Publications
We publish in a range of peer-reviewed journals. We are committed to sharing knowledge to maximise values across academia, industry, and the public, and making all as open as possible, but if you cannot get hold of anything please feel free to get in touch.
Mechanical energy absorption of metal–organic frameworks
The absorption of mechanical energy is becoming a promising application of MOF materials, which is important to the protection from damages and injuries associated with mechanical impact, vibration, or explosion. MOFs can absorb energy through solid–liquid interaction in nanopores or framework deformation under mechanical pressure. Energy absorption through these mechanisms can be amplified by the high surface area and porosity of MOFs and achieve a higher energy density than conventional energy absorption materials. For example, the pressurised intrusion of a non-wetting liquid into MOF nanopores can absorb impact energy by generating a large solid–liquid interface, and the structural transition or plastic deformation of MOFs can also be exploited for energy absorption under extreme conditions. This chapter provides an overview of these energy absorption mechanisms and the performance of different materials, connecting the fundamental science of MOF mechanics to practical engineering solutions.
High rate nanofluidic energy absorption in porous zeolitic frameworks
Optimal mechanical impact absorbers are reusable and exhibit high specific energy absorption. The forced intrusion of liquid water in hydrophobic nanoporous materials, such as zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), presents an attractive pathway to engineer such systems. However, to harness their full potential, it is crucial to understand the underlying water intrusion and extrusion mechanisms under realistic, high-rate deformation conditions. Here, we report a critical increase of the energy absorption capacity of confined water-ZIF systems at elevated strain rates. Starting from ZIF-8 as proof-of-concept, we demonstrate that this attractive rate dependence is generally applicable to cage-type ZIFs but disappears for channel-containing zeolites. Molecular simulations reveal that this phenomenon originates from the intrinsic nanosecond timescale needed for critical-sized water clusters to nucleate inside the nanocages, expediting water transport through the framework. Harnessing this fundamental understanding, design rules are formulated to construct effective, tailorable and reusable impact energy absorbers for challenging new applications.
Press Release, Front Cover, Media coverage (>50): IOM3, Chemistry World, Physics World, The Science Times, AZO Materials, Road.cc, etc.
A candidate of mechanical energy mitigation system: Dynamic and quasi-static behaviors and mechanisms of zeolite β/water system
The water intrusion of zeolite β is tested under quasi-static and dynamic conditions to investigate its potential as an impact protection system. Its energy absorption and the influence of zeolite pretreatment, sodium chloride concentration in water, and solid-liquid mass ratio are examined. Quasi-static results show that a higher amount of zeolite with a heating temperature within 1000 °C is preferable, while the influence of sodium chloride is complicated. Drop weight tests are carried out which demonstrated the cushioning effect of the material at low-speed impact, with the peak force decreased by 42.82% and the duration time increased by 79.16%, in comparison to pure water.
Energy absorption mechanism of polyvinyl butyral laminated windshield subjected to head impact: Experiment and numerical simulations
Experiments and finite element simulations are conducted to investigate the energy absorption of Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) laminated windshield glass under the impact of a head form. Experiments were carried out at different impact speeds and angles; a finite element model was set up to simulate the impact process and validated by experiments. The influences of the PVB interlayer including its thickness, Young's modulus, and yield stress on the reaction force and head injury criterion (HIC) are examined, including the significant role of PVB interlayer in the energy absorption of the windshield, which can be designed for an improved windshield safety for pedestrians.
Publication List
Book Chapters
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Sun, Y. and Jiang, H., in press. Energy Absorption of Metal-Organic Frameworks. in Mechanical Behaviour of Metal-Organic Framework Materials, edited by JC Tan, Royal Society of Chemistry, 267-338 (2023).
Journal Papers
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Lai, B., Liu, S., Cahir, J., Sun, Y., Yin, H., Youngs, T., Tan, J.C., Fonrouge, S.F., Pópolo, M.G.D., Borioni, J.L. and Crawford, D.E., Liquids with high compressibility. Advanced Materials, p.2306521 (2023).
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Y. Sun, S.M.J. Rogge, A. Lamaire, S. Vandenbrande, J. Wieme, C.R. Siviour, V. Van Speybroeck, and J.C. Tan. High-rate nanofluidic energy absorption in porous zeolitic frameworks, Nature Materials 20, 1015-1023 (2021).
