Xylem-Inspired Polyimide/MXene Aerogels with Radial Lamellar Architectures for Highly Sensitive Strain Detection and Efficient Solar Steam Generation

Abstract

Polyimide aerogels with mechanical robustness, great compressibility, excellent antifatigue properties, and intriguing functionality have captured enormous attention in diverse applications. Here, enlightened by the xylem parenchyma of dicotyledonous stems, a radially architectured polyimide/MXene composite aerogel (RPIMX) with reversible compressibility is developed by combining the interfacial enhancing strategy and radial ice-templating method. The strong interaction between MXene flakes and polymer can glue the MXene to form continuous lamellae, the ice crystals grow preferentially along the radial temperature gradient can effectively constrain the lamellae to create a biomimetic radial lamellar architecture. As a result, the nature-inspired RPIMX composite aerogel with centrosymmetric lamellar structure and oriented channels manifests excellent mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and water transporting capability along the longitudinal direction, endowing itself with intriguing applications for accurate human motion monitoring and efficient photothermal evaporation. These exciting properties make the biomimetic RPIMX aerogels promising candidates for flexible piezoresistive sensors and photothermal evaporators.

Perspiration-Wicking and Luminescent On-Skin Electronics Based on Ultrastretchable Janus E-Textiles

“…The rapid development of artificial intelligence and the Internet of things (IoT) is updating our lifestyle in a noticeable way, and the cornerstone of these technologies is the powerful and accurate communication between humankind and machines. − Particularly, deformable on-skin electronics are becoming the primary interactive medium for next-generation HMIs to meet the needs of stretchability, portability, and low power consumption. − Deformable electronics generally consist of stretchable substrates assembled with flexible circuits. Yet conventional wearable devices are usually made up of rigid, brittle, and hermetical matrixes that cannot realize the intimate contact with human skin nor satisfy long-term wearing comfort.…”

MXene-Based Porous Monoliths

“…There are five typical types of microstructures, including isotropic cellular, aligned honeycomb, and aligned lamellar configurations for which the last can be further divided into local oriented, long-range ordered, and radial ones. To date, all of them have been introduced into the MXene monoliths ( Figure 3 ) [ 34 , 53 , 55 , 59 , 60 ]. Moreover, by adjusting the interactions between the components (MXenes and additives), or by varying the manufacturing parameters (concentrations, and freezing rate/direction), a high degree control of the microstructure over the MXene monoliths has been achieved, enabling a wide range of hierarchies at the nano-, micro-, and mesoscales.…”

“…GO aerogel with a radial and centrosymmetric structure exhibited superior elasticity and absorption capacity to that of GO aerogels with “traditional” pore structures made by conventional FC, showing the great value of this configuration [ 114 ]. Building MXene monoliths with radially distributed lamellar structure is a cutting-edge topic, which was recently achieved by Liu and co-workers [ 53 ]. They reported a Ti 3 C 2 T x /PI aerogel with vertically and radially aligned layers formed via a radial freeze casting (RFC) process.…”

Multifunctional Flexible Wearable Kevlar Aerogel Membranes with Breathable and Unidirectional Liquid Penetration Properties for Personal Thermal Management Application

“…In addition, Wang et al prepared a Murray membrane base on the transpiration of vascular plants by layer-by-layer deposition technology, which has multibranching macrometer-, micrometer-, and submicrometer-sized pores to guide directional water transport. In summary, to some extent, those strategies are useful to regulate the human body’s wet comfort, but they are also associated with shortcomings related to chemical stability and mechanical properties. , Kevlar fibers were selected as a traditional special material because of its high chemical stability and excellent mechanical properties. , Based on those researches, the preparation of wearable materials using Kevlar as a raw material is proposed. , Therefore, it would be of great interest to develop wearable materials with unidirectional liquid penetration and heat preservation properties by using Kevlar fibers as the raw material.…”

“…In summary, to some extent, those strategies are useful to regulate the human body's wet comfort, but they are also associated with shortcomings related to chemical stability and mechanical properties. 34,35 Kevlar fibers were selected as a traditional special material because of its high chemical stability and excellent mechanical properties. 36,37 Based on those researches, the preparation of wearable materials using Kevlar as a raw material is proposed.…”