FuKe Wang

Bio: FuKe Wang is an academic researcher from Agency for Science, Technology and Research. The author has contributed to research in topics: Azulene & Colloidal gold. The author has an hindex of 23, co-authored 62 publications receiving 1810 citations. Previous affiliations of FuKe Wang include National University of Singapore.

Some recent developments of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-based polymeric materials

Abstract: Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) has attracted considerable interest in materials science due to its well-defined nano-scale organic–inorganic structure, which makes it an ideal building block for constructing nano-structured hybrid materials and nanocomposites. In this article, we highlight some recent developments in applications of POSS materials: 1) improving thermal and mechanical properties of polymers through incorporation of POSS into polymer matrices to form nanocomposites; 2) using POSS as a building block for design and synthesis of POSS-containing organic semiconductor materials to achieve high photo-luminescence/electron luminescence quantum efficiency in organic light emitting diodes and enhanced performance in electrochromatic devices; 3) exploiting POSS as a hydrophobic unit to develop amphiphilic polymers for drug/gene delivery and formation of hydrogels. A future direction for the development of POSS-containing materials is also proposed for applications in organic photovoltaic and other high-performance materials.

Aggregation-Driven Growth of Size-Tunable Organic Nanoparticles Using Electronically Altered Conjugated Polymers

Abstract: A novel class of monodisperse conjugated polymer nanoparticles have been readily prepared by the facile reprecipitation of poly{1,3-bis[2-(3-alkylthienyl)]azulene} or poly{1,3-bis[2-(3-alkoxythienyl)]azulene}. The multicomponent poly(bithiophene-alt-azulene) macromolecules were efficiently self-assembled into a wide range of size-tunable nanoparticles from a few tens to five hundred nanometers via the hydrophobic and π-stacking effects in the mixed chloroform/methanol solutions. Electronically altered polymer structures with different alkyl or alkoxy substitutes exhibited variable self-assembling behaviors to precisely tune the size and the optical/electronic properties of nanoparticles. A strong size dependence of continuous bathochromic absorption and significant enhanced emission were observed with the increase of particle size. A linear relationship between the absorption or fluorescence intensities and the particle size was demonstrated as well, and this is very useful to probe the intermolecular int...

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSSs): an important building block for organic optoelectronic materials

Abstract: Due to the low-cost, facile processability and the capability of producing large areas of flexible thin films, organic optoelectronic materials have been considered among the most promising materials in the past two decades in both academic research and industry applications. Particularly, the incorporation of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSSs) to develop high performance organic optoelectronic materials and the fabrication of these sophisticated materials into highly efficient devices are of significant interest because of the unique hybrid structures and physical properties of POSS. In this review, we present the recent advances in the development of POSS-based organic optoelectronic materials and devices, including organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), liquid crystal display, sensors and electrochromic devices. In addition, the insights into the uniqueness of POSS in microstructure, confined size effect, and their different organic substituents in the enhancement of the optoelectronic performance are illustrated. Finally, perspectives and challenges related to the further advancement of POSS-based organic optoelectronic materials are discussed, followed by the proposed design considerations to address the challenges that we will face in the future.

Stimuli-responsive conjugated copolymers having electro-active azulene and bithiophene units in the polymer skeleton: Effect of protonation and p-doping on conducting properties

Abstract: A series of stimuli-responsive conjugated copolymers containing alkylated bithiophene and electroactive azulene in the polymer backbone was synthesized by oxidative polymerization. These copolymers were formed in good yields with good solubility in common organic solvents such as chloroform, toluene, and THF. They also possess high molecular weight (Mn) ranging from 16 000 to 41 000, and their structures are consistent with those expected as indicated by NMR, FTIR, and elemental analysis. These copolymers are highly thermally and environmentally stable. Like polyanilines, these azulene-thiophene copolymers could be rendered highly conductive (1−50 S cm-1) via two routes: iodine doping (p-doping) or protonation by TFA. The effects of p-doping and protonation on their conducting properties could be observed by UV−vis−NIR, EPR, SEM, and CV measurements, revealing different conducting mechanisms in p-doping and protonation. The EPR studies in particular confirmed the reversible protonation−deprotonation proc...

