A5012973242- Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Advanced Materials and Mechanics
- Liquid Crystal Research Advancements
- Conducting polymers and applications
- Advancements in Battery Materials
- Extraction and Separation Processes
- Dielectric materials and actuators
- Recycling and Waste Management Techniques
- Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Advanced Battery Technologies Research
- Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics
- Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
- Sustainable Supply Chain Management
- Fiber-reinforced polymer composites
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication
- Synthesis and properties of polymers
- Interactive and Immersive Displays
- Silicone and Siloxane Chemistry
- Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence
- Sustainable Industrial Ecology
- Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy
- Carbon Nanotubes in Composites
- Semiconductor Lasers and Optical Devices
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
University of Warwick
2020-2024
University of Cambridge
2011-2016
It is predicted there will be a rapid increase in the number of lithium ion batteries reaching end life. However, recently only 5% (LIBs) were recycled European Union. This paper explores why and how this can improved by controlled dismantling, characterization recycling. Currently, favored disposal route for shredding complete systems then separation individual fractions. effective partial recovery some materials, producing impure, mixed or contaminated waste streams. For an circular...
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are of considerable interest for their potential as actuators, due to the ability aligned monodomain LCEs reversibly change bulk dimensions in response a phase change. Many reported literature will contract one dimension temperature or irradiation with ultraviolet light. For practical applications, photo-actuation is more useful technology than thermal actuation achievable speed and localization response. The use UV light sources 'switch' materials...
This paper reports an opto-actuable device fabricated using micro-machined silicon moulds. The actuating component of the is made from a composite material containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) embedded in liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) matrix. We demonstrate fabrication patterned LCE-CNT film by combination mechanical stretching and thermal cross-linking. resulting poly-domain contains 'blister-shaped' mono-domain regions, which reversibly change their shape under light irradiation hence can...
Abstract Modern batteries are highly complex devices. The cells contain many components—which in turn all have variations, both terms of chemistry and physical properties. A few examples: the active materials making electrodes coated on current collectors using solvents, binders additives; multicomponent electrolyte, contains salts, electrolyte can also be a solid ceramic, polymer or glass material; separator, which made fibres, polymeric, composite, etc. Moving up scale these components...
A liquid crystalline elastomer-carbon nanotube (LCE-CNT) composite displays a reversible shape change property in response to light. The development of some systems such as tactile devices requires localised actuation this material. method is reported that combines mechanical stretching and thermal crosslinking an LCE-CNT for creating sufficiently well-aligned crystal units produce actuation. demonstrates it feasible optically drive film within area, since only the walls stretched parts...
Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) exhibit a number of remarkable physical effects, including uniquely high-stroke reversible mechanical actuation triggered by external stimuli. Fundamentally, all such stimuli affect the degree liquid order in polymer chains cross-linked into an elastic network. Heat and resulting thermal act promoting entropic disorder, as does addition solvents. Photo-isomerization is another mechanism actuation, reducing orientational diminishing fraction active...
Monodomain liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are new materials uniquely suitable for artificial muscles, as they undergo large reversible uniaxial shape changes, with strains of 20–500% and stresses 10–100 kPa, falling exactly into the dynamic range a muscle. LCEs exhibit little to no fatigue over thousands actuation cycles. Their practical use has been limited, however, owing difficulty synthesizing components, achieving consistent alignment during cross-linking across whole material often...
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) containing embedded carbon nanotubes (CNTs) contract when exposed to light, due LC disordering induced by the ability of CNTs absorb light and convert it into thermal energy. A cantilever made LCE-CNTs demonstrates dynamic bending inhomogeneous strain distribution caused exponential heat generation across width. Analysis dynamics helps extract parameters that are important for designing actuators based on these materials. In this work, we have carried out...
Abstract As electric vehicles become more widely used, there is a higher demand for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) and hence greater incentive to find better ways recycle these at their end‐of‐life (EOL). This work focuses on the process of reclamation re‐use cathode material from LIBs. Black mass containing mixed LiMn 2 O 4 Ni 0.8 Co 0.15 Al 0.05 Nissan Leaf pouch cell are recovered via two different recycling routes, shredding or disassembly. The waste stream purity compared both processes,...
Monodomain nematic Liquid Crystal Elastomers (LCEs) are unusual materials, that can undergo uniaxial contraction in response to liquid crystal phase changes. The most straightforward way bring about such a change is by direct heating, but heat not an ideal stimulus if the material be used applications; it therefore advantageous sensitize alternative stimulus, as light. LCEs containing different dye concentrations have been synthesized, and shown presence of does light; crucially, contain...
Subpercolated composites consisting of highly polar fillers in an insulating matrix have long been predicted to exhibit a large dielectric constant. In this study, we examine the feasibility experimentally reproducing such effect based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite system. MWNTs different diameters were subjected high-power ultrasound. The sonication-induced scission shows saturation at final length dependent tube diameter, agreement with...
Replacement of indium tin oxide with the intrinsically conducting polymer poly(3,4–ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has been significant interest in recent years as a result lower processing and material costs. In addition, inclusion additives reported to further enhance conductivity, rheology, wettability PEDOT:PSS. this study, Tween 80 was shown decrease sheet resistance PEDOT:PSS films from approximately 1000 76 Ω□−1 at 2.67 wt% surfactant concentration. Through...
Coatings are widely used in a range of aesthetic, protective and durable applications, often leading to extension the in-service period many components. There is sizable demand for coatings transport sector across road, rail, marine air. However, issue materials circularity with consideration their surface treatment an under researched overlooked area. The aim this paper explore challenges enabling factors that can catalyse industrial growth new material, technology, or process by...
Abstract The lower material and manufacturing costs of conductive polymers, particularly PEDOT:PSS, compared to indium tin oxide have led significant research into their use in optoelectric devices. In this study, improvements the electrical properties PEDOT:PSS PEDOT:PSS/Tween 80 via production multilayered films were investigated. A single layer pristine was found give a sheet resistance 1639 Ω□ –1 . application an additional three layers reduced value 29 -1 , corresponding increase...
We characterize the monodomain nematic liquid crystal elastomers enriched with carbon nanotubes (LCE-CNT composites) purpose of general understanding fundamentals their mechanical actuation behavior when illuminated by light and final objective to facilitate design photo-actuators based on LCE-CNTs. The parameters like absorption spectra coefficients material as a function CNTs concentration have been studied. Temperature-induced three dimensional deformations were compared photo-induced...
Abstract A nematic liquid‐crystalline elastomer enriched with carbon nanotubes (LCE‐CNT) is used to obtain an array of photosensitive actuators based on siloxane chemistry. By the combination a molding technique together application controlled gas‐pressure during crosslinking process, it possible well‐aligned arrays monodomain regions within polydomain in single step, creating rounded‐shaped features. Localized optical actuation demonstrated producing measured changes height up 120 μm under...
Over the last few years, several technologies have been adapted for use in tactile displays, such as thermo-pneumatic actuators, piezoelectric polymers and dielectric elastomers. None of these approaches offers high-performance refreshable Braille display system (RBDS), due to considerations weight, power efficiency response speed. Optical actuation an attractive alternative solve limitations current-art technologies, allowing electromechanical decoupling, elimination circuits remote...
This work presents 3-Methyl-2-oxazolidinone (JEFFSOL® MEOX) as a substitute solvent for N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) in the manufacture of Li-ion batteries. NMP is good polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF, common binder material), and also has high boiling point (202 °C), allowing gradual drying electrode slurries to form homogeneous coatings. However, reprotoxic effect its use attracting increasing legislative pressure; it would be advantageous battery-making industry find more benign...
Humanity is currently using the Earth’s resources at a much higher rate than that which planet can regenerate them. Public awareness of this problem increasing, especially with regard to issues such as need recycle waste, and reduce our reliance on single-use plastic fossil fuels. However, scale still under-appreciated, in many cases, there are no simple solutions make current systems truly sustainable. Meanwhile, global human population growing despite awareness, consumption increasing...
This article describes a process for the repair and re-use of an aluminium-containing pouch used as outer casing Lithium-ion battery cell.