depletion of lithium resources has forced scientists to search for alternative energy storage chemistries. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are being explored as an important option due to their leakage-free and superior electrochemical performance. The present work is focused on examining the impact of adding ionic liquid EMIM-BF4 (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) on the electrochemical behavior of sodium-ion conducting GPEs containing ethylene carbonate and polypropylene carbonate solvents, poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP) polymer, and sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF4) salt. The electrochemical behavior of the prepared GPEs is studied by complex impedance spectroscopy and other electrochemical studies. With the accumulation of 10 wt.% of EMIM-BF4, the ionic conductivity is greatest, and increases from ~1.94 × 10−3 S cm−1 to a maximum of ~7.98 × 10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature. The electrochemical stability window (ESW) of the GPE is ∼ 4 V. To study the structural modification in electrolytes, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction (XRD) are conducted. The real and imaginary parts of permittivity and modulus behavior over a wide frequency range are also investigated and described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible solid-state-based supercapacitors are in demand for the soft components used in electronics. The increased attention paid toward solid-state electrolytes could be due to their advantages, including no leakage, special separators, and improved safety. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are preferred in the energy storage field, likely owing to their safety, lack of leakage, and compatibility with various separators as well as their higher ionic conductivity (IC) than traditional solid electrolytes. This review covers the classification, properties, and configurations of different GPE-based supercapacitors and recent advancements that have occurred in this area of energy storage. Ionic liquid (IL)-based materials are popular GPEs for electrochemical energy storage and can be used to prepare unprecedented flexible supercapacitors due to their great IC and wide potential range. A comparative assessment of the GPEs-based supercapacitors reveals that in a majority of them, the value of specific capacitance is generally under 1000 F g−1, energy density reaches around 125 Wh kg−1, and the power density is seen to be less than 1500 W kg−1. The results of this research serve as an essential reference for upcoming scholars, and could significantly improve our comprehension of the efficacy of GPE-containing supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymerizable ionic liquid-based gel polymer electrolytes (PIL-GPEs) were developed for the first time using high-energy electron beam irradiation for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). By incorporating an imidazolium-based ionic liquid (PIL) into the polymer network, PIL-GPEs achieved high ionic conductivity (1.90 mS cm−1 at 25 °C), a lithium transference number of 0.62, and an electrochemical stability exceeding 5 V. E-beam irradiation enabled rapid polymer network formation within a metal-cased battery structure, eliminating the need for initiators and improving the process efficiency. In the NCM811/PIL-GPE/Li cells, PIL-GPE (8:2) delivered an initial discharge capacity of 198.8 mAh g−1 with 82% retention at 100 cycles, demonstrating enhanced thermal stability and cycling performance compared to traditional GPEs. The demonstrated PIL-GPEs demonstrate strong potential for high-stability, high-performance LIB applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) have been recognized as promising energy storage devices for the future due to their high energy densities and much-improved safety compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), whose shortcomings are widely troubled by serious safety concerns such as flammability, leakage, and chemical instability originating from liquid electrolytes (LEs). These challenges further deteriorate lithium metal batteries (LMBs) through dendrite growth and undesirable parasitic reactions. Polymer electrolytes (PEs) have been considered among the few viable options that have attracted great interest because of their inherent non-flammability, excellent flexibility, and wide electrochemical stability window. However, practical applications are seriously limited due to the relatively low ionic conductivity, mechanical instability, and short operational life cycle. This review covers the recent developments in the field and applications of polymer electrolytes in SSBs, including solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs), gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs), and composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs). The discussion comprises the key synthesis methodologies, electrochemical evaluation, and fabrication of PEs while examining lithium-ion's solvation and desolvation processes. Finally, this review highlights innovations in PEs for advanced technologies like lithium metal batteries and beyond, covering emerging trends in polymer materials and advancements in PE performance and stability to enhance commercial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new topological material, the [c2]daisy-chain rotaxane network, was successfully synthesized via a thiol-ene reaction between a [c2]daisy-chain rotaxane, which consists of a host–guest compound (H–G compound) where a crown ether and a secondary ammonium salt are linked, and a multi-branched thiol compound. The resulting network polymer exhibited higher compressive