Yaping Zhao

Conventional static thermal management materials incur overcooling penalties in cold seasons. In this study, we develop a cellulose acetate-based Janus bilayer membrane that enables on-demand switching between radiative cooling and solar heating via mechanical flipping. Fabricated through a scalable non-solvent-induced phase separation and lamination strategy employing bio-renewable materials, the membrane integrates a BaSO4 cooling side (97.1% solar reflectance, 96.5% mid-infrared emissivity) and an activated carbon heating side (94.0% solar absorptance). multiscale simulationsMie scattering, finite-difference time-domain (FDTD), and COMSOL phase-field and heat-transfer modelingreveal the underlying mechanisms of resonant scattering and hierarchical light-trapping absorption. The dual-mode performance is systematically validated through outdoor ice-melting experiments and small-scale building model tests under real sunlight and xenon-lamp irradiation; in the latter, the two sides maintain a stable 12 °C temperature differential on the same roof. Durability tests confirm >95% optical retention after 1000 abrasion cycles and <4% loss after UV aging. EnergyPlus simulations covering all 34 provincial-level administrative divisions in China demonstrate average cooling and heating energy savings of 68.2% and 39.8%, respectively. This work offers a sustainable, durable, and practically viable solution for year-round building energy conservation.

Currently, there is a limited amount of research on PEDOT:LS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):sulfonated lignin)-based hydrogels. While the addition of PEDOT:LS can enhance the conductivity of the gel, it unavoidably disrupts the gel network and negatively affects its mechanical properties. The preparation process and freezing resistance of the hydrogels also pose significant challenges for their practical applications. In this study, we have developed a novel self-catalytic system, PEDOT:LS-Fe³⁺, for the rapid fabrication of conductive hydrogels. These hydrogels are further transformed into eutectogels by immersing them in a deep eutectic solvent. Compared with conventional hydrogels, the eutectogels exhibit improved elongation, mechanical strength, and resistance to freezing. Specifically, the eutectogels containing 2 wt % PEDOT:LS as conductive fillers and catalysts demonstrate exceptional stretchability (∼460%), self-adhesion (∼14.6 kPa on paper), UV-blocking capability (∼99.9%), and ionic conductivity (∼1.2 mS cm^-1) even at extremely low temperatures (-60 °C). Moreover, the eutectogels exhibit high stability and sensitivity in flexible sensing, successfully detecting various human motions. This study presents a novel approach for the rapid preparation of the hydrogels by utilizing lignin in the conductive PEDOT polymerization process and forming a self-catalytic system with metal ions. These advancements make the eutectogels a promising candidate material for flexible wearable electronics.

A new strategy has been designed for enhancing the electrochemical performances of supercapacitor electrodes. In this work, flexible hetero-structure conductive cotton equipped with lamellar structure nickel/cobalt-based MOFs (NiCo-MOFs) is prepared through a self-sacrificial template method. The in situ conversion measure effectively strengthens the binding forces between the active materials and the current collector, which decreases the charge transfer resistance at the electrode–electrolyte interfaces. Morphological modulation of the NiCo-MOFs is carried out to construct fast transport channels for ions and charges during the charging–discharging process. The optimized NiC/NiCoMOF21 is composed of uniformly dispersed nanosheets with large gaps, which can provide more free space and active sites for electrode reactions. The energy density of the asymmetric supercapacitor (carbon cloth as the negative electrode) reaches 0.38 mW h cm⁻² at 1.6 mW cm⁻² (16.7% loss of the initial capacity after 2000 cycles), which overcomes the low energy storage performance of the existing textile-based electrodes.