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S.K. Suryajaya, Y.R. Mulyono, S.P. Santoso, M. Yuliana, A. Kurniawan, A. Ayucitra, Y. Sun, S.B. Hartono, F.E. Soetaredjo, S.Ismadji. Iron (II) impregnated double-shelled hollow mesoporous silica as acid-base bifunctional catalyst for the conversion of low-quality oil to methyl esters, Renewable Energy 169, 1166-1174 (2021).
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Y. Sun, Y. Li, J. C. Tan. Liquid intrusion into Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-7 nanocrystals: exposing the roles of phase transition and gate opening to enable energy absorption applications, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 10, 41831-41838 (2018).
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M.R. Ryder, Z. Zeng, K. Titov, Y. Sun, E.M. Mahdi, I. Flyagina, T.D. Bennett, B. Civalleri, C.S. Kelley, M.D. Frogley, G. Cinque, and J.C. Tan. Dielectric properties of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks in the broadband infrared regime, Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 9, 2678-2684 (2018).
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Y. Sun, Y. Li, J. C. Tan. Framework flexibility of ZIF-8 under liquid intrusion: discovering time-dependent mechanical response and structural relaxation, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 20, 10108-10113 (2018).
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Y. Sun, C. Xu, Y. Li. Intrusion of polyethylene glycol into solid-state nanopores, RSC Advances 8, 9070-9073 (2018).
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Y. Sun, Y. Li, C. Zhao, M. Wang, W. Lu, Y. Qiao. Crushing of circular steel tubes filled with nanoporous-materials-functionalized liquid. International Journal of Damage Mechanics 27, 439-450 (2018).
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Y. Yuan, C. Xu, T. Xu, Y. Sun, B. Liu, Y. Li. An analytical model for deformation and damage of rectangular laminated glass under low-velocity impact. Composite Structures 176, 833-843 (2017).
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Y. Sun, C. Xu, W. Lu, Y. Li. Rate effect of liquid infiltration into mesoporous materials. RSC Advances 7, 971-974 (2017).
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B. Liu, T. Xu, X. Xu, Y. Wang, Y. Sun, Y. Li. Energy absorption mechanism of polyvinyl butyral laminated windshield subjected to head impact: experiment and numerical simulation. International Journal of Impact Engineering 90, 26-36 (2016).
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Y. Sun, X. Xu, C. Xu, Y. Qiao, Y. Li. Elastomeric cellular structure enhanced by compressible liquid filler. Scientific Reports 6, 26694 (2016).
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Y. Sun, Z. Guo, J. Xu, X. Xu, C. Liu, Y. Li. A candidate of mechanical energy mitigation system: dynamic and quasi-static behaviors and mechanisms of zeolite β/water system. Materials & Design 66, 545–551 (2015).
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Y. Sun, P. Li, Y. Qiao, Y. Li. Time-dependent gas-liquid interaction in molecular-sized nanopores. Scientific Reports 4, 6547 (2014).
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Y. Sun, W. Lu, Y. Li. A defiltration control method of pressurized liquid in zeolite ZSM-5 by silanol introduction. Applied Physics Letters 105, 121609 (2014).
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Y. Sun, J. Xu, Y. Li, B. Liu, Y. Wang, C. Liu, X. Chen. Experimental study on energy dissipation characteristics of ZSM‐5 zeolite/water system. Advanced Engineering Materials 15, 740-746 (2013).
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Y. Sun, J. Xu, Y. Li, X. Xu, C. Liu, X. Chen. Mechanism of water infiltration and defiltration through ZSM-5 zeolite: heating and sodium chloride concentration effect. Journal of Nanomaterials 2013, 249369 (2013).
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J. Xu, Y. Sun, B. Wang, Y. Li, Y. Xiang, X. Chen. Molecular dynamics simulation of impact response of buckyballs. Mechanics Research Communications 49, 8-12 (2013).
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B. Liu, Y. Sun, Y. Li, Y., D. Ge, J. Xu. Systematic experimental study on mechanical behavior of PVB (polyvinyl butyral) material under various loading conditions. Polymer Engineering & Science 52, 1137-1147 (2012).
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J. Xu, B. Xu, Y. Sun, Y. Li, X. Chen. Mechanical energy absorption characteristics of hollow and water-filled carbon nanotubes upon low-speed crushing. Journal of Nanomechanics and Micromechanics 2, 65-70 (2012).
