Nano-Micro Letters

Screening Anionic Groups Within Zwitterionic Additives for Eliminating Hydrogen Evolution and Dendrites in Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Zwitterionic materials with covalently tethered cations and anions have great potential as electrolyte additives for aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to their appealing intrinsic characteristics and merits. However, the impact of cationic and anionic moieties within zwitterions on enhancing the performance of AZIBs remains poorly understood. Herein, three zwitterions, namely carboxybetaine methacrylate (CBMA), sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), and 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), were selected as additives to investigate their different action mechanisms in AZIBs. All three zwitterions have the same quaternary ammonium as the positively charged group, but having different negatively charged segments, i.e., carboxylate, sulfonate, and phosphate for CBMA, SBMA, and MPC, respectively. By systematical electrochemical analysis, these zwitterions all contribute to enhanced cycling life of Zn anode, with MPC having the most pronounced effect, which can be attributed to the synergistic effect of positively quaternary ammonium group and unique negatively phosphate groups. As a result, the Zn//Zn cell with MPC as additive in ZnSO₄ electrolyte exhibits an ultralong lifespan over 5000 h. This work proposes new insights to the future development of multifunctional zwitterionic additives for remarkably stable AZIBs.

Highlights:
1 Three zwitterions with identical quaternary ammonium cations but distinct anionic groups, i.e. carboxylate, sulfonate and phosphate, show distinct impact in aqueous zinc ion batteries.
2 The zwitterion with phosphate group (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, MPC) uniquely promotes oriented Zn (002) plane deposition and provides pH buffering capability, effectively suppressing dendrite formation and side reactions.
3 The Zn//NaVO full cell with MPC additive delivers an ultralong cycling life of 4000 cycles with an exceptionally low capacity decay of 0.014% per cycle.

Pickering Emulsion-Driven MXene/Silk Fibroin Hydrogels with Programmable Functional Networks for EMI Shielding and Solar Evaporation

Guang Yin, Jing Wu, Chengzhang Qi, Xinfeng Zhou, Zhong‑Zhen Yu, Hao‑Bin Zhang — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Flexible and conformable nanomaterial-based functional hydrogels find promising applications in various fields. However, the controllable manipulation of functional electron/mass transport networks in hydrogels remains rather challenging to realize. We describe a general and versatile surfactant-free emulsion construction strategy to customize robust functional hydrogels with programmable hierarchical structures. Significantly, the amphipathy of silk fibroin (SF) and the reinforcement effect of MXene nanosheets produce sable Pickering emulsion without any surfactant. The followed microphase separation and self-cross-linking of the SF chains induced by the solvent exchange convert the composite emulsions into high-performance hydrogels with tunable microstructures and functionalities. As a proof-of-concept, the controllable regulation of the ordered conductive network and the water polarization effect confer the hydrogels with an intriguing electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (~ 64 dB). Also, the microstructures of functional hydrogels are modulated to promote mass/heat transfer properties. The amino acids of SF and the surface terminations of MXene help reduce the enthalpy of water evaporation and the hierarchical structures of the hydrogels accelerate evaporation process, expecting far superior evaporation performance (~ 3.5 kg m⁻² h⁻¹) and salt tolerance capability compared to other hydrogel evaporators. Our findings open a wealth of opportunities for producing functional hydrogel devices with integrated structure-dependent properties.

Highlights:
1 A versatile surfactant-free emulsion construction strategy is proposed to customize functional hydrogels.
2 The synergistic emulsification mechanism between amphiphilic polymers and MXene is comprehensively elucidated.
3 Programmable functional structures confer hydrogels with excellent EMI shielding and water evaporation performance.

3D-Printed Boron-Nitrogen Doped Carbon Electrodes for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment via MPECVD

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study proposes a novel and sustainable method for fabricating 3D-printed carbon-based electrodes for electrochemical wastewater treatment. We prepared B,N-doped carbon electrodes with hierarchical porosity and a significantly enhanced surface area-to-volume ratio (up to 180%) compared to non-optimized analogues using a synergistic combination of 3D printing, phase inversion, and microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. This process allows the metal-free growth of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures directly onto polymer-derived substrates, resulting in a 20-fold increase in the electrochemically active surface area. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were used to improve mass transport and reduce pressure drop. Electrochemical characterization demonstrated that the optimized electrodes performed significantly better, achieving 4.7-, 4-, and 6.5-fold increases in the degradation rates of atenolol, metoprolol, and propranolol, respectively, during electrochemical oxidation. These results highlight the efficacy of the integrated fabrication and simulation approach in producing high-performance electrodes for sustainable wastewater treatment applications.

Highlights:
1 A novel approach combining 3D printing, phase inversion, and microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition is presented. This technique enables the creation of carbon-based electrodes with precise micro- and nanoscale control, offering potential for sustainable and high-performance wastewater treatment applications.
2 The synthesized 3D carbon scaffolds, enriched with B,N-doped carbon nanostructures, demonstrated superior performance in the electrochemical oxidation of β-blockers. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were used to optimize electrode design, leading to improved mass transport and reaction kinetics.
3 This research provides a sustainable and scalable solution for removing emerging contaminants from wastewater. The catalyst-free approach simplifies the fabrication process and reduces potential material contamination, making it a promising technology for advanced water treatment applications.

Face-/Edge-Shared 3D Perovskitoid Single Crystals with Suppressed Ion Migration for Stable X-Ray Detector

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Although three-dimensional metal halide perovskites are promising candidates for direct X-ray detection, the ion migration of perovskites seriously affects the detector stability. Herein, face-/edge-shared 3D heterometallic glycinate hybrid perovskitoid Pb₂CuGly₂X₄ (Gly = -O₂C-CH₂-NH₂; X = Cl, Br) single crystals (SCs), in which the adjacent lead halide layers are linked by large-sized Cu(Gly)₂ pillars, are synthesized in water. The Cu(Gly)₂ pillars in combination with face-/edge-shared inorganic skeleton are found able to synergistically suppress the ion migration, delivering a high ion migration activation energy (E_a) of 1.06 eV. The Pb₂CuGly₂Cl₄ SC X-ray detector displays extremely low dark current drift of 1.20 × 10^–9 nA mm⁻¹ s⁻¹ V⁻¹ under high electric field (120 V mm⁻¹) and continuous X-ray irradiation (2.86 Gy), and a high sensitivity of 9,250 μC Gy⁻¹ cm⁻² is also achieved. More excitingly, the Pb₂CuGly₂Cl₄ nanocrystal can be easily dispersed in water and directly blade-coated on thin-film transistor (TFT) array substrate, and the obtained Pb₂CuGly₂Cl₄-based TFT array detector offers an X-ray imaging capability with spatial resolution of 2.2 lp mm⁻¹.

Highlights:
1 3D perovskitoid Pb₂CuGly₂X₄ (Gly = -O₂C-CH₂-NH₂; X = Cl, Br) single crystals (SCs) with face-/edge-shared inorganic skeleton and CuGly₂ pillars delivered a high ion migration activation energy of 1.06 eV.
2 The Pb₂CuGly₂Cl₄ SC X-ray det cector presented low dark current drift (1.20 × 10^–9 nA mm⁻¹ s⁻¹ V⁻¹ at 120 V mm⁻¹) and high sensitivity (9250 μC Gy⁻¹ cm⁻²).
3 The Pb₂CuGly₂Cl₄ film-based thin-film transistor array detector offered an X-ray imaging capability with spatial resolution of 2.2 lp mm⁻¹.

Metal–Support Interaction Induced Electron Localization in Rationally Designed Metal Sites Anchored MXene Enables Boosted Electromagnetic Wave Attenuation

Xiao Wang, Gaolei Dong, Fei Pan, Cong Lin, Bin Yuan, Yang Yang, Wei Lu — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The electron localization is considered as a promising approach to optimize electromagnetic waves (EMW) dissipation. However, it is still difficult to realize well-controlled electron localization and elucidate the related EMW loss mechanisms for current researches. In this study, a novel two-dimensional MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x) nanosheet decorated with Ni nanoclusters (Ni-NC) system to construct an effective electron localization model based on electronic orbital structure is explored. Theoretical simulations and experimental results reveal that the metal–support interaction between Ni-NC and MXene disrupts symmetric electronic environments, leading to enhanced electron localization and dipole polarization. Additionally, Ni-NC generate a strong interfacial electric field, strengthening heterointerface interactions and promoting interfacial polarization. As a result, the optimized material achieves an exceptional reflection loss (RL_min) of − 54 dB and a broad effective absorption bandwidth of 6.8 GHz. This study offers critical insights into the in-depth relationship between electron localization and EMW dissipation, providing a pathway for electron localization engineering in functional materials such as semiconductors, spintronics, and catalysis.

Highlights:
1 It is found that the reconstruction of the electronic environment and the optimization of the electromagnetic attenuation mechanism are achieved by constructing a model of metal–support interaction regulated electron localization.
2 An excellent RLmin of − 54 dB and an ultra-wide effective absorption bandwidth of 6.8 GHz are obtained in the 2D MXene system.
3 The microscopic pathway of “local field-driven carrier migration → interfacial electron rearrangement → dipole polarization enhancement” has been elucidated.

Heteroatoms Synergistic Anchoring Vacancies in Phosphorus-Doped CoSe2 Enable Ultrahigh Activity and Stability in Li–S Batteries

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Electrocatalyst activity and stability demonstrate a “seesaw” relationship. Introducing vacancies (Vo) enhances the activity by improving reactant affinity and increasing accessible active sites. However, deficient or excessive Vo reduces polysulfide adsorption and lowers catalytic stability. Herein, a novel “heteroatoms synergistic anchoring vacancies” strategy is proposed to address the trade-off between high activity and stability. Phosphorus-doped CoSe₂ with remained rich selenium vacancies (P-CS-Vo-0.5) was synthesized by producing abundant selenium Vo followed by controlled P atom doping. Atomic-scale microstructure analysis elucidated a dynamic process of surface vacancy generation and the subsequent partial occupation of these vacancies by P atoms. Density functional theory simulations and in situ Raman tests revealed that the Se vacancies provide highly active catalytic sites, accelerating polysulfide conversion, while P incorporation effectively reduces the surface energy of Se vacancies and suppresses their inward migration, enhancing structural robustness. The battery with the optimal P-CS-Vo-0.5 separator delivers an initial discharge capacity of 1306.7 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2C, and maintain 5.04 mAh cm⁻² at a high sulfur loading (5.7 mg cm⁻², 5.0 μL mg⁻¹), achieving 95.1% capacity retention after 80 cycles. This strategy of modifying local atomic environments offers a new route to designing highly active and stable catalysts.

Highlights:
1 A volcano-type relationship between catalytic activity and vacancy concentration is revealed based on systematic investigation on selenium-vacancy-rich CoSe₂.
2 A novel “heteroatoms synergistic anchoring vacancies” tactic is firstly proposed to achieve P-doped CoSe₂ with remained rich selenium vacancies (P-CS-Vo-0.5).
3 It has been demonstrated that P doping lowers Se vacancy surface energy and effectively “pins” active sites, markedly suppressing dynamic migration of vacancies.

High-Reliability Thermoreceptors with Minimal Temporal and Spatial Variations Through Photo-Induced Patterning Thermoelectrics

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The development of bionic sensing devices with advanced physiological functionalities has attracted significant attention in flexible electronics. In this study, we innovatively develop an air-stable photo-induced n-type dopant and a sophisticated photo-induced patterning technology to construct high-resolution joint-free p–n integrated thermoelectric devices. The exceptional stability of the photo-induced n-type dopant, combined with our meticulously engineered joint-free device architecture, results in extremely low temporal and spatial variations. These minimized variations, coupled with superior linearity, position our devices as viable candidates for artificial thermoreceptors capable of sensing external thermal noxious stimuli. By integrating them into a robotic arm with a pain perception system, we demonstrate accurate pain responses to external thermal stimuli. The system accurately discerns pain levels and initiates appropriate protective actions across varying intensities. Our findings present a novel strategy for constructing high-resolution thermoelectric sensing devices toward precise biomimetic thermoreceptors.

Highlights;
1 A novel photobase generator is specifically designed for the fabrication of high-resolution sensing devices.
2 Similarities in pain perception mechanism between thermoelectric-based artificial thermoreceptor and biological nociceptor.
3 Emulation common nociceptive behaviors and pain response under excessive temperature stimuli.

Electrochemical Solid-State Electrolyte Reactors: Configurations, Applications, and Future Prospects

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The advancement of clean electricity is positioning electrochemical reactors at the forefront of future electrosynthesis technologies. Solid-state electrolyte (SSE) reactors emerge for their distinctive configurations and ability to produce high-purity fuels and chemicals efficiently without additional purification steps. This marks a substantial development in electrochemical synthesis. In this perspective, we critically examine cutting-edge innovations in SSE devices with particular emphasis on the architectural introduction of core cell components, novel electrochemical cell configurations, and assembly methodologies. The use of SSE reactors is presently undergoing a pivotal transition from fundamental laboratory investigations to large-scale engineering implementations, demonstrating remarkable progress in multiple domains: (1) sustainable synthesis of high-value organic acids (formic and acetic acids), (2) production of critical oxidizers hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and liquid fuels (ethanol), (3) ammonia (NH₃) production, (4) carbon capture technologies, (5) lithium recovery and recycling, and (6) tandem or coupling strategies for high-value-added products. Importantly, the transformative potential in environmental remediation, particularly for airborne pollutant sequestration and advanced wastewater purification, is addressed. Additionally, the innovative architectural blueprints for next-generation SSE stack are presented, aiming to establish a comprehensive framework to guide the transition from laboratory-scale innovation to industrial-scale deployment of SSE devices in the foreseeable future.

Highlights:
1 Solid-state electrolyte reactors are elucidated in terms of their distinctive electrochemical architecture to facilitate the efficient direct synthesis of fuels and chemicals without the need for traditional purification steps.
2 The core components, variable configurations, and distinct electrochemical reaction mechanisms of different chambers are systematically summarized.
3 Potential future application scenarios and advanced cell stack designs are pointed out.

Dicyandiamide-Driven Tailoring of the n-Value Distribution and Interface Dynamics for High-Performance ACI 2D Perovskite Solar Cells

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells achieve remarkable efficiencies (> 26%) yet face stability challenges. Quasi-2D alternating-cation-interlayer perovskites offer enhanced stability through hydrophobic spacer cations but suffer from vertical phase segregation and buried interface defects. Herein, we introduce dicyanodiamide (DCD) to simultaneously address these dual limitations in GA(MA)_nPb_nI_3n+1 perovskites. The guanidine group in DCD passivates undercoordinated Pb²⁺ and MA⁺ vacancies at the perovskite/TiO₂ interface, while cyano groups eliminate oxygen vacancies in TiO₂ via Ti⁴⁺–CN coordination, reducing interfacial trap density by 73% with respect to the control sample. In addition, DCD regulates crystallization kinetics, suppressing low-n-phase aggregation and promoting vertical alignment of high-n phases, which benefit for carrier transport. This dual-functional modification enhances charge transport and stabilizes energy-level alignment. The optimized devices achieve a record power conversion efficiency of 21.54% (vs. 19.05% control) and retain 94% initial efficiency after 1200 h, outperforming unmodified counterparts (84% retention). Combining defect passivation with phase homogenization, this work establishes a molecular bridge strategy to decouple stability-efficiency trade-offs in low-dimensional perovskites, providing a universal framework for interface engineering in high-performance optoelectronics.

Highlights:
1 Guanidine derivatives of dicyanodiamide (DCD) is introduced into the buried interface of quasi-2D alternating-cation-interlayer perovskites (GA(MA)_nPbnI_3n+1), which simultaneously realize the defect passivation of buried interface and the regulation of phase distribution.
2 This interface engineering not only reduces interfacial defects but also enhances the interfacial charge transfer, and the DCD-regulated perovskite solar cells exhibit a significant increase in efficiency from 19.05% to 21.54%.

B-Bridge Regulated Asymmetric Dual-Atomic Catalysts for Synergistically Enhanced Styrene Mineralization and CO2 Reduction

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Developing innovative resource utilization strategies to achieve sustainable recycling of waste-to-fuel is highly desirable, yet the design of cost-effective bifunctional catalysts with dual high-efficiency remains unexplored. While the Fenton-like reaction relies on enhancing peroxymonosulfate (PMS) adsorption and accelerating interfacial electron transfer to improve kinetic rates, CO₂ reduction is constrained by sluggish kinetics and competing hydrogen evolution reaction. Herein, we construct a bifunctional catalyst (NiFe-BNC) featuring dual-atomic active sites by introducing boron atoms into a biomass-derived chitosan substrate rich in functional groups, which optimizes atomic coordination environments. In situ experiments and density functional theory calculations reveal that B-atom modulation facilitates carbon substrate defect enrichment, while the charge-tuning effect between metal sites and "boron electron bridge" optimizes PMS adsorption configurations. This synergistic effect facilitates the interfacial electron transfer and enhances the CO₂ adsorption capacity of NiFe-BNC by 6 times that of NiFe-NC. The obtained NiFe-BNC exhibits significantly enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity, realizing 99% efficient degradation of volatile organic pollutants in the flowing phase within 2 h and stable mineralization exceeding 60%, while achieving a large current density of 1000 mA cm⁻² and CO Faraday efficiency of 98% in the flow electrolytic cell. This work innovatively paves a new way for the rational design of cost-effective functional catalysts to achieve carbon cycle utilization.

Highlights:
1 Bifunctional atomic catalyst for dual environmental-energetic applications.
2 Unprecedented catalytic performance: simultaneously 99% flowing-phase styrene degradation and 98% FECO at 1000 mA cm⁻².
3 Boron incorporation for accelerated electron transfer and optimized eCO₂RR microenvironments.

Binder-Free Immobilization of Photocatalyst on Membrane Surface for Efficient Photocatalytic H2O2 Production and Water Decontamination

Zhen‑Yu Hu, Tian Liu, Yu‑Ru Yang, Alicia Kyoungjin An, Kim Meow Liew, Wen‑Wei Li — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In photocatalytic water treatment processes, the particulate photocatalysts are typically immobilized on membrane, through either chemical/physical loading onto the surface or directly embedding in the membrane matrix. However, these immobilization strategies inevitably compromise the interfacial mass diffusion and cause activity decline relative to the suspended catalyst. Here, we propose a binder-free surface immobilization strategy for fabrication of high-activity photocatalytic membrane. Through a simple dimethylformamide (DMF) treatment, the nanofibers of polyvinylidene fluoride membrane were softened and stretched, creating enlarged micropores to efficiently capture the photocatalyst. Subsequently, the nanofibers underwent shrinking during DMF evaporation, thus firmly strapping the photocatalyst microparticles on the membrane surface. This surface self-bounded photocatalytic membrane, with firmly bounded yet highly exposed photocatalyst, exhibited 4.2-fold higher efficiency in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) photosynthesis than the matrix-embedded control, due to improved O₂ accessibility and H₂O₂ diffusion. It even outperformed the suspension photocatalytic system attributed to alleviated H₂O₂ decomposition at the hydrophobic surface. When adopted for UV-based water treatment, the photocatalytic system exhibited tenfold faster micropollutants photodegradation than the catalyst-free control and demonstrated superior robustness for treating contaminated tap water, lake water and secondary wastewater effluent. This immobilization strategy can also be extended to the fabrication of other photocatalytic membranes with diverse catalyst types and membrane substrate. Overall, our work opens a facile avenue for fabrication of high-performance photocatalytic membranes, which may benefit advanced oxidation water purification application and beyond.

Highlights:
1 Polyvinylidene fluoride nanofibers were treated by dimethylformamide to create micropores on membrane surface.
2 Photocatalysts were firmly bounded by nanofibers during stretching and shrinking.
3 Particulate catalysts were fixed yet high exposed on the membrane surface.
4 Surface self-bounded photocatalytic membrane exhibited tenfold higher decontamination activity than embedded catalyst.

Two-Dimensional TiO2 Ultraviolet Filters for Sunscreens

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) has been an important protective ingredient in mineral-based sunscreens since the 1990s. However, traditional TiO₂ nanoparticle formulations have seen little improvement over the past decades and continue to face persistent challenges related to light transmission, biosafety, and visual appearance. Here, we report the discovery of two-dimensional (2D) TiO₂, characterized by a micro-sized lateral dimension (~1.6 μm) and atomic-scale thickness, which fundamentally resolves these long-standing issues. The 2D structure enables exceptional light management, achieving 80% visible light transparency—rendering it nearly invisible on the skin—while maintaining UV-blocking performance comparable to unmodified rutile TiO₂ nanoparticles. Its larger lateral size results in a two-orders-of-magnitude reduction in skin penetration (0.96 w/w%), significantly enhancing biosafety. Moreover, the unique layered architecture inherently suppresses the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under sunlight exposure, reducing the ROS generation rate by 50-fold compared to traditional TiO₂ nanoparticles. Through precise metal element modulation, we further developed the first customizable sunscreen material capable of tuning UV protection ranges and automatically matching diverse skin tones. The 2D TiO₂ offers a potentially transformative approach to modern sunscreen formulation, combining superior UV protection, enhanced safety and a natural appearance.

Highlights:
1 Two-dimensional (2D) TiO₂ was developed with > 99% visible light transmittance for non-whitening UV protection, outperforming conventional 0D TiO₂ in aesthetics while matching UV-blocking efficacy.
2 2D TiO₂ achieves ultralow skin penetration and 90% reduced reactive oxygen species generation versus 0D TiO₂, eliminating photocatalytic toxicity and DNA damage risks.
3 2D TiO₂ enabled tunable UVA/UVB coverage via metal doping without compromising visible light transmittance, ensuring Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety compliance and biocompatibility.
4 We integrated high UV protection, natural appearance, and photoinertness into a single material, redefining aesthetic-safe sunscreen design through 2D structural innovation.

Hydrolysis-Engineered Robust Porous Micron Silicon Anode for High-Energy Lithium-Ion Batteries

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Micro-silicon (Si) anode that features high theoretical capacity and fine tap density is ideal for energy-dense lithium-ion batteries. However, the substantial localized mechanical strain caused by the large volume expansion often results in electrode disintegration and capacity loss. Herein, a microporous Si anode with the SiO_x/C layer functionalized all-surface and high tap density (~ 0.65 g cm⁻³) is developed by the hydrolysis-driven strategy that avoids the common use of corrosive etchants and toxic siloxane reagents. The functionalized inner pore with superior structural stability can effectively alleviate the volume change and enhance the electrolyte contact. Simultaneously, the outer particle surface forms a continuous network that prevents electrolyte parasitic decomposition, disperses the interface stress of Si matrix and facilitates electron/ion transport. As a result, the micron-sized Si anode shows only ~ 9.94 GPa average stress at full lithiation state and delivers an impressive capacity of 901.1 mAh g⁻¹ after 500 cycles at 1 A g⁻¹. It also performs excellent rate performance of 1123.0 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹ and 850.4 at 8 A g⁻¹, far exceeding most of reported literatures. Furthermore, when paired with a commercial LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂, the pouch cell demonstrates high capacity and desirable cyclic performance.

Highlights:
1 There is a novel “hydrolysis-driven synthesis” approach for the preparation of a dual-surface functionalized micron-sized Si anode with a SiO_x/C layer.
2 The functionalized inner pores and dual-functional SiO_x/C layer synergistically alleviate volume change of Si lithiation, minimize stress concentration and improve electrochemical reaction kinetics.
3 The optimized micron-Si anode performs impressive lifespan, excellent high rate capacity and outstanding stack cell volumetric energy density.

A Strongly Coupled Cluster Heterostructure with Pt–N-Mo Bonding for Durable and Efficient H2 Evolution in Anion-Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Creating strongly coupled heterostructures with favorable catalytic activities is crucial for promoting the performance of catalytic reactions, especially those involve multiple intermediates. Herein, we fabricated a strongly coupled platinum/molybdenum nitrides nanocluster heterostructure on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (Pt/Mo₂N–NrGO) for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. The well-defined Pt-containing Anderson-type polyoxometalates promote strong interfacial Pt–N–Mo bonding in Pt/Mo₂N–NrGO, which exhibits a remarkably low overpotential, high mass activity, and exceptional long-term durability (> 500 h at 1500 mA cm⁻²) in an anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE). Operando Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory reveal that pronounced electronic coupling at the Pt/Mo₂N cluster interface facilitates the catalytic decomposition of H₂O through synergistic stabilization of intermediates (Pt–H* and Mo-OH*), thereby enhancing the kinetics of the rate-determining Volmer step. Techno-economic analysis indicates a levelized hydrogen production cost of $2.02 kg⁻¹, meeting the US DOE targets. Our strategy presents a viable pathway to designing next-generation catalysts for industrial AEMWE for green hydrogen production.

Highlights:
1 A strongly coupled platinum/molybdenum nitrides nanocluster heterostructure has been prepared by using Pt-containing Anderson-type polyoxometalates as precursors.
2 The pronounced electronic coupling at the Pt/Mo₂N cluster interface facilitates the catalytic decomposition of H₂O through synergistic stabilization of Pt-H* and Mo-OH*.
3 The optimized Pt/Mo₂N-NrGO exhibits a remarkably low overpotential, high mass activity, and exceptional long-term durability (>500 h at 1500 mA cm^-2) in a practical anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzer.

An Efficient Deep Learning Framework for Revealing the Evolution of Characterization Methods in Nanoscience

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Text mining has emerged as a powerful strategy for extracting domain knowledge structure from large amounts of text data. To date, most text mining methods are restricted to specific literature information, resulting in incomplete knowledge graphs. Here, we report a method that combines citation analysis with topic modeling to describe the hidden development patterns in the history of science. Leveraging this method, we construct a knowledge graph in the field of Raman spectroscopy. The traditional Latent DirichletAllocation model is chosen as the baseline model for comparison to validate the performance of our model. Our method improves the topic coherence with a minimum growth rate of 100% compared to the traditional text mining method. It outperforms the traditional text mining method on the diversity, and its growth rate ranges from 0 to 126%. The results show the effectiveness of rule-based tokenizer we designed in solving the word tokenizer problem caused by entity naming rules in the field of chemistry. It is versatile in revealing the distribution of topics, establishing the similarity and inheritance relationships, and identifying the important moments in the history of Raman spectroscopy. Our work provides a comprehensive tool for the science of science research and promises to offer new insights into the historical survey and development forecast of a research field.

Highlights:
1 A framework combining the citation analysis with topic modeling is designed to construct the knowledge graph of a research field.
2 An extensible tokenizer is designed to improve the universality of the framework, and the performance of topic recognition is superior to that of the traditional method.
3 The detailed evolutionary paths of Raman spectroscopy technology are demonstrated, and the significant publications in the Raman spectroscopy are identified.

Correction: A Valuable and Low-Budget Process Scheme of Equivalized 1 nm Technology Node Based on 2D Materials

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Emerging two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are among the most promising materials for ultra-scaled transistors due to their intrinsic atomic-level thickness. As the stacking process advances, the complexity and cost of nanosheet field-effect transistors (NSFETs) and complementary FET (CFET) continue to rise. The 1 nm technology node is going to be based on Si-CFET process according to international roadmap for devices and systems (IRDS) (2022, https://irds.ieee.org/), but not publicly confirmed, indicating that more possibilities still exist. The miniaturization advantage of 2D semiconductors motivates us to explore their potential for reducing process costs while matching the performance of next-generation nodes in terms of area, power consumption and speed. In this study, a comprehensive framework is built. A set of MoS₂ NSFETs were designed and fabricated to extract the key parameters and performances. And then for benchmarking, the sizes of 2D-NSFET are scaled to a extent that both of the Si-CFET and 2D-NSFET have the same average device footprint. Under these conditions, the frequency of ultra-scaled 2D-NSFET is found to improve by 36% at a fixed power consumption. This work verifies the feasibility of replacing silicon-based CFETs of 1 nm node with 2D-NSFETs and proposes a 2D technology solution for 1 nm nodes, i.e., “2D eq 1 nm” nodes. At the same time, thanks to the lower characteristic length of 2D semiconductors, the miniaturized 2D-NSFET achieves a 28% frequency increase at a fixed power consumption. Further, developing a standard cell library, these devices obtain a similar trend in 16-bit RISC-V CPUs. This work quantifies and highlights the advantages of 2D semiconductors in advanced nodes, offering new possibilities for the application of 2D semiconductors in high-speed and low-power integrated circuits.

Highlights:
1 A set of MoS₂ nanosheet field-effect transistors (NSFETs) are fabricated, with two stacking nanosheet channel, in which two parallel MoS₂ channels are controlled by three gate electrodes simultaneously.
2 By building a comprehensive framework, the feasibility of replacing silicon-based complementary field-effect transistors of 1 nm node with 2D-NSFETs provides a 2D technology solution for 1 nm nodes, i.e., “2D eq 1 nm” nodes are verified.
3 The horizontally miniaturized 2D-NSFET achieves a frequency increase of 28% at a fixed power consumption and also obtains a similar trend in 16-bit RISC-V CPU.

Regulating the Coordination Environment of H2O in Hydrogel Electrolyte for a High-Environment-Adaptable and High-Stability Flexible Zn Devices

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are promising candidates as stationary storage systems for power-grid applications due to their high safety and low cost. The practical implementation of Zn-ion batteries currently still faces formidable challenges because of Zn dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, and inadequate environmental adaptability. Herein, to address these challenges, a strategy of regulation of water molecules coordination in electrolyte is proposed via developing a cross-linked hydrophilic hydrogel polymer electrolyte. Within this system, the continuous hydrogen bond among H₂O molecules is disrupted and the isolated H₂O molecules are strongly bound with a polymeric matrix comprised of polyacrylamide, carboxymethyl cellulose, and ethylene glycol, which can restrain the activity of H₂O molecules, thus effectively alleviating Zn dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution and enhancing the anti-freezing ability. With this electrolyte, the Zn||Cu cell presents a high coulombic efficiency of 99.4% over 900 cycles and Zn||Zn symmetric cell exhibits high cycling stability, maintaining plating/stripping for over 1,700 h. Moreover, the assembled Zn||PANI device also demonstrates outstanding electrochemical performance over a wide-temperature range, including a long cycling life over 14,120 cycles at room temperature and an ultralong cycling surpassing 30,000 cycles even at − 40 °C. This showcases the manipulation of water coordination chemistry for advanced, highly adaptable batteries.

Highlights:
1 A hydrogel electrolyte regulation strategy of the water coordination environment can effectively restrain the hydrogen evolution reaction, Zn corrosion and dendrite formation in the wide-temperature ranges.
2 Prepared high-environment-adaptable hydrogel electrolytes (HEA-3) exhibits a high reversibility of zinc deposition/stripping (coulombic efficiency of 99.4% for Zn||Cu cell).
3 Zn-based device using HEA-3 electrolyte can do cycling over 30,000 cycles at a large current density of 2 A g⁻¹ at − 40 °C and also can do normal cycling even at -70 °C.

Multifunctional Asymmetric Bilayer Aerogels for Highly Efficient Electromagnetic Interference Shielding with Ultrahigh Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Although multifunctional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with ultrahigh electromagnetic wave absorption are highly required to solve increasingly serious electromagnetic radiation and pollution and meet multi-scenario applications, EMI shielding materials usually cause a lot of reflection and have a single function. To realize the broadband absorption-dominated EMI shielding via absorption–reflection–reabsorption mechanisms and the interference cancelation effect, multifunctional asymmetric bilayer aerogels are designed by sequential printing of a MXene-graphene oxide (MG) layer with a MG emulsion ink and a conductive MXene layer with a MXene ink and subsequent freeze-drying for generating and solidifying numerous pores in the aerogels. The top MG layer of the asymmetric bilayer aerogel optimizes impedance matching and achieves re-absorption, while the bottom MXene layer enhances the reflection of the incident electromagnetic waves. As a result, the asymmetric bilayer aerogel achieves an average absorption coefficient of 0.95 in the X-band and shows the tunable absorption ability to electromagnetic wave in the ultrawide band from 8.2 to 40 GHz. Finite element simulations substantiate the effectiveness of the asymmetric bilayer aerogel for electromagnetic wave absorption. The multifunctional bilayer aerogels exhibit hydrophobicity, thermal insulation and Joule heating capacities and are efficient in solar-thermal/electric heating, infrared stealth, and clean-up of spilled oil.

Highlights:
1 The multifunctional asymmetric bilayer MXene-graphene oxide (MG)-MXene aerogel with ultrahigh absorption electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is constructed by 3D printing and subsequent freeze-drying.
2 The asymmetric bilayer aerogel achieves ultrahigh electromagnetic wave absorption coefficient of 0.95, and maintains a high EMI shielding effectiveness of over 100 dB.
3 The multifunctional asymmetric aerogel with ultrahigh electromagnetic wave absorption, infrared camouflage, solar-thermal heating, and clean-up of organic solvents and spilled crude oil is developed for multi-scenario applications.

All-Weather 3D Self-Folding Fabric for Adaptive Personal Thermoregulation

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the era of global climate change, personal thermoregulation has become critical to addressing the growing demands for thermoadaptability, comfort, health, and work efficiency in dynamic environments. Here, we introduce an innovative three-dimensional (3D) self-folding knitted fabric that achieves dual thermal regulation modes through architectural reconfiguration. In the warming mode, the fabric maintains its natural 3D structure, trapping still air with extremely low thermal conductivity to provide high thermal resistance (0.06 m² K W⁻¹), effectively minimizing heat loss. In the cooling mode, the fabric transitions to a 2D flat state via stretching, with titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coatings that enhance solar reflectivity (89.5%) and infrared emissivity (93.5%), achieving a cooling effect of 4.3 °C under sunlight. The fabric demonstrates exceptional durability and washability, enduring over 1000 folding cycles, and is manufactured using scalable and cost-effective knitting techniques. Beyond thermoregulation, it exhibits excellent breathability, sweat management, and flexibility, ensuring wear comfort and tactile feel under diverse conditions. This study presents an innovative solution for next-generation adaptive textiles, addressing the limitations of static thermal fabrics and advancing personal thermal management with wide applications for wearable technology, extreme environments, and sustainable fashion.

Highlights:
1 An innovative 3D self-folding fabric was fabricated by knitting technology to achieve dual thermoregulation modes through architectural reconfiguration between 3D and 2D states.
2 In the warming mode, the fabric retains its natural 3D structure, providing high thermal resistance (0.06 m² K W^⁻1) by trapping still air. In the cooling mode, it transitions to a 2D flat state with coatings of thermal radiative management materials, achieving a cooling effect of 4.3 °C under sunlight by enhancing solar reflectivity and infrared emissivity, while reducing thermal resistance.
3 The fabric demonstrates exceptional durability and washability, enduring over 1000 folding cycles, and is manufactured using scalable and cost-effective knitting techniques.

In Situ Generated Sulfate-Facilitated Efficient Nitrate Electrosynthesis on 2D PdS2 with Unique Imitating Growth Feature

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

As a green sustainable alternative technology, synthesizing nitrate by electrocatalytic nitrogen oxidation reaction (NOR) can replace the traditional energy-intensive Ostwald process. But low nitrogen fixation yields and poor selectivity due to the high bond energy of the N≡N bond and competition from the oxygen evolution reaction in the electrolyte restrict its application. On the other hand, two-dimensional (2D) PdS₂ as a member in the family of group-10 novel transition metal dichalcogenides (NTMDs) presents the interesting optical and electronic properties due to its novel folded pentagonal structure, but few researches involve to its fabrication and application. Herein, unique imitating growth feature for PdS₂ on different 2D substrates has been firstly discovered for constructing 2D/2D heterostructures by interface engineering. Due to the different exposed chemical groups on the substrates, PdS₂ grows as the imitation to the morphologies of the substrates and presents different thickness, size, shape and the degree of oxidation, resulting in the significant difference in the NOR activity and stability of the obtained composite catalysts. Especially, the thin and small PdS₂ nanoplates with more defects can be obtained by decorating poly(1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazolium bromide) on the 2D substrate, easily oxidized during the preparation process, resulting in the in situ generation of SO₄²⁻, which plays a crucial role in reducing the activation energy of the NOR process, leading to improved efficiency for nitrate production, verified by theoretical calculation. This research provides valuable insights for the development of novel electrocatalysts based on NTMDs for NOR and highlights the importance of interface engineering in enhancing catalytic performance.

Highlights:
1 Unique imitating growth feature for PdS₂ on different 2D substrates has been firstly discovered for constructing 2D/2D heterostructures by interface engineering.
2 The thin and small PdS₂ nanoplates with active defects can be inducted by poly(1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazolium bromide (PVEIB), resulting in the obtained PdS₂@PVEIB/PPy/GO exhibited the excellent nitrogen oxidation reaction (NOR) electroactivity with the outstanding stability and selectivity.
3 The in situ generation of SO₄²⁻, caused by the oxidation during the preparation process or exposed in air, as well as at high NOR potential, plays a crucial role in reducing the activation energy of the NOR process, leading to improved efficiency for nitrate production.

Enhancement of Li+ Transport Through Intermediate Phase in High-Content Inorganic Composite Quasi-Solid-State Electrolytes

Haoyang Yuan, Wenjun Lin, Changhao Tian, Mihaela Buga, Tao Huang, Aishui Yu — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Quasi-solid-state electrolytes, which integrate the safety characteristics of inorganic materials, the flexibility of polymers, and the high ionic conductivity of liquid electrolytes, represent a transitional solution for high-energy-density lithium batteries. However, the mechanisms by which inorganic fillers enhance multiphase interfacial conduction remain inadequately understood. In this work, we synthesized composite quasi-solid-state electrolytes with high inorganic content to investigate interfacial phenomena and achieve enhanced electrode interface stability. Li_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃ particles, through surface anion anchoring, improve Li⁺ transference numbers and facilitate partial dissociation of solvated Li⁺ structures, resulting in superior ion transport kinetics that achieve an ionic conductivity of 0.51 mS cm⁻¹ at room temperature. The high mass fraction of inorganic components additionally promotes the formation of more stable interfacial layers, enabling lithium-symmetric cells to operate without short-circuiting for 6000 h at 0.1 mA cm⁻². Furthermore, this system demonstrates exceptional stability in 5 V-class lithium metal full cells, maintaining 80.5% capacity retention over 200 cycles at 0.5C. These findings guide the role of inorganic interfaces in composite electrolytes and demonstrate their potential for advancing high-voltage lithium battery technology.

Highlights:
1 A high-proportion inorganic composite quasi-solid-state electrolyte was fabricated through the integration of high-speed defoamed mixers with in situ polymerization methodology.
2 The intermediate phase, which exhibits an affinity for anion adsorption, facilitates the partial dissociation of lithium-ion solvation structures, thereby enhancing transport kinetics.
3 The exceptional interfacial stability was demonstrated through a lithium-symmetric cell operating without short-circuiting for 6000 h, while the 5 V-class lithium metal cell maintained 80.5% capacity retention after 200 cycles in 0.5C.

Fibre Computer Enables More Accurate Recognition of Human Activity

Qianyi Cheng, Jianfeng Li, Qichong Zhang — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The advancement of fibre electronics is crucial for developing wearable smart textiles. However, traditional single-function fibres are typically limited to basic sensing and data collection capabilities, lacking effective computational and multimodal signal processing abilities, thus significantly restricting their potential in human activity recognition. Recently, Gupta et al. introduced an innovative single-fibre computer embedding eight microelectronic devices, integrating sensing, communication, and computation into a single fibre. Establishing a distributed cooperative fibre network substantially enhanced human activity recognition accuracy from 67% (single-fibre scenario) to 95%. This novel approach effectively addresses the limitations of conventional smart fibres, paving the way for multi-point sensing, edge-based inference, and real-time human–computer interactions in future intelligent textiles.

Highlights:
1 Conventional microelectronics are scaled to the fibre level for information processing and storage in flexible, stretchable textiles.
2 Compared to single-fibre systems, multi-fibre computational architectures with coordinating modules exhibit higher reliability and more comprehensive functionalities.

Grain Boundaries Contribute to the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells by Promoting Charge Separations

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Historically seen as a limitation, grain boundaries (GBs) within polycrystalline metal halide perovskite (MHP) films are thought to impede charge transport, adversely impacting the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, we employ home-built confocal photoluminescence microscopy, combined with photocurrent detection modules, to directly visualize the carrier dynamics in the MHP film of PSCs under real operating conditions. Our findings suggest that GBs in high-efficiency PSCs function as carrier transport channels, where a notable enhancement in photocurrent is observed. Femtosecond transient absorption and Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements further validate the existence of a built-in electric field in the vicinity of GBs, offering additional driving force for charge separation and establishing channels for swift carrier transport along the GBs, thereby expediting subsequent charge collection processes. This study elucidates the pivotal role of GBs in operational PSCs and provides valuable insights for the fabrication of high-efficiency PSCs.

Highlights:
1 Sub-micrometer-resolved photocurrent mapping in operational perovskite solar cells, achieved through our home-built photoluminescence and photocurrent imaging microscopy, reveals enhanced photocurrent at grain boundaries compared to grain interiors.
2 Local pump-probe femtosecond transient absorption and Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements corroborate the presence of a built-in electric field in the vicinity of grain boundaries that promotes electron–hole separation and the subsequent charge collection, thereby contributing to the performance of perovskite solar cells.

Mixed-Dimensional Nanowires/Nanosheet Heterojunction of GaSb/Bi2O2Se for Self-Powered Near-Infrared Photodetection and Photocommunication

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

With high surface-to-volume ratio, the abundant surface states and high carrier concentration are challenging the near-infrared photodetection behaviors of narrow band gap semiconductors nanowires. In this study, the narrow band gap semiconductor of Bi₂O₂Se nanosheets (NSs) is adopted to construct mixed-dimensional heterojunctions with GaSb nanowires (NWs) for demonstrating the impressive self-powered NIR photodetection. Benefiting from the built-in electric field of ~ 140 meV, the as-constructed NW/NS mixed-dimensional heterojunction self-powered photodetector shows the low dark current of 0.07 pA, high I_light/I_dark ratio of 82 and fast response times of < 2/2 ms at room temperature. The self-powered photodetector performance can be further enhanced by fabricating the NW array/NS mixed-dimensional heterojunction by using a contact printing technique. The excellent photodetection performance promises the as-constructed NW/NS mixed-dimensional heterojunction self-powered photodetector in imaging and photocommunication.

Highlights:
1 The mixed-dimensional type II heterojunction of GaSb nanowires (NWs) and Bi₂O₂Se nanosheets (NSs) with a built-in electric field of ~ 140 meV is successfully constructed.
2 As-fabricated NW/NS and NW array/NS mixed-dimensional heterojunction photodetectors exhibit as-expected high-performance self-powered photodetection behaviors, including ultralow I_dark (0.07 and 0.08 pA), superior I_light/I_dark ratios (82 and 182) and ultrafast photoresponse (< 2/2 and 6/4 ms).
3 As-fabricated NW array/NS mixed-dimensional heterojunction self-powered photodetector promises the future imaging and photocommunication.

Correction: Initiating Binary Metal Oxides Microcubes Electromagnetic Wave Absorber Toward Ultrabroad Absorption Bandwidth Through Interfacial and Defects Modulation

Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Cobalt nickel bimetallic oxides (NiCo₂O₄) have received numerous attentions in terms of their controllable morphology, high temperature, corrosion resistance and strong electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption capability. However, broadening the absorption bandwidth is still a huge challenge for NiCo₂O₄-based absorbers. Herein, the unique NiCo₂O₄@C core–shell microcubes with hollow structures were fabricated via a facile sacrificial template strategy. The concentration of oxygen vacancies and morphologies of the three-dimensional (3D) cubic hollow core–shell NiCo₂O₄@C framework were effectively optimized by adjusting the calcination temperature. The specially designed 3D framework structure facilitated the multiple reflections of incident electromagnetic waves and provided rich interfaces between multiple components, generating significant interfacial polarization losses. Dipole polarizations induced by oxygen vacancies could further enhance the attenuation ability for the incident EM waves. The optimized NiCo₂O₄@C hollow microcubes exhibit superior EMW absorption capability with minimum RL (RL_min) of −84.45 dB at 8.4 GHz for the thickness of 3.0 mm. Moreover, ultrabroad effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) as large as 12.48 GHz (5.52–18 GHz) is obtained. This work is believed to illuminate the path to synthesis of high-performance cobalt nickel bimetallic oxides for EMW absorbers with excellent EMW absorption capability, especially in broadening effective absorption bandwidth.

Highlights:
1 3D cubic hollow core–shell NiCo₂O₄@C composites were synthesized.
2 Oxygen vacancies were introduced into the prepared composites.
3 Ultrabroad effective absorption bandwidth of 12.48 GHz was obtained.
4 The absorption performance mechanism of NiCo₂O₄/C composites was investigated.

Machine Learning Enabled Reusable Adhesion, Entangled Network-Based Hydrogel for Long-Term, High-Fidelity EEG Recording and Attention Assessment

Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Due to their high mechanical compliance and excellent biocompatibility, conductive hydrogels exhibit significant potential for applications in flexible electronics. However, as the demand for high sensitivity, superior mechanical properties, and strong adhesion performance continues to grow, many conventional fabrication methods remain complex and costly. Herein, we propose a simple and efficient strategy to construct an entangled network hydrogel through a liquid–metal-induced cross-linking reaction, hydrogel demonstrates outstanding properties, including exceptional stretchability (1643%), high tensile strength (366.54 kPa), toughness (350.2 kJ m⁻³), and relatively low mechanical hysteresis. The hydrogel exhibits long-term stable reusable adhesion (104 kPa), enabling conformal and stable adhesion to human skin. This capability allows it to effectively capture high-quality epidermal electrophysiological signals with high signal-to-noise ratio (25.2 dB) and low impedance (310 ohms). Furthermore, by integrating advanced machine learning algorithms, achieving an attention classification accuracy of 91.38%, which will significantly impact fields like education, healthcare, and artificial intelligence.

Highlights:
1 A dual-network hydrogel (PGEH) cross-linked via liquid metal induction was developed exhibiting remarkable mechanical properties and skin-temperature-triggered on-demand adhesion capabilities.
2 The PGEH capacitive sensor demonstrates exceptional sensitivity (1.25 kPa), rapid dynamic response (30 ms), and long-term cycling stability (20,000 cycles), enabling precise monitoring of human motion and reliable signal transmission.
3 Low-impedance electrophysiological sensor (310 ohms) maintains 14-day signal fidelity (25.2 dB), paired with machine learning-based attention monitoring (91.38% of accuracy) for real-time cognitive feedback in focus-demanding scenarios.

Eliciting Dual-Niche Immunological Priming by Acupoint Delivery of Nanovaccines

Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Immunization has long played essential roles in preventing diseases. However, the desire for precision delivery of vaccines to boost a robust immune response remains largely unmet. Here, we describe the use of acupoint delivery of nanovaccines (ADN) to elicit dual-niche immunological priming. ADN can simultaneously stimulate mast cell-assisted maturation of dendritic cells at the acupoint and enable direct delivery of nanovaccines into the draining lymph nodes. We demonstrate that ADN not only provokes antigen presentation by lymph node-resident CD8α⁺ dendritic cells, but also induces the accumulation of nanovaccines in B-cell zones, amplifying antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses and immunoglobulin G antibody expression in draining lymph nodes. ADN also generates systemic immune responses by causing immune memory and preventing T-cell anergy in the spleen. Further supported by evoking effective antitumor responses and high-level antiviral antibodies in mice, ADN provides a simple yet versatile platform for advanced nanovaccination.

Highlights:
1 We report the use of acupoint delivery of nanovaccines (NVs) to elicit a dual-niche immunological priming by simultaneously stimulating mast cell-assisted maturation of CD11b⁺ dendritic cells (DCs) at the acupoint and directly enriching NVs into the draining lymph nodes (dLNs).
2 The dual-niche immunological priming not only provokes antigen presentation by LN-resident CD8α⁺ DCs, but also induces the accumulation of NVs in B-cell zones, highlights a facile yet versatile platform for advanced nanovaccination toward tumor therapy and infection prevention.

Deciphering Local Microstrain-Induced Optimization of Asymmetric Fe Single Atomic Sites for Efficient Oxygen Reduction

Mon, 26 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Disrupting the symmetric electron distribution of porphyrin-like Fe single-atom catalysts has been considered as an effective way to harvest high intrinsic activity. Understanding the catalytic performance governed by geometric microstrains is highly desirable for further optimization of such efficient sites. Here, we decipher the crucial role of local microstrain in boosting intrinsic activity and durability of asymmetric Fe single-atom catalysts (Fe–N₃S₁) by replacing one N atom with S atom. The high-curvature hollow carbon nanosphere substrate introduces 1.3% local compressive strain to Fe–N bonds and 1.5% tensile strain to Fe–S bonds, downshifting the d-band center and accelerating the kinetics of *OH reduction. Consequently, highly curved Fe–N₃S₁ sites anchored on hollow carbon nanosphere (FeNS-HNS-20) exhibit negligible current loss, a high half-wave potential of 0.922 V vs. RHE and turnover frequency of 6.2 e⁻¹ s⁻¹ site⁻¹, which are 53 mV more positive and 1.7 times that of flat Fe–N–S counterpart, respectively. More importantly, multiple operando spectroscopies monitored the dynamic optimization of strained Fe–N₃S₁ sites into Fe–N₃ sites, further mitigating the overadsorption of *OH intermediates. This work not only sheds new light on local microstrain-induced catalytic enhancement, but also provides a plausible direction for optimizing efficient asymmetric sites via geometric configurations.

Highlights:
1 Crucial role of local microstrain was deciphered to boost oxygen electrocatalysis via quantitatively riveting asymmetric Fe–N₃S₁ sites on carbon hollow nanospheres with specific curvature.
2 The local microstrain accelerates kinetics of *OH reduction on Fe–N₃S₁, enabling much enhanced intrinsic activity, selectivity and stability toward oxygen electrocatalysis.
3 The strained Fe–N₃S₁ sites were monitored to transformed into Fe–N₃–S₁ sites, further dynamically mitigating the overadsorption of *OH intermediates.

Designing Amino Functionalized Titanium-Organic Framework on Separators Toward Sieving and Redistribution of Polysulfides in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Xiaoya Kang, Tianqi He, Hao Dang, Xiangye Li, Yumeng Wang, Fuliang Zhu, Fen Ran — Mon, 26 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Shuttle effect of polysulfides overshadows the superiorities of lithium–sulfur batteries. Size–sieving effect could address this thorny trouble rely on size differ in polysulfides and lithium ions. However, clogged polysulfides pose some challenges for cathode and are rarely recycled during charging/discharging. Herein, an amino functionalized titanium-organic framework is designed for modifying lithium–sulfur batteries separator to address the aforementioned challenges. Wherein, the introduction of amino narrows titanium–organic framework pore size, enabling functional separator to selectively modulate lithium ions and polysulfides migration using size-sieving effect, thereby completely suppressing polysulfides shuttle. Furthermore, the blocked polysulfides will be adsorbed on the separator surface by positively charged amino leveraging electrostatic adsorption, ensuring polysulfides to redistribute and reuse, and boosting active materials utilization. Significantly, the migration of lithium ions is not hindered since there are lithium ions transfer channels formed via Lewis acid–base interaction with the help of amino. Combined with these virtues, the lithium–sulfur batteries with amino functionalized titanium-organic framework modified separator enjoy an ultralow attenuation rate of 0.045% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 1.0C. Electrostatic adsorption and Lewis acid–base interaction cover deficiencies existing in the inhibition of polysulfides shuttle by size-sieving effect, providing fresh insight into the advancement of lithium-sulfur batteries.

