Superstable and Intrinsically Self‐healing Fibrous Membrane with Bionic Confined Protective Structure for Breathable Electronic Skin

Practical Applications of Self-Healing Polymers Beyond Mechanical and Electrical Recovery

Self-healing polymeric materials, which can repair physical damage, offer promising prospects for protective applications across various industries. Although prolonged durability and resource conservation are key advantages, focusing solely on mechanical recovery may limit the market potential of these materials. The unique physical properties of self-healing polymers, such as interfacial reduction, seamless connection lines, temperature/pressure responses, and phase transitions, enable a multitude of innovative applications. In this perspective, the diverse applications of self-healing polymers beyond their traditional mechanical strength are emphasized and their potential in various sectors such as food packaging, damage-reporting, radiation shielding, acoustic conservation, biomedical monitoring, and tissue regeneration is explored. With regards to the commercialization challenges, including scalability, robustness, and performance degradation under extreme conditions, strategies to overcome these limitations and promote successful industrialization are discussed. Furthermore, the potential impacts of self-healing materials on future research directions, encompassing environmental sustainability, advanced computational techniques, integration with emerging technologies, and tailoring materials for specific applications are examined. This perspective aims to inspire interdisciplinary approaches and foster the adoption of self-healing materials in various real-life settings, ultimately contributing to the development of next-generation materials.

Energy Harvesting Using Cotton Fabric Embedded with 2D Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Continuous health monitoring through sensitive physiological signals (using a wearable device) is crucial for the early detection of heart diseases and breathing problems. Here, we have developed a flexible hBN/cotton hybrid device that can detect minor signals such as heartbeat and breathed-out air pressure. Systematic observation of the real-time motion sensing showed a peak-to-peak voltage output of ∼1.5 V for each heart rate pulse. The as-fabricated device showed a high voltage output of up to ∼10 V upon applying a pressure of ∼3 MPa. The FTIR results and DFT calculation suggested a chemical interaction between hBN and cellulose, giving rise to flat band characteristics and partially filled σ-bonding (sp²) hybridization. The atomic-scale chemical interface between atomically thin hBN and surface functional groups present on cotton resulted in charge localization and enhanced output voltage. An hBN/cotton hybrid device can bring new insights and opportunities to develop a self-charging and health-monitoring energy-harvesting cloth.