In
this study, a carbon electrode was synthesized from carbon black
(CB), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and polyurethane (PU) and subsequently
used as the collector for electrospinning. During electrospinning,
nanofibers were deposited on the carbon film collector. The carbon
electrode and the deposited nanofibers together formed a nanofiber
carbon electrode. Finally, a stretchable and flexible nanofiber membrane-sensing
electrode was successfully developed and applied in smart clothing
for ECG and EMG monitoring. The nanofibers were generated from polyvinylidene
difluoride (PVDF) and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene
sulfonate (PEDOT/PSS) via mixing and electrospinning. The addition
of a conductive PEDOT/PSS polymer inhibited the formation of beads
on the fiber and enhanced the integrity as well as the electrical
conductivity of the fiber. In addition, a CB/rGO carbon film was used
as the electrospinning collector. The addition of a dispersant to
the carbon film improved its electrical conductivity as well as its
stretchability. The results show that the nanofiber carbon electrode
prepared by electrospinning exhibits a high electrical conductivity
(surface resistance = 2.5 × 101 Ω/sq), high
mechanical durability (a stable circuit was maintained after 3000
repeated uses), and a hydrophobic surface (water contact angle = 146°).
Compared with a traditional commercial wet electrode (Ag/AgCl), the
nanofiber carbon electrode developed in this study exhibited good
contact with human skin and excellent durability. These merits make
the nanofiber carbon electrode suitable for long-term biological signal
recording. Furthermore, such an electrode can be integrated into wearable
systems for healthcare monitoring.
A new
method for exfoliation of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)
into few-layered nanosheets has been developed by employing noncovalent
assembly of networks upon association with a supramolecular polymer.
In this work, we developed a simple, reliable, effective approach
for preparation of exfoliated h-BN nanosheets from bulk h-BN via liquid-phase
exfoliation using a low-molecular weight adenine-functionalized polypropylene
glycol (A-PPG) supramolecular polymer. A-PPG self-assembled into either
long-range ordered lamellar or micelle-like structures on the surface
of h-BN because of the strong specific interactions between A-PPG
and h-BN. The level of h-BN nanosheet exfoliation could be controlled
by adjusting the amount of A-PPG incorporated. This newly developed
composite exhibited excellent phase transition behavior and thermal
stability, and few-layer thickness with good dispersion of h-BN nanosheets,
indicating self-assembled A-PPG functions as an efficient dispersant
and stabilizer to manipulate the physical and morphological properties
of exfoliated h-BN. This method of producing multifunctional exfoliated
h-BN provides a unique paradigm for developing the next generation
of thermoconductive devices and solution-processed semiconductors.
The first systematic investigation of the effect of high mannose, hybrid, and bi- and tri-antennary complex type glycans on the effector functions of antibodies was achieved by the discovery of novel Endo-S2 mutants generated by site-directed mutagenesis as glycosynthases with broad substrate specificity.
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.