Highlights:
1 Amino could narrow the sub-nanopore size of Ti–MOF modified layer to around 0.8 nm for perfectly inhibiting polysulfides shuttle.
2 Amino enables redistribution and reutilization of blocked polysulfides via leveraging electrostatic adsorption.
3 Electrostatic adsorption and Lewis acid–base interaction make up for the deficiency of size effect in inhibiting polysulfides shuttle.

Specific Sn–O–Fe Active Sites from Atomically Sn-Doping Porous Fe2O3 for Ultrasensitive NO2 Detection

Mon, 26 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Conventional gas sensing materials (e.g., metal oxides) suffer from deficient sensitivity and serve cross-sensitivity issues due to the lack of efficient adsorption sites. Herein, the heteroatom atomically doping strategy is demonstrated to significantly enhance the sensing performance of metal oxides-based gas sensing materials. Specifically, the Sn atoms were incorporated into porous Fe₂O₃ in the form of atomically dispersed sites. As revealed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, these Sn atoms successfully occupy the Fe sites in the Fe₂O₃ lattice, forming the unique Sn–O–Fe sites. Compared to Fe–O–Fe sites (from bare Fe₂O₃) and Sn–O–Sn sites (from SnO₂/Fe₂O₃ with high Sn loading), the Sn–O–Fe sites on porous Fe₂O₃ exhibit a superior sensitivity (R_g/R_a = 2646.6) to 1 ppm NO₂, along with dramatically increased selectivity and ultra-low limits of detection (10 ppb). Further theoretical calculations suggest that the strong adsorption of NO₂ on Sn–O–Fe sites (N atom on Sn site, O atom on Fe site) contributes a more efficient gas response, compared to NO₂ on Fe–O–Fe sites and other gases on Sn–O–Fe sites. Moreover, the incorporated Sn atoms reduce the bandgap of Fe₂O₃, not only facilitating the electron release but also increasing the NO₂ adsorption at a low working temperature (150 °C). This work introduces an effective strategy to construct effective adsorption sites that show a unique response to specific gas molecules, potentially promoting the rational design of atomically modified gas sensing materials with high sensitivity and high selectivity.

Highlights:
1 The heteroatom atomically doping strategy was reported to construct highly efficient sites on metal oxides for the detection of low-concentration gas.
2 The atomically dispersed Sn atoms were intentionally incorporated into the Fe₂O₃ lattice during the oxidative annealing of Fe-based metal organic framework, leading to specific Sn–O–Fe sites, porous structures, and abundant oxygen vacancies.
3 The optimized Sn-Fe₂O₃ exhibited exceptional sensing performance for NO₂ detection: ultra-high sensitivity (Rg/Ra=2646.6 to 1 ppm NO₂), ultra-low limit of detection (10 ppb), and high selectivity.

Machine Learning Tailored Anodes for Efficient Hydrogen Energy Generation in Proton-Conducting Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells

Fri, 23 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the global trend of vigorously developing hydrogen energy, proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cells (P-SOECs) have attracted significant attention due to their advantages of high efficiency and not requiring precious metals. However, the application of P-SOECs faces challenges, particularly in developing high-performance anodes possessing both high catalytic activity and ionic conductivity. In this study, La_0.9Ba_0.1Co_0.7Ni_0.3O_3−δ (LBCN9173) and La_0.9Ca_0.1Co_0.7Ni_0.3O_3−δ (LCCN9173) oxides are tailored as promising anodes by machine learning model, achieving the synergistic enhancement of water oxidation reaction kinetics and proton conduction, which is confirmed by comprehensively analyzing experiment and density functional theory calculation results. Furthermore, the anodic reaction mechanisms for P-SOECs with these anodes are elucidated by analyzing distribution of relaxation time spectra and Gibbs energy of water oxidation reaction, manifesting that the dissociation of H₂O is facilitated on LBCN9173 anode. As a result, P-SOEC with LBCN9173 anode demonstrates a top-rank current density of 2.45 A cm⁻² at 1.3 V and an extremely low polarization resistance of 0.05 Ω cm² at 650 °C. This multi-scale, multi-faceted research approach not only discovered a high-performance anode but also proved the robust framework for the machine learning-assisted design of anodes for P-SOECs.

Highlights:
1 Machine learning technique was employed to develop anode for proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cells (P-SOEC).
2 The screened high-performance La_0.9Ba_0.1Co_0.7Ni_0.3O₃−δ (LBCN9173) and La_0.9Ca_0.1Co_0.7Ni_0.3O₃−δ (LCCN9173) anodes achieved a synergistic enhancement of water oxidation reaction kinetics and proton-conducting ability.
3 P-SOECs with LBCN9173 anode demonstrated a top-rank current density of 2.45 A cm⁻² and an extremely low polarization resistance of 0.05 Ω cm² at 650 °C.

Modified Near-Infrared Annealing Enabled Rapid and Homogeneous Crystallization of Perovskite Films for Efficient Solar Modules

Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Currently, perovskite solar cells have achieved commendable progresses in power conversion efficiency (PCE) and operational stability. However, some conventional laboratory-scale fabrication methods become challenging when scaling up material syntheses or device production. Particularly, the prolonged high-temperature annealing process for the crystallization of perovskites requires a substantial amount of energy consumption and impact the modules’ throughput. Here, we report a modified near-infrared annealing (NIRA) process, which involves the excess PbI₂ engineered crystallization, efficiently reduces the preparation time for perovskite active layer to within 20 s compared to dozens of min in conventional hot plate annealing (HPA) process. The study showed that the incorporated PbI₂ promoted the consistent nucleation of the perovskite film, leading to the subsequent rapid and homogeneous crystallization at the NIRA stage. Thus, highly crystalized perovskite film was realized with even better crystallization performance than conventional HPA-based film. Ultimately, efficient perovskite solar modules of 36 and 100 cm² were readily fabricated with the optimal PCEs of 22.03% and 20.18%, respectively. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the successful achievement of homogeneous and high-quality crystallization in large-area perovskite films through rapid NIRA processing. This approach not only significantly reduces energy consumption during production, but also substantially shortens the manufacturing cycle, paving a new path toward the commercial-scale application of perovskite solar modules.

Highlights:
1 Developing an infrared annealing system to achieve efficient annealing of perovskite films within 20 s.
2 Fully blade-coated perovskite modules achieved remarkable efficiencies of 22.03% (6 × 6 cm², active area: 18 cm²) and 20.18% (10 × 10 cm², active area: 56 cm²)

Aramid Nanofiber/MXene-Reinforced Polyelectrolyte Hydrogels for Absorption-Dominated Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Wearable Sensing

Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Conductive hydrogels have garnered widespread attention as a versatile class of flexible electronics. Despite considerable advancements, current methodologies struggle to reconcile the fundamental trade-off between high conductivity and effective absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, as dictated by classical impedance matching theory. This study addresses these limitations by introducing a novel synthesis of aramid nanofiber/MXene-reinforced polyelectrolyte hydrogels. Leveraging the unique properties of polyelectrolytes, this innovative approach enhances ionic conductivity and exploits the hydration effect of hydrophilic polar groups to induce the formation of intermediate water. This critical innovation facilitates polarization relaxation and rearrangement in response to electromagnetic fields, thereby significantly enhancing the EMI shielding effectiveness of hydrogels. The electromagnetic wave attenuation capacity of these hydrogels was thoroughly evaluated across both X-band and terahertz band frequencies, with further investigation into the impact of varying water content states—hydrated, dried, and frozen—on their electromagnetic properties. Moreover, the hydrogels exhibited promising capabilities beyond mere EMI shielding; they also served effectively as strain sensors for monitoring human motions, indicating their potential applicability in wearable electronics. This work provides a new approach to designing multifunctional hydrogels, advancing the integration of flexible, multifunctional materials in modern electronics, with potential applications in both EMI shielding and wearable technology.

Highlights:
1 Aramid nanofiber/MXene-reinforced polyelectrolyte hydrogels were designed to achieve absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference shielding under the premise of relatively high conductivity.
2 The multifunctional composite hydrogels exhibited outstanding mechanical performance, exceptional adhesion strength, excellent electromagnetic interference shielding and reliable capability for monitoring human motion signals.

Efficient Thermally Evaporated Near-Infrared Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes via Phase Regulation

Siwei He, Lanxin Qin, Zhengzheng Liu, Jae‑Wook Kang, Jiajun Luo, Juan Du — Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

α-phase formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI₃) has demonstrated extraordinary properties for near-infrared perovskite light-emitting diodes (NIR-PeLEDs). The vacuum processing technique has recently received increasing attention from industry and academia due to its solvent-free feature and compatibility with large-scale production. Nevertheless, vacuum-deposited NIR-PeLEDs have been less studied, and their efficiencies lag far behind those of solution-based PeLEDs as it is still challenging to prepare pure α-FAPbI₃ by the thermal evaporation. Herein, we report a Cs-containing triple-source co-evaporation approach to develop the perovskite films. The addition of thermally stable Cs cation fills in the perovskite crystal lattice and eliminates the formation of metallic Pb caused by the degradation of FA cation during the evaporation process. The tri-source co-evaporation strategy significantly promotes the phase transition from yellow δ-phase FAPbI₃ to black α-phase FACsPbI₃, fostering smooth, uniform, and pinhole-free perovskite films with higher crystallinity and fewer defects. On this basis, the resulting NIR-PeLED based on FACsPbI₃ yields a maximum EQE of 10.25%, which is around sixfold higher than that of FAPbI₃-based PeLEDs. Our work demonstrates a reliable and effective strategy to achieve α-FAPbI₃ via thermal evaporation and paves the pathway toward highly efficient perovskite optoelectronic devices for future commercialization.

Highlights:
1 α-phase formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI₃) was prepared based on triple-source co-evaporation.
2 A partial Cs-doping in the FAPbI₃ can help with the suppression of the non-radiative recombination, elimination of the metallic Pb, improvement of spatial confinement.
3 Near-infrared perovskite light-emitting diodes (NIR-PeLEDs) based on triple-source co-evaporated FACsPbI₃ thin films achieved a maximum external quantum efficiency of 10.25%, which was around 6 times higher than that of FAPbI₃-based NIR-PeLEDs.

Chemical Fermentation PoreCreation on Multilevel Bio-Carbon Structure with In Situ Ni–Fe Alloy Loading for Superior Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysis

Qiaoling Kang, Mengfei Su, Yana Luo, Ting Wang, Feng Gao, Qingyi Lu — Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the quest for high-efficiency and cost-effective catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a novel biomass-driven strategy is developed to fabricate a unique one-dimensional rod-arrays@two-dimensional interlaced-sheets (C_1D@2D) network. A groundbreaking chemical fermentation (CF) pore-generation mechanism, proposed for the first time for creating nanopores within carbon structures, is based on the optimal balance between gasification and solidification. This mechanism not only results in a distinctive C_1D@2D multilevel network with nanoscale, intersecting and freely flowing channels but also introduces a novel concept for in situ, extensive and hierarchical pore formation. The unique architecture, combined with the homogeneous dispersion of Ni–Fe nanoparticles, facilitates easy electrolyte penetration and provides abundant active sites for the anchoring and dispersion of reactive molecules or ions. Consequently, the Ni–Fe@C_1D@2D porous network demonstrates an exceptional OER electrocatalytic performance, achieving a record-low overpotential of 165 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and maintaining long-term stability for over 90 h. Theoretical calculations reveal that the porous structure markedly strengthens the interaction between alloy nanoparticles and the carbon matrix, thereby significantly boosting their electrocatalytic activity and stability. These findings unequivocally validate the CF pore-generation mechanism as a powerful and innovative strategy for designing highly efficient functional nanostructures.

Highlights:
1 A groundbreaking chemical fermentation pore-generation mechanism is developed for the first time for creating nanopores within carbon structures to form multilevel porous network based on the optimal balance between gasification and solidification.
2 The Ni–Fe@C1D@2D porous network demonstrates an exceptional oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalytic performance, achieving an ultralow overpotential of 165 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² on a non-supported inert electrode and maintaining long-term stability for over 90 h.

Electrolyte Additive-Assembled Interconnecting Molecules–Zinc Anode Interface for Zinc-Ion Hybrid Supercapacitors

Yang Li, Xu Li, Xinya Peng, Xinyu Yang, Feiyu Kang, Liubing Dong — Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSs) are promising energy storage systems integrating high energy density and high-power density, whereas they are plagued by the poor electrochemical stability and inferior kinetics of zinc anodes. Herein, we report an electrolyte additive-assembled interconnecting molecules–zinc anode interface, realizing highly stable and fast-kinetics zinc anodes for ZHSs. The sulfobutyl groups-grafted β-cyclodextrin (SC) supramolecules as a trace additive in ZnSO₄ electrolytes not only adsorb on zinc anodes but also self-assemble into an interconnecting molecule interface benefiting from the mutual attraction between the electron-rich sulfobutyl group and the electron-poor cavity of the adjacent SC supramolecule. The interconnecting molecules–zinc anode interface provides abundant anion-trapping cavities and zincophilic groups to enhance Zn²⁺ transference number and homogenize Zn²⁺ deposition sites, and meanwhile, it accelerates the desolvation of hydrated Zn²⁺ to improve zinc deposition kinetics and inhibit active water molecules from inducing parasitic reactions at the zinc deposition interface, making zinc anodes present superior reversibility with 99.7% Coulombic efficiency, ~ 30 times increase in operation lifetime and an outstanding cumulative capacity at large current densities. ZHSs with 20,000-cycle life and optimized rate capability are thereby achieved. This work provides an inspiring strategy for designing zinc anode interfaces to promote the development of ZHSs.

Highlights:
1 An important topic about zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors is proposed, i.e., how to achieve not only ultrastable but also fast-kinetics zinc anodes to match capacitive cathodes featuring ultralong cycle life and fast charge storage ability.
2 An electrolyte additive-assembled interconnecting molecules–zinc anode interface is proposed, and its regulation mechanisms on zinc plating/stripping behaviors are revealed.
3 A scalable strategy is reported for achieving highly stable and fast-rate zinc anodes toward zinc-based electrochemical energy storage systems.

Enhanced Regional Electric Potential Difference of Graphdiyne Through Asymmetric Substitution Strategy Boosts Li+ Migration in Composite Polymer Solid-State Electrolyte

Chao Jiang, Kaihang Wang, Luwei Zhang, Chunfang Zhang, Ning Wang — Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Low ionic conductivity is a major obstacle for polymer solid-state electrolytes. In response to this issue, a design concept of enhanced regional electric potential difference (EREPD) is proposed to modulate the interaction of nanofillers with other components in the composite polymer solid-state electrolytes (CPSEs). While ensuring the periodic structure of the graphdiyne (GDY) backbone, methoxy-substituted GDY (OGDY) is prepared by an asymmetric substitution strategy, which increases the electric potential differences within each repeating unit of GDY. The staggered distributed electron-rich regions and electron-deficient regions on the two-dimensional plane of OGDY increase the free Li⁺ concentration through Lewis acid–base pair interaction. The adjacent ERRs and EDRs form uniformly distributed EREPDs, creating a continuous potential gradient that synergistically facilitates the efficient migration of Li⁺. Impressively, the OGDY/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) exhibits a high ionic conductivity (1.1 × 10^–3 S cm⁻¹) and ion mobility number (0.71). In addition, the accelerated Li⁺ migration promotes the formation of uniform and dense SEI layers and inhibits the growth of lithium dendrites. As a proof of concept, Li||Li symmetric cell and Li||LiFePO₄ full cell and pouch cell assembled with OGDY/PEO exhibit good performance, highlighting the effectiveness of our EREPD design strategy for improving CPSEs performance.

Highlights:
1 Methoxy-substituted graphdiyne (OGDY) is synthesized via an asymmetric substitution strategy, featuring a periodic alternation of electron-rich regions and electron-deficient regions, which significantly enhances the heterogeneity of charge distribution in OGDY.
2 An enhanced regional electric potential difference design concept is proposed to address the low ionic conductivity of polymer solid-state electrolytes. The OGDY/poly(ethylene oxide) composite polymer solid-state electrolyte achieves an ionic conductivity of 1.1×10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ and a high lithium-ion transference number of 0.71.

Critical Bimetallic Phosphide Layer Enables Fast Electron Transfer and Extra Energy Supply for Flexible Quasi-Solid-State Zinc Batteries

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Nickel-based cathodes in aqueous nickel-zinc batteries typically suffer from sluggish reaction kinetics and limited energy density. In situ introduction of metal phosphides and rational construction of heterostructures can effectively promote electron/ion transport. However, the complex evolution of phosphidation and intractable phosphidizing degree greatly affect the composition of active phase, active sites, charge transfer rate, and ion adsorption strength of cathodes. Herein, the critical bimetallic phosphide layer (CBPL) is constructed on the NiCo-layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) skeleton by a controllable anion-exchange strategy, yielding a novel nanohybrid cathode (NiCo-P1.0, 1.0 representing the mass ratio of Na₂H₂PO₂ to NiCo-LDH). The high-conductivity CBPL with the inner NiCo-LDH forms extensive heterostructures, effectively regulating the electronic structure via charge transfer, thereby improving electrical conductivity. Remarkably, the CBPL exhibits unexpected electrochemical activity and synergizes with NiCo-LDH for electrode reactions, ultimately delivering extra energy. Benefiting from the bifunctional CBPL, NiCo-P1.0 delivers an optimal capacity of 286.64 mAh g⁻¹ at 1C (1C = 289 mAh g⁻¹) and superb rate performance (a capacity retention of 72.22% at 40C). The assembled NiCo-P1.0//Zn battery achieves ultrahigh energy/power density (503.62 Wh kg⁻¹/18.62 kW kg⁻¹, based on the mass loading of active material on the cathode), and the flexible quasi-solid-state pouch cell validates its practicality. This work demonstrates the superiority of bifunctional CBPL for surface modification, providing an effective and scalable compositing strategy in achieving high-performance cathodes for aqueous batteries.

Highlights:
1 The critical bimetallic phosphide layer (CBPL) exhibits high electrical conductivity and forms heterostructures with NiCo-layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH), improving the electrical conductivity of the hybrid cathode (NiCo-P1.0).
2 CBPL facilitates OH⁻ adsorption and synergizes with NiCo-LDH in electrode reactions, delivering extra energy.
3 NiCo-P1.0 cathode delivers 286.64 mAh g⁻¹ at 1C with a retention of 72.22% at 40C. The assembled NiCo-P1.0//Zn battery achieves energy density/power density (503.62 Wh kg⁻¹/18.62 kW kg⁻¹). The flexible quasi-solid-state pouch cell maintains stable output after deformation.

Highly Thermal Conductive and Electromagnetic Shielding Polymer Nanocomposites from Waste Masks

Tue, 20 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Over 950 billion (about 3.8 million tons) masks have been consumed in the last four years around the world to protect human beings from COVID-19 and air pollution. However, very few of these used masks are being recycled, with the majority of them being landfilled or incinerated. To address this issue, we propose a repurposing upcycling strategy by converting these polypropylene (PP)-based waste masks to high-performance thermally conductive nanocomposites (PP@G, where G refers to graphene) with exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding property. The PP@G is fabricated by loading tannic acid onto PP fibers via electrostatic self-assembling, followed by mixing with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). Because this strategy enables the GNPs to form efficient thermal and electrical conduction pathways along the PP fiber surface, the PP@G shows a high thermal conductivity of 87 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ and exhibits an electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of 88 dB (1100 dB cm⁻¹), making it potentially applicable for heat dissipation and electromagnetic shielding in advanced electronic devices. Life cycle assessment and techno-economic assessment results show that our repurposing strategy has significant advantages over existing methods in reducing environmental impacts and economic benefits. This strategy offers a facile and promising approach to upcycling/repurposing of fibrous waste plastics.

Highlights:
1 Fabricating low-cost, high-performance, scalable polypropylene (PP)@graphene (G) nanocomposites from recycled PP fibers in waste masks by a simple electrostatic self-assembly hot-pressing method.
2 The resultant PP@G presents a high thermal conductivity of 87 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ and a high electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of 88 dB (1100 dB cm⁻¹).

Immobilizing Zwitterionic Molecular Brush in Functional Organic Interfacial Layers for Ultra-Stable Zn-Ion Batteries

Tue, 20 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Rechargeable zinc-ion batteries have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for large-scale energy storage applications due to their high safety and low cost. However, the use of Zn metal in batteries suffers from many severe issues, including dendrite growth and parasitic reactions, which often lead to short cycle lives. Herein, we propose the construction of functional organic interfacial layers (OIL) on the Zn metal anodes to address these challenges. Through a well-designed organic-assist pre-construction process, a densely packed artificial layer featuring the immobilized zwitterionic molecular brush can be constructed, which can not only efficiently facilitate the smooth Zn plating and stripping, but also introduce a stable environment for battery reactions. Through density functional theory calculations and experimental characterizations, we verify that the immobilized organic propane sulfonate on Zn anodes can significantly lower the energy barrier and increase the kinetics of Zn²⁺ transport. Thus, the Zn metal anode with the functional OIL can significantly improve the cycle life of the symmetric cell to over 3500 h stable operation. When paired with the H₂V₃O₈ cathode, the aqueous Zn-ion full cells can be continuously cycled over 7000 cycles, marking an important milestone for Zn anode development for potential industrial applications.

Highlights:
1 An organic-assisted solid electrolyte interface pre-construction creates a functional organic interfacial layer (OIL-IPS@Zn) with aligned zwitterionic structures, suppressing side reactions and enhancing Zn²⁺ transport.
2 OIL-IPS@Zn shows superior electrolyte affinity, enabling symmetric cells to operate stably for 3500 h at 1 mA cm⁻²/1 mAh cm⁻² and 3200 h at 50 mA cm⁻²/10 mAh cm⁻².
3 With 99.90% Zn plating/stripping efficiency, full cells paired with H₂V₃O₈ cathodes achieve over 7000 cycles.

Near-Sensor Edge Computing System Enabled by a CMOS Compatible Photonic Integrated Circuit Platform Using Bilayer AlN/Si Waveguides

Mon, 19 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The rise of large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) models, such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and autonomous vehicle systems, has significantly advanced the boundaries of AI, enabling highly complex tasks in natural language processing, image recognition, and real-time decision-making. However, these models demand immense computational power and are often centralized, relying on cloud-based architectures with inherent limitations in latency, privacy, and energy efficiency. To address these challenges and bring AI closer to real-world applications, such as wearable health monitoring, robotics, and immersive virtual environments, innovative hardware solutions are urgently needed. This work introduces a near-sensor edge computing (NSEC) system, built on a bilayer AlN/Si waveguide platform, to provide real-time, energy-efficient AI capabilities at the edge. Leveraging the electro-optic properties of AlN microring resonators for photonic feature extraction, coupled with Si-based thermo-optic Mach–Zehnder interferometers for neural network computations, the system represents a transformative approach to AI hardware design. Demonstrated through multimodal gesture and gait analysis, the NSEC system achieves high classification accuracies of 96.77% for gestures and 98.31% for gaits, ultra-low latency (< 10 ns), and minimal energy consumption (< 0.34 pJ). This groundbreaking system bridges the gap between AI models and real-world applications, enabling efficient, privacy-preserving AI solutions for healthcare, robotics, and next-generation human–machine interfaces, marking a pivotal advancement in edge computing and AI deployment.

Highlights:
1 A novel near-sensor edge computing system integrates aluminum nitride (AlN) microrings for photonic feature extraction and Si Mach–Zehnder interferometers for photonic neural network operations, achieving real-time artificial intelligence (AI) processing.
2 Demonstrates high classification accuracy (96.77% for gestures, 98.31% for gaits) with low latency (< 10 ns) and minimal energy consumption (< 0.34 pJ).
3 Enables low-power, high-speed AI applications with seamless hybrid photonic-electronic integration on a bilayer AlN/Si waveguide platform.

Breaking Performance Limits of Zn Anodes in Aqueous Batteries by Tailoring Anion and Cation Additives

Mon, 19 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Crystallographic engineering of Zn anodes to favor the exposure of (002) planes is an effective approach for improving stability in aqueous electrolytes. However, achieving non-epitaxial electrodeposition with a pronounced (002) texture and maintaining this orientation during extended cycling remains challenging. This study questions the prevailing notion that a single (002)-textured Zn anode inherently ensures superior stability, showing that such anodes cannot sustain their texture in ZnSO₄ electrolytes. We then introduced a novel electrolyte additive, benzyltriethylammonium chloride (TEBAC), which preserves the (002) texture over prolonged cycling. Furthermore, we successfully converted commercial Zn foils into highly crystalline (002)-textured Zn without any pretreatment. Experiments and theoretical calculations revealed that the cationic TEBA⁺ selectively adsorbs onto the anode surface, promoting the exposure of the Zn(002) plane and suppressing dendrite formation. A critical discovery was the pitting corrosion caused by chloride ions from TEBAC, which we mitigated by anion substitution. This modification leads to a remarkable lifespan of 375 days for the Zn||Zn symmetric cells at 1 mA cm⁻² and 1 mAh cm⁻². Furthermore, a TEBA⁺-modified Zn||VO₂ full cell demonstrates high specific capacity and robust cycle stability at 10.0 A g⁻¹. These results provide valuable insights and strategies for developing long-life Zn ion batteries.

Highlights:
1 Cationic benzyltriethylammonium chloride enables high (002)-textured Zn via selective adsorption, outperforming prior additives.
2 In situ homogenization converts commercial Zn foil into highly (002)-textured Zn anodes without pretreatments.
3 Cl⁻-induced pitting corrosion mechanism uncovered, leading to a breakthrough in performance limits of Zn anodes.

Reducing the Voc Loss of Hole Transport Layer-Free Carbon-Based Perovskite Solar Cells via Dual Interfacial Passivation

Mon, 19 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The hole transport layer (HTL)-free carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) are promising for commercialization owing to their excellent operational stability and simple fabrication process. However, the power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of C-PSCs are inferior to the metal electrode-based devices due to their open-circuit voltage (V_oc) loss. Herein, time-resolved confocal photoluminescence microscopy reveals that grain boundary defects at the perovskite/carbon interface are very likely to function as nonradiative recombination centers in HTL-free C-PSCs. A versatile additive Li₂CO₃ is used to modify the conformal tin oxide electron transport layer for HTL-free C-PSCs. Li₂CO₃ modification can result in enhanced charge extraction and optimized energy alignment at electron transport layer/perovskite interface, as well as suppressed defects at perovskite top surface due to Li₂CO₃-induced formation of PbI₂ crystallites. Such dual interfacial passivation ultimately leads to significantly improved V_oc up to 1.142 V, which is comparable to the metal electrode-based devices with HTL. Moreover, a record-high PCE of 33.2% is achieved for Li₂CO₃-modified C-PSCs under weak light illumination conditions, demonstrating excellent indoor photovoltaic performance. This work provides a practical approach to fabricate low-cost, highly efficient carbon-based perovskite solar cells.

Highlights:
1 Li₂CO₃ is used to modify conformal SnO₂ as electron transport layer for hole transport layer-free carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs).
2 CO₃²⁻ can induce MA release from the perovskite layer, resulting in PbI₂ at the grain boundary of top interface of perovskite film which can passivate the grain boundary and the top surface defects.
3 The Li₂CO₃-modified C-PSC exhibits a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.1%, with a Voc of 1.142 V. A record-high PCE of 33.2% is obtained under weak light-emitting diode illumination (2000 lx, 3000 K).

Highest Solar-to-Hydrogen Conversion Efficiency in Cu2ZnSnS4 Photocathodes and Its Directly Unbiased Solar Seawater Splitting

Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Despite being an excellent candidate for a photocathode, Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) performance is limited by suboptimal bulk and interfacial charge carrier dynamics. In this work, we introduce a facile and versatile CZTS precursor seed layer engineering technique, which significantly enhances crystal growth and mitigates detrimental defects in the post-sulfurized CZTS light-absorbing films. This effective optimization of defects and charge carrier dynamics results in a highly efficient CZTS/CdS/TiO₂/Pt thin-film photocathode, achieving a record half-cell solar-to-hydrogen (HC-STH) conversion efficiency of 9.91%. Additionally, the photocathode exhibits a highest photocurrent density (J_ph) of 29.44 mA cm⁻² (at 0 V_RHE) and favorable onset potential (V_on) of 0.73 V_RHE. Furthermore, our CTZS photocathode demonstrates a remarkable J_ph of 16.54 mA cm⁻² and HC-STH efficiency of 2.56% in natural seawater, followed by an impressive unbiased STH efficiency of 2.20% in a CZTS-BiVO₄ tandem cell. The scalability of this approach is underscored by the successful fabrication of a 4 × 4 cm² module, highlighting its significant potential for practical, unbiased in situ solar seawater splitting applications.

Highlights:
1 A novel approach, precursor seed layer engineering, is applied to prepare Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) light-absorbing films using the solution-processed spin-coating method.
2 Mo/CZTS/CdS/TiO₂/Pt photocathode effectively mitigates defects in CZTS light absorber and the CZTS/CdS heterojunction interface, optimizing charge carrier dynamics.
3 Record photoelectrochemical performance including half-cell solar-to-hydrogen (HC-STH) efficiency of 9.91%, photocurrent density of 29.44 mA cm⁻² at 0 VRHE in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ electrolyte, and STH efficiency of 2.20% in CZTS-BiVO₄ tandem cell in natural seawater is achieved.

Induction Effect of Fluorine-Grafted Polymer-Based Electrolytes for High-Performance Lithium Metal Batteries

Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Quasi-solid-state composite electrolytes (QSCEs) show promise for high-performance solid-state batteries, while they still struggle with interfacial stability and cycling performance. Herein, a F-grafted QSCE (F-QSCE) was developed via copolymerizing the F monomers and ionic liquid monomers. The F-QSCE demonstrates better overall performance, such as high ionic conductivity of 1.21 mS cm^–1 at 25 °C, wide electrochemical windows of 5.20 V, and stable cycling stability for Li//Li symmetric cells over 4000 h. This is attributed to the significant electronegativity difference between C and F in the fluorinated chain (‒CF₂‒CF‒CF₃), which causes the electron cloud to shift toward the F atom, surrounding it with a negative charge and producing the inductive effect. Furthermore, the interactions between Li⁺ and F, TFSI^‒, and C are enhanced, reducing ion pair aggregation (Li⁺‒TFSI^‒‒Li⁺) and promoting Li⁺ transport. Besides, ‒CF₂‒CF‒CF₃ decomposes to form LiF preferentially over TFSI^–, resulting in better interfacial stability for F-QSCE. This work provides a pathway to enable the development of high-performance Li metal batteries.

Highlights:
1 Fluorine-grafted quasi-solid-state composite electrolyte (F-QSCE)@30 exhibits high ionic conductivity of 1.21 mS cm^–1 at 25 °C.
2 The inductive effect weakens the coordination between Li⁺ and TFSI^‒, enhancing Li⁺ transport.
3 LiF in the solid electrolyte interphase of F-QSCE@30 comes from decomposed F segments, not TFSI^‒.
4 F-QSCE@30 maintains stability with Li metal for over 4000 h and inhibits dendrite growth.

Aspartame Endowed ZnO-Based Self-Healing Solid Electrolyte Interface Film for Long-Cycling and Wide-Temperature Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries

Mon, 12 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Metallic Zn anodes suffer from hydrogen evolution and dendritic deposition in aqueous electrolytes, resulting in low Coulombic efficiency and poor cyclic stability for aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs). Constructing stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) with strong affinity for Zn and exclusion of water corrosion of Zn metal anodes is a promising strategy to tackle these challenges. In this study, we develop a self-healing ZnO-based SEI film on the Zn electrode surface by employing an aspartame (APM) as a versatile electrolyte additive. The hydrophobic nature and strong Zn affinity of APM can facilitate the dynamic self-healing of ZnO-based SEI film during cyclic Zn plating/stripping process. Benefiting from the superior protection effect of self-healing ZnO-based SEI, the Zn║Cu cells possess an average coulombic efficiency more than 99.59% over 1,000 cycles even at a low current density of 1 mA cm⁻²− 1 mAh cm⁻². Furthermore, the Zn║NH₄⁺-V₂O₅ full cells display a large specific capacity of 150 mAh g⁻¹ and high cyclic stability with a capacity retention of 77.8% after 1,750 cycles. In addition, the Zn║Zn cell delivers high temperature adaptability at a wide-temperature range from − 5 to 40 °C even under a high DOD of 85.2%. The enhanced capability and durability originate from the self-healing SEI formation enabled by multifunctional APM additives mediating both corrosion suppression and interfacial stabilization. This work presents an inspired and straightforward approach to promote a dendrite-free and wide-temperature rechargeable AZIBs energy storage system.

Highlights:
1 Aspartame additive in electrolyte enables the in situ formation of ZnO-based solid electrolyte interphase, enhancing Zn anode corrosion resistance and stability with excellent self-healing capabilities.
2 Zn║Zn symmetric cells with APM-modified electrolyte operate stably for 6,400 h at − 5 °C, 10,330 h at 25 °C, and 2,250 h at 40 °C, with a high DOD of 85.2%.
3 Achieves 99.59% Coulombic efficiency, suppresses dendrite growth, and maintains 150 mAh g⁻¹ capacity after 1,750 cycles in NH₄⁺-V₂O₅ full cells.

Refining Single-Atom Catalytic Kinetics for Tumor Homologous-Targeted Catalytic Therapy

Hengke Liu, Shan Lei, Hongyu Li, Jiayingzi Wu, Ting He, Jing Lin, Peng Huang — Mon, 12 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes) hold significant potential for tumor catalytic therapy, but their effectiveness is often compromised by low catalytic efficiency within tumor microenvironment. This efficiency is mainly influenced by key factors including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) availability, acidity, and temperature. Simultaneous optimization of these key factors presents a significant challenge for tumor catalytic therapy. In this study, we developed a comprehensive strategy to refine single-atom catalytic kinetics for enhancing tumor catalytic therapy through dual-enzyme-driven cascade reactions. Iridium (Ir) SAzymes with high catalytic activity and natural enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) were utilized to construct the cascade reaction system. GOx was loaded by Ir SAzymes due to its large surface area. Then, the dual-enzyme-driven cascade reaction system was modified by cancer cell membranes for improving biocompatibility and achieving tumor homologous targeting ability. GOx catalysis reaction could produce abundant H₂O₂ and lower the local pH, thereby optimizing key reaction-limiting factors. Additionally, upon laser irradiation, Ir SAzymes could raise local temperature, further enhancing the catalytic efficiency of dual-enzyme system. This comprehensive optimization maximized the performance of Ir SAzymes, significantly improving the efficiency of catalytic therapy. Our findings present a strategy of refining single-atom catalytic kinetics for tumor homologous-targeted catalytic therapy.

Highlights:
1 Developed a dual-enzyme cascade system integrating iridium single-atom nanozymes with glucose oxidase, optimizing hydrogen peroxide production, acidity, and temperature within the tumor microenvironment to markedly improve catalytic therapy efficacy.
2 Functionalized the cascade reaction system with cancer cell membranes to achieve homologous targeting and high biocompatibility, ensuring accurate accumulation at tumor sites while minimizing off-target effects.

Single-Point Linkage Engineering in Conjugated Phthalocyanine-Based Covalent Organic Frameworks for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Wenchang Chen, Yi Zhang, Mingyu Yang, Chao Yang, Zheng Meng — Fri, 09 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The utilization of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) holds great potential for achieving tailorable tuning of catalytic performance through bottom-up modulation of the reticular structure. In this work, we show that a single-point structural alteration in the linkage within a nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc)-based series effectively modulates the catalytic performance of the COFs in electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR). A NiPc-based COF series with three members which possess the same NiPc unit but different linkages, including piperazine, dioxin, and dithiine, have been constructed by nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction between octafluorophthalocyanine nickel and tetrasubstituted benzene linkers with different bridging groups. Among these COFs, the dioxin-linked COF showed the best activity of CO₂RR with a current density of CO (j_CO) = − 27.99 mA cm⁻² at − 1.0 V (versus reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE), while the COF with piperazine linkage demonstrated an excellent selectivity of Faradaic efficiency for CO (FE_CO) up to 90.7% at a pretty low overpotential of 0.39 V. In addition, both a high FE_CO value close to 100% and a reasonable j_CO of − 8.20 mA cm^–2 at the potential of − 0.8 V (versus RHE) were obtained by the piperazine-linked COF, making it one of the most competitive candidates among COF-based materials. Mechanistic studies exhibited that single-point structural alteration could tailor the electron density in Ni sites and alter the interaction between the active sites and the key intermediates adsorbed and desorbed, thereby tuning the electrochemical performance during CO₂RR process.

Highlights:
1 Three novel covalent organic frameworks (COFs) composed of nickel phthalocyanine units and different linkages, including dioxin, piperazine, and dithiine, were successfully constructed.
2 It was found that only a single-point structural variation of the linkage in the COFs could effectively modulate their performance in CO₂ reduction reaction, where the piperazine-linked COF achieved a pretty high Faradaic efficiency for CO of 90.7% at a critically low overpotential of 0.39 V.
3 Theoretical calculations indicated that the COF with dioxin linkage stabilized the *COOH intermediate more effectively than the other two NiPc-based COFs.

A Mechanically Robust In-Situ Solidified Polymer Electrolyte for SiOx-Based Anodes Toward High-Energy Lithium Batteries

Thu, 08 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Silicon suboxide (SiO_x, 0 < x < 2) is an appealing anode material to replace traditional graphite owing to its much higher theoretical specific capacity enabling higher-energy-density lithium batteries. Nevertheless, the huge volume change and rapid capacity decay of SiO_x electrodes during cycling pose huge challenges to their large-scale practical applications. To eliminate this bottleneck, a dragonfly wing microstructure-inspired polymer electrolyte (denoted as PPM-PE) is developed based on in-situ polymerization of bicyclic phosphate ester- and urethane motif-containing monomer and methyl methacrylate in traditional liquid electrolyte. PPM-PE delivers excellent mechanical properties, highly correlated with the formation of a micro-phase separation structure similar with dragonfly wings. By virtue of superior mechanical properties and the in-situ solidified preparation method, PPM-PE can form a 3D polymer network buffer against stress within the electrode particles gap, enabling much suppressed electrode volume expansion and more stabilized solid electrolyte interface along with evidently decreased electrolyte decomposition. Resultantly, PPM-PE shows significant improvements in both cycling and rate performance in button and soft package batteries with SiO_x-based electrodes, compared with the liquid electrolyte counterpart. Such a dragonfly wing microstructure-inspired design philosophy of in-situ solidified polymer electrolytes helps facilitate the practical implementation of high-energy lithium batteries with SiO_x-based anodes.

Highlights:
1 Inspired by the microstructure of high-mechanical-property dragonfly wings, a phase separation structure design philosophy of in-situ solidified polymer electrolytes was first proposed, enabling superior mechanical properties of them.
2 By virtue of superior mechanical properties and the in-situ solidified preparation method, the failure behaviors of SiO_x-based electrodes are effectively suppressed by the as-developed polymer electrolyte.
3 A dragonfly wing microstructure-inspired polymer electrolyte (denoted as PPM-PE) enables excellent electrochemical performance of SiO_x-based electrodes in button-type and soft package full cells.

Indium-MOF as Multifunctional Promoter to Remove Ionic Conductivity and Electrochemical Stability Constraints on Fluoropolymer Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Battery

Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Fluoropolymers promise all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASLMBs) but suffer from two critical challenges. The first is the trade-off between ionic conductivity (σ) and lithium anode reactions, closely related to high-content residual solvents. The second, usually consciously overlooked, is the fluoropolymer’s inherent instability against alkaline lithium anodes. Here, we propose indium-based metal–organic frameworks (In-MOFs) as a multifunctional promoter to simultaneously address these two challenges, using poly(vinylidene fluoride–hexafluoropropylene) (PVH) as the typical fluoropolymer. In-MOF plays a trio: (1) adsorbing and converting free residual solvents into bonded states to prevent their side reactions with lithium anodes while retaining their advantages on Li⁺ transport; (2) forming inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interphase layers to prevent PVH from reacting with lithium anodes and promote uniform lithium deposition without dendrite growth; (3) reducing PVH crystallinity and promoting Li-salt dissociation. Therefore, the resulting PVH/In-MOF (PVH-IM) showcases excellent electrochemical stability against lithium anodes, delivering a 5550 h cycling at 0.2 mA cm⁻² with a remarkable cumulative lithium deposition capacity of 1110 mAh cm⁻². It also exhibits an ultrahigh σ of 1.23 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 25 °C. Moreover, all-solid-state LiFePO₄|PVH-IM|Li full cells show outstanding rate capability and cyclability (80.0% capacity retention after 280 cycles at 0.5C), demonstrating high potential for practical ASLMBs.

Highlights:
1 Indium-based metal–organic framework (In-MOF) is proposed as a multifunctional promoter to create poly(vinylidene fluoride–hexafluoropropylene) (PVH)/In-MOF (PVH-IM) composite solid polymer electrolyte, synchronously achieving a high ionic conductivity of 1.23 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ and excellent electrochemical stability against Li anodes.
2 In-MOF not only can adsorb and convert free residual solvents into bonded states to prevent their side reactions with Li anodes, but also induce inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interphase layers to prevent PVH from reacting with lithium anodes and promote uniform lithium deposition without dendrite growths.
3 The Li|PVH-IM|Li symmetric cells maintain stable cycling for 5550 h at the current density of 0.2 mA cm⁻². In addition, all-solid-state LFP|PVH-IM|Li full cells deliver a significant capacity retention of 80.0% at a rate of 0.5C after 280 cycles at 25 °C.

In Situ Polymerization in COF Boosts Li-Ion Conduction in Solid Polymer Electrolytes for Li Metal Batteries

Junchen Meng, Mengjia Yin, Kairui Guo, Xingping Zhou, Zhigang Xue — Tue, 06 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have garnered considerable interest in the field of lithium metal batteries (LMBs) owing to their exceptional mechanical strength, excellent designability, and heightened safety characteristics. However, their inherently low ion transport efficiency poses a major challenge for their application in LMBs. To address this issue, covalent organic framework (COF) with their ordered ion transport channels, chemical stability, large specific surface area, and designable multifunctional sites has shown promising potential to enhance lithium-ion conduction. Here, we prepared an anionic COF, TpPa-COOLi, which can catalyze the ring-opening copolymerization of cyclic lactone monomers for the in situ fabrication of SPEs. The design leverages the high specific surface area of COF to facilitate the absorption of polymerization precursor and catalyze the polymerization within the pores, forming additional COF-polymer junctions that enhance ion transport pathways. The partial exfoliation of COF achieved through these junctions improved its dispersion within the polymer matrix, preserving ion transport channels and facilitating ion transport across COF grain boundaries. By controlling variables to alter the crystallinity of TpPa-COOLi and the presence of –COOLi substituents, TpPa-COOLi with partial long-range order and –COOLi substituents exhibited superior electrochemical performance. This research demonstrates the potential in constructing high-performance SPEs for LMBs.

Highlights:
1 Solid polymer electrolytes formed in situ via covalent organic framework-induced ring-opening copolymerization.
2 Solid polymer electrolytes with a high lithium-ion transference number and desirable interfacial compatibility.
3 Li⁺ migration mechanisms investigated with density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations.

Buried Interface Regulation with TbCl3 for Highly-Efficient All-Inorganic Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cells

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

All-inorganic perovskite materials exhibit exceptional thermal stability and promising candidates for tandem devices, while their application is still in the initial stage. Here, a metal halide doping strategy was implemented to enhance device performance and stability for inverted CsPbI₃ perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which are ideal for integration into perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. The lanthanide compound terbium chloride (TbCl₃) was employed to improve buried interface between [4-(3,6-Dimethyl-9H-carbazol-9-yl) butyl] phosphonic acid (Me-4PACz) and perovskite layer, thereby enhancing the crystallinity of CsPbI₃ films and passivating non-radiative recombination defects. Thus, the inverted CsPbI₃ PSCs achieved an efficiency of 18.68% and demonstrated excellent stability against water and oxygen. Meanwhile, remarkable efficiencies of 29.40% and 25.44% were, respectively, achieved in four-terminal (4T) and two-terminal (2T) perovskite/silicon mechanically tandem devices, which are higher efficiencies among reported all-inorganic perovskite-based tandem solar cells. This study presents a novel approach for fabricating highly efficient and stable inverted all-inorganic PSCs and perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells.

Highlights:
1 The lanthanide compound of TbCl₃ improved the wettability of Me-4PACz and further enhanced crystallization, in which the additional Cl− ions passivate iodine vacancy and improve energy level alignment at buried interface.
2 The inverted CsPbI₃ PSCs with TbCl₃ achieved a remarkable efficiency of 18.68% and enhanced stability in ambient air.
3 Efficiencies of 29.40% and 25.44% were, respectively, achieved in 4T and 2T all-inorganic perovskite/silicon mechanically tandem devices.

From Coils to Crawls: A Snake-Inspired Soft Robot for Multimodal Locomotion and Grasping

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Currently, numerous biomimetic robots inspired by natural biological systems have been developed. However, creating soft robots with versatile locomotion modes remains a significant challenge. Snakes, as invertebrate reptiles, exhibit diverse and powerful locomotion abilities, including prey constriction, sidewinding, accordion locomotion, and winding climbing, making them a focus of robotics research. In this study, we present a snake-inspired soft robot with an initial coiling structure, fabricated using MXene-cellulose nanofiber ink printed on pre-expanded polyethylene film through direct ink writing technology. The controllable fabrication of initial coiling structure soft robot (ICSBot) has been achieved through theoretical calculations and finite element analysis to predict and analyze the initial structure of ICSBot, and programmable ICSBot has been designed and fabricated. This robot functions as a coiling gripper capable of grasping objects with complex shapes under near infrared light stimulation. Additionally, it demonstrates multi-modal crawling locomotion in various environments, including confined spaces, unstructured terrains, and both inside and outside tubes. These results offer a novel strategy for designing and fabricating coiling-structured soft robots and highlight their potential applications in smart and multifunctional robotics.

Highlights:
1 A tunable initial coiling structure soft robot (ICSBot) has been developed by combining theoretical calculations, finite element analysis, and direct ink writing technology.
2 By mimicking the prey-handling behavior of snakes, ICSBot functions as a coiling gripper, capable of dynamic uncoiling, object grasping, and controlled release.
3 By simulating the multimodal movement of snakes, ICSBot demonstrated sidewinding locomotion to navigate unstructured environments, accordion locomotion to navigate narrow tubes, and winding climbing locomotion to traverse tubular structures under near-infrared light radiation.

Universal Amplification-Free RNA Detection by Integrating CRISPR-Cas10 with Aptameric Graphene Field-Effect Transistor

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Amplification-free, highly sensitive, and specific nucleic acid detection is crucial for health monitoring and diagnosis. The type III CRISPR-Cas10 system, which provides viral immunity through CRISPR-associated protein effectors, enables a new amplification-free nucleic acid diagnostic tool. In this study, we develop a CRISPR-graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) biosensor by combining the type III CRISPR-Cas10 system with GFETs for direct nucleic acid detection. This biosensor exploits the target RNA-activated continuous ssDNA cleavage activity of the dCsm3 CRISPR-Cas10 effector and the high charge density of a hairpin DNA reporter on the GFET channel to achieve label-free, amplification-free, highly sensitive, and specific RNA detection. The CRISPR-GFET biosensor exhibits excellent performance in detecting medium-length RNAs and miRNAs, with detection limits at the aM level and a broad linear range of 10⁻¹⁵ to 10⁻¹¹ M for RNAs and 10⁻¹⁵ to 10⁻⁹ M for miRNAs. It shows high sensitivity in throat swabs and serum samples, distinguishing between healthy individuals (N = 5) and breast cancer patients (N = 6) without the need for extraction, purification, or amplification. This platform mitigates risks associated with nucleic acid amplification and cross-contamination, making it a versatile and scalable diagnostic tool for molecular diagnostics in human health.

Highlights:
1 A collaborative biosensing system is developed for amplification-free RNA/miRNA detection by integrating Type III CRISPR-Cas10 system with a graphene field-effect transistor (GFET).
2 Continuous cleavage of ssDNA by the mutant CRISPR-Cas10 effector complexes and high charge density of hairpin DNA reporters on the GFET channel enable the detection limit to reach the level of aM.
3 A universal sensing detection platform is established to directly detect the medium-length RNAs and miRNAs in clinical samples with the recognition capability of single nucleic acid.

Piezotronic Sensor for Bimodal Monitoring of Achilles Tendon Behavior

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Bimodal pressure sensors capable of simultaneously detecting static and dynamic forces are essential to medical detection and bio-robotics. However, conventional pressure sensors typically integrate multiple operating mechanisms to achieve bimodal detection, leading to complex device architectures and challenges in signal decoupling. In this work, we address these limitations by leveraging the unique piezotronic effect of Y-ion-doped ZnO to develop a bimodal piezotronic sensor (BPS) with a simplified structure and enhanced sensitivity. Through a combination of finite element simulations and experimental validation, we demonstrate that the BPS can effectively monitor both dynamic and static forces, achieving an on/off ratio of 1029, a gauge factor of 23,439 and a static force response duration of up to 600 s, significantly outperforming the performance of conventional piezoelectric sensors. As a proof-of-concept, the BPS demonstrates the continuous monitoring of Achilles tendon behavior under mixed dynamic and static loading conditions. Aided by deep learning algorithms, the system achieves 96% accuracy in identifying Achilles tendon movement patterns, thus enabling warnings for dangerous movements. This work provides a viable strategy for bimodal force monitoring, highlighting its potential in wearable electronics.

Highlights:
1 The underlying mechanism governing the modulation of carrier transport by piezoelectric potential is elucidated through finite element simulations and experimental validation.
2 The bimodal piezotronic sensor (BPS) exhibits exceptional responsiveness to both static and dynamic stimuli, achieving an ultrahigh gauge factor of up to 23,439.
3 The BPS demonstrates robust capability for bimodal monitoring and hazard warning of Achilles tendon behavior, achieving an accuracy of 96%.

Anisotropic Hygroscopic Hydrogels with Synergistic Insulation-Radiation-Evaporation for High-Power and Self-Sustained Passive Daytime Cooling

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hygroscopic hydrogel is a promising evaporative-cooling material for high-power passive daytime cooling with water self-regeneration. However, undesired solar and environmental heating makes it a challenge to maintain sub-ambient daytime cooling. While different strategies have been developed to mitigate heat gains, they inevitably sacrifice the evaporation and water regeneration due to highly coupled thermal and vapor transport. Here, an anisotropic synergistically performed insulation-radiation-evaporation (ASPIRE) cooler is developed by leveraging a dual-alignment structure both internal and external to the hydrogel for coordinated thermal and water transport. The ASPIRE cooler achieves an impressive average sub-ambient cooling temperature of ~ 8.2 °C and a remarkable peak cooling power of 311 W m⁻² under direct sunlight. Further examining the cooling mechanism reveals that the ASPIRE cooler reduces the solar and environmental heat gains without comprising the evaporation. Moreover, self-sustained multi-day cooling is possible with water self-regeneration at night under both clear and cloudy days. The synergistic design provides new insights toward high-power, sustainable, and all-weather passive cooling applications.

