A drug-loaded flexible substrate improves the performance of conformal cortical electrodes

Cortical electrodes are a powerful tool for the stimulation and/or recording of electrical activity in the nervous system.However,the inevitable wound caused by surgical implantation of electrodes presents bacterial infection and inflammatory reaction risks associated with foreign body exposure.Moreover,inflammation of the wound area can dramatically worsen in response to bacterial infection.These consequences can not only lead to the failure of cortical electrode implantation but also threaten the lives of patients.Herein,we prepared a hydrogel made of bacterial cellulose(BC),a flexible substrate for cortical electrodes,and further loaded antibiotic tetracycline(TC)and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone(DEX)onto it.The encapsulated drugs can be released from the BC hydrogel and effectively inhibit the growth of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.Next,therapeutic cortical electrodes were developed by integrating the drug-loaded BC hydrogel and nine-channel serpentine arrays;these were used to record electrocorticography(ECoG)signals in a rat model.Due to the controlled release of TC and DEX from the BC hydrogel substrate,therapeutic cortical electrodes can alleviate or prevent symptoms associated with the bacterial infection and inflammation of brain tissue.This approach facilitates the development of drug delivery electrodes for resolving complications caused by implantable electrodes.

Ionic Liquid-Enhanced Assembly of Nanomaterials for Highly Stable Flexible Transparent Electrodes

The controlled assembly of nanomaterials has demon-strated significant potential in advancing technological devices.However,achieving highly efficient and low-loss assembly technique for nanomate-rials,enabling the creation of hierarchical structures with distinctive func-tionalities,remains a formidable challenge.Here,we present a method for nanomaterial assembly enhanced by ionic liquids,which enables the fabrication of highly stable,flexible,and transparent electrodes featuring an organized layered structure.The utilization of hydrophobic and non-volatile ionic liquids facilitates the production of stable interfaces with water,effectively preventing the sedimentation of 1D/2D nanomaterials assembled at the interface.Furthermore,the interfacially assembled nanomaterial monolayer exhibits an alternate self-climbing behavior,enabling layer-by-layer transfer and the formation of a well-ordered MXene-wrapped silver nanowire network film.The resulting composite film not only demonstrates exceptional photoelectric performance with a sheet resistance of 9.4Ωsq^(-1) and 93%transmittance,but also showcases remarkable environmental stability and mechanical flexibility.Particularly noteworthy is its application in transparent electromagnetic interference shielding materials and triboelectric nanogenerator devices.This research introduces an innovative approach to manufacture and tailor functional devices based on ordered nanomaterials.

The use of carbon-based particle electrodes in three-dimensional electrode reactors for wastewater treatment

The use of three-dimensional(3D)electrodes in water treatment is competitive because of their high catalytic efficiency,low energy consumption and promising development.The use of particle electrodes is a key research focus in this technology.They are usually in the form of particles that fill the space between the cathode and anode,and the selection of materials used is important.Carbon-based materials are widely used because of their large specific surface area,good adsorption performance,high chemical stability and low cost.The principles of 3D electrode technology are introduced and recent research on its use for degrading organic pollutants using carbon-based particle electrodes is summarized.The classification of particle electrodes is introduced and the challenges for the future development of carbon-based particle electrodes in wastewater treatment are discussed.

Spinal intradural electrodes: opportunities, challenges and translation to the clinic

Damage to the spinal cord disrupts the electrically active nerve cells which normally transmit afferent and efferent signals,resulting in loss of motor,sensory,and autonomic functions.Potential treatments for spinal cord injury utilizing implanted spinal electrodes can be broadly classified into three different categories.The first of these approaches is“spinal stimulation”where electrodes,usually positioned above the level of injury,provide electrical stimulation to target and disrupt pain signals before they reach the brain.The second approach uses“activity-dependent neuro-technologies”,in which electrodes positioned below the level of injury initiate a complex spatiotemporal pattern of stimulation at the lumbar spinal cord to generate a walking gait in the limbs(Minev et al.,2015;Wagner et al.,2018).

