MXenes (Ti3C2TX) are two-dimensional transition-metal carbides and carbonitrides with high conductivity and optical transparency. However, transparent MXene electrodes with high environmental stability suitable for various flexible organic electronic devices have rarely been demonstrated. By laminating a thin polymer film onto a solution-processed MXene layer to protect the MXene film from harsh environmental conditions, we present transparent and flexible MXene electronic devices. A thin polymer layer spin-coated onto a transparent MXene electrode provides environmental stability even under air exposure longer than 7 d at high temperatures (up to 70 °C) and humidity levels (up to 50%) without degrading the transparency of the electrode. The resulting polymer-laminated (PL) MXene electrode facilitates the development of a variety of field-driven photoelectronic devices by exploiting the electric field exerted between the MXene layer and the counter electrode through the insulating polymer. Field-induced electroluminescent displays, based on both organic and inorganic phosphors, with PL-MXene electrodes are demonstrated with high transparency and mechanical flexibility. Furthermore, our PL-MXene electrode exhibits high versatility through successful implementation in capacitive-type pressure sensors and triboelectric nanogenerators, resulting in field-driven sensing and energy harvesting electronic devices with excellent operation reliability.
Flexible electronics that enable the visualization of thermal energy have significant potential for various applications, such as thermal diagnosis, sensing and imaging, and displays. Thermo‐adaptive flexible electronic devices based on thin 1D block copolymer (BCP) photonic crystal (PC) films with self‐assembled periodic nanostructures are presented. By employing a thermo‐responsive polymer/non‐volatile hygroscopic ionic liquid (IL) blend on a BCP film, full visible structural colors (SCs) are developed because of the temperature‐dependent expansion and contraction of one BCP domain via IL injection and release, respectively, as a function of temperature. Reversible SC control of the bi‐layered BCP/IL polymer blend film from room temperature to 80 °C facilitates the development of various thermo‐adaptive SC flexible electronic devices including pixel arrays of reflective‐mode displays and capacitive sensing display. A flexible diagnostic thermal patch is demonstrated with the bi‐layered BCP/IL polymer blend enabling the visualization of local heat sources from the human body to microelectronic circuits.
Despite great advances in stimuli‐interactive displays, which can directly visualize pressure, temperature, and humidity, a single interactive display platform capable of quantitatively discriminating the dynamic variation of two stimuli has yet to be developed. Here, a tandem interactive sensing display demonstrates not only direct visualization of both pressure and temperature but also the quantitative de‐convolution of these two simultaneously varied stimuli. The tandem display consists of five polymer layers vertically stacked on a transparent substrate: a temperature‐responsive ionic polymer, field‐induced blue light‐emitting unit (1), conductive polymer electrode with a parallel gap, field‐induced orange‐light‐emitting unit (2), and topologically structured pressure‐responsive layer. Impedance change of the responsive layers upon dynamic temperature and pressure is monitored simultaneously, providing stimuli‐interactive electroluminescence of light‐emitting units (1) and (2), respectively, when an alternating current (AC) field is applied between two polymer electrodes. Dynamic and simultaneous variation of temperature, 30–80 °C, and pressure, 0.5–20 kPa, are conveniently mapped in 3D coordinates of light intensity (z‐axis) and color (x‐y plane), producing a 2D contour surface plot. This provides an efficient and quantitative de‐convolution of unknown combinations of temperature and pressure stimuli. Furthermore, arrays of the tandem interactive displays broaden the versatility of dynamic visualization of multiple stimuli.
Free-standing and film-type moisture-driven energy generators (MEGs) that harness the preferential interaction of ionized moisture with hydrophilic materials are interesting because of their wearability and portability without needing a water container. However, most such MEGs work in limited humidity conditions, which provide a substantial moisture gradient. Herein, we present a high-performance MEG with sustainable power-production capability in a wide range of environments. The bilayer-based device comprises a negatively surface-charged, hydrophilic MXene (Ti3C2T x ) aerogel and polyacrylamide (PAM) ionic hydrogel. The preferential selection on the MXene aerogel of positive charges supplied from the salts and water in the hydrogel is predicted by the first-principle simulation, which results in a high electric output in a wide relative humidity range from 20% to 95%. Furthermore, by replacing the hydrogel with an organohydrogel of PAM that has excellent water retention and structural stability, a device with long-term electricity generation is realized for more than 15 days in a broad temperature range (from −20 to 80 °C). Our MXene aerogel MEGs connected in series supply sufficient power for commercial electronic components in various outdoor environments. Moreover, an MXene aerogel MEG works as a self-powered sensor for recognizing finger bending and facial expression.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.