Polymers and soft materials news, July 2019

Recipients of the 2018 Acta Student Awards

Insects inspire novel membrane with gas-entrapping pores

A new membrane made from water-wet materials with gas-entrapping pores can perform a type of desalination known as membrane distillation.

Study on polymer flow uncovers beautiful relationships

Previous assumptions regarding polymer behavior are challenged by new laboratory techniques that measure polymer flow at the molecular level.

3-D physiomimetic extracellular matrix hydrogels provide a supportive microenvironment for rodent and human islet culture

Textile sandwich makes washable energy storage device

flexible capacitors made from layers of polyester coated with graphene and hexagonal boron nitride inks could form basis of washable wearable electronics

Cellulose ion trap turns heat into electricity

ion trap based on the nanofibrous structure of cellulose converts low-grade heat into useful electricity

Recipe for nanoparticle interfaces revealed

set of basic design rules maps out the synthesis of interfaces in nanoparticles made from multiple elemental components

Magnetic shape-memory material holds great promise

Magnetic shape-memory material with potential applications in biomedicine, aerospace, wearable electronics and robotics