strength compared to one without the [c2]daisy-chain rotaxane. Additionally, the neutralized [c2]daisy-chain rotaxane network, in which the ammonium salt was neutralized and there was no interaction with the crown ether, showed increased rigidity compared to its state before neutralization. Furthermore, a gel electrolyte was prepared by impregnating the [c2]daisy-chain rotaxane network with an organic electrolyte containing dissolved lithium salts, and its ionic conductivity was investigated. As a result, high ionic conductivity was achieved despite the high polymer content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature‐responsive biocatalytic hybrid materials offer several advantages, such as improved stability, enhanced catalytic efficiency, and biocatalysts longer lifespan. Combining enzymes with thermoresponsive polymers in a strategically manner allows a smarter modulation of enzyme activity in response to temperature changes. Thermoresponsive materials can act as protective barriers for enzymes or enable controlled exposure and release depending on temperature variations, expanding enzyme applications in diverse environments. This review aims to comprehensively present the design strategies for enzyme‐polymer hybrid materials with thermoresponsive properties, and to address the advantages, applications, and challenges involved for a rational control of biocatalytic systems. The study emphasizes the importance of creating stimuli‐responsive biocatalytic hybrid materials for diverse applications, ranging from controlled drug delivery to industrial catalysis. Furthermore, we outline key research opportunities and future perspectives for studies within this scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) have emerged as one of the promising energy storage devices, and polymer electrolytes with high safety, stability, and structural flexibility are the ideal choice for RMBs. Herein, a novel in situ crosslinked gel polymer electrolyte, PDTE is reported, via facile ring‐opening polymerization in RMBs. The electrolyte exhibits a remarkable room‐temperature ionic conductivity of 2.8 × 10−4 S cm−1 and highly reversible Mg plating/stripping behavior (98.9% Coulombic efficiency, 2000 cycles) with a low overpotential (<0.1 V). Mo6S8||PDTE||Mg coin cells demonstrate exceptional cycling stability and rate capability at a wide temperature range (−20 to 50 °C), characterizing an average discharge capacity of 81.6 mAh g−1 at 10 C for 7500 cycles at room temperature, and 97.4 and 111.7 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C for 400 and 50 cycles at −20 and 50 °C, respectively. The pouch cell exhibits a high energy density of 204 Wh kg−1 with a high retention of 90.6% at 0.2 C for 350 cycles, along with significantly improved safety and remarkable flexibility. Additionally, good compatibility with conversion‐type cathode Cu3Se2 validates the application versatility of PDTE. The development of this gel polymer electrolyte provides a feasible approach for the research on semi‐solid‐state electrolytes for RMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercapacitors currently hold a prominent position in energy storage systems due to their exceptionally high power density, although they fall behind batteries and fuel cells in terms of energy density. This paper examines contemporary approaches aimed at enhancing the energy density of supercapacitors by adopting hybrid configurations, alongside considerations of their power density, rate capability, and cycle stability. Given that electrodes play a pivotal role in supercapacitor cells, this review focuses on the design of hybrid electrode structures with elevated specific capacitance, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms. Factors such as available surface area, porosity, and conductivity of the constituent materials significantly influence electrode performance, prompting the adoption of strategies such as nanostructuring. Additionally, the paper delves into the impact of novel bio-based hybrid electrolytes, drawing upon literature data to outline the fabrication of various hybrid electrode materials incorporating conducting polymers like polyaniline and polypyrrole, as well as metal oxides, carbon compounds, and hybrid electrolytes such as ionic liquids, gel polymers, aqueous, and solid polymer electrolytes. The discussion explores the contributions of different components and methodologies to overall capacitance, with a primary emphasis on the mechanisms of energy storage through non-faradic electrical double-layer capacitance and faradaic pseudo-capacitance. Furthermore, the paper addresses the electrochemical performance of hybrid components, examining their concentrations and functioning via diverse charge storage techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developed specifically to address leakage and stability concerns inherent in liquid electrolytes, this study presents a significant advancement in polymer gel electrolyte (PGE) formulation by combining potassium iodide (KI), ammonium iodide (AI) salts, and polyvinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene (PVDF‐co‐HFP) as a host polymer. The tape casting method was employed to deposit the standard TiO2 paste as the photoanode and platinum paste as the counter electrode. N3 dye was incorporated, and PVDF‐co‐HFP was used as the PGE between the electrodes. The conductivity of PGE was measured by using a digitized conductivity meter. The quasi solid‐state solar cell (QS‐DSSC) assembled using single salts (KI, and AI), and mixed cations PGE was examined via photocurrent–voltage characteristics, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The augmented ionic conductivity directly influences the efficiency