Evaluation of Self-Healing Efficiency of Microcapsule-Based Self-Healing Cementitious Composites Based on Acoustic Emission

Microcapsule self-healing technology is one of the effective methods to solve the durability problem of cementbased composites.The evaluation method of the self-healing efficiency of microcapsule self-healing cement-based composites is one of the difficulties that limits the self-healing technology.This paper attempts to characterize the self-healing efficiency of microcapsule self-healing cement-based composites by acoustic emission(AE)parameters,which provides a reference for the evaluation of microcapsule self-healing technology.Firstly,a kind of self-healing microcapsules were prepared,and the microcapsules were added into the cement-based composites to prepare the compression samples.Then,the specimen with certain pre damage was obtained by compression test.Secondly,the damaged samples were divided into two groups.One group was directly used for compression tests to obtain the damage failure process.The other group was put into water for healing for 30 days,and then compression tests were carried out to study the influence of self-healing on the compression failure process.During the experiments,the AE signals were collected and the AE characteristics were extracted for the evaluation of self-healing efficiency.The results show that the compression pre damage test can trigger the microcapsule,and the compression strength of the self-healing sample is improved.The failure mechanism of microcapsule selfhealing cement-based composites can be revealed by the AE parameters during compression,and the self-healing efficiency can be quantitatively characterized by AE hits.The research results of this paper provide experimental reference and technical support for the mechanical property test and healing efficiency evaluation of microcapsule self-healing cement-based composites.

Mechanical reliable,NIR light-induced rapid self-healing hydrogel electrolyte towards flexible zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors with low-temperature adaptability and long service life

Hydrogel electrolytes hold great potential in flexible zinc ion supercapacitors(ZICs)due to their high conductivity,good safety,and flexibility.However,freezing of electrolytes at low temperature(subzero)leads to drastic reduction in ionic conductivity and mechanical properties that deteriorates the performance of flexible ZICs.Besides,the mechanical fracture during arbitrary deformations significantly prunes out the lifespan of the flexible device.Herein,a Zn^(2+)and Li^(+)co-doped,polypyrrole-dopamine decorated Sb_(2)S_(3)incorporated,and polyvinyl alcohol/poly(N-(2-hydroxyethyl)acrylamide)double-network hydrogel electrolyte is constructed with favorable mechanical reliability,anti-freezing,and self-healing ability.In addition,it delivers ultra-high ionic conductivity of 8.6 and 3.7 S m^(-1)at 20 and−30°C,respectively,and displays excellent mechanical properties to withstand tensile stress of 1.85 MPa with tensile elongation of 760%,together with fracture energy of 5.14 MJ m^(-3).Notably,the fractured hydrogel electrolyte can recover itself after only 90 s of infrared illumination,while regaining 83%of its tensile strain and almost 100%of its ionic conductivity during−30–60°C.Moreover,ZICs coupled with this hydrogel electrolyte not only show a wide voltage window(up to 2 V),but also provide high energy density of 230 Wh kg^(-1)at power density of 500 W kg^(-1)with a capacity retention of 86.7%after 20,000 cycles under 20°C.Furthermore,the ZICs are able to retain excellent capacity even under various mechanical deformation at−30°C.This contribution will open up new insights into design of advanced wearable flexible electronics with environmental adaptability and long-life span.

High-throughput microfluidic production of carbon capture microcapsules:fundamentals,applications,and perspectives

In the last three decades,carbon dioxide(CO_(2)) emissions have shown a significant increase from various sources.To address this pressing issue,the importance of reducing CO_(2) emissions has grown,leading to increased attention toward carbon capture,utilization,and storage strategies.Among these strategies,monodisperse microcapsules,produced by using droplet microfluidics,have emerged as promising tools for carbon capture,offering a potential solution to mitigate CO_(2) emissions.However,the limited yield of microcapsules due to the inherent low flow rate in droplet microfluidics remains a challenge.In this comprehensive review,the high-throughput production of carbon capture microcapsules using droplet microfluidics is focused on.Specifically,the detailed insights into microfluidic chip fabrication technologies,the microfluidic generation of emulsion droplets,along with the associated hydrodynamic considerations,and the generation of carbon capture microcapsules through droplet microfluidics are provided.This review highlights the substantial potential of droplet microfluidics as a promising technique for large-scale carbon capture microcapsule production,which could play a significant role in achieving carbon neutralization and emission reduction goals.

