The carbon-based Janus films for flexible sensors, soft actuators, and beyond [Image: NIMTE]

Unique physical/chemical properties and synergetic multi-functions have endowed Janus films with bright potentials in sensing, actuation, advanced separation, energy conversion and storage. As they combine the unique advantages of carbon nanomaterials in electrical conductivity, intrinsic mechanical flexibility, chemical and thermal stability, and ease of assembly, carbon-based Janus films are drawing increasing attention from researchers.

Based on previously reported studies on carbon-based Janus films, Professor Chen Tao and coworkers at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) systematically summarized significant advances in carbon-based Janus films with particular focus on the preparation strategy, the relationship between structure and performance, and the diverse potential applications in sensing, actuation, and integrated devices.

In the review published in Accounts of Materials Research, researchers at NIMTE presented several representative carbon nanomaterials applied in flexible sensing/actuating devices, and elucidated their intrinsic structures and physical/chemical properties, providing valuable guidance for material selection according to desired properties and application scenarios.

In addition, great emphasis has been placed on the general preparation strategy, including solid-supported physical/chemical approaches, and interfacial engineering techniques based on liquid support.

The relationship between the surface/interface structures and the intrinsic properties of the carbon-based Janus films was also elaborated in detail.

Moreover, diverse applications of carbon-based Janus films in electronics skins (e-skins), soft actuation, and self-sensing actuating systems were demonstrated, contributing to the development of high-performance epidermal electronics, noncontact sensing devices, light-driven actuators, self-sensing actuators, and their integration for smart robots.

The current development challenges and future trends of carbon-based Janus films were also illustrated, in terms of structural design, structural interfaces, and integrated functionality.

It is expected that this review will shed light on the further research on carbon-based Janus films, and attract the interest of researchers with various backgrounds, thus triggering new opportunities.

The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52073295), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Nos. 2022YFC2805204 and 2022YFC2805202), the Sino-German Mobility Program (No. M-0424), Open Research Projects of Zhejiang Laboratory (No. 2022MG0AB01), the Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. QYZDBSSWSLH036), and the K. C. Wong Education Foundation (No. GJTD-2019-13).

For more information, please contact:

Professor Chen Tao

E-mail: tao.chen@nimte.ac.cn

Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering,

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Source: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering,

Chinese Academy of Sciences