Polymers and soft materials news, May 2020

New polymer coating can produce virus-repelling textiles

A novel textile coating based on polymer nanoparticles can not only repel liquids like blood and saliva but can also prevent viruses from adhering.

New curing method produces polymer-based radiation shielding

A novel polymer compound embedded with bismuth trioxide particles holds tremendous promise as a lightweight radiation shielding material.

Polymer gel lets solar cells cool by sweating

By soaking up water from the air at night and then releasing it during the day, a novel polymer gel can reduce solar panel temperatures by 10°C.

Designer membranes through machine learning

Designer membranes through machine learning

CNT-coated nanofibers help tissue regrow

biocompatible polymer scaffolds coated with carbon nanotubes could provide a vital foothold for regrowing cells

Hollow crystal spheres grow from broken symmetry

By taking advantage of bottle-brush polymers, researchers have discovered a way to grow hollow crystal spheres, and pause this growth to leave holes.

Acta Journals’ Outstanding Reviewers in 2019

New technique lets polymer membranes dip into surface treatment

Researchers have found that dipping polymeric membranes in tannic acid allows their surface to be coated by atomic layer deposition.

Novel upcycling method takes air out of polyurethane foams

Using a catalyst solution and a ‘twin-screw’ extrusion process, researchers have developed a new method for upcycling polyurethane foams.

Soft transistors and composites could transform bioelectronic devices

Novel ion-driven transistors and mixed-conducting particulate material could form the foundation for fully implantable bioelectronic devices.

Applied Energy - Special Issue on "COVID-19 impacts on Energy and Environment"

Call for Applications: The 2020 Microelectronic Engineering and Micro and Nano Engineering Journals (Elsevier), Young Investigator Award and Lectureship

The award is to honor a young researcher active in the fields of Nanofabrication and Nanotechnology for Electronics, MEMS and Life Sciences.