A Self-Healing Optoacoustic Patch with High Damage Threshold and Conversion Efficiency for Biomedical Applications

Compared with traditional piezoelectric ultrasonic devices,optoacoustic devices have unique advantages such as a simple preparation process,anti-electromagnetic interference,and wireless long-distance power supply.However,current optoacoustic devices remain limited due to a low damage threshold and energy conversion efficiency,which seriously hinder their widespread applications.In this study,using a self-healing polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS,Fe-Hpdca-PDMS)and carbon nanotube composite,a flexible optoacoustic patch is developed,which possesses the self-healing capability at room temperature,and can even recover from damage induced by cutting or laser irradiation.Moreover,this patch can generate high-intensity ultrasound(>25 MPa)without the focusing structure.The laser damage threshold is greater than 183.44 mJ cm^(-2),and the optoacoustic energy conversion efficiency reaches a major achievement at 10.66×10^(-3),compared with other carbon-based nanomaterials and PDMS composites.This patch is also been successfully examined in the application of acoustic flow,thrombolysis,and wireless energy harvesting.All findings in this study provides new insight into designing and fabricating of novel ultrasound devices for biomedical applications.

Performance and Application of Double-layered Microcapsule Corrosion Inhibitors

Double-layered microcapsule corrosion inhibitors were developed by sodium monofluorophosphate as the core material,polymethyl methacrylate as the inner wall material,and polyvinyl alcohol as the outer wall material combining the solvent evaporation method and spray drying method.The protection by the outer capsule wall was used to prolong the service life of the corrosion inhibitor.The dispersion,encapsulation,thermal stability of microcapsules,and the degradation rate of capsule wall in concrete pore solution were analyzed by ultra-deep field microscopy,scanning electron microscopy,thermal analyzer,and sodium ion release rate analysis.The microcapsules were incorporated into mortar samples containing steel reinforcement,and the effects of double-layered microcapsule corrosion inhibitors on the performance of the cement matrix and the actual corrosion-inhibiting effect were analyzed.The experimental results show that the double-layered microcapsules have a moderate particle size and uniform distribution,and the capsules were completely wrapped.The microcapsules as a whole have good thermal stability below 230 ℃.The monolayer membrane structure microcapsules completely broke within 1 day in the simulated concrete pore solution,and the double-layer membrane structure prolonged the service life of the microcapsules to 80 days in the simulated concrete pore solution before the core material was completely released.The mortar samples containing steel reinforcement incorporated with the double-layered microcapsule corrosion inhibitors still maintained a higher corrosion potential than the monolayer microcapsule corrosion inhibitors control group at 60 days.The incorporation of double-layered microcapsules into the cement matrix has no significant adverse effect on the setting time and early strength.

Multifunctional phase change film with high recyclability, adjustable thermal responsiveness, and intrinsic self-healing ability for thermal energy storage

Phase change materials(PCMs) present promising potential for guaranteeing safety in thermal management systems.However,most reported PCMs have a single application in energy storage for thermal management systems,which does not meet the growing demand for multi-functional materials.In this paper,the flexible material and hydrogen-bonding function are innovatively combined to design and prepare a novel multi-functional flexible phase change film(PPL).The 0.2PPL-2 film exhibits solid-solid phase change behavior with energy storage density of 131.8 J/g at the transition temperature of42.1℃,thermal cycling stability(500 cycles),wide-temperature range flexibility(0-60℃) and selfhealing property.Notably,the PPL film can be recycled up to 98.5% by intrinsic remodeling.Moreover,the PPL film can be tailored to the desired colors and configurations and can be cleverly assembled on several thermal management systems at ambient temperature through its flexibility combined with shape-memory properties.More interestingly,the transmittance of PPL will be altered when the ambient temperature changes(60℃),conveying a clear thermal signal.Finally,the thermal energy storage performance of the PPL film is successfully tested by human thermotherapy and electronic device temperature control experiments.The proposed functional integration strategy provides innovative ideas to design PCMs for multifunctionality,and makes significant contributions in green chemistry,highefficiency thermal management,and energy sustainability.

