Examinando por Autor "de la Vega, Jimena"

Mostrando 1 - 3 de 3

All-Fabric Triboelectric Nanogenerator (AF-TENG) Smart Face Mask: Remote Long-Rate Breathing Monitoring and Apnea Alarm
(ACS, 2023-03-28) Vázquez-López, Antonio; Sánchez del Río Saez, José; de la Vega, Jimena; Ao, Xiang; Wang, De-Yi
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of face masks has become not only mandatory in several countries but also an acceptable approach for combating the pandemic. In the quest for designing an effective and useful face mask, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have been recently proposed. Novel functionalities are provided with the use of TENGs in face masks due to the induced triboelectrification generated by the exhaled and inhaled breath, allowing their use as an energy sensor. Nonetheless, within the face mask, the presence of nontextile plastics or other common triboelectric (TE) materials can be undesired. Herein, we propose the use of an all-fabric TENG (AF-TENG) with the use of high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and cotton fabric as negative and positive triboelectric layers, respectively. With these materials, it is possible to detect the breathing of the patient, which in the case of not detecting a signal over a few minutes can trigger an alarm locally, providing valuable time. Also, in this article, we have sent breathing signals locally and remotely to distances up to 20 km via Wi-Fi and LoRa, the same as warning signals in the case of detecting anomalies. This work reveals the use of TENGs in smart face masks as an important tool to be used in difficult epidemiological periods to the general public, bringing much more comfort and relaxation to patients and elderly in today’s society, and based on pristine eco-friendly materials.
Energy from Waste: Triboelectric Nanogenerators from Fully Fabric Materials for Smart Textiles. An Introductory Activity for Fine Arts and Design Students
(ACS, 2024-11-15) Collado, Ignacio; Sánchez del Río Saez, José; de la Vega, Jimena; Vázquez-López, Antonio
Smart textile fabrics have arisen as an emerging technology, aiming to integrate advanced functionalities into conventional fabrics. While they are highly valuable in fashion and design, a significant knowledge gap exists between the underlying physical and chemical principles of smart textiles and fashion designers, which might be unfamiliar with those concepts closely related to electronics, physics, engineering, chemistry, or material science. In this article, we present a simple pedagogical experiment as an introduction to smart textiles, focusing on triboelectrification. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can transform mechanical energy into electricity via friction or contact between two different layers such as two different fabrics. The activity described here involves assembling TENGs using various textile fabrics, from common fabrics, such as cotton, to recycled fabrics, such as polypropylene from face masks. By carefully selecting textile pairs according to the triboelectric series (a semiempirical approach), the output voltage can be maximized, which is sufficient to power a series of LED lights or even charge a small load, such as a capacitor. This straightforward experiment helps introduce students and researchers from various disciplines to the basic concepts and terminology of TENGs, enabling them to create a micro power generator using commonly available fabrics.
Graphene Oxide/Polylactic Acid-Based Face Mask to Combat H3N2: A Strategy against Influenza
(ACS, 2024-03-14) Vázquez-López, Antonio; de la Vega, Jimena; Collado, Ignacio; Carmona, Franciso Javier; Prádanos, Pedro; Prolongo, Silvia G.; Wang, De-Yi
Personal protective equipment such as face masks has become a fundamental tool to fight against virus-filled airborne droplets, preventing their widespread and the emergence of pandemics. While most face masks avoid the passing of airborne particles via a filtration effect, their protection effectiveness can be further increased by developing techniques based on antiviral coatings, which can inhibit virus replication. Among different coatings, carbon-based coatings are considered very appealing due to their low price and high antiviral properties. Most importantly, proper material selection during mask manufacturing is becoming more crucial as the high demand and consumption of common polypropylene face masks have grown into a huge environmental hazard. Herein, we present a potential face mask system based on nanoplatelets of graphene oxide (GO) spray coated via a simple one-step procedure over a poly(lactic acid) textile fabric, allowing a homogeneous coating. The incorporation of GO does not affect the textile structure nor affect its air permeability, while it increases its water contact angle, potentially preventing droplet trespassing. The antiviral efficiency was tested against Influenza A virus (H3N2) (strain A/Hong Kong/8/68), reaching a high reduction with no cytotoxic effect observed.