Insights into Nano-and Micro-Structured Scaffolds for Advanced Electrochemical Energy Storage

Adopting a nano-and micro-structuring approach to fully unleashing the genuine potential of electrode active material benefits in-depth understandings and research progress toward higher energy density electrochemical energy stor-age devices at all technology readiness levels.Due to various challenging issues,especially limited stability,nano-and micro-structured(NMS)electrodes undergo fast electrochemical performance degradation.The emerging NMS scaffold design is a pivotal aspect of many electrodes as it endows them with both robustness and electrochemical performance enhancement,even though it only occupies comple-mentary and facilitating components for the main mechanism.However,extensive efforts are urgently needed toward optimizing the stereoscopic geometrical design of NMS scaffolds to minimize the volume ratio and maximize their functionality to fulfill the ever-increasing dependency and desire for energy power source supplies.This review will aim at highlighting these NMS scaffold design strategies,summariz-ing their corresponding strengths and challenges,and thereby outlining the potential solutions to resolve these challenges,design principles,and key perspectives for future research in this field.Therefore,this review will be one of the earliest reviews from this viewpoint.

Synergistically biomimetic platform that enables droplets to be self-propelled

Droplet transport still faces numerous challenges,such as a limited transport distance,large volume loss,and liquid contamination.Inspired by the principle of‘synergistic biomimetics’,we propose a design for a platform that enables droplets to be self-propelled.The orchid leaf-like three-dimensional driving structure provides driving forces for the liquid droplets,whereas the lotus leaf-like superhydrophobic surface prevents liquid adhesion,and the bamboo-like nodes enable long-distance transport.During droplet transport,no external energy input is required,no fluid adhesion or residue is induced,and no contamination or mass loss of the fluid is caused.We explore the influence of various types and parameters of wedge structures on droplet transportation,the deceleration of droplet speed at nodal points,and the distribution of internal pressure.The results indicate that the transport platform exhibits insensitivity to pH value and temperature.It allows droplets to be transported with varying curvatures in a spatial environment,making it applicable in tasks like target collection,as well as load,fused,anti-gravity,and long-distance transport.The maximum droplet transport speed reached(58±5)mm·s^(−1),whereas the transport distance extended to(136±4)mm.The developed platform holds significant application prospects in the fields of biomedicine and chemistry,such as high-throughput screening of drugs,genomic bioanalysis,microfluidic chip technology for drug delivery,and analysis of biological samples.

Biomimetic 3D printing of composite structures with decreased cracking

The development of tissue engineering and regeneration research has created new platforms for bone transplantation.However,the preparation of scaffolds with good fiber integrity is challenging,because scaffolds prepared by traditional printing methods are prone to fiber cracking during solvent evaporation.Human skin has an excellent natural heat-management system,which helps to maintain a constant body temperature through perspiration or blood-vessel constriction.In this work,an electrohydrodynamic-jet 3D-printing method inspired by the thermal-management system of skin was developed.In this system,the evaporation of solvent in the printed fibers can be adjusted using the temperature-change rate of the substrate to prepare 3D structures with good structural integrity.To investigate the solvent evaporation and the interlayer bonding of the fibers,finite-element analysis simulations of a three-layer microscale structure were carried out.The results show that the solvent-evaporation path is from bottom to top,and the strain in the printed structure becomes smaller with a smaller temperaturechange rate.Experimental results verified the accuracy of these simulation results,and a variety of complex 3D structures with high aspect ratios were printed.Microscale cracks were reduced to the nanoscale by adjusting the temperature-change rate from 2.5 to 0.5℃s-1.Optimized process parameters were selected to prepare a tissue engineering scaffold with high integrity.It was confirmed that this printed scaffold had good biocompatibility and could be used for bone-tissue regeneration.This simple and flexible 3D-printing method can also help with the preparation of a wide range of micro-and nanostructured sensors and actuators.