Highlights:
1 Inspired by human skin structure, an anisotropic synergistically performed insulation-radiation-evaporation cooler is developed by leveraging a dual-alignment structure both internal and external to the hydrogel.
2 The coordinated thermal and water transport through multiscale engineering contributed to high-power synergistic passive cooling in the day and water self-regeneration at night.
3 The cooler achieved an impressive cooling power of 311 W m⁻² and an average sub-ambient cooling temperature of ~8.2 °C under direct sunlight.

Developing High-Energy, Stable All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries Using Aluminum-Based Anodes and High-Nickel Cathodes

Xin Wu, Meiyu Wang, Hui Pan, Xinyi Sun, Shaochun Tang, Haoshen Zhou, Ping He — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Aluminum (Al) exhibits excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical ductility, and good chemical compatibility with high-ionic-conductivity electrolytes. This makes it more suitable as an anode material for all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) compared to the overly reactive metallic lithium anode and the mechanically weak silicon anode. This study finds that the pre-lithiated Al anode demonstrates outstanding interfacial stability with the Li₆PS₅Cl (LPSCl) electrolyte, maintaining stable cycling for over 1200 h under conditions of deep charge–discharge. This paper combines the pre-lithiated Al anode with a high-nickel cathode, LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂, paired with the highly ionic conductive LPSCl electrolyte, to design an ASSLB with high energy density and stability. Using anode pre-lithiation techniques, along with dual-reinforcement technology between the electrolyte and the cathode active material, the ASSLB achieves stable cycling for 1000 cycles at a 0.2C rate, with a capacity retention rate of up to 82.2%. At a critical negative-to-positive ratio of 1.1, the battery’s specific energy reaches up to 375 Wh kg⁻¹, and it maintains over 85.9% of its capacity after 100 charge–discharge cycles. This work provides a new approach and an excellent solution for developing low-cost, high-stability all-solid-state batteries.

Highlights:
1 Anode pre-lithiation technique was employed to promote the reversibility of Al.
2 Dual-reinforcement technology was developed to address the interfacial incompatibility between the Ni-rich cathode active material and sulfide solid-state electrolyte.
3 The fabricated all-solid-state lithium battery comprising the pre-lithiated Al anode and dual-reinforced Ni-rich cathode achieves stable cycling for 1000 cycles with a capacity retention of 82.2%.

Se-Regulated MnS Porous Nanocubes Encapsulated in Carbon Nanofibers as High-Performance Anode for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Manganese-based chalcogenides have significant potential as anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high theoretical specific capacity, abundant natural reserves, and environmental friendliness. However, their application is hindered by poor cycling stability, resulting from severe volume changes during cycling and slow reaction kinetics due to their complex crystal structure. Here, an efficient and straightforward strategy was employed to in-situ encapsulate single-phase porous nanocubic MnS_0.5Se_0.5 into carbon nanofibers using electrospinning and the hard template method, thus forming a necklace-like porous MnS_0.5Se_0.5-carbon nanofiber composite (MnS_0.5Se_0.5@N-CNF). The introduction of Se significantly impacts both the composition and microstructure of MnS_0.5Se_0.5, including lattice distortion that generates additional defects, optimization of chemical bonds, and a nano-spatially confined design. In situ/ex-situ characterization and density functional theory calculations verified that this MnS_0.5Se_0.5@N-CNF alleviates the volume expansion and facilitates the transfer of Na⁺/electron. As expected, MnS_0.5Se_0.5@N-CNF anode demonstrates excellent sodium storage performance, characterized by high initial Coulombic efficiency (90.8%), high-rate capability (370.5 mAh g⁻¹ at 10 A g⁻¹) and long durability (over 5000 cycles at 5 A g⁻¹). The MnS_0.5Se_0.5@N-CNF //NVP@C full cell, assembled with MnS_0.5Se_0.5@N-CNF as anode and Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃@C as cathode, exhibits a high energy density of 254 Wh kg⁻¹ can be provided. This work presents a novel strategy to optimize the design of anode materials through structural engineering and Se substitution, while also elucidating the underlying reaction mechanisms.

Highlights:
1 We have developed an efficient and scalable strategy to prepare a single-phase ternary MnS_0.5Se_0.5-carbon nanofiber composite with a defect-rich microstructure.
2 The Na⁺ storage mechanism of manganese-based sulfides after the incorporation of Se was thoroughly investigated, through systematic electrochemical characterization combined with theoretical calculations.
3 The MnS_0.5Se_0.5@N-carbon nanofiber composite, used as an anode, exhibits excellent reversible capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability in sodium-ion batteries.

Multi-Energy Conversion and Electromagnetic Shielding Enabled by Carbonized Polyimide/Kevlar/Graphene Oxide@ZIF-67 Bidirectional Complex Aerogel-Encapsulated Phase-Change Materials

Tao Shi, Xing Gao, Huan Liu, Xiaodong Wang — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

To address the limitations of conventional energy systems and optimize the energy conversion pathways and efficiency, a type of “five-in-one” multifunctional phase-change composite with magnetothermal, electrothermal, solar-thermal, and thermoelectric energy conversion and electromagnetic shielding functions is developed for multipurpose applications. Such a novel phase-change composite is fabricated by an innovative combination of paraffin wax (PW) as a phase-change material and a carbonized polyimide/Kevlar/graphene oxide@ZIF-67 complex aerogel as a supporting material. The carbonized complex aerogel exhibits a unique bidirectional porous structure with high porosity and robust skeleton to support the loading of PW. The reduced graphene oxide and CoNC resulting from high-temperature carbonization are anchored on the aerogel skeleton to generate high thermal conduction and magnetic effect, enhancing the phonon and electron transfer of the aerogel and improving its energy conversion efficiency. The phase-change composite not only exhibits excellent solar-thermal, thermoelectric, electrothermal, and magnetothermal energy conversion performance, but also achieves high electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of 66.2 dB in the X-band. The introduction of PW significantly improves the thermal energy-storage capacity during multi-energy conversion. The developed composite exhibits great application potential for efficient solar energy utilization, sustainable power generation, outdoor deicing, human thermal therapy, and electronic device protection.

Highlights:
1 A “five-in-one” multifunctional phase-change composite is developed for magnetothermal, electrothermal, solar-thermal, and thermoelectric energy conversion and electromagnetic shielding applications.
2 The developed composite is based on an innovative combination of carbonized polyimide/Kevlar/graphene oxide@ZIF-67 complex aerogel as a supporting material and paraffin wax as a phase-change material.
3 The developed composite exhibits excellent solar-thermal, thermoelectric, electrothermal, and magnetothermal energy conversion performance along with high electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness.

Thermally Conductive Ti3C2Tx Fibers with Superior Electrical Conductivity

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

High-performance Ti₃C₂T_x fibers have garnered significant potential for smart fibers enabled fabrics. Nonetheless, a major challenge hindering their widespread use is the lack of strong interlayer interactions between Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets within fibers, which restricts their properties. Herein, a versatile strategy is proposed to construct wet-spun Ti₃C₂T_x fibers, in which trace amounts of borate form strong interlayer crosslinking between Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets to significantly enhance interactions as supported by density functional theory calculations, thereby reducing interlayer spacing, diminishing microscopic voids and promoting orientation of the nanosheets. The resultant Ti₃C₂T_x fibers exhibit exceptional electrical conductivity of 7781 S cm⁻¹ and mechanical properties, including tensile strength of 188.72 MPa and Young’s modulus of 52.42 GPa. Notably, employing equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, finite element analysis, and cross-wire geometry method, it is revealed that such crosslinking also effectively lowers interfacial thermal resistance and ultimately elevates thermal conductivity of Ti₃C₂T_x fibers to 13 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹, marking the first systematic study on thermal conductivity of Ti₃C₂T_x fibers. The simple and efficient interlayer crosslinking enhancement strategy not only enables the construction of thermal conductivity Ti₃C₂T_x fibers with high electrical conductivity for smart textiles, but also offers a scalable approach for assembling other nanomaterials into multifunctional fibers.

Highlights:
1 The strong covalent crosslinking between trace amounts of borates and the hydroxyl groups of Ti₃C₂T_x significantly reduces interlayer spacing, enhances orientation and compactness, leading to notable improvements in both the mechanical (tensile strength of 188.72 MPa) and electrical properties (7781 S cm⁻¹) of Ti₃C₂T_x fibers.
2 Trace amounts of borates can promote the regularization of interfacial structures, reduce interfacial thermal resistance, and significantly enhance the thermal conductivity (13 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹) of Ti₃C₂T_x fibers, thus increasing their potential for efficient heat transfer applications.

Ultra‑Broadband and Ultra-High Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Performance of Aligned and Compact MXene Films

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

With the rapid development of electronic detective techniques, there is an urgent need for broadband (from microwave to infrared) stealth of aerospace equipment. However, achieving effective broadband stealth primarily relies on the composite of multi-layer coatings of different materials, while realizing broadband stealth with a single material remains a significant challenge. Herein, we reported a highly compact MXene film with aligned nanosheets through a continuous centrifugal spraying strategy. The film exhibits an exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of 45 dB in gigahertz band (8.2–40 GHz) and 59 dB in terahertz band (0.2–1.6 THz) at a thickness of 2.25 μm, owing to the high conductivity (1.03 × 10⁶ S m⁻¹). Moreover, exceptionally high specific shielding effectiveness of 1.545 × 10⁶ dB cm² g⁻¹ has been demonstrated by the film, which is the highest value reported for shielding films. Additionally, the film exhibits an ultra-low infrared emissivity of 0.1 in the wide-range infrared band (2.5–16.0 μm), indicating its excellent infrared stealth performance for day-/nighttime outdoor environments. Moreover, the film demonstrates efficient electrothermal performance, including a high saturated temperature (over 120 °C at 1.0 V), a high heating rate (4.4 °C s⁻¹ at 1.0 V), and a stable and uniform heating distribution. Therefore, this work provides a promising strategy for protecting equipment from multispectral electromagnetic interference and inhibiting infrared detection.

Highlights:
1 A highly aligned and compact MXene film for ultra‑broadband and ultra-high electromagnetic interference shielding was fabricated by continuous centrifugal spraying strategy.
2 The film exhibits an exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of 45 dB, specific shielding effectiveness of 1.545 × 10⁶ dB cm² g^⁻1 in gigahertz band (8.2–40 GHz), and EMI SE of 59 dB in terahertz band (0.2–1.6 THz).
3 The film exhibits an ultra-low infrared emissivity of 0.1 in the infrared band (2.5–16.0 μm) and an efficient electrothermal performance.

A Janus Smart Window for Temperature-Adaptive Radiative Cooling and Adjustable Solar Transmittance

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The advancement of sophisticated smart windows exhibiting superior thermoregulation capabilities in both solar spectrum and long-wave infrared range maintains a prominent objective for researchers in this field. In this study, a Janus window is proposed and prepared based on polymer-stabilized liquid–crystal films/thermochromic materials. It can achieve switchable front long-wave infrared emissivity (ε_Front) and solar modulation ability (ΔT_sol) through dynamic flipping, making it suitable for different seasonal energy-saving requirements. Outdoor experiments show that under daytime illumination, the indoor temperature decreases by 8 °C, and the nighttime temperature drops by 5 °C. MATLAB simulation calculations indicate that the daytime cooling power is 93 W m⁻², while the nighttime cooling power reaches 142 W m⁻². Interestingly, by modifying the conductive layer, it can effectively shield electromagnetic radiation (within the X-band frequency range (8.2–12.4) GHz). Energy simulation reveals the substantial superiority of this device in energy savings compared with single-layer polymer-stabilized liquid crystal, poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide), and normal glass when applied in different climate zones. This research presents a compelling opportunity for the development of sophisticated smart windows characterized by exceptional thermoregulation capabilities.

Highlights:
1 Using polymer-stabilized liquid crystal as the active control layer and KCWO-PNIPAM (KPP) as the passive control layer, a KPP smart window was constructed, successfully achieving dual electro-thermal collaborative control.
2 The window can adjust incident light across three bands: visible light, near-infrared light, and mid-far infrared light (especially 8–13 µm).
3 Combination of active and passive control to meet the diverse weather conditions.

Bi-Layered, Ultrathin Coating Initiated Relay Response to Impart Superior Fire Resistance for Polymeric and Metallic Substrates

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Developing high-efficient flame-retardant coatings is crucial for fire safety polymer and battery fields. Traditional intumescent coatings and ceramifiable coatings struggle to provide immediate and prolonged protection simultaneously, which limits the applicability. To address this, an innovative bi-layered coating with organic/nano-inorganic additives is inspired by differential response behaviors, enabling relay response effect with both fast-acting and extended protection. Specifically, two layers function continuously in the form of a relay. With a mere 320 microns, the bi-layered coating withstands fire temperatures of up to 1400 °C for at least 900 s. Consequently, the coating effective prevented burn through in aluminum plates and glass fabric-reinforced epoxy resin, which otherwise were burned through in 135 and 173 s, respectively. Meanwhile, the bi-layered coating suppressed the formation and decomposition of solid interface layer in lithium soft-package batteries, leading to prolonged electrochemical stability and fire safety. Additionally, the bi-layered coating with a fast response endows polyurethane foam with rapid self-extinguishing, preventing ignition even under exposure to strong fire of 1400 °C. Shortly, our work offers new insights into the design and development of thin, high-performance, and multi-application flame-retardant coatings.

Highlights:
1 Relay response of bi-layered coating achieved fast response and extended protection.
2 320-µm coating achieved over 900 s of burn-through resistance.
3 320-µm coating achieved extended electrochemical stability for battery under fire.

A Flexible Dual-Mode Photodetector for Human–Machine Collaborative IR Imaging

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Photothermoelectric (PTE) photodetectors with self-powered and uncooled advantages have attracted much interest due to the wide application prospects in the military and civilian fields. However, traditional PTE photodetectors lack of mechanical flexibility and cannot operate independently without the test instrument. Herein, we present a flexible PTE photodetector capable of dual-mode output, combining electrical and optical signal generation for enhanced functionality. Using solution processing, high-quality MXene thin films are assembled on asymmetric electrodes as the photosensitive layer. The geometrically asymmetric electrode design significantly enhances the responsivity, achieving 0.33 mA W⁻¹ under infrared illumination, twice that of the symmetrical configuration. This improvement stems from optimized photothermal conversion and an expanded temperature gradient. The PTE device maintains stable performance after 300 bending cycles, demonstrating excellent flexibility. A new energy conversion pathway has been established by coupling the photothermal conversion of MXene with thermochromic composite materials, leading to a real-time visualization of invisible infrared radiation. Leveraging this functionality, we demonstrate the first human–machine collaborative infrared imaging system, wherein the dual-mode photodetector arrays synchronously generate human-readable pattern and machine-readable pattern. Our study not only provides a new solution for functional integration of flexible photodetectors, but also sets a new benchmark for human–machine collaborative optoelectronics.

Highlights:
1 An optical/electric dual-mode photodetector array for human–machine collaborative infrared imaging was demonstrated.
2 The responsivity of the photothermoelectric photodetector was improved by the geometrically asymmetric electrodes.
3 Coupling the photothermal conversion of MXene with thermochromic composites enabled a direct visualization of invisible infrared radiation.

Shadow-Assisted Sidewall Emission for Achieving Submicron Linewidth Light Source by Using Normal UV Photolithography

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Micro light sources are crucial tools for studying the interactions between light and matter at the micro/nanoscale, encompassing diverse applications across multiple disciplines. Despite numerous studies on reducing the size of micro light sources and enhancing optical resolution, the efficient and simple fabrication of ultra-high-resolution micro light sources remains challenging due to its reliance on precise micro-nano processing technology and advanced processing equipment. In this study, a simple approach for the efficient fabrication of submicron light sources is proposed, namely shadow-assisted sidewall emission (SASE) technology. The SASE utilizes the widely adopted UV photolithography process, employing metal shadow modulation to precisely control the emission of light from polymer sidewalls, thereby obtaining photoluminescent light sources with submicron line widths. The SASE eliminates the need for complex and cumbersome manufacturing procedures. The effects of process parameters, including exposure dose, development time, and metal film thickness, on the linewidth of sources are investigated on detail. It is successfully demonstrated red, green, and blue submicron light sources. Finally, their potential application in the field of optical anti-counterfeiting is also demonstrated. We believe that the SASE proposed in this work provides a novel approach for the preparation and application of micro light sources.

Highlights:
1 The submicron light sources are realized only by the normal UV photolithography process, enabling the realization of submicron light sources with arbitrary patterns.
2 A novel and efficient method for the fabrication of submicron light sources is proposed, termed shadow-assisted sidewall emission.
3 The submicron light source fabricated by the shadow-assisted sidewall emission exhibits strong scalability and has been proved to be applicable in optical anti-counterfeiting.

Transformative Effect of Li Salt for Proactively Mitigating Interfacial Side Reactions in Sodium-Ion Batteries

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The robust respective formations of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and pillar at the surfaces of hard carbon and O3-type positive electrodes are the consequences of integrating LiPF₆ salt into a sodium-ion battery electrolyte that considerably strengthens both interfaces of positive and negative electrodes. The improvement of cycle performances due to the formation of highly passivating SEI on the hard carbon electrode is induced by the alternated solvation structure following the addition of Li salt, which inhibits sodium-ion and electron leakage from further electrolyte decomposition. The SEI with incorporated Li is less soluble than Na-based SEI, and the passivation ability of the initially formed SEI can thus be well preserved. Conversely, the gas evolution caused by oxygen release is reduced considerably by the marginal surface intercalation of Li ions at the surface of the O3-positive electrode. Additionally, the LiF layer that forms on the O3 surface diminishes additional deterioration of the electrolyte after formation. Compared with the fluoroethylene carbonate additive that is typically applied, a simultaneously strengthened interface yields major improvements in capacity retention.

Highlights:
1 LiPF₆ integration into sodium-ion battery electrolytes strengthens solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film and stabilizes O3 electrode surfaces, enhancing cycleability with 92.7% at 400 cycles.
2 Li-based SEI exhibits reduced solubility, effectively suppressing sodium-ion and electron leakage, and mitigating electrolyte decomposition on hard carbon electrode.
3 The formation of Li-ion pillars on O3-type electrode surfaces significantly reduces oxygen release and electrolyte degradation, resulting in improved capacity retention.

Tailoring Artificial Solid Electrolyte Interphase via MoS2 Sacrificial Thin Film for Li-Free All-Solid-State Batteries

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Anode-free all-solid-state batteries (AFASSBs) are potential candidates for next-generation electric mobility devices that offer superior energy density and stability by eliminating Li from the anode. However, despite its potential to stabilize the interface between sulfide solid electrolytes (SEs) and anode-free current collectors (CCs) efficiently, a controllable approach to incorporating MoS₂ into AFASSBs has not yet been found. Herein, we propose a strategy for stabilizing the interface of Li-free all-solid-state batteries using controllable MoS₂ sacrificial thin films. MoS₂ was controllably grown on CCs by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition, and the MoS₂ sacrificial layer in contact with the SEs formed an interlayer composed of Mo metal and Li₂S through a conversion reaction. In the AFASSBs with MoS₂, Mo significantly reduces the nucleation overpotential of Li, which results in uniform Li plating. In addition, MoS₂-based Li₂S facilitates the formation of a uniform and robust SE interface, thereby enhancing the stability of AFASSBs. Based on these advantages, cells fabricated with MoS₂ exhibited better performance as both asymmetrical and full cells with LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ cathodes than did cells without MoS₂. Moreover, the cell performance was affected by the MoS₂ size, and full cells having an optimal MoS₂ thickness demonstrated a 1.18-fold increase in the initial discharge capacity and a sevenfold improvement in capacity retention relative to SUS CCs. This study offers a promising path for exploiting the full potential of MoS₂ for interface stabilization and efficient AFASSB applications.

Highlights:
1 We present the first-ever fabrication of the anode-free all-solid-state battery (AFASSB) structure using a MoS₂ sacrificial layer.
2 The addition of an MoS₂ sacrificial layer to AFASSBs could decrease the nucleation overpotential of Li and enable favorable Li formation at the interface owing to the formation of an interlayer comprising Li₂S and Mo metal.
3 The AFASSB full cell assembled with LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ cathodes operated successfully, demonstrating superior cycling stability and enhanced capacity relative to the cells with SUS.

BiOCl Atomic Layers with Electrons Enriched Active Sites Exposed for Efficient Photocatalytic CO2 Overall Splitting

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Given the limited exposure of active sites and the retarded separation of photogenerated charge carriers in those developed photocatalysts, photocatalytic CO₂ splitting into value-added chemicals has suffered from the poor activity and remained in great challenge for real application. Herein, hydrothermally synthesized BiOCl with layered structure (BOCNSs) was exfoliated into thickness reduced nanosheets (BOCNSs-w) and even atomic layers (BOCNSs-i) via ultrasonication in water and isopropanol, respectively. In comparison with the pristine BOCNSs, the exfoliated BiOCl, especially BOCNSs-i with atomically layered structure, exhibits much improved photocatalytic activity for CO₂ overall splitting to produce CO and O₂ at a stoichiometric ratio of 2:1, with CO evolution rate reaching 134.8 µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under simulated solar light (1.7 suns). By surpassing the photocatalytic performances of the state-of-the-art Bi_lO_mX_n (X: Cl, Br, I) based photocatalysts, the CO evolution rate is further increased by 99 times, reaching 13.3 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under concentrated solar irradiation (34 suns). This excellent photocatalytic performance achieved over BOCNSs-i should be benefited from the shortened transfer distance and the increased built-in electric field intensity, which accelerates the migration of photogenerated charge carriers to surface. Moreover, with oxygen vacancies (V_O) introduced into the atomic layers, BOCNSs-i is exposed with the electrons enriched Bi active sites that could transfer electrons to activate CO₂ molecules for highly efficient and selective CO production, by lowering the energy barrier of rate-determining step (RDS), *OH + *CO₂⁻ → HCO₃⁻. It is also realized that the H₂O vapor supplied during photocatalytic reaction would exchange oxygen atoms with CO₂, which could alter the reaction pathways and further reduce the energy barrier of RDS, contributing to the dramatically improved photocatalytic performance for CO₂ overall splitting to CO and O₂.

Highlights:
1 BiOCl atomic layers (BOCNSs-i) were prepared by exfoliating hydrothermally synthesized BiOCl (BOCNSs) via ultrasonication in isopropanol for efficient photocatalytic CO₂ overall splitting to CO and O₂.
2 The obtained BOCNSs-i photocatalyst exhibits a distinctly improved photocatalytic performance to stoichiometrically produce CO and O₂ at the ratio of 2:1, with the CO evolution rate reaching 134.8 µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under simulated solar light (1.7 suns) and reaching 13.3 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under concentrated solar irradiation (34 suns).
3 With the thickness of BiOCl photocatalyst reducing to atomic layers, the charge carrier transfer and separation were enhanced by shortened transfer distance and the increased built-in electric field intensity, and electrons enriched Bi sites were exposed for activating CO₂ molecules.

Multifunctional and Scalable Nanoparticles for Bimodal Image-Guided Phototherapy in Bladder Cancer Treatment

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Rational design of multifunctional nanoplatforms capable of combining therapeutic effects with real-time monitoring of drug distribution and tumor status is emerging as a promising approach in cancer nanomedicine. Here, we introduce pyropheophorbide a–bisaminoquinoline conjugate lipid nanoparticles (PPBC LNPs) as a bimodal system for image-guided phototherapy in bladder cancer treatment. PPBC LNPs not only demonstrate both powerful photodynamic and photothermal effects upon light activation, but also exhibit potent autophagy blockage, effectively inducing bladder cancer cell death. Furthermore, PPBC LNPs possess remarkable photoacoustic (PA) and fluorescence (FL) imaging capabilities, enabling imaging with high-resolution, deep tissue penetration and high sensitivity for tracking drug biodistribution and phototherapy efficacy. Specifically, PA imaging confirms the efficient accumulation of PPBC LNPs within tumor and predicts therapeutic outcomes of photodynamic therapy, while FL imaging confirms their prolonged retention at the tumor site for up to 6 days. PPBC LNPs significantly suppress bladder tumor growth, with several tumors completely ablated following just two doses of the nanoparticles and laser treatment. Additionally, PPBC LNPs were formulated with lipid-based excipients and assembled using microfluidic technology to enhance biocompatibility, stability, and scalability, showing potential for clinical translation. This versatile nanoparticle represents a promising candidate for further development in bladder cancer therapy.

Highlights:
1 Pyropheophorbide a–bisaminoquinoline conjugate lipid nanoparticles (PPBC LNPs), formulated with lipid-based excipients and assembled using microfluidics, exhibit excellent biocompatibility and stability, indicating promise for clinical applications.
2 PPBC LNPs possess remarkable photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging capabilities, enabling high-resolution, deep tissue penetration and high sensitivity imaging for tracking drug biodistribution and phototherapy efficacy.

Joule Heating-Driven sp2-C Domains Modulation in Biomass Carbon for High-Performance Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysis

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Natural biomass-derived carbon material is one promising alternative to traditional graphene-based catalyst for oxygen electrocatalysis. However, their electrocatalytic performance were constrained by the limited modulating strategy. Herein, using N-doped commercial coconut shell-derived activated carbon (AC) as catalyst model, the controllably enhanced sp²-C domains, through an flash Joule heating process, effectively improve the edge defect density and overall graphitization degree of AC catalyst, which tunes the electronic structure of N configurations and accelerates electron transfer, leading to excellent oxygen reduction reaction performance (half-wave potential of 0.884 V_RHE, equivalent to commercial 20% Pt/C, with a higher kinetic current density of 5.88 mA cm⁻²) and oxygen evolution reaction activity (overpotential of 295 mV at 10 mA cm²). In a Zn-air battery, the catalyst shows outstanding cycle stability (over 1200 h) and a peak power density of 121 mW cm⁻², surpassing commercial Pt/C and RuO₂ catalysts. Density functional theory simulation reveals that the enhanced catalytic activity arises from the axial regulation of local sp²-C domains. This work establishes a robust strategy for sp²-C domain modulation, offering broad applicability in natural biomass-based carbon catalysts for electrocatalysis.

Highlights:
1 The flash Joule heating controllably enhanced sp²-domains content in various N-doped natural biomass-based carbon.
2 The axial modulation of sp²-C domains decreased the charge density of pyridinic N and graphitic N configurations resulting into outstanding oxygen electrocatalysis.
3 The assembled Zn-air battery with optimized catalyst achieved an over 1200-h cycle stability with the peak power density of 121 mW cm⁻², exceeding the commercial Pt/C + RuO₂ catalysts.

Single-Crystal Diamond Nanowires Embedded with Platinum Nanoparticles for High-Temperature Solar-Blind Photodetector

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Diamond, an ultrawide-bandgap semiconductor material, is promising for solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors in extreme environments. However, when exposed to high-temperature conditions, diamond photodetector surfaces are unavoidably terminated with oxygen, leading to low photoresponsivity. To address this limitation, single-crystalline diamond nanowires (DNWs) embedded with platinum (Pt) nanoparticles were developed using Pt film deposition followed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) homoepitaxial growth. During the CVD, Pt nanoparticles (approximately 20 nm in diameter) undergo dewetting and become uniformly embedded within the single-crystalline DNWs. Photodetectors fabricated with these Pt nanoparticles-embedded DNWs achieve a responsivity of 68.5 A W⁻¹ under 220 nm illumination at room temperature, representing an improvement of approximately 2000 times compared to oxygen-terminated bulk diamond devices. Notably, the responsivity further increases with temperature, reaching an exceptional value of 3098.7 A W⁻¹ at 275 °C. This outstanding performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of the one-dimensional nanowire structure, deep-level defects, the localized surface plasmon resonance effects induced by embedded Pt nanoparticles, and localized Schottky junctions at the Pt/diamond interface, which enhance optical absorption, carrier generation, and separation efficiency. These results highlight the significant potential of Pt nanoparticles-embedded DNWs for advanced deep ultraviolet detection in harsh environments, including aerospace, industrial monitoring, and other applications.

Highlights:
1 Single-crystalline diamond nanowires embedded with platinum nanoparticles were fabricated for high-temperature solar-blind photodetection.
2 At room temperature, the photodetector's responsivity represents a 2000-fold enhancement compared to bulk diamond. At 275 °C, the device demonstrates a responsivity of 3098.7 A W^-1, while maintaining excellent spectral selectivity.
3 Multiple factors synergistically enhance performance, including one-dimensional carrier transport channels, deep-level defects, localized surface plasmon resonance effect, and localized Schottky junctions.

Cost Effectivities Analysis of Perovskite Solar Cells: Will it Outperform Crystalline Silicon Ones?

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The commercialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has garnered worldwide attention and many efforts were devoted on the improvement of efficiency and stability. Here, we estimated the cost effectivities of PSCs based on the current industrial condition. Through the analysis of current process, the manufacturing cost and the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of PSCs is estimated as 0.57 $ W⁻¹ and 18–22 US cents (kWh)⁻¹, respectively, and we demonstrate the materials cost shares 70% of the total cost. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the improvement of efficiency, yield and decrease in materials cost significantly reduce the cost of the modules. Analysis of the module cost and LCOE indicates that the PSCs have the potential to outperform the silicon solar cells in the condition of over 25% efficiency and 25-year lifetime in future. To achieve this target, it is essential to further refine the fabrication processes of each layer in the module, develop stable inorganic transport materials, and precisely control material formation and processing at the microscale and nanoscale to enhance charge transport.

Highlights:
1 Current manufacturing cost of perovskite solar modules is calculated as 0.57 $ W⁻¹ much higher than that of the silicon solar cells.
2 Cost Effectivities analysis indicates that materials cost shares 70% of costs, and capital cost and other cost share nearly 15%, respectively.
3 The cost of perovskite solar modules has the potential to outperform crystalline silicon under conditions of 25% efficiency, lifetime of 25 years, and cost reduction of materials and equipment, etc.

100% Conversion of CO2–CH4 with Non-Precious Co@ZnO Catalyst in Hot Water

Yang Yang, Xu Liu, Daoping He, Fangming Jin — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The combination of solar energy and natural hydrothermal systems will innovate the chemistry of CO₂ hydrogenation; however, the approach remains challenging due to the lack of robust and cost-effective catalytic system. Here, Zn which can be recycled with solar energy-induced approach was chosen as the reductant and Co as catalyst to achieve robust hydrothermal CO₂ methanation. Nanosheets of honeycomb ZnO were grown in situ on the Co surface, resulting in a new motif (Co@ZnO catalyst) that inhibits Co deactivation through ZnO-assisted CoO_x reduction. The stabilized Co and interaction between Co and ZnO functioned collaboratively toward the full conversion of CO₂–CH₄. In situ hydrothermal infrared spectroscopy confirmed the formation of formic acid as an intermediate, thereby avoiding CO formation and unwanted side reaction pathways. This study presents a straightforward one-step process for both highly efficient CO₂ conversion and catalyst synthesis, paving the way for solar-driven CO₂ methanation.

Highlights:
1 The combination of solar energy and underground hydrothermal environment supports the sustained and efficient CH₄ production from CO₂.
2 Nanosheets of honeycomb ZnO were formed in-situ on the Co surface, resulting in a new motif (Co@ZnO catalyst) that inhibits Co deactivation through ZnO-assisted CoOx reduction.
3 The stabilized Co and interaction between Co and ZnO inhibited unwanted side reaction pathways via CO production, ensuring formic acid formed as an intermediate, leading to 100% CH₄ yield.

Intelligent Point-of-Care Biosensing Platform Based on Luminescent Nanoparticles and Microfluidic Biochip with Machine Vision Algorithm Analysis

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Realizing the point-of-care tumor markers biodetection with good convenience and high sensitivity possesses great significance for prompting cancer monitoring and screening in biomedical study field. Herein, the quantum dots luminescence and microfluidic biochip with machine vision algorithm-based intelligent biosensing platform have been designed and manufactured for point-of-care tumor markers diagnostics. The employed quantum dots with excellent photoluminescent performance are modified with specific antibody as the optical labeling agents for the designed sandwich structure immunoassay. The corresponding biosensing investigations of the designed biodetection platform illustrate several advantages involving high sensitivity (~ 0.021 ng mL⁻¹), outstanding accessibility, and great integrability. Moreover, related test results of human-sourced artificial saliva samples demonstrate better detection capabilities compared with commercially utilized rapid test strips. Combining these infusive abilities, our elaborate biosensing platform is expected to exhibit potential applications for the future point-of-care tumor markers diagnostic area.

Highlights:
1 A novel intelligent biosensing platform consisting of quantum dots luminescence and biochip with machine vision algorithm is proposed for point-of-care carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) protein diagnostics.
2 The designed diagnostic platform possesses outstanding detection limitation of approximately 0.021 ng mL⁻¹ of CEA concentration compared with some commercial biodetection devices of lateral flow assay strips.
3 The utilization of machine vision algorithm improves the detection features of portability and integration, which expands the potential of point-of-care biosensing applications.

Muscle-Inspired Anisotropic Aramid Nanofibers Aerogel Exhibiting High-Efficiency Thermoelectric Conversion and Precise Temperature Monitoring for Firefighting Clothing

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Enhancing the firefighting protective clothing with exceptional thermal barrier and temperature sensing functions to ensure high fire safety for firefighters has long been anticipated, but it remains a major challenge. Herein, inspired by the human muscle, an anisotropic fire safety aerogel (ACMCA) with precise self-actuated temperature monitoring performance is developed by combining aramid nanofibers with eicosane/MXene to form an anisotropically oriented conductive network. By combining the two synergies of the negative temperature-dependent thermal conductive eicosane, which induces a high-temperature differential, and directionally ordered MXene that establishes a conductive network along the directional freezing direction. The resultant ACMCA exhibited remarkable thermoelectric properties, with S values reaching 46.78 μV K⁻¹ and κ values as low as 0.048 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at room temperature. Moreover, the prepared anisotropic aerogel ACMCA exhibited electrical responsiveness to temperature variations, facilitating its application in intelligent temperature monitoring systems. The designed anisotropic aerogel ACMCA could be incorporated into the firefighting clothing as a thermal barrier layer, demonstrating a wide temperature sensing range (50–400 °C) and a rapid response time for early high-temperature alerts (~ 1.43 s). This work provides novel insights into the design and application of temperature-sensitive anisotropic aramid nanofibers aerogel in firefighting clothing.

Highlights:
1 Muscle-inspired anisotropic aramid nanofibers thermoelectric aerogel was prepared via directional freeze-drying strategy.
2 Resultant anisotropic aerogel exhibited high-efficiency thermoelectric conversion with Seebeck coefficient of 46.78 μV K⁻¹ and low thermal conductivity of 0.048 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹.
3 Thermoelectric aerogel-based multistage wireless high-temperature alarm system achieves a wide temperature sensing range (50–400 °C) and sensitivity response time (trigger time ~ 1.43 s) for firefighting clothing.

Pulse-Charging Energy Storage for Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Frequency Modulation

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Energy harvesting storage hybrid devices have garnered considerable attention as self-rechargeable power sources for wireless and ubiquitous electronics. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), a common type of energy harvester, generate alternating current-based, irregular short pulses, posing a challenge for storing the generated electrical energy in energy storage systems that typically operate with direct current (DC)-based low-frequency response. In this study, we propose a new strategy that leverages high-frequency response to develop efficient chargeable TENG–supercapacitor (SC) hybrid devices. A high-frequency SC was fabricated using hollow-structured MXene electrode materials, resulting in a twofold increase in the charging efficiency of the hybrid device compared to a control SC made with conventional carbon electrode materials. For a systematic understanding, the electrochemical interplay between the TENGs and SCs was investigated as a function of the frequency characteristics of SCs (f_SC) and the output pulse duration of TENGs (Δt_TENG). Increasing the f_SC·Δt_TENG enhanced the charging efficiency of the TENG–SC hybrid devices. This study highlights the importance of frequency response design in developing efficient chargeable TENG–SC hybrid devices.

Highlights:
1 A system-level strategy is presented to achieve high charging efficiency in triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)-supercapacitor (SC) hybrid devices, with a focus on frequency response design.
2 This study reveals that the high-frequency characteristics of SCs and the prolonged output pulse duration of TENGs are critical for achieving high charging efficiency.
3 A three-dimensional hollow-structured MXene is synthesized as a high-frequency SC electrode material, demonstrating a twofold increase in charging efficiency compared to conventional SCs.

Highly Permeable and Liquid-Repellent Textiles with Micro-Nano-Networks for Medical and Health Protection

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Current protective clothing often lacks sufficient comfort to ensure efficient performance of healthcare workers. Developing protective textiles with high air and moisture permeability is a potential and effective solution to discomfort of medical protective clothing. However, realizing the facile production of a protective textile that combines safety and comfort remains a challenge. Herein, we report the fabrication of highly permeable protective textiles (HPPT) with micro/nano-networks, using non-solvent induced phase separation synergistically driven by CaCl₂ and fluorinated polyurethane, combined with spraying technique. The HPPT demonstrates excellent liquid repellency and comfort, ensuring high safety and a dry microenvironment for the wearer. The textile exhibits not only a high hydrostatic pressure (12.86 kPa) due to its tailored small mean pore size (1.03 μm) and chemical composition, but also demonstrates excellent air permeability (14.24 mm s⁻¹) and moisture permeability (7.92 kg m⁻² d⁻¹) owing to the rational combination of small pore size and high porosity (69%). The HPPT offers superior comfort compared to the commercially available protective materials. Additionally, we elucidated a molding mechanism synergistically inducted by diffusion–dissolution-phase separation. This research provides an innovative perspective on enhancing the comfort of medical protective clothing and offers theoretical support for regulating of pore structure during phase separations.

Highlights:
1 Highly permeable protective textiles (HPPT) with micro/nano-networks were fabricated using a non-solvent induced phase separation, synergistically driven by CaCl₂ and fluorinated polyurethane, combined with spraying technique.
2 The optimized HPPT exhibited excellent liquid repellency and air-moisture permeability properties due to the integration and cooperative drive of the low surface energy and the pore structure of the connectivity network, which can be used as desirable protective materials.
3 The formation mechanism of micro/nano-network structure was analyzed by molecular dynamics and observed by dynamic phase transition behavior, which numerically combined with theory illustrate the phase transition mechanism of HPPT.

Correction: NH4+-Modulated Cathodic Interfacial Spatial Charge Redistribution for High-Performance Dual-Ion Capacitors

Yumin Chen, Ziyang Song, Yaokang Lv, Lihua Gan, Mingxian Liu — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Compared with Zn²⁺, the current mainly reported charge carrier for zinc hybrid capacitors, small-hydrated-sized and light-weight NH₄⁺ is expected as a better one to mediate cathodic interfacial electrochemical behaviors, yet has not been unraveled. Here we propose an NH₄⁺-modulated cationic solvation strategy to optimize cathodic spatial charge distribution and achieve dynamic Zn²⁺/NH₄⁺ co-storage for boosting Zinc hybrid capacitors. Owing to the hierarchical cationic solvated structure in hybrid Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂–NH₄CF₃SO₃ electrolyte, high-reactive Zn²⁺ and small-hydrate-sized NH₄(H₂O)₄⁺ induce cathodic interfacial Helmholtz plane reconfiguration, thus effectively enhancing the spatial charge density to activate 20% capacity enhancement. Furthermore, cathodic interfacial adsorbed hydrated NH₄⁺ ions afford high-kinetics and ultrastable C‧‧‧H (NH₄⁺) charge storage process due to a much lower desolvation energy barrier compared with heavy and rigid Zn(H₂O)₆²⁺ (5.81 vs. 14.90 eV). Consequently, physical uptake and multielectron redox of Zn²⁺/NH₄⁺ in carbon cathode enable the zinc capacitor to deliver high capacity (240 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹), large-current tolerance (130 mAh g⁻¹ at 50 A g⁻¹) and ultralong lifespan (400,000 cycles). This study gives new insights into the design of cathode–electrolyte interfaces toward advanced zinc-based energy storage.

Highlights:
1 Hierarchical Zn²⁺/NH⁴⁺ solvation structure induces cathodic interfacial Helmholtz plane reconfiguration to enhance spatial charge density and capacity storage.
2 Hydrated NH⁴⁺ ions afford high-kinetics and ultrastable C‧‧‧H charge storage due to a much lower desolvation energy barrier compared with large-sized Zn(H₂O)₆²⁺ (5.81 vs. 14.90 eV).
3 Interfacial Zn²⁺/NH⁴⁺ co-storage endow the hybrid capacitor with high capacity (240 mAh g⁻¹), large-current tolerance (50 A g⁻¹) and ultralong lifespan (400,000 cycles).

Achieving 20% Toluene-Processed Binary Organic Solar Cells via Secondary Regulation of Donor Aggregation in Sequential Processing

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Sequential processing (SqP) of the active layer offers independent optimization of the donor and acceptor with more targeted solvent design, which is considered the most promising strategy for achieving efficient organic solar cells (OSCs). In the SqP method, the favorable interpenetrating network seriously depends on the fine control of the bottom layer swelling. However, the choice of solvent(s) for both the donor and acceptor have been mostly based on a trial-and-error manner. A single solvent often cannot achieve sufficient yet not excessive swelling, which has long been a difficulty in the high efficient SqP OSCs. Herein, two new isomeric molecules are introduced to fine-tune the nucleation and crystallization dynamics that allows judicious control over the swelling of the bottom layer. The strong non-covalent interaction between the isomeric molecule and active materials provides an excellent driving force for optimize the swelling-process. Among them, the molecule with high dipole moment promotes earlier nucleation of the PM6 and provides extended time for crystallization during SqP, improving bulk morphology and vertical phase segregation. As a result, champion efficiencies of 17.38% and 20.00% (certified 19.70%) are achieved based on PM6/PYF-T-o (all-polymer) and PM6/BTP-eC9 devices casted by toluene solvent.

Highlights:
1 Isomeric molecules are introduced to fine-tune the secondary nucleation process of the donor underlayer.
2 Binary organic solar cell processed with non-halogen solvent shows a champion efficiency of 20.0% (certified 19.7%).
3 Mechanism of the film formation processes and the sequential processing community about solvent design rules are proposed.

Boosting Sensitivity of Cellulose Pressure Sensor via Hierarchically Porous Structure

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Pressure sensors are essential for a wide range of applications, including health monitoring, industrial diagnostics, etc. However, achieving both high sensitivity and mechanical ability to withstand high pressure in a single material remains a significant challenge. This study introduces a high-performance cellulose hydrogel inspired by the biomimetic layered porous structure of human skin. The hydrogel features a novel design composed of a soft layer with large macropores and a hard layer with small micropores, each of which contribute uniquely to its pressure-sensing capabilities. The macropores in the soft part facilitate significant deformation and charge accumulation, providing exceptional sensitivity to low pressures. In contrast, the microporous structure in the hard part enhances pressure range, ensuring support under high pressures and preventing structural failure. The performance of hydrogel is further optimized through ion introduction, which improves its conductivity, and as well the sensitivity. The sensor demonstrated a high sensitivity of 1622 kPa⁻¹, a detection range up to 160 kPa, excellent conductivity of 4.01 S m⁻¹, rapid response time of 33 ms, and a low detection limit of 1.6 Pa, outperforming most existing cellulose-based sensors. This innovative hierarchically porous architecture not only enhances the pressure-sensing performance but also offers a simple and effective approach for utilizing natural polymers in sensing technologies. The cellulose hydrogel demonstrates significant potential in both health monitoring and industrial applications, providing a sensitive, durable, and versatile solution for pressure sensing.

Highlights:
1 The study introduces a high-performance cellulose hydrogel (HPCH) with a biomimetic layered porous structure inspired by human skin, combining a soft layer with large macropores and a hard layer with small micropores. This unique design enhances both sensitivity and mechanical performance in pressure-sensing applications.
2 The HPCH sensor demonstrates exceptional pressure sensitivity of 1622 kPa^⁻1, a wide detection range of up to 160 kPa, and excellent conductivity of 4.01 S m⁻¹. Ion immersion further optimizes the hydrogel’s conductivity and dielectric properties, offering superior performance compared to existing cellulose-based sensors.
3 The sensor’s outstanding performance in health monitoring, industrial diagnostics, and pressure distribution detection positions it as a versatile, durable, and highly sensitive solution for various pressure-sensing applications, providing a promising path for natural polymer-based sensing technologies.

An Ultra-Thin Wearable Thermoelectric Paster Based on Structured Organic Ion Gel Electrolyte

Zhijian Du, La Li, Guozhen Shen — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thermoelectric technology that utilizes thermodynamic effects to convert thermal energy into electrical energy has greatly expanded wearable health monitoring, personalized detecting, and communicating applications. Encouragingly, thermoelectric technology assisted by artificial intelligence exerts great development potential in wearable electronic devices that rely on the self-sustainable operation of human body heat. Ionic thermoelectric (i-TE) devices that possess high Seebeck coefficients and a constant and stable electrical output are expected to achieve an effective conversation of thermal energy harvesting. Herein, we developed an i-TE paster for thermal chargeable energy storage, temperature-triggered material recognition, contact/non-contact temperature detection, and photo thermoelectric conversion applications. An all-solid-state organic ionic gel electrolyte (PVDF-HFP-PEO gel) with onion epidermal cells-like structure was sandwiched between two electrodes, which take full advantage of a synergy between the Soret effect and the polymer thermal expansion effect, thus achieving the enhanced ZT value up to 900% compared with the PEO-free electrolyte. The i-TE device delivers a Seebeck coefficient of 28 mV K⁻¹, a maximum energy conversion efficiency of 1.3% in performance, and ultra-thin and skin-attachable properties in wearability, which demonstrate the great potential and application prospect of the i-TE paster in self-sustainable wearable electronics.

Highlights:
1 All-solid-state organic ion gel electrolyte with superior thermal tolerance capability and environmental stability can well penetrate into the electrodes of thermoelectric paster to ensure an excellent interfacial contact.
2 Inspired by the “onion epidermal cells” structure, the organic ion gel electrolyte supported by a porous polymer skeleton offers a considerable ZT figure according to the thermal expansion effect.
3 Considering the compatibility between electrode and electrolyte, an ultrathin and skin-attachable i-TE paster was assembled to acquire a satisfactory Seebeck coefficient and used in various applications.

Engineering Bipolar Doping in a Janus Dual-Atom Catalyst for Photo-Enhanced Rechargeable Zn-Air Battery

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Harnessing solar energy to enhance the rechargeable zinc–air batteries (RZABs) performance is a promising avenue toward sustainable energy storage and conversion. Simultaneously enhancing light-absorption capacity and carrier separation efficiency in nanomaterials, as well as improving electrical conductivity and configuration for electrocatalysis, presents a formidable challenge due to inherent trade-offs and interdependencies. Here, we have developed a Janus dual-atom catalyst (JDAC) with bifunctional centers for efficient charge separation and electrocatalytic performance through a bipolar doping strategy. The in situ X-ray absorption near-edge structure and Raman spectroscopy analyses demonstrated that the Ni and Fe centers in JDAC not only function as effective sites for oxygen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction, respectively, but also serve as efficient hole and electron enrichment sites, effectively suppressing photoelectron recombination while enhancing photocurrent generation. As a result, the assembled JDAC-based light-assisted RZABs exhibited extraordinary stability at large current densities. This work delivers pivotal insight to design Janus dual-atom catalysts that efficiently convert solar energy into electric and chemical energy.

Highlights:
1 Janus dual-atom catalyst (JDAC) with bifunctional centers was synthesized via a single-step bipolar doping strategy to promote efficient charge separation and superior electrocatalytic performance.
2 The in situ X-ray absorption near-edge structure and Raman spectroscopy analyses demonstrated that Ni and Fe centers in JDAC function as effective sites for oxygen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction, and effectively suppress photoelectron recombination while enhancing photocurrent generation.
3 The assembled JDAC-based light-assisted rechargeable zinc–air batteries exhibited extraordinary stability at large current densities (300 cycles at 50 mA cm⁻², and 6000 cycles at 10 mA cm⁻² under light illumination).

Cationic Adsorption-Induced Microlevelling Effect: A Pathway to Dendrite-Free Zinc Anodes

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Dendrite growth represents one of the most significant challenges that impede the development of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Herein, Gd³⁺ ions are introduced into conventional electrolytes as a microlevelling agent to achieve dendrite-free zinc electrodeposition. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that these Gd³⁺ ions are preferentially adsorbed onto the zinc surface, which enables dendrite-free zinc anodes by activating the microlevelling effect during electrodeposition. In addition, the Gd³⁺ additives effectively inhibit side reactions and facilitate the desolvation of [Zn(H₂O)₆]²⁺, leading to highly reversible zinc plating/stripping. Due to these improvements, the zinc anode demonstrates a significantly prolonged cycle life of 2100 h and achieves an exceptional average Coulombic efficiency of 99.72% over 1400 cycles. More importantly, the Zn//NH₄V₄O₁₀ full cell shows a high capacity retention rate of 85.6% after 1000 cycles. This work not only broadens the application of metallic cations in battery electrolytes but also provides fundamental insights into their working mechanisms.

Highlights:
1 A microlevelling agent containing Gd³⁺ ions significantly enhances the reversibility and stability of zinc anodes.
2 Gd³⁺ ions are preferentially adsorbed onto zinc surface, shielding zinc deposition at protrusions.
3 Adsorbed Gd³⁺ ions establish a water-poor electric double layer, suppressing side reactions at the interface.

Tunable Platform Capacity of Metal–Organic Frameworks via High-Entropy Strategy for Ultra-Fast Sodium Storage

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Precise regulation of the platform capacity/voltage of electrode materials contributes to the efficient operation of sodium-ion fast-charging devices. However, the design of such electrode materials is still in a blank stage. Herein, based on tunable metal–organic frameworks, we have designed a novel material system—two-dimensional high-entropy metal–organic frameworks (HE-MOFs), which exhibits unique properties in sodium storage and is of vital importance for realizing fast-charging batteries. Furthermore, we have found that the high-entropy effect can regulate the electronic structure, the sodium-ion migration environment, and the sodium-ion storage active sites, thereby meeting the requirements of electrode materials for sodium-ion fast-charging devices. Impressively, the HE-MOFs material still maintains a reversible specific capacity of 89 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 20 A g⁻¹. It presents an ideal sodium storage voltage plateau of approximately 0.5 V, and its platform capacity is increased to 122.7 mAh g⁻¹, far superior to that of Mn-MOFs (with no platform capacity). This helps to reduce safety hazards during the fast-charging process and demonstrates its great application value in the fields of fast-charging sodium-ion batteries and capacitors. Our research findings have broken the barriers to the application of non-conductive MOFs as energy storage materials, enhanced the understanding of the regulation of platform capacity and voltage, and paved the way for the realization of high-security sodium-ion fast-charging devices.