A Non-Intrusive Stochastic Phase-Field for Fatigue Fracture in Brittle Materials with Uncertainty in Geometry and Material Properties

Understanding the probabilistic nature of brittle materials due to inherent dispersions in their mechanical properties is important to assess their reliability and safety for sensitive engineering applications.This is all the more important when elements composed of brittle materials are exposed to dynamic environments,resulting in catastrophic fatigue failures.The authors propose the application of a non-intrusive polynomial chaos expansion method for probabilistic studies on brittle materials undergoing fatigue fracture when geometrical parameters and material properties are random independent variables.Understanding the probabilistic nature of fatigue fracture in brittle materials is crucial for ensuring the reliability and safety of engineering structures subjected to cyclic loading.Crack growth is modelled using a phase-field approach within a finite element framework.For modelling fatigue,fracture resistance is progressively degraded by modifying the regularised free energy functional using a fatigue degradation function.Number of cycles to failure is treated as the dependent variable of interest and is estimated within acceptable limits due to the randomness in independent properties.Multiple 2D benchmark problems are solved to demonstrate the ability of this approach to predict the dependent variable responses with significantly fewer simulations than the Monte Carlo method.This proposed approach can accurately predict results typically obtained through 105 or more runs in Monte Carlo simulations with a reduction of up to three orders of magnitude in required runs.The independent random variables’sensitivity to the system response is determined using Sobol’indices.The proposed approach has low computational overhead and can be useful for computationally intensive problems requiring rapid decision-making in sensitive applications like aerospace,nuclear and biomedical engineering.The technique does not require reformulating existing finite element code and can perform the stochastic study by direct pre/post-processing.

Flexible capacitive pressure sensor based on interdigital electrodes with porous microneedle arrays for physiological signal monitoring

Flexible pressure sensors have many potential applications in the monitoring of physiological signals because of their good biocompatibil-ity and wearability.However,their relatively low sensitivity,linearity,and stability have hindered their large-scale commercial application.Herein,aflexible capacitive pressure sensor based on an interdigital electrode structure with two porous microneedle arrays(MNAs)is pro-posed.The porous substrate that constitutes the MNA is a mixed product of polydimethylsiloxane and NaHCO3.Due to its porous and interdigital structure,the maximum sensitivity(0.07 kPa-1)of a porous MNA-based pressure sensor was found to be seven times higher than that of an imporous MNA pressure sensor,and it was much greater than that of aflat pressure sensor without a porous MNA structure.Finite-element analysis showed that the interdigital MNA structure can greatly increase the strain and improve the sensitivity of the sen-sor.In addition,the porous MNA-based pressure sensor was found to have good stability over 1500 loading cycles as a result of its bilayer parylene-enhanced conductive electrode structure.Most importantly,it was found that the sensor could accurately monitor the motion of afinger,wrist joint,arm,face,abdomen,eye,and Adam’s apple.Furthermore,preliminary semantic recognition was achieved by monitoring the movement of the Adam’s apple.Finally,multiple pressure sensors were integrated into a 33 array to detect a spatial pressure distribu-×tion.Compared to the sensors reported in previous works,the interdigital electrode structure presented in this work improves sensitivity and stability by modifying the electrode layer rather than the dielectric layer.

Amorphous Iridium Oxide-Integrated Anode Electrodes with Ultrahigh Material Utilization for Hydrogen Production at Industrial Current Densities

Herein,ionomer-free amorphous iridium oxide(IrO_(x))thin electrodes are first developed as highly active anodes for proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells(PEMECs)via low-cost,environmentally friendly,and easily scalable electrodeposition at room temperature.Combined with a Nafion 117 membrane,the IrO_(x)-integrated electrode with an ultralow loading of 0.075 mg cm^(-2)delivers a high cell efficiency of about 90%,achieving more than 96%catalyst savings and 42-fold higher catalyst utilization compared to commercial catalyst-coated membrane(2 mg cm^(-2)).Additionally,the IrO_(x)electrode demonstrates superior performance,higher catalyst utilization and significantly simplified fabrication with easy scalability compared with the most previously reported anodes.Notably,the remarkable performance could be mainly due to the amorphous phase property,sufficient Ir^(3+)content,and rich surface hydroxide groups in catalysts.Overall,due to the high activity,high cell efficiency,an economical,greatly simplified and easily scalable fabrication process,and ultrahigh material utilization,the IrO_(x)electrode shows great potential to be applied in industry and accelerates the commercialization of PEMECs and renewable energy evolution.