Flexible,thermal processable,self-healing,and fully bio-based starch plastics by constructing dynamic imine network

The serious environmental threat caused by petroleum-based plastics has spurred more researches in developing substitutes from renewable sources.Starch is desirable for fabricating bioplastic due to its abundance and renewable nature.However,limitations such as brittleness,hydrophilicity,and thermal properties restrict its widespread application.To overcome these issues,covalent adaptable network was constructed to fabricate a fully bio-based starch plastic with multiple advantages via Schiff base reactions.This strategy endowed starch plastic with excellent thermal processability,as evidenced by a low glass transition temperature(T_(g)=20.15℃).Through introducing Priamine with long carbon chains,the starch plastic demonstrated superior flexibility(elongation at break=45.2%)and waterproof capability(water contact angle=109.2°).Besides,it possessed a good thermal stability and self-adaptability,as well as solvent resistance and chemical degradability.This work provides a promising method to fabricate fully bio-based plastics as alternative to petroleum-based plastics.

High performance photodegradation resistant PVA@TiO_(2)/carboxyl-PES self-healing reactive ultrafiltration membrane

The occurrence of ultrafiltration(UF)membrane fouling frequently hampers the sustainable advancement of UF technology.Reactive self-cleaning UF membranes can effectively alleviate the problem of membrane fouling.Nevertheless,the self-cleaning process may accelerate membrane aging.Addressing these concerns,we present an innovative design concept for composite self-healing materials based on self-cleaning UF membranes.To begin,TiO_(2)nanoparticles were incorporated into the polymer molecular structure via molecular design,resulting in the synthesis of TiO_(2)/carboxyl-polyether sulfone(PES)hybrid materials.Subsequently,the nonsolvent-induced phase inversion technique was employed to prepare a novel of UF membrane.Lastly,a polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)hydrogel coating was applied to the hybrid UF membrane surface to create PVA@TiO_(2)/carboxyl-PES self-healing reactive UF membranes.By establishing a covalent bond,the TiO_(2)nanoparticles were effectively and uniformly dispersed within the UF membrane,leading to exceptional self-cleaning properties.Furthermore,the water-absorbing and swelling properties of PVA hydrogel,along with its capacity to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules,resulted in UF membranes with improved hydrophilicity and active self-healing abilities.The results demonstrated that the water contact angle of PVA@5%TiO_(2)/carboxyl-PES UF membrane was 43.1°.Following a 1-h exposure to simulated solar exposure,the water flux recovery ratio increased from 48.16%to 81.03%.Moreover,even after undergoing five cycles of 12-h simulated sunlight exposure,the UF membranes exhibited a consistent retention rate of over 97%,thus fully demonstrating their exceptional self-cleaning,antifouling,and selfhealing capabilities.We anticipate that the self-healing reactive UF membrane system will serve as a pioneering and comprehensive solution for the self-cleaning antifouling challenges encountered in UF membranes while also effectively mitigating the aging effects of reactive UF membranes.

An intrinsically self-healing and anti-freezing molecular chains induced polyacrylamide-based hydrogel electrolytes for zinc manganese dioxide batteries

The anti-freezing strategy of hydrogels and their self-healing structure are often contradictory,it is vital to break through the molecular structure to design and construct hydrogels with intrinsic anti-freezing/self-healing for meeting the rapid development of flexible and wearable devices in diverse service conditions.Herein,we design a new hydrogel electrolyte(AF/SH-Hydrogel)with intrinsic anti-freezing/self-healing capabilities by introducing ethylene glycol molecules,dynamic chemical bonding(disulfide bond),and supramolecular interaction(multi-hydrogen bond)into the polyacrylamide molecular chain.Thanks to the exceptional freeze resistance(84%capacity retention at-20℃)and intrinsic self-healing capabilities(95%capacity retention after 5 cutting/self-healing cycles),the obtained AF/SH-Hydrogel makes the zinc||manganese dioxide cell an economically feasible battery for the state-of-the-art applications.The Zn||AF/SH-Hydrogel||MnO_(2)device offers a near-theoretical specific capacity of 285 m A h g^(-1)at 0.1 A g^(-1)(Coulombic efficiency≈100%),as well as good self-healing capability and mechanical flexibility in an ice bath.This work provides insight that can be utilized to develop multifunctional hydrogel electrolytes for application in next generation of self-healable and freeze-resistance smart aqueous energy storage devices.

