Complex three-dimensional biophotonic nanostructures produce the vivid structural colors of many butterfly wing scales, but their exact nanoscale organization is uncertain. We used small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) on single scales to characterize 3D photonic five species from two families (Papilionidae, Lycaenidae). identify these chitin and air as network gyroid ( I 4 1 32) crystals. describe optical function SAXS data band-gap modeling. Butterflies apparently grow by exploiting...

In this work, we fabricate an omniphobic microporous membrane for distillation (MD) by modifying a hydrophilic glass fiber with silica nanoparticles followed surface fluorination and polymer coating. The modified exhibits anti-wetting property not only against water but also low tension organic solvents that easily wet hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is commonly used in MD applications. By comparing the performance of PTFE membranes direct contact experiments presence surfactant...

Significance In biomedical and environmental applications, as well manufacture disposal, the interaction of graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) with living cells is inevitable sometimes crucial. While cytotoxic properties GBNs are established, mechanisms behind cytotoxicity remain controversial. this study, we first utilize a magnetic field to form films aligned graphene oxide (GO), showing that alignment sharp GO edges plays crucial role in antibacterial activity. We then demonstrate using...

We demonstrate the fabrication of a loose, negatively charged nanofiltration (NF) membrane with tailored selectivity for removal perfluoroalkyl substances reduced scaling potential. A selective polyamide layer was fabricated on top poly(ether sulfone) support via interfacial polymerization trimesoyl chloride and mixture piperazine bipiperidine. Incorporating high molecular weight bipiperidine during enables formation nanoporous structure. The NF possessed negative surface charge had pore...

Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes perform critical pre-treatment functions in advanced water treatment processes. In operational systems, however, biofouling decreases membrane performance and increases the frequency cost of chemical cleaning. The present work demonstrates a novel technique for covalently or ionically tethering antimicrobial nanoparticles to surface UF membranes. Silver (AgNPs) encapsulated positively charged polyethyleneimine (PEI) were reacted with an oxygen plasma modified...

There is long-standing interest in developing membranes possessing uniform pores with dimensions the range of 1 nm and physical continuity macroscopic transport direction to meet needs challenging small molecule ionic separations. Here we report facile, scalabe fabrication polymer vertically (i.e., along through-plane direction) aligned by magnetic-field alignment subsequent cross-linking a liquid crystalline mesophase. We utilize wedge-shaped amphiphilic species as building block...

The self-assembly of diblock copolymers provides a convenient route to the formation mechanically robust films with precise and tunable periodic arrangements two physically demixed but chemically linked polymeric materials. Chemoselective transport membranes may be realized from such by selective partitioning an active species into one polymer domains. Here, lithium ions were selectively sequestered within poly(ethylene oxide) block liquid crystalline copolymer form electrolyte membranes....

We present a novel hybrid membrane system that operates as heat engine capable of utilizing low-grade thermal energy, which is not readily recoverable with existing technologies. The closed-loop combines distillation (MD), generates concentrated and pure water streams by separation, pressure retarded osmosis (PRO), converts the energy mixing to electricity hydro-turbine. PRO-MD was modeled coupling mass flows between separation (MD) power generation (PRO) stages for source temperatures...

Amorphous nanoparticles (a-NPs) have physicochemical properties distinctly different from those of the corresponding bulk crystals; for example, their solubility is much higher. However, many materials a high propensity to crystallize and are difficult formulate in an amorphous structure without stabilizers. We fabricated microfluidic nebulator that can produce NPs wide range materials, even including pure table salt (NaCl). By using supersonic air flow, produces drops so small they dry...

Abstract Block copolymers (BCPs) offer an exciting range of structures and functions that are potential utility in existing as well emerging technologies. Although this is generally acknowledged, with few exceptions, viable strategies for establishing scalable robust control BCP microstructure underdeveloped. Magnetic field alignment offers great regard. The physics bears much common electric alignment, but the absence dielectric breakdown concerns more flexible, space pervasive nature...

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) present unique opportunities for rheology modification in complex fluids. Here we systematically consider the effect of ionic and non-ionic surfactants on dilute CNF suspensions. Neat suspensions are transparent yield-stress fluids which display strong shear thinning power-law dependence modulus concentration, G' ∼ c(2.1). Surfactant addition below a critical mass concentration cc produces an increase gel with retention optical clarity. Larger than concentrations...

We use rheological measurements to examine the yielding behavior of a microgel system spanning range from soft jammed glassy suspensions dominated by inter-particle repulsion colloidal gels produced attractive interactions. Under repulsive conditions, display prototypical response in which shear loss modulus exhibits single peak on increasing strain during crossover elastic viscous behavior. By contrast, under fully conditions gel displays more complex yielding, with two distinct peaks...

Soft robots, with their agile locomotion and responsiveness to environment, have attracted great interest in recent years. Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), known for reversible anisotropic deformation, are promising candidates as embedded intelligent actuators soft robots. So far, most studies on LCEs focused achieving complex deformation thin films over centimeter‐scale areas relatively small specific energy densities. Herein, using an extrusion process, meter‐long LCE composite filaments...

Increased demand for highly selective and energy-efficient separations processes has stimulated substantial interest in emerging two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials as a potential platform next-generation membranes. However, persistently poor separation performance continues to hinder the viability of many novel 2D-nanosheet membranes desalination applications. In this study, we examine role lamellar structure 2D on their performance. Using self-fabricated molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)...

Self-assembled materials are attractive for next-generation membranes. However, the need to align self-assembled nanostructures (e.g. cylinders, lamellae) and narrow stability windows ordered bicontinuous systems present serious challenges. We propose demonstrate a novel approach that circumvents these challenges by exploiting size-selective transport in water-continuous medium of nanostructured polymer templated from lyotropic H1 mesophase. Optimization mesophase composition enables...

Membrane separations are critically important in areas ranging from health care and analytical chemistry to bioprocessing water purification. An ideal nanoporous membrane would consist of a thin film with physically continuous vertically aligned nanopores display narrow distribution pore sizes. However, the current state art departs considerably this is beset by intrinsic trade-offs between permeability selectivity. We demonstrate an effective scalable method fabricate polymer films...

The graft-through synthesis of Janus graft block copolymers (GBCPs) from branched macromonomers composed various combinations homopolymers is presented. Self-assembly GBCPs resulted in ordered nanostructures with ultra-small domain sizes down to 2.8 nm (half-pitch). grafted architecture introduces an additional parameter, the backbone length, which enables control over thermomechanical properties and processability independently their self-assembled nanostructures. simple synthetic route...

We describe a combination of molecular templating and directed self-assembly to realize highly selective vertically aligned nanopores in polymer membranes using sustainably derived materials. The approach exploits structure-directing molecule template the assembly plant-derived fatty acids into ordered columnar mesophases. Directed physical confinement magnetic fields provides vertical alignment nanostructures large area (several cm2) thin films. Chemically cross-linking mesophase with added...

Organic solvent–stable membranes exhibiting strong selectivity and high permeance have the potential to transform energy utilization in chemical separation processes. A key goal is developing materials with uniform, well-defined pores at 1-nm scale, sizes that can be tuned small increments fidelity. Here, we demonstrate a class of organic nanoporous derived from self-assembled liquid crystal mesophases display such characteristics elucidate their transport properties. The...