Advances on Thermally Conductive Epoxy-Based Composites as Electronic Packaging Underfill Materials-A Review.

The integrated circuits industry has been continuously producing microelectronic components with ever higher integration level, packaging density, and power density, which demand more stringent requirements for heat dissipation. Electronic packaging materials are used to pack these microelectronic components together, help to dissipate heat, redistribute stresses, and protect the whole system from the environment. They serve an important role in ensuring the performance and reliability of the electronic devices. Among various packaging materials, epoxy-based underfills are often employed in flip-chip packaging. However, widely used capillary underfill materials suffer from their low thermal conductivity, unable to meet the growing heat dissipation required of next-generation IC chips with much higher power density. Many strategies have been proposed to improve the thermal conductivity of epoxy, but its application as underfill materials with complex performance requirements is still difficult. In fact, optimizing the combined thermal-electrical-mechanical-processing properties of underfill materials for flip-chip packaging remains a great challenge. Herein, state-of-the-art advances that have been made to satisfy the key requirements of capillary underfill materials are reviewed. Based on these studies, the perspectives for designing high-performance underfill materials with novel microstructures in electronic packaging for high-power density electronic devices are provided.

Fast-Response Bioinspired Near-Infrared Light-Driven Soft Robot Based on Two-Stage Deformation.

Herein, we report a remotely controlled soft robot employing a photoresponsive nanocomposite synthesized from liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), high elastic form-stable phase change polymer (HEPCP), and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Possessing a two-stage deformation upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR) light, the LCE/HEPCP/MWCNT (LHM) nanocomposite allows the soft robot to exhibit an obvious, fast, and reversible shape change with low detection limitations. In addition to the deformation and bending of the LCE molecular chains itself, the HEPCP in the composite material can also be triggered by a reversible solid-liquid transition due to the temperature rise caused by MWCNTs, which further promotes the change of the LCE. In particular, the proposed photodriven LHM soft robot can bend up to 180° in 2 s upon NIR stimulation (320 mW, distance of 5 cm) and generate recoverable, dramatic, and sensitive deformation to execute various tasks including walking, twisting, and bending. With the capacity of imitating biological behaviors through remote control, the disruptive innovation developed here offers a promising path toward miniaturized untethered robotic systems.

Limbal Bio-Engineered Tissue Employing 3D Nanofiber-Aerogel Scaffold to Facilitate LSCs Growth and Migration.

Constrained by the existing scaffold inability to mimic limbal niche, limbal bio-engineered tissue constructed in vitro is challenging to be widely used in clinical practice. Here, a 3D nanofiber-aerogel scaffold is fabricated by employing thermal cross-linking electrospinned film polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatin (GEL) as the precursor. Benefiting from the cross-linked (160 °C, vacuum) structure, the homogenized and lyophilized 3D nanofiber-aerogel scaffold with preferable mechanical strength is capable of refraining the volume collapse in humid vitro. Intriguingly, compared with traditional electrospinning scaffolds, the authors' 3D nanofiber-aerogel scaffolds possess enhanced water absorption (1100-1300%), controllable aperture (50-100 µm), and excellent biocompatibility (optical density value, 0.953 ± 0.021). The well-matched aperture and nanostructure of the scaffolds with cells enable the construction of limbal bio-engineered tissue. It is foreseen that the proposed general method can be extended to various aerogels, providing new opportunities for the development of novel limbal bio-engineered tissue.

Scalable Manufacture of High-Performance Battery Electrodes Enabled by a Template-Free Method.

Ion transport kinetics is identified as the major challenge of thick electrode design for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. The introduction of vertically-oriented structure pores, which provide fast transport pathways for Li+ , can maximize the rate-performance of electrodes while holding a high energy density. To overcome the harsh manufacturing requirements of traditional template-based methods for the oriented-pore electrodes, a template-free strategy is developed to meet the large-scale fabrication demand, in which controllable oriented microchannels are facilely constructed by vertically aggregated bubbles generated from thermal decomposition. The proposed method is demonstrated to be applicable for different active materials and compatible with industrial roll-to-roll manufacturing. The oriented-pore electrodes exhibit a seven times higher capacity at 5C rate and show double the power density relative to the state of the art while maintaining a high level of energy density. The balance between the ion transport kinetics through the channels and in the matrix manifests an optimal design of the electrode structures, enabling the desired superior performance of the electrodes toward practical applications.