Effect of drying cracks on swelling and self-healing of bentonite-sand blocks used as engineered barriers for radioactive waste disposal

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the healing of drying cracks in air-dried bentonite-sand blocks after hydration and swelling in groundwater,providing justifications to simplify the protection of blocks prior to installation in a high-level radioactive waste repository.Synthetic groundwater was prepared to represent the geochemistry of Beishan groundwater,and was used to hydrate the blocks during the swelling pressure and swelling strain measurements,as Beishan is the most promising site for China's repository.Healing of the surface cracks was recorded by photography,and healing of the internal cracks was visualized by CT images and hydraulic conductivity of air-dried blocks.The results indicate that the maximum swelling pressure and swelling strain are primarily affected by the geochemistry of Beishan groundwater,but not affected by the drying cracks.The maximum swelling pressure and swelling strain of air-dried blocks are comparable to or even higher than the pressure and strain of fresh blocks.The maximum swelling pressure measured in strong(i.e.high ion strength)Beishan groundwater was 44%of the pressure measured in deionized(DI)water,and the maximum swelling strain was reduced to 23%of the strain measured in DI water.Nevertheless,the remained swelling of the blocks hydrated in strong Beishan groundwater was sufficient to heal the surface and internal drying cracks,as demonstrated by the pictures of surface cracks and CT images.The hydraulic conductivity of the air-dried block permeated with strong groundwater was comparable(3.7×higher)to the hydraulic conductivity of the fresh block,indicating the self-healing of drying cracks after hydration and swelling in groundwater.A simplified method of protecting the block with plastic wraps before installation is recommended,since the remained swelling of the block hydrated in Beishan groundwater is sufficient to heal the drying cracks.

Research Progress of Aromatic Bed Curtains for Aiding Sleep Based on Lavender Microcapsule Technique

In this paper, the preparation technique of lavender essential oil microcapsules and the construction method of aromatic textiles were expounded, and the research status of bed curtains and lavender microcapsules at home and abroad was analyzed and studied from the perspective of application in textiles. The application of lavender essential oil to bed curtains through the microcapsule technique was put forward to allow lavender essential oil to play its role of helping sleep in bed curtains. This paper expounded the material selection and preparation technique of lavender microcapsule agents, and put forward the preparation method of microcapsules with mixed solutions of pure Chinese medicine extracts and natural essences as core material and high-viscosity epoxy resin as wall materials. The post-processing techniques and the spray ironing method for clothing were studied and developed, and these techniques and methods were applied to bed curtains, and good results were obtained.

Preparation and Characterization of Microcapsules for Self-healing Materials

The urea-formaldehyde（UF） capsules filled with a healing agent, a mixture of epoxy resins（epoxy 711 and E-51） as core material, were produced by means of one step in-situ polymerization. The characteristics of these microcapsules were studied via scanning electron microscopy（SEM）, particle size analysis, FTIR and DSC/TGA. The results show that the dispersed and integrated microcapsules of 5 μm in shell thickness were synthesized successfully. The capsules were produced with diameters ranging from 10 to 250 μm via controlling agitation rate. Young＇s modulus of the capsule was a little lower than those of the epoxy resins, but the microcapsules having such a shell thickness were robust enough to survive handling during manufacturing self-healing composites. When damage occurred in the epoxy matrix, the crack could rupture the microcapsule to make the repairing agent release.