Understanding of the Relationship between the Properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se_(2)Solar Cells and the Structure of Ag Network Electrodes

The relation between the structure of the silver network electrodes and the properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se_(2)(CIGS)solar cells is systemically investigated.The Ag network electrode is deposited onto an Al:ZnO(AZO)thin film,employing a self-forming cracked template.Precise control over the cracked template's structure is achieved through careful adjustment of temperature and humidity.The Ag network electrodes with different coverage areas and network densities are systemically applied to the CIGS solar cells.It is revealed that predominant fill factor(FF)is influenced by the figure of merit of transparent conducting electrodes,rather than sheet resistance,particularly when the coverage area falls within the range of 1.3–5%.Furthermore,a higher network density corresponds to an enhanced FF when the coverage areas of the Ag networks are similar.When utilizing a thinner AZO film,CIGS solar cells with a surface area of 1.0609 cm^(2)exhibit a notable performance improvement,with efficiency increasing from 10.48%to 11.63%.This enhancement is primarily attributed to the increase in FF from 45%to 65%.These findings underscore the considerable potential for reducing the thickness of the transparent conductive oxide(TCO)in CIGS modules with implications for practical applications in photovoltaic technology.

Current collectors’ effects on the electrochemical performance of LiNi_(0.6)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.2)O_(2) suspension electrodes for lithium slurry battery

Take after the advantages of lithium-ion battery (LIB) and redox flow battery (RFB), semi-solid flow battery (SSFB) is a promising electrochemical energy storage device in renewable energy utilization. The flowable slurry electrode realizes decouple of energy and power density, while it also brings about new challenge to SSFBs, electron transport between active material and the out circuit. In this consideration, three types of current collectors (CCs) are applied to study the resistance and electrochemical performances of slurry cathodes within pouch cells for the first time. It proves that the electronic resistance (Re) between slurry electrode and the CC plays a decisive role in SSFB operation, and it is so large when Al foil is adopted that the cell cannot even work. Contact angle between Ketjen black (KB) slurry without active material (AM) and the CC is a preliminarily sign for the Re, the smaller the angle, the lower the resistance, and the better electrochemical performance of the cell.

Advanced 3D ordered electrodes for PEMFC applications: From structural features and fabrication methods to the controllable design of catalyst layers

The catalyst layers(CLs) electrode is the key component of the membrane electrode assembly(MEA) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs). Conventional electrodes for PEMFCs are composed of carbon-supported, ionomer, and Pt nanoparticles, all immersed together and sprayed with a micron-level thickness of CLs. They have a performance trade-off where increasing the Pt loading leads to higher performance of abundant triple-phase boundary areas but increases the electrode cost. Major challenges must be overcome before realizing its wide commercialization. Literature research revealed that it is impossible to achieve performance and durability targets with only high-performance catalysts, so the controllable design of CLs architecture in MEAs for PEMFCs must now be the top priority to meet industry goals. From this perspective, a 3D ordered electrode circumvents this issue with a support-free architecture and ultrathin thickness while reducing noble metal Pt loadings. Herein, we discuss the motivation in-depth and summarize the necessary CLs structural features for designing ultralow Pt loading electrodes. Critical issues that remain in progress for 3D ordered CLs must be studied and characterized. Furthermore, approaches for 3D ordered CLs architecture electrode development, involving material design, structure optimization, preparation technology, and characterization techniques, are summarized and are expected to be next-generation CLs for PEMFCs. Finally, the review concludes with perspectives on possible research directions of CL architecture to address the significant challenges in the future.

