It is of great interest to make a degradable material widely tailorable to replace petroleum-derived products among diverse applications.Here,we report the construction of a new multi-purpose degradable material for the first time via a simple ternary copolymerization system comprisingε-caprolactone(ε-CL),cyclohexane oxide(CHO)and CO_(2).Under low pressure of 1 bar∼5 bar,the ring-opening polymerization(ROP)ofε-CL and ring-opening copolymerization(ROCOP)of CO_(2) and CHO can simultaneously proceed.The carbonate units are randomly distributed on the polymer chain.These random terpolymers have controllable molar mass(10-106 kDa)and compositions(4-33 mol%CO_(2)).And the obtained materials show large-span tunability from tough plastic to elastomer and even adhesive.
The human wrist, a complex articulation of skeletal muscles and two-carpal rows, substantially contributes to improvements in maneuverability by agilely performing three-degree-of-freedom(3-DOF) orienting tasks and regulating stiffness according to variations in interaction forces. However, few soft robotic wrists simultaneously demonstrate dexterous 3-DOF motion and variable stiffness;in addition, they do not fully consider a soft-rigid hybrid structure of integrated muscles and two carpal rows.In this study, we developed a soft-rigid hybrid structure to design a biomimetic soft robotic wrist(BSRW) that is capable of rotating in the x and y directions, twisting around the z-axis, and possessing stiffness-tunable capacity. To actuate the BSRW, a lightweight soft-ring-reinforced bellows-type pneumatic actuator(SRBPA) with large axial, linear deformation(η_(lcmax)=70.6%,η_(lemax)=54.3%) and small radial expansion(η_(demax)=3.7%) is designed to mimic the motion of skeletal muscles. To represent the function of two-carpal rows, a compact particle-jamming joint(PJJ) that combines particles with a membrane-covered ballsocket mechanism is developed to achieve various 3-DOF motions and high axial load-carrying capacity(>60 N). By varying the jamming pressure, the stiffness of the PJJ can be adjusted. Finally, a centrally positioned PJJ and six independently actuated SRBPAs, which are in an inclined and antagonistic arrangement, are sandwiched between two rigid plates to form a flexible,stable, and compact BSRW. Such a structure enables the BSRW to have a dexterous 3-DOF motion, high load-carrying ability,and stiffness tunability. Experimental analysis verify 3-DOF motion of BSRW, producing force of 29.6 N and 36 N and torque of2.2 Nm in corresponding rotations. Moreover, the range of rotational angle and stiffness-tuning properties of BSRW are studied by applying jamming pressure to the PJJ. Finally, a system combining a BSRW and a soft enclosing gripper is proposed to demonstrate outstanding manipulation capability i
Two-dimensional(2D)van der Waals magnetic materials have promising and versatile electronic and magnetic properties in the 2D limit,indicating a considerable potential to advance spintronic applications.Theoretical predictions thus far have not ascertained whether monolayer VCl_(3) is a ferromagnetic(FM)or anti-FM monolayer;this also remains to be experimentally verified.We theoretically investigate the influence of potential factors,including C_(3) symmetry breaking,orbital ordering,epitaxial strain,and charge doping,on the magnetic ground state.Utilizing first-principles calculations,we predict a collinear type-Ⅲ FM ground state in monolayer VCl_(3) with a broken C_(3) symmetry,wherein only the former two of three t_(2g)orbitals(a_(1g),e_(g2)^(π)and e_(g1)^(π))are occupied.The atomic layer thickness and bond angles of monolayer VCl_(3) undergo abrupt changes driven by an orbital ordering switch,resulting in concomitant structural and magnetic phase transitions.Introducing doping to the underlying Cl atoms of monolayer VCl_(3) without C_(3) symmetry simultaneously induces in-and out-of-plane polarizations.This can achieve a multiferroic phase transition if combined with the discovered adjustments of magnetic ground state and polarization magnitude under strain.The establishment of an orbital-ordering driven regulatory mechanism can facilitate deeper exploration and comprehension of magnetic properties of strongly correlated systems in monolayer VCl_(3).