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J. Xu, Y. Sun, B. Liu, M. Zhu, X. Yao, Y. Yan, Y. Li, X. Chen. Experimental and macroscopic investigation of dynamic crack patterns in PVB laminated glass sheets subject to light-weight impact. Engineering Failure Analysis 18, 1605-1612 (2011).
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M. Zhu, B. Liu, Y. Sun, J. Xu, X. Yao, Y. Li. Experimental study of dynamic fracture behavior of PVB laminated glass by high-speed photography. Applied Mechanics and Materials 34, 636-640 (2010).
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B. Liu, M. Zhu, Y. Sun, J. Xu, D. Ge, Y. Li. Investigation on energy absorption characteristics of PVB laminated windshield subject to human head impact. Applied Mechanics and Materials 34, 956-960 (2010).
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J. Xu, M. Zhu, B. Liu, Y. Sun, Y. Li. A new vehicle speed estimation method based on the longest radial crack on windshield. Applied Mechanics and Materials 34, 512-516 (2010).
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Y. Li, Y. Sun, C. Xu. Developing trends of automotive safety technology: An analysis based on traffic accident data. Journal of Automotive Safety and Energy 7, 241-253 (2016). [In Chinese]
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J. Chen, J. Xu, B. Liu, Y. Sun, X. Xu, Y. Li. Parametric experimental study on the crack propagation of PVB laminated glass. Automotive Engineering 37, 235-240 (2015). [In Chinese]
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Y. Sun, J. Xu, Y. Li, X. Xu, C. Liu. Effect of pretreatment temperature and sodium chloride concentration on energy dissipation characteristics of ZSM-5/water system. Journal of Inorganic Materials 29, 523-528 (2014). [In Chinese]
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B. Liu, J. Zhou, Y. Sun, Y. Wang, J. Xu, Y. Li. An experimental study on the dynamic viscoelasticity of PVB film material for vehicles. Automotive Engineering 34, 898-904 (2012). [In Chinese]
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J. Xu, Y. Li, D. Ge, X. Chen, X. Yao, M. Zhu, B. Liu, Y. Sun. Review of research on impact response of automotive polyvinyl butyral laminated windshield. Journal of Mechanical Engineering 47, 93-100 (2011). [In Chinese]
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B. Liu, M. Zhu, Y. Sun, J. Xu, Y. Li. Energy absorption characteristics of PVB windshield subjected to human head impact. Journal of Automotive Safety and Energy 1, 288-291 (2010). [In Chinese]
Conference Papers
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Xiao, H., Jiang, H., Yin, H. and Sun, Y., 2022. Nanofluidic Attenuation of Metal-Organic Frameworks. InterNoise, Glasgow, U.K.
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C. Xu, T. Xu, Y. Sun, Y. Yuan, B. Liu, Y. Li. Experimental study of PVB/SGP laminated glass plate subjected to headform impact. International Conference of Automotive Safety Technology, Shanghai, China, 2016. (in Chinese)
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Y. Sun, J. Xu, C. Zhao, P. Li, Y. Li. Exploring a new candidate of energy absorber: thin-walled tube structures filled with nanoporous material functionalized liquid. International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury (IRCOBI) Conference, Berlin, Germany, 2014. Paper No. IRC-14-66.
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Y. Wang, B. Liu, Y. Sun, J. Xu, Y. Li. Simulation of cyclist injury in vehicle to electric-bicycle accident based on PC-Crash. International Forum of Automotive Traffic Safety, Changsha, China, 2011.
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J. Xu, M. Zhu, B. Liu, Y. Sun, Y. Li. Head protection characteristics of windshield during pedestrian-vehicle accident. SAE World Congress, Detroit, US, 2011. Paper No.2011-01-0582.
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B. Liu, M. Zhu, Y. Sun, J. Xu, D. Ge, Y. Li. Quasi-static experimental study on the constitutive behavior of automotive windshield interlayer. International Conference on Composites/Nano Engineering, Shanghai, China, 2011.
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Y. Sun, M. Zhu, B. Liu, J. Xu, X. Yao, Y. Li. Experimental study of dynamic cracking of PVB laminated glass by high-speed photography. International Conference on Composites/Nano Engineering, Alaska, US, 2010.