of DSSCs. Notably, incorporating a mixed salt (KI + AI) within the PGE enhances ionic conductivity compared to single‐salt‐based counterparts. The resultant DSSCs using mixed salt PGE exhibit a Voc of 600 mV, Jsc of 1.01 mA/cm2, FF of 0.6089, and an efficiency of 0.369%, outperforming those using KI or AI. This highlights the perceptible advantages of employing this innovative electrolyte composition to enhance solar cell performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key issue in utilizing solid polymer electrolytes for high‐energy‐density lithium metal batteries is to balance the conflicting demands of superior processability, adequate ionic conductivity, and mechanical stability. Inspired by molecular structure design, a metal‐organic framework‐derived polyether poly(urethane urea) solid polymer electrolyte (denoted as ePU@H SPE) has been synthesized via a facile polycondensation method involving covalent crosslinking. The reduced crystallinity and numerous polar groups in ePU@H SPEs enhance Li salt dissociation and create efficient Li+ ion diffusion channels, yielding remarkable ionic conductivity (1.48 × 10−4 S cm−1). The polymer backbones, incorporating covalent bonds and dynamic hydrogen bonds, provide superb mechanical strength (5.12 GPa), high toughness (1240%), and excellent resilience, which suppress lithium dendrite growth and buffer electrode volume fluctuations during cycling. Leveraging these attributes, the well‐designed ePU@H SPE enables ultra‐high durability in lithium plating/stripping over 2300 h. Moreover, the integrated LFP|ePU@H|Li batteries, generating delicate electrode/electrolyte interfacial contact, deliver an exceptionally long lifespan (86% retention over 500 cycles at 1 C). Moreover, the LFP|ePU@H|Li pouch cell operates reliably even under severe deformation and external damage. Impressively, the stable cycling performance of full batteries incorporating high‐voltage LCO and high‐capacity S cathodes further verifies the significant potential of advanced ePU@H SPEs for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of safety concerns associated with the use of liquid electrolytes and electrolyte solutions, options for non-liquid materials like gels and polymers to be used as ion-conducting electrolytes have been explored intensely, and they attract steadily growing interest from researchers. The low ionic conductivity of most hard and soft solid materials was initially too low for practical applications in supercapacitors, which require low internal resistance of a device and, consequently, highly conducting materials. Even if an additional separator may not be needed when the solid electrolyte already ensures reliable separation of the electrodes, the electrolytes prepared as films or membranes as thin as practically acceptable, resistance may still be too high even today. Recent developments with gel electrolytes sometimes approach or even surpass liquid electrolyte solutions, in terms of effective conductance. This includes materials based on biopolymers, renewable raw materials, materials with biodegradability, and better environmental compatibility. In addition, numerous approaches to improving the electrolyte/electrode interaction have yielded improvements in effective internal device resistance. Reported studies are reviewed, material combinations are sorted out, and trends are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a great desire of advanced designed materials for electricity generation, storage, and utilization with boosted activity, multifunctionality, compatibility, stability, and durability. Organic ionic materials (OIMs) with superior conductivity, modifiability, and thermal/cold tolerance have great potential in meeting the demand. Ionic liquids, ionic polymers, polyelectrolytes, and new‐emerging composite materials like ionic gels, ionic woods, and metallated covalent organic frameworks have been boomingly developed in recent years, with elaborated design of which, enhanced performance of burgeoning energy materials such as higher electrical output, larger energy capacity, wider tolerance of temperature and/or humidity, and longer durability have been promoted. Despite a few reviews that have generalized the applications of single‐type OIMs in a certain field, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews focusing on advanced design of OIMs for boosting electricity generation, storage, and utilization. Herein, the new development of OIMs is timely and systematically reviewed focusing on electricity generation (generators), storage (batteries and supercapacitors), and utilization (sensors and actuators). Synthesis and modification strategies are summarized for material design, after which, fundamentals and mechanisms are illustrated as theoretical support. Then, advanced designs of OIMs are elaborated by taking electricity generation, storage, and utilization processes into consideration, followed by putting forward perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study displays the preparation and characterization of cross-linked rubbery hydrogel by applying gamma radiation as a fast and clean tool for industrial application. Rubbery Gel polymer was synthesized through radiation copolymerization between hydrophilic acrylamide (AAM) copolymerized with natural rubber latex at different monomer concentrations (80, 70, and 50% v/v) by using gamma radiation in order to prepare a cross-linked network between PAM and NRL (PAAM/NRL) with controllable hydrophilicity and good mechanical properties. The effect of AAM/NRL compositions and irradiation dose on the gel fraction, swelling isotherm and diffusional characteristics fully studied. The formed rubbery hydrogel with suitable swelling properties