Bioinspired Geometry‐Switchable Janus Nanofibers for Eye‐Readable H2 Sensors

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2017-08, Vol.27 (29), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Han, Heetak, Baik, Sangyul, Xu, Borui, Seo, Jungmok, Lee, Sanggeun, Shin, Sera, Lee, Jaehong, Koo, Ja Hoon, Mei, Yongfeng, Pang, Changhyun, Lee, Taeyoon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: actuators; Adhesion; Arthropods; biomimetics; Change detection; Deformation; Electric equipment; Fasteners; Flammability; Flammable gases; hydrogen sensors; Janus nanofibers; Materials science; Nanofibers; sensilla; Structural hierarchy; Wetting
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201701618

Nanoscale architectures found in nature have unique functionalities and their discovery has led to significant advancements in various fields including optics, wetting, and adhesion. The sensilla of arthropods, comprised of unique hierarchical structures, are a representative example which inspired the development of various bioinspired systems, owing to their hypersensitive and ultrafast responsivity to mechanical and chemical stimuli. This report presents a geometry‐switchable and highly H2‐reactive Janus nanofiber (H‐NF) array inspired by the structural features of the arthropod sensilla. The H‐NF array (400 nm diameter, 4 µm height, 1.2 µm spacing distance, and hexagonal array) exhibits reversible structural deformation when exposed to a flammable concentration of hydrogen gas (4 vol% H2 in N2) with fast response times (5.1 s). The structural change can be detected with the bare eye, which is a result of change in the optical transmittance due to the structural deformation of the H‐NF array. Based on these results, an eye‐readable H2‐sensor that requires no additional electrical apparatus is demonstrated, including wetting‐controllable H2‐selective smart surfaces and H2‐responsive fasteners. A highly H2‐reactive Janus nanofiber (H‐NF) array is developed, inspired by the structural features of arthropod sensilla. The H‐NF array exhibits unique geometry‐switchable behaviors in response to the presence/absence of hydrogen molecules. Based on the structural deformation of H‐NF, various applications are demonstrated, including eye‐readable H2‐sensor, wetting‐controllable H2‐selective smart surfaces, and real‐time monitoring via H2‐detectable fasteners.