Flexible electronics incorporate all the functional attributes of conventional rigid electronics in formats that have been altered to survive mechanical deformations. Understanding the evolution of device performance during bending, stretching, or other mechanical cycling is, therefore, fundamental to research efforts in this area. Here, we review the various classes of flexible electronic devices (including power sources, sensors, circuits and individual components) and describe the basic principles of device mechanics. We then review techniques to characterize the deformation tolerance and durability of these flexible devices, and we catalogue and geometric designs that are intended to optimize electronic systems for maximum flexibility.

Flexible electronics under strain: a review of mechanical characterization and durability enhancement strategies

https://pure.tue.nl/ws/files/65069212/1_s2.0_S0306261917304750_main.pdf

A review of salt hydrates for seasonal heat storage in domestic applications

Very well into the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution (industry 4.0), humankind can hardly distinguish between what is artificial and what is natural (e.g., man-made virus and natural virus). Thus, the level of discombobulation among people, companies, or countries is indeed unprecedented. The fact that industry 4.0 is explosively disrupting or retrofitting each and every industrial sector makes industry 4.0 the famous buzzword amongst researchers today. However, the insight of industry 4.0 disruption into the industrial sectors remains ill-defined in both academic and nonacademic literature. The present study aimed at identifying industry 4.0 neologisms, understanding the industry 4.0 disruption and illustrating the disruptive technology convergence in the major industrial sectors. A total of 99 neologisms of industry 4.0 were identified. Industry 4.0 disruption in the education industry (education 4.0), energy industry (energy 4.0), agriculture industry (agriculture 4.0), healthcare industry (healthcare 4.0), and logistics industry (logistics 4.0) was described. The convergence of 12 disruptive technologies including 3D printing, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, big data, blockchain, cloud computing, drones, Internet of Things, nanotechnology, robotics, simulation, and synthetic biology in agriculture, healthcare, and logistics industries was illustrated. The study divulged the need for extensive research to expand the application areas of the disruptive technologies in the industrial sectors.

/pdf/industry-4-0-disruption-and-its-neologisms-in-major-4316cu9gbs.pdf

Industry 4.0 Disruption and Its Neologisms in Major Industrial Sectors: A State of the Art

https://hal-cnrs.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03090844/document

Synthesis of layered double hydroxides through continuous flow processes: A review

Recent advancements in sorption technology for solar thermal energy storage applications

To tailor the properties of nanoparticles and nanocomposites, precise control over particle size is of vital importance. Real-time monitoring of particle size during bottom-up synthesis in liquids would allow a detailed study of particle nucleation and growth, which provides valuable insights in the mechanism of formation of the nanoparticles. Furthermore, it facilitates a rational scale-up, and would enable adequate intervention in the production process of nanoparticle dispersions to minimize the number of off-spec batches. Since real-time monitoring requires particle size measurements on dispersions in flow, conventional dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques are not suited: they rely on single scattering and measure the Brownian motion of particles dispersed in a liquid. Here, we present a set-up that allows accurate measurements in real-time on flowing dispersions using a DLS technique based on modulated 3D cross-correlation. This technique uses two simultaneous light scattering experiments performed at the same scattering vector on the same sample volume in order to extract only the single scattering information common to both. We connected the reactor to a flow-cell in the DLS equipment using a tailor-made analysis loop, and successfully demonstrated the complete set-up through monitoring of the size of spherical silica nanoparticles during Stober synthesis in a water-alcohol mixture starting from the molecular precursor tetraethyl orthosilicate.

Flow cell coupled dynamic light scattering for real-time monitoring of nanoparticle size during liquid phase bottom-up synthesis

Printed electronics, the manufacturing of elec- tronic components on large, flexible, and low-cost sub- strates by printing techniques, can facilitate widespread, very low-cost electronics for consumer applications and disposable devices. New technologies are needed to create functional components in this field. This paper introduces a new method to create an all-additive printed switch on flexible substrate materials, such as polymer foils and paper substrates. The active layer of the switch component con- sists of neutral polyaniline (PANI), which can be doped by acid to induce a shift from a non-conductive to a conductive oxidation state. Monodisperse core-shell microcapsules containing an acidic aqueous core liquid were produced by a novel inkjet-based encapsulation technology. It was shown that unfavorable water evaporation from the micro- capsules could be reduced by the addition of calcium chloride to the core liquid. A switch component was pre- pared, consisting of inkjet-printed interdigitated silver electrodes, PANI active layer and printed microcapsules. If an external pressure was applied, for instance with a finger, then the switch component changed its state from non- conductive to conductive with a simultaneous distinct color change. The results clearly demonstrate the feasibility of the presented approach to create either a visual or electronic signal for use in printed electronic applications.

Printed electronic switch on flexible substrates using printed

Here, we report a continuous flow synthesis of nano LDH, comprising a continuous precipitation process using static mixers and followed by an immediate cleaning process via a semi-continuous centrifuge to obtain the final product in one-go. Via this synthesis setup, it is possible to independently vary the concentrations of the reactants during precipitation and at the same time ensure constant reaction conditions and an immediate "quenching" of the precipitate due to "on the flow"-washing. We found that this paves the way to adjust the synthesis parameters in a way that the final morphology of the nano-LDH particles can be controlled to be either round or platelet-like.

/pdf/continuous-flow-synthesis-and-cleaning-of-nano-layered-1cgjfdoae9.pdf

Continuous flow synthesis and cleaning of nano layered double hydroxides and the potential of the route to adjust round or platelet nanoparticle morphology

Printed electronics, the manufacturing of electronic components on large, flexible, and low-cost substrates by printing techniques, can facilitate widespread, very low-cost electronics for consumer applications and disposable devices. New technologies are needed to create functional components in this field. This paper introduces a new method to create an all-additive printed switch on flexible substrate materials, such as polymer foils and paper substrates. The active layer of the switch component consists of neutral polyaniline (PANI), which can be doped by acid to induce a shift from a non-conductive to a conductive oxidation state. Monodisperse core–shell microcapsules containing an acidic aqueous core liquid were produced by a novel inkjet-based encapsulation technology. It was shown that unfavorable water evaporation from the microcapsules could be reduced by the addition of calcium chloride to the core liquid. A switch component was prepared, consisting of inkjet-printed interdigitated silver electrodes, PANI active layer and printed microcapsules. If an external pressure was applied, for instance with a finger, then the switch component changed its state from nonconductive to conductive with a simultaneous distinct color change. The results clearly demonstrate the feasibility of the presented approach to create either a visual or electronic signal for use in printed electronic applications.

Ralph Stevens

Papers

Flow cell coupled dynamic light scattering for real-time monitoring of nanoparticle size during liquid phase bottom-up synthesis

Printed electronic switch on flexible substrates using printed

Continuous flow synthesis and cleaning of nano layered double hydroxides and the potential of the route to adjust round or platelet nanoparticle morphology

Printed electronic switch on flexible substrates using printed microcapsules

Coatings for heat storage reactors with hygroscopic salts