MXene-based films have been intensively explored for construction of piezoresistive flexible pressure sensors owing to their excellent mechanical and electrical properties.High pressure sensitivity relies on pre-molding a flexible substrate,or regulating the micromorphology of MXene sheets,to obtain a micro-structured surface.However,the two avenues usually require complicated and time-consuming microfabrication or wet chemical processing,and are limited to non-adjustable topographicelectrical(topo-electro)properties.Herein,we propose a lithographic printing inspired in-situ transfer(LIPIT)strategy to fabricate MXene-ink films(MIFs).In LIPIT,MIFs not only inherit ridge-and-valley microstructure from paper substrate,but also achieve localized topo-electro tunability by programming ink-writing patterns and cycles.The MIF-based flexible pressure sensor with periodical topo-electro gradient exhibits remarkably boosted sensitivity in a wide sensing range(low detection limit of 0.29 Pa and working range of 100 kPa).The MIF sensor demonstrates versatile applicability in both subtle and vigorous pressuresensing fields,ranging from pulse wave extraction and machine learning-assisted surface texture recognition to piano-training glove(PT-glove)for piano learning.The LIPIT is quick,low-cost,and compatible with free ink/substrate combinations,which promises a versatile toolbox for designing functional MXene films with tailored morphological-mechanical-electrical properties for extended application scenarios.
Qiuyang YanYi ZhouYin ChengLiangjing ShiRanran WangLian GaoJing Sun
Liquid crystals are pivotal innovations in the field of tunable materials.However,in the millimeter wave band,the relatively low tunability of liquid crystal limits its applicability.A design method utilizing metamaterial characteristics to enhance the tunability of a liquid crystal is proposed.This design method is based on two theoretical models.Both models embed metamaterial structures into a liquid crystal,thus tailoring a new tunable material,namely,a meta-liquid crystal.By appropriately designing the metamaterials to meet the corresponding conditions derived in different models,the tunability of the meta-liquid crystal can be higher than that of the original liquid crystal.An application of beam scanning is provided to verify this method.Two beam steerable antenna arrays are designed,fabricated and investigated.The beam scanning range of the meta-liquid crystal antenna array is much wider than that of the original liquid crystal antenna array,which confirms the enhancement of tunability.Consequently,this work fills the research gap in improving the performance of liquid crystals in the millimeter wave band.Simultaneously,a bridge is established between two significant materials:tunable materials and metamaterials.The results imply that the performance of tunable materials can be manipulated by metamaterials.
Y_(3)Fe_(5)O_(12)(YIG) and Bi Y_(3)Fe_(5)O_(12)(Bi:YIG) films were epitaxially grown on a series of(111)-oriented garnet substrates using pulsed laser deposition. Structural and ferromagnetic resonance characterizations demonstrated the high epitaxial quality, extremely low magnetic loss and coherent strain state in these films. Using these epitaxial films as model systems, we systematically investigated the evolution of magnetic anisotropy(MA) with epitaxial strain and chemical doping. For both the YIG and Bi:YIG films, the compressive strain tends to align the magnetic moment in the film plane while the tensile strain can compete with the demagnetization effect and stabilize perpendicular MA. We found that the strain-induced lattice elongation/compression along the out-of-plane [111] axis is the key parameter that determines the MA. More importantly, the strain-induced tunability of MA can be enhanced significantly by Bi doping;meanwhile, the ultralow damping feature persists. We clarified that the cooperation between strain and chemical doping could realize an effective control of MA in garnet-type ferrites, which is essential for spintronic applications.
Monolayer CrSBr is a recently discovered semiconducting spin-3/2 ferromagnet with a Curie temperature of around 146 K.In contrast to many other known 2D magnets,the orthorhombic lattice of CrSBr gives rise to spatial anisotropy of magnetic excitations within the 2D plane.Triaxial magnetic anisotropy and considerable magnetic dipolar interactions in CrSBr challenge its theoretical description in terms of spin Hamiltonians.Here,we employ a Green’s function formalism combined with first-principles calculations to study the magnetic properties of monolayer CrSBr in different regimes of surrounding dielectric screening.In the free-standing limit,the system is close to an easy-plane magnet,whose long-range ordering is partially suppressed.On the contrary,in the regime of large external screening,monolayer CrSBr behaves like an easy-axis ferromagnet with more stable magnetic ordering.Our findings suggest that anisotropic layered magnets form a potentially promising platform for studying the effects of substrate screening on magnetic ordering in 2D.
Alexander N.RudenkoMalte RösnerMikhail I.Katsnelson
