Academic Appointments


  • Phys Sci Res Assoc, T. H. Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials

All Publications


  • Colorful low-emissivity paints for space heating and cooling energy savings. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Peng, Y., Lai, J. C., Xiao, X., Jin, W., Zhou, J., Yang, Y., Gao, X., Tang, J., Fan, L., Fan, S., Bao, Z., Cui, Y. 2023; 120 (34): e2300856120

    Abstract

    Space heating and cooling consume ~13% of global energy every year. The development of advanced materials that promote energy savings in heating and cooling is gaining increasing attention. To thermally isolate the space of concern and minimize the heat exchange with the outside environment has been recognized as one effective solution. To this end, here, we develop a universal category of colorful low-emissivity paints to form bilayer coatings consisting of an infrared (IR)-reflective bottom layer and an IR-transparent top layer in colors. The colorful visual appearance ensures the aesthetical effect comparable to conventional paints. High mid-infrared reflectance (up to ~80%) is achieved, which is more than 10 times as conventional paints in the same colors, efficiently reducing both heat gain and loss from/to the outside environment. The high near-IR reflectance also benefits reducing solar heat gain in hot days. The advantageous features of these paints strike a balance between energy savings and penalties for heating and cooling throughout the year, providing a comprehensive year-round energy-saving solution adaptable to a wide variety of climatic zones. Taking a typical midrise apartment building as an example, the application of our colorful low-emissivity paints can realize positive heating, ventilation, and air conditioning energy saving, up to 27.24 MJ/m2/y (corresponding to the 7.4% saving ratio). Moreover, the versatility of the paint, along with its applicability to diverse surfaces of various shapes and materials, makes the paints extensively useful in a range of scenarios, including building envelopes, transportation, and storage.

    View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.2300856120

    View details for PubMedID 37579165

  • Wireless, closed-loop, smart bandage with integrated sensors and stimulators for advanced wound care and accelerated healing. Nature biotechnology Jiang, Y., Trotsyuk, A. A., Niu, S., Henn, D., Chen, K., Shih, C. C., Larson, M. R., Mermin-Bunnell, A. M., Mittal, S., Lai, J. C., Saberi, A., Beard, E., Jing, S., Zhong, D., Steele, S. R., Sun, K., Jain, T., Zhao, E., Neimeth, C. R., Viana, W. G., Tang, J., Sivaraj, D., Padmanabhan, J., Rodrigues, M., Perrault, D. P., Chattopadhyay, A., Maan, Z. N., Leeolou, M. C., Bonham, C. A., Kwon, S. H., Kussie, H. C., Fischer, K. S., Gurusankar, G., Liang, K., Zhang, K., Nag, R., Snyder, M. P., Januszyk, M., Gurtner, G. C., Bao, Z. 2022

    Abstract

    'Smart' bandages based on multimodal wearable devices could enable real-time physiological monitoring and active intervention to promote healing of chronic wounds. However, there has been limited development in incorporation of both sensors and stimulators for the current smart bandage technologies. Additionally, while adhesive electrodes are essential for robust signal transduction, detachment of existing adhesive dressings can lead to secondary damage to delicate wound tissues without switchable adhesion. Here we overcome these issues by developing a flexible bioelectronic system consisting of wirelessly powered, closed-loop sensing and stimulation circuits with skin-interfacing hydrogel electrodes capable of on-demand adhesion and detachment. In mice, we demonstrate that our wound care system can continuously monitor skin impedance and temperature and deliver electrical stimulation in response to the wound environment. Across preclinical wound models, the treatment group healed ~25% more rapidly and with ~50% enhancement in dermal remodeling compared with control. Further, we observed activation of proregenerative genes in monocyte and macrophage cell populations, which may enhance tissue regeneration, neovascularization and dermal recovery.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41587-022-01528-3

    View details for PubMedID 36424488

    View details for PubMedCentralID 5350204

  • Dynamic combinatorial chemistry in amine-appended porous melamine network for carbon capture MATTER Xie, Y., Chen, B. 2022; 5 (9): 2574-2576
  • A scalable solid-state nanoporous network with atomic-level interaction design for carbon dioxide capture. Science advances Mao, H., Tang, J., Day, G. S., Peng, Y., Wang, H., Xiao, X., Yang, Y., Jiang, Y., Chen, S., Halat, D. M., Lund, A., Lv, X., Zhang, W., Yang, C., Lin, Z., Zhou, H. C., Pines, A., Cui, Y., Reimer, J. A. 2022; 8 (31): eabo6849