The study on the mechanical properties of PU/MF double shell self-healing microcapsules

The self-healing microcapsules can be buried in the coating to improve the anticorrosive ability.In this paper,self-healing microcapsules of polyurea(PU)/melamine resin(MF)double shell were prepared by in-situ polymerization and interfacial polymerization with isocyanate as the core material.Scanning electron microscope was used to observe the microcapsule morphology.The structures of microcapsules prepared with different chain extenders were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.The micromanipulation system was used to loading–holding,loading–unloading and loading to rupture individual microcapsules,so as to explore the mechanical properties of microcapsules.The Young’s modulus corresponding to microcapsules was calculated by mathematical model fitting.The self-healing properties of microcapsule coating were characterized by optical microscope.The experimental results showed that the microcapsule shell prepared under optimized conditions had a complete morphology and good mechanical properties.The microcapsule was in the elastic deformation stage under small deformation,and the plastic deformation stage under large deformation.The Young’s modulus range of microcapsules was 9.29–14.51 MPa,and the corresponding Young’s modulus could be prepared by adjusting the process.The surface crack of the coating containing microcapsule could heal itself after48 h in a humid environment.

Improving the Dispersibility of Poly(urea-formaldehyde) Microcapsules for Self-Healing Coatings Using Preparation Process

Poly(urea-formaldehyde)(PUF)microcapsules were prepared by in-situ polymerization with four different pro-cesses in this paper.The chemical composition,surface morphology,particle size distribution,and thermal sta-bility were characterized by FTIR,SEM,particle size analyzer,and TGA,respectively.The results demonstrated that the agglomeration of the PUF microcapsules was related to the agglomeration of the emulsion particles caused by the changes of emulsion interface during the shell polymerization.Due to the slow deposition of the shell material,the PUF microcapsules with the core-shell structure prepared by the process with ammonium chloride as the last additive showed good dispersibility with an average diameter of 6.36μm,high core content of 71.3 wt%,and high yield of 61.3 wt%.The PUF microcapsules had good thermal stability below 216?C.The PUF microcapsules could be uniformly dispersed in the epoxy coating in a single form.The epoxy coating with 2 wt%PUF microcapsules showed good self-healing property,and the service life of the coating was about doubled.

Characteristics of Self-Healing Microcapsules for Cementitious Composites

Urea formaldehyde/epoxy resin microcapsules were prepared by an in situ polymerization method and the effect of emulsifier on the syntheses process of the microcapsules was discussed. The surface morphology of the microcapsules was observed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy（SEM）. Chemical structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR）. Thermal stability was obtained using simultaneous thermal analysis（STA）. The microcapsules were composed of urea-formaldehyde resin shell and epoxy resin core. Emulsifier played an important role in the polymerization process when the core material was packed by pre-polymer, so the effects of different emulsifiers（OP-10, SDS and SDBS） were discussed respectively. Results showed that the particle size of the microcapsules was uniform when SDBS as an emulsifier. Microcapsules showed good thermal stability below 240 ℃ and the initial decomposition temperature of the microcapsules was 265 ℃. The core materials released after microcapsules rupturing, which could be proven by the images of SEM. When implanted in cementitious composites, complete shape of microcapsules and good interface between microcapsules and cement specimen substrate could also be observed.

Application Research on Self-healing Technology with Microcapsules for Automobile Brake Pad

In order to improve the performance of non-asbestos composite auto brake pads that are composed of matrix resin, reinforced material and fillers, a novel method with new technology of self-heal microcapsules was proposed. Nano reinforced fillers＇ effects were also considered in the experiment project. Five recipe designs for new composite auto brake pads were carried out and cor-responding samples were prepared as well. The friction coefficient and wearing properties at certain temperature, impact intensity and hardness were comparatively studied. Investigations indicate that properties of such composite auto brake pads meet the requirements of the national standards while microcapsule＇s weight content varies from 5.5wt%-1.09wt% of matrix resin and microcapsule＇s loca-tion varies in the pads. Nano reinforced fillers have the effects of increasing composites＇ impact in-tensity and hardness. Application of self-healing microcapsules in auto brake pads is feasible.

Effects of Surface Modifi cation on the Properties of Microcapsules for Self-healing

Poly（urea-formaldehyde）（UF） microcapsules with epoxy resin E-51 as core material used as self-healing materials were prepared by interfacial polymerization method. The surface of UF microcapsules was modifi ed by γ-（2,3-epoxypropoxy） propytrimethoxysilane（KH-560）. The interfacial interactions between UF microcapsules and KH-560 were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR） and X-ray photoelectron spectrometric analysis（XPS） of microcapsules. The surface topography of microcapsules was characterized by scanning electron microscopy（SEM）. The thermal stability and mechanical properties were evaluated. FTIR and XPS results showed that there were physical and chemical combinations between the silicon coupling agent and the microcapsules surface. The thermal stability and mechanical property analysis showed that the addition of KH-560 could greatly improve the thermal stability, tensile property and elastic property. SEM results indicated that the addition of KH-560 could improve the bonding between the surface of microcapsules and resin matrix and improve the ability of self-healing.

