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Assembling various nanowires together, enabling the assemblies with tailored optical, electrical, and multifunctional properties, represents a promising technology for next generation multifunctional electronics. Here we demonstrate a novel multicolor electrochromic device by coassembling W 18 O 49 and V 2 O 5 nanowires using solution-based Langmuir−Blodgett technique. The transparent W 18 O 49 nanowire film became orange with the increasing addition of V 2 O 5 nanowires and the film underwent a dynamic color change (orange, green, and gray) on application of different electrochemical biases of 2, 0, and −0.5 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Both the transmittance and color of the device can be easily controlled by manipulating the layers of coassembled nanowires and the ratios between the two nanowires. On the basis of this approach, different patterns can be easily fabricated with the addition of corresponding masks, and the solid electrochromic device is assembled, suggesting its significant potentials in smart windows and multicolor electrochromic displays.

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Driving safety deteriorated dramatically on ice-covered road pavement in winter. However, it is a challenge to remove thick ice layer from the pavement surface with conventional technologies. In this study, the microwave heating performance of asphalt mixtures containing steel wool fibers was tested. Firstly, the mechanism of pavement deicing using microwave was introduced. The effect of steel wool fiber on air void content of asphalt mixture is studied, and the fiber distribution is observed. The microwave heating performance of specimens with different types and contents of steel wool were tested under the temperature of-5 °C and-10 °C. The icethawing time was measured and the effect of initial temperature and ice thickness on the thawing time was evaluated. Finally, the heating uniformity and sustainability aspects of this technique were assessed. Results show that the optimal steel wool fiber contents for microwave heating of asphalt mixture are 0.3% of 000#, 0.6% of 0# and 0.9%% of 2#, respectively. The ice-thawing time of the pavement with an initial temperature of-10 °C is 9.3% (000#), 11.3% (0#) and 14.8% (2#) higher than that of-5 °C. In addition, every 1cm increase in ice layer thickness requires 5.9% (000#), 7.7% (0#) and 13.0% (2#) increase in thawing time. A larger diameter of the steel wool helps to improve the heating uniformity. At last, the microwave heating capacity of specimens containing steel wool will not be significantly reduced by the repeated service in the first five winters.

Lightweight electromagnetic interference shielding cellulose foam/carbon fiber composites were prepared by blending cellulose foam solution with carbon fibers and then freeze drying. Two kinds of carbon fiber (diameter of 7 μm) with different lengths were used, short carbon fibers (SCF, L/D = 100) and long carbon fibers (LCF, L/D = 300). It was observed that SCFs and LCFs built efficient network structures during the foaming process. Furthermore, the foaming process significantly increased the specific electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness from 10 to 60 dB. In addition, cellulose/carbon fiber composite foams possessed good mechanical properties and low thermal conductivity of 0.021–0.046 W/(m·K).