Probing the electric double layer structure at nitrogen-doped graphite electrodes by constant-potential molecular dynamics simulations

Electric double layer(EDL)is a critical topic in electrochemistry and largely determines the working performance of lithium batteries.However,atomic insights into the EDL structures on heteroatom-modified graphite anodes and EDL evolution with electrode potential are very lacking.Herein,a constant-potential molecular dynamics(CPMD)method is proposed to probe the EDL structure under working conditions,taking N-doped graphite electrodes and carbonate electrolytes as an example.An interface model was developed,incorporating the electrode potential and atom electronegativities.As a result,an insightful atomic scenario for the EDL structure under varied electrode potentials has been established,which unveils the important role of doping sites in regulating both the EDL structures and the following electrochemical reactions at the atomic level.Specifically,the negatively charged N atoms repel the anions and adsorb Li~+at high and low potentials,respectively.Such preferential adsorption suggests that Ndoped graphite can promote Li~+desolvation and regulate the location of Li~+deposition.This CPMD method not only unveils the mysterious function of N-doping from the viewpoint of EDL at the atomic level but also applies to probe the interfacial structure on other complicated electrodes.

Comparison of the effect of different external electrodes on discharge plasma-assisted diffusion flame stabilization

To optimize the design of plasma injectors,the influence of different external electrodes on plasma-assisted flame stabilization was assessed by using a nonequilibrium plasma injector flame control setup.The electrical characteristics of the injector,flame structure parameters,flame intensity,discharge power,and cost-to-effectiveness ratio under different external electrodes(four mesh electrodes and one copper foil electrode)were analyzed using electrical and optical methods.The results show that reducing the mesh size of the external electrode leads to a decrease in breakdown voltage.Compared with a ceramic dielectric barrier-based injector,an injector with a quartz dielectric barrier produces a higher breakdown voltage under the same conditions.For the same actuation voltage,the discharge current increases as the mesh size of the external electrode decreases,and combustion is enhanced by the discharge plasma;therefore,it is better to adopt a smaller mesh hole size to realize good flame stabilization under a lower actuation voltage.However,under the studied working conditions,reducing the mesh hole size of the external electrode increases the cost-to-effectiveness ratio of plasma injector-based flame stabilization.Thus,considering the cost-to-effectiveness ratio and the weight of the injector,an external electrode with a larger mesh hole size should be chosen,which contradicts the above rule.

High energy density in ultra-thick and flexible electrodes enabled by designed conductive agent/binder composite

Thick electrodes can increase incorporation of active electrode materials by diminishing the proportion of inactive constituents,improving the overall energy density of batteries.However,thick electrodes fabricated using the conventional slurry casting approach frequently exhibit an exacerbated accumulation of carbon additives and binders on their surfaces,invariably leading to compromised electrochemical properties.In this study,we introduce a designed conductive agent/binder composite synthesized from carbon nanotube and polytetrafluoroethylene.This agent/binder composite facilitates production of dry-process-prepared ultra-thick electrodes endowed with a three-dimensional and uniformly distributed percolative architecture,ensuring superior electronic conductivity and remarkable mechanical resilience.Using this approach,ultra-thick LiCoO_(2)(LCO) electrodes demonstrated superior cycling performance and rate capabilities,registering an impressive loading capacity of up to 101.4 mg/cm^(2),signifying a 242% increase in battery energy density.In another analytical endeavor,time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy was used to clarify the distribution of cathode electrolyte interphase(CEI) in cycled LCO electrodes.The results provide unprecedented evidence explaining the intricate correlation between CEI generation and carbon distribution,highlighting the intrinsic advantages of the proposed dry-process approach in fine-tu ning the CEI,with excellent cycling performance in batteries equipped with ultra-thick electrodes.

Recent progress of self-supported air electrodes for flexible Zn-air batteries

Smart wearable devices are regarded to be the next prevailing technology product after smartphones and smart homes,and thus there has recently been rapid development in flexible electronic energy storage devices.Among them,flexible solid-state zinc-air batteries have received widespread attention because of their high energy density,good safety,and stability.Efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts are the primary consideration in the development of flexible solid-state zinc-air batteries,and self-supported air cathodes are strong candidates because of their advantages including simplified fabrication process,reduced interfacial resistance,accelerated electron transfer,and good flexibility.This review outlines the research progress in the design and construction of nanoarray bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.Starting from the configuration and basic principles of zinc-air batteries and the strategies for the design of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts,a detailed discussion of self-supported air cathodes on carbon and metal substrates and their uses in flexible zinc-air batteries will follow.Finally,the challenges and opportunities in the development of flexible zinc-air batteries will be discussed.