Nanoporous PVDF Hollow Fiber Employed Piezo-Tribo Nanogenerator for Effective Acoustic Harvesting.

Restricted by the inherent property of low power density, acoustic energy can hardly be effectively captured by conventional piezo- or triboelectric nanogenerators for powering miniature electronics. Herein, a novel piezo-tribo hybrid nanogenerator employing nanoporous polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) valve, which can mimic the eardrum, has been advocated for efficient acoustic harvesting. The nanoporous, hollow, and valve structure design, together with the effective combination of piezo- and triboelectricity, make the nanoporous PVDF hollow fiber and PDMS valve based acoustic harvester (PHVAH) a promising candidate for acoustic-electric conversion. With an optimal output of 105.5 V and 16.7 µA and a power density of 0.92 W m-2 under the sound stimulation of 117.6 dB and 150 Hz, it can not only recognize audio signals but also convert the sound into electrical energy to light up seven LED bulbs in series. Exhibiting excellent durability and stability, the disruptive innovation proposed here is an effective method for hunting the ubiquitous sound energy in the environment, which provides great potential and impetus for using acoustic-electric conversion to power various low-power-consumption sensors.

Self-Powered Infrared-Responsive Electronic Skin Employing Piezoelectric Nanofiber Nanocomposites Driven by Microphase Transition.

Infrared light (IR) detection principles limited by poor photoresponsivity and sparse photogenerated carrier make them impossible to directly applied in flexible IR sensing field attributed to low π-π conjugation effect, thick P-N junction, and harsh band gap, of which IR self-powered electronic skin (e-skin) strongly relies on the essential property of exotic photosensitive-exciting materials, hardly any flexible organic polymer or nanocomposites. Here, an innovative IR self-powered principle is reported that outstanding piezoelectric effect of poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers (PVDF NFs) is driven by microcrystals' volume expansion caused by the solid-solid phase transition of PVDF/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/highly elastic phase change polymer (HEPCP) (PMH) nanocomposites due to MWCNT's excellent IR photoabsorption and thermal conversion capabilities. A flexible IR-sensitive nanocomposite is successfully developed employing PVDF/HEPCP NFs as the framework of a three-dimensional network structure wrapped by the MWCNT/HEPCP nanocomposite. The 33, 50, and 60 wt % PMH nanocomposites are demonstrated cyclic, IR-regulated on/off piezoelectric sensitivity of 889.7, 977.6, and 493.8 mV/(mW·mm-2) at IR powers of 5.3 mW/mm2, respectively. Furthermore, IR self-powered e-skin has been developed successfully and realized an accurate IR stimulus-sensing location due to the sensitivity, which depends on the size of the sensing area. This innovative strategy provides a new route to the fundamental science and applications of flexible IR self-powered devices, such as e-skin, artificial vision, soft robots, active surveillance sensors, etc.

High-strength cellulose films obtained by the combined action of shear force and surface selective dissolution.

Cellulose is a promising and advantageous material because it is low-cost, abundant and biodegradable. Nonetheless, dealing with this material is extremely challenging because cellulose cannot dissolve in most solvents or melt at any temperature or pressure in the air owing to strong hydrogen-bonding networks. In this work, a surface selective dissolution with shear force process was proposed to prepare cellulose films with high strength from microcrystalline cellulose powders. The tensile strength reached 94 MPa and the thermal decomposition temperature improved by 64 °C compared with that of regenerated cellulose. A mechanism of surface dissolution and reconnection was proposed to explain the process. The outstanding mechanical property attributes to tight reconnection of the undissolved cores via dissolved surfaces in cellulose powders, and the improved thermal decomposition temperature is due to preserved cellulose Ⅰ crystalline structure of microcrystalline cellulose. We believe that this cost-effective and facile method holds promise for industrial-scaleproduction of cellulose materials.

Formability and Failure Mechanisms of Woven CF/PEEK Composite Sheet in Solid-State Thermoforming.