A biomimetic spore nanoplatform for boosting chemodynamic therapy and bacteria-mediated antitumor immunity for synergistic cancer treatment

Bacterial-based antitumor immunity has become a promising strategy to activate the immune system for fighting cancer.However,the potential application of bacterial therapy is hindered by the presence of instability and susceptibility to infections within bacterial populations.Furthermore,monotherapy is ineffective in completely eliminating complex cancer with multiple contributing factors.In this study,based on our discovery that spore shell(SS)of Bacillus coagulans exhibits excellent tumor-targeting ability and adjuvant activity,we develop a biomimetic spore nanoplatform to boost bacteria-mediated antitumor therapy,chemodynamic therapy and antitumor immunity for synergistic cancer treatment.In detail,SS is separated from probiotic spores and then attached to the surface of liposome(Lipo)that was loaded with hemoglobin(Hb),glucose oxidase(GOx)and JQ1to construct SS@Lipo/Hb/GOx/JQ1.In tumor tissue,highly toxic hydroxyl radicals(·OH)are generated via sequential catalytic reactions:GOx catalyzing glucose into H_(2)O_(2)and Fe^(2+)in Hb decomposing H_(2)O_(2)into·OH.The combination of·OH and SS adjuvant can improve tumor immunogenicity and activate immune system.Meanwhile,JQ1-mediated down-regulation of PD-L1 and Hb-induced hypoxia alleviation synergistically reshape immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and potentiate immune response.In this manner,SS@Lipo/Hb/GOx/JQ1 significantly suppresses tumor growth and metastasis.To summarize,the nanoplatform represents an optimum strategy to potentiate bacteria-based cancer immunotherapy.

Recent Advances in Computational Simulation of Macro-,Meso-,and Micro-Scale Biomimetics Related Fluid Flow Problems

Over the last decade, computational methods have been intensively applied to a variety of scientific researches and engineering designs. Although the computational fluid dynamics （CFD） method has played a dominant role in studying and simulating transport phenomena involving fluid flow and heat and mass transfers, in recent years, other numerical methods for the simulations at meso- and micro-scales have also been actively applied to solve the physics of complex flow and fluid-interface interactions. This paper presents a review of recent advances in multi-scale computational simulation of biomimetics related fluid flow problems. The state-of-the-art numerical techniques, such as lattice Boltzmann method （LBM）, molecular dynamics （MD）, and conventional CFD, applied to different problems such as fish flow, electro-osmosis effect of earthworm motion, and self-cleaning hydrophobic surface, and the numerical approaches are introduced. The new challenging of modelling biomimetics problems in developing the physical conditions of self-clean hydrophobic surfaces is discussed.

The Concept of Electroosmotically Driven Flow and Its Application to Biomimetics

The concept of electroosmotically driven flow is built around understanding how the ionized particles or fluid are driven to flow by electroosmosis forces. Apart from the major applications of this concept to micro flow control elements which have been explored in parallel with the rapid developments in micro fabrication technologies, the present focus is on its application to biomimetics. As soil animals (in fact all living creatures) such as earthworms and dung beetles carry bioelectricity, the relative movement between the creatures and the surrounding soil which is a multi-component medium with moist content will generate electrophoresis or electroosmosis forces. Such forces drive the ionized moist content, normally water, to migrate from positive to negative poles under the action of electric double layer (EDL) effect, and effectively reduce the adhesion or drag.Predicting the electroosmotically driven flow in the vicinity of biological and animal surfaces is a key problem of drag/adhesion reduction and biomimetics design. The aim of this article is to demonstrate how the theory of electroosmotically driven flow has developed and to describe its broader significance for anti adhesion of soil animals and biomimetics design of soil machinery tools.

Micro-structural evolution and their effects on physical properties in different types of tectonically deformed coals

The macromolecular structure of tectonically deformed coals(TDC)may be determined by the deformation mechanisms of coal.Alterations of the macromolecular structure change the pore structure of TDC and thereby impact physical properties such as porosity and permeability.This study focuses on structure and properties of TDC from the Huaibei and Huainan coal mining areas of southern North China.Relationships between the macromolecular structure and the pore structure of TDC were analyzed using techniques such as X-ray diffraction,high-resolution transmission electron microcopy,and the low-temperature nitrogen adsorption.The results indicated that the directional stress condition can cause the arrangement of basic structural units(BSU)more serious and closer.And,the orientation is stronger in ductile deformed coal than in brittle deformed coal.Tectonic deformation directly influences the macromolecular structure of coal and consequently results in dynamic metamorphism.Because the size of BSU in brittle deformed coal increases more slowly than in ductile deformed coal,frictional heating and stress-chemistry of shearing areas might play a more important role,locally altering coal structure under stress,in brittle deformed coal.Strain energy is more significant in increasing the ductile deformation of coal.Furthermore,mesopores account for larger percentage of the nano-scale pore volume in brittle deformed coals,while mesopores volume in ductile deformed coal diminishes rapidly along with an increase in the proportion of micropores and sub-micropores.This research also approved that the deformations of macromolecular structures change nano-scale pore structures,which are very important for gas adsorption and pervasion space for gas.Therefore,the exploration and development potential of coal bed methane is promising for reservoirs that are subjected to a certain degree of brittle deformation(such as schistose structure coal,mortar structure coal and cataclastic structure coal).It also holds promise for TDC resulting from wrinkle structure coal of low ductile deformation and later superimposed by brittle deformation.Other kinds of TDC suffering from strong brittle-ductile and ductile deformation,such as scale structure coal and mylonitic structure coal,are difficult problems to resolve.

3D Modelling of Biological Systems for Biomimetics

With the advanced development of computer-based enabling technologies, many engineering, medical, biology, chemistry, physics and food science etc have developed to the unprecedented levels, which lead to many research and development interests in various multi-discipline areas. Among them, biomimetics is one of the most promising and attractive branches of study. Biomimetics is a branch of study that uses biological systems as a model to develop synthetic systems. To learn from nature, one of the fundamental issues is to understand the natural systems such animals, insects, plants and human beings etc. The geometrical characterization and representation of natural systems is an important fundamental work for biomimetics research. 3D modeling plays a key role in the geometrical characterization and representation, especially in computer graphical visualization. This paper firstly presents the typical procedure of 3D modelling methods and then reviews the previous work of 3D geometrical modelling techniques and systems developed for industrial, medical and animation applications. Especially the paper discusses the problems associated with the existing techniques and systems when they are applied to 3D modelling of biological systems. Based upon the discussions, the paper proposes some areas of research interests in 3D modelling of biological systems and for Biomimetics.

The effect of agglomerate on micro-structural evolution in solid-state sintering

Discrete element method （DEM） is used in the present paper to simulate the microstructural evolution of a planar layer of copper particles during sintering. Formation of agglomerates and the effect of their rearrangement on densification are mainly focused on. Comparing to the existing experimental observations, we find that agglomerate can form spontaneously in sintering and its rearrangement could accelerate the densification of compacts. Snapshots of numerical simulations agree qualitatively well with experimental observations. The method could be readily extended to investigate the effect of agglomerate on sintering in a three- dimensional model, which should be very useful for understanding the evolution of microstructure of sintering systems.

The structural basis of oscillation damping in plant stems-biomechanics and biomimetics

Oscillations and their damping were investigated for plant stems of Cyperus alternifolius L., Equisetum hyemale L., Equisetum fluviatile L., Juncus effuses L., Stipa gigantea Link, and Thamnocalamus spathaceus (Franch.) Soderstr. With the exception of T. spathaceus, mechanical damping of the oscillation of individual plant stems, even without side organs, leaves or inflorescences, is quite effective. Our experiments support the hypothesis that embedding stiff sclerenchymatous elements in a more compliant parenchymatous matrix provides the structural basis for the dissipation of mechanical energy in the plant stem. As an application the naturally occurring structures were mimicked in a compound material made from hemp fabrics em- bedded in polyurethane foam, cured under pressure. Like its natural model it shows plastic deformability and viscoelastic be- haviour. In particular the material is characterized by a remarkably high shock absorption capacity even for high impact loads.

Bacterial Surface Layer Proteins: From Moonlighting to Biomimetics: A New Horizonto Lead

The landmark discovery of moonlighting proteins embarks the significant progress in understanding the biological complexity and their closed-circuit analysis. The growing continuum in the variety of moonlighting functions paved the way for further elucidation of structural-functional aspects of protein evolution and design of proteins with novel functions. Currently, the moonlighting functions in various adhesive properties of surface layer proteins, an essential component of cell surface architecture of archaea and all phylogenetic groups of eubacteria become more prominently recognized. The remarkable credentials of surface layer proteins to self-assemble into supramolecular structures at nano-scale dimension have been exploited for the production of smart biomaterials in the form of biomimetics has been thrust area of research. The finely tuned topological features in terms of shape, size, geometry and surface chemistry of surface layer proteins are crucial for the production of biomimetics. The current developments of biomimetic lipid bilayers and composite membranes find applicability in understanding the functional dynamism of evolutionary relationship of bacterial cell envelopes and vaccine development, drug development and drug delivery. Though the development of biomimetics embraces fascination but faces with technological challenges. The plethora of literature has been available for the moonlighting aspects and nano-technological applications separately but none of the review describes towards the rhythmic transition from moonlighting functions of surface layer proteins of bacteria to biomimetics development and applications. Therefore, this review describes certain basic aspects of moonlighting functions and their mechanism of action, surface layer proteins and their moonlighting functions of commensal bacteria and their transition towards biomimetics. The recent developments of biomimetics based on surface layer proteins have been summarized and also posited different challenges and future prospects.

Crystalline-magnetism action in biomimetic mineralization of calcium carbonate

The influence of minor environmental factors,such as the geomagnetic field,on the biomineralization of nacres,is often ignored but a great deal of research has confirmed its important role in the normal mineralization of calcium carbonate.Although the geomagnetic field is weak,its cumulative effects need to be considered given that the biomineralization process can take years.Accordingly,the authors of this paper have investigated the effects of weak magnetic fields(25 Gs or 50 Gs)on calcium carbonate mineralization and analyzed the mechanism involved.The results show that even a weak magnetic field conduces to the formation of vaterite or aragonite,in the induction order of precursor→vaterite→aragonite.The stronger the magnetic field and the longer the time,the more obvious the induction effect.The effect of a magnetic field is strongest in the aging stage and weakest in the solution stage.Inductions by egg-white protein and by a magnetic field inhibit each other,but they both restrict particle growth.These findings highlight the importance of minor environmental factors for biomineralization and can serve as a reference for biomimetic preparation of a CaCO_(3)nacre-like structure and for anti-scale technology for circulating cooling water.

蜂蜜中链霉素仿生印迹电化学传感检测方法

动物源食品中链霉素残留危害严重,建立高性能分析方法是确保食品安全和人类健康的必要手段。仿生印迹电化学传感检测方法具有高效、特异和灵敏等优点,已成为食品安全检测技术研究的重要领域。该研究以链霉素为模板分子,氧化石墨烯和壳聚糖为增敏材料,3-氨基苯基硼酸和邻苯二胺为复合功能单体,采用电聚合法构建了仿生印迹聚合物传感界面,建立了蜂蜜中链霉素的仿生印迹电化学传感检测方法。通过扫描电镜对印迹传感界面进行了表征,采用循环伏安法、差分脉冲伏安法和电化学交流阻抗法对仿生印迹传感器的电化学性能进行表征。在最佳反应条件下,该传感器的检测限为2.59×10^(-12) mol/L,线性范围为1.0×10^(-10)~1.0×10^(-6) mol/L,洋槐蜜、枣花蜜和桂花蜜样品的加标回收率分别为94.78%~106.24%、93.65%~103.81%和97.19%~106.18%,相对标准偏差≤4.28%。试验结果表明,该方法具有良好的重复性、稳定性和重现性,能够满足蜂蜜中链霉素残留分析的需要。相关研究为复杂基质中痕量靶标的高特异性和超灵敏分析提供了技术支撑,对于蜂蜜中链霉素的快速筛查和安全监测具有重要意义。

制浆造纸废水深度处理方法研究

制浆造纸废水深度处理是实现对废水的降解和净化的重要环节。采用深度处理技术,不仅可以使得制浆造纸废水达到国家标准排放要求,还可以最大化地利用并回收水资源,降低环境污染和资源浪费的情况。在分析制浆造纸废水来源以及处理难点的基础上,介绍了几种制浆造纸废水的深度处理方法,旨在发挥深度处理的技术优势和效益,提升制浆造纸企业废水处理的可持续发展能力。

与蝠永相伴

蝙蝠以大毒王闻名于世,却是人类实实在在的良师益友。它具有控制害虫、种子传播、植物授粉等不可或缺的生态作用和巨大的经济价值,且在健康长寿、生物仿生等方面具备重要的研究意义。作为唯一会飞行的哺乳动物,人们对它的观察与研究从未停止。蝙蝠声纳系统的发现见证了人类探求真理的曲折历程和顽强精神。蝙蝠拥有“心眼”这样的超能力,人类依据其回声定位和形体结构制造出蝙蝠机器人,未来应用及发展前景非常广阔。蝙蝠还是中国福文化的代表,值得我们永远颂扬。论文讲述了蝙蝠的优缺点、身体结构、生活习性和夜视能力以及蝙蝠机器人的相关知识,旨在引领学生全面辩证地看待蝙蝠的问题,培养学生的思辨意识和能力,体会仿生学的奥妙,传承中华传统福文化思想精髓,树立人与自然和谐共生的发展观。

氧化石墨烯辅助仿生矿化原位合成羟基磷灰石

羟基磷灰石(HAp)是一种与人体骨骼成分类似的无机材料,具有良好的生物相容性。本文以氧化石墨烯(GO)为模板,通过模拟体液(SBF)仿生矿化原位合成了HAp纳米粒子。通过SEM、XRD、EDS和拉曼光谱等测试分析研究了矿化时间、SBF/GO体积比对矿化产物物相组成、形貌和结构的影响。结果表明,矿化处理后的GO表面形成了大量均匀分布的类骨HAp。随着矿化时间延长和SBF体积占比增大,矿化产物的尺寸及数量增大,GO层间距逐渐扩大。本研究验证了GO辅助合成HAp的可行性,拓展了仿生矿化法的应用领域。

基于图像识别仿生木纹的三维打印路径规划方法

针对传统三维打印采用的诸如网格、三角等均匀同构介观结构填充存在结构效率低、与承载零件应力场不协调等问题,受自然生长的木纹可提高木材整体性能的启发,提出基于图像识别仿生木纹的三维打印路径规划方法,旨在借鉴木材的纤维排布以改善零件的机械性能。通过木材铣削分层,依次提取各层图像木纹并生成对应打印路径,并逐层打印出仿生木纹试件。拉伸试验结果表明:相比同质量的网格填充、三角填充、直线填充三种传统均匀同构填充试件,基于仿生木纹的非均匀异构打印试件最大拉伸载荷分别提高了115.03%、72.89%、64.39%,证明了基于仿生木纹的非均匀介观填充结构能够显著提高打印件拉伸强度。

受猪笼草启发的仿生超滑表面研究进展

自然界中猪笼草的袋状叶片内壁呈多孔结构,能锁住其分泌的蜡状物质,受此启发,向粗糙基底灌注低表面能液体以形成稳定的润滑油层,进而制备出注液超滑表面,其比超疏水表面具有更耐久的疏液、自清洁、防附着等性能,成为当前研究的热点。基于此,该文介绍了仿生超滑表面的润湿理论及作用机制,综述了超滑表面构建技术策略,包括粗糙基底成形-润滑油灌注与粗糙基底成形-基底化学修饰-润滑油灌注2种典型的路径;全面总结了粗糙基底的制备方法,包括刻蚀法、溶胶-凝胶法、呼吸图法、水热法,并介绍了仿生超滑表面在油水分离、水雾收集、防腐蚀、液滴操控、防覆冰领域的应用进展;最后,对仿生超滑表面的发展前景进行了展望。

吸气预冷发动机预冷换热芯体仿生结构设计发展趋势与展望

现有超高声速飞行器预冷组合循环发动机空气预冷器内部一般由多组微细管束组成,工作过程中存在流致振动大、加工要求高等问题,因此,有必要对预冷器换热芯体进行改型设计,并对其开展进一步的流动换热研究。本文首先分析了基于仿生分形的预冷器换热芯体改型需求;然后梳理了仿蜂巢分形、树状分形与生物表面混合结构在新型预冷芯体强化换热上的应用,以及仿生物体凹凸表面结构、疏水结构在降低预冷芯体内通道表面流阻、抑制结霜上的应用,给出了3种可适用于空天领域的“筒状”仿生预冷换热芯体设计案例;最后总结并展望了仿生微通道换热结构与预冷器换热芯体设计结合的发展前景。

中小型青贮玉米收获机械研究现状及发展趋势

随着牛、羊等草食性牲畜的快速发展,畜牧业对青贮玉米饲料的需求持续增长,我国青贮玉米的种植规模也在不断扩大。由于我国耕地类型和地块面积差异较大,青贮玉米的收获需要多种类型的作业机械。为促进玉米青贮收获机械的研发和应用,从畜牧产业适度规模发展的需要和当前我国分段收获与直接收获并存的现实情况出发,采用分作业环节的方式,针对青贮玉米收获机械的共性关键技术:秸秆切割、秸秆切碎揉丝、玉米籽粒破碎、青贮打捆包膜等,分析青贮玉米收获机械生产中的常用结构和最新研究现状。介绍青贮玉米收获机械的研发应用情况,从青贮作业环节中分析总结出存在秸秆切割与粉碎理论研究较少、各装置作业质量研究不足、整机适应性不强等共性问题。提出加强刀具与秸秆互作机理的研究、作业质量的研究、整机适应性的研究,使中小型青贮玉米收获机械在不同规模和作业需求下具有更好的作业性能、作业质量和综合生产效率。