Highlights:
1 A novel high-entropy metal–organic frameworks (HE-MOFs) electrode for fast sodium-ion storage devices has been realized by introducing five metallic elements.
2 The platform capacity/voltage of the electrode materials are precisely regulated by the adjustable metal species/content of HE-MOFs.
3 The sodium-ion capacitors assembled based on high-entropy MOFs electrode exhibit high-power density (20,000 W kg^-1) and high-energy density (99.4 Wh kg^-1).

Catalysis-Induced Highly-Stable Interface on Porous Silicon for High-Rate Lithium-Ion Batteries

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Silicon stands as a key anode material in lithium-ion battery ascribing to its high energy density. Nevertheless, the poor rate performance and limited cycling life remain unresolved through conventional approaches that involve carbon composites or nanostructures, primarily due to the un-controllable effects arising from the substantial formation of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) during the cycling. Here, an ultra-thin and homogeneous Ti doping alumina oxide catalytic interface is meticulously applied on the porous Si through a synergistic etching and hydrolysis process. This defect-rich oxide interface promotes a selective adsorption of fluoroethylene carbonate, leading to a catalytic reaction that can be aptly described as “molecular concentration-in situ conversion”. The resultant inorganic-rich SEI layer is electrochemical stable and favors ion-transport, particularly at high-rate cycling and high temperature. The robustly shielded porous Si, with a large surface area, achieves a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 84.7% and delivers exceptional high-rate performance at 25 A g⁻¹ (692 mAh g⁻¹) and a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.7% over 1000 cycles. The robust SEI constructed through a precious catalytic layer promises significant advantages for the fast development of silicon-based anode in fast-charging batteries.

Highlights:
1 In situ etching and co-growth of ultra thin defect-rich oxide layers on porous silicon.
2 Through the construction of nano-sized catalytic interface, the electrolyte addition FEC would decompose to a LiF-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI).
3 The robust SEI on porous structured silicon performs high-rate stability at varied temperatures.

High-Temperature Stealth Across Multi-Infrared and Microwave Bands with Efficient Radiative Thermal Management

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

High-temperature stealth is vital for enhancing the concealment, survivability, and longevity of critical assets. However, achieving stealth across multiple infrared bands—particularly in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) band—along with microwave stealth and efficient thermal management at high temperatures, remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose a strategy that integrates an IR-selective emitter (Mo/Si multilayer films) and a microwave metasurface (TiB₂–Al₂O₃–TiB₂) to enable multi-infrared band stealth, encompassing mid-wave infrared (MWIR), long-wave infrared (LWIR), and SWIR bands, and microwave (X-band) stealth at 700 °C, with simultaneous radiative cooling in non-atmospheric window (5–8 μm). At 700 °C, the device exhibits low emissivity of 0.38/0.44/0.60 in the MWIR/LWIR/SWIR bands, reflection loss below − 3 dB in the X-band (9.6–12 GHz), and high emissivity of 0.82 in 5–8 μm range—corresponding to a cooling power of 9.57 kW m⁻². Moreover, under an input power of 17.3 kW m⁻²—equivalent to the aerodynamic heating at Mach 2.2—the device demonstrates a temperature reduction of 72.4 °C compared to a conventional low-emissivity molybdenum surface at high temperatures. This work provides comprehensive guidance on high-temperature stealth design, with far-reaching implications for multispectral information processing and thermal management in extreme high-temperature environments.

Highlights:
1 Simultaneous stealth across multiple infrared bands (short-wave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), long-wave infrared (LWIR)) and microwaves at high temperatures (700 °C) is achieved.
2 At 700 °C, the device features low emissivity of 0.38/0.44/0.60 in MWIR/LWIR/SWIR bands, reflection loss below − 3 dB in the X-band (9.6–12 GHz), and high emissivity of 0.82 in the 5–8 μm range.
3 Under an input power equivalent to Mach 2.2 aerodynamic heating, effective thermal management achieves a 72.4 °C temperature reduction compared to conventional low-emissivity molybdenum.

In Situ Partial-Cyclized Polymerized Acrylonitrile-Coated NCM811 Cathode for High-Temperature ≥ 100 °C Stable Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

High-nickel ternary cathodes hold a great application prospect in solid-state lithium metal batteries to achieve high-energy density, but they still suffer from structural instability and detrimental side reactions with the solid-state electrolytes. To circumvent these issues, a continuous uniform layer polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was introduced on the surface of LiNi_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1O₂ via in situ polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN). Furthermore, the partial-cyclized treatment of PAN (cPAN) coating layer presents high ionic and electron conductivity, which can accelerate interfacial Li⁺ and electron diffusion simultaneously. And the thermodynamically stabilized cPAN coating layer cannot only effectively inhibit detrimental side reactions between cathode and solid-state electrolytes but also provide a homogeneous stress to simultaneously address the problems of bulk structural degradation, which contributes to the exceptional mechanical and electrochemical stabilities of the modified electrode. Besides, the coordination bond interaction between the cPAN and NCM811 can suppress the migration of Ni to elevate the stability of the crystal structure. Benefited from these, the In-cPAN-260@NCM811 shows excellent cycling performance with a retention of 86.8% after 300 cycles and superior rate capability. And endow the solid-state battery with thermal safety stability even at high-temperature extreme environment. This facile and scalable surface engineering represents significant progress in developing high-performance solid-state lithium metal batteries.

Highlights:
1 Uniform and stable interfacial layer with both ionic and electronic conduction on the surface of solid-state composite cathode by in situ polymerization cyclization treatment.
2 Theoretical calculations demonstrate that cPAN can effectively inhibit transition metal dissolution and uneven cyclic stress distribution and improve the stability of the crystal structure.
3 In-cPAN-260@NCM811 has excellent cycling performance with 86.8% retention after 300 cycles and thermally safe stability at high-temperature extremes.

Water-Restrained Hydrogel Electrolytes with Repulsion-Driven Cationic Express Pathways for Durable Zinc-Ion Batteries

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The development of flexible zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) faces a three-way trade-off among the ionic conductivity, Zn²⁺ mobility, and the electrochemical stability of hydrogel electrolytes. To address this challenge, we designed a cationic hydrogel named PAPTMA to holistically improve the reversibility of ZIBs. The long cationic branch chains in the polymeric matrix construct express pathways for rapid Zn²⁺ transport through an ionic repulsion mechanism, achieving simultaneously high Zn²⁺ transference number (0.79) and high ionic conductivity (28.7 mS cm⁻¹). Additionally, the reactivity of water in the PAPTMA hydrogels is significantly inhibited, thus possessing a strong resistance to parasitic reactions. Mechanical characterization further reveals the superior tensile and adhesion strength of PAPTMA. Leveraging these properties, symmetric batteries employing PAPTMA hydrogel deliver exceeding 6000 h of reversible cycling at 1 mA cm⁻² and maintain stable operation for 1000 h with a discharge of depth of 71%. When applied in 4 × 4 cm² pouch cells with MnO₂ as the cathode material, the device demonstrates remarkable operational stability and mechanical robustness through 150 cycles. This work presents an eclectic strategy for designing advanced hydrogels that combine high ionic conductivity, enhanced Zn²⁺ mobility, and strong resistance to parasitic reactions, paving the way for long-lasting flexible ZIBs.

Highlights:
1 A novel cationic hydrogel electrolyte is prepared to address a significant challenge of balancing the tripartite trade-offs of hydrogel properties.
2 Cationic express pathways enable fast and selective Zn²⁺ transport through dynamic ionic repulsion, achieving high ionic conductivity (28.7 mS cm⁻¹) and Zn²⁺ transference number (0.79).
3 The hydrogel demonstrates exceptional cycling stability across − 15 to 60 °C, showcasing great potential for practical flexible battery applications.

Selective Emission Fabric for Indoor and Outdoor Passive Radiative Cooling in Personal Thermal Management

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Radiative cooling fabric creates a thermally comfortable environment without energy input, providing a sustainable approach to personal thermal management. However, most currently reported fabrics mainly focus on outdoor cooling, ignoring to achieve simultaneous cooling both indoors and outdoors, thereby weakening the overall cooling performance. Herein, a full-scale structure fabric with selective emission properties is constructed for simultaneous indoor and outdoor cooling. The fabric achieves 94% reflectance performance in the sunlight band (0.3–2.5 µm) and 6% in the mid-infrared band (2.5–25 µm), effectively minimizing heat absorption and radiation release obstruction. It also demonstrates 81% radiative emission performance in the atmospheric window band (8–13 µm) and 25% radiative transmission performance in the mid-infrared band (2.5–25 μm), providing 60 and 26 W m⁻² net cooling power outdoors and indoors. In practical applications, the fabric achieves excellent indoor and outdoor human cooling, with temperatures 1.4–5.5 °C lower than typical polydimethylsiloxane film. This work proposes a novel design for the advanced radiative cooling fabric, offering significant potential to realize sustainable personal thermal management.

Highlights:
1 Full-scale structure fabric across 0.3-25 μm was fabricated for enhanced sunlight reflectance (94%) and reduced mid-infrared reflectance (6%).
2 Transmission (25%) and emission (81%) characteristics for thermal radiation release.
3 Indoor and outdoor cooling fabric in personal thermal management.

A Valuable and Low-Budget Process Scheme of Equivalized 1 nm Technology Node Based on 2D Materials

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Host–Guest Inversion Engineering Induced Superionic Composite Solid Electrolytes for High-Rate Solid-State Alkali Metal Batteries

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) are promising for solid-state Li metal batteries but suffer from inferior room-temperature ionic conductivity due to sluggish ion transport and high cost due to expensive active ceramic fillers. Here, a host–guest inversion engineering strategy is proposed to develop superionic CSEs using cost-effective SiO₂ nanoparticles as passive ceramic hosts and poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVH) microspheres as polymer guests, forming an unprecedented “polymer guest-in-ceramic host” (i.e., PVH-in-SiO₂) architecture differing from the traditional “ceramic guest-in-polymer host”. The PVH-in-SiO₂ exhibits excellent Li-salt dissociation, achieving high-concentration free Li⁺. Owing to the low diffusion energy barriers and high diffusion coefficient, the free Li⁺ is thermodynamically and kinetically favorable to migrate to and transport at the SiO₂/PVH interfaces. Consequently, the PVH-in-SiO₂ delivers an exceptional ionic conductivity of 1.32 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 25 °C (vs. typically 10⁻⁵–10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ using high-cost active ceramics), achieved under an ultralow residual solvent content of 2.9 wt% (vs. 8–15 wt% in other CSEs). Additionally, PVH-in-SiO₂ is electrochemically stable with Li anode and various cathodes. Therefore, the PVH-in-SiO₂ demonstrates excellent high-rate cyclability in LiFePO₄|Li full cells (92.9% capacity-retention at 3C after 300 cycles under 25 °C) and outstanding stability with high-mass-loading LiFePO₄ (9.2 mg cm⁻¹) and high-voltage NCM622 (147.1 mAh g⁻¹). Furthermore, we verify the versatility of the host–guest inversion engineering strategy by fabricating Na-ion and K-ion-based PVH-in-SiO₂ CSEs with similarly excellent promotions in ionic conductivity. Our strategy offers a simple, low-cost approach to fabricating superionic CSEs for large-scale application of solid-state Li metal batteries and beyond.

Highlights:
1 Host–guest inversion engineering is proposed to create poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVH)-in-SiO₂ composite solid electrolytes with an original “polymer guest-in-ceramic host” architecture, exhibiting optimized interfacial contacts and comprehensive properties.
2 The PVH-in-SiO₂ exhibits an overwhelming ionic conductivity of 1.32 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 25 °C, with an ultralow residual solvent content of 2.9 wt%. In addition, the LiFePO₄|PVH-in-SiO₂|Li full cells deliver a significant capacity retention of 92.9% at an ultrahigh rate of 3C after 300 cycles at 25 °C.
3 The host–guest inversion engineering is a versatile strategy, as proved by preparing Na⁺ and K⁺-based PVH-in-SiO₂ composite solid electrolytes, delivering excellent ionic conductivity of 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 25 °C (vs. 10⁻⁶–10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹ of previous reports).

Regulating Water Transport Paths on Porous Transport Layer by Hydrophilic Patterning for Highly Efficient Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cells

Sung Min Lee, Keun Hwan Oh, Hwan Yeop Jeong, Duk Man Yu, Tae‑Ho Kim — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

While unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFCs) are promising for renewable energy storage, their efficient operation requires simultaneous water management and gas transport, which is challenging from the standpoint of water management. Herein, a novel approach is introduced for examining the alignment hydrophilic pattern of a Ti porous transport layer (PTL) with the flow field of a bipolar plate (BP). UV/ozone patterning and is employed to impart amphiphilic characteristics to the hydrophobic silanized Ti PTL, enabling low-cost and scalable fabrication. The hydrophilic pattern and its alignment with the BP are comprehensively analyzed using electrochemical methods and computational simulations. Notably, the serpentine-patterned (SP) Ti PTL, wherein the hydrophilic channel is directly aligned with the serpentine flow field of the BP, effectively enhances oxygen removal in the water electrolyzer (WE) mode and mitigates water flooding in the fuel cell (FC) mode, ensuring uninterrupted water and gas flow. Further, URFCs with SP configuration exhibit remarkable performance in the WE and FC modes, achieving a significantly improved round-trip efficiency of 25.7% at 2 A cm⁻².

Highlights:
1 Novel amphiphilic patterned titanium porous transport layers (PTLs) significantly enhance the round-trip efficiency of unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFCs), achieving an impressive round-trip efficiency of 25.7% at a current density of 2 A cm^-2.
2 The serpentine configuration of the patterned PTL excels in both fuel cell (FC) and water electrolyzer modes, resulting in a sevenfold increase in current density in FC mode compared to URFCs using hydrophilic pristine Ti PTLs.

Observation of Ice-Like Two-Dimensional Flakes on Self-Assembled Protein Monolayer without Nanoconfinement under Ambient Conditions

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Directly correlating the morphology and composition of interfacial water is vital not only for studying water icing under critical conditions but also for understanding the role of protein–water interactions in bio-relevant systems. In this study, we present a model system to study two-dimensional (2D) water layers under ambient conditions by using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) supporting the physisorption of the Cytochrome C (Cyt C) protein layer. We observed that the 2D island-like water layers were uniformly distributed on the SAMs as characterized by atomic force microscopy, and their composition was confirmed by nano-atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, these 2D flakes could grow under high-humidity conditions or melt upon the introduction of a heat source. The formation of these flakes is attributed to the activation energy for water desorption from the Cyt C being nearly twofold high than that from the SAMs. Our results provide a new and effective method for further understanding the water–protein interactions.

Highlights:
1 A super-hydrophilic electrode was successfully developed by depositing porous NiFe nanoparticles onto annealed TiO₂ nanotubes (NiFe/ATNT), facilitating rapid outgassing of nonpolar gases.
2 The NiFe/ATNT electrode demonstrated an overpotential of 235 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² for the oxygen evolution reaction in 1.0 M KOH and served as the anode in the anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE), achieving a current density of 1.67 A cm⁻² at 1.80 V.
3 The AEMWE utilizing the NiFe/ATNT electrode exhibited remarkable stability, maintaining operation for 1500 h at 0.50 A cm⁻² under challenging thermal conditions of 80 ± 3 °C.

Rapid Outgassing of Hydrophilic TiO2 Electrodes Achieves Long-Term Stability of Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The state-of-the-art anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) require highly stable electrodes for prolonged operation. The stability of the electrode is closely linked to the effective evacuation of H₂ or O₂ gas generated from electrode surface during the electrolysis. In this study, we prepared a super-hydrophilic electrode by depositing porous nickel–iron nanoparticles on annealed TiO₂ nanotubes (NiFe/ATNT) for rapid outgassing of such nonpolar gases. The super-hydrophilic NiFe/ATNT electrode exhibited an overpotential of 235 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² for oxygen evolution reaction in 1.0 M KOH solution, and was utilized as the anode in the AEMWE to achieve a current density of 1.67 A cm⁻² at 1.80 V. In addition, the AEMWE with NiFe/ATNT electrode, which enables effective outgassing, showed record stability for 1500 h at 0.50 A cm⁻² under harsh temperature conditions of 80 ± 3 °C.

Organic Radical-Boosted Ionic Conductivity in Redox Polymer Electrolyte for Advanced Fiber-Shaped Energy Storage Devices

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Fiber-shaped energy storage devices (FSESDs) with exceptional flexibility for wearable power sources should be applied with solid electrolytes over liquid electrolytes due to short circuits and leakage issue during deformation. Among the solid options, polymer electrolytes are particularly preferred due to their robustness and flexibility, although their low ionic conductivity remains a significant challenge. Here, we present a redox polymer electrolyte (HT_RPE) with 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (HT) as a multi-functional additive. HT acts as a plasticizer that transforms the glassy state into the rubbery state for improved chain mobility and provides distinctive ion conduction pathway by the self-exchange reaction between radical and oxidized species. These synergetic effects lead to high ionic conductivity (73.5 mS cm⁻¹) based on a lower activation energy of 0.13 eV than other redox additives. Moreover, HT_RPE with a pseudocapacitive characteristic by HT enables an outstanding electrochemical performance of the symmetric FSESDs using carbon-based fiber electrodes (energy density of 25.4 W h kg⁻¹ at a power density of 25,000 W kg⁻¹) without typical active materials, along with excellent stability (capacitance retention of 91.2% after 8,000 bending cycles). This work highlights a versatile HT_RPE that utilizes the unique functionality of HT for both the high ionic conductivity and improved energy storage capability, providing a promising pathway for next-generation flexible energy storage devices.

Highlights:
1 Developed a versatile HT-based redox polymer electrolyte with exceptional ionic conductivity (73.5 mS cm⁻¹) through self-exchange reaction-based ion hopping mechanism and enhanced polymer chain mobility.
2 Achieved superior electrochemical performance (25.4 Wh kg⁻¹ at 25,000 W kg⁻¹) in fiber-shaped energy storage devices without additional active materials by utilizing HT as both ionic conductor and redox-active species.

Highly Active Oxygen Evolution Integrating with Highly Selective CO2-to-CO Reduction

Chaowei Wang, Laihong Geng, Yingpu Bi — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Artificial carbon fixation is a promising pathway for achieving the carbon cycle and environment remediation. However, the sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and poor selectivity of CO₂ reduction seriously limited the overall conversion efficiencies of solar energy to chemical fuels. Herein, we demonstrated a facile and feasible strategy to rationally regulate the coordination environment and electronic structure of surface-active sites on both photoanode and cathode. More specifically, the defect engineering has been employed to reduce the coordination number of ultrathin FeNi catalysts decorated on BiVO₄ photoanodes, resulting in one of the highest OER activities of 6.51 mA cm⁻² (1.23 V_RHE, AM 1.5G). Additionally, single-atom cobalt (II) phthalocyanine anchoring on the N-rich carbon substrates to increase Co–N coordination number remarkably promotes CO₂ adsorption and activation for high selective CO production. Their integration achieved a record activity of 109.4 μmol cm⁻² h⁻¹ for CO production with a faradaic efficiency of > 90%, and an outstanding solar conversion efficiency of 5.41% has been achieved by further integrating a photovoltaic utilizing the sunlight (> 500 nm).

Highlights:
1 Rational regulation of the coordination environment of surface-active sites on both photoanode and cathode has been demonstrated.
2 Reducing the coordination of FeNi catalysts decorated on BiVO₄ photoanodes achieves excellent water oxidation activities of 6.51 mA cm⁻² (1.23 VRHE, AM 1.5G).
3 Single-atom cobalt anchoring on N-rich carbon with increased Co–N coordination remarkably promotes CO₂ reduction to CO.

Rewritable Triple-Mode Light-Emitting Display

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Despite great progress in developing mode-selective light emission technologies based on self-emitting materials, few rewritable displays with mode-selective multiple light emissions have been demonstrated. Herein, we present a rewritable triple-mode light-emitting display enabled by stimuli-interactive fluorescence (FL), room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP), and electroluminescence (EL). The display comprises coplanar electrodes separated by a gap, a polymer composite with FL inorganic phosphors (EL/FL layer), and a polymer composite with solvent-responsive RTP additives (RTP layer). Upon 254 nm UV exposure, a dual-mode emission of RTP and FL occurs from the RTP and EL/FL layers, respectively. When a polar liquid, besides water, is applied on the display and an AC field is applied between the coplanar electrodes, EL from the EL/FL layer is triggered, and the display operates in a triple mode. Interestingly, when water is applied to the display, the RTP mode is deactivated, rendering the display to operate in a dual mode of FL and EL. By manipulating the evaporation of the applied polar liquids and water, the mode-selective light emission of FL, RTP, and EL is rewritable in the triple-mode display. Additionally, a high-security full-color information encryption display is demonstrated, wherein the information of digital numbers, letters, and Morse code encoded in one optical mode is only deciphered when properly matched with that encoded in the other two modes. Thus, this article outlines a strategy to fulfill the substantial demand for high-security personalized information based on room-temperature multi-light-emitting displays.

Highlights:
1 A rewritable triple-mode light-emitting display (RE-TriLED) was fabricated, enabled by stimuli-interactive fluorescence (FL), room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP), and electroluminescence (EL).
2 Mode-selective multiple light emission is achieved, in which the three emission modes of FL, RTP, and EL are readily manipulated through the controlled evaporation of polar liquids and water.
3 A high-security, full-color information encryption display is demonstrated, wherein optical information encoded in one mode is decipherable only when properly aligned with the other two modes.

Manipulating Interfacial Stability via Preferential Absorption for Highly Stable and Safe 4.6 V LiCoO2 Cathode

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Elevating the upper cutoff voltage to 4.6 V could effectively increase the reversible capacity of LiCoO₂ (LCO) cathode, whereas the irreversible structural transition, unstable electrode/electrolyte interface and potentially induced safety hazards severely hinder its industrial application. Building a robust cathode/electrolyte interface film by electrolyte engineering is one of the efficient approaches to boost the performance of high-voltage LCO (HV-LCO); however, the elusive interfacial chemistry poses substantial challenges to the rational design of highly compatible electrolytes. Herein, we propose a novel electrolyte design strategy and screen proper solvents based on two factors: highest occupied molecular orbital energy level and LCO absorption energy. Tris (2, 2, 2-trifluoroethyl) phosphate is determined as the optimal solvent, whose low defluorination energy barrier significantly promotes the construction of LiF-rich cathode/electrolyte interface layer on the surface of LCO, thereby eventually suppresses the phase transition and enhances Li⁺ diffusion kinetics. The rationally designed electrolyte endows graphite||HV-LCO pouch cells with long cycle life (85.3% capacity retention after 700 cycles), wide-temperature adaptability (− 60–80 °C) and high safety (pass nail penetration). This work provides new insights into the electrolyte screening and rational design to constructing stable interface for high-energy lithium-ion batteries.

Highlights:
1 A novel electrolyte design strategy for high voltage and high safe LiCoO₂ (LCO) cathode based on highest occupied molecular orbital and LCO absorption energy descriptor was proposed.
2 The irreversible phase transformation was restricted by the LiF rich LCO/electrolyte interface.
3 The well designed tris 2, 2, 2-trifluoroethyl phosphate electrolyte endows Ah grade Gr||LCO pouch cell with excellent electrochemical performance (85.3% capacity retention after 700 cycles), low-temperature adaptability (−60 °C retention: 53%) and greatly improved thermal safety (pass nail penetration).

Photonic Chip Based on Ultrafast Laser-Induced Reversible Phase Change for Convolutional Neural Network

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Photonic computing has emerged as a promising technology for the ever-increasing computational demands of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Due to the advantages in computing speed, integrated photonic chips have attracted wide research attention on performing convolutional neural network algorithm. Programmable photonic chips are vital for achieving practical applications of photonic computing. Herein, a programmable photonic chip based on ultrafast laser-induced phase change is fabricated for photonic computing. Through designing the ultrafast laser pulses, the Sb film integrated into photonic waveguides can be reversibly switched between crystalline and amorphous phase, resulting in a large contrast in refractive index and extinction coefficient. As a consequence, the light transmission of waveguides can be switched between write and erase states. To determine the phase change time, the transient laser-induced phase change dynamics of Sb film are revealed at atomic scale, and the time-resolved transient reflectivity is measured. Based on the integrated photonic chip, photonic convolutional neural networks are built to implement machine learning algorithm, and images recognition task is achieved. This work paves a route for fabricating programmable photonic chips by designed ultrafast laser, which will facilitate the application of photonic computing in artificial intelligence.

Highlights:
1 Programmable photonic chips based on ultrafast laser-induced phase change is fabricated for photonic computing.
2 Based on the integrated photonic chip, photonic convolutional neural networks are built to implement machine learning algorithm, and images recognition task is achieved.
3 The transient laser-induced phase change dynamics of Sb film are revealed at atomic scale, and the phase change time is measured.

Angle-Selective Photonics for Smart Subambient Radiative Cooling

Fan Liu, Qichong Zhang — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

During the daytime, conventional radiative coolers disregard the directionality of thermal radiation, thereby overlooking the upward radiation from the ground. This upward radiation enhances the outward thermal radiation, leading to a substantial reduction in the subambient daytime radiative cooling performance. Conversely, radiative coolers featuring angular asymmetry and spectral selectivity effectively resolve the problem of thermal radiation directionality, successfully evading the interference caused by the ground-generated thermal radiation. This cooler overcomes the limitations posed by the angle of incident light, making it suitable for subambient daytime radiative cooling of vertical surfaces. Furthermore, by adjusting the structure of the cooler, the angular range of thermal radiation can be modulated, enabling the application of radiative cooling technology for intelligent temperature regulation of various inclined surfaces encountered in daily life. This innovative work makes a significant contribution to the development of subambient smart thermal interaction systems and opens up new possibilities for the practical application of radiative cooling technology.

Highlights:
1 Subambient daytime radiative cooling of vertical surfaces is achieved by a sawtooth grating with a period significantly greater than the thermal wavelength.
2 Adjusting the grating period and aspect ratio allows the cooler to be adapted to various inclined surfaces.

Integration of Bio-Enzyme-Treated Super-Wood and AIE-Based Nonwoven Fabric for Efficient Evaporating the Wastewater with High Concentration of Ammonia Nitrogen

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The treatment of ammonia nitrogen wastewater (ANW) has garnered significant attention due to the ecology, and even biology is under increasing threat from over discharge ANW. Conventional ANW treatment methods often encounter challenges such as complex processes, high costs and secondary pollution. Considerable progress has been made in employing solar-induced evaporators for wastewater treatment. However, there remain notable barriers to transitioning from fundamental research to practical applications, including insufficient evaporation rates and inadequate resistance to biofouling. Herein, we propose a novel evaporator, which comprises a bio-enzyme-treated wood aerogel that serves as water pumping and storage layer, a cost-effective multi-walled carbon nanotubes coated hydrophobic/hydrophilic fibrous nonwoven mat functioning as photothermal evaporation layer, and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) molecules incorporated as anti-biofouling agent. The resultant bioinspired evaporator demonstrates a high evaporation rate of 12.83 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ when treating simulated ANW containing 30 wt% NH₄Cl under 1.0 sun of illumination. AIE-doped evaporator exhibits remarkable photodynamic antibacterial activity against mildew and bacteria, ensuring outstanding resistance to biofouling over extended periods of wastewater treatment. When enhanced by natural wind under 1.0 sun irradiation, the evaporator achieves an impressive evaporation rate exceeding 20 kg m⁻² h⁻¹. This advancement represents a promising and viable approach for the effective removal of ammonia nitrogen wastewater.

Highlights:
1 Bio-enzyme-treated super-wood and aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based nonwoven fabric is integrated into a solar evaporator.
2 The evaporator demonstrates a high evaporation rate of 12.83 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ when treating simulated wastewater containing 30 wt% NH₄Cl under 1.0 sun of illumination.
3 AIE-doped evaporator exhibits remarkable photodynamic antibacterial activity against mildew and bacteria.

Correction: Transition Metal Carbonitride MXenes Anchored with Pt Sub-nanometer Clusters to Achieve High-Performance Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at All pH Range

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Transition metal carbides, known as MXenes, particularly Ti₃C₂T_x, have been extensively explored as promising materials for electrochemical reactions. However, transition metal carbonitride MXenes with high nitrogen content for electrochemical reactions are rarely reported. In this work, transition metal carbonitride MXenes incorporated with Pt-based electrocatalysts, ranging from single atoms to sub-nanometer dimensions, are explored for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The fabricated Pt clusters/MXene catalyst exhibits superior HER performance compared to the single-atom-incorporated MXene and commercial Pt/C catalyst in both acidic and alkaline electrolytes. The optimized sample shows low overpotentials of 28, 65, and 154 mV at a current densities of 10, 100, and 500 mA cm⁻², a small Tafel slope of 29 mV dec⁻¹, a high mass activity of 1203 mA mg_Pt⁻¹ and an excellent turnover frequency of 6.1 s⁻¹ in the acidic electrolyte. Density functional theory calculations indicate that this high performance can be attributed to the enhanced active sites, increased surface functional groups, faster charge transfer dynamics, and stronger electronic interaction between Pt and MXene, resulting in optimized hydrogen absorption/desorption toward better HER. This work demonstrates that MXenes with a high content of nitrogen may be promising candidates for various catalytic reactions by incorporating single atoms or clusters.

Highlights:
1 Two-dimensional mono- and few-layered Ti₃CNT_x MXene nanosheets with extremely high nitrogen content were synthesized.
2 Better performance for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) than Pt/C catalyst in acidic, neutral and alkaline solutions.
3 Exceptional performance of HER in both acidic and alkaline solutions.
4 A large current density (> 500 mA cm⁻²) has been achieved for HER.

Boosting Alcohol Oxidation Electrocatalysis with Multifactorial Engineered Pd1/Pt Single-Atom Alloy-BiOx Adatoms Surface

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Engineering nanomaterials at single-atomic sites could enable unprecedented catalytic properties for broad applications, yet it remains challenging to do so on the surface of multimetallic nanocrystals. Herein, we present the multifactorial engineering (size, shape, phase, and composition) of the fully ordered PtBi nanoplates at atomic level, achieving a unique catalyst surface where the face-centered cubic (fcc) Pt edges are modified by the isolated Pd atoms and BiO_x adatoms. This Pd₁/Pt-BiO_x electrocatalyst exhibits an ultrahigh mass activity of 16.01 A mg⁻¹_Pt+Pd toward ethanol oxidation in alkaline electrolyte and enables a direct ethanol fuel cell of peak power density of 56.7 mW cm⁻². The surrounding BiO_x adatoms are critical for mitigating CO-poisoning on the Pt surface, and the Pd₁/Pt single-atom alloy further facilitates the electrooxidation of CH₃CH₂OH. This work offers new insights into the rational design and construction of sophisticated catalyst surface at single-atomic sites for highly efficient electrocatalysis.

Highlights:
1 A unique catalyst surface where ultrathin Pt edges are modified by the isolated Pd atoms and BiO_x adatoms is rational designed and achieved.
2 The Pd₁/Pt-BiO_x electrocatalyst exhibits an ultrahigh mass activity of 16.01 A mg⁻¹Pt+Pd toward ethanol oxidation and enables a direct ethanol fuel cell of peak power density of 56.7 mW cm⁻².
3 The surrounding BiO_x adatoms are critical for mitigating CO-poisoning on Pt surface, and the Pd₁/Pt single-atom alloy further facilitates the electrooxidation of CH₃CH₂OH.

All-in-One: A Multifunctional Composite Biomimetic Cryogel for Coagulation Disorder Hemostasis and Infected Diabetic Wound Healing

Jiaxin Wang, Yutong Yang, Huiru Xu, Shengfei Huang, Baolin Guo, Juan Hu — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Traditional hemostatic materials are difficult to meet the needs of non-compressible bleeding and for coagulopathic patients. In addition, open wounds are susceptible to infection, and then develop into chronic wounds. However, the development of integrated dressings that do not depend on coagulation pathway and improve the microenvironment of chronic wounds remains a challenge. Inspired by the porous structure and composition of the natural extracellular matrix, adipic dihydrazide modified gelatin (GA), dodecylamine-grafted hyaluronic acid (HD), and MnO₂ nanozyme (manganese dioxide)@DFO (deferoxamine)@PDA (polydopamine) (MDP) nanoparticles were combined to prepare GA/HD/MDP cryogels through amidation reaction and hydrogen bonding. These cryogels exhibited good fatigue resistance, photothermal antibacterial (about 98% killing ratios of both Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) after 3 min near-infrared irradiation), reactive oxygen species scavenging, oxygen release, and angiogenesis properties. Furthermore, in the liver defect model of rats with coagulopathy, the cryogel displayed less bleeding and shorter hemostasis time than commercial gelatin sponge. In MRSA-infected diabetic wounds, the cryogel could decrease wound inflammation and oxidative stress, alleviate the hypoxic environment, promote collagen deposition, and induce vascular regeneration, showing a better repair effect compared with the Tegaderm™ film. These results indicated that GA/HD/MDP cryogels have great potential in non-compressible hemorrhage for coagulopathic patients and in healing infected wounds for diabetic patients.

Highlights:
1 An all-in-one cryogel is proposed for hemostasis of coagulopathy bleeding and repair of infected diabetic ulcers.
2 The cryogel possesses rapid liquid-triggered volume expansion capability and physicochemical synergistic hemostatic properties.
3 The cryogel can accelerate the healing of infected diabetic wounds by releasing oxygen and deferoxamine.

Design of Ultra-Stable Solid Amine Adsorbents and Mechanisms of Hydroxyl Group-Dependent Deactivation for Reversible CO2 Capture from Flue Gas

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Although supported solid amine adsorbents have attracted great attention for CO₂ capture, critical chemical deactivation problems including oxidative degradation and urea formation have severely restricted their practical applications for flue gas CO₂ capture. In this work, we reveal that the nature of surface hydroxyl groups (metal hydroxyl Al–OH and nonmetal hydroxyl Si–OH) plays a key role in the deactivation mechanisms. The polyethyleneimine (PEI) supported on Al–OH-containing substrates suffers from severe oxidative degradation during the CO₂ capture step due to the breakage of amine-support hydrogen bonding networks, but exhibits an excellent anti-urea formation feature by preventing dehydration of carbamate products under a pure CO₂ regeneration atmosphere. In contrast, PEI supported on Si–OH-containing substrates exhibits excellent anti-oxidative stability under simulated flue gas conditions by forming a robust hydrogen bonding protective network with Si–OH, but suffers from obvious urea formation during the pure CO₂ regeneration step. We also reveal that the urea formation problem for PEI-SBA-15 can be avoided by the incorporation of an OH-containing PEG additive. Based on the intrinsic understanding of degradation mechanisms, we successfully synthesized an adsorbent 40PEI-20PEG-SBA-15 that demonstrates outstanding stability and retention of a high CO₂ capacity of 2.45 mmol g⁻¹ over 1000 adsorption–desorption cycles, together with negligible capacity loss during aging in simulated flue gas (10% CO₂ + 5% O₂ + 3% H₂O) for one month at 60–70 °C. We believe this work makes great contribution to the advancement in the field of ultra-stable solid amine-based CO₂ capture materials.

Highlights:
1 We reveal that the nature of the hydrogen bonding networks formed by surface hydroxyl groups plays a key role in the deactivation mechanisms of supported polyethylenimine (PEI), which exhibits contrasting oxidative and anti-urea properties when supported on Al–OH- and Si–OH-containing substrates.
2 PEG modification helps reduce urea formation for PEI supported on Si–OH-containing substrates, but does not prevent oxidation of the Al–OH-containing support. The resulted ultra-stable 40PEI-20PEG-SBA-15 showing outstanding stability over 1000 adsorption–desorption cycles (2.45 mmol g⁻¹) and negligible capacity loss after one month in simulated flue gas.

Quantum Dots Mediated Crystallization Enhancement in Two-Step Processed Perovskite Solar Cells

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hybrid organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites have emerged as a promising material for high-efficiency solar cells, yet challenges related to crystallization and defects limit their performance and stability. This study investigates the use of perovskite quantum dots (QDs) as crystallization seeds to enhance the quality of FAPbI₃ perovskite films and improve the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). We demonstrate that CsPbI₃ and CsPbBr₃ QDs effectively guide the crystallization process, leading to the formation of larger crystals with preferential orientations, particularly the (001) and (002) planes, which are associated with reduced defect densities. This seed-mediated growth strategy resulted in PSCs with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 24.75% and 24.11%, respectively, compared to the baseline efficiency of 22.05% for control devices. Furthermore, devices incorporating QD-treated perovskite films exhibited remarkable stability, maintaining over 80% of their initial PCE after 1000 h of simulated sunlight exposure, a significant improvement over the control. Detailed optoelectronic characterization revealed reduced non-radiative recombination and enhanced charge transport in QD-treated devices. These findings highlight the potential of QDs as a powerful tool to improve perovskite crystallization, facet orientation, and overall device performance, offering a promising route to enhance both efficiency and stability in PSCs.

Highlights:
1 The incorporation of quantum dots (QDs) as crystallization seeds results in the growth of larger perovskite crystals with reduced defect densities and preferential orientations along the (001) and (002) planes, significantly improving the film morphology.
2 The QD-seeded films exhibit reduced non-radiative recombination and enhanced charge transport, as confirmed by steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence, transient photovoltage measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
3 Devices fabricated with QD-treated films achieve a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.75% and exhibit exceptional long-term stability under simulated sunlight exposure, retaining 80% of their PCE after 1000 h of continuous illumination.

An Engineered Heterostructured Trinity Enables Fire-Safe, Thermally Conductive Polymer Nanocomposite Films with Low Dielectric Loss

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

To adapt to the trend of increasing miniaturization and high integration of microelectronic equipments, there is a high demand for multifunctional thermally conductive (TC) polymeric films combining excellent flame retardancy and low dielectric constant (ε). To date, there have been few successes that achieve such a performance portfolio in polymer films due to their different and even mutually exclusive governing mechanisms. Herein, we propose a trinity strategy for creating a rationally engineered heterostructure nanoadditive (FG@CuP@ZTC) by in situ self-assembly immobilization of copper-phenyl phosphonate (CuP) and zinc-3, 5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole complex (ZTC) onto the fluorinated graphene (FG) surface. Benefiting from the synergistic effects of FG, CuP, and ZTC and the bionic lay-by-lay (LBL) strategy, the as-fabricated waterborne polyurethane (WPU) nanocomposite film with 30 wt% FG@CuP@ZTC exhibits a 55.6% improvement in limiting oxygen index (LOI), 66.0% and 40.5% reductions in peak heat release rate and total heat release, respectively, and 93.3% increase in tensile strength relative to pure WPU film due to the synergistic effects between FG, CuP, and ZTC. Moreover, the WPU nanocomposite film presents a high thermal conductivity (λ) of 12.7 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ and a low ε of 2.92 at 10⁶ Hz. This work provides a commercially viable rational design strategy to develop high-performance multifunctional polymer nanocomposite films, which hold great potential as advanced polymeric thermal dissipators for high-power-density microelectronics.

Highlights:
1 The as-fabricated waterborne polyurethane (WPU) nanocomposite film exhibits a 55.6% improvement in limiting oxygen index, 66.0% and 40.5% reductions in peak heat release rate and total heat release, respectively, and 93.3% increase in tensile strength relative to pure WPU film.
2 The resultant WPU nanocomposite film presents a high thermal conductivity (λ) of 12.7 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ and a low dielectric constant (ε) of 2.92 at 106 Hz.

Yolk–Shell CoNi@N-Doped Carbon-CoNi@CNTs for Enhanced Microwave Absorption, Photothermal, Anti-Corrosion, and Antimicrobial Properties

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The previous studies mainly focused on improving microwave absorbing (MA) performances of MA materials. Even so, these designed MA materials were very difficult to be employed in complex and changing environments owing to their single-functionalities. Herein, a combined Prussian blue analogues derived and catalytical chemical vapor deposition strategy was proposed to produce hierarchical cubic sea urchin-like yolk–shell CoNi@N-doped carbon (NC)-CoNi@carbon nanotubes (CNTs) mixed-dimensional multicomponent nanocomposites (MCNCs), which were composed of zero-dimensional CoNi nanoparticles, three-dimensional NC nanocubes and one-dimensional CNTs. Because of good impedance matching and attenuation characteristics, the designed CoNi@NC-CoNi@CNTs mixed-dimensional MCNCs exhibited excellent MA performances, which achieved a minimum reflection loss (RL_min) of −71.70 dB at 2.78 mm and Radar Cross section value of −53.23 dB m². More importantly, the acquired results demonstrated that CoNi@NC-CoNi@CNTs MCNCs presented excellent photothermal, antimicrobial and anti-corrosion properties owing to their hierarchical cubic sea urchin-like yolk–shell structure, highlighting their potential multifunctional applications. It could be seen that this finding not only presented a generalizable route to produce hierarchical cubic sea urchin-like yolk–shell magnetic NC-CNTs-based mixed-dimensional MCNCs, but also provided an effective strategy to develop multifunctional MCNCs and improve their environmental adaptabilities.

Highlights:
1 Hierarchical cubic sea urchin-like yolk-shell CoNi@N-doped carbon (NC)-CoNi@carbon nanotubes (CNTs) mixed-dimensional MCNCs with different CNTs contents could be availably and selectively synthesized.
2 Owing to the generated hierarchical cubic sea urchin like yolk-shell structure, CoNi@NC-CoNi@CNTs display marvelous hydrophobic, corrosion resistance and MA performance.
3 The construction of components and special microstructure make CoNi@NC-CoNi@CNTs MCNCs display terrific photothermal and antimicrobial (e g. only 1 mg·mL^-1 concentration, ~84.03% antimicrobial rate) proper ties.

Enhancing Thermal Protection in Lithium Batteries with Power Bank-Inspired Multi-Network Aerogel and Thermally Induced Flexible Composite Phase Change Material

Zaichao Li, Feng Cao, Yuang Zhang, Shufen Zhang, Bingtao Tang — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thermal runaway (TR) is considered a significant safety hazard for lithium batteries, and thermal protection materials are crucial in mitigating this risk. However, current thermal protection materials generally suffer from poor mechanical properties, flammability, leakage, and rigid crystallization, and they struggle to continuously block excess heat transfer and propagation once thermal saturation occurs. This study proposes a novel type of thermal protection material: an aerogel coupled composite phase change material (CPCM). The composite material consists of gelatin/sodium alginate (Ge/SA) composite biomass aerogel as an insulating component and a thermally induced flexible CPCM made from thermoplastic polyester elastomer as a heat-absorbing component. Inspired by power bank, we coupled the aerogel with CPCM through the binder, so that CPCM can continue to ‘charge and store energy’ for the aerogel, effectively absorbing heat, delaying the heat saturation phenomenon, and maximizing the duration of thermal insulation. The results demonstrate that the Ge/SA aerogel exhibits excellent thermal insulation (with a temperature difference of approximately 120 °C across a 1 cm thickness) and flame retardancy (achieving a V-0 flame retardant rating). The CPCM exhibits high heat storage density (811.9 J g⁻¹), good thermally induced flexibility (bendable above 40 °C), and thermal stability. Furthermore, the Ge/SA-CPCM coupled composite material shows even more outstanding thermal insulation performance, with the top surface temperature remaining at 89 °C after 100 min of exposure to a high temperature of 230 °C. This study provides a new direction for the development of TR protection materials for lithium batteries.

Highlights:
1 The prepared Ge/SA biomass aerogel with multiple crosslinked networks have excellent flame retardancy and thermal insulation properties.
2 The prepared SAT/TPEE/EG composite phase change material (CPCM) has a thermal storage density as high as 811.9 J g^–1 and good flame retardancy.
3 In the composite material of CPCM coupled with aerogel, the CPCM continuously absorbs heat for the aerogel, thus maximizing heat transfer and spreading.

Durable Acidic Oxygen Evolution Via Self-Construction of Iridium Oxide/Iridium-Tantalum Oxide Bi-Layer Nanostructure with Dynamic Replenishment of Active Sites

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis presents considerable advantages in green hydrogen production. Nevertheless, oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts in PEM water electrolysis currently encounter several pressing challenges, including high noble metal loading, low mass activity, and inadequate durability, which impede their practical application and commercialization. Here we report a self-constructed layered catalyst for acidic OER by directly using an Ir–Ta-based metallic glass as the matrix, featuring a nanoporous IrO₂ surface formed in situ on the amorphous IrTaO_x nanostructure during OER. This distinctive architecture significantly enhances the accessibility and utilization of Ir, achieving a high mass activity of 1.06 A mg_Ir⁻¹ at a 300 mV overpotential, 13.6 and 31.2 times greater than commercial Ir/C and IrO₂, respectively. The catalyst also exhibits superb stability under industrial-relevant current densities in acid, indicating its potential for practical uses. Our analyses reveal that the coordinated nature of the surface-active Ir species is effectively modulated through electronic interaction between Ir and Ta, preventing them from rapidly evolving into high valence states and suppressing the lattice oxygen participation. Furthermore, the underlying IrTaO_x dynamically replenishes the depletion of surface-active sites through inward crystallization and selective dissolution, thereby ensuring the catalyst’s long-term durability.

Highlights:
1 A self-constructed catalyst with in situ formed IrO₂/IrTaO_x bi-layer nanostructure was fabricated for high-efficiency acidic oxygen evolution reaction by using an Ir–Ta-based metallic glass as the matrix.
2 The coordinated nature of the catalyst’s active site is manipulated through electronic interaction between Ir and Ta, resulting in superior activity and stability.
3 The underlying amorphous IrTaO_x layer dynamically replenishes the depletion of surface Ir sites through inward crystallization and selective dissolution to ensure long-term durability.

Modulating Electromagnetic Genes Through Bi-Phase High-Entropy Engineering Toward Temperature-Stable Ultra-Broadband Megahertz Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Magnetic absorbers with high permeability have significant advantages in low-frequency and broadband electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption. However, the insufficient magnetic loss and inherent high conductivity of existing magnetic absorbers limit the further expansion of EMW absorption bandwidth. Herein, the spinel (FeCoNiCrCu)₃O₄ high-entropy oxides (HEO) are successfully constructed on the surface of FeCoNiCr_0.4Cu_0.2 high-entropy alloys (HEA) through low-temperature oxygen bath treatment. On the one hand, HEO and HEA have different magnetocrystalline anisotropies, which is conducive to achieving continuous natural resonance to improve magnetic loss. On the other hand, HEO with low conductivity can serve as an impedance matching layer, achieving magneto-electric co-modulation. When the thickness is 5 mm, the minimum reflection loss (RL) value and absorption bandwidth (RL < − 5 dB) of bi-phase high-entropy composites (BPHEC) can reach − 12.8 dB and 633 MHz, respectively. The RCS reduction value of multilayer sample with impedance gradient characteristic can reach 18.34 dB m². In addition, the BPHEC also exhibits temperature-stable EMW absorption performance, high Curie temperature, and oxidation resistance. The absorption bandwidth maintains between 593 and 691 MHz from − 50 to 150 °C. This work offers a new and tunable strategy toward modulating the electromagnetic genes for temperature-stable ultra-broadband megahertz EMW absorption.

Highlights:
1 The bi-phase FeCoNiCr_0.4Cu_0.2/(FeCoNiCrCu)₃O₄ high-entropy composites are innovatively constructed for the first time by low-temperature oxygen bath strategy.
2 The bi-phase high-entropy composites (BPHEC) can precisely regulate the electromagnetic genes, realizing the ideal ultra-broadband and temperature-stable electromagnetic wave absorption.
3 Simultaneously, the formation mechanism of BPHEC during low-temperature oxygen bath and the regulation mechanism of electromagnetic genes are elucidated.

Electron Acceptor-Driven Solid Electrolyte Interphases with Elevated LiF Content for 4.7 V Lithium Metal Batteries

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

High-voltage lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) face substantial challenges, including Li dendrite growth and instability in high-voltage cathodes such as LiNi_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1O₂ (NCM811), which impede their practical applications and long-term stability. To address these challenges, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane additive as an electron acceptor is introduced into an ethyl methyl carbonate/fluoroethylene carbonate-based electrolyte. This approach effectively engineers robust dual interfaces on the Li metal anode and the NCM811 cathode, thereby mitigating dendritic growth of Li and enhancing the stability of the cathode. This additive-driven strategy enables LMBs to operate at ultra-high voltages up to 4.7 V. Consequently, Li||Cu cells achieve a coulombic efficiency of 98.96%, and Li||Li symmetric cells extend their cycle life to an impressive 4000 h. Li||NCM811 full cells maintain a high capacity retention of 87.8% after 100 cycles at 4.7 V. Additionally, Li||LNMO full cells exhibit exceptional rate capability, delivering 132.2 mAh g⁻¹ at 10 C and retaining 95.0% capacity after 250 cycles at 1 C and 5 V. As a result, NCM811||graphite pouch cells maintain a 93.4% capacity retention after 1100 cycles at 1 C. These findings underscore the efficacy of additive engineering in addressing Li dendrite formation and instability of cathode under high voltage, thereby paving the road for durable, high-performance LMBs.

Highlights:
1 A tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane additive as an electron acceptor is incorporated into an ethyl methyl carbonate/fluoroethylene carbonate/lithium nitrate electrolyte.
2 This approach effectively engineers durable dual interfaces on both lithium metal anode and LiNi_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1O₂ (NCM811) cathode, which mitigates dendritic growth and enhances cathode stability.
3 The additive-driven strategy enables lithium metal batteries to operate at ultra-high voltage up to 4.7 V and high mass loading of 14.0 mg cm⁻² for NCM811 cathode, thus resulting in exceptional cycling performance.

2D Undulated Metal Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks with Self-Adaption Interlayered Sites for Highly Efficient C–C Coupling in the Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) as a new type of porous framework materials have been widely studied in various areas. However, the lack of appropriate active sites, low intrinsic conductivity, and poor stability limited their performance in the field of electrocatalysis. Herein, we designed two 2D metal hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (2D–M–HOF, M = Cu²⁺ or Ni²⁺) with coordination compounds based on 2,3,6,7,14,15-hexahydroxyl cyclotricatechylene and transition metal ions (Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺), respectively. The crystal structure of 2D–Cu–HOF is determined by continuous rotation electron diffraction, indicating an undulated 2D hydrogen-bond network with interlayered π-π stacking. The flexible structure of 2D–M–HOF leads to the formation of self-adaption interlayered sites, resulting in superior activity and selectivity in the electrocatalytic conversion of CO₂ to C₂ products, achieving a total Faradaic efficiency exceeding 80% due to the high-efficiency C–C coupling. The experimental results and density functional calculations verify that the undulated 2D–M–HOF enables the energetically favorable formation of *OCCHO intermediate. This work provides a promising strategy for designing HOF catalysts in electrocatalysis and related processes.

Highlights:
1 Highly crystalline 2D metal hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (2D-M-HOFs) including 2D-Cu-HOF and 2D-Ni-HOF were designed and synthesized.
2 The 2D-M-HOF with flexible ligands leads to the formation of the self-adaption interlayered sites, which facilitate the C–C couple and overcome the limitations of the coadsorption of multiple intermediates in the electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction.
3 The undulated 2D-Cu-HOF exhibits outstanding activity and selectivity for electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to C₂ products with a total Faradaic efficiency of 82.1% (48.2% for C₂H₅OH and 33.9% for C₂H₄) at −1.2 V vs. RHE.

