Fabrication and characterization of low-sheet-resistance and stable stretchable electrodes employing metal and metal nanowire hybrid structure

Stretchable electrodes with high stretching capability and low sheet resistance were developed using a metal/silver nanowires (AgNWs)/metal hybrid structure on a poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. A low sheet resistance around 100 mΩ/square was achieved using the hybrid structures of Ag/AgNWs/Ag and Cu/AgNWs/Cu electrodes. The stretching capability under single and multi-cycling strain conditions was greatly improved due the AgNWs in-between top and bottom metal electrodes. The random connection of AgNWs generates new current path over the various cracks and wavy structures of the metal electrodes, which improve the initial resistance, the stretching capability of single strain up to 16 % and the resistance stability of 100 times cycling strain for the electrodes. Using a simple resistor model, it was shown that the hybrid structure is effective to improve the stretching capability of the stretchable metal electrodes due to random connection of AgNWs in-between the metal electrodes.

PENGEMBANGAN KAPAL PERIKANAN TRIMARAN: KAJIAN MENGENAI KEBUTUHAN TENAGA KAPAL, KEAMANAN DAN KENYAMANAN

In general, the fishing fleets operating in Maluku waters are consisted of monohull and trimaran vessels with outriggers managed by local entrepreneurs. Monohull fishing vessels have limited deck space and low transverse stability, whereas trimaran fishing vessels have more deck space and greater transverse stability than monohull fishing vessels, but space is still limited due to their outrigger shape. This study aimed to analyze the development of the trimaran fishing vessel in terms of energy requirements, safety and comfort of the crew during fishing operations. At the beginning of this research, data analysis was undertaken and the basic size of monohull fishing vessels operating in Maluku waters, from this data the shape of the trimaran hull was then designed. Resistance was calculated using CFD, and then the resistance, stability, safety, and comfort of the ship were examined using Maxsurf. The trimaran vessel’s barrier was 8.86% smaller than a monohull and 3.25% smaller than a catamaran. Trimaran vessels consumed more energy than other vessel types. The average trimaran period was 10.5 seconds which met IMO standards and was declared as operationally good.

Occurrence and Detection of Carbendazim-Resistance in Botryosphaeria dothidea from apple orchards in China

Botryosphaeria dothidea causes white rot, which is among the most devastating diseases affecting apple crops globally. In this paper, we assessed B. dothidea resistance to carbendazim by collecting samples from warts on the infected branches of apple trees or from fruits exhibiting evidence of white rot. All samples were collected from different orchards of nine provinces of China in 2018 and 2019. In total 440 B. dothidea isolates were evaluated, of which 19 isolates from three provinces were found to exhibit carbendazim-resistance. We additionally explored the fitness and resistance stability of these isolates, revealing that they were no less fit than carbendazim-sensitive isolates in terms of pathogenicity, sporulation, and mycelial growth and that the observed carbendazim resistance was stable. Sequencing of the β-tubulin gene in carbendazim-resistant isolates showed the presence of a substitution at codon 198 (GAG to GCG) that result in an alanine substitution in place of glutamic acid (E198A) in all 19 resistant isolates. A LAMP method was then developed to rapidly and specifically identify this E198A mutation. This LAMP method offers value as a tool for rapidly detecting carbendazim-resistant isolates bearing this E198A mutation, and can thus be used for the widespread monitoring of apple crops to detect and control the development of such resistance

Facile thermoplastic polyurethane-based multi-walled carbon nanotube ink for fabrication of screen-printed fabric electrodes of wearable e-textiles with high adhesion and resistance stability under large deformation

Carbon nanotubes have been widely used to formulate printed conductive ink in recent years due to their excellent conductivity, chemical stability and mechanical properties. However, the common problems of this ink, such as poor adhesion and low resistance stability under large deformation, hinder its application in the fabric electrodes (FEs) of wearable and stretchable e-textiles. Herein, conductive inks with a simple preparation process, high adhesion and conductive stability were formulated by mixing the conductive filler, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), into a thermoplastic polyurethane matrix with a reversible cross-linked structure. Then it is evaluated whether the MWCNT-based conductive ink is suitable for the screen-printing fabrication of highly durable and washable FEs. The experimental results showed that the screen-printed fabric electrode exhibited remarkable resistance stability under bending and folding deformation. In particular, after 1000 bending cycles and 100 folding–unfolding cycles under additional pressure, the sheet resistance of FEs only increased by 0.8% and 5.0%, respectively. Moreover, the screen-printed conductive pattern has strong adhesion to polyamide fabric substrate by the Scotch tape and washing tests, and there are no significant changes in resistance and surface morphology. High-performance conductive inks with facile and large-scale production potential are developed, and show great prospect in the development of wearable printing e-textiles.