Advancements in materials science and fabrication techniques have contributed to the significant growing attention to a wide variety of sensors for digital healthcare. While the progress in this area is tremendously impressive, few wearable sensors with the capability of real-time blood pressure monitoring are approved for clinical use. One of the key obstacles in the further development of wearable sensors for medical applications is the lack of comprehensive technical evaluation of sensor materials against the expected clinical performance. Here, we present an extensive review and critical analysis of various materials applied in the design and fabrication of wearable sensors. In our unique transdisciplinary approach, we studied the fundamentals of blood pressure and examined its measuring modalities while focusing on their clinical use and sensing principles to identify material functionalities. Then, we carefully reviewed various categories of functional materials utilized in sensor building blocks allowing for comparative analysis of the performance of a wide range of materials throughout the sensor operational-life cycle. Not only this provides essential data to enhance the materials’ properties and optimize their performance, but also, it highlights new perspectives and provides suggestions to develop the next generation pressure sensors for clinical use.

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Improving the electrical performance of macroradical epoxy thermosets to surpass the semiconductor threshold requires a comprehensive understanding of the electrical charge transport mechanisms and characteristics. In this study, we investigate...

Space exploration is one of humanity’s most challenging and costly activities. Nevertheless, we continuously strive to venture further and more frequently into space. It is vital to make every effort to minimise and mitigate the risks to astronaut safety, expand the long-term operation of technologies in space and improve the overall feasibility of space exploration—this calls for an assessment of recent advances in materials with applications in space. This review focuses on state-of-the-art materials that address challenges, threats and risks experienced during space exploration. Said challenges considered in this review include the danger of micro-meteorites, fire in space, space dust, temperature extremes, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and the cost associated with space travel. The materials discussed include self-healing polymers, fire and thermally resistant materials, materials for thermal management, self-cleaning materials, EMI shielding materials and multifunctional carbon fibre composites. Through this catalogue, we seek to inform and suggest the future direction of advancing space exploration by selecting innovative materials. Graphical Abstract Next-generation materials with multifunctionality, durability and light weight and able to withstand the extreme conditions for advanced space applications

Fabrication of ultralight strong carbon nanofiber aerogels with excellent elasticity is still a challenge. Herein, 3D mesoporous graphene/carbon nanofiber (G/CNF) were prepared for the first time from polyacrylonitrile/poly (4-vinyl phenol)...

The power of computational modeling and simulation for establishing clear links between materials’ intrinsic properties and their atomic structure has more and more increased the demand for reliable and reproducible protocols. Despite this increased demand, no one approach can provide reliable and reproducible outcomes to predict the properties of novel materials, particularly rapidly cured epoxy-resins with additives. This study introduces the first computational modeling and simulation protocol for crosslinking rapidly cured epoxy resin thermosets based on solvate ionic liquid (SIL). The protocol combines several modeling approaches, including quantum mechanics (QMs) and molecular dynamics (MDs). Furthermore, it insightfully provides a wide range of thermo-mechanical, chemical, and mechano-chemical properties, which agree with experimental data.

The radical-bearing epoxy monomer could be the ideal embodiment of multifunctionality in epoxy-based materials. This study demonstrates the potential of macroradical epoxies as surface coating materials. A diepoxide monomer derivatized with a stable nitroxide radical is polymerized with a diamine hardener under the influence of a magnetic field. The magnetically oriented and stable radicals in the polymer backbone render the coatings antimicrobial. The unconventional use of magnets during polymerization proved crucial in correlating the structureproperty relationships with antimicrobial performance inferred from oscillatory rheological technique, polarized macro-attenuated total reflectance -infrared (macro-ATR-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The magnetic thermal curing influenced the surface morphology, resulting in a synergy of the coating's radical nature with microbiostatic performance assessed using the Kirby-Bauer test and liquid chromatography -mass spectroscopy (LC-MS). Further, the magnetic curing of blends with a traditional epoxy monomer demonstrates that radical alignment is more critical than radical density in imparting biocidal behavior. This study shows how the systematic use of magnets during polymerization could pave for probing more significant insights into the mechanism of antimicrobial action in radical-bearing polymers.