Self-Healing Liquid Metal Magnetic Hydrogels for Smart Feedback Sensors and High-Performance Electromagnetic Shielding

Hydrogels exhibit potential applications in smart wearable devices because of their exceptional sensitivity to various external stimuli.However,their applications are limited by challenges in terms of issues in biocompatibility,custom shape,and self-healing.Herein,a conductive,stretchable,adaptable,self-healing,and biocompatible liquid metal GaInSn/Ni-based composite hydrogel is developed by incorporating a magnetic liquid metal into the hydrogel framework through crosslinking polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)with sodium tetraborate.The excellent stretchability and fast self-healing capability of the PVA/liquid metal hydrogel are derived from its abundant hydrogen binding sites and liquid metal fusion.Significantly,owing to the magnetic constituent,the PVA/liquid metal hydrogel can be guided remotely using an external magnetic field to a specific position to repair the broken wires with no need for manual operation.The composite hydrogel also exhibits sensitive deformation responses and can be used as a strain sensor to monitor various body motions.Additionally,the multifunctional hydrogel displays absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding properties.The total shielding performance of the composite hydrogel increases to~62.5 dB from~31.8 dB of the pure PVA hydrogel at the thickness of 3.0 mm.The proposed bioinspired multifunctional magnetic hydrogel demonstrates substantial application potential in the field of intelligent wearable devices.

Intrinsic Self-Healing Chemistry for Next-Generation Flexible Energy Storage Devices

The booming wearable/portable electronic devices industry has stimulated the progress of supporting flexible energy storage devices.Excellent performance of flexible devices not only requires the component units of each device to maintain the original performance under external forces,but also demands the overall device to be flexible in response to external fields.However,flexible energy storage devices inevitably occur mechanical damages(extrusion,impact,vibration)/electrical damages(overcharge,over-discharge,external short circuit)during longterm complex deformation conditions,causing serious performance degradation and safety risks.Inspired by the healing phenomenon of nature,endowing energy storage devices with self-healing capability has become a promising strategy to effectively improve the durability and functionality of devices.Herein,this review systematically summarizes the latest progress in intrinsic self-healing chemistry for energy storage devices.Firstly,the main intrinsic self-healing mechanism is introduced.Then,the research situation of electrodes,electrolytes,artificial interface layers and integrated devices based on intrinsic self-healing and advanced characterization technology is reviewed.Finally,the current challenges and perspective are provided.We believe this critical review will contribute to the development of intrinsic self-healing chemistry in the flexible energy storage field.

Self-Healing MXene-and Graphene-Based Composites:Properties and Applications

Today,self-healing graphene-and MXene-based composites have attracted researchers due to the increase in durability as well as the cost reduction in long-time applications.Different studies have focused on designing novel self-healing graphene-and MXenebased composites with enhanced sensitivity,stretchability,and flexibility as well as improved electrical conductivity,healing efficacy,mechanical properties,and energy conversion efficacy.These composites with self-healing properties can be employed in the field of wearable sensors,supercapacitors,anticorrosive coatings,electromagnetic interference shielding,electronic-skin,soft robotics,etc.However,it appears that more explorations are still needed to achieve composites with excellent arbitrary shape adaptability,suitable adhesiveness,ideal durability,high stretchability,immediate self-healing responsibility,and outstanding electromagnetic features.Besides,optimizing reaction/synthesis conditions and finding suitable strategies for functionalization/modification are crucial aspects that should be comprehensively investigated.MXenes and graphene exhibited superior electrochemical properties with abundant surface terminations and great surface area,which are important to evolve biomedical and sensing applications.However,flexibility and stretchability are important criteria that need to be improved for their future applications.Herein,the most recent advancements pertaining to the applications and properties of self-healing graphene-and MXene-based composites are deliberated,focusing on crucial challenges and future perspectives.