Additive manufacturing (3D printing): A review of materials, methods, applications and challenges

Abstract: Freedom of design, mass customisation, waste minimisation and the ability to manufacture complex structures, as well as fast prototyping, are the main benefits of additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing. A comprehensive review of the main 3D printing methods, materials and their development in trending applications was carried out. In particular, the revolutionary applications of AM in biomedical, aerospace, buildings and protective structures were discussed. The current state of materials development, including metal alloys, polymer composites, ceramics and concrete, was presented. In addition, this paper discussed the main processing challenges with void formation, anisotropic behaviour, the limitation of computer design and layer-by-layer appearance. Overall, this paper gives an overview of 3D printing, including a survey on its benefits and drawbacks as a benchmark for future research and development.

Recent Advances in Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials

Abstract: Since the discovery of mechanically exfoliated graphene in 2004, research on ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the fields of condensed matter physics, material science, chemistry, and nanotechnology. Highlighting their compelling physical, chemical, electronic, and optical properties, as well as their various potential applications, in this Review, we summarize the state-of-art progress on the ultrathin 2D nanomaterials with a particular emphasis on their recent advances. First, we introduce the unique advances on ultrathin 2D nanomaterials, followed by the description of their composition and crystal structures. The assortments of their synthetic methods are then summarized, including insights on their advantages and limitations, alongside some recommendations on suitable characterization techniques. We also discuss in detail the utilization of these ultrathin 2D nanomaterials for wide ranges of potential applications among the electronics/optoelectronics, electrocat...

Synthesis of Light-Emitting Conjugated Polymers for Applications in Electroluminescent Devices

Abstract: A review was presented to demonstrate a historical description of the synthesis of light-emitting conjugated polymers for applications in electroluminescent devices. Electroluminescence (EL) was first reported in poly(para-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) in 1990 and researchers continued to make significant efforts to develop conjugated materials as the active units in light-emitting devices (LED) to be used in display applications. Conjugated oligomers were used as luminescent materials and as models for conjugated polymers in the review. Oligomers were used to demonstrate a structure and property relationship to determine a key polymer property or to demonstrate a technique that was to be applied to polymers. The review focused on demonstrating the way polymer structures were made and the way their properties were controlled by intelligent and rational and synthetic design.

Recent advances in organic mechanofluorochromic materials

Abstract: Mechanofluorochromic materials, which are dependent on changes in physical molecular packing modes, have attracted considerable interest over the past ten years. In this review, recent progress in the area of pure organic mechanofluorochromism is summarized, and majority of the reported organic mechanofluorochromic systems are discussed, along with their derived structure–property relationships. The existence of a structural relationship between aggregation-induced emission compounds and mechanofluorochromism is recognized based on our recent results, which considered aggregation-induced emission compounds as a well of mechanofluorochromic materials. The established structure–property relationship will guide researchers in identifying and synthesizing more mechanofluorochromic materials.

Understanding the High Activity of Fe-N-C Electrocatalysts in Oxygen Reduction: Fe/Fe3C Nanoparticles Boost the Activity of Fe-N(x).

Abstract: Understanding the origin of high activity of Fe–N–C electrocatalysts in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is critical but still challenging for developing efficient sustainable nonprecious metal catalysts in fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Herein, we developed a new highly active Fe–N–C ORR catalyst containing Fe–Nx coordination sites and Fe/Fe3C nanocrystals (Fe@C-FeNC), and revealed the origin of its activity by intensively investigating the composition and the structure of the catalyst and their correlations with the electrochemical performance. The detailed analyses unambiguously confirmed the coexistence of Fe/Fe3C nanocrystals and Fe–Nx in the best catalyst. A series of designed experiments disclosed that (1) N-doped carbon substrate, Fe/Fe3C nanocrystals or Fe–Nx themselves did not deliver the high activity; (2) the catalysts with both Fe/Fe3C nanocrystals and Fe–Nx exhibited the high activity; (3) the higher content of Fe–Nx gave the higher activity; (4) the removal of Fe/Fe3C nanocrystals sever...