Recently, materials science researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong University, together with Southern University of Science and Technology and Pennsylvania State University, have designed a new electrochromic device with ionohydrogel with novel electrochromic layered structure. The research results have been published in the well-known journal "Materials Horizons" in the field of international materials. This research paper is entitled "Multifunctional Hydrogel Enables Extremely Simplified Electrochromic Devices for Smart Windows and Ionic Writing Boards". The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation, the Boxin Project, and the Xi'an Jiaotong University Analysis and Testing Sharing Center.

The novel electrochromic layered structure is obtained by compounding a multifunctional ion hydrogel with a tungsten oxide film. Only this step can effectively simplify the internal structure of the electrochromic device. In addition, ion-hydrogel-based electrochromic devices exhibit significant color changes and up to seventy percent transmittance modulation under periodic biasing. Compared with the traditional electrochromic device, it is found that the response speed and coloring efficiency of the novel electrochromic device are significantly improved. This means that the worldwide problem of electrochromic devices - no discoloration and slow discoloration - has been greatly improved.

Otherwise, researchers have demonstrated a rewritable ion writing pad based on the principle of electrochromic. This design breaks through the limitations of electrochromic display devices that are not erasable. Moreover, the drive voltage is as low as ~1V. This research result is not only important for the design and development of next-generation electrochromic devices. At the same time, it also provides a new way of thinking for the application of ionized hydrogels.

According to records, Newton was found to be gravitationally attracted by the apple. It can be seen that there is always a cause and effect in everything. The birth of new electrochromic devices is also true, and it has its historical background. This is to say that you are familiar with electrochromic materials and electrochromic devices. You know the fact that the structure of traditional electrochromic devices is more complicated. This not only increases the cost of production, but also severely limits the flexibility of the overall design of the device. In particular, the problem that the display content of the conventional electrochromic display cannot be arbitrarily updated after being packaged. Because the display content of such displays has been predetermined by the patterning process of the electrodes or electrochromic layers. It is precisely because of this reason that the scientific research results of "ion hydrogel new electrochromic device" have been obtained.

There are many electrochromic device applications around you, such as smart dimming glass, monitors, and auto anti-glare rearview mirrors. Not to mention the latter two applications, only smart dimming glass, it is gradually replacing LOW-E glass, and is widely used in high-end areas such as hotels, exhibition halls, automobiles, high-speed rail and landmark buildings. So, do you know what these so-called electrochromic devices are?

An electrochromic device is a functional device - a device made of an electrochromic material. So, what is an electrochromic color-changing material? Naturally, it is a material with electrochromic properties. Optical properties such as color and transmittance of electrochromic materials can undergo stable and reversible changes under the control of an external electric field. That is to say, these materials, in appearance, exhibit reversible changes in color and transparency.

Functional devices developed using electrochromic materials have been widely used in smart/energy-efficient buildings, information displays, and defense industries. For example, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and many architectural glass walls already have applications for electrochromic devices. In the future, with the popularization of this new ion-hydrogel electrochromic device, electrochromic devices will have a wider application prospect. I hope that our country's cute and respectable materials researchers can continue to innovate, let our electrochromic devices go to the forefront of the world, and make our lives better.

A few days ago, the Chinese private rocket, the "hyperbolic Z" rocket, was the first sub-orbital test. This is not the first time launch a space launch. In the earlier, another private company also successfully conducted a sounding rocket test, the first private commercial rocket in China. However, what do you know about tungsten copper throat inserts while knowing these messages? Whether the tungsten copper throat inserts help Chinese private rockets lift off?

We all know that the working environment of the rocket is very bad, especially the nozzle throat of the solid rocket engine. As a rocket fan, you may know that the solid rocket engine refers to a chemical rocket engine that uses solid propellant, which is also known as a solid propellant rocket engine. You may also know that there are many solid propellants, such as polyurethane, polybutadiene and so on. But do you know what is the tungsten copper throat insert?

Tungsten copper throat insert is the lining material of the nozzle of the solid rocket engine nozzle. It is made of tungsten copper composite material, which is a self-sweating cooling throat lining material. It meets the requirements of the throat insert. Which with resistant to high temperature, corrosion and wear, high hardness, light weight, ablation resistance, thermal mechanical shock resistance and so on.

According to statistics, between 65 and 75 percent of the rocket's thrust is accelerated by the throat of the nozzle to the speed of sound. This shows the importance of the throat insert to the rocket as a whole. However, the working environment of the nozzle throat is very bad. The temperature rise at the moment of ignition is about two thousand degrees Celsius per second, and the working temperature is also very high, usually about three thousand degrees Celsius. Therefore, the throat insert has a high requirement for the high temperature strength of its material. At a temperature of three thousand degrees Celsius or higher, the copper contained in the two-phase structure of the tungsten copper composite will vaporize and absorb a large amount of heat, so that the temperature of the surface of the throat insert is significantly reduced, so that it can meet the high temperature environment of the rocket.

That is to say, the tungsten copper composite material utilizes the sweating and cooling effect of copper volatilization at a high temperature, which can lower the surface temperature of the tungsten copper and ensure its use under high temperature extreme conditions. Tungsten copper materials can be used not only on the throat of solid rocket motors, but also on missile or rocket engine components such as gas rudders, air rudders, nose cones, guards and fasteners. At the same time, tungsten copper composite materials also used in vacuum switchgear and electronic packaging of its excellent electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and high temperature resistance.

Do you want to know what is the tungsten copper composite material?

Tungsten copper composites is referred to as "pseudo-alloys", which is the composites of tungsten and copper, it does not solidify or form intermetallic compounds. The weak interaction between tungsten and copper makes them compatible with the advantages of tungsten and copper after compounding. With the properties of high melting point, arc corrosion resistance, fusion resistance and corrosion resistance of tungsten and excellent electrical conductivity of copper. It can be used as a heat dissipating component in large-scale integrated circuits and microwave devices, which can effectively extend the service life of electronic components.

It is not known whether the tungsten copper throat insert will help the Chinese private rockets to rise. Because the material of the solid rocket motor nozzle throat lining is not only include tungsten copper material, also include graphite, SiC ceramic, carbon fiber, phenolic resin, C/C composite and other refractory metals such as tungsten alloy. Finally, the Rockets fans, do you know which one is best suited to "fly" with the missile?

You may know that Victoria is located on the southeast coast of Australia and is known as the “Garden State” and the “Australian Miniature”! However, you know that although the state is only three percent of Australia's land area, its GDP is more than a quarter of Australia's. It has to be said that part of the credit is its rich natural mineral resources, which provides a good foundation for the development of the Australian economy. Therefore, Australia can be said to be the country with the largest tungsten and molybdenum resources.

Tungsten hexafluoride, chemical formula for WF6, is a colorless gas, condensation, light yellow liquid, molar mass 297.83 g/mol, is one of the densest gases. Tungsten hexafluoride is mainly used for chemical vapor deposition of tungsten. It is also used to fabricate interconnects with low resistance and high melting point, large integrated circuit electronic components, protective shields against X-ray or gamma-ray, and high-efficiency solar absorbers.