Robust and Reprocessable Biorenewable Polyester Nanocomposites In Situ Catalyzed and Reinforced by Dendritic MXene@CNT Heterostructure

Hao Wang, Jiheng Ding, Hongran Zhao, Qinchao Chu, Jin Zhu, Jinggang Wang — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Renewable 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid-based polyesters are one of the most promising materials for achieving plastic replacement in the age of energy and environmental crisis. However, their properties still cannot compete with those of petrochemical-based plastics, owing to insufficient molecular and/or microstructure designs. Herein, we utilize the Ti₃C₂T_x-based MXene nanosheets for decorating carbon nanotube (CNT) and obtaining the structurally stable and highly dispersed dendritic hetero-structured MXene@CNT, that can act as multi-roles, i.e., polycondensation catalyst, crystal nucleator, and interface enhancer of polyester. The bio-based MXene@CNT/polybutylene furandicarboxylate (PBF) (denoted as MCP) nanocomposites are synthesized by the strategy of “in situ catalytic polymerization and hot-pressing”. Benefiting from the multi-scale interactions (i.e., covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds, and physical interlocks) in hybrid structure, the MCP presents exceptional mechanical strength (≈101 MPa), stiffness (≈3.1 GPa), toughness (≈130 MJ m⁻³), and barrier properties (e.g., O₂ 0.0187 barrer, CO₂ 0.0264 barrer, and H₂O 1.57 × 10⁻¹⁴ g cm cm⁻² s Pa) that are higher than most reported bio-based materials and engineering plastics. Moreover, it also displays satisfactory multifunctionality with high reprocessability (90% strength retention after 5 recycling), UV resistance (blocking 85% UVA rays), and solvent-resistant properties. As a state-of-art high-performance and multifunctional material, the novel bio-based MCP nanocomposite offers a more sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based plastics in packaging and engineering material fields. More importantly, our catalysis-interfacial strengthening integration strategy opens a door for designing and constructing high-performance bio-based polyester materials in future.

Highlights:
1 Structurally stable and well-dispersed dendritic MXene@CNT heterostructures with multiple roles (i.e., catalyst, nucleator, and interface enhancer of polyesters) were constructed.
2 Biorenewable MXene@CNT/PBF (MCP) polyester nanocomposites with ultrahigh mechanical strength (≈101 MPa), stiffness (≈3.1 GPa), and toughness (≈130 MJ m⁻³) were synthesized via MXene@CNT in situ catalytic polymerization.
3 Exceptional reprocessability, gas barrier (e.g., O₂ 0.0187 barrer), and UV resistance (e.g., resist 85% UVA rays) properties were achieved for the MCP, which can be employed as high-performance and multifunctional packaging materials for plastic replacement.

Scalable Electrocatalytic Urea Wastewater Treatment Coupled with Hydrogen Production by Regulating Adsorption Behavior of Urea Molecule

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Electrocatalytic urea wastewater treatment technology has emerged as a promising method for environmental remediation. However, the realization of highly efficient and scalable electrocatalytic urea wastewater treatment (SEUWT) is still an enormous challenge. Herein, through regulating the adsorption behavior of urea functional groups, the efficient SEUWT coupled hydrogen production is realized in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE). Density functional theory calculations indicate that self-driven electron transfer at the heterogeneous interface (NiO/Co₃O₄) can induce charge redistribution, resulting in electron-rich NiO and electron-deficient Co₃O₄, which are superior to adsorbing C=O (electron-withdrawing group) and –NH₂ (electron-donating group), respectively, regulating the adsorption behavior of urea molecule and accelerating the reaction kinetics of urea oxidation. This viewpoint is further verified by temperature-programmed desorption experiments. The SEUWT coupled hydrogen production in AEMWE assembled with NiO/Co₃O₄ (anode) and NiCoP (cathode) can continuously treat urea wastewater at an initial current density of 600 mA cm⁻², with the average urea treatment efficiency about 53%. Compared with overall water splitting, the H₂ production rate (8.33 mmol s⁻¹) increases by approximately 3.5 times. This work provides a cost-effective strategy for scalable purifying urea-rich wastewater and energy-saving hydrogen production.

Highlights:
1 The heterogeneous interface of NiO/Co₃O₄ was constructed for regulating adsorption behavior of urea functional groups.
2 The regulation mechanism of urea molecular adsorption behavior was verified by temperature-programmed desorption experiments and density functional theory calculations.
3 Efficient and scalable electrocatalytic urea wastewater treatment coupled with hydrogen production was realized in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer AEMWE, which can continuously treat urea wastewater at an initial current density of 600 mA cm^-2, with about 53% in average urea treatment efficiency.

An Ultra-Stable, High-Energy and Wide-Temperature-Range Aqueous Alkaline Sodium-Ion Battery with the Microporous C4N/rGO Anode

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Common anode materials in aqueous alkaline electrolytes, such as cadmium, metal hydrides and zinc, usually suffer from remarkable biotoxicity, high cost, and serious side reactions. To overcome these problems, we develop a conjugated porous polymer (CPP) in-situ grown on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Ketjen black (KB), noted as C₄N/rGO and C₄N/KB respectively, as the alternative anodes. The results show that C₄N/rGO electrode delivers a low redox potential (−0.905 V vs. Ag/AgCl), high specific capacity (268.8 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹), ultra-stable and fast sodium ion storage behavior (216 mAh g⁻¹ at 20 A g⁻¹) in 2 M NaOH electrolyte. The assembled C₄N/rGO//Ni(OH)₂ full battery can cycle stably more than 38,000 cycles. Furthermore, by adding a small amount of antifreeze additive dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to adjust the hydrogen bonding network, the low-temperature performance of the electrolyte (0.1 DMSO/2 M NaOH) is significantly improved while hydrogen evolution is inhibited. Consequently, the C₄N/rGO//Ni(OH)₂ full cell exhibits an energy density of 147.3 Wh Kg⁻¹ and ultra-high cycling stability over a wide temperature range from −70 to 45 °C. This work provides an ultra-stable high-capacity CPP-based anode and antifreeze electrolyte for aqueous alkaline batteries and will facilitate their practical applications under extreme conditions.

Highlights:
1 An integrated conjugated microporous polymer composite electrode (C₄N/rGO) with high conductivity, large specific surface area and good solvent resistance was prepared by in-situ growth.
2 An antifreeze alkaline electrolyte (0.1 DMSO/2 M NaOH) was developed to broaden the operation temperature zone and voltage window of the aqueous alkaline battery.
3 The prepared aqueous alkaline battery exhibits a high energy density (147.3 Wh Kg⁻¹ at 25 °C), outstanding long cycling stability and excellent wide-temperature-range performance (−70 to 45 °C).

A Flexible-Integrated Multimodal Hydrogel-Based Sensing Patch

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Sleep monitoring is an important part of health management because sleep quality is crucial for restoration of human health. However, current commercial products of polysomnography are cumbersome with connecting wires and state-of-the-art flexible sensors are still interferential for being attached to the body. Herein, we develop a flexible-integrated multimodal sensing patch based on hydrogel and its application in unconstraint sleep monitoring. The patch comprises a bottom hydrogel-based dual-mode pressure–temperature sensing layer and a top electrospun nanofiber-based non-contact detection layer as one integrated device. The hydrogel as core substrate exhibits strong toughness and water retention, and the multimodal sensing of temperature, pressure, and non-contact proximity is realized based on different sensing mechanisms with no crosstalk interference. The multimodal sensing function is verified in a simulated real-world scenario by a robotic hand grasping objects to validate its practicability. Multiple multimodal sensing patches integrated on different locations of a pillow are assembled for intelligent sleep monitoring. Versatile human–pillow interaction information as well as their evolution over time are acquired and analyzed by a one-dimensional convolutional neural network. Track of head movement and recognition of bad patterns that may lead to poor sleep are achieved, which provides a promising approach for sleep monitoring.

Highlights:
1 A flexible multimodal proximity–pressure–temperature sensing patch with a simple structure was developed.
2 Thanks to structural design and material synthesis, the sensor has an outstanding temperature sensitivity of 0.5 °C⁻¹ with good linearity, a high pressure sensitivity of 30.6 kPa⁻¹ and a non-contact sensing range is 2 m.
3 After the multimodal sensing patches are integrated at different locations of the pillow, the sleeping conditions can be monitored comfortably.

High-Performance Gate-All-Around Field Effect Transistors Based on Orderly Arrays of Catalytic Si Nanowire Channels

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Gate-all-around field-effect transistors (GAA-FETs) represent the leading-edge channel architecture for constructing state-of-the-art high-performance FETs. Despite the advantages offered by the GAA configuration, its application to catalytic silicon nanowire (SiNW) channels, known for facile low-temperature fabrication and high yield, has faced challenges primarily due to issues with precise positioning and alignment. In exploring this promising avenue, we employed an in-plane solid–liquid-solid (IPSLS) growth technique to batch-fabricate orderly arrays of ultrathin SiNWs, with diameters of D_NW = 22.4 ± 2.4 nm and interwire spacing of 90 nm. An in situ channel-releasing technique has been developed to well preserve the geometry integrity of suspended SiNW arrays. By optimizing the source/drain contacts, high-performance GAA-FET devices have been successfully fabricated, based on these catalytic SiNW channels for the first time, yielding a high on/off current ratio of 10⁷ and a steep subthreshold swing of 66 mV dec⁻¹, closing the performance gap between the catalytic SiNW-FETs and state-of-the-art GAA-FETs fabricated by using advanced top-down EBL and EUV lithography. These results indicate that catalytic IPSLS SiNWs can also serve as the ideal 1D channels for scalable fabrication of high-performance GAA-FETs, well suited for monolithic 3D integrations.

Highlights:
1 A high-density array of orderly silicon nanowires (SiNWs) was grown in precise locations, with diameter of D_NW = 22.4 ± 2.4 nm and interwire spacing of 90 nm.
2 A special suspension-contact protocol has been developed to reliably suspend the in-plane solid-liquid-solid SiNWs to serve as ultrathin quasi-1D channels for gate-all-around field-effect transistors (GAA-FETs).
3 By optimizing the source/drain metal contacts, high-performance catalytical GAA-FETs have been successfully demonstrated, achieving a high on/off current ratio of 10⁷ and a steep subthreshold swing of 66 mV dec^-1.

Robust and High-Wettability Cellulose Separators with Molecule-Reassembled Nano-Cracked Structures for High-Performance Supercapacitors

Xiaoyu Wang, Wenqiu Zheng, Hui Zhao, Junying Li, Sheng Chen, Feng Xu — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Separators in supercapacitors (SCs) frequently suffer from high resistance and the risk of short circuits due to inadequate electrolyte wettability, depressed mechanical properties, and insufficient thermal stability. Here, we develop a high-performance regenerated cellulose separator with nano-cracked structures for SCs via a binary solvent of superbase-derived ionic liquid and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The unique nano-cracks with an average width of 7.45 nm arise from the acceleration of cellulose molecular reassembly by DMSO-regulated hydrogen bonding, which endows the separator with high porosity (70.2%) and excellent electrolyte retention (329%). The outstanding thermal stability (273 °C) and mechanical strength (70 MPa) enable the separator to maintain its structural integrity under high temperatures and external forces. With these benefits, the SC utilizing the cellulose separator enables a high specific capacitance of 93.6 F g⁻¹ at 1.0 A g⁻¹ and a remarkable capacitance retention of 99.5% after 10,000 cycles compared with the commercial NKK-MPF30AC and NKK-TF4030. The robust and high-wettability cellulose separator holds promise as a superior alternative to commercial separators for advanced SCs with enhanced performance and improved safety.

Highlights:
1 A robust and high-wettability cellulose separator with unique nano-cracked structures is constructed through hydrogen bond-driven reassembly of cellulose molecules using a green binary solvent.
2 The nano-cracked structures endow the separator with high porosity (70.2%) and excellent electrolyte retention (329%).
3 The supercapacitors with nano-cracked separators exhibit high specific capacitance (93.6 F g⁻¹ at 1.0 A g⁻¹) and a long cycling life (99.5% retention after 10,000 cycles).

Wireless, Multifunctional System-Integrated Programmable Soft Robot

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Soft robots have partially or entirely provided versatile opportunities for issues or roles that cannot be addressed by conventional machine robots, although most studies are limited to designs, controls, or physical/mechanical motions. Here, we present a transformable, reconfigurable robotic platform created by the integration of magnetically responsive soft composite matrices with deformable multifunctional electronics. Magnetic compounds engineered to undergo phase transition at a low temperature can readily achieve reversible magnetization and conduct various changes of motions and shapes. Thin and flexible electronic system designed with mechanical dynamics does not interfere with movements of the soft electronic robot, and the performances of wireless circuit, sensors, and devices are independent of a variety of activities, all of which are verified by theoretical studies. Demonstration of navigations and electronic operations in an artificial track highlights the potential of the integrated soft robot for on-demand, environments-responsive movements/metamorphoses, and optoelectrical detection and stimulation. Further improvements to a miniaturized, sophisticated system with material options enable in situ monitoring and treatment in envisioned areas such as biomedical implants.

Highlights:
1 A soft, untethered electronic robot that integrates magnetically responsive engineered composites, enabling reversible programming and a diverse range of motions and shapes.
2 Seamless integration of a meticulously designed soft/flexible electronic system with the magnetic soft robot guarantees the stable and accurate execution of multi-modal electrical functions while preserving the integrity of its mechanical movement.
3 The comprehensive demonstration illustrates the feasibility of the untethered, integrated magnetic soft robot, highlighting its stable operation, adaptability, and ability to perform complex tasks under diverse conditions.

A Transparent Polymer-Composite Film for Window Energy Conservation

Xianhu Liu, Haoyu Zhang, Yamin Pan, Jun Ma, Chuntai Liu, Changyu Shen — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

As living standards improve, the energy consumption for regulating indoor temperature keeps increasing. Windows, in particular, enhance indoor brightness but also lead to increased energy loss, especially in sunny weather. Developing a product that can maintain indoor brightness while reducing energy consumption is a challenge. We developed a facile, spectrally selective transparent ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene composite film to address this trade-off. It is based on a blend of antimony-doped tin oxide and then spin-coated hydrophobic fumed silica, achieving a high visible light transmittance (> 70%) and high shielding rates for ultraviolet (> 90%) and near-infrared (> 70%). When applied to the acrylic window of containers and placed outside, this film can cause a 10 °C temperature drop compared to a pure polymer film. Moreover, in building energy simulations, the annual energy savings could be between 14.1% ~ 31.9% per year. The development of energy-efficient and eco-friendly transparent films is crucial for reducing energy consumption and promoting sustainability in the window environment.

Highlights:
1 The resultant film offers high visible light transmittance (>70%) while effectively blocking UV (>90%) and NIR (>70%) radiation, addressing the balance between natural lighting and solar energy control.
2 Incorporating hydrophobic silica, it achieves high emissivity for radiative cooling, reducing indoor temperatures by up to 10 °C and achieving maximum additional cooling energy savings of 261 MJ m⁻² per year.
3 Its superhydrophobic surface ensures excellent self-cleaning properties and durability, making it highly suitable for long-term outdoor applications.

Tailoring the Reversible Phase Transition of Perovskite Nanofiber Electrodes for High-Performance and Durable Reversible Solid Oxide Cells

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Reversible solid oxide cells (RSOCs) are capable of converting various energy resources, between electricity and chemical fuels, with high efficiency and flexibility, making them suitable for grid balancing and renewable energy consumption. However, the practical application of RSOCs is still limited by the insufficient activity and stability of the electrodes in different operating modes. Herein, a highly efficient symmetrical electrode composed of La_0.3Sr_0.6Ti_0.1Co_0.2Fe_0.7O_3−δ (LSTCF) nanofibers and in situ exsolved Co₃Fe₇ nanoparticles is developed for boosting the performance of RSOCs. The reversible phase transition, high activity and stability of the electrode have been confirmed by a combination of experimental (e.g., transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure) and computational studies. Electrolyte-supported RSOCs with the symmetrical electrode demonstrate excellent catalytic activity and stability, achieving a high peak power density of 0.98 W cm⁻² in the fuel cell mode using H₂ as the fuel (or 0.53 W cm⁻² using CH₄ as the fuel) and a high current density of 1.09 A cm⁻² at 1.4 V in the CO₂ electrolysis mode (or 1.03 A cm⁻² at 1.3 V for H₂O electrolysis) at 800 °C while maintaining excellent durability for over 100 h.

Highlights:
1 La_0.3Sr_0.6Ti_0.1Co_0.2Fe_0.7O₃−δ (LSTCF) nanofibers showed high structural reversibility.
2 LSTCF fibers and CoFe nanoparticles were reconstructed through a reversible phase transition process.
3 The LSTCF fiber electrode demonstrated excellent activity and stability for power and fuel co-generation.

Absorption–Reflection–Transmission Power Coefficient Guiding Gradient Distribution of Magnetic MXene in Layered Composites for Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The morphological distribution of absorbent in composites is equally important with absorbents for the overall electromagnetic properties, but it is often ignored. Herein, a comprehensive consideration including electromagnetic component regulation, layered arrangement structure, and gradient concentration distribution was used to optimize impedance matching and enhance electromagnetic loss. On the microscale, the incorporation of magnetic Ni nanoparticles into MXene nanosheets (Ni@MXene) endows suitable intrinsic permittivity and permeability. On the macroscale, the layered arrangement of Ni@MXene increases the effective interaction area with electromagnetic waves, inducing multiple reflection/scattering effects. On this basis, according to the analysis of absorption, reflection, and transmission (A–R–T) power coefficients of layered composites, the gradient concentration distribution was constructed to realize the impedance matching at low-concentration surface layer, electromagnetic loss at middle concentration interlayer and microwave reflection at high-concentration bottom layer. Consequently, the layered gradient composite (LG5-10–15) achieves complete absorption coverage of X-band at thickness of 2.00–2.20 mm with RL_min of −68.67 dB at 9.85 GHz in 2.05 mm, which is 199.0%, 12.6%, and 50.6% higher than non-layered, layered and layered descending gradient composites, respectively. Therefore, this work confirms the importance of layered gradient structure in improving absorption performance and broadens the design of high-performance microwave absorption materials.

Highlights:
1 The layered arrangement and gradient distribution of magnetic MXene are firstly combined to improve the electromagnetic wave (EMW) RLmin and broaden effective absorption bandwidth.
2 Absorption, reflection, and transmission (A–R–T) power coefficient analysis is firstly used to guide the gradient distribution, so as to realize EMW incidence at low-concentration surface, loss at middle concentration interlayer and reflection at high-concentration bottom.
3 The layered gradient composite (LG5-10-15) achieves complete absorption coverage of X-band at thickness of 2.00-2.20 mm with RLmin of -68.67 dB.

Understanding the Decoupled Effects of Cations and Anions Doping for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The past decade has witnessed the rapid increasement in power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, serious ion migration hampers their operational stability. Although dopants composed of varied cations and anions are introduced into perovskite to suppress ion migration, the impact of cations or anions is not individually explored, which hinders the evaluation of different cations and further application of doping strategy. Here we report that a special group of sulfonic anions (like CF₃SO₃⁻) successfully introduce alkaline earth ions (like Ca²⁺) into perovskite lattice compared to its halide counterparts. Furthermore, with effective crystallization regulation and defect passivation of sulfonic anions, perovskite with Ca(CF₃SO₃)₂ shows reduced PbI₂ residue and metallic Pb⁰ defects; thereby, corresponding PSCs show an enhanced PCE of 24.95%. Finally by comparing the properties of perovskite with Ca(CF₃SO₃)₂ and FACF₃SO₃, we found that doped Ca²⁺ significantly suppressed halide migration with an activation energy of 1.246 eV which accounts for the improved operational stability of Ca(CF₃SO₃)₂-doped PSCs, while no obvious impact of Ca²⁺on trap density is observed. Combining the benefits of cations and anions, this study presents an effective method to decouple the effects of cations and anions and fabricate efficient and stable PSCs.

Highlights:
1 Alkaline earth cations are successfully incorporated into perovskite lattice with the aid of sulfonic acid anions, while alkaline earth metal halides are lack of doping capacity.
2 The sulfonic acid anions effectively regulate the crystallization of perovskite and passivate the metallic Pb0 defect states, thereby improving the power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells.
3 By comparing the property of FACF₃SO₃ and Ca(CF₃SO₃)₂-doped perovskite films, the impact of suppressing halide migration with an activation energy of 1.246 eV is attributed to Ca²⁺ cations, thus providing methodology for decoupling the effects of cations and anions.

Thin and Flexible Breeze-Sense Generators for Non-Contact Haptic Feedback in Virtual Reality

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the realm of virtual reality (VR), haptic feedback is integral to enhance the immersive experience; yet, existing wearable devices predominantly rely on skin contact feedback, lacking options for compact and non-contact breeze-sense feedback. Herein, we propose a compact and non-contact working model piezoelectret actuator for providing a gentle and safe breeze sensation. This easy-fabricated and flexible breeze-sense generator with thickness around 1 mm generates air flow pressure up to ~ 163 Pa, which is significantly sensed by human skin. In a typical demonstration, the breeze-sense generators array showcases its versatility by employing multiple coded modes for non-contact information transmitting. The thin thinness and good flexibility facilitate seamless integration with wearable VR setups, and the wearable arrays empower volunteers to precisely perceive the continuous and sudden breeze senses in the virtual environments. This work is expected to inspire developing new haptic feedback devices that play pivotal roles in human–machine interfaces for VR applications.

Highlights:
1 The breeze-sense generators generate significant air flow pressure output of ~ 163 Pa that can easily be sensed by human skin and have an overall thickness around 1 mm.
2 Volunteers successfully identify multiple programming patterns transmitted by the generators array.
3 A wearable breeze-sense feedback system effectively provides the continuous or sudden breeze senses in virtual reality environments.

Integrating Electric Ambipolar Effect for High-Performance Zinc Bromide Batteries

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The coupling of fast redox kinetics, high-energy density, and prolonged lifespan is a permanent aspiration for aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries, but which has been severely hampered by a narrow voltage range and suboptimal compatibility between the electrolytes and electrodes. Here, we unprecedentedly introduced an electric ambipolar effect for synergistic manipulation on Zn²⁺ ternary-hydrated eutectic electrolyte (ZTE) enabling high-performance Zn-Br₂ batteries. The electric ambipolar effect motivates strong dipole interactions among hydrated perchlorates and bipolar ligands of L-carnitine (L-CN) and sulfamide, which reorganized primary cations solvation sheath in a manner of forming Zn[(L-CN)(SA)(H₂O)₄]²⁺ configuration and dynamically restricting desolvated H₂O molecules, thus ensuring a broadened electrochemical window of 2.9 V coupled with high ionic conductivity. Noticeably, L-CN affords an electrostatic shielding effect and an in situ construction of organic–inorganic interphase, endowing oriented Zn anode plating/stripping reversibly for over 2400 h. Therefore, with the synergy of electro/nucleophilicity and exceptional compatibility, the ZTE electrolyte dynamically boosts the conversion redox of Zn-Br₂ batteries in terms of high specific capacity and stable cycling performance. These findings open a window for designing electrolytes with synergetic chemical stability and compatibility toward advanced zinc-ion batteries.

Highlights:
1 Electric ambipolar effect motivates strong dipole interactions reorganized primary cations solvation sheath.
2 Electrostatic shielding homogenized the distribution for nucleated Zn and facilized the orientated Zn deposition.
3 The eutectic network of Zn²⁺ ternary hydrated eutectic electrolytes enables highly reversible and noteworthy Br₂/Br⁻ reaction kinetics.

Synergistic Single-Atom and Clustered Cobalt Sites on N/S Co-Doped Defect Nano-Carbon for Efficient H2O2 Electrosynthesis

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Non-noble-based single atomic catalysts have exhibited significant potential in electrochemical production of H₂O₂ via two-electron oxygen reduction reactions (2e⁻ ORR). However, constructing highly efficient and acid-resistant catalysts remains a challenge but significant. In this work, fullerene (C₆₀) with abundant pentagonal inherent defects was employed as a carbon substrate to synthesize defect-rich nanocarbon electrocatalysts doped with NSCo single atoms and accompanied by metallic Co nanoparticles (CoSA/CoNP-NSDNC) for the first time. The electrochemical experiments demonstrate that the active sites of CoSA/CoNP-NSDNC are formed through the synergistic interaction between NSCo single atoms and Co nanoparticle clusters embedded within the carbon framework. The obtained CoSA/CoNP-NSDNC catalyst exhibits an onset potential as 0.72 V versus RHE and achieves up to 90% H₂O₂ selectivity over a wide potential range of 500 mV. Moreover, the as-obtained CoSA/CoNP-NSDNC configured as the cathode in a self-assembled flow cell under acidic conditions achieves a high H₂O₂ production rate of 4206.96 mmol g_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹ with a Faraday efficiency of ∼ 95% and exhibit ultra fast degradation of organic pollutants. This work focuses on the synergistic effect of non-noble metal nanoparticles, metal single-atom sites, and topological defects on the 2e⁻ ORR process, which provides a new direction for designing carbon-based catalysts for efficient H₂O₂ electrosynthesis.

Highlights:
1 Defect-rich nanocarbon catalyst (CoSA/CoNP-NSDNC) synthesized using NSCo single atoms and Co nanoparticle clusters on fullerene-derived carbon framework, enabling efficient H₂O₂ electrosynthesis.
2 The CoSA/CoNP-NSDNC catalyst exhibits high H₂O₂ selectivity (~ 90%) over a wide potential range with an onset potential of 0.72 V versus RHE, achieving Faraday efficiency close to 95% in acidic conditions.
3 Demonstrates potential for environmental applications, achieving high H₂O₂ production (4206.96 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹) in a flow cell setup, along with efficient degradation of organic pollutants in Fenton-like reactions.

Top-Down Dual-Interface Carrier Management for Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cells

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Despite significant advancements in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, improving carrier management in top cells remains challenging due to the defective dual interfaces of wide-bandgap perovskite, particularly on textured silicon surfaces. Herein, a series of halide ions (Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻) substituted piperazinium salts are designed and synthesized as post-treatment modifiers for perovskite surfaces. Notably, piperazinium chloride induces an asymmetric bidirectional ions distribution from the top to the bottom surface, with large piperazinium cations concentrating at the perovskite surface and small chloride anions migrating downward to accumulate at the buried interface. This results in effective dual-interface defect passivation and energy band modulation, enabling wide-bandgap (1.68 eV) perovskite solar cells to achieve a PCE of 22.3% and a record product of open-circuit voltage × fill factor (84.4% relative to the Shockley–Queisser limit). Furthermore, the device retains 91.3% of its initial efficiency after 1200 h of maximum power point tracking without encapsulation. When integrated with double-textured silicon heterojunction solar cells, a remarkable PCE of 31.5% is achieved for a 1.04 cm² monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell, exhibiting excellent long-term operational stability (T₈₀ = 755 h) without encapsulation in ambient air. This work provides a convenient strategy on dual-interface engineering for making high-efficiency and stable perovskite platforms.

Highlights:
1 An innovated top-down dual-interface carrier management strategy is developed to effectively improve both interfaces of the wide-bandgap perovskite using a multi-functionalized piperazinium chloride post-treatment.
2 The 1.68 eV unencapsulated single-junction perovskite solar cells exhibit a champion PCE of 22.3%, with a record VOC × FF product (84.4% relative to the Shockley–Queisser limit).
3 An impressive PCE of 31.5% for the 1.04 cm² monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell based on silicon heterojunction bottom cell is demonstrated.

Construction of Multifunctional Conductive Carbon-Based Cathode Additives for Boosting Li6PS5Cl-Based All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The electrochemical performance of all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) can be prominently enhanced by minimizing the detrimental degradation of solid electrolytes through their undesirable side reactions with the conductive carbon additives (CCAs) inside the composite cathodes. Herein, the well-defined Mo₃Ni₃N nanosheets embedded onto the N-doped porous carbons (NPCs) substrate are successfully synthesized (Mo-Ni@NPCs) as CCAs inside LiCoO₂ for Li₆PSC₅Cl (LPSCl)-based ASSLBs. This nano-composite not only makes it difficult for hydroxide groups (–OH) to survive on the surface but also allows the in situ surface reconstruction to generate the ultra-stable MoS₂-Mo₃Ni₃N heterostructures after the initial cycling stage. These can effectively prevent the occurrence of OH-induced LPSC decomposition reaction from producing harmful insulating sulfates, as well as simultaneously constructing the highly-efficient electrons/ions dual-migration pathways at the cathode interfaces to facilitate the improvement of both electrons and Li⁺ ions conductivities in ASSLBs. With this approach, fine-tuned Mo-Ni@NPCs can deliver extremely outstanding performance, including an ultra-high first discharge-specific capacity of 148.61 mAh g⁻¹ (0.1C), a high Coulombic efficiency (94.01%), and a capacity retention rate after 1000 cycles still attain as high as 90.62%. This work provides a brand-new approach of “conversion-protection” strategy to overcome the drawbacks of composite cathodes interfaces instability and further promotes the commercialization of ASSLBs.

Highlights:
1 This work provides a brand-new approach to the “conversion-protection” strategy to overcome the drawbacks of composite cathode interfaces.
2 The Mo₃Ni₃N not only makes it difficult for hydroxide groups (-OH) to survive on the surface but also allows the in situ surface reconstruction to generate the ultra-stable MoS₂-Mo₃Ni₃N heterostructures after the initial cycling stage.
3 The Mo-Ni@NPCs/LCO/LPSC-based ASSLBs achieve high-capacity retention (90.62%) and excellent cycle life (1000 cycles).

Highly Thermally Conductive and Flame-Retardant Waterborne Polyurethane Composites with 3D BNNS Bridging Structures via Magnetic Field Assistance

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The microstructure design for thermal conduction pathways in polymeric electrical encapsulation materials is essential to meet the stringent requirements for efficient thermal management and thermal runaway safety in modern electronic devices. Hence, a composite with three-dimensional network (Ho/U-BNNS/WPU) is developed by simultaneously incorporating magnetically modified boron nitride nanosheets (M@BNNS) and non-magnetic organo-grafted BNNS (U-BNNS) into waterborne polyurethane (WPU) to synchronous molding under a horizontal magnetic field. The results indicate that the continuous in-plane pathways formed by M@BNNS aligned along the magnetic field direction, combined with the bridging structure established by U-BNNS, enable Ho/U-BNNS/WPU to exhibit exceptional in-plane (λ_//) and through-plane thermal conductivities (λ_⊥). In particular, with the addition of 30 wt% M@BNNS and 5 wt% U-BNNS, the λ_// and λ_⊥ of composites reach 11.47 and 2.88 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively, which representing a 194.2% improvement in λ_⊥ compared to the composites with a single orientation of M@BNNS. Meanwhile, Ho/U-BNNS/WPU exhibits distinguished thermal management capabilities as thermal interface materials for LED and chips. The composites also demonstrate excellent flame retardancy, with a peak heat release and total heat release reduced by 58.9% and 36.9%, respectively, compared to WPU. Thus, this work offers new insights into the thermally conductive structural design and efficient flame-retardant systems of polymer composites, presenting broad application potential in electronic packaging fields.

Highlights:
1 By simultaneously incorporating the magnetic filler-modified boron nitride nanosheets (M@BNNS) and the non-magnetic filler U-BNNS into the polymer matrix, a three-dimensional heat conduction pathway composites are obtained under a horizontal magnetic field.
2 Owing to the microstructural design of the 3D-bridging architecture, with the addition of only 5 wt% U-BNNS, the λ⊥ of composites achieved 2.88 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹, representing a remarkable increase of 194.2% compared to single-oriented composites.
3 The 3D-bridging architecture composite also demonstrates excellent flame retardancy, attributed to the synergistic mechanisms of condensed and gas phases, effectively mitigating the risks of thermal runaway in electronic devices.

Electromagnetic Functions Modulation of Recycled By-Products by Heterodimensional Structure

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

One of the significant technological challenges in safeguarding electronic devices pertains to the modulation of electromagnetic (EM) wave jamming and the recycling of defensive shields. The synergistic effect of heterodimensional materials can effectively enable the manipulation of EM waves by altering the nanostructure. Here we propose a novel approach for upcycling by-products of silver nanowires that can fabricate shape-tunable aerogels which enable the modulation of its interaction with microwaves by heterodimensional structure of by-products. By-product heterodimensionality was used to design EM-wave-jamming-dissipation structures and therefore two typical tunable aerogel forms were studied. The first tunable form was aerogel film, which shielded EM interference (EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) > 89 dB) and the second tunable form was foam, which performed dual EM functions (SE > 30 dB& reflective loss (RL) < -35 dB, effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) > 6.7 GHz). We show that secondary recycled aerogels retain nearly all of their EM protection properties, making this type of closed-loop cycle an appealing option. Our findings pave the way for the development of adaptive EM functions with nanoscale regulation in a green and closed-loop cycle, and they shed light on the fundamental understanding of microwave interactions with heterodimensional structures.

Highlights:
1 Turning trash into treasure: The outstanding tunable aerogels were fabricated via heterodimensional by-products of silver nanowires. The first tunable form, aerogel film, shields electromagnetic interference (EMI SE > 89 dB), while the second tunable form, aerogel foam, performs dual EM functions (EMI SE > 30 dB and RL < -35 dB, EAB > 6.7 GHz).
2 Recycle again: The secondary recycled aerogels retain nearly all of their EM protection qualities, making this closed-loop cycle desirable.

Multifunctional Janus-Structured Polytetrafluoroethylene-Carbon Nanotube-Fe3O4/MXene Membranes for Enhanced EMI Shielding and Thermal Management

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Herein, a novel Janus-structured multifunctional membrane with integrated electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and personalized thermal management is fabricated using shear-induced in situ fibrillation and vacuum-assisted filtration. Interestingly, within the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-carbon nanotube (CNT)-Fe₃O₄ layer (FCFe), CNT nanofibers interweave with PTFE fibers to form a stable “silk-like” structure that effectively captures Fe₃O₄ particles. By incorporating a highly conductive MXene layer, the FCFe/MXene (FCFe/M) membrane exhibits excellent electrical/thermal conductivity, mechanical properties, and flame retardancy. Impressively, benefiting from the rational regulation of component proportions and the design of a Janus structure, the FCFe/M membrane with a thickness of only 84.9 µm delivers outstanding EMI shielding effectiveness of 44.56 dB in the X-band, with a normalized specific SE reaching 10,421.3 dB cm² g⁻¹, which is attributed to the “absorption-reflection-reabsorption” mechanism. Furthermore, the membrane demonstrates low-voltage-driven Joule heating and fast-response photothermal performance. Under the stimulation of a 3 V voltage and an optical power density of 320 mW cm⁻², the surface temperatures of the FCFe/M membranes can reach up to 140.4 and 145.7 °C, respectively. In brief, the FCFe/M membrane with anti-electromagnetic radiation and temperature regulation is an attractive candidate for the next generation of wearable electronics, EMI compatibility, visual heating, thermotherapy, and military and aerospace applications.

Highlights:
1 The Janus-type multifunctional ultra-flexible polytetrafluoroethylene-carbon nanotube-Fe₃O₄/MXene (FCFe/M) membranes were fabricated via a shear-induced in situ fibrillation technique followed by vacuum-assisted filtration.
2 Thanks to the strategic distribution of the MXene conductive reflection layer and the silk-like FCFe electromagnetic wave’s absorption layer, the membranes achieve robust electromagnetic interference shielding and effective antireflection through the absorption-reflection-reabsorption mechanism.
3 The membranes exhibit exceptional thermal management performance, including efficient heat dissipation and electrothermal/photothermal conversion capabilities, further enhancing their promising potential for applications in flexible wearable technologies.

Functionalized Aluminum Nitride for Improving Hydrolysis Resistances of Highly Thermally Conductive Polysiloxane Composites

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A series of divinylphenyl-acryloyl chloride copolymers (PDVB-co-PACl) is synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization employing tert-butyl acrylate and divinylbenzene as monomers. PDVB-co-PACl is utilized to graft on the surface of spherical aluminum nitride (AlN) to prepare functionalized AlN (AlN@PDVB-co-PACl). Polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) is then used as the matrix to prepare thermally conductive AlN@PDVB-co-PACl/PMHS composites with AlN@PDVB-co-PACl as fillers through blending and curing. The grafting of PDVB-co-PACl synchronously enhances the hydrolysis resistance of AlN and its interfacial compatibility with PMHS matrix. When the molecular weight of PDVB-co-PACl is 5100 g mol⁻¹ and the grafting density is 0.8 wt%, the composites containing 75 wt% of AlN@PDVB-co-PACl exhibit the optimal comprehensive performance. The thermal conductivity (λ) of the composite is 1.14 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹, which enhances by 20% and 420% compared to the λ of simply physically blended AlN/PMHS composite and pure PMHS, respectively. Meanwhile, AlN@PDVB-co-PACl/PMHS composites display remarkable hydrothermal aging resistance by retaining 99.1% of its λ after soaking in 90 °C deionized water for 80 h, whereas the λ of the blended AlN/PMHS composites decreases sharply to 93.7%.

Highlights:
1 Copolymer of divinylphenyl-acryloyl chloride copolymers (PDVB-co-PACl) is designed and synthesized to graft on the surface of aluminum nitride (AlN) to improve its hydrolysis resistance.
2 AlN fillers functionalized by PDVB-co-PACl with the molecular weight of 5100 g mol^-1 exhibits the highest hydrolysis resistance and the lowest interfacial thermal resistance.
3 When the mass fraction of AlN@PDVB-co-PACl is 75 wt% and the grafting density of PDVB-co-PACl is 0.8 wt%, the λ for AlN@PDVB-co-PACl/PMHS composites is 1.14 W m^-1 K^-1 and maintains 99.1% after soaking in 90 °C deionized water for 80 h.

Multifunctional Carbon Foam with Nanoscale Chiral Magnetic Heterostructures for Broadband Microwave Absorption in Low Frequency

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The construction of carbon nanocoil (CNC)-based chiral-dielectric-magnetic trinity composites is considered as a promising approach to achieve excellent low-frequency microwave absorption. However, it is still challenging to further enhance the low frequency microwave absorption and elucidate the related loss mechanisms. Herein, the chiral CNCs are first synthesized on a three-dimensional (3D) carbon foam and then combined with the FeNi/NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles to form a novel chiral-dielectric-magnetic trinity foam. The 3D porous CNC-carbon foam network provides excellent impedance matching and strong conduction loss. The formation of the FeNi-carbon interfaces induces interfacial polarization loss, which is confirmed by the density functional theory calculations. Further permeability analysis and the micromagnetic simulation indicate that the nanoscale chiral magnetic heterostructures achieve magnetic pinning and coupling effects, which enhance the magnetic anisotropy and magnetic loss capability. Owing to the synergistic effect between dielectricity, chirality, and magnetism, the trinity composite foam exhibits excellent microwave absorption performance with an ultrabroad effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 14 GHz and a minimum reflection of loss less than − 50 dB. More importantly, the C-band EAB of the foam is extended to 4 GHz, achieving the full C-band coverage. This study provides further guidelines for the microstructure design of the chiral-dielectric-magnetic trinity composites to achieve broadband microwave absorption.

Highlights:
1 A novel multifunctional carbon foam with nanoscale chiral magnetic heterostructures is constructed, in which the interconnection network provides strong conduction loss.
2 The interfacial polarization loss induced by the FeNi-carbon interfaces is confirmed by the density functional theory calculations, and the magnetic pinning and coupling effects are revealed by the micromagnetic simulation.
3 The composite foam exhibits an ultrabroad effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 14 GHz and a C-band EAB of 4 GHz, achieving the full C-band coverage.

Light Management in 2D Perovskite Toward High-Performance Optoelectronic Applications

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Two-dimensional Dion-Jacobson (DJ) perovskite has garnered significant attention due to its superior responsivity and operation stability. However, efforts are predominantly focused on discovering new organic spacer to synthesize novel perovskites, while material-form-associated light management, which is crucial for enhancing the photodetector’s efficiency, is largely overlooked. Herein, we introduced surface light management strategy into DJ-type perovskite system by synthesizing surface-patterned BDAPbBr₄ (BPB, BDA = NH₃(CH₂)₄NH₃) microplates (MPs) using template-assisted space-confined method, which was further elucidated by theoretical optical simulation. By leveraging surface-patterned MPs to enhance light absorption, the BPB-based photodetectors (PDs) achieved remarkable photoresponse in ultraviolet region, marked by a high on/off ratio (~ 5000), superior responsivity (2.24 A W⁻¹), along with large detectivity (~ 10¹³ Jones) and low detection limit (68.7 nW cm⁻²). Additionally, the PDs showcased superior light communication and imaging capabilities even under weak-light illumination. Notably, the anisotropic nature of the surface-patterned MPs conferred excellent polarization sensitivity to the PD. These results represented the first demonstration of BPB perovskite in weak-light communication and imaging, as well as in polarized light detection. Our findings offer valuable insights into enhancing photodetector performance and optoelectronic applications through surface light management strategies.

Highlights:
1 The light management strategy is introduced into two-dimensional Dion-Jacobson (2D DJ) perovskite and subsequently elucidated both experimentally and theoretically.
2 The synthesis of surface-patterned BDAPbBr₄ microplates with high crystalline quality demonstrates the first reported instance of growing such 2D DJ-type perovskite microplates.
3 The optimized device exhibits excellent photodetection performance under UV region. Moreover, this work represents the successful demonstration of BDAPbBr₄ perovskite for UV weak-light communication, imaging, and polarized light detection.

Enhanced Conductivity of Multilayer Copper–Carbon Nanofilms via Plasma Immersion Deposition

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Although room-temperature superconductivity is still difficult to achieve, researching materials with electrical conductivity significantly higher than that of copper will be of great importance in improving energy efficiency, reducing costs, lightening equipment weight, and enhancing overall performance. Herein, this study presents a novel copper–carbon nanofilm composite with enhanced conductivity which has great applications in the electronic devices and electrical equipment. Multilayer copper–carbon nanofilms and interfaces with superior electronic structures are formed based on copper materials using plasma immersion nanocarbon layer deposition technology, effectively enhancing conductivity. Experimental results show that for a five-layer copper–carbon nanofilm composite, the conductivity improves significantly when the thickness of the carbon nanofilm increases. When the carbon nanofilm accounts for 16% of the total thickness, the overall conductivity increases up to 30.20% compared to pure copper. The mechanism of the enhanced conductivity is analyzed including roles of copper atom adsorption sites and electron migration pathways by applying effective medium theory, first-principles calculations and density of states analysis. Under an applied electric field, the high-density electrons in the copper film can migrate into the nanocarbon film, forming highly efficient electron transport channels, which significantly enhance the material’s conductivity. Finally, large-area electrode coating equipment is developed based on this study, providing the novel and robust strategy to enhance the conductivity of copper materials, which enables industrial application of copper–carbon nanocomposite films in the field of high conductivity materials.

Highlights:
1 With plasma immersion deposition technology, multilayer copper–carbon nanofilms were fabricated and conductivity can achieve up to 30.20% increase compared to pure copper.
2 By applying effective medium theory, first-principles calculations, and density of states analysis, the critical roles of copper atom adsorption sites and electron migration pathways within the nanocarbon film were analyzed, elucidating the mechanism of the conductivity enhancement.
3 Large-scale electrode coating equipment suitable for industrial production was developed.

Multiscale Biomimetic Evaporators Based on Liquid Metal/Polyacrylonitrile Composite Fibers for Highly Efficient Solar Steam Generation

Yuxuan Sun, Dan Liu, Fei Zhang, Xiaobo Gao, Jie Xue, Qingbin Zheng — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Solar steam generation (SSG) offers a cost-effective solution for producing clean water by utilizing solar energy. However, integrating effective thermal management and water transportation to develop high-efficiency solar evaporators remains a significant challenge. Here, inspired by the hierarchical structure of the stem of bird of paradise, a three-dimensional multiscale liquid metal/polyacrylonitrile (LM/PAN) evaporator is fabricated by assembling LM/PAN fibers. The strong localized surface plasmon resonance of LM particles and porous structure of LM/PAN fibers with interconnected channels lead to efficient light absorption up to 90.9%. Consequently, the multiscale biomimetic LM/PAN evaporator achieves an outstanding water evaporation rate of 2.66 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ with a solar energy efficiency of 96.5% under one sun irradiation and an exceptional water rate of 2.58 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ in brine. Additionally, the LM/PAN evaporator demonstrates a superior purification performance for seawater, with the concentration of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ in real seawater dramatically decreased by three orders to less than 7 mg L⁻¹ after desalination under light irradiation. The multiscale LM/PAN evaporator with hierarchical structure regulates the water transportation as well as thermal management for highly effective solar-driven evaporation, providing valuable insight into the structural design principles for advanced SSG systems.

Highlights:
1 A three-dimensional multiscale liquid metal/polyacrylonitrile evaporator is fabricated through wet spinning and assembly.
2 The evaporator exhibits an outstanding water evaporation rate of 2.66 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ with a solar energy efficiency of 96.5% under one sun irradiation.
3 The evaporator demonstrates a superior purification performance for seawater and sewage under light irradiation.

Laser-Induced Nanowire Percolation Interlocking for Ultrarobust Soft Electronics

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Metallic nanowires have served as novel materials for soft electronics due to their outstanding mechanical compliance and electrical properties. However, weak adhesion and low mechanical robustness of nanowire networks to substrates significantly undermine their reliability, necessitating the use of an insulating protective layer, which greatly limits their utility. Herein, we present a versatile and generalized laser-based process that simultaneously achieves strong adhesion and mechanical robustness of nanowire networks on diverse substrates without the need for a protective layer. In this method, the laser-induced photothermal energy at the interface between the nanowire network and the substrate facilitates the interpenetration of the nanowire network and the polymer matrix, resulting in mechanical interlocking through percolation. This mechanism is broadly applicable across different metallic nanowires and thermoplastic substrates, significantly enhancing its universality in diverse applications. Thereby, we demonstrated the mechanical robustness of nanowires in reusable wearable physiological sensors on the skin without compromising the performance of the sensor. Furthermore, enhanced robustness and electrical conductivity by the laser-induced interlocking enables a stable functionalization of conducting polymers in a wet environment, broadening its application into various electrochemical devices.

Highlights:
1 Laser-induced percolation interlocking technology enables the development of the robust, open-structured nanowire (NW) electrodes through the photothermal effect at the interface between NW and substrate.
2 The optimized NW electrode with enhanced mechanical and electrical properties can be used as reusable wearable electronics.
3 Stable functionalization of the percolation-interlocked NW electrode with various conducting polymers can be achieved, broadening the applicability as soft electronics.

Atomically Dispersed Metal Atoms: Minimizing Interfacial Charge Transport Barrier for Efficient Carbon-Based Perovskite Solar Cells

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) exhibit notable stability and durability. However, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) is significantly hindered by energy level mismatches, which result in interfacial charge transport barriers at the electrode-related interfaces. Herein, we report a back electrode that utilizes atomically dispersed metallic cobalt (Co) in carbon nanosheets (Co₁/CN) to adjust the interfacial energy levels. The electrons in the d-orbitals of Co atoms disrupt the electronic symmetry of the carbon nanosheets (CN), inducing a redistribution of the electronic density of states that leads to a downward shift in the Fermi level and a significantly reduced interfacial energy barrier. As a result, the C-PSCs using Co₁/CN as back electrodes achieve a notable PCE of 22.61% with exceptional long-term stability, maintaining 94.4% of their initial efficiency after 1000 h of continuous illumination without encapsulation. This work provides a promising universal method to regulate the energy level of carbon electrodes for C-PSCs and paves the way for more efficient, stable, and scalable solar technologies toward commercialization.

Highlights:
1 Atomically dispersed metal atoms effectively enhance energy level alignment and reduce energy losses at the electrode interfaces.
2 The optimized carbon-based perovskite solar cells achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.61% and maintain 94.4% of their initial PCE after 1000 h under continuous illumination without encapsulation.

Transition Metal Carbonitride MXenes Anchored with Pt Sub-Nanometer Clusters to Achieve High-Performance Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at All pH Range

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Novel Cellulosic Fiber Composites with Integrated Multi-Band Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Energy Storage Functionalities

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In an era where technological advancement and sustainability converge, developing renewable materials with multifunctional integration is increasingly in demand. This study filled a crucial gap by integrating energy storage, multi-band electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and structural design into bio-based materials. Specifically, conductive polymer layers were formed within the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxide (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose fiber skeleton, where a mild TEMPO-mediated oxidation system was applied to endow it with abundant macropores that could be utilized as active sites (specific surface area of 105.6 m² g⁻¹). Benefiting from the special hierarchical porous structure of the material, the constructed cellulose fiber-derived composites can realize high areal-specific capacitance of 12.44 F cm⁻² at 5 mA cm⁻² and areal energy density of 3.99 mWh cm⁻² (2005 mW cm⁻²) with an excellent stability of maintaining 90.23% after 10,000 cycles at 50 mA cm⁻². Meanwhile, the composites showed a high electrical conductivity of 877.19 S m⁻¹ and excellent EMI efficiency (> 99.99%) in multiple wavelength bands. The composite material’s EMI values exceed 100 dB across the L, S, C, and X bands, effectively shielding electromagnetic waves in daily life. The proposed strategy paves the way for utilizing bio-based materials in applications like energy storage and EMI shielding, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Highlights:
1 A mild 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxide mediated modification system was applied to improve the reactivity and introduce porous structure of cellulose fiber skeleton.
2 Composite exhibited highly efficient electromagnetic shielding interference performance (> 99.99%) over multi-band.
3 Integrating energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, and structural design into bio-based materials.

Multifunctional Graphdiyne Enables Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells via Anti-Solvent Additive Engineering

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Finding ways to produce dense and smooth perovskite films with negligible defects is vital for achieving high-efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, we aim to enhance the quality of the perovskite films through the utilization of a multifunctional additive in the perovskite anti-solvent, a strategy referred to as anti-solvent additive engineering. Specifically, we introduce ortho-substituted-4′-(4,4″-di-tert-butyl-1,1′:3′,1″-terphenyl)-graphdiyne (o-TB-GDY) as an AAE additive, characterized by its sp/sp²-cohybridized and highly π-conjugated structure, into the anti-solvent. o-TB-GDY not only significantly passivates undercoordinated lead defects (through potent coordination originating from specific high π–electron conjugation), but also serves as nucleation seeds to effectively enhance the nucleation and growth of perovskite crystals. This markedly reduces defects and non-radiative recombination, thereby increasing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) to 25.62% (certified as 25.01%). Meanwhile, the PSCs exhibit largely enhanced stability, maintaining 92.6% of their initial PCEs after 500 h continuous 1-sun illumination at ~ 23 °C in a nitrogen-filled glove box.

Highlights:
1 The use of novel nanographdiyne (o-TB-GDY) via anti-solvent additive engineering significantly enhances the nucleation and growth of perovskite crystals, leading to improved film quality, reduced film defects and suppressed non-radiative recombination.
2 o-TB-GDY primarily remains on the surface of the perovskite films after crystallization, where it strongly interacts with the undercoordinated Pb defects for effective passivation.
3 The optimized perovskite solar cells achieve a champion power conversion efficiency of 25.62% (certified as 25.01%) with good stability.