    Abstract

    Carbon capture and sequestration reduces carbon dioxide emissions and is critical in accomplishing carbon neutrality targets. Here, we demonstrate new sustainable, solid-state, polyamine-appended, cyanuric acid-stabilized melamine nanoporous networks (MNNs) via dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) at the kilogram scale toward effective and high-capacity carbon dioxide capture. Polyamine-appended MNNs reaction mechanisms with carbon dioxide were elucidated with double-level DCC where two-dimensional heteronuclear chemical shift correlation nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed to demonstrate the interatomic interactions. We distinguished ammonium carbamate pairs and a mix of ammonium carbamate and carbamic acid during carbon dioxide chemisorption. The coordination of polyamine and cyanuric acid modification endows MNNs with high adsorption capacity (1.82 millimoles per gram at 1 bar), fast adsorption time (less than 1 minute), low price, and extraordinary stability to cycling by flue gas. This work creates a general industrialization method toward carbon dioxide capture via DCC atomic-level design strategies.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abo6849

    View details for PubMedID 35921416

  • A tissue-like neurotransmitter sensor for the brain and gut. Nature Li, J., Liu, Y., Yuan, L., Zhang, B., Bishop, E. S., Wang, K., Tang, J., Zheng, Y., Xu, W., Niu, S., Beker, L., Li, T. L., Chen, G., Diyaolu, M., Thomas, A., Mottini, V., Tok, J. B., Dunn, J. C., Cui, B., Pașca, S. P., Cui, Y., Habtezion, A., Chen, X., Bao, Z. 2022; 606 (7912): 94-101

    Abstract

    Neurotransmitters play essential roles in regulating neural circuit dynamics both in the central nervous system as well as at the peripheral, including the gastrointestinal tract1-3. Their real-time monitoring will offer critical information for understanding neural function and diagnosing disease1-3. However, bioelectronic tools to monitor the dynamics of neurotransmitters in vivo, especially in the enteric nervous systems, are underdeveloped. This is mainly owing to the limited availability of biosensing tools that are capable of examining soft, complex and actively moving organs. Here we introduce a tissue-mimicking, stretchable, neurochemical biological interface termed NeuroString, which is prepared by laser patterning of a metal-complexed polyimide into an interconnected graphene/nanoparticle network embedded in an elastomer. NeuroString sensors allow chronic in vivo real-time, multichannel and multiplexed monoamine sensing in the brain of behaving mouse, as well as measuring serotonin dynamics in the gut without undesired stimulations and perturbing peristaltic movements. The described elastic and conformable biosensing interface has broad potential for studying the impact of neurotransmitters on gut microbes, brain-gut communication and may ultimately be extended to biomolecular sensing in other soft organs across the body.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41586-022-04615-2

    View details for PubMedID 35650358

  • Coloured low-emissivity films for building envelopes for year-round energy savings NATURE SUSTAINABILITY Peng, Y., Fan, L., Jin, W., Ye, Y., Huang, Z., Zhai, S., Luo, X., Ma, Y., Tang, J., Zhou, J., Greenburg, L. C., Majumdar, A., Fan, S., Cui, Y. 2021
  • Integrated cooling (i-Cool) textile of heat conduction and sweat transportation for personal perspiration management. Nature communications Peng, Y., Li, W., Liu, B., Jin, W., Schaadt, J., Tang, J., Zhou, G., Wang, G., Zhou, J., Zhang, C., Zhu, Y., Huang, W., Wu, T., Goodson, K. E., Dames, C., Prasher, R., Fan, S., Cui, Y. 2021; 12 (1): 6122

    Abstract

    Perspiration evaporation plays an indispensable role in human body heat dissipation. However, conventional textiles tend to focus on sweat removal and pay little attention to the basic thermoregulation function of sweat, showing limited evaporation ability and cooling efficiency in moderate/profuse perspiration scenarios. Here, we propose an integrated cooling (i-Cool) textile with unique functional structure design for personal perspiration management. By integrating heat conductive pathways and water transport channels decently, i-Cool exhibits enhanced evaporation ability and high sweat evaporative cooling efficiency, not merely liquid sweat wicking function. In the steady-state evaporation test, compared to cotton, up to over 100% reduction in water mass gain ratio, and 3 times higher skin power density increment for every unit of sweat evaporation are demonstrated. Besides, i-Cool shows about 3°C cooling effect with greatly reduced sweat consumption than cotton in the artificial sweating skin test. The practical application feasibility of i-Cool design principles is well validated based on commercial fabrics. Owing to its exceptional personal perspiration management performance, we expect the i-Cool concept can provide promising design guidelines for next-generation perspiration management textiles.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-26384-8

    View details for PubMedID 34675199

  • Origin of enhanced water oxidation activity in an iridium single atom anchored on NiFe oxyhydroxide catalyst PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Zheng, X., Tang, J., Gallo, A., Torres, J., Yu, X., Athanitis, C. J., Been, E., Ercius, P., Mao, H., Fakra, S. C., Song, C., Davis, R. C., Reimer, J. A., Vinson, J., Bajdich, M., Cui, Y. 2021; 118 (36)
  • Revealing Molecular Mechanisms in Hierarchical Nanoporous Carbon via Nuclear Magnetic Resonance MATTER Mao, H., Tang, J., Xu, J., Peng, Y., Chen, J., Wu, B., Jiang, Y., Hou, K., Chen, S., Wang, J., Lee, H., Halat, D. M., Zhang, B., Chen, W., Plantz, A. Z., Lu, Z., Cui, Y., Reimer, J. A. 2020; 3 (6): 2093–2107
  • A Non-volatile View of Site-Specific Adsorption and Dynamics of VOCs and CO2 MATTER Gleason, K. K. 2020; 3 (6): 1823-1824
  • Designing hierarchical nanoporous membranes for highly efficient gas adsorption and storage. Science advances Mao, H. n., Tang, J. n., Chen, J. n., Wan, J. n., Hou, K. n., Peng, Y. n., Halat, D. M., Xiao, L. n., Zhang, R. n., Lv, X. n., Yang, A. n., Cui, Y. n., Reimer, J. A. 2020; 6 (41)