examined for the ability of adsorption of heavy metals from their aqueous solutions. Different parameters such as initial metal concentration, pH, temperature and adsorbent dosage are applied for the evaluation of the adsorption ability of the rubbery hydrogel for various toxic metals (Cu2+, Co2+, and Ni2+). The results of metal uptake showed that increasing temperature has an effective impact on the metal uptake for various types of metals tested as increasing temperature increases the rubber chains flexibility within the PAAM/NRL rubbery hydrogel. The desorption of adsorbed metal ions from the PAAM/NRL hydrogel was completed in a desorption mediums of HCL (2 and 0.5 M) and at temperature of 70 °C after 90 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More and more deep, low permeability and high temperature oil and gas reservoirs have been discovered by exploration, however, there are fewer types of fracturing fluids that can be used for production enhancement and modification of such reservoirs. Due to their high viscoelasticity, water-soluble hydrophobic polymers have been widely used as thickeners of working fluids for drilling and oil repulsion, and have also been applied in fracturing, but their weak temperature resistance limits their applicability to reservoirs, and their high initial viscosity makes them difficult to be formulated in the field. To address the above problems, this paper successfully prepared a high temperature resistant thickener PAAQ based on free radical polymerization method, which is used for fracturing and production enhancement in deep low permeability and high temperature oil and gas reservoirs. The experimental results show that PAAQ has good thickening, temperature resistance, shear resistance, viscoelasticity and other properties, and is suitable for fracture acidizing in carbonate formations.The thickening mechanism of PAAQ is the formation of a three-dimensional network structure by polymer molecular aggregation and chelation of the betaine side chains with calcium ions.The storage modulus G' of PAAQ solution is always higher than that of energy dissipation modulus G"; k<1.0·10-3 m/min1/2 , R <1.5·104 m/min, V0 <5.·10 m-23/m2; the settling rate of the ceramic particles was lower than 0.48 cm/min; when the NaBO3 dosage was 0.1%, the viscosity of the fracturing fluid was reduced to 30 mPa∙s at 110 min, which indicated that the fracturing fluid system had good sand-carrying performance, filtration-loss control ability and gel-breaking performance. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the synthesis and application of high-temperature resistant polymer fracturing fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable and flexible aqueous batteries (ABs) have emerged as one of promising energy devices which is primarily due to the safety, environmental friendliness and economic efficiency. However, because of the freezing behavior of aqueous electrolytes, most ABs possess poor performance when the working temperature drops below zero. To solve this problem, a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with high ionic conductivity (IC) and frost‐resistance is designed for aqueous Zn−Li hybrid batteries by a biomass‐based polymers complex consisting of carboxyl modified sodium alginate (SA) and zwitterionic betaine (BA). Introducing iminodiacetic acid to enrich −COOH groups along the SA main chains could improve IC of the prepared GPEs to 41.27 and 20.96 mS cm−1 at 20 and −20 °C, respectively. At −20 °C, the discharge capacity of the resultant cell is two times higher than that of the liquid electrolyte‐based cell, and the cell presents a capacity retention of 91.6 % after 300 charge/discharge cycles at 1 C. This proposed strategy greatly improve the IC of GPEs at freezing temperature, which is expected to broaden the practical application of GPEs in wide range of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Combinations of metal disinfectants (i.e., silver and copper) with chlorine in doses that meet the World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water operate synergistically to provide superior drinking water disinfection across a wide range of pathogens. Moreover, the combination of disinfectants allows for lower chlorine levels and a less objectionable taste and odor to the treated water (some people can taste or smell chlorine at concentrations as low as 300 μg/L). Towards chlorine-releasing materials for combination with silver- or copper-releasing materials in point-of-use water disinfection, N-chloramine containing polymer gels were developed and their potential for E. coli bacteria inactivation was assessed in deionized water that contained salts to simulate groundwater. Following the chlorination of gels containing chloramine precursors, these gels capably inactivated E. coli, achieving log10 reductions—depending on the gel mass—ranging from 1.1 to 4.5. While chlorine released from the gels was not spectroscopically detected, free chlorine solutions inactivated E. coli in a concentration-dependent way, with 5 and 20 μg/L Cl2 yielding log10 reductions of 0.43 and 1.69, respectively, suggesting that low levels of chlorine, below both the limit of detection of spectroscopic assays (ca. 40 μg/L Cl2) and levels known to create adverse taste and smell, are sufficient to inactivate bacteria. Unchlorinated gels or chlorinated control styrene gels (without chloramine precursor) did not inactivate bacteria, suggesting that disinfection did not come from the precursor or from chlorine trapped in the gels after chlorination. In addition, these gels were evaluated together with the MadiDrop (MD, a commercial silver-ceramic tablet) and a copper screen that release silver and copper