Asia Research News 2021

Page 22

TECHNOLOGY

SELF-HEALING GELS COULD POWER FUTURE ELECTRONICS Ion-conducting gels that repair themselves following damage are under development for wearable electronics.

Credit: Ryota Tamate

ASIA RE SEA RC H N EWS

An ion gel cut into two pieces healed itself after several hours, restoring its strength and stretchable properties.

202 1

20

Flexible ion gels could become critical components in wearable and stretchable electronic devices, but first they must be able to withstand repeated mechanical deformation, such as bending or stretching, to be viable. “Despite their importance, ion gels with healing functions have only been developed to rudimentary levels,” says Ryota Tamate of Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science, who reviewed the latest advances in the field with Masayoshi Watanabe of Yokohama National University in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials. “Material scientists are beginning to push these novel ion gels forward.” Ion gels are made of a polymer matrix containing ionic liquids: room temperature molten salts containing positively and negatively charged ions. Ionic liquids on their own are highly conductive, nonflammable and chemically and electrochemically stable. They are being considered for use in a variety of electronic devices, including supercapacitors, rechargeable lithium batteries, fuel cells and soft robotics. Ion gels have the same advantages of ionic liquids, with the added benefit of being pliable and durable. Scientists have been experimenting

Further Dr Ryota Tamate | tamate.ryota@nims.go.jp information Center for Green Research on Energy and Environmental Materials National Institute for Materials Science

with various ion gel compositions and ways to boost their self-healing properties. For example, some researchers have made repairable ion gels by adding the compound azobenzene, which changes its shape in response to light. Exposing the damaged gel to ultraviolet light changes it into a liquid that fills the damaged region. Exposing it then to visible light restores the gel, damaged section and all, to its original state. Ion gels that heal in response to light have also been made using other light-responsive compounds. Scientists have also developed ion gels that repair when temperatures change. Perhaps even more intriguing is current research into ion gels that can autonomously self-repair. Tamate and Watanabe recently developed tough ion gels that self-heal because they contain hydrogen bonds between polymers. Damage usually occurs along these bonds, which come back together at room temperature without an external stimulus. “Spontaneous healing was observed within a few hours when we cut an ion gel into two pieces,” says Tamate, noting its mechanical and electrochemical properties fully recovered. Several proof-of-concepts have been demonstrated in soft robotics, such as a strain sensor for touch screens and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Despite their promise, further research is needed to ensure high durability against the mechanical loads they would experience in practical applications. Scientists need to continue exploring the complex interactions between ionic liquids and polymers before self-healing ion gels can take off in the real world.

Dr Yoshikazu Chikashi Shinohara Nishimura | shinohara.yoshikazu@nims.go.jp | E-mail: nishimura.chikashi@nims.go.jp Science andScience Technology and of Technology AdvancedofMaterials Advanced Materials National Institute National for Institute Materialsfor Science Materials Science


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

COVID-19: OUR COMMUNITY ON THE FRONT LINES OF RESEARCH

8min
pages 50-53

Welcome to the 2021 edition of Asia Research News

1min
page 5

GIANTS IN HISTORY

4min
pages 48-49

ELEVATING WOMEN LEADERS IN MYANMAR

7min
pages 44-47

見えない生態系が残した物語を紡ぐ

1min
pages 42-43

地球の底から、惑星誕生の謎に迫る

1min
pages 40-41

EARLY EARTH DROPLETS AND THE ORIGINS OF LIFE

4min
pages 36-37

ATMOSPHERIC TIDAL WAVES MAINTAIN VENUS’S SUPER-ROTATION

2min
pages 34-35

WATCHING DNA STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN REAL TIME

2min
page 32

MONITORING MALARIA PARASITE POPULATIONS IN MALAYSIAN BORNEO

2min
pages 30-31

MAGNETIC SPRAY TRANSFORMS OBJECTS INTO MILLIROBOTS

2min
pages 28-29

A FAST SPIN TEST FOR URINARY TRACT INFECTION

2min
page 27

THE PERFECT ANGLE FOR E-SKIN ENERGY STORAGE

2min
page 26

GAINING MORE CONTROL OVER FUEL CELL MEMBRANES

2min
page 23

SELF-HEALING GELS COULD POWER FUTURE ELECTRONICS

2min
page 22

PUTTING A SPIN ON HEUSLER ALLOYS

2min
pages 20-21

MANUFACTURING MADE EASY WITH ONE-STEP PRINTING

2min
page 19

ELASTOMERS DEVELOP STRONGER BONDS OF ATTACHMENT

2min
page 18

AI HELPS DESIGN NEW ALLOYS MADE TO ORDER

2min
page 17

BRINGING THE GREEN REVOLUTION TO ELECTRONICS

2min
page 16

WHEN EVOLUTIONARY TREES GET FROGGY

2min
pages 14-15

RARE ACCESS REVEALS EAST ANTARCTIC MELTING HOTSPOT

2min
pages 12-13

ELECTRICITY GENERATED DROP BY DROP

2min
pages 10-11

MACHINE LEARNING PREDICTS STRUCTURAL CORROSION

2min
pages 8-9

THE VIRUS HUNTER

4min
pages 38-39

DEEP OCEAN IN DEEP TROUBLE

3min
pages 6-7
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.