Zn(TFSI)2-Mediated Ring-Opening Polymerization for Electrolyte Engineering Toward Stable Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Practical Zn metal batteries have been hindered by several challenges, including Zn dendrite growth, undesirable side reactions, and unstable electrode/electrolyte interface. These issues are particularly more serious in low-concentration electrolytes. Herein, we design a Zn salt-mediated electrolyte with in situ ring-opening polymerization of the small molecule organic solvent. The Zn(TFSI)₂ salt catalyzes the ring-opening polymerization of (1,3-dioxolane (DOL)), generating oxidation-resistant and non-combustible long-chain polymer (poly(1,3-dioxolane) (pDOL)). The pDOL reduces the active H₂O molecules in electrolyte and assists in forming stable organic–inorganic gradient solid electrolyte interphase with rich organic constituents, ZnO and ZnF₂. The introduction of pDOL endows the electrolyte with several advantages: excellent Zn dendrite inhibition, improved corrosion resistance, widened electrochemical window (2.6 V), and enhanced low-temperature performance (freezing point = − 34.9 °C). Zn plating/stripping in pDOL-enhanced electrolyte lasts for 4200 cycles at 99.02% Coulomb efficiency and maintains a lifetime of 8200 h. Moreover, Zn metal anodes deliver stable cycling for 2500 h with a high Zn utilization of 60%. A Zn//VO₂ pouch cell assembled with lean electrolyte (electrolyte/capacity (E/C = 41 mL (Ah)⁻¹) also demonstrates a capacity retention ratio of 92% after 600 cycles. These results highlight the promising application prospects of practical Zn metal batteries enabled by the Zn(TFSI)₂-mediated electrolyte engineering.

Highlights:
1 A novel electrolyte enabled by Zn(TFSI)₂-mediated ring-opening polymerization strategy for highly reversible aqueous zinc metal batteries was proposed.
2 The novel electrolyte has good antioxidant stability and non-inflammability.
3 The novel electrolyte widens the electrochemical window, improves the low-temperature performance, and inhibits Zn dendrite. The Zn metal anode shows an 8200 h lifespan at 1 mAh cm⁻² and a 2500 h lifespan at 60% depth of discharge.

Half-Covered ‘Glitter-Cake’ AM@SE Composite: A Novel Electrode Design for High Energy Density All-Solid-State Batteries

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are pursued due to their potential for better safety and high energy density. However, the energy density of the cathode for ASSBs does not seem to be satisfactory due to the low utilization of active materials (AMs) at high loading. With small amount of solid electrolyte (SE) powder in the cathode, poor electrochemical performance is often observed due to contact loss and non-homogeneous distribution of AMs and SEs, leading to high tortuosity and limitation of lithium and electron transport pathways. Here, we propose a novel cathode design that can achieve high volumetric energy density of 1258 Wh L⁻¹ at high AM content of 85 wt% by synergizing the merits of AM@SE core–shell composite particles with conformally coated thin SE shell prepared from mechanofusion process and small SE particles. The core–shell structure with an intimate and thin SE shell guarantees high ionic conduction pathway while unharming the electronic conduction. In addition, small SE particles play the role of a filler that reduces the packing porosity in the cathode composite electrode as well as between the cathode and the SE separator layer. The systematic demonstration of the optimization process may provide understanding and guidance on the design of electrodes for ASSBs with high electrode density, capacity, and ultimately energy density.

Highlights:
1 A novel electrode design for high energy density all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) is realized through the control of nano- and microstructures.
2 An active materials@solid electrolyte composite with a half-covered “glitter-cake” morphology is adopted to optimize the transport of electrons and ions in the electrode.
3 The optimized electrode design exhibited a volumetric energy density of 1258 Wh L⁻¹ at an active material content of 85 wt%, exceeding the performance of the reported ASSB cells.

NH4+-Modulated Cathodic Interfacial Spatial Charge Redistribution for High-Performance Dual-Ion Capacitors

Yumin Chen, Ziyang Song, Yaokang Lv, Lihua Gan, Mingxian Liu — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets Incorporated Hierarchical Hydrogen Bonding Polymer Networks for Transparent and Fire-Proof Ceramizable Coatings

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In recent decades, annual urban fire incidents, including those involving ancient wooden buildings burned, transportation, and solar panels, have increased, leading to significant loss of human life and property. Addressing this issue without altering the surface morphology or interfering with optical behavior of flammable materials poses a substantial challenge. Herein, we present a transparent, low thickness, ceramifiable nanosystem coating composed of a highly adhesive base (poly(SSS₁-co-HEMA₁)), nanoscale layered double hydroxide sheets as ceramic precursors, and supramolecular melamine di-borate as an accelerator. We demonstrate that this hybrid coating can transform into a porous, fire-resistant protective layer with a highly thermostable vitreous phase upon exposure to flame/heat source. A nanosystem coating of just ~ 100 μm thickness can significantly increase the limiting oxygen index of wood (Pine) to 37.3%, dramatically reduce total heat release by 78.6%, and maintain low smoke toxicity (CIT_G = 0.016). Detailed molecular force analysis, combined with a comprehensive examination of the underlying flame-retardant mechanisms, underscores the effectiveness of this coating. This work offers a strategy for creating efficient, environmentally friendly coatings with fire safety applications across various industries.

Highlights:
1 A transparent and ceramizable coating was developed by incorporating nano-layered double hydroxide nanosheets into hierarchical hydrogen bonding polymer networks.
2 The resulting coating composites demonstrated excellent high-temperature stability and fire resistance, effectively withstanding the direct exposure to a butane flame (~ 1100 °C) in air atmosphere.
3 The mechanisms behind the flame-retardant behavior and ceramicization behaviors were thoroughly investigated and explained.

Ultrasensitive Chemiresistive Gas Sensors Based on Dual-Mesoporous Zinc Stannate Composites for Room Temperature Rice Quality Monitoring

Jinyong Xu, Xuxiong Fan, Kaichun Xu, Kaidi Wu, Hanlin Liao, Chao Zhang — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The integration of dual-mesoporous structures, the construction of heterojunctions, and the incorporation of highly concentrated oxygen vacancies are pivotal for advancing metal oxide-based gas sensors. Nonetheless, achieving an optimal design that simultaneously combines mesoporous structures, precise heterojunction modulation, and controlled oxygen vacancies through a one-step process remains challenging. This study proposes an innovative method for fabricating zinc stannate semiconductors featuring dual-mesoporous structures and tunable oxygen vacancies via a direct solution precursor plasma spray technique. As a proof of concept, the resulting zinc stannate-based coatings are applied to detect 2-undecanone, a key biomarker for rice aging. Remarkably, the zinc oxide/zinc stannate heterojunctions with a well-defined secondary pore structure exhibit exceptional gas-sensing performance for 2-undecanone at room temperature. Furthermore, practical experiments indicate that the developed sensor effectively identifies adulteration in various rice varieties. These results underscore the potential of this method for designing metal oxides with tailored properties for high-performance gas sensors. The enhanced adsorption capacity and dual-mesoporous features of this semiconductor make it a promising candidate for sensing applications in agricultural food safety inspections.

Highlights:
1 Dual-mesoporous heterostructured semiconducting metal oxides were directly fabricated using a simple template-free method, optimizing porosity and improving surface area for enhanced gas-sensing.
2 The fabricated sensor exhibited high sensitivity (11.03 for 13 ppm), a rapid response time (21 s), and an impressively low theoretical detection limit (431 ppb) for 2-Undecanone at room temperature.
3 An innovative real-time method was developed for analyzing characteristic biomarkers of rice aging, enabling accurate and timely monitoring of rice quality.

Cellulose Elementary Fibrils as Deagglomerated Binder for High-Mass-Loading Lithium Battery Electrodes

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Amidst the ever-growing interest in high-mass-loading Li battery electrodes, a persistent challenge has been the insufficient continuity of their ion/electron conduction pathways. Here, we propose cellulose elementary fibrils (CEFs) as a class of deagglomerated binder for high-mass-loading electrodes. Derived from natural wood, CEF represents the most fundamental unit of cellulose with nanoscale diameter. The preparation of the CEFs involves the modulation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding by the treatment with a proton acceptor and a hydrotropic agent. This elementary deagglomeration of the cellulose fibers increases surface area and anionic charge density, thus promoting uniform dispersion with carbon conductive additives and suppressing interfacial side reactions at electrodes. Consequently, a homogeneous redox reaction is achieved throughout the electrodes. The resulting CEF-based cathode (overlithiated layered oxide (OLO) is chosen as a benchmark electrode active material) exhibits a high areal-mass-loading (50 mg cm^–2, equivalent to an areal capacity of 12.5 mAh cm^–2) and a high specific energy density (445.4 Wh kg^–1) of a cell, which far exceeds those of previously reported OLO cathodes. This study highlights the viability of the deagglomerated binder in enabling sustainable high-mass-loading electrodes that are difficult to achieve with conventional synthetic polymer binders.

Highlights:
1 Cellulose elementary fibrils (CEFs), the most fundamental unit of cellulose, are proposed as a deagglomerated binder for high-mass-loading Li battery electrodes.
2 The CEFs, due to their increased surface area and anionic charge density, promote uniform dispersion with carbon additives and mitigate interfacial side reactions in electrodes.
3 The CEF-based overlithiated layered oxide cathode exhibits a high areal-mass-loading (50 mg cm^–2) and a high specific energy density (445.4 Wh kg^–1) of a cell.

Revisiting Dipole-Induced Fluorinated-Anion Decomposition Reaction for Promoting a LiF-Rich Interphase in Lithium-Metal Batteries

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Building anion-derived solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) with enriched LiF is considered the most promising strategy to address inferior safety features and poor cyclability of lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, we discover that, instead of direct electron transfer from surface polar groups to bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI⁻) for inducing a LiF-rich SEI, the dipole-induced fluorinated-anion decomposition reaction begins with the adsorption of Li ions and is highly dependent on their mobility on the polar surface. To demonstrate this, a single-layer graphdiyne on MXene (sGDY@MXene) heterostructure has been successfully fabricated and integrated into polypropylene separators. It is found that the adsorbed Li ions connect electron-donating sGDY@MXene to TFSI⁻, facilitating interfacial charge transfer for TFSI⁻ decomposition. However, this does not capture the entire picture. The sGDY@MXene also renders the adsorbed Li ions with high mobility, enabling them to reach optimal reaction sites and expedite their coordination processes with O on O=S=O and F on the broken –CF₃⁻, facilitating bond cleavage. In contrast, immobilized Li ions on the more lithiophilic pristine MXene retard these cleavage processes. Consequently, the decomposition reaction is accelerated on sGDY@MXene. This work highlights the dedicate balance between lithiophilicity and Li-ion mobility in effectively promoting a LiF-rich SEI for the long-term stability of LMBs.

Highlights:
1 Single-layer graphdiyne on MXene (sGDY@MXene) heterostructure was fabricated and integrated into polypropylene separators, directing a LiF-rich solid electrolyte interphase and long-term stability of lithium-metal anode.
2 Instead of direct electron transfer from surface polar groups to fluorinated anions, the adsorbed Li ions on sGDY@MXene act as dynamic bridges collaboratively connecting the electron-donating heterostructure to the anion and its derivatives, facilitating interface charge transfer.
3 Dedicate balance between lithiophilicity and high Li-ion mobility is the key to promote the dipole-induced fluorinated-anion decomposition.

Correction: Self-Assembly of Binderless MXene Aerogel for Multiple-Scenario and Responsive Phase Change Composites with Ultrahigh Thermal Energy Storage Density and Exceptional Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The severe dependence of traditional phase change materials (PCMs) on the temperature-response and lattice deficiencies in versatility cannot satisfy demand for using such materials in complex application scenarios. Here, we introduced metal ions to induce the self-assembly of MXene nanosheets and achieve their ordered arrangement by combining suction filtration and rapid freezing. Subsequently, a series of MXene/ K⁺/paraffin wax (PW) phase change composites (PCCs) were obtained via vacuum impregnation in molten PW. The prepared MXene-based PCCs showed versatile applications from macroscale technologies, successfully transforming solar, electric, and magnetic energy into thermal energy stored as latent heat in the PCCs. Moreover, due to the absence of binder in the MXene-based aerogel, MK3@PW exhibits a prime solar–thermal conversion efficiency (98.4%). Notably, MK3@PW can further convert the collected heat energy into electric energy through thermoelectric equipment and realize favorable solar–thermal–electric conversion (producing 206 mV of voltage with light radiation intensity of 200 mw cm⁻²). An excellent Joule heat performance (reaching 105 °C with an input voltage of 2.5 V) and responsive magnetic–thermal conversion behavior (a charging time of 11.8 s can achieve a thermal insulation effect of 285 s) for contactless thermotherapy were also demonstrated by the MK3@PW. Specifically, as a result of the ordered arrangement of MXene nanosheet self-assembly induced by potassium ions, MK3@PW PCC exhibits a higher electromagnetic shielding efficiency value (57.7 dB) than pure MXene aerogel/PW PCC (29.8 dB) with the same MXene mass. This work presents an opportunity for the multi-scene response and practical application of PCMs that satisfy demand of next-generation multifunctional PCCs.

Highlights:
1 This work proposes a tactic for improving the efficiency of thermal energy conversion and expanding the application scenarios of phase change materials by constructing non-binder and oriented MXene-K⁺ aerogel.
2 The prepared phase change composites (PCCs) can rapidly transform solar, electric, magnetic energy into latent heat for keeping warm, power generation, and thermal physiotherapy.
3 Owing to the suggested tactic, the prepared PCCs achieves ultrahigh energy storage density and realize 99.9998% electromagnetic wave energy attenuation.

Correction: A Broad Range Triboelectric Stiffness Sensor for Variable Inclusions Recognition

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

With the development of artificial intelligence, stiffness sensors are extensively utilized in various fields, and their integration with robots for automated palpation has gained significant attention. This study presents a broad range self-powered stiffness sensor based on the triboelectric nanogenerator (Stiff-TENG) for variable inclusions in soft objects detection. The Stiff-TENG employs a stacked structure comprising an indium tin oxide film, an elastic sponge, a fluorinated ethylene propylene film with a conductive ink electrode, and two acrylic pieces with a shielding layer. Through the decoupling method, the Stiff-TENG achieves stiffness detection of objects within 1.0 s. The output performance and characteristics of the TENG for different stiffness objects under 4 mm displacement are analyzed. The Stiff-TENG is successfully used to detect the heterogeneous stiffness structures, enabling effective recognition of variable inclusions in soft object, reaching a recognition accuracy of 99.7%. Furthermore, its adaptability makes it well-suited for the detection of pathological conditions within the human body, as pathological tissues often exhibit changes in the stiffness of internal organs. This research highlights the innovative applications of TENG and thereby showcases its immense potential in healthcare applications such as palpation which assesses pathological conditions based on organ stiffness.

Highlights:
1 We propose a broad range triboelectric sensor system employing elastic sponge and shielding layers, which can realize fast stiffness recognition within 1.0 s at a low cost.
2 A novel algorithm is proposed for rapid stiffness identification by extracting signal characteristics, effectively reducing demand of computing resources.
3 The proposed sensor system can identify the multi-layer stiffness structure of objects, enabling effective recognition of variable inclusions in soft objects with an accuracy of 99.7%.

Tuning Isomerism Effect in Organic Bulk Additives Enables Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Organic additives with multiple functional groups have shown great promise in improving the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells. The functional groups can passivate undercoordinated ions to reduce nonradiative recombination losses. However, how these groups synergistically affect the enhancement beyond passivation is still unclear. Specifically, isomeric molecules with different substitution patterns or molecular shapes remain elusive in designing new organic additives. Here, we report two isomeric carbazolyl bisphosphonate additives, 2,7-CzBP and 3,6-CzBP. The isomerism effect on passivation and charge transport process was studied. The two molecules have similar passivation effects through multiple interactions, e.g., P = O···Pb, P = O···H–N and N–H···I. 2,7-CzBP can further bridge the perovskite crystallites to facilitates charge transport. Power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 25.88% and 21.04% were achieved for 0.09 cm² devices and 14 cm² modules after 2,7-CzBP treatment, respectively. The devices exhibited enhanced operational stability maintaining 95% of initial PCE after 1000 h of continuous maximum power point tracking. This study of isomerism effect hints at the importance of tuning substitution positions and molecular shapes for organic additives, which paves the way for innovation of next-generation multifunctional aromatic additives.

Highlights:
1 By anchoring the perovskite sites with the functional groups of CzBP (P = O···Pb, N–H···I and P = O···N–H), the bulk nonradiative recombination is suppressed and ion migration is inhibited. Doping perovskite films with CzBP led to enhanced intercrystallite interactions in the bulk and improved photoluminescence quantum yield.
2 Using a typical electron-rich moiety as the π-linker to replace the classic alkyl spacer in CzBP facilitated the charge-carrier transport processes and the passivation effect of carbazole further contributed to high VOC. The optimized 2,7-CzBP-treated device achieves the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.88%, with VOC of 1.189 V for 0.090 cm² and the perovskite solar cell module with a PCE of 21.04% for 14 cm².
3 For 2,7-CzBP, the more extended conjugation and the more linear molecular geometry result in a more effective improvement in the performance.

Biomimetic Micro-Nanostructured Evaporator with Dual-Transition-Metal MXene for Efficient Solar Steam Generation and Multifunctional Salt Harvesting

Ruiqi Xu, Hongzhi Cui, Na Wei, Yang Yu, Lin Dai, Xiaohua Chen — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation is one of the most attractive approaches to addressing the global freshwater shortage. However, achieving an integrated high evaporation rate, salt harvesting, and multifunctionality in evaporator is still a crucial challenge. Here, a novel composite membrane with biomimetic micro-nanostructured superhydrophobic surface is designed via ultrafast laser etching technology. Attractively, the double‐transition‐metal (V_1/2Mo_1/2)₂CT_x MXene nanomaterials as a photothermal layer, exhibiting the enhanced photothermal conversion performance due to elevated joint densities of states, which enables high populations of photoexcited carrier relaxation and heat release, provides a new insight into the photothermal conversion mechanism for multiple principal element MXene. Hence, the (V_1/2Mo_1/2)₂CT_x MXene-200 composite membrane can achieve a high evaporation rate of 2.23 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ under one sun, owing to the enhanced “light trap” effect, photothermal conversion, and high-throughput water transfer. Synergetically, the membrane can induce the directed precipitation of salt at the membrane edge, thus enabling salt harvesting for recycling and zero-emission of brine water. Moreover, the composite membrane is endowed with excellent multifunctionality of anti‐/de‐icing, anti-fouling, and antibacterial, overcoming the disadvantage that versatility is difficult to be compatible. Therefore, the evaporator and the promising strategy hold great potential for the practical application of solar evaporation.

Highlights:
1 The design of composite membrane with biomimetic micro-nanostructured superhydrophobic surface and (V_1/2Mo_1/2)₂C MXene photothermal nanomaterials.
2 The double‐transition‐metal (V_1/2Mo_1/2)₂CT_x MXene exhibits enhanced photothermal conversion performance via the elevated joint densities of states.
3 The (V_1/2Mo_1/2)₂CT_x MXene-200 composite membrane achieves an evaporation rate of 2.23 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ under one sun, directed salt harvesting, and excellent multifunctionality of anti-/de-icing, anti-fouling, and antibacterial.

Ti3C2Tx Composite Aerogels Enable Pressure Sensors for Dialect Speech Recognition Assisted by Deep Learning

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Wearable pressure sensors capable of adhering comfortably to the skin hold great promise in sound detection. However, current intelligent speech assistants based on pressure sensors can only recognize standard languages, which hampers effective communication for non-standard language people. Here, we prepare an ultralight Ti₃C₂T_x MXene/chitosan/polyvinylidene difluoride composite aerogel with a detection range of 6.25 Pa-1200 kPa, rapid response/recovery time, and low hysteresis (13.69%). The wearable aerogel pressure sensor can detect speech information through the throat muscle vibrations without any interference, allowing for accurate recognition of six dialects (96.2% accuracy) and seven different words (96.6% accuracy) with the assistance of convolutional neural networks. This work represents a significant step forward in silent speech recognition for human–machine interaction and physiological signal monitoring.

Highlights:
1 Emphasized the innovation in both the material design and methodology between the sensing performance and mechanical properties.
2 The composite aerogel pressure sensors exhibited low hysteresis (13.69%), wide detection range (6.25 Pa-1200 kPa), and cyclic stability to acquire stable and accurate pronunciation signals.
3 Over 6888 and 4158 pronunciation signals were collected by the pressure sensor and utilized for training the convolutional neural network model, allowing for accurate recognition of six dialects (96.2% accuracy) and seven words (96.6% accuracy).

An Efficient and Flexible Bifunctional Dual-Band Electrochromic Device Integrating with Energy Storage

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Dual-band electrochromic devices capable of the spectral-selective modulation of visible (VIS) light and near-infrared (NIR) can notably reduce the energy consumption of buildings and improve the occupants' visual and thermal comfort. However, the low optical modulation and poor durability of these devices severely limit its practical applications. Herein, we demonstrate an efficient and flexible bifunctional dual-band electrochromic device which not only shows excellent spectral-selective electrochromic performance with a high optical modulation and a long cycle life, but also displays a high capacitance and a high energy recycling efficiency of 51.4%, integrating energy-saving with energy-storage. The nanowires structure and abundant oxygen-vacancies of oxygen-deficient tungsten oxide nanowires endows it high flexibility and a high optical modulation of 73.1% and 85.3% at 633 and 1200 nm respectively. The prototype device assembled can modulate the VIS light and NIR independently and effectively through three distinct modes with a long cycle life (3.3% capacity loss after 10,000 cycles) and a high energy-saving performance (8.8 °C lower than the common glass). Furthermore, simulations also demonstrate that our device outperforms the commercial low-emissivity glass in terms of energy-saving in most climatic zones around the world. Such windows represent an intriguing potential technology to improve the building energy efficiency.

Highlights:
1 A flexible dual-band electrochromic device with a high optical modulation and a long cycle life was reported.
2 The device assembled can modulate the visible light and near-infrared independently and effectively, showing higher energy-saving performance than commercial low-emissivity glass in most climatic zones around the world.
3 The flexible device also shows good energy storage and energy recycling performances, recycling 51.4% of the energy consumed in the coloration process for local reusing.

Hierarchically Porous Polypyrrole Foams Contained Ordered Polypyrrole Nanowire Arrays for Multifunctional Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Dynamic Infrared Stealth

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

As modern communication and detection technologies advance at a swift pace, multifunctional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with active/positive infrared stealth, hydrophobicity, and electric-thermal conversion ability have received extensive attention. Meeting the aforesaid requirements simultaneously remains a huge challenge. In this research, the melamine foam (MF)/polypyrrole (PPy) nanowire arrays (MF@PPy) were fabricated via one-step electrochemical polymerization. The hierarchical MF@PPy foam was composed of three-dimensional PPy micro-skeleton and ordered PPy nanowire arrays. Due to the upwardly grown PPy nanowire arrays, the MF@PPy foam possessed good hydrophobicity ability with a water contact angle of 142.00° and outstanding stability under various harsh environments. Meanwhile, the MF@PPy foam showed excellent thermal insulation property on account of the low thermal conductivity and elongated ligament characteristic of PPy nanowire arrays. Furthermore, taking advantage of the high conductivity (128.2 S m⁻¹), the MF@PPy foam exhibited rapid Joule heating under 3 V, resulting in dynamic infrared stealth and thermal camouflage effects. More importantly, the MF@PPy foam exhibited remarkable EMI shielding effectiveness values of 55.77 dB and 19,928.57 dB cm² g⁻¹. Strong EMI shielding was put down to the hierarchically porous PPy structure, which offered outstanding impedance matching, conduction loss, and multiple attenuations. This innovative approach provides significant insights to the development of advanced multifunctional EMI shielding foams by constructing PPy nanowire arrays, showing great applications in both military and civilian fields.

Highlights:
1 Hierarchical melamine foam (MF)/polypyrrole (PPy) nanowire arrays (MF@PPy) were fabricated by electrochemical polymerization.
2 The 3D porous PPy micro-skeleton and the 1D PPy nanowire arrays imparted the MF@PPy foams with high electromagnetic interference shielding performance of 19,928.57 dB cm² g⁻¹ via multiple attenuations.
3 The PPy nanowire arrays achieved multifunctional integration including hydrophobicity, thermal insulation, and dynamic infrared thermal camouflage properties.

Carbon Dots-Modified Hollow Mesoporous Photonic Crystal Materials for Sensitivity- and Selectivity-Enhanced Sensing of Chloroform Vapor

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Chloroform and other volatile organic pollutants have garnered widespread attention from the public and researchers, because of their potential harm to the respiratory system, nervous system, skin, and eyes. However, research on chloroform vapor sensing is still in its early stages, primarily due to the lack of specific recognition motif. Here we report a mesoporous photonic crystal sensor incorporating carbon dots-based nanoreceptor (HMSS@CDs-PCs) for enhanced chloroform sensing. The colloidal PC packed with hollow mesoporous silica spheres provides an interconnected ordered macro-meso-hierarchical porous structure, ideal for rapid gas sensing utilizing the photonic bandgap shift as the readout signal. The as-synthesized CDs with pyridinic-N-oxide functional groups adsorbed in the hollow mesoporous silica spheres are found to not only serve as the chloroform adsorption sites, but also a molecular glue that prevents crack formation in the colloidal PC. The sensitivity of HMSS@CDs-PCs sensor is 0.79 nm ppm⁻¹ and an impressively low limit of detection is 3.22 ppm, which are the best reported values in fast-response chloroform vapor sensor without multi-signal assistance. The positive response time is 7.5 s and the negative response time 9 s. Furthermore, relatively stable sensing can be maintained within a relative humidity of 20%–85%RH and temperature of 25–55 °C. This study demonstrates that HMSS@CDs-PCs sensors have practical application potential in indoor and outdoor chloroform vapor detection.

Highlights:
1 Uniform-sized hollow mesoporous silica spheres form colloidal photonic crystals for gas sensing.
2‘Nanoreceptors’ have been introduced for increasing the sensing sensitivity and specificity.
3 A chloroform gas sensor is created with a sensitivity of 0.79 nm ppm⁻¹ with a limit of detection of 3.22 ppm, which are the best reported values in fast-response chloroform vapor sensors without multi-signal assistance.

Breaking Solvation Dominance Effect Enabled by Ion–Dipole Interaction Toward Long-Spanlife Silicon Oxide Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Micrometer-sized silicon oxide (SiO) anodes encounter challenges in large-scale applications due to significant volume expansion during the alloy/de-alloy process. Herein, an innovative deep eutectic electrolyte derived from succinonitrile is introduced to enhance the cycling stability of SiO anodes. Density functional theory calculations validate a robust ion–dipole interaction between lithium ions (Li⁺) and succinonitrile (SN). The cosolvent fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) optimizes the Li⁺ solvation structure in the SN-based electrolyte with its weakly solvating ability. Molecular dynamics simulations investigate the regulating mechanism of ion–dipole and cation–anion interaction. The unique Li⁺ solvation structure, enriched with FEC and TFSI⁻, facilitates the formation of an inorganic–organic composite solid electrolyte interphase on SiO anodes. Micro-CT further detects the inhibiting effect on the SiO volume expansion. As a result, the SiO|LiCoO₂ full cells exhibit excellent electrochemical performance in deep eutectic-based electrolytes. This work presents an effective strategy for extending the cycle life of SiO anodes by designing a new SN-based deep eutectic electrolyte.

Highlights:
1 The succinonitrile-based deep eutectic electrolyte, characterized by strong ion–dipole interactions, can establish an anion-rich Li⁺ solvation structure while exhibiting high ionic conductivity and Li⁺ transference number.
2 Precisely regulating multiple ion–ion, ion–dipole, and dipole–dipole interactions facilitates the transition of the Li⁺ solvation structure from solvent dominance to anion dominance.
3 Optical microscopy and Micro-CT analysis can demonstrate that the anion-derived solid electrolyte interphase effectively mitigates the irreversible volume expansion of silicon oxide.

NiNC Catalysts in CO2-to-CO Electrolysis

Hao Zhang, Menghui Qi, Yong Wang — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

CO₂-to-CO electrolyzer technology converts carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide using electrochemical methods, offering significant environmental and energy benefits by aiding in greenhouse gas mitigation and promoting a carbon circular economy. Recent study by Strasser et al. in Nature Chemical Engineering presents a high-performance CO₂-to-CO electrolyzer utilizing a NiNC catalyst with nearly 100% faradaic efficiency, employing innovative diagnostic tools like the carbon crossover coefficient (CCC) to address transport-related failures and optimize overall efficiency. Strasser’s research demonstrates the potential of NiNC catalysts, particularly NiNC-IMI, for efficient CO production in CO₂-to-CO electrolyzers, highlighting their high selectivity and performance. However, challenges such as localized CO₂ depletion and mass transport limitations underscore the need for further optimization and development of diagnostic tools like CCC. Strategies for optimizing catalyst structure and operational parameters offer avenues for enhancing the performance and reliability of electrochemical CO₂ reduction catalysts.

Highlights:
1 NiNC catalysts achieve nearly 100% faradaic efficiency in CO₂-to-CO conversion.
2 The carbon crossover coefficient is introduced as a diagnostic tool for performance optimization.
3 Tandem electrolyzer design and mesoporous structures enhance product yields and efficiency.

Thermoelectric Modulation of Neat Ti3C2Tx MXenes by Finely Regulating the Stacking of Nanosheets

Junhui Tang, Renyang Zhu, Ya‑Hsin Pai, Yan Zhao, Chen Xu, Ziqi Liang — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Emerging two-dimensional MXenes have been extensively studied in a wide range of fields thanks to their superior electrical and hydrophilic attributes as well as excellent chemical stability and mechanical flexibility. Among them, the ultrahigh electrical conductivity (σ) and tunable band structures of benchmark Ti₃C₂T_x MXene demonstrate its good potential as thermoelectric (TE) materials. However, both the large variation of σ reported in the literature and the intrinsically low Seebeck coefficient (S) hinder the practical applications. Herein, this study has for the first time systematically investigated the TE properties of neat Ti₃C₂T_x films, which are finely modulated by exploiting different dispersing solvents, controlling nanosheet sizes and constructing composites. First, deionized water is found to be superior for obtaining closely packed MXene sheets relative to other polar solvents. Second, a simultaneous increase in both S and σ is realized via elevating centrifugal speed on MXene aqueous suspensions to obtain small-sized nanosheets, thus yielding an ultrahigh power factor up to ~ 156 μW m⁻¹ K⁻². Third, S is significantly enhanced yet accompanied by a reduction in σ when constructing MXene-based nanocomposites, the latter of which is originated from the damage to the intimate stackings of MXene nanosheets. Together, a correlation between the TE properties of neat Ti₃C₂T_x films and the stacking of nanosheets is elucidated, which would stimulate further exploration of MXene TEs.

Highlights:
1 Investigation of dispersing solvents on processing Ti₃C₂T_x thin films revealed that deionized water is superior to realize tight stacking and high orientation of MXene nanosheets.
2 A simultaneous elevation of Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity of neat Ti₃C₂T_x films is achieved by increasing the centrifugal speed of MXene aqueous suspensions due to the energy filtering effect.
3 Further construction of Ti₃C₂T_x nanocomposites significantly strengthens Seebeck coefficient yet disrupts the stacking of MXene nanosheets.

Ammonium Sensing Patch with Ultrawide Linear Range and Eliminated Interference for Universal Body Fluids Analysis

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Ammonium level in body fluids serves as one of the critical biomarkers for healthcare, especially those relative to liver diseases. The continuous and real-time monitoring in both invasive and non-invasive manners is highly desired, while the ammonium concentrations vary largely in different body fluids. Besides, the sensing reliability based on ion-selective biosensors can be significantly interfered by potassium ions. To tackle these challenges, a flexible and biocompatible sensing patch for wireless ammonium level sensing was reported with an ultrawide linear range for universal body fluids including blood, tears, saliva, sweat and urine. The as-prepared biocompatible sensors deliver a reliable sensitivity of 58.7 mV decade⁻¹ in the range of 1–100 mM and a desirable selectivity coefficient of 0.11 in the interference of potassium ions, attributed to the cross-calibration within the sensors array. The sensor’s biocompatibility was validated by the cell growth on the sensor surface (> 80%), hemolysis rates (< 5%), negligible cellular inflammatory responses and weight changes of the mice with implanted sensors. Such biocompatible sensors with ultrawide linear range and desirable selectivity open up new possibility of highly compatible biomarker analysis via different body fluids in versatile approaches.

Highlights:
1 The as-prepared sensors can detect NH₄⁺ in the body fluids with a high sensitivity of 58.7 mV decade⁻¹ and an ultrawide detection range of 1–100 mM.
2 The biocompatible sensors exhibit desirable biocompatibility and minimal toxicity for continuous and long-term monitoring.
3 The average detection error of the integrated and wireless biosensing patch was 13.2%, and body fluid detection accuracy is improved by more than 18% after cross-calibration.

Skin-Friendly Large Matrix Iontronic Sensing Meta-Fabric for Spasticity Visualization and Rehabilitation Training via Piezo-Ionic Dynamics

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Rehabilitation training is believed to be an effectual strategy that can reduce the risk of dysfunction caused by spasticity. However, achieving visualization rehabilitation training for patients remains clinically challenging. Herein, we propose visual rehabilitation training system including iontronic meta-fabrics with skin-friendly and large matrix features, as well as high-resolution image modules for distribution of human muscle tension. Attributed to the dynamic connection and dissociation of the meta-fabric, the fabric exhibits outstanding tactile sensing properties, such as wide tactile sensing range (0 ~ 300 kPa) and high-resolution tactile perception (50 Pa or 0.058%). Meanwhile, thanks to the differential capillary effect, the meta-fabric exhibits a “hitting three birds with one stone” property (dryness wearing experience, long working time and cooling sensing). Based on this, the fabrics can be integrated with garments and advanced data analysis systems to manufacture a series of large matrix structure (40 × 40, 1600 sensing units) training devices. Significantly, the tunability of piezo-ionic dynamics of the meta-fabric and the programmability of high-resolution imaging modules allow this visualization training strategy extendable to various common disease monitoring. Therefore, we believe that our study overcomes the constraint of standard spasticity rehabilitation training devices in terms of visual display and paves the way for future smart healthcare.

Highlights:
1 The iontronic meta-fabric exhibits a “hitting three birds with one stone” property, breaking through the bottleneck that traditional film materials (PDMS) cannot balance comfort and durability.
2 The meta-fabrics can be integrated with garments and advanced data analysis systems to manufacture a series of large matrix structure (> 40 × 40, 1600 sensing units) rehabilitation training devices, overcoming the bottleneck of low matrix integration of traditional iontronic devices (< 10 × 10, 100 sensing units).

Correction: Defects-Rich Heterostructures Trigger Strong Polarization Coupling in Sulfides/Carbon Composites with Robust Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Defects-rich heterointerfaces integrated with adjustable crystalline phases and atom vacancies, as well as veiled dielectric-responsive character, are instrumental in electromagnetic dissipation. Conventional methods, however, constrain their delicate constructions. Herein, an innovative alternative is proposed: carrageenan-assistant cations-regulated (CACR) strategy, which induces a series of sulfides nanoparticles rooted in situ on the surface of carbon matrix. This unique configuration originates from strategic vacancy formation energy of sulfides and strong sulfides-carbon support interaction, benefiting the delicate construction of defects-rich heterostructures in M_xS_y/carbon composites (M-CAs). Impressively, these generated sulfur vacancies are firstly found to strengthen electron accumulation/consumption ability at heterointerfaces and, simultaneously, induct local asymmetry of electronic structure to evoke large dipole moment, ultimately leading to polarization coupling, i.e., defect-type interfacial polarization. Such “Janus effect” (Janus effect means versatility, as in the Greek two-headed Janus) of interfacial sulfur vacancies is intuitively confirmed by both theoretical and experimental investigations for the first time. Consequently, the sulfur vacancies-rich heterostructured Co/Ni-CAs displays broad absorption bandwidth of 6.76 GHz at only 1.8 mm, compared to sulfur vacancies-free CAs without any dielectric response. Harnessing defects-rich heterostructures, this one-pot CACR strategy may steer the design and development of advanced nanomaterials, boosting functionality across diverse application domains beyond electromagnetic response.

Highlights:
1 A series of sulfides/carbon composites with sulfur vacancies-rich sulfides heterointerfaces are well-designed and developed via a simple one-pot carrageenan-assistant cations-regulated strategy.
2“Janus effect” of interfacial sulfur vacancies, which triggers strong defect-type interfacial polarization, are firstly intuitively confirmed by both theoretical and experimental investigations.
3 Optimized Co/Ni-carbon composites (CAs) imbued with sulfur vacancies-rich heterointerfaces displays broad absorption bandwidth of 6.76 GHz at only 1.8 mm, compared to sulfur vacancies-free CAs without any dielectric response.

Concurrently Boosting Activity and Stability of Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysts via Judiciously Crafting Fe–Mn Dual Atoms for Fuel Cells

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The ability to unlock the interplay between the activity and stability of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) represents an important endeavor toward creating robust ORR catalysts for efficient fuel cells. Herein, we report an effective strategy to concurrent enhance the activity and stability of ORR catalysts via constructing atomically dispersed Fe–Mn dual-metal sites on N-doped carbon (denoted (FeMn-DA)–N–C) for both anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC) and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The (FeMn-DA)–N–C catalysts possess ample dual-metal atoms consisting of adjacent Fe-N₄ and Mn-N₄ sites on the carbon surface, yielded via a facile doping-adsorption-pyrolysis route. The introduction of Mn carries several advantageous attributes: increasing the number of active sites, effectively anchoring Fe due to effective electron transfer to Mn (revealed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density-functional theory (DFT), thus preventing the aggregation of Fe), and effectively circumventing the occurrence of Fenton reaction, thus reducing the consumption of Fe. The (FeMn-DA)–N–C catalysts showcase half-wave potentials of 0.92 and 0.82 V in 0.1 M KOH and 0.1 M HClO₄, respectively, as well as outstanding stability. As manifested by DFT calculations, the introduction of Mn affects the electronic structure of Fe, down-shifts the d-band Fe active center, accelerates the desorption of OH groups, and creates higher limiting potentials. The AEMFC and PEMFC with (FeMn-DA)–N–C as the cathode catalyst display high power densities of 1060 and 746 mW cm⁻², respectively, underscoring their promising potential for practical applications. Our study highlights the robustness of designing Fe-containing dual-atom ORR catalysts to promote both activity and stability for energy conversion and storage materials and devices.

Highlights:
1 Fe–Mn dual-atom catalysts exhibit superior oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and stability, with high half-wave potentials in both alkaline and acidic conditions.
2 Synergistic Mn incorporation effectively anchors Fe atoms, mitigates the Fenton reaction, and enhances the durability of ORR catalysts.
3 Advanced characterization and density-functional theory calculations reveal Mn-induced electronic structure modifications, promoting superior ORR kinetics and active site performance.
4 (FeMn-DA)-N-C catalysts show remarkable potential for practical fuel cell applications.

Unlocking Novel Functionality: Pseudocapacitive Sensing in MXene-Based Flexible Supercapacitors

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Extensively explored for their distinctive pseudocapacitance characteristics, MXenes, a distinguished group of 2D materials, have led to remarkable achievements, particularly in the realm of energy storage devices. This work presents an innovative Pseudocapacitive Sensor. The key lies in switching the energy storage kinetics from pseudocapacitor to electrical double layer capacitor by employing the change of local pH (-log[H⁺]) in MXene-based flexible supercapacitors during bending. Pseudocapacitive sensing is observed in acidic electrolyte but absent in neutral electrolyte. Applied shearing during bending causes liquid-crystalline MXene sheets to increase in their degree of anisotropic alignment. With blocking of H⁺ mobility due to the higher diffusion barrier, local pH increases. The electrochemical energy storage kinetics transits from Faradaic chemical protonation (intercalation) to non-Faradaic physical adsorption. We utilize the phenomenon of capacitance change due to shifting energy storage kinetics for strain sensing purposes. The developed highly sensitive Pseudocapacitive Sensors feature a remarkable gauge factor (GF) of approximately 1200, far surpassing conventional strain sensors (GF: ~ 1 for dielectric-cap sensor). The introduction of the Pseudocapacitive Sensor represents a paradigm shift, expanding the application of pseudocapacitance from being solely confined to energy devices to the realm of multifunctional electronics. This technological leap enriches our understanding of the pseudocapacitance mechanism of MXenes, and will drive innovation in cutting-edge technology areas, including advanced robotics, implantable biomedical devices, and health monitoring systems.

Highlights:
1 We have discovered a novel phenomenon where the pseudocapacitance of flexible MXene supercapacitors changes sensitively in response to bending, leading to the development of Pseudocapacitive Sensors.
2 Pseudocapacitive Sensors repurpose supercapacitors as strain sensors, detecting capacitance changes from shifts between pseudocapacitance and electrical double layer capacitor. These highly sensitive sensors have a gauge factor of about 1200, far exceeding that of conventional strain sensors.

Revealing the Role of Hydrogen in Highly Efficient Ag-Substituted CZTSSe Photovoltaic Devices: Photoelectric Properties Modulation and Defect Passivation

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The presence of Sn_Zn-related defects in Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ (CZTSSe) absorber results in large irreversible energy loss and extra irreversible electron–hole non-radiative recombination, thus hindering the efficiency enhancement of CZTSSe devices. Although the incorporation of Ag in CZTSSe can effectively suppress the Sn_Zn-related defects and significantly improve the resulting cell performance, an excellent efficiency has not been achieved to date primarily owing to the poor electrical-conductivity and the low carrier density of the CZTSSe film induced by Ag substitution. Herein, this study exquisitely devises an Ag/H co-doping strategy in CZTSSe absorber via Ag substitution programs followed by hydrogen-plasma treatment procedure to suppress Sn_Zn defects for achieving efficient CZTSSe devices. In-depth investigation results demonstrate that the incorporation of H in Ag-based CZTSSe absorber is expected to improve the poor electrical-conductivity and the low carrier density caused by Ag substitution. Importantly, the C=O and O–H functional groups induced by hydrogen incorporation, serving as an electron donor, can interact with under-coordinated cations in CZTSSe material, effectively passivating the Sn_Zn-related defects. Consequently, the incorporation of an appropriate amount of Ag/H in CZTSSe mitigates carrier non-radiative recombination, prolongs minority carrier lifetime, and thus yields a champion efficiency of 14.74%, showing its promising application in kesterite-based CZTSSe devices.

Highlights:
1 The Ag/H co-doping strategy has been proposed to promote the performance of Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ (CZTSSe) devices.
2 The incorporation of H in Ag-based CZTSSe photovoltaic absorber is expected to improve the poor electrical conductivity and the low carrier density caused by Ag substitution.
3 Benefiting from the synergism of the excellent defect passivation effect and photoelectric properties complementary effect enabled by Ag/H co-doping, a champion device with 14.74% efficiency is achieved.

Hierarchical Polyimide Nonwoven Fabric with Ultralow-Reflectivity Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and High-Temperature Resistant Infrared Stealth Performance

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Designing and fabricating a compatible low-reflectivity electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding/high-temperature resistant infrared stealth material possesses a critical significance in the field of military. Hence, a hierarchical polyimide (PI) nonwoven fabric is fabricated by alkali treatment, in-situ growth of magnetic particles and "self-activated" electroless Ag plating process. Especially, the hierarchical impedance matching can be constructed by systematically assembling Fe₃O₄/Ag-loaded PI nonwoven fabric (PFA) and pure Ag-coated PI nonwoven fabric (PA), endowing it with an ultralow-reflectivity EMI shielding performance. In addition, thermal insulation of fluffy three-dimensional (3D) space structure in PFA and low infrared emissivity of PA originated from Ag plating bring an excellent infrared stealth performance. More importantly, the strong bonding interaction between Fe₃O₄, Ag, and PI fiber improves thermal stability in EMI shielding and high-temperature resistant infrared stealth performance. Such excellent comprehensive performance makes it promising for military tents to protect internal equipment from electromagnetic interference stemmed from adjacent equipment and/or enemy, and inhibit external infrared detection.

Highlights:
1 Hierarchical polyimide (PI) nonwoven fabric is fabricated by alkali treatment, in-situ growth of magnetic particles, and "self-activated" electroless Ag plating process.
2 Impedance matching structure by assembling Fe₃O₄/Ag-loaded PI nonwoven fabric (PFA) and pure Ag-coated PI nonwoven fabric (PA) induces more electromagnetic waves enter PFA/PA and be dissipated.
3 The fluffy 3D space structure of PFA with strong adhesion interaction and low infrared emissivity of PA endow PFA/PA with excellent thermal stability in electromagnetic interference shielding and high-temperature resistant infrared stealth performance.

Anti-Swelling Polyelectrolyte Hydrogel with Submillimeter Lateral Confinement for Osmotic Energy Conversion

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Harvesting the immense and renewable osmotic energy with reverse electrodialysis (RED) technology shows great promise in dealing with the ever-growing energy crisis. One key challenge is to improve the output power density with improved trade-off between membrane permeability and selectivity. Herein, polyelectrolyte hydrogels (channel width, 2.2 nm) with inherent high ion conductivity have been demonstrated to enable excellent selective ion transfer when confined in cylindrical anodized aluminum pore with lateral size even up to the submillimeter scale (radius, 0.1 mm). The membrane permeability of the anti-swelling hydrogel can also be further increased with cellulose nanofibers. With real seawater and river water, the output power density of a three-chamber cell on behalf of repeat unit of RED system can reach up to 8.99 W m⁻² (per unit total membrane area), much better than state-of-the-art membranes. This work provides a new strategy for the preparation of polyelectrolyte hydrogel-based ion-selective membranes, owning broad application prospects in the fields of osmotic energy collection, electrodialysis, flow battery and so on.

Highlights:
1 Ionic polymers can directly serve as high-performance ion-selective membranes when it was physically confined within submillimeter-sized cylindrical pore.
2 The universality of this strategy is demonstrated in preparing cation/anion-selective membrane.
3 With real seawater and river water, the output power density of a three-chamber cell on behalf of repeat unit of reverse electrodialysis system can reach up to 8.99 W m⁻².

Carbon Nanofiber/Polyaniline Composite Aerogel with Excellent Electromagnetic Interference Shielding, Low Thermal Conductivity, and Extremely Low Heat Release

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid development of communication technology and high-frequency electronic devices has created a need for more advanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. In response to this demand, a study has been conducted to develop multifunctional carbon nanofibers (CNFs)/polyaniline (PANI) aerogels with excellent electromagnetic interference shielding, flame retardancy, and thermal insulation performance. The process involved freeze-drying of electrospun CNFs and PANI nanoparticles followed by in situ growth PANI to coat the CNFs, creating the core–shell structured CNFs/PANI composite fiber and its hybrid aerogels (CP-3@PANI). The interaction between PANI and aniline (ANI) provides attachment sites, allowing additional ANI adsorption into the aerogel for in situ polymerization. This results in PANI uniformly covering the surface of the CNFs, creating a core–shell composite fiber with a flexible CNF core and PANI shell. This process enhances the utilization rate of the ANI monomer and increases the PANI content loaded onto the aerogel. Additionally, effective connections are established between the CNFs, forming a stable, conductive three-dimensional network structure. The prepared CP-3@PANI aerogels exhibit excellent EMI shielding efficiency (SE) of 85.4 dB and specific EMI SE (SE d⁻¹) of 791.2 dB cm³ g⁻¹ in the X-band. Due to the synergistic flame-retardant effect of CNFs, PANI, and the dopant (phytic acid), the CP-3@PANI aerogels demonstrate outstanding flame-retardant and thermal insulation properties, with a peak heat release rate (PHRR) as low as 7.8 W g⁻¹ and a total heat release of only 0.58 kJ g⁻¹. This study provides an effective strategy for preparing multifunctional integrated EMI shielding materials.

Highlights:
1 Using electrospun high-strength carbon nanofibers as the aerogel scaffold, high loading of polyaniline in the aerogel was achieved through seed polymerization, forming the core–shell structure fibers and simultaneously connecting the fibers as a stable conductive network.
2 Combining carbon-based materials with conductive polymers like polyaniline significantly improves shielding performance, achieving electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency of up to 84.5 dB and SE d⁻¹ values greater than 791.2 dB cm3 g⁻¹. Flame retardancy reduces PHRR by 65.8%, and thermal insulation with low thermal conductivity of 0.104 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹.

Ultrahigh Energy and Power Density in Ni–Zn Aqueous Battery via Superoxide-Activated Three-Electron Transfer

Yixue Duan, Bolong Li, Kai Yang, Zheng Gong, Xuqiao Peng, Liang He, Derek Ho — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Aqueous Ni–Zn microbatteries are safe, reliable and inexpensive but notoriously suffer from inadequate energy and power densities. Herein, we present a novel mechanism of superoxide-activated Ni substrate that realizes the redox reaction featuring three-electron transfers (Ni ↔ Ni³⁺). The superoxide activates the direct redox reaction between Ni substrate and KNiO₂ by lowering the reaction Gibbs free energy, supported by in-situ Raman and density functional theory simulations. The prepared chronopotentiostatic superoxidation-activated Ni (CPS-Ni) electrodes exhibit an ultrahigh capacity of 3.21 mAh cm⁻² at the current density of 5 mA cm⁻², nearly 8 times that of traditional one-electron processes electrodes. Even under the ultrahigh 200 mA cm⁻² current density, the CPS-Ni electrodes show 86.4% capacity retention with a Columbic efficiency of 99.2% after 10,000 cycles. The CPS-Ni||Zn microbattery achieves an exceptional energy density of 6.88 mWh cm⁻² and power density of 339.56 mW cm⁻². Device demonstration shows that the power source can continuously operate for more than 7 days in powering the sensing and computation intensive practical application of photoplethysmographic waveform monitoring. This work paves the way to the development of multi-electron transfer mechanisms for advanced aqueous Ni–Zn batteries with high capacity and long lifetime.

Highlights:
1 Efficient activation of Ni electrode employs chronopotentiostatic superoxidation.
2 Novel superoxide activation mechanism realizes the redox reaction with three-electron transfer (Ni ↔ Ni³⁺).
3 As-prepared CPS-Ni||Zn batteries exhibit simultaneously ultrahigh energy and power densities.

RGB Color-Discriminable Photonic Synapse for Neuromorphic Vision System

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

To emulate the functionality of the human retina and achieve a neuromorphic visual system, the development of a photonic synapse capable of multispectral color discrimination is of paramount importance. However, attaining robust color discrimination across a wide intensity range, even irrespective of medium limitations in the channel layer, poses a significant challenge. Here, we propose an approach that can bestow the color-discriminating synaptic functionality upon a three-terminal transistor flash memory even with enhanced discriminating capabilities. By incorporating the strong induced dipole moment effect at the excitation, modulated by the wavelength of the incident light, into the floating gate, we achieve outstanding RGB color-discriminating synaptic functionality within a remarkable intensity range spanning from 0.05 to 40 mW cm⁻². This approach is not restricted to a specific medium in the channel layer, thereby enhancing its applicability. The effectiveness of this color-discriminating synaptic functionality is demonstrated through visual pre-processing of a photonic synapse array, involving the differentiation of RGB channels and the enhancement of image contrast with noise reduction. Consequently, a convolutional neural network can achieve an impressive inference accuracy of over 94% for Canadian-Institute-For-Advanced-Research-10 colorful image recognition task after the pre-processing. Our proposed approach offers a promising solution for achieving robust and versatile RGB color discrimination in photonic synapses, enabling significant advancements in artificial visual systems.