In this study, the formability of woven carbon-fiber (CF)-reinforced polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) composite sheets in the solid-state thermoforming process were investigated, and the failure mechanisms were discussed. The formability of the woven CF/PEEK sheets were analyzed using flexural tests, Erichsen test, and microscopic observation. The results show that the formability of CF/PEEK sheets significantly increases as the temperature rises from 165 to 325 °C, and slightly decreases as the deformation speed rises from 2 to 120 mm/min. The deformation of the sheets is caused by plastic deformation, shear deformation and squeeze deformation, without plastic thinning and fiber slippage, which is due to the restriction of the solid matrix and locked fibers. Moreover, the wrinkles will cause fiber fracture at lower temperatures and delamination at higher temperatures. At higher temperatures, the wrinkles mainly occur at the position with [0°/90°] fibers due to the squeezing of the matrix and fibers.

Flexural Behavior and Fracture Mechanisms of Short Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polyether-Ether-Ketone Composites at Various Ambient Temperatures.

In this study, the flexural behavior and fracture mechanisms of short carbon fiber reinforced polyether-ether-ketone (SCFR/PEEK) composites at various ambient temperatures were investigated. First, the crystallinity and glass transition temperature (Tg) of PEEK and SCFR/PEEK were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis tests, respectively. The addition of SCFs increases the Tg but does not change the crystallinity of the PEEK matrix. Then, the three-point flexural tests of PEEK and SCFR/PEEK were performed over the temperature range of 20 to 235 °C, and the temperature-dependencies of the flexural properties of PEEK and SCFR/PEEK were discussed in detail. Finally, the microstructure of SCFR/PEEK was observed using a digital microscope and scanning electron microscope. The results show that the tension crack occurs first, and the crack extends upward leading to the shear crack and compression crack at room temperature. The fracture of SCFR/PEEK is mainly due to the extraction and rupture of SCFs. At high temperatures (above Tg), the tension crack and compression crack both occur, and the strong ductility of the matrix prevents the generation of shear crack. The fracture of SCFR/PEEK is mainly due to the rotation and extraction of SCFs, while the SCFs rupture plays a minor role.

[Clinical analysis of reoperation for recurrence thyroid carcinoma in 87 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the cause and the methods of reoperation for recurrent thyroid carcinoma. METHOD: The clinicopathologic data of 87 cases were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnosis on recurrent thyroid carcinoma were confirmed after reoperative pathology. RESULT: Forty-three cases (49.4%) were confirmed as residual carcinoma by pathology. Among 87 cases, 65 cases (74.7%) had lymph node metastasis in group VI and 42 cases (48.3%) had lateral neck lymph nodes metastasis, 3 cases were in the presence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury temporarily, 1 case was in the presence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury permanently, 5 cases were convulsed by hypocalcemia. CONCLUSION: The nonstandard surgical procedure in the first operation is the main cause for the reoperation of thyroid carcinoma. Increased cognitive level of thyroid carcinoma and appropriate surgical technique may be the important keys to avoid reoperating. It is necessary to protect the parathyroid and recurrent laryngeal nerve in reoperation.

[Significance of the expression of P53 protein and P21WAF1 protein in the gastric carcinoma tissues associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections].

BACKGROUND: To study the difference in gene expression between the EBV associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) tissues. To explore the mechanism of gastric carcinoma pathogenesis initiated by EBV. METHODS: In situ hybridization was used to study the frequencies of EBV small RNA expression in 155 cases of gastric carcinoma tissues. The expression levels of P53 protein and P21WAF1 protein were detected by immunohistochemistry in all gastric carcinoma tissues. RESULTS: The expression of EBV small RNA was positive in 10 out of 155 cases (6.45%). The expression of P53 protein was weakly positive in 4 of the 10 cases. The expression level of P53 protein in EBVaGC was much lower than that in EBVnGC and was weakly positive in 30 of 145 cases with EBVnGC). P21WAF1 expression was detected in 7 of 10 cases with EBVaGC, but in 55 out of 145 cases with EBVaGC, P21WAF1 expression in EBVaGC was much higher than that in EBVnGC. CONCLUSION: There seems existing a special mechanism of pathogenesis in EBVaGC. In which P53 gene mutation may not play an important role.