1. Magnetosensitive polymeric composites have applications for flexible sensing, soft actuators, wearable motion trackers, energy harvesting and functional coatings. Magnetosensitive properties can be combined to obtain compact, and flexible devices that are moved, controlled and triggered upon the application of magnetic fields. Here, I demonstrate that magnetic field sensors based on various types of magnetoresistive flakes can be printed onto rigid, flexible, and deformable substrates. We employed block-copolymers and elastic binders to enable the mechanical resilience of these sensors: they can withstand bending down to 16 µm, 100% of stretching, and bending for hundreds of cycles without losing functionality. The printed magnetic field sensors can be used to create interfaces that are responsive to magnetic fields through remote human input. Being flexible, they can be laminated on
the skin, or stuck onto any object, from a desk to a house wall. Additionally, I will showcase the use of magnetically sensitive flexible polymers in the area of soft actuators, where onboard control of motion is given through magnetically sensitive e-skins. This work opens new possibilities for autonomous remote soft mechatronic systems, where untethered magnetic actuation is needed.
2. Solar-driven photocatalysis is of great interest in the current crucial situation of global energy crisis in terms of sustainable use of energy and wide applications in wastewater treatment. Photogeneration of hydrogen peroxide from water and oxygen by solar irradiation is an advanced strategy for wastewater treatment because H2O2 is a powerful oxidant for disinfection from bacteria and degradation of recalcitrant pollutants in wastewater. However, previous studies reported photocatalysts able to generate H2O2 with low efficiency by solar irradiation and requiring photoactivation by using UV lamps. This thesis will focus on the new solar light-driven multifunctional system based on the combination of upconverting nanoparticles and photosensitive polymers with high photocatalytic efficiency.
1. Magnetosensitive polymeric composites have applications for flexible sensing, soft actuators, wearable motion trackers, energy harvesting and functional coatings. Magnetosensitive properties can be combined to obtain compact, and flexible devices that are moved, controlled and triggered upon the application of magnetic fields. Here, I demonstrate that magnetic field sensors based on various types of magnetoresistive flakes can be printed onto rigid, flexible, and deformable substrates. We employed block-copolymers and elastic binders to enable the mechanical resilience of these sensors: they can withstand bending down to 16 µm, 100% of stretching, and bending for hundreds of cycles without losing functionality. The printed magnetic field sensors can be used to create interfaces that are responsive to magnetic fields through remote human input. Being flexible, they can be laminated on
the skin, or stuck onto any object, from a desk to a house wall. Additionally, I will showcase the use of magnetically sensitive flexible polymers in the area of soft actuators, where onboard control of motion is given through magnetically sensitive e-skins. This work opens new possibilities for autonomous remote soft mechatronic systems, where untethered magnetic actuation is needed.
2. Solar-driven photocatalysis is of great interest in the current crucial situation of global energy crisis in terms of sustainable use of energy and wide applications in wastewater treatment. Photogeneration of hydrogen peroxide from water and oxygen by solar irradiation is an advanced strategy for wastewater treatment because H2O2 is a powerful oxidant for disinfection from bacteria and degradation of recalcitrant pollutants in wastewater. However, previous studies reported photocatalysts able to generate H2O2 with low efficiency by solar irradiation and requiring photoactivation by using UV lamps. This thesis will focus on the new solar light-driven multifunctional system based on the combination of upconverting nanoparticles and photosensitive polymers with high photocatalytic efficiency.