Highlights:
1 Photonic synapse capable of multispectral color discrimination is demonstrated.
2 Strong excited-state dipoles enable remarkable discrimination intensity (0.05–40 mW cm^-2).
3 This approach is not restricted to a specific medium in the channel layer, and convolutional neural network with synapses array achieves over 94% inference accuracy for Canadian-Institute-For-Advanced-Research-10 images.

Ligand Engineering Achieves Suppression of Temperature Quenching in Pure Green Perovskite Nanocrystals for Efficient and Thermostable Electroluminescence

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Formamidinium lead bromide (FAPbBr₃) perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are promising for display and lighting due to their ultra-pure green emission. However, the thermal quenching will exacerbate their performance degradation in practical applications, which is a common issue for halide perovskites. Here, we reported the heat-resistant FAPbBr₃ NCs prepared by a ligand-engineered room-temperature synthesis strategy. An aromatic amine, specifically β-phenylethylamine (PEA) or 3-fluorophenylethylamine (3-F-PEA), was incoporated as the short-chain ligand to expedite the crystallization rate and control the size distribution of FAPbBr₃ NCs. Employing this ligand engineering approach, we synthesized high quality FAPbBr₃ NCs with uniform grain size and reduced long-chain alkyl ligands, resulting in substantially suppressed thermal quenching and enhanced carrier transportation in the perovskite NCs films. Most notably, more than 90% of the room temperature PL intensity in the 3-F-PEA modified FAPbBr₃ NCs film was preserved at 380 K. Consequently, we fabricated ultra-pure green EL devices with a room temperature external quantum efficiency (EQE) as high as 21.9% at the luminance of above 1,000 cd m⁻², and demonstrated less than 10% loss in EQE at 343 K. This study introduces a novel room temperature method to synthesize efficient FAPbBr₃ NCs with exceptional thermal stability, paving the way for advanced optoelectronic device applications.

Highlights:
1 The innovative synthesis of pure green FAPbBr₃ nanocrystals at room temperature was exploited by employing aromatic amine ligands to refine the perovskite nanocrystals with high quality and excellent optoelectronic properties.
2 The proposed ligand engineering strategy firstly realized the suppression of emission thermal quenching effect in the organic-inorganic hybrid FAPbBr₃ nanocrystals.
3 It was demonstrated that the FAPbBr₃ based light-emitting diodes achieved a room temperature external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 21.9% at the luminance of 1580 cd m^-2, and only presented less than 10% loss in EQE at a higher temperature of 343 K.

A Multifunctional Hydrogel with Multimodal Self-Powered Sensing Capability and Stable Direct Current Output for Outdoor Plant Monitoring Systems

Xinge Guo, Luwei Wang, Zhenyang Jin, Chengkuo Lee — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Smart farming with outdoor monitoring systems is critical to address food shortages and sustainability challenges. These systems facilitate informed decisions that enhance efficiency in broader environmental management. Existing outdoor systems equipped with energy harvesters and self-powered sensors often struggle with fluctuating energy sources, low durability under harsh conditions, non-transparent or non-biocompatible materials, and complex structures. Herein, a multifunctional hydrogel is developed, which can fulfill all the above requirements and build self-sustainable outdoor monitoring systems solely by it. It can serve as a stable energy harvester that continuously generates direct current output with an average power density of 1.9 W m⁻³ for nearly 60 days of operation in normal environments (24 °C, 60% RH), with an energy density of around 1.36 × 10⁷ J m⁻³. It also shows good self-recoverability in severe environments (45 °C, 30% RH) in nearly 40 days of continuous operation. Moreover, this hydrogel enables noninvasive and self-powered monitoring of leaf relative water content, providing critical data on evaluating plant health, previously obtainable only through invasive or high-power consumption methods. Its potential extends to acting as other self-powered environmental sensors. This multifunctional hydrogel enables self-sustainable outdoor systems with scalable and low-cost production, paving the way for future agriculture.

Highlights:
1 A simple and scalable fabricated hydrogel with multiple functionalities to realize self-sustainable outdoor monitoring solely by it for large-scale applications in precision agriculture.
2 Stable direct-current output without requirement on stochastic or temporal environmental energies, achieving an energy density of 1.36 × 10⁷ J m^–3 with continuous operation of 56.25 days in normal outdoor environment.
3 Self-powered noninvasive leaf relative water content monitoring and environmental sensing to evaluate plant health status with high durability and self-recoverability in severe environments.

Efficient and Stable Photoassisted Lithium-Ion Battery Enabled by Photocathode with Synergistically Boosted Carriers Dynamics

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Efficient and stable photocathodes with versatility are of significance in photoassisted lithium-ion batteries (PLIBs), while there is always a request on fast carrier transport in electrochemical active photocathodes. Present work proposes a general approach of creating bulk heterojunction to boost the carrier mobility of photocathodes by simply laser assisted embedding of plasmonic nanocrystals. When employed in PLIBs, it was found effective for synchronously enhanced photocharge separation and transport in light charging process. Additionally, experimental photon spectroscopy, finite difference time domain method simulation and theoretical analyses demonstrate that the improved carrier dynamics are driven by the plasmonic-induced hot electron injection from metal to TiO₂, as well as the enhanced conductivity in TiO₂ matrix due to the formation of oxygen vacancies after Schottky contact. Benefiting from these merits, several benchmark values in performance of TiO₂-based photocathode applied in PLIBs are set, including the capacity of 276 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹ under illumination, photoconversion efficiency of 1.276% at 3 A g⁻¹, less capacity and Columbic efficiency loss even through 200 cycles. These results exemplify the potential of the bulk heterojunction strategy in developing highly efficient and stable photoassisted energy storage systems.

Highlights:
1 Developing a universal bulk heterojunction strategy to create oxygen vacancies by embedding laser-manufactured metal nanocrystals into the TiO₂ matrix.
2 Proposing a new mechanism based on plasmonic-induced hot electron injection and enhanced conductivity from Schottky contact-derived oxygen vacancies.
3 Establishing several benchmark values for the performance of TiO₂-based photocathodes in photoassisted lithium-ion batteries.

Dual-Donor-Induced Crystallinity Modulation Enables 19.23% Efficiency Organic Solar Cells

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Trap-assisted charge recombination is one of the primary limitations of restricting the performance of organic solar cells. However, effectively reducing the presence of traps in the photoactive layer remains challenging. Herein, wide bandgap polymer donor PTzBI-dF is demonstrated as an effective modulator for enhancing the crystallinity of the bulk heterojunction active layers composed of D18 derivatives blended with Y6, leading to dense and ordered molecular packings, and thus, improves photoluminescence quenching properties. As a result, the photovoltaic devices exhibit reduced trap-assisted charge recombination losses, achieving an optimized power conversion efficiency of over 19%. Besides the efficiency enhancement, the devices comprised of PTzBI-dF as a third component simultaneously attain decreased current leakage, improved charge carrier mobilities, and suppressed bimolecular charge recombination, leading to reduced energy losses. The advanced crystalline structures induced by PTzBI-dF and its characteristics, such as well-aligned energy level, and complementary absorption spectra, are ascribed to the promising performance improvements. Our findings suggest that donor phase engineering is a feasible approach to tuning the molecular packings in the active layer, providing guidelines for designing effective morphology modulators for high-performance organic solar cells.

Highlights:
1 By modulating the crystalline properties of the active layer with dual donors, the efficiency of organic solar cells reaches 19.23%.
2 The introduction of PTzBI-dF suppresses the accumulation of traps and charge recombination, allowing ternary devices to maintain 82% of their initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) after illumination for 800 h.
3 The dual-donor strategy for modulating the crystallinity of the active layer is applicable to a variety of Y6 derivatives, and the increase in PCE exceeds 1%.

A Fully-Printed Wearable Bandage-Based Electrochemical Sensor with pH Correction for Wound Infection Monitoring

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Wearable sensing systems have been designed to monitor health conditions in real-time by detecting analytes in human biofluids. Wound diagnosis remains challenging, necessitating suitable materials for high-performance wearable sensors to offer prompt feedback. Existing devices have limitations in measuring pH and the concentration of pH-dependent electroactive species simultaneously, which is crucial for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of wound status and optimizing biosensors. Therefore, improving materials and analysis system accuracy is essential. This article introduces the first example of a flexible array capable of detecting pyocyanin, a bacterial virulence factor, while correcting dynamic pH fluctuations. We demonstrate that this combined sensor enhances accuracy by mitigating the impact of pH variability on pyocyanin sensor response. Customized screen-printable inks were developed to enhance analytical performance. The analytical performances of two sensitive sensor systems (i.e., fully-printed porous graphene/multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) and polyaniline/CNT composites for pyocyanin and pH sensors) are evaluated. Partial least square regression is employed to analyze nonzero-order data arrays from square wave voltammetric and potentiometric measurements of pyocyanin and pH sensors to establish a predictive model for pyocyanin concentration in complex fluids. This sensitive and effective strategy shows potential for personalized applications due to its affordability, ease of use, and ability to adjust for dynamic pH changes.

Highlights:
1 The first example of a flexible array capable of detecting pyocyanin, a bacterial virulence factor, while correcting dynamic pH fluctuations.
2 Developed a screen-printable conductive nanocomposite ink for fabricating the pyocyanin sensor and utilized a polyaniline/carbon nanocomposite as a pH-sensitive film for the pH sensor.
3 Customized inks are advantageous in terms of flexible printed sensing array integrated onto a bandage surface, capable of monitoring both pyocyanin and pH levels in wound exudate.

Deciphering Water Oxidation Catalysts: The Dominant Role of Surface Chemistry over Reconstruction Degree in Activity Promotion

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Water splitting hinges crucially on the availability of electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. The surface reconstruction has been widely observed in perovskite catalysts, and the reconstruction degree has been often correlated with the activity enhancement. Here, a systematic study on the roles of Fe substitution in activation of perovskite LaNiO₃ is reported. The substituting Fe content influences both current change tendency and surface reconstruction degree. LaNi_0.9Fe_0.1O₃ is found exhibiting a volcano-peak intrinsic activity in both pristine and reconstructed among all substituted perovskites in the LaNi_1-xFe_xO₃ (x = 0.00, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00) series. The reconstructed LaNi_0.9Fe_0.1O₃ shows a higher intrinsic activity than most reported NiFe-based catalysts. Besides, density functional theory calculations reveal that Fe substitution can lower the O 2p level, which thus stabilize lattice oxygen in LaNi_0.9Fe_0.1O₃ and ensure its long-term stability. Furthermore, it is vital interesting that activity of the reconstructed catalysts relied more on the surface chemistry rather than the reconstruction degree. The effect of Fe on the degree of surface reconstruction of the perovskite is decoupled from that on its activity enhancement after surface reconstruction. This finding showcases the importance to customize the surface chemistry of reconstructed catalysts for water oxidation.

Highlights:
1 Demonstrate that the key factor to determine the activity of reconstructed surfaces is the surface chemistry, instead of reconstruction degree using the popular perovskite LaNi_1-xFe_xO₃ oxides as model materials.
2 Fe content can influence both the surface reconstruction degree, the activation degree, and the activity of reconstructed surfaces.
3 The oxygen evolution reaction activity of reconstructed catalysts is primarily governed by the chemistry of the reconstructed surface species.

Wafer-Scale Ag2S-Based Memristive Crossbar Arrays with Ultra-Low Switching-Energies Reaching Biological Synapses

Yuan Zhu, Tomas Nyberg, Leif Nyholm, Daniel Primetzhofer, Xun Shi, Zhen Zhang — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Memristive crossbar arrays (MCAs) offer parallel data storage and processing for energy-efficient neuromorphic computing. However, most wafer-scale MCAs that are compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology still suffer from substantially larger energy consumption than biological synapses, due to the slow kinetics of forming conductive paths inside the memristive units. Here we report wafer-scale Ag₂S-based MCAs realized using CMOS-compatible processes at temperatures below 160 °C. Ag₂S electrolytes supply highly mobile Ag⁺ ions, and provide the Ag/Ag₂S interface with low silver nucleation barrier to form silver filaments at low energy costs. By further enhancing Ag⁺ migration in Ag₂S electrolytes via microstructure modulation, the integrated memristors exhibit a record low threshold of approximately − 0.1 V, and demonstrate ultra-low switching-energies reaching femtojoule values as observed in biological synapses. The low-temperature process also enables MCA integration on polyimide substrates for applications in flexible electronics. Moreover, the intrinsic nonidealities of the memristive units for deep learning can be compensated by employing an advanced training algorithm. An impressive accuracy of 92.6% in image recognition simulations is demonstrated with the MCAs after the compensation. The demonstrated MCAs provide a promising device option for neuromorphic computing with ultra-high energy-efficiency.

Highlights:
1 Wafer-scale integration of Ag₂S-based memristive crossbar arrays was demonstrated using complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) compatible processes below 160 °C.
2 A record-low threshold voltage for filament formation and an ultra-low switching-energy reaching that of biological synapses in wafer-scale CMOS-compatible memristive units were achieved.
3 The energy-efficient resistance switching was enabled by self-supply of mobile Ag⁺ ions in Ag₂S electrolytes and low silver-nucleation barrier at Ag/Ag₂S interface.

Bioinspired Ultrasensitive Flexible Strain Sensors for Real-Time Wireless Detection of Liquid Leakage

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Liquid leakage of pipeline networks not only results in considerable resource wastage but also leads to environmental pollution and ecological imbalance. In response to this global issue, a bioinspired superhydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane/carbon nanotubes/graphene nanosheets flexible strain sensor (TCGS) has been developed using a combination of micro-extrusion compression molding and surface modification for real-time wireless detection of liquid leakage. The TCGS utilizes the synergistic effects of Archimedean spiral crack arrays and micropores, which are inspired by the remarkable sensory capabilities of scorpions. This design achieves a sensitivity of 218.13 at a strain of 2%, which is an increase of 4300%. Additionally, it demonstrates exceptional durability by withstanding over 5000 usage cycles. The robust superhydrophobicity of the TCGS significantly enhances sensitivity and stability in detecting small-scale liquid leakage, enabling precise monitoring of liquid leakage across a wide range of sizes, velocities, and compositions while issuing prompt alerts. This provides critical early warnings for both industrial pipelines and potential liquid leakage scenarios in everyday life. The development and utilization of bioinspired ultrasensitive flexible strain sensors offer an innovative and effective solution for the early wireless detection of liquid leakage.

Highlights:
1 Micro-extrusion compression molding and surface modification were proposed for the mass fabrication of a superhydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane sensor (TCGS).
2 Inspired by scorpions, TCGS features Archimedean spiral crack arrays and micropores, achieving 218.13 sensitivity at 2% strain, a 4300% increase, and over 5000 usage cycles of durability.
3 The robust superhydrophobicity of TCGS improves sensitivity and stability for detecting small-scale liquid leakage, allowing precise monitoring across various sizes and compositions while providing early warnings in various scenarios.

Direct Photolithography of WOx Nanoparticles for High-Resolution Non-Emissive Displays

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

High-resolution non-emissive displays based on electrochromic tungsten oxides (WO_x) are crucial for future near-eye virtual/augmented reality interactions, given their impressive attributes such as high environmental stability, ideal outdoor readability, and low energy consumption. However, the limited intrinsic structure of inorganic materials has presented a significant challenge in achieving precise patterning/pixelation at the micron scale. Here, we successfully developed the direct photolithography for WO_x nanoparticles based on in situ photo-induced ligand exchange. This strategy enabled us to achieve ultra-high resolution efficiently (line width < 4 µm, the best resolution for reported inorganic electrochromic materials). Additionally, the resulting device exhibited impressive electrochromic performance, such as fast response (< 1 s at 0 V), high coloration efficiency (119.5 cm² C⁻¹), good optical modulation (55.9%), and durability (> 3600 cycles), as well as promising applications in electronic logos, pixelated displays, flexible electronics, etc. The success and advancements presented here are expected to inspire and accelerate research and development (R&D) in high-resolution non-emissive displays and other ultra-fine micro-electronics.

Highlights:
1 Direct photolithography of electrochromic WO_x nanoparticles via in situ photo-induced ligand exchange is proposed and demonstrated.
2 The highest resolution among inorganic electrochromics (< 4 µm) is achieved, which is promising in high-resolution non-emissive displays.
3 The as-prepared device exhibits highly remarkable performance including rapid response, high coloration efficiency and durability.

Exploration of Gas-Dependent Self-Adaptive Reconstruction Behavior of Cu2O for Electrochemical CO2 Conversion to Multi-Carbon Products

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Structural reconstruction of electrocatalysts plays a pivotal role in catalytic performances for CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR), whereas the behavior is by far superficially understood. Here, we report that CO₂ accessibility results in a universal self-adaptive structural reconstruction from Cu₂O to Cu@Cu_xO composites, ending with feeding gas-dependent microstructures and catalytic performances. The CO₂-rich atmosphere favors reconstruction for CO₂RR, whereas the CO₂-deficient one prefers that for hydrogen evolution reaction. With the assistance of spectroscopic analysis and theoretical calculations, we uncover a CO₂-induced passivation behavior by identifying a reduction-resistant but catalytic active Cu(I)-rich amorphous layer stabilized by *CO intermediates. Additionally, we find extra CO production is indispensable for the robust production of C₂H₄. An inverse correlation between durability and FE_CO/FE_C2H4 is disclosed, suggesting that the self-stabilization process involving the absorption of *CO intermediates on Cu(I) sites is essential for durable electrolysis. Guided by this insight, we design hollow Cu₂O nanospheres for durable and selective CO₂RR electrolysis in producing C₂H₄. Our work recognizes the previously overlooked passivation reconstruction and self-stabilizing behavior and highlights the critical role of the local atmosphere in modulating reconstruction and catalytic processes.

Highlights:
1 We revealed a universal self-adaptive structural reconstruction from Cu₂O to Cu@Cu_xO composites, ending with feeding gas-dependent microstructures and catalytic performances.
2 We uncovered a CO₂-induced passivation behavior by identifying a reduction-resistant but catalytic active Cu(I)-rich amorphous layer.
3 We designed and fabricated hollow Cu₂O nanospheres, demonstrating durable electrolysis at a partial current density of −200 mA cm⁻² in producing C₂H₄ with an FE of up to 61% at −0.6 V_RHE.

MXene Hybridized Polymer with Enhanced Electromagnetic Energy Harvest for Sensitized Microwave Actuation and Self-Powered Motion Sensing

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Polymeric microwave actuators combining tissue-like softness with programmable microwave-responsive deformation hold great promise for mobile intelligent devices and bionic soft robots. However, their application is challenged by restricted electromagnetic sensitivity and intricate sensing coupling. In this study, a sensitized polymeric microwave actuator is fabricated by hybridizing a liquid crystal polymer with Ti₃C₂T_x (MXene). Compared to the initial counterpart, the hybrid polymer exhibits unique space-charge polarization and interfacial polarization, resulting in significant improvements of 230% in the dielectric loss factor and 830% in the apparent efficiency of electromagnetic energy harvest. The sensitized microwave actuation demonstrates as the shortened response time of nearly 10 s, which is merely 13% of that for the initial shape memory polymer. Moreover, the ultra-low content of MXene (up to 0.15 wt%) benefits for maintaining the actuation potential of the hybrid polymer. An innovative self-powered sensing prototype that combines driving and piezoelectric polymers is developed, which generates real-time electric potential feedback (open-circuit potential of ~ 3 mV) during actuation. The polarization-dominant energy conversion mechanism observed in the MXene-polymer hybrid structure furnishes a new approach for developing efficient electromagnetic dissipative structures and shows potential for advancing polymeric electromagnetic intelligent devices.

Highlights:
1 An alternative electromagnetic attenuation pathway is proposed in the MXene-polymer hybrid structure, distinct from conduction loss, for generalizing the results to a wider range of electromagnetic-thermal driven soft materials and devices.
2 By efficiently harvesting and converting electromagnetic energy, the response time of the hybrid polymer to microwave exhibits 87% reduction with merely 0.15 wt% MXene.
3 A new mode of self-powered motion sensing based on deformation-driven piezoelectric effect is developed, enhancing the material’s intelligence.

Flexible Strain Sensors with Ultra-High Sensitivity and Wide Range Enabled by Crack-Modulated Electrical Pathways

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study presents a breakthrough in flexible strain sensor technology with the development of an ultra-high sensitivity and wide-range sensor, addressing the critical challenge of reconciling sensitivity with measurement range. Inspired by the structure of bamboo slips, we introduce a novel approach that utilises liquid metal to modulate the electrical pathways within a cracked platinum fabric electrode. The resulting sensor demonstrates a gauge factor greater than 10⁸ and a strain measurement capability exceeding 100%. The integration of patterned liquid metal enables customisable tuning of the sensor’s response, while the porous fabric structure ensures superior comfort and air permeability for the wearer. Our design not only optimises the sensor’s performance but also enhances the electrical stability that is essential for practical applications. Through systematic investigation, we reveal the intrinsic mechanisms governing the sensor’s response, offering valuable insights for the design of wearable strain sensors. The sensor’s exceptional performance across a spectrum of applications, from micro-strain to large-strain detection, highlights its potential for a wide range of real-world uses, demonstrating a significant advancement in the field of flexible electronics.

Highlights:
1 A method is proposed for the modulation of electrical pathways in the cracks of stretchable electrodes using liquid metals, based on which ultra-high sensitivity (> 108) and large-range (> 100%) strain sensors are realised.
2 A secondary modulation of the response (or performance) of the sensor is proposed, allowing not only electrical modulation by liquid metal patterning during fabrication, but also mechanical modulation by pre-stretching at the time of use.
3 The air permeability and stability of the patterned liquid metal electrode region is optimised to enable air permeability similar to that of conventional fabrics and cycle durability in excess of 2000 cycles.

Low-Temperature Fabrication of Stable Black-Phase CsPbI3 Perovskite Flexible Photodetectors Toward Wearable Health Monitoring

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Flexible wearable optoelectronic devices fabricated from organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites significantly accelerate the development of portable energy, biomedicine, and sensing fields, but their poor thermal stability hinders further applications. Conversely, all-inorganic perovskites possess excellent thermal stability, but black-phase all-inorganic perovskite film usually requires high-temperature annealing steps, which increases energy consumption and is not conducive to the fabrication of flexible wearable devices. In this work, an unprecedented low-temperature fabrication of stable black-phase CsPbI₃ perovskite films is demonstrated by the in situ hydrolysis reaction of diphenylphosphinic chloride additive. The released diphenyl phosphate and chloride ions during the hydrolysis reaction significantly lower the phase transition temperature and effectively passivate the defects in the perovskite films, yielding high-performance photodetectors with a responsivity of 42.1 A W⁻¹ and a detectivity of 1.3 × 10¹⁴ Jones. Furthermore, high-fidelity image and photoplethysmography sensors are demonstrated based on the fabricated flexible wearable photodetectors. This work provides a new perspective for the low-temperature fabrication of large-area all-inorganic perovskite flexible optoelectronic devices.

Highlights:
1 Low-temperature fabrication of black-phase CsPbI₃ perovskite films is first demonstrated by using diphenylphosphinic chloride additive under 30–50 °C, arising from the steric effect and chloride insertion engineering.
2 Large-area high-quality all-inorganic perovskite films with fewer defects enhanced crystallographic orientation, and excellent environmental stability is fabricated.
3 The record performances are demonstrated for flexible wearable photodetectors with a responsivity of 42.1 A W⁻¹, a detectivity of 1.3 × 10¹⁴ Jones, high-fidelity image, photoplethysmography sensor functions, and high mechanical stability.

An Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Flexible and Wearable Mechanoluminescent Strain Sensor System

Yan Dong, Wenzheng An, Zihu Wang, Dongzhi Zhang — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The complex wiring, bulky data collection devices, and difficulty in fast and on-site data interpretation significantly limit the practical application of flexible strain sensors as wearable devices. To tackle these challenges, this work develops an artificial intelligence-assisted, wireless, flexible, and wearable mechanoluminescent strain sensor system (AIFWMLS) by integration of deep learning neural network-based color data processing system (CDPS) with a sandwich-structured flexible mechanoluminescent sensor (SFLC) film. The SFLC film shows remarkable and robust mechanoluminescent performance with a simple structure for easy fabrication. The CDPS system can rapidly and accurately extract and interpret the color of the SFLC film to strain values with auto-correction of errors caused by the varying color temperature, which significantly improves the accuracy of the predicted strain. A smart glove mechanoluminescent sensor system demonstrates the great potential of the AIFWMLS system in human gesture recognition. Moreover, the versatile SFLC film can also serve as a encryption device. The integration of deep learning neural network-based artificial intelligence and SFLC film provides a promising strategy to break the “color to strain value” bottleneck that hinders the practical application of flexible colorimetric strain sensors, which could promote the development of wearable and flexible strain sensors from laboratory research to consumer markets.

Highlights:
1 The sandwich-structured flexible mechanoluminescent sensor (SFLC) film shows great application potential as wireless wearable strain sensor and encryption device.
2 System-level integration of SFLC film with deep learning-based artificial intelligence enables fast and accurate interpretation of color data to strain values with automatic correction of errors caused by varying color temperatures.
3 The smart glove wearable sensor based on the SFLC film combined with deep learning neural network enables fast and accurate hand gesture recognition.

Ideal Bi-Based Hybrid Anode Material for Ultrafast Charging of Sodium-Ion Batteries at Extremely Low Temperatures

Jie Bai, Jian Hui Jia, Yu Wang, Chun Cheng Yang, Qing Jiang — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Sodium-ion batteries have emerged as competitive substitutes for low-temperature applications due to severe capacity loss and safety concerns of lithium-ion batteries at − 20 °C or lower. However, the key capability of ultrafast charging at ultralow temperature for SIBs is rarely reported. Herein, a hybrid of Bi nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanorods is demonstrated as an ideal material to address this issue, which is synthesized via a high temperature shock method. Such a hybrid shows an unprecedented rate performance (237.9 mAh g⁻¹ at 2 A g⁻¹) at − 60 °C, outperforming all reported SIB anode materials. Coupled with a Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ cathode, the energy density of the full cell can reach to 181.9 Wh kg⁻¹ at − 40 °C. Based on this work, a novel strategy of high-rate activation is proposed to enhance performances of Bi-based materials in cryogenic conditions by creating new active sites for interfacial reaction under large current.

Highlights:
1 Metallic nanoparticles with excellent size controllability and high loading rate are obtained via ultrafast high temperature shock method.
2 The Bi/CNRs-15 electrode exhibits an unprecedented rate performance (237.9 mAh g⁻¹ at 2 A g⁻¹) at − 60 °C, while the energy density of the full cell can reach to 181.9 Wh kg⁻¹ at − 40 °C.
3 A novel strategy of high-rate activation is proposed to obtain high capacity and superior stability at low temperature by creating new active sites for interfacial reaction.

Nanograting-Based Dynamic Structural Colors Using Heterogeneous Materials

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Dynamic structural colors can change in response to different environmental stimuli. This ability remains effective even when the size of the species responsible for the structural color is reduced to a few micrometers, providing a promising sensing mechanism for solving microenvironmental sensing problems in micro-robotics and microfluidics. However, the lack of dynamic structural colors that can encode rapidly, easily integrate, and accurately reflect changes in physical quantities hinders their use in microscale sensing applications. Herein, we present a 2.5-dimensional dynamic structural color based on nanogratings of heterogeneous materials, which were obtained by interweaving a pH-responsive hydrogel with an IP-L photoresist. Transverse gratings printed with pH-responsive hydrogels elongated the period of longitudinal grating in the swollen state, resulting in pH-tuned structural colors at a 45° incidence. Moreover, the patterned encoding and array printing of dynamic structural colors were achieved using grayscale stripe images to accurately encode the periods and heights of the nanogrid structures. Overall, dynamic structural color networks exhibit promising potential for applications in information encryption and in situ sensing for microfluidic chips.

Highlights:
1 A 2.5-dimensional dynamic structural color based on nanogratings of heterogeneous materials was proposed by interweaving a pH-responsive hydrogel with IP-L photoresist.
2 The nanogrid structures exhibit brilliant tuneable structural color, high sensitivity, and ultrafast recovery speeds in response to pH.
3 The 4D printing-based grayscale design approach was proposed for the patterned encoding and array printing of dynamic structural colors, promoting their application in patterned printing, information encryption, and microfluidic chip sensing.

Electrode/Electrolyte Optimization-Induced Double-Layered Architecture for High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-(Dual) Halogen Batteries

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Aqueous zinc-halogen batteries are promising candidates for large-scale energy storage due to their abundant resources, intrinsic safety, and high theoretical capacity. Nevertheless, the uncontrollable zinc dendrite growth and spontaneous shuttle effect of active species have prohibited their practical implementation. Herein, a double-layered protective film based on zinc-ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonic acid (ZEA) artificial film and ZnF₂-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer has been successfully fabricated on the zinc metal anode via electrode/electrolyte synergistic optimization. The ZEA-based artificial film shows strong affinity for the ZnF₂-rich SEI layer, therefore effectively suppressing the SEI breakage and facilitating the construction of double-layered protective film on the zinc metal anode. Such double-layered architecture not only modulates Zn²⁺ flux and suppresses the zinc dendrite growth, but also blocks the direct contact between the metal anode and electrolyte, thus mitigating the corrosion from the active species. When employing optimized metal anodes and electrolytes, the as-developed zinc-(dual) halogen batteries present high areal capacity and satisfactory cycling stability. This work provides a new avenue for developing aqueous zinc-(dual) halogen batteries.

Highlights:
1 A double-layered protective film based on zinc-based coordination compound and ZnF₂-rich solid electrolyte interphase layer has been successfully fabricated on the zinc metal anode via electrode/electrolyte synergistic optimization.
2 The double-layered architecture can effectively modulate Zn²⁺ flux and suppress the zinc dendrite growth, thus facilitating the uniform zinc deposition.
3 The as-developed zinc-(dual) halogen batteries based on double-layered protective film can present high areal capacity and satisfactory cycling stability.

Laser-Induced Highly Stable Conductive Hydrogels for Robust Bioelectronics

Yibo Li, Hao Zhou, Huayong Yang, Kaichen Xu — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Despite the promising progress in conductive hydrogels made with pure conducting polymer, great challenges remain in the interface adhesion and robustness in long-term monitoring. To address these challenges, Prof. Seung Hwan Ko and Taek-Soo Kim’s team introduced a laser-induced phase separation and adhesion method for fabricating conductive hydrogels consisting of pure poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate on polymer substrates. The laser-induced phase separation and adhesion treated conducting polymers can be selectively transformed into conductive hydrogels that exhibit wet conductivities of 101.4 S cm⁻¹ with a spatial resolution down to 5 μm. Moreover, they maintain impedance and charge-storage capacity even after 1 h of sonication. The micropatterned electrode arrays demonstrate their potential in long-term in vivo signal recordings, highlighting their promising role in the field of bioelectronics.

Highlights:
1 Stable adhesion of pure poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate hydrogel to polymer substrates was successfully achieved via a laser-induced phase separation and adhesion method.
2 The resulting conductive hydrogel exhibits a superior wet electrical conductivity up to 101.4 S cm⁻¹ and a spatial resolution down to 5 μm.
3 Such hydrogels hold great promise in robust bio-interfacing electrodes suitable for long-term high-fidelity signal monitoring.

Wafer-Scale Vertical 1D GaN Nanorods/2D MoS2/PEDOT:PSS for Piezophototronic Effect-Enhanced Self-Powered Flexible Photodetectors

Xin Tang, Hongsheng Jiang, Zhengliang Lin, Xuan Wang, Wenliang Wang, Guoqiang Li — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures constructed by low-dimensional (0D, 1D, and 2D) materials are emerging as one of the most appealing systems in next-generation flexible photodetection. Currently, hand-stacked vdW-type photodetectors are not compatible with large-area-array fabrication and show unimpressive performance in self-powered mode. Herein, vertical 1D GaN nanorods arrays (NRAs)/2D MoS₂/PEDOT:PSS in wafer scale have been proposed for self-powered flexible photodetectors arrays firstly. The as-integrated device without external bias under weak UV illumination exhibits a competitive responsivity of 1.47 A W⁻¹ and a high detectivity of 1.2 × 10¹¹ Jones, as well as a fast response speed of 54/71 µs, thanks to the strong light absorption of GaN NRAs and the efficient photogenerated carrier separation in type-II heterojunction. Notably, the strain-tunable photodetection performances of device have been demonstrated. Impressively, the device at − 0.78% strain and zero bias reveals a significantly enhanced photoresponse with a responsivity of 2.47 A W⁻¹, a detectivity of 2.6 × 10¹¹ Jones, and response times of 40/45 µs, which are superior to the state-of-the-art self-powered flexible photodetectors. This work presents a valuable avenue to prepare tunable vdWs heterostructures for self-powered flexible photodetection, which performs well in flexible sensors.

Highlights:
1 Vertical 1D GaN nanorod arrays/2D MoS₂/PEDOT:PSS heterostructures in wafer scale have been fabricated for flexible photodetection firstly.
2 Self-powered flexible photodetector at compressive strain reveals a significantly enhanced photoresponse with a responsivity of 2.47 A W⁻¹ and response times of 40/45 µs, which are superior to the state-of-the-art flexible devices.
3 This work not only provides a valuable strategy for the design and construction of tunable van der Waals heterostructures, but also opens a new opportunity for flexible sensors.

Defect Engineering with Rational Dopants Modulation for High-Temperature Energy Harvesting in Lead-Free Piezoceramics

Kaibiao Xi, Jianzhe Guo, Mupeng Zheng, Mankang Zhu, Yudong Hou — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

High temperature piezoelectric energy harvester (HT-PEH) is an important solution to replace chemical battery to achieve independent power supply of HT wireless sensors. However, simultaneously excellent performances, including high figure of merit (FOM), insulation resistivity (ρ) and depolarization temperature (T_d) are indispensable but hard to achieve in lead-free piezoceramics, especially operating at 250 °C has not been reported before. Herein, well-balanced performances are achieved in BiFeO₃–BaTiO₃ ceramics via innovative defect engineering with respect to delicate manganese doping. Due to the synergistic effect of enhancing electrostrictive coefficient by polarization configuration optimization, regulating iron ion oxidation state by high valence manganese ion and stabilizing domain orientation by defect dipole, comprehensive excellent electrical performances (T_d = 340 °C, ρ_{250 °C} > 10⁷ Ω cm and FOM_{250 °C} = 4905 × 10^–15 m² N⁻¹) are realized at the solid solubility limit of manganese ions. The HT-PEHs assembled using the rationally designed piezoceramic can allow for fast charging of commercial electrolytic capacitor at 250 °C with high energy conversion efficiency (η = 11.43%). These characteristics demonstrate that defect engineering tailored BF-BT can satisfy high-end HT-PEHs requirements, paving a new way in developing self-powered wireless sensors working in HT environments.

Highlights:
1 The solution limit of manganese ion in BiFeO₃–BaTiO₃ (BF–BT) was determined by combining multiple advanced characterization methods.
2 The defect engineering associated with fine doping can realize the co-modulation of polarization configuration, iron oxidation state and domain orientation.
3 The BF–BT–0.2Mn piezoelectric energy harvester shows excellent power generation capacity at 250 °C, which is an important breakthrough for lead-free piezoelectric devices.

Multifunctional Nacre-Like Nanocomposite Papers for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding via Heterocyclic Aramid/MXene Template-Assisted In-Situ Polypyrrole Assembly

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Robust, ultra-flexible, and multifunctional MXene-based electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding nanocomposite films exhibit enormous potential for applications in artificial intelligence, wireless telecommunication, and portable/wearable electronic equipment. In this work, a nacre-inspired multifunctional heterocyclic aramid (HA)/MXene@polypyrrole (PPy) (HMP) nanocomposite paper with large-scale, high strength, super toughness, and excellent tolerance to complex conditions is fabricated through the strategy of HA/MXene hydrogel template-assisted in-situ assembly of PPy. Benefiting from the "brick-and-mortar" layered structure and the strong hydrogen-bonding interactions among MXene, HA, and PPy, the paper exhibits remarkable mechanical performances, including high tensile strength (309.7 MPa), outstanding toughness (57.6 MJ m⁻³), exceptional foldability, and structural stability against ultrasonication. By using the template effect of HA/MXene to guide the assembly of conductive polymers, the synthesized paper obtains excellent electronic conductivity. More importantly, the highly continuous conductive path enables the nanocomposite paper to achieve a splendid EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of 54.1 dB at an ultra-thin thickness (25.4 μm) and a high specific EMI SE of 17,204.7 dB cm² g⁻¹. In addition, the papers also have excellent applications in electromagnetic protection, electro-/photothermal de-icing, thermal therapy, and fire safety. These findings broaden the ideas for developing high-performance and multifunctional MXene-based films with enormous application potential in EMI shielding and thermal management.

Highlights:
1 The large-scale, high-strength, super-tough, and multifunctional nacre-like heterocyclic aramid (HA)/MXene@polypyrrole (PPy) (HMP) nanocomposite papers were fabricated using the in-situ assembly of PPy onto the HA/MXene hydrogel template.
2 The "brick-and-mortar" layered structure and abundant hydrogen-bonding interactions among MXene, PPy, and HA respond cooperatively to external stress and effectively increase the mechanical properties of HMP nanocomposite papers.
3 The templating effect from HA/MXene was utilized to guide the assembly of conducting polymers, leading to high electrical conductivity and outstanding electromagnetic interference shielding performance.

Inter-Skeleton Conductive Routes Tuning Multifunctional Conductive Foam for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding, Sensing and Thermal Management

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Conductive polymer foam (CPF) with excellent compressibility and variable resistance has promising applications in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and other integrated functions for wearable electronics. However, its insufficient change amplitude of resistance with compressive strain generally leads to a degradation of shielding performance during deformation. Here, an innovative loading strategy of conductive materials on polymer foam is proposed to significantly increase the contact probability and contact area of conductive components under compression. Unique inter-skeleton conductive films are constructed by loading alginate-decorated magnetic liquid metal on the polymethacrylate films hanged between the foam skeleton (denoted as AMLM-PM foam). Traditional point contact between conductive skeletons under compression is upgraded to planar contact between conductive films. Therefore, the resistance change of AMLM-PM reaches four orders of magnitude under compression. Moreover, the inter-skeleton conductive films can improve the mechanical strength of foam, prevent the leakage of liquid metal and increase the scattering area of EM wave. AMLM-PM foam has strain-adaptive EMI shielding performance and shows compression-enhanced shielding effectiveness, solving the problem of traditional CPFs upon compression. The upgrade of resistance response also enables foam to achieve sensitive pressure sensing over a wide pressure range and compression-regulated Joule heating function.

Highlights:
1 Unique inter-skeleton conductive films are constructed in polymer foam.
2 The resistance change of the foam can reach four orders of magnitude under compression.
3 This foam exhibits strain-adaptive electromagnetic interference shielding performance, anti-interference pressure sensor with high sensitivity over a wide pressure range and compression-regulated Joule heating function.

Scalable Ir-Doped NiFe2O4/TiO2 Heterojunction Anode for Decentralized Saline Wastewater Treatment and H2 Production

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Wastewater electrolysis cells (WECs) for decentralized wastewater treatment/reuse coupled with H₂ production can reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation of water, waste, and energy carrier. This study reports Ir-doped NiFe₂O₄ (NFI, ~ 5 at% Ir) spinel layer with TiO₂ overlayer (NFI/TiO₂), as a scalable heterojunction anode for direct electrolysis of wastewater with circumneutral pH in a single-compartment cell. In dilute (0.1 M) NaCl solutions, the NFI/TiO₂ marks superior activity and selectivity for chlorine evolution reaction, outperforming the benchmark IrO₂. Robust operation in near-neutral pH was confirmed. Electroanalyses including operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy unveiled crucial roles of TiO₂ which serves both as the primary site for Cl⁻ chemisorption and a protective layer for NFI as an ohmic contact. Galvanostatic electrolysis of NH₄⁺-laden synthetic wastewater demonstrated that NFI/TiO₂ not only achieves quasi-stoichiometric NH₄⁺-to-N₂ conversion, but also enhances H₂ generation efficiency with minimal competing reactions such as reduction of dissolved oxygen and reactive chlorine. The scaled-up WEC with NFI/TiO₂ was demonstrated for electrolysis of toilet wastewater.

Highlights:
1 Ir-doped NiFe₂O₄ (NFI) spinel with TiO₂ heterojunction overlayer brought about outstanding chlorine evolution reaction in circumneutral pH.
2 Electroanalyses including operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy uncovered the active role of TiO₂ for Cl⁻ chemisorption.
3 NFI/TiO₂ anode boosted both NH₄⁺-to-N₂ conversion and H₂ generation in wastewater, and the practical applicability was confirmed with scaled-up anodes and real wastewater.

A Flexible Smart Healthcare Platform Conjugated with Artificial Epidermis Assembled by Three-Dimensionally Conductive MOF Network for Gas and Pressure Sensing

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The rising flexible and intelligent electronics greatly facilitate the noninvasive and timely tracking of physiological information in telemedicine healthcare. Meticulously building bionic-sensitive moieties is vital for designing efficient electronic skin with advanced cognitive functionalities to pluralistically capture external stimuli. However, realistic mimesis, both in the skin’s three-dimensional interlocked hierarchical structures and synchronous encoding multistimuli information capacities, remains a challenging yet vital need for simplifying the design of flexible logic circuits. Herein, we construct an artificial epidermal device by in situ growing Cu₃(HHTP)₂ particles onto the hollow spherical Ti₃C₂T_x surface, aiming to concurrently emulate the spinous and granular layers of the skin’s epidermis. The bionic Ti₃C₂T_x@Cu₃(HHTP)₂ exhibits independent NO₂ and pressure response, as well as novel functionalities such as acoustic signature perception and Morse code-encrypted message communication. Ultimately, a wearable alarming system with a mobile application terminal is self-developed by integrating the bimodular senor into flexible printed circuits. This system can assess risk factors related with asthmatic, such as stimulation of external NO₂ gas, abnormal expiratory behavior and exertion degrees of fingers, achieving a recognition accuracy of 97.6% as assisted by a machine learning algorithm. Our work provides a feasible routine to develop intelligent multifunctional healthcare equipment for burgeoning transformative telemedicine diagnosis.

Highlights:
1 A smart wearable alarming system integrated artificial epidermal device for pluralistically identifying asthmatic attack risk factors, achieving a 97.6% classification accuracy as assisted by machine learning algorithm.
2 A meticulous mimicry both in the advanced structural attributes and encoding information abilities of the skin was adopted to design a novel artificial epidermal device by integrating conductive Cu₃(HHTP)₂ coupled with spherical Ti₃C₂T_x.
3 The bioinspired Ti₃C₂T_x@Cu₃(HHTP)₂ sensors can independently perceive NO₂ gas and pressure-triggered stimuli.

Dynamic Regulation of Hydrogen Bonding Networks and Solvation Structures for Synergistic Solar-Thermal Desalination of Seawater and Catalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants

Ming‑Yuan Yu, Jing Wu, Guang Yin, Fan‑Zhen Jiao, Zhong‑Zhen Yu, Jin Qu — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Although solar steam generation strategy is efficient in desalinating seawater, it is still challenging to achieve continuous solar-thermal desalination of seawater and catalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Herein, dynamic regulations of hydrogen bonding networks and solvation structures are realized by designing an asymmetric bilayer membrane consisting of a bacterial cellulose/carbon nanotube/Co₂(OH)₂CO₃ nanorod top layer and a bacterial cellulose/Co₂(OH)₂CO₃ nanorod (BCH) bottom layer. Crucially, the hydrogen bonding networks inside the membrane can be tuned by the rich surface –OH groups of the bacterial cellulose and Co₂(OH)₂CO₃ as well as the ions and radicals in situ generated during the catalysis process. Moreover, both SO₄²⁻ and HSO₅⁻ can regulate the solvation structure of Na⁺ and be adsorbed more preferentially on the evaporation surface than Cl⁻, thus hindering the de-solvation of the solvated Na⁺ and subsequent nucleation/growth of NaCl. Furthermore, the heat generated by the solar-thermal energy conversion can accelerate the reaction kinetics and enhance the catalytic degradation efficiency. This work provides a flow-bed water purification system with an asymmetric solar-thermal and catalytic membrane for synergistic solar thermal desalination of seawater/brine and catalytic degradation of organic pollutants.

Highlights:
1 A flow-bed water purification system with an asymmetric solar-thermal and catalytic membrane is designed for synergistic solar-thermal desalination of seawater/brine and catalytic degradation of organic pollutants.
2 The hydrogen bonding networks can be regulated by the abundant surface –OH groups and the in situ generated ions and radicals during the degradation process for promoting solar-driven steam generation.
3 The de-solvation of solvated Na⁺ and subsequent nucleation/growth of NaCl are effectively inhibited by SO₄²⁻/HSO₅⁻ ions.

Graphene Aerogel Composites with Self-Organized Nanowires-Packed Honeycomb Structure for Highly Efficient Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

With vigorous developments in nanotechnology, the elaborate regulation of microstructure shows attractive potential in the design of electromagnetic wave absorbers. Herein, a hierarchical porous structure and composite heterogeneous interface are constructed successfully to optimize the electromagnetic loss capacity. The macro–micro-synergistic graphene aerogel formed by the ice template‑assisted 3D printing strategy is cut by silicon carbide nanowires (SiC_nws) grown in situ, while boron nitride (BN) interfacial structure is introduced on graphene nanoplates. The unique composite structure forces multiple scattering of incident EMWs, ensuring the combined effects of interfacial polarization, conduction networks, and magnetic-dielectric synergy. Therefore, the as-prepared composites present a minimum reflection loss value of − 37.8 dB and a wide effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 9.2 GHz (from 8.8 to 18.0 GHz) at 2.5 mm. Besides, relying on the intrinsic high-temperature resistance of SiC_nws and BN, the EAB also remains above 5.0 GHz after annealing in air environment at 600 °C for 10 h.

Highlights:
1 A new strategy for elaborate regulation of microstructure was successfully introduced by the ice template‑assisted 3D printing and chemical vapor deposition strategy, including graphene nanoplate/silicon carbide nanowires hierarchical porous structure and graphene nanoplate/boron nitride composite heterogeneous interface.
2 The composite exhibits excellent electromagnetic wave absorption performance with an RLmin of -37.8 dB and an EABmax of 9.2 GHz (from 8.8 to 18.0 GHz) at 2.5 mm. And the high-temperature absorption stability makes it a promising absorber candidate under high temperature and oxidizing atmosphere.

Integration of Electrical Properties and Polarization Loss Modulation on Atomic Fe–N-RGO for Boosting Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Developing effective strategies to regulate graphene's conduction loss and polarization has become a key to expanding its application in the electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA) field. Based on the unique energy band structure of graphene, regulating its bandgap and electrical properties by introducing heteroatoms is considered a feasible solution. Herein, metal-nitrogen doping reduced graphene oxide (M–N-RGO) was prepared by embedding a series of single metal atoms M–N₄ sites (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Cd, and Sn) in RGO using an N-coordination atom-assisted strategy. These composites had adjustable conductivity and polarization to optimize dielectric loss and impedance matching for efficient EMWA performance. The results showed that the minimum reflection loss (RL_min) of Fe–N-RGO reaches − 74.05 dB (2.0 mm) and the maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EAB_max) is 7.05 GHz (1.89 mm) even with a low filler loading of only 1 wt%. Combined with X-ray absorption spectra (XAFS), atomic force microscopy, and density functional theory calculation analysis, the Fe–N₄ can be used as the polarization center to increase dipole polarization, interface polarization and defect-induced polarization due to d-p orbital hybridization and structural distortion. Moreover, electron migration within the Fe further leads to conduction loss, thereby synergistically promoting energy attenuation. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of metal-nitrogen doping in regulating the graphene′s dielectric properties, which provides an important basis for further investigation of the loss mechanism.

Highlights:
1 Single-atom Fe–N₄ sites embedded into graphene were successfully synthesized to exert the dielectric properties of graphene.
2 The absorption mechanisms of metal-nitrogen doping reduced graphene oxide mainly include enhanced dipole polarization, interface polarization, conduction loss and defect-induced polarization.
3 Excellent reflection loss of − 74.05 dB (2.0 mm) and broad effective absorption bandwidth of 7.05 GHz (1.89 mm, with filler loading only 1 wt%) were obtained.

Sulfolane-Based Flame-Retardant Electrolyte for High-Voltage Sodium-Ion Batteries

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Sodium-ion batteries hold great promise as next-generation energy storage systems. However, the high instability of the electrode/electrolyte interphase during cycling has seriously hindered the development of SIBs. In particular, an unstable cathode–electrolyte interphase (CEI) leads to successive electrolyte side reactions, transition metal leaching and rapid capacity decay, which tends to be exacerbated under high-voltage conditions. Therefore, constructing dense and stable CEIs are crucial for high-performance SIBs. This work reports localized high-concentration electrolyte by incorporating a highly oxidation-resistant sulfolane solvent with non-solvent diluent 1H, 1H, 5H-octafluoropentyl-1, 1, 2, 2-tetrafluoroethyl ether, which exhibited excellent oxidative stability and was able to form thin, dense and homogeneous CEI. The excellent CEI enabled the O3-type layered oxide cathode NaNi_1/3Mn_1/3Fe_1/3O₂ (NaNMF) to achieve stable cycling, with a capacity retention of 79.48% after 300 cycles at 1 C and 81.15% after 400 cycles at 2 C with a high charging voltage of 4.2 V. In addition, its nonflammable nature enhances the safety of SIBs. This work provides a viable pathway for the application of sulfolane-based electrolytes on SIBs and the design of next-generation high-voltage electrolytes.

Highlights:
1 NaTFSI/SUL:OTE:FEC facilitates the formation of S, N-rich, dense and robust cathode–electrolyte interphase on NaNMF cathode, which improves the cycling stability under high voltage.
2 By utilizing NaTFSI/SUL:OTE:FEC, the Na||NaNMF batteries achieved an impressive retention of 81.15% after 400 cycles at 2 C with the cutoff voltage of 4.2 V.
3 The study offers a reference for the utilization of sulfolane-based electrolytes in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), while the nonflammability of the NaTFSI/SUL:OTE:FEC enhances the safety of SIBs.

Gradient-Layered MXene/Hollow Lignin Nanospheres Architecture Design for Flexible and Stretchable Supercapacitors

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

With the rapid development of flexible wearable electronics, the demand for stretchable energy storage devices has surged. In this work, a novel gradient-layered architecture was design based on single-pore hollow lignin nanospheres (HLNPs)-intercalated two-dimensional transition metal carbide (Ti₃C₂T_x MXene) for fabricating highly stretchable and durable supercapacitors. By depositing and inserting HLNPs in the MXene layers with a bottom-up decreasing gradient, a multilayered porous MXene structure with smooth ion channels was constructed by reducing the overstacking of MXene lamella. Moreover, the micro-chamber architecture of thin-walled lignin nanospheres effectively extended the contact area between lignin and MXene to improve ion and electron accessibility, thus better utilizing the pseudocapacitive property of lignin. All these strategies effectively enhanced the capacitive performance of the electrodes. In addition, HLNPs, which acted as a protective phase for MXene layer, enhanced mechanical properties of the wrinkled stretchable electrodes by releasing stress through slip and deformation during the stretch-release cycling and greatly improved the structural integrity and capacitive stability of the electrodes. Flexible electrodes and symmetric flexible all-solid-state supercapacitors capable of enduring 600% uniaxial tensile strain were developed with high specific capacitances of 1273 mF cm⁻² (241 F g⁻¹) and 514 mF cm⁻² (95 F g⁻¹), respectively. Moreover, their capacitances were well preserved after 1000 times of 600% stretch-release cycling. This study showcased new possibilities of incorporating biobased lignin nanospheres in energy storage devices to fabricate stretchable devices leveraging synergies among various two-dimensional nanomaterials.

Highlights:
1 A novel gradient-layered architecture based on single-pore hollow lignin nanospheres (HLNPs)-intercalated MXene layers was created to fabricate highly stretchable (600%) and durable (1000 cycling) supercapacitor electrodes.
2 The architecture reduced the overstacking of MXene, and the micro-chamber structure of HLNPs better utilized lignin’s pseudocapacitive property to improve ion and electron accessibility (specific capacitance reached 1273 mF cm⁻²).
3 HLNPs enhanced mechanical durability and capacitive stability of the integrated wrinkled electrodes during the stretch-release cycling.

Ultra-High Sensitivity Anisotropic Piezoelectric Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring and Robotic Perception

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Monitoring minuscule mechanical signals, both in magnitude and direction, is imperative in many application scenarios, e.g., structural health monitoring and robotic sensing systems. However, the piezoelectric sensor struggles to satisfy the requirements for directional recognition due to the limited piezoelectric coefficient matrix, and achieving sensitivity for detecting micrometer-scale deformations is also challenging. Herein, we develop a vector sensor composed of lead zirconate titanate-electronic grade glass fiber composite filaments with oriented arrangement, capable of detecting minute anisotropic deformations. The as-prepared vector sensor can identify the deformation directions even when subjected to an unprecedented nominal strain of 0.06%, thereby enabling its utility in accurately discerning the 5 μm-height wrinkles in thin films and in monitoring human pulse waves. The ultra-high sensitivity is attributed to the formation of porous ferroelectret and the efficient load transfer efficiency of continuous lead zirconate titanate phase. Additionally, when integrated with machine learning techniques, the sensor’s capability to recognize multi-signals enables it to differentiate between 10 types of fine textures with 100% accuracy. The structural design in piezoelectric devices enables a more comprehensive perception of mechanical stimuli, offering a novel perspective for enhancing recognition accuracy.

Highlights:
1 A novel anisotropic sensor with oriented piezoelectric filaments was prepared, capable of detecting both the magnitude and direction of micro-deformations.
2 Due to the efficient load transfer of continuous fibers and the formation of porous ferroelectrets, an ultra-low strain detection limit of 0.06% was achieved in the sensor.
3 Given the sensor's ultra-low detection limit and deformation direction sensing capability, we developed the sensor for detecting micron-scale deformations in thin-film structures and for robotic tactile sensing applications.

A Rapid Adaptation Approach for Dynamic Air-Writing Recognition Using Wearable Wristbands with Self-Supervised Contrastive Learning

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Wearable wristband systems leverage deep learning to revolutionize hand gesture recognition in daily activities. Unlike existing approaches that often focus on static gestures and require extensive labeled data, the proposed wearable wristband with self-supervised contrastive learning excels at dynamic motion tracking and adapts rapidly across multiple scenarios. It features a four-channel sensing array composed of an ionic hydrogel with hierarchical microcone structures and ultrathin flexible electrodes, resulting in high-sensitivity capacitance output. Through wireless transmission from a Wi-Fi module, the proposed algorithm learns latent features from the unlabeled signals of random wrist movements. Remarkably, only few-shot labeled data are sufficient for fine-tuning the model, enabling rapid adaptation to various tasks. The system achieves a high accuracy of 94.9% in different scenarios, including the prediction of eight-direction commands, and air-writing of all numbers and letters. The proposed method facilitates smooth transitions between multiple tasks without the need for modifying the structure or undergoing extensive task-specific training. Its utility has been further extended to enhance human–machine interaction over digital platforms, such as game controls, calculators, and three-language login systems, offering users a natural and intuitive way of communication.

Highlights:
1 Utilizing self-supervised learning, the proposed wearable wristband with a four-channel sensing array and wireless transmission module is developed for tracking air-writing and dynamic gestures.
2 The model can learn prior features from unlabeled signals of random wrist movements, significantly reducing the dependency on extensive labeled data for training.
3 The wristband system rapidly adapts to multiple scenarios after fine-tuning using few-shot data, enhancing user interaction through natural and intuitive communication.

Magneto-Dielectric Synergy and Multiscale Hierarchical Structure Design Enable Flexible Multipurpose Microwave Absorption and Infrared Stealth Compatibility

Chen Li, Leilei Liang, Baoshan Zhang, Yi Yang, Guangbin Ji — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Developing advanced stealth devices to cope with radar-infrared (IR) fusion detection and diverse application scenarios is increasingly demanded, which faces significant challenges due to conflicting microwave and IR cloaking mechanisms and functional integration limitations. Here, we propose a multiscale hierarchical structure design, integrating wrinkled MXene IR shielding layer and flexible Fe₃O₄@C/PDMS microwave absorption layer. The top wrinkled MXene layer induces the intensive diffuse reflection effect, shielding IR radiation signals while allowing microwave to pass through. Meanwhile, the permeable microwaves are assimilated into the bottom Fe₃O₄@C/PDMS layer via strong magneto-electric synergy. Through theoretical and experimental optimization, the assembled stealth devices realize a near-perfect stealth capability in both X-band (8–12 GHz) and long-wave infrared (8–14 µm) wavelength ranges. Specifically, it delivers a radar cross-section reduction of − 20 dB m², a large apparent temperature modulation range (ΔT = 70 °C), and a low average IR emissivity of 0.35. Additionally, the optimal device demonstrates exceptional curved surface conformability, self-cleaning capability (contact angle ≈ 129°), and abrasion resistance (recovery time ≈ 5 s). This design strategy promotes the development of multispectral stealth technology and reinforces its applicability and durability in complex and hostile environments.

Highlights:
1 A multiscale hierarchical structure design, integrating wrinkled MXene radar-infrared shielding layer and flexible Fe₃O₄@C/PDMS microwave absorption layer
2 The assembled stealth devices realize a near-perfect stealth capability in both X-band (8-12 GHz) and long-wave infrared (8-14 µm) wavelength ranges.
3 The optimal device demonstrates exceptional curved surface conformability, self-cleaning capability (contact angle ≈ 129°), and abrasion resistance (recovery time ≈ 5 s).

Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules Enabled by Tailoring Additive Distribution According to the Film Growth Dynamics

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Gas quenching and vacuum quenching process are widely applied to accelerate solvent volatilization to induce nucleation of perovskites in blade-coating method. In this work, we found these two pre-crystallization processes lead to different order of crystallization dynamics within the perovskite thin film, resulting in the differences of additive distribution. We then tailor-designed an additive molecule named 1,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea to obtain films with fewer defects and holes at the buried interface, and prepared perovskite solar cells with a certified efficiency of 23.75%. Furthermore, this work also demonstrates an efficiency of 20.18% for the large-area perovskite solar module (PSM) with an aperture area of 60.84 cm². The PSM possesses remarkable continuous operation stability for maximum power point tracking of T₉₀ > 1000 h in ambient air.

Highlights:
1 Two pre-crystallization processes of gas quenching and vacuum quenching lead to different order of crystallization dynamics within the perovskite thin film, resulting in the differences of additive distribution.
2 A tailor designed 1,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea was utilized to improve the buried interface, leading to a certified efficiency of 23.75% for blade-coated perovskite solar cell.
3 The perovskite solar module (aperture area: 60.84 cm²) demonstrates an efficiency of 20.18% with excellent operational stability (maximum power point tracking of T90 > 1000 h).

Porous Organic Cage-Based Quasi-Solid-State Electrolyte with Cavity-Induced Anion-Trapping Effect for Long-Life Lithium Metal Batteries

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Porous organic cages (POCs) with permanent porosity and excellent host–guest property hold great potentials in regulating ion transport behavior, yet their feasibility as solid-state electrolytes has never been testified in a practical battery. Herein, we design and fabricate a quasi-solid-state electrolyte (QSSE) based on a POC to enable the stable operation of Li-metal batteries (LMBs). Benefiting from the ordered channels and cavity-induced anion-trapping effect of POC, the resulting POC-based QSSE exhibits a high Li⁺ transference number of 0.67 and a high ionic conductivity of 1.25 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ with a low activation energy of 0.17 eV. These allow for homogeneous Li deposition and highly reversible Li plating/stripping for over 2000 h. As a proof of concept, the LMB assembled with POC-based QSSE demonstrates extremely stable cycling performance with 85% capacity retention after 1000 cycles. Therefore, our work demonstrates the practical applicability of POC as SSEs for LMBs and could be extended to other energy-storage systems, such as Na and K batteries.

Highlights:
1 A porous organic cage (POC)-based quasi-solid-state electrolyte (QSSE) with cavity-induced anion-trapping effect was rationally designed to enable the stable operation of Li-metal batteries.
2 The POC-based QSSE exhibits a high Li⁺ transference number of 0.67 and a high ionic conductivity of 1.25×10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ with a low activation energy of 0.17 eV.
3 The POC-based QSSE demonstrates a highly reversible Li plating/stripping cycling for 2000 h and superior Li||LFePO₄ cycling for thousands of cycles at room temperature.

An Unprecedented Efficiency with Approaching 21% Enabled by Additive-Assisted Layer-by-Layer Processing in Organic Solar Cells

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Recently published in Joule, Feng Liu and colleagues from Shanghai Jiaotong University reported a record-breaking 20.8% power conversion efficiency in organic solar cells (OSCs) with an interpenetrating fibril network active layer morphology, featuring a bulk p-i-n structure and proper vertical segregation achieved through additive-assisted layer-by-layer deposition. This optimized hierarchical gradient fibrillar morphology and optical management synergistically facilitates exciton diffusion, reduces recombination losses, and enhances light capture capability. This approach not only offers a solution to achieving high-efficiency devices but also demonstrates the potential for commercial applications of OSCs.

Highlights:
1 Additive-assisted layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition enables organic solar cells to achieve an unprecedented power conversion efficiency of 20.8%, the highest efficiency to date.
2 The gradient fibrillar morphology enabled by additive-assisted LBL processing promotes the formation of bulk p-i-n structure, improving exciton and carrier diffusion, and reducing recombination losses.
3 The wrinkle pattern morphology achieved by additive-assisted LBL processing is constructed to enhance the light capture capability.

MoS2 Lubricate-Toughened MXene/ANF Composites for Multifunctional Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The design and fabrication of high toughness electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composite films with diminished reflection are an imperative task to solve electromagnetic pollution problem. Ternary MXene/ANF (aramid nanofibers)–MoS₂ composite films with nacre-like layered structure here are fabricated after the introduction of MoS₂ into binary MXene/ANF composite system. The introduction of MoS₂ fulfills an impressive “kill three birds with one stone” improvement effect: lubrication toughening mechanical performance, reduction in secondary reflection pollution of electromagnetic wave, and improvement in the performance of photothermal conversion. After the introduction of MoS₂ into binary MXene/ANF (mass ratio of 50:50), the strain to failure and tensile strength increase from 22.1 1.7% and 105.7 6.4 MPa and to 25.8 0.7% and 167.3 9.1 MPa, respectively. The toughness elevates from 13.0 4.1 to 26.3 0.8 MJ m⁻³ (~ 102.3%) simultaneously. And the reflection shielding effectiveness (SE_R) of MXene/ANF (mass ratio of 50:50) decreases ~ 10.8%. EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) elevates to 41.0 dB (8.2–12.4 GHz); After the introduction of MoS₂ into binary MXene/ANF (mass ratio of 60:40), the strain to failure increases from 18.3 1.9% to 28.1 0.7% (~ 53.5%), the SE_R decreases ~ 22.2%, and the corresponding EMI SE is 43.9 dB. The MoS₂ also leads to a more efficient photothermal conversion performance (~ 45 to ~ 55 °C). Additionally, MXene/ANF–MoS₂ composite films exhibit excellent electric heating performance, quick temperature elevation (15 s), excellent cycle stability (2, 2.5, and 3 V), and long-term stability (2520 s). Combining with excellent mechanical performance with high MXene content, electric heating performance, and photothermal conversion performance, EMI shielding ternary MXene/ANF–MoS₂ composite films could be applied in many industrial areas. This work broadens how to achieve a balance between mechanical properties and versatility of composites in the case of high-function fillers.

Highlights:
1 The introduction of MoS₂ generates a “kill three birds with one stone” effect to the original binary MXene/ANF system: lubrication toughening mechanical performance; reduction in secondary reflection pollution of electromagnetic wave; and improvement in the performance of photothermal conversion.
2 After the introduction of MoS₂ into MXene/ANF (60:40), the strain and toughness were increased by 53.5% (from 18.3% to 28.1%) and 61.7% (from 8.9 to 14.5 MJ m⁻³), respectively. Fortunately, the SER decreases by 22.4%, and the photothermal conversion performance was increased by 22.2% from ~ 45 to ~ 55 °C.

High Fe-Loading Single-Atom Catalyst Boosts ROS Production by Density Effect for Efficient Antibacterial Therapy

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The current single-atom catalysts (SACs) for medicine still suffer from the limited active site density. Here, we develop a synthetic method capable of increasing both the metal loading and mass-specific activity of SACs by exchanging zinc with iron. The constructed iron SACs (h³-FNC) with a high metal loading of 6.27 wt% and an optimized adjacent Fe distance of ~ 4 Å exhibit excellent oxidase-like catalytic performance without significant activity decay after being stored for six months and promising antibacterial effects. Attractively, a “density effect” has been found at a high-enough metal doping amount, at which individual active sites become close enough to interact with each other and alter the electronic structure, resulting in significantly boosted intrinsic activity of single-atomic iron sites in h³-FNCs by 2.3 times compared to low- and medium-loading SACs. Consequently, the overall catalytic activity of h³-FNC is highly improved, with mass activity and metal mass-specific activity that are, respectively, 66 and 315 times higher than those of commercial Pt/C. In addition, h³-FNCs demonstrate efficiently enhanced capability in catalyzing oxygen reduction into superoxide anion (O₂·⁻) and glutathione (GSH) depletion. Both in vitro and in vivo assays demonstrate the superior antibacterial efficacy of h³-FNCs in promoting wound healing. This work presents an intriguing activity-enhancement effect in catalysts and exhibits impressive therapeutic efficacy in combating bacterial infections.

Highlights:
1 Fe single-atom catalysts (h³-FNCs) with high loading, high catalytic activity and high stability were synthesized via a method capable of increasing both the metal loading and mass-specific activity by exchanging zinc with iron.
2 The “density effect,” derived from the sufficiently high density of active sites, has been discovered for the first time, leading to a significant alteration in the intrinsic activity of single-atom metal sites.
3 The superior oxidase-like catalytic performance of h³-FNCs ensures highly effective bacterial eradication.

Aligned Ion Conduction Pathway of Polyrotaxane-Based Electrolyte with Dispersed Hydrophobic Chains for Solid-State Lithium–Oxygen Batteries

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A critical challenge hindering the practical application of lithium–oxygen batteries (LOBs) is the inevitable problems associated with liquid electrolytes, such as evaporation and safety problems. Our study addresses these problems by proposing a modified polyrotaxane (mPR)-based solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) design that simultaneously mitigates solvent-related problems and improves conductivity. mPR-SPE exhibits high ion conductivity (2.8 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 25 °C) through aligned ion conduction pathways and provides electrode protection ability through hydrophobic chain dispersion. Integrating this mPR-SPE into solid-state LOBs resulted in stable potentials over 300 cycles. In situ Raman spectroscopy reveals the presence of an LiO₂ intermediate alongside Li₂O₂ during oxygen reactions. Ex situ X-ray diffraction confirm the ability of the SPE to hinder the permeation of oxygen and moisture, as demonstrated by the air permeability tests. The present study suggests that maintaining a low residual solvent while achieving high ionic conductivity is crucial for restricting the sub-reactions of solid-state LOBs.

Highlights:
1 Strategic materials design of polyrotaxane-based electrolytes was suggested by aligning the ion conduction pathways and dispersing hydrophobic chains for solid-state Li–O₂ batteries.
2 Owing to intentional design, solid-state Li–O₂ battery resulted in stable potential over 300 cycles at 25 °C.

3D Printing of Tough Hydrogel Scaffolds with Functional Surface Structures for Tissue Regeneration

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hydrogel scaffolds have numerous potential applications in the tissue engineering field. However, tough hydrogel scaffolds implanted in vivo are seldom reported because it is difficult to balance biocompatibility and high mechanical properties. Inspired by Chinese ramen, we propose a universal fabricating method (printing-P, training-T, cross-linking-C, PTC & PCT) for tough hydrogel scaffolds to fill this gap. First, 3D printing fabricates a hydrogel scaffold with desired structures (P). Then, the scaffold could have extraordinarily high mechanical properties and functional surface structure by cycle mechanical training with salting-out assistance (T). Finally, the training results are fixed by photo-cross-linking processing (C). The tough gelatin hydrogel scaffolds exhibit excellent tensile strength of 6.66 MPa (622-fold untreated) and have excellent biocompatibility. Furthermore, this scaffold possesses functional surface structures from nanometer to micron to millimeter, which can efficiently induce directional cell growth. Interestingly, this strategy can produce bionic human tissue with mechanical properties of 10 kPa-10 MPa by changing the type of salt, and many hydrogels, such as gelatin and silk, could be improved with PTC or PCT strategies. Animal experiments show that this scaffold can effectively promote the new generation of muscle fibers, blood vessels, and nerves within 4 weeks, prompting the rapid regeneration of large-volume muscle loss injuries.

Highlights:
1 We propose the novel concept of a tough hydrogel scaffold within the realm of tissue engineering. This scaffold combines exceptional strength (6.66 MPa), customization capabilities, and superior biocompatibility in a manner not previously achieved in existing research.
2 These tough hydrogel scaffolds possess functional surface structures and can effectively enhance cell-guided growth and prompt regeneration of muscle tissue in vivo.
3 This is a universal manufacturing method for tough hydrogel scaffolds in tissue engineering.

Locally Enhanced Flow and Electric Fields Through a Tip Effect for Efficient Flow-Electrode Capacitive Deionization

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Low-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) is an emerging desalination technology with great potential for removal and/or recycling ions from a range of waters. However, it still suffers from inefficient charge transfer and ion transport kinetics due to weak turbulence and low electric intensity in flow electrodes, both restricted by the current collectors. Herein, a new tip-array current collector (designated as T-CC) was developed to replace the conventional planar current collectors, which intensifies both the charge transfer and ion transport significantly. The effects of tip arrays on flow and electric fields were studied by both computational simulations and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which revealed the reduction of ion transport barrier, charge transport barrier and internal resistance. With the voltage increased from 1.0 to 1.5 and 2.0 V, the T-CC-based FCDI system (T-FCDI) exhibited average salt removal rates (ASRR) of 0.18, 0.50, and 0.89 μmol cm⁻² min⁻¹, respectively, which are 1.82, 2.65, and 2.48 folds higher than that of the conventional serpentine current collectors, and 1.48, 1.67, and 1.49 folds higher than that of the planar current collectors. Meanwhile, with the solid content in flow electrodes increased from 1 to 5 wt%, the ASRR for T-FCDI increased from 0.29 to 0.50 μmol cm⁻² min⁻¹, which are 1.70 and 1.67 folds higher than that of the planar current collectors. Additionally, a salt removal efficiency of 99.89% was achieved with T-FCDI and the charge efficiency remained above 95% after 24 h of operation, thus showing its superior long-term stability.

Highlights:
1 Steel tip arrays were used as current collectors to replace planar conductors.
2 Optimal flow and electric fields reduced barriers for electron and ion transport.
3 Desalination performance of flow-electrode capacitive deionization is enhanced by the tip-array current collectors.

An Efficient Boron Source Activation Strategy for the Low-Temperature Synthesis of Boron Nitride Nanotubes

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Lowering the synthesis temperature of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) is crucial for their development. The primary reason for adopting a high temperature is to enable the effective activation of high-melting-point solid boron. In this study, we developed a novel approach for efficiently activating boron by introducing alkali metal compounds into the conventional MgO–B system. This approach can be adopted to form various low-melting-point AM–Mg–B–O growth systems. These growth systems have improved catalytic capability and reactivity even under low-temperature conditions, facilitating the synthesis of BNNTs at temperatures as low as 850 °C. In addition, molecular dynamics simulations based on density functional theory theoretically demonstrate that the systems maintain a liquid state at low temperatures and interact with N atoms to form BN chains. These findings offer novel insights into the design of boron activation and are expected to facilitate research on the low-temperature synthesis of BNNTs.

Highlights:
1 Developed more efficient boron activation strategies, while establishing various low-melting growth systems.
2 The preparation temperature of boron nitride nanotubes has been reduced to 850 °C.

Defects-Rich Heterostructures Trigger Strong Polarization Coupling in Sulfides/Carbon Composites with Robust Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Multiple Tin Compounds Modified Carbon Fibers to Construct Heterogeneous Interfaces for Corrosion Prevention and Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Currently, the demand for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing materials with specific functions and capable of withstanding harsh environments is becoming increasingly urgent. Multi-component interface engineering is considered an effective means to achieve high-efficiency EMW absorption. However, interface modulation engineering has not been fully discussed and has great potential in the field of EMW absorption. In this study, multi-component tin compound fiber composites based on carbon fiber (CF) substrate were prepared by electrospinning, hydrothermal synthesis, and high-temperature thermal reduction. By utilizing the different properties of different substances, rich heterogeneous interfaces are constructed. This effectively promotes charge transfer and enhances interfacial polarization and conduction loss. The prepared SnS/SnS₂/SnO₂/CF composites with abundant heterogeneous interfaces have and exhibit excellent EMW absorption properties at a loading of 50 wt% in epoxy resin. The minimum reflection loss (RL) is − 46.74 dB and the maximum effective absorption bandwidth is 5.28 GHz. Moreover, SnS/SnS₂/SnO₂/CF epoxy composite coatings exhibited long-term corrosion resistance on Q235 steel surfaces. Therefore, this study provides an effective strategy for the design of high-efficiency EMW absorbing materials in complex and harsh environments.

Highlights:
1 Excellent impedance matching through component modulation engineering.
2 Rich heterogeneous interfaces are constructed to realize excellent electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption performance.
3 Long-term corrosion protection and excellent EMW absorption properties.

Constructing Donor–Acceptor-Linked COFs Electrolytes to Regulate Electron Density and Accelerate the Li+ Migration in Quasi-Solid-State Battery

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Regulation the electronic density of solid-state electrolyte by donor–acceptor (D–A) system can achieve highly-selective Li⁺ transportation and conduction in solid-state Li metal batteries. This study reports a high-performance solid-state electrolyte thorough D–A-linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs) based on intramolecular charge transfer interactions. Unlike other reported COF-based solid-state electrolyte, the developed concept with D–A-linked COFs not only achieves electronic modulation to promote highly-selective Li⁺ migration and inhibit Li dendrite, but also offers a crucial opportunity to understand the role of electronic density in solid-state Li metal batteries. The introduced strong electronegativity F-based ligand in COF electrolyte results in highly-selective Li⁺ (transference number 0.83), high ionic conductivity (6.7 × 10^–4 S cm⁻¹), excellent cyclic ability (1000 h) in Li metal symmetric cell and high-capacity retention in Li/LiFePO₄ cell (90.8% for 300 cycles at 5C) than substituted C- and N-based ligands. This is ascribed to outstanding D–A interaction between donor porphyrin and acceptor F atoms, which effectively expedites electron transferring from porphyrin to F-based ligand and enhances Li⁺ kinetics. Consequently, we anticipate that this work creates insight into the strategy for accelerating Li⁺ conduction in high-performance solid-state Li metal batteries through D–A system.

Highlights:
1 Donor–acceptor-linked covalent organic framework (COF)-based electrolyte can not only fulfill highly-selective Li⁺ conduction, but also offer a crucial opportunity to understand the role of electronic density in quasi-solid-state Li metal batteries.
2 Donor–acceptor-linked COF electrolyte results in Li+ transference number 0.83, high ionic conductivity 6.7 × 10^–4 S cm⁻¹ and excellent cyclic ability in Li metal batteries.
3 In situ characterizations, density functional theory calculation and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry are adopted to expound the mechanism of the rapid migration of Li⁺ in the “donor–acceptor” electrolyte system.

Designing Electronic Structures of Multiscale Helical Converters for Tailored Ultrabroad Electromagnetic Absorption

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Atomic-scale doping strategies and structure design play pivotal roles in tailoring the electronic structure and physicochemical property of electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA) materials. However, the relationship between configuration and electromagnetic (EM) loss mechanism has remained elusive. Herein, drawing inspiration from the DNA transcription process, we report the successful synthesis of novel in situ Mn/N co-doped helical carbon nanotubes with ultrabroad EMWA capability. Theoretical calculation and EM simulation confirm that the orbital coupling and spin polarization of the Mn–N₄–C configuration, along with cross polarization generated by the helical structure, endow the helical converters with enhanced EM loss. As a result, HMC-8 demonstrates outstanding EMWA performance, achieving a minimum reflection loss of −63.13 dB at an ultralow thickness of 1.29 mm. Through precise tuning of the graphite domain size, HMC-7 achieves an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6.08 GHz at 2.02 mm thickness. Furthermore, constructing macroscale gradient metamaterials enables an ultrabroadband EAB of 12.16 GHz at a thickness of only 5.00 mm, with the maximum radar cross section reduction value reaching 36.4 dB m². This innovative approach not only advances the understanding of metal–nonmetal co-doping but also realizes broadband EMWA, thus contributing to the development of EMWA mechanisms and applications.

Highlights:
1 The energy conversion mechanism is thoroughly analyzed, with a detailed quantitative characterization of the dissipation capacities of polarization, conduction, and magnetic loss.
2 Inspired by DNA transcription, atom and geometry configurations co-modulating multi-scale helical converters achieve the RLmin of −63.13 dB at 1.29 mm, and the maximum RCS reduction value reach 36.4 dB m².
3 Orbital coupling, spin and cross polarization synergize to realize a 6.08 GHz EAB, further expanding to ultrabroad electromagnetic wave absorption of 12.16 GHz through metamaterial design.

Spontaneous Orientation Polarization of Anisotropic Equivalent Dipoles Harnessed by Entropy Engineering for Ultra-Thin Electromagnetic Wave Absorber

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The synthesis of carbon supporter/nanoscale high-entropy alloys (HEAs) electromagnetic response composites by carbothermal shock method has been identified as an advanced strategy for the collaborative competition engineering of conductive/dielectric genes. Electron migration modes within HEAs as manipulated by the electronegativity, valence electron configurations and molar proportions of constituent elements determine the steady state and efficiency of equivalent dipoles. Herein, enlightened by skin-like effect, a reformative carbothermal shock method using carbonized cellulose paper (CCP) as carbon supporter is used to preserve the oxygen-containing functional groups (O·) of carbonized cellulose fibers (CCF). Nucleation of HEAs and construction of emblematic shell-core CCF/HEAs heterointerfaces are inextricably linked to carbon metabolism induced by O·. Meanwhile, the electron migration mode of switchable electron-rich sites promotes the orientation polarization of anisotropic equivalent dipoles. By virtue of the reinforcement strategy, CCP/HEAs composite prepared by 35% molar ratio of Mn element (CCP/HEAs-Mn_2.15) achieves efficient electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption of − 51.35 dB at an ultra-thin thickness of 1.03 mm. The mechanisms of the resulting dielectric properties of HEAs-based EMW absorbing materials are elucidated by combining theoretical calculations with experimental characterizations, which provide theoretical bases and feasible strategies for the simulation and practical application of electromagnetic functional devices (e.g., ultra-wideband bandpass filter).

Highlights:
1 The strengthening mechanism of spontaneous orientation polarization of anisotropic equivalent dipoles within high-entropy alloys (HEAs) is proposed for enhancing dielectric attenuation of HEAs.
2 The source of carbon supporter is expanded to the biomass category, which can construct the shell-core heterointerfaces with HEAs by means of a reformative carbothermal shock method.
3 The sample carbonized cellulose paper/HEAs-Mn_2.15 achieves efficient electromagnetic wave absorption of -51.35 dB at an ultra-thin thickness of 1.03 mm.
4 This work combines theoretical calculations and electromagnetic simulations to propose feasible strategies for the design and application of electromagnetic functional devices such as ultra-wideband bandpass filter.

Molecule-Level Multiscale Design of Nonflammable Gel Polymer Electrolyte to Build Stable SEI/CEI for Lithium Metal Battery

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The risk of flammability is an unavoidable issue for gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs). Usually, flame-retardant solvents are necessary to be used, but most of them would react with anode/cathode easily and cause serious interfacial instability, which is a big challenge for design and application of nonflammable GPEs. Here, a nonflammable GPE (SGPE) is developed by in situ polymerizing trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFMA) monomers with flame-retardant triethyl phosphate (TEP) solvents and LiTFSI–LiDFOB dual lithium salts. TEP is strongly anchored to PTFMA matrix via polarity interaction between -P = O and -CH₂CF₃. It reduces free TEP molecules, which obviously mitigates interfacial reactions, and enhances flame-retardant performance of TEP surprisingly. Anchored TEP molecules are also inhibited in solvation of Li⁺, leading to anion-dominated solvation sheath, which creates inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interface/cathode electrolyte interface layers. Such coordination structure changes Li⁺ transport from sluggish vehicular to fast structural transport, raising ionic conductivity to 1.03 mS cm⁻¹ and transfer number to 0.41 at 30 °C. The Li|SGPE|Li cell presents highly reversible Li stripping/plating performance for over 1000 h at 0.1 mA cm⁻², and 4.2 V LiCoO₂|SGPE|Li battery delivers high average specific capacity > 120 mAh g⁻¹ over 200 cycles. This study paves a new way to make nonflammable GPE that is compatible with Li metal anode.

Highlights:
1 Nonflammable gel polymer electrolyte (SGPE) is developed by in situ polymerizing trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFMA) monomers with flame-retardant triethyl phosphate (TEP) solvents and LiTFSI–LiDFOB dual lithium salts.
2 Molecular polarity interaction between TEP and PTFMA mitigates interfacial reactions and changes the solvation of Li⁺.
3 SGPE forms stable inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interface/cathode electrolyte interface layer, exhibiting well compatibility with Li anode and LiCoO₂-type high-voltage cathode.

Bioinspired Passive Tactile Sensors Enabled by Reversible Polarization of Conjugated Polymers

Feng He, Sitong Chen, Ruili Zhou, Hanyu Diao, Yangyang Han, Xiaodong Wu — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Tactile perception plays a vital role for the human body and is also highly desired for smart prosthesis and advanced robots. Compared to active sensing devices, passive piezoelectric and triboelectric tactile sensors consume less power, but lack the capability to resolve static stimuli. Here, we address this issue by utilizing the unique polarization chemistry of conjugated polymers for the first time and propose a new type of bioinspired, passive, and bio-friendly tactile sensors for resolving both static and dynamic stimuli. Specifically, to emulate the polarization process of natural sensory cells, conjugated polymers (including poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate), polyaniline, or polypyrrole) are controllably polarized into two opposite states to create artificial potential differences. The controllable and reversible polarization process of the conjugated polymers is fully in situ characterized. Then, a micro-structured ionic electrolyte is employed to imitate the natural ion channels and to encode external touch stimulations into the variation in potential difference outputs. Compared with the currently existing tactile sensing devices, the developed tactile sensors feature distinct characteristics including fully organic composition, high sensitivity (up to 773 mV N⁻¹), ultralow power consumption (nW), as well as superior bio-friendliness. As demonstrations, both single point tactile perception (surface texture perception and material property perception) and two-dimensional tactile recognitions (shape or profile perception) with high accuracy are successfully realized using self-defined machine learning algorithms. This tactile sensing concept innovation based on the polarization chemistry of conjugated polymers opens up a new path to create robotic tactile sensors and prosthetic electronic skins.

Highlights:
1 Fully organic and passive tactile sensors are developed via mimicking the sensing behavior of natural sensory cells.
2 Controllable polarizability of conjugated polymers is adopted for the first time to construct passive tactile sensors.
3 Machine learning-assisted surface texture detection, material property recognition, as well as shape/profile perception are realized with the tactile sensors.

“Zero-Strain” NiNb2O6 Fibers for All-Climate Lithium Storage

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Niobates are promising all-climate Li⁺-storage anode material due to their fast charge transport, large specific capacities, and resistance to electrolyte reaction. However, their moderate unit-cell-volume expansion (generally 5%–10%) during Li⁺ storage causes unsatisfactory long-term cyclability. Here, “zero-strain” NiNb₂O₆ fibers are explored as a new anode material with comprehensively good electrochemical properties. During Li⁺ storage, the expansion of electrochemical inactive NiO₆ octahedra almost fully offsets the shrinkage of active NbO₆ octahedra through reversible O movement. Such superior volume-accommodation capability of the NiO₆ layers guarantees the “zero-strain” behavior of NiNb₂O₆ in a broad temperature range (0.53%//0.51%//0.74% at 25// − 10//60 °C), leading to the excellent cyclability of the NiNb₂O₆ fibers (92.8%//99.2% // 91.1% capacity retention after 1000//2000//1000 cycles at 10C and 25// − 10//60 °C). This NiNb₂O₆ material further exhibits a large reversible capacity (300//184//318 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1C and 25// − 10//60 °C) and outstanding rate performance (10 to 0.5C capacity percentage of 64.3%//50.0%//65.4% at 25// − 10//60 °C). Therefore, the NiNb₂O₆ fibers are especially suitable for large-capacity, fast-charging, long-life, and all-climate lithium-ion batteries.

Highlights:
1 “Zero-strain” NiNb₂O₆ fibers with nanosized primary particles are explored as an all-climate anode material with comprehensively good Li⁺-storage properties.
2 The almost completely opposite volume changes of electrochemical inactive NiO₆ octahedra and active NbO₆ octahedra are achieved through reversible O movement, leading to the “zero-strain” behavior of NiNb₂O₆ with minor unit-cell-volume change and excellent cyclability in a broad temperature range.
3 The gained insight can provide guide for the exploration of high-performance energy-storage materials working at harsh temperatures.

Smart Cellulose-Based Janus Fabrics with Switchable Liquid Transportation for Personal Moisture and Thermal Management

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Janus fabrics designed for personal moisture/thermal regulation have garnered significant attention for their potential to enhance human comfort. However, the development of smart and dynamic fabrics capable of managing personal moisture/thermal comfort in response to changing external environments remains a challenge. Herein, a smart cellulose-based Janus fabric was designed to dynamically manage personal moisture/heat. The cotton fabric was grafted with N-isopropylacrylamide to construct a temperature-stimulated transport channel. Subsequently, hydrophobic ethyl cellulose and hydrophilic cellulose nanofiber were sprayed on the bottom and top sides of the fabric to obtain wettability gradient. The fabric exhibits anti-gravity directional liquid transportation from hydrophobic side to hydrophilic side, and can dynamically and continuously control the transportation time in a wide range of 3–66 s as the temperature increases from 10 to 40 °C. This smart fabric can quickly dissipate heat at high temperatures, while at low temperatures, it can slow down the heat dissipation rate and prevent the human from becoming too cold. In addition, the fabric has UV shielding and photodynamic antibacterial properties through depositing graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets on the hydrophilic side. This smart fabric offers an innovative approach to maximizing personal comfort in environments with significant temperature variations.

Highlights:
1 A smart all-cellulose Janus fabric was designed for personal moisture/thermal management.
2 The fabric can dynamically and continuously control the liquid transportation time in response to the temperature.
3 The fabric can accelerate the heat dissipation rate at high temperatures, while slow it down at low temperatures.

Alternative Strategy for Development of Dielectric Calcium Copper Titanate-Based Electrolytes for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The development of low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs) is of significant importance for realizing the widespread application of SOFCs. This has stimulated a substantial materials research effort in developing high oxide-ion conductivity in the electrolyte layer of SOFCs. In this context, for the first time, a dielectric material, CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) is designed for LT-SOFCs electrolyte application in this study. Both individual CCTO and its heterostructure materials with a p-type Ni_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05LiO_2−δ (NCAL) semiconductor are evaluated as alternative electrolytes in LT-SOFC at 450–550 °C. The single cell with the individual CCTO electrolyte exhibits a power output of approximately 263 mW cm⁻² and an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.95 V at 550 °C, while the cell with the CCTO–NCAL heterostructure electrolyte capably delivers an improved power output of approximately 605 mW cm⁻² along with a higher OCV over 1.0 V, which indicates the introduction of high hole-conducting NCAL into the CCTO could enhance the cell performance rather than inducing any potential short-circuiting risk. It is found that these promising outcomes are due to the interplay of the dielectric material, its structure, and overall properties that led to improve electrochemical mechanism in CCTO–NCAL. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations provide the detailed information about the electronic and structural properties of the CCTO and NCAL and their heterostructure CCTO–NCAL. Our study thus provides a new approach for developing new advanced electrolytes for LT-SOFCs.

Highlights:
1 Dielectric CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) was used as electrolyte in low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells for the first time.
2 A new heterostructure electrolyte was designed based on CCTO and Ni_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05LiO_2−δ (NCAL). Promising ionic conductivity and high fuel cell performance were achieved
3 CCTO–NCAL realized an electrolyte function due to its good dielectric property and a heterojunction effect.

Ultra-Transparent and Multifunctional IZVO Mesh Electrodes for Next-Generation Flexible Optoelectronics

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Mechanically durable transparent electrodes are essential for achieving long-term stability in flexible optoelectronic devices. Furthermore, they are crucial for applications in the fields of energy, display, healthcare, and soft robotics. Conducting meshes represent a promising alternative to traditional, brittle, metal oxide conductors due to their high electrical conductivity, optical transparency, and enhanced mechanical flexibility. In this paper, we present a simple method for fabricating an ultra-transparent conducting metal oxide mesh electrode using self-cracking-assisted templates. Using this method, we produced an electrode with ultra-transparency (97.39%), high conductance (R_s = 21.24 Ω sq⁻¹), elevated work function (5.16 eV), and good mechanical stability. We also evaluated the effectiveness of the fabricated electrodes by integrating them into organic photovoltaics, organic light-emitting diodes, and flexible transparent memristor devices for neuromorphic computing, resulting in exceptional device performance. In addition, the unique porous structure of the vanadium-doped indium zinc oxide mesh electrodes provided excellent flexibility, rendering them a promising option for application in flexible optoelectronics.

Highlights:
1 Ultra-transparent vanadium-doped indium zinc oxide mesh (mIZVO) electrodes are fabricated using a self-cracking template.
2 Fabricated electrodes are employed to realize flexible organic solar cell (OSC), organic light-emitting diode (OLED), and memristor devices. OSC exhibits 14.38% power conversion efficiency and OLED achieves 18.06% external quantum efficiency with mIZVO electrode.
3 Flexible-transparent memristor based on mIZVO mimics various synaptic functions.

Boosting Oxygen Evolution Reaction Performance on NiFe-Based Catalysts Through d-Orbital Hybridization

Xing Wang, Wei Pi, Sheng Hu, Haifeng Bao, Na Yao, Wei. Luo — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) for green hydrogen production have received intensive attention due to their feasibility of using earth-abundant NiFe-based catalysts. By introducing a third metal into NiFe-based catalysts to construct asymmetrical M-NiFe units, the d-orbital and electronic structures can be adjusted, which is an important strategy to achieve sufficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance in AEMWEs. Herein, the ternary NiFeM (M: La, Mo) catalysts featured with distinct M-NiFe units and varying d-orbitals are reported in this work. Experimental and theoretical calculation results reveal that the doping of La leads to optimized hybridization between d orbital in NiFeM and 2p in oxygen, resulting in enhanced adsorption strength of oxygen intermediates, and reduced rate-determining step energy barrier, which is responsible for the enhanced OER performance. More critically, the obtained NiFeLa catalyst only requires 1.58 V to reach 1 A cm⁻² in an anion exchange membrane electrolyzer and demonstrates excellent long-term stability of up to 600 h.

Highlights:
1 The NiFeLa catalyst with 3d-5d orbital coupling exhibits remarkable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity and stability, enabling an anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzers device to achieve a cell voltage of only 1.58 V at 1 A cm⁻² as well as long-term stability over 600 h.
2 The introduction of La disrupts the symmetry of Ni-Fe units and optimize d band center, which affects the d-p orbital hybridization between the metal sites on the surface of the catalyst and oxygen-containing intermediates during the OER process.
3 The 5d-introduced NiFeLa has enhanced adsorption strength of oxygen intermediates, which can reduce the rate-determining step energy barrier and prevent catalyst dissolution.

Tailoring Light–Matter Interactions in Overcoupled Resonator for Biomolecule Recognition and Detection

Dongxiao Li, Hong Zhou, Zhihao Ren, Cheng Xu, Chengkuo Lee — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Plasmonic nanoantennas provide unique opportunities for precise control of light–matter coupling in surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy, but most of the resonant systems realized so far suffer from the obstacles of low sensitivity, narrow bandwidth, and asymmetric Fano resonance perturbations. Here, we demonstrated an overcoupled resonator with a high plasmon-molecule coupling coefficient (μ) (OC-Hμ resonator) by precisely controlling the radiation loss channel, the resonator-oscillator coupling channel, and the frequency detuning channel. We observed a strong dependence of the sensing performance on the coupling state, and demonstrated that OC-Hμ resonator has excellent sensing properties of ultra-sensitive (7.25% nm⁻¹), ultra-broadband (3–10 μm), and immune asymmetric Fano lineshapes. These characteristics represent a breakthrough in SEIRA technology and lay the foundation for specific recognition of biomolecules, trace detection, and protein secondary structure analysis using a single array (array size is 100 × 100 µm²). In addition, with the assistance of machine learning, mixture classification, concentration prediction and spectral reconstruction were achieved with the highest accuracy of 100%. Finally, we demonstrated the potential of OC-Hμ resonator for SARS-CoV-2 detection. These findings will promote the wider application of SEIRA technology, while providing new ideas for other enhanced spectroscopy technologies, quantum photonics and studying light–matter interactions.

Highlights:
1 Proposed a new paradigm for nanoantenna design using coupled-mode theory.
2 Designed an OC-Hµ resonator with excellent sensing performance.
3 Using OC-Hµ resonators for biomolecule recognition and detection.

Crystallization Modulation and Holistic Passivation Enables Efficient Two-Terminal Perovskite/CuIn(Ga)Se2 Tandem Solar Cells

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Two-terminal (2-T) perovskite (PVK)/CuIn(Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) tandem solar cells (TSCs) have been considered as an ideal tandem cell because of their best bandgap matching regarding to Shockley–Queisser (S–Q) limits. However, the nature of the irregular rough morphology of commercial CIGS prevents people from improving tandem device performances. In this paper, D-homoserine lactone hydrochloride is proven to improve coverage of PVK materials on irregular rough CIGS surfaces and also passivate bulk defects by modulating the growth of PVK crystals. In addition, the minority carriers near the PVK/C60 interface and the incompletely passivated trap states caused interface recombination. A surface reconstruction with 2-thiopheneethylammonium iodide and N,N-dimethylformamide assisted passivates the defect sites located at the surface and grain boundaries. Meanwhile, LiF is used to create this field effect, repelling hole carriers away from the PVK and C60 interface and thus reducing recombination. As a result, a 2-T PVK/CIGS tandem yielded a power conversion efficiency of 24.6% (0.16 cm²), one of the highest results for 2-T PVK/CIGS TSCs to our knowledge. This validation underscores the potential of our methodology in achieving superior performance in PVK/CIGS tandem solar cells.

Highlights:
1 Integrating perovskite solar cells onto irregular rough CuIn(Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) surfaces remains a challenge; new strategy was explored to develop monolithic perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cell by manipulating the crystallization of perovskite.
2 Surface reconstruction and field-effect passivation are developed synergistically to issue complex interface relationship between perovskite and C60.
3 The champion power conversion efficiency （PCE） of 24.6% realized, providing significant commercial opportunities for all thin-film-based perovskite/CIGS tandem cells.

Low-Temperature Oxidation Induced Phase Evolution with Gradient Magnetic Heterointerfaces for Superior Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Gradient magnetic heterointerfaces have injected infinite vitality in optimizing impedance matching, adjusting dielectric/magnetic resonance and promoting electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption, but still exist a significant challenging in regulating local phase evolution. Herein, accordion-shaped Co/Co₃O₄@N-doped carbon nanosheets (Co/Co₃O₄@NC) with gradient magnetic heterointerfaces have been fabricated via the cooperative high-temperature carbonization and low-temperature oxidation process. The results indicate that the surface epitaxial growth of crystal Co₃O₄ domains on local Co nanoparticles realizes the adjustment of magnetic-heteroatomic components, which are beneficial for optimizing impedance matching and interfacial polarization. Moreover, gradient magnetic heterointerfaces simultaneously realize magnetic coupling, and long-range magnetic diffraction. Specifically, the synthesized Co/Co₃O₄@NC absorbents display the strong electromagnetic wave attenuation capability of − 53.5 dB at a thickness of 3.0 mm with an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.36 GHz, both are superior to those of single magnetic domains embedded in carbon matrix. This design concept provides us an inspiration in optimizing interfacial polarization, regulating magnetic coupling and promoting electromagnetic wave absorption.

Highlights:
1 Co/Co₃O₄@NC nanosheets with gradient magnetic heterointerfaces have been fabricated by the high-temperature carbonization/low-temperature oxidation processes.
2 Experimental and theoretical simulation results indicate that magnetic heterointerfaces engineering is beneficial for optimizing impedance matching and promoting electromagnetic wave absorption.
3 Gradient magnetic heterointerfaces with magnetic-heteroatomic components realize the adjustment of interfacial polarization, magnetic coupling, and long-range magnetic diffraction.

Catalyst–Support Interaction in Polyaniline-Supported Ni3Fe Oxide to Boost Oxygen Evolution Activities for Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Catalyst–support interaction plays a crucial role in improving the catalytic activity of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here we modulate the catalyst–support interaction in polyaniline-supported Ni₃Fe oxide (Ni₃Fe oxide/PANI) with a robust hetero-interface, which significantly improves oxygen evolution activities with an overpotential of 270 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and specific activity of 2.08 mA cm_ECSA⁻² at overpotential of 300 mV, 3.84-fold that of Ni₃Fe oxide. It is revealed that the catalyst–support interaction between Ni₃Fe oxide and PANI support enhances the Ni–O covalency via the interfacial Ni–N bond, thus promoting the charge and mass transfer on Ni₃Fe oxide. Considering the excellent activity and stability, rechargeable Zn-air batteries with optimum Ni₃Fe oxide/PANI are assembled, delivering a low charge voltage of 1.95 V to cycle for 400 h at 10 mA cm⁻². The regulation of the effect of catalyst–support interaction on catalytic activity provides new possibilities for the future design of highly efficient OER catalysts.

Highlights:
1 Ni₃Fe oxide, with an average size of 3.5 ± 1.5 nm, was successfully deposited onto polyaniline (PANI) support through a solvothermal strategy followed by calcination.
2 The catalyst–support interaction between Ni₃Fe oxide and PANI can enhance the Ni-O covalency via the interfacial Ni-N bond.
3 Ni₃Fe oxide/PANI-assembled Zn-air batteries achieve superior cycling life for over 400 h at 10 mA cm⁻² and a low charge potential of around 1.95 V.

Photo-Energized MoS2/CNT Cathode for High-Performance Li–CO2 Batteries in a Wide-Temperature Range

Tingsong Hu, Wenyi Lian, Kang Hu, Qiuju Li, Xueliang Cui, Tengyu Yao, Laifa Shen — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Li–CO₂ batteries are considered promising energy storage systems in extreme environments such as Mars; however, severe performance degradation will occur at a subzero temperature owning to the sluggish reaction kinetics. Herein, a photo-energized strategy adopting sustainable solar energy in wide working temperature range Li–CO₂ battery was achieved with a binder-free MoS₂/carbon nanotube (CNT) photo-electrode as cathode. The unique layered structure and excellent photoelectric properties of MoS₂ facilitate the abundant generation and rapid transfer of photo-excited carriers, which accelerate the CO₂ reduction and Li₂CO₃ decomposition upon illumination. The illuminated battery at room temperature exhibited high discharge voltage of 2.95 V and mitigated charge voltage of 3.27 V, attaining superior energy efficiency of 90.2% and excellent cycling stability of over 120 cycles. Even at an extremely low temperature of − 30 °C, the battery with same electrolyte can still deliver a small polarization of 0.45 V by the photoelectric and photothermal synergistic mechanism of MoS₂/CNT cathode. This work demonstrates the promising potential of the photo-energized wide working temperature range Li–CO₂ battery in addressing the obstacle of charge overpotential and energy efficiency.

Highlights:
1 The unique layered structure and excellent photoelectric properties of MoS₂ facilitate the abundant generation and rapid transfer of photo-excited carriers, which accelerate the CO₂ reduction and Li₂CO₃ decomposition upon illumination.
2 MoS₂-based photo-energized Li–CO₂ battery displays ultra-low charge voltage of 3.27 V, high energy efficiency of 90.2%, superior cycling stability after 120 cycles and high rate capability.
3 The low-temperature Li–CO₂ battery achieves an ultra-low charge voltage of 3.4 V at –30 °C with a round-trip efficiency of 86.6%.

Strategies for Enhancing Energy-Level Matching in Perovskite Solar Cells: An Energy Flow Perspective

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Metal halide perovskites, owing to their remarkable optoelectronic properties and broad application prospects, have emerged as a research hotspot in materials science and photovoltaics. In addressing challenges related to energy loss, photoelectric conversion efficiency, and operational stability in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), various strategies have been proposed, such as improving perovskite crystallization, developing tandem architectures, and advancing interfacial engineering. However, the specific impact of these approaches on internal energy transfer and conversion mechanisms within PSCs remains insufficiently understood. This review systematically examines the relationship between energy and perovskite materials throughout the photon absorption to charge carrier transport process, with particular focus on key strategies for minimizing energy losses and their underlying influence on energy-level alignment-especially in the electron transport layer and hole transport layer. It summarizes optimal absorption conditions and contributing factors during energy transfer, alongside representative case studies of high-performing systems. By elucidating these mechanisms, this work offers valuable theoretical insights for optimizing energy-level alignment, reducing energy dissipation, and guiding experimental design in PSCs research.

Highlights:
1 Energy transfer is systematically reviewed as a guiding principle for current materials and optimization strategies in perovskite solar cells.
2 Characteristic mechanisