Nanjing Tech University

About: Nanjing Tech University is a education organization based out in Nanjing, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Membrane. The organization has 21827 authors who have published 21794 publications receiving 364050 citations. The organization is also known as: Nangongda & Nánjīng Gōngyè Dàxúe.

Highly Stretchable, Elastic, and Sensitive MXene-Based Hydrogel for Flexible Strain and Pressure Sensors.

Abstract: Electronic skin is driving the next generation of cutting-edge wearable electronic products due to its good wearability and high accuracy of information acquisition. However, it remains a challenge to fulfill the requirements on detecting full-range human activities with existing flexible strain sensors. Herein, highly stretchable, sensitive, and multifunctional flexible strain sensors based on MXene- (Ti3C2T -) composited poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone double-network hydrogels were prepared. The uniformly distributed hydrophilic MXene nanosheets formed a three-dimensional conductive network throughout the hydrogel, endowing the flexible sensor with high sensitivity. The strong interaction between the double-network hydrogel matrix and MXene greatly improved the mechanical properties of the hydrogels. The resulting nanocomposited hydrogels featured great tensile performance (2400%), toughness, and resilience. Particularly, the as-prepared flexible pressure sensor revealed ultrahigh sensitivity (10.75 kPa-1) with a wide response range (0-61.5 kPa), fast response (33.5 ms), and low limit of detection (0.87 Pa). Moreover, the hydrogel-based flexible sensors, with high sensitivity and durability, could be employed to monitor full-range human motions and assembled into some aligned devices for subtle pressure detection, providing enormous potential in facial expression and phonation recognition, handwriting verification, healthy diagnosis, and wearable electronics.

Ultra-permeable polyamide membranes harvested by covalent organic framework nanofiber scaffolds: a two-in-one strategy

Abstract: Polyamide-based thin-film composite nanofiltration membranes are widely used for potable water decontamination, brackish water desalination and wastewater reutilization. However, enhancing the water permeance of the polyamide layer within the thin-film composite nanofiltration membrane still remains a great challenge, because of the relatively large thickness and high transport resistance of the polyamide layer produced by intractable interfacial polymerization. Herein, we reported a two-in-one strategy to prepare ultra-permeable nanofiltration membranes via covalent organic framework (COF) nanofiber scaffold mediated interfacial polymerization. The highly porous and hydrophilic COF nanofiber scaffolds enhanced the controlled release of amine monomers, leading to ultrathin polyamide layers. Also, the relatively smooth COF nanofiber scaffolds can be spontaneously evolved into rugged and uneven architectures during interfacial polymerization, providing rough substrates for enlarging the actual areas of polyamide layers. Therefore, the increased areas of polyamide layers were employed as additional water permeable domains. Arising from the synergetic effect of the ultrathin and increased water permeation domains, the produced membranes exhibit exceptional nanofiltration performance with a water permeance of up to 31.1 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 and a Na2SO4 rejection rate of about 95%, outperforming most other nanofiltration membranes. This highly accessible technique opens a new avenue for the design and engineering of ultra-permeable thin-film composite nanofiltration membranes, highlighting its great potential in providing clean water.