    Abstract

    Nanoporous membranes with two-dimensional materials such as graphene oxide have attracted attention in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and H2 adsorption because of their unique molecular sieving properties and operational simplicity. However, agglomeration of graphene sheets and low efficiency remain challenging. Therefore, we designed hierarchical nanoporous membranes (HNMs), a class of nanocomposites combined with a carbon sphere and graphene oxide. Hierarchical carbon spheres, prepared following Murray's law using chemical activation incorporating microwave heating, act as spacers and adsorbents. Hierarchical carbon spheres preclude the agglomeration of graphene oxide, while graphene oxide sheets physically disperse, ensuring structural stability. The obtained HNMs contain micropores that are dominated by a combination of ultramicropores and mesopores, resulting in high VOCs/H2 adsorption capacity, up to 235 and 352 mg/g at 200 ppmv and 3.3 weight % (77 K and 1.2 bar), respectively. Our work substantially expands the potential for HNMs applications in the environmental and energy fields.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abb0694

    View details for PubMedID 33028517

  • Surface-engineered mesoporous silicon microparticles as high-Coulombic-efficiency anodes for lithium-ion batteries NANO ENERGY Wang, J., Liao, L., Lee, H., Shi, F., Huang, W., Zhao, J., Pei, A., Tang, J., Zheng, X., Chen, W., Cui, Y. 2019; 61: 404–10
  • Direct/Alternating Current Electrochemical Method for Removing and Recovering Heavy Metal from Water Using Graphene Oxide Electrode. ACS nano Liu, C., Wu, T., Hsu, P., Xie, J., Zhao, J., Liu, K., Sun, J., Xu, J., Tang, J., Ye, Z., Lin, D., Cui, Y. 2019

    Abstract

    Treatment of heavy-metal pollution in both point-of-use water and industrial wastewater is critical in protecting human health and the environment. Current methods for heavy-metal treatment in both sources have limitations. For point-of-use water, current methods usually suffer from limited capacity and difficulties in spontaneously removing multiple heavy metals. For industrial wastewater, current methods greatly reduce the value of heavy metal by precipitating them as sludge which requires further treatment. Here we developed an electrochemical method that can treat both low-concentration and high-concentration heavy-metal pollution using either direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) electrodeposition with graphene-oxide-modified carbon felt electrode (CF-GO). The graphene oxide provides a high density of surface functional groups to assist the electrodeposition. The electrodeposition method showed 2 orders of magnitude higher capacity (>29 g heavy metal for 1 g of graphene oxide) compared with traditional adsorption methods. For low levels of heavy-metal pollution in point-of-use water, DC electrodeposition with a CF-GO electrode can reduce single heavy-metal ion pollution (Cu, Cd, and Pb) as well as multiple ion mixtures to below safe water drinking levels. This method can tolerate a much wider range of heavy-metal pollution in point-of-use water than traditional adsorption methods. For high-level pollution in industrial wastewater, AC electrodeposition can recover >99.9% heavy-metal ions. By tuning the AC frequency and voltage, the electrodeposition method can further selectively recover Cu, Cd, and Pb separately, which adds values to the heavy-metal removal process.

    View details for DOI 10.1021/acsnano.8b09301

    View details for PubMedID 31117369

  • Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil by asymmetrical alternating current electrochemistry. Nature communications Xu, J. n., Liu, C. n., Hsu, P. C., Zhao, J. n., Wu, T. n., Tang, J. n., Liu, K. n., Cui, Y. n. 2019; 10 (1): 2440

    Abstract

    Soil contamination by heavy metals constitutes an important environmental problem, whereas field applicability of existing remediation technologies has encountered numerous obstacles, such as long operation time, high chemical cost, large energy consumption, secondary pollution, and soil degradation. Here we report the design and demonstration of a remediation method based on a concept of asymmetrical alternating current electrochemistry that achieves high degrees of contaminant removal for different heavy metals (copper, lead, cadmium) at different initial concentrations (from 100 to 10,000 ppm), all reaching corresponding regulation levels for residential scenario after rational treatment time (from 30 min to 6 h). No excessive nutrient loss in treated soil is observed and no secondary toxic product is produced. Long-term experiment and plant assay show the high sustainability of the method and its feasibility for agricultural use.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-019-10472-x

    View details for PubMedID 31164649