A high Li-ion diffusion kinetics in multidimensional and compact-structured electrodes via vacuum filtration casting

Manufacturing process,diffusion co-efficient and areal capacity are the three main criteria for regulating thick electrodes for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).However,simultaneously regulating these criteria for LIBs is desirable but remains a significant challenge.In this work,niobium pentoxide(Nb_(2)O_(5))anode and lithium iron phosphate(LiFePO_(4))cathode materials were chosen as the model materials and demonstrate that these three parameters can be simultaneously modulated by incorporation of micro-carbon fibers(MCF)and carbon nanotubes(CNT)with both Nb_(2)O_(5) and LFP via vacuum filtration approach.Both as-prepared MNC-20 anode and MLC-20 cathode achieves high reversible areal capacity of≈5.4 m A h cm^(-2)@0.1 C and outstanding Li-ion diffusion coefficients of≈10~(-8)cm~2 s~(-1)in the half-cell configuration.The assembled MNC-20‖MLC-20 full cell LIB delivers maximum energy and power densities of244.04 W h kg^(-1)and 108.86 W kg^(-1),respectively.The excellent electrochemical properties of the asprepared thick electrodes can be attributed to the highly conductive,mechanical compactness and multidimensional mutual effects of the MCF,CNT and active materials that facilitates rapid Li-ion diffusion kinetics.Furthermore,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS),symmetric cells analysis,and insitu Raman techniques clearly validates the enhanced Li-ion diffusion kinetics in the present architecture.

Novel Perovskite Oxide Hybrid Nanofibers Embedded with Nanocatalysts for Highly Efficient and Durable Electrodes in Direct CO_(2) Electrolysis

The unique characteristics of nanofibers in rational electrode design enable effec-tive utilization and maximizing material properties for achieving highly efficient and sustainable CO_(2) reduction reactions( CO_(2)RRs)in solid oxide elec-trolysis cells(SOECs).However,practical appli-cation of nanofiber-based electrodes faces chal-lenges in establishing sufficient interfacial contact and adhesion with the dense electrolyte.To tackle this challenge,a novel hybrid nanofiber electrode,La_(0.6)Sr_(0.4)Co_(0.15)Fe_(0.8)Pd_(0.05)O_(3-δ)(H-LSCFP),is developed by strategically incorporating low aspect ratio crushed LSCFP nanofibers into the excess porous interspace of a high aspect ratio LSCFP nanofiber framework synthesized via electrospinning technique.After consecutive treatment in 100% H_(2) and CO_(2) at 700°C,LSCFP nanofibers form a perovskite phase with in situ exsolved Co metal nanocatalysts and a high concentration of oxygen species on the surface,enhancing CO_(2) adsorption.The SOEC with the H-LSCFP electrode yielded an outstanding current density of 2.2 A cm^(-2) in CO_(2) at 800°C and 1.5 V,setting a new benchmark among reported nanofiber-based electrodes.Digital twinning of the H-LSCFP reveals improved contact adhesion and increased reaction sites for CO_(2)RR.The present work demonstrates a highly catalytically active and robust nanofiber-based fuel electrode with a hybrid structure,paving the way for further advancements and nanofiber applications in CO_(2)-SOECs.

Formation of diffuse and spark discharges between two needle electrodes with the scattering of particles

The development of a nanosecond discharge in a pin-to-pin gap filled with air at atmospheric pressure has been studied with high temporal and spatial resolutions from a breakdown start to the spark decay.Positive and negative nanosecond voltage pulses with an amplitude of tens of kilovolts were applied.Time-resolved images of the discharge development were taken with a fourchannel Intensified Charge Coupled Device(ICCD)camera.The minimum delay between the camera channels could be as short as≈0.1 ns.This made it possible to study the gap breakdown process with subnanosecond resolution.It was observed that a wide-diameter streamer develops from the high-voltage pointed electrode.The ionization processes near the grounded pin electrode started when the streamer crossed half of the gap.After bridging the gap by the streamer,a diffuse discharge was formed.The development of spark leaders from bright spots on the surface of the pointed electrodes was observed at the next stage.It was found that the rate of development of the spark leader is an order of magnitude lower than that of the wide-diameter streamer.Long thin luminous tracks were observed against the background of a discharge plasma glow.It has been established that the tracks are adjacent to brightly glowing spots on the electrodes and are associated with the flight of small particles.

Review on Development and Application of Fabric Electrodes in Electrocardiogram Monitoring Garments

Cardiovascular disease persists as the primary cause of human mortality,significantly impacting healthy life expectancy.The routine electrocardiogram(ECG)stands out as a pivotal noninvasive diagnostic tool for identifying arrhythmias.The evolving landscape of fabric electrodes,specifically designed for the prolonged monitoring of human ECG signals,is the focus of this research.Adhering to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses(PRISMA)statement and assimilating data from 81 pertinent studies sourced from reputable databases,the research conducts a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis on the materials,fabric structures and preparation methods of fabric electrodes in the existing literature.It provides a nuanced assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of diverse textile materials and structures,elucidating their impacts on the stability of biomonitoring signals.Furthermore,the study outlines current developmental constraints and future trajectories for fabric electrodes.These insights could serve as essential guidance for ECG monitoring system designers,aiding them in the selection of materials that optimize the measurement of biopotential signals.

Towards a new avenue for rapid synthesis of electrocatalytic electrodes via laser-induced hydrothermal reaction for water splitting

Electrochemical production of hydrogen from water requires the development ofelectrocatalysts that are active,stable,and low-cost for water splitting.To address these challenges,researchers are increasingly exploring binder-free electrocatalytic integratedelectrodes (IEs) as an alternative to conventional powder-based electrode preparation methods,for the former is highly desirable to improve the catalytic activity and long-term stability for large-scale applications of electrocatalysts.Herein,we demonstrate a laser-inducedhydrothermal reaction (LIHR) technique to grow NiMoO4nanosheets on nickel foam,which is then calcined under H2/Ar mixed gases to prepare the IE IE-NiMo-LR.This electrode exhibits superior hydrogen evolution reaction performance,requiring overpotentials of 59,116 and143 mV to achieve current densities of 100,500 and 1000 mA·cm-2.During the 350 h chronopotentiometry test at current densities of 100 and 500 m A·cm-2,the overpotentialremains essentially unchanged.In addition,NiFe-layered double hydroxide grown on Ni foam is also fabricated with the same LIHR method and coupled with IE-NiMo-IR to achieve water splitting.This combination exhibits excellent durability under industrial current density.The energy consumption and production efficiency of the LIHR method are systematicallycompared with the conventional hydrothermal method.The LIHR method significantly improves the production rate by over 19 times,while consuming only 27.78%of the total energy required by conventional hydrothermal methods to achieve the same production.

Enhancing Hydrophilicity of Thick Electrodes for High Energy Density Aqueous Batteries

Thick electrodes can substantially enhance the overall energy density of batteries.However,insufficient wettability of aqueous electrolytes toward electrodes with conventional hydrophobic binders severely limits utilization of active materials with increasing the thickness of electrodes for aqueous batteries,resulting in battery performance deterioration with a reduced capacity.Here,we demonstrate that controlling the hydrophilicity of the thicker electrodes is critical to enhancing the overall energy density of batteries.Hydrophilic binders are synthesized via a simple sulfonation process of conventional polyvinylidene fluoride binders,considering physicochemical properties such as mechanical properties and adhesion.The introduction of abundant sulfonate groups of binders(i)allows fast and sufficient electrolyte wetting,and(ii)improves ionic conduction in thick electrodes,enabling a significant increase in reversible capacities under various current densities.Further,the sulfonated binder effectively inhibits the dissolution of cathode materials in reactive aqueous electrolytes.Overall,our findings significantly enhance the energy density and contribute to the development of practical zinc-ion batteries.