disinfectants, respectively. Combinations of the gel and MD produced E. coli inactivation close to 2-log10 reduction, with the combination, gels alone, and MD alone achieving 1.86-, 1.10-, and 0.69-log10 reduction, respectively. When the gels were combined with the copper screen, however, neither an increase nor a decrease in bacterial reduction was observed compared to that achieved with the gels alone. The laboratory results in this study are promising and suggest the potential for chloramine-functionalized gels to serve as an alternative to existing commercial chlorine-based POU technologies and in combination with silver-based POU technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rubber elasticity theory has been lengthily applied to several polymeric hydrogel substances and upgraded from idealistic models to consider imperfections in the polymer network. The theory relies solely on hyperelastic material models in order to provide a description of the elastic polymer network. While this is also applicable to polymer gels, such hydrogels are rather characterized by their water content and visco-elastic mechanical properties. In this work, we applied rubber elasticity constitutive models through hyperelastic parameter identification of hydrogels based on their stress–strain response to compression. We further performed swelling experiments and determined the intrinsic properties, i.e., density, of the specimens and their components. Additionally, we estimated their equilibrium swelling and employed it in the swelling-equilibrium theory in order to determine the polymer–solvent interaction parameter of each hydrogel with regard to cross-linking. Our results show that the average mesh size obtained from the rubber elasticity theory can be regarded as a concentration-dependent characteristic length of the hydrogel's network and couples the non-linear elastic response to the specimens' inherent visco-elasticity through hysteresis as a quantifier of energy dissipation under large deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of an open‐source, semi‐automated, and reproducible vertex placement tool to improve the efficiency of lattice radiotherapy (LRT) planning. We used polymer gel dosimetry with a Cone Beam CT (CBCT) readout to commission this LRT technique. Material and methods: We generated a volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)‐based LRT plan on a 2 L NIPAM polymer gel dosimeter using our Eclipse Acuros version 15.6 AcurosXB beam model, and also recalculated the plan with a pre‐clinical Acuros v18.0 dose calculation algorithm with the enhanced leaf modelling (ELM). With the assistance of the MAAS‐SFRThelper software, a lattice vertex diameter of 1.5 cm and center‐to‐center spacing of 3 cm were used to place the spheres in a hexagonal, closed packed structure. The verification plan included four gantry arcs with 15°, 345°, 75°, 105° collimator angles. The spheres were prescribed 20 Gy to 50% of their combined volume. The 6 MV Flattening Filter Free beam energy was used to deliver the verification plan. The dosimetric accuracy of the LRT delivery was evaluated with 1D dose profiles, 2D isodose maps, and a 3D global gamma analysis. Results: Qualitative comparisons between the 1D dose profiles of the Eclipse plan and measured gel showed good consistency at the prescription dose mark. The average diameter measured 13.3 ± 0.2 mm (gel for v15.6), 12.6 mm (v15.6 plan), 13.1 ± 0.2 mm (gel for v18.0), and 12.3 mm (v18.0 plan). 3D gamma analysis showed that all gamma pass percent were > 95% except at 1% and 2% at the 1 mm distance to agreement criteria. Conclusion: This study presents a novel application of gel dosimetry in verifying the dosimetric accuracy of LRT, achieving excellent 3D gamma results. The treatment planning was facilitated by publicly available software that automatically placed the vertices for consistency and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the complex issue of lost circulation in drilling operations is crucial as it increases nonproductive time and costs. Conventional gel plugging materials often exhibit low temperature resistance, poor pumpability, and low pressure-bearing capacity. To overcome the limitations, a self-made polymer (HSA) was initially synthesized and mixed with two crosslinker agents (MBA/PEI) at room temperature to induce a new type of high-temperature-resistant and pressure-resistant polymer gel agent (HSA-G). Investigating the gel strength and plugging capacity, the vertical inverted tube observation, 71-type high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) instruments, and high-pressure filter with varying fracture cracks (3–5 mm) were employed. HSA-G demonstrated excellent gelation strength for 4–5 h at 140 °C, while retaining more than 57% of its gel strength after aging at 140 °C for 144 h, which is 3 times higher than the commercially available hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM + PEI). The excellent performance was attributed to the synergy between PEI-MBA, which induces tight-crosslinked interconnected structure within HSA-G, mitigating fluid losses to only 72 mL compared to 194 mL for HPAM-G, under 8.5 MPa in the HTHP sand bed at 140 °C. In the fracture leakage simulations using a 5 mm crack performed at 6 MPa at room temperature, the filtration loss of HSA-G is 300 mL, almost half that of HPAM-G, showcasing its superior plugging and high-pressure bearing performance. In conclusion, HSA-G has not only demonstrated operational effectiveness in reducing downtime costs and fluid losses but can also temporally replace cement plugging to prevent reservoir contamination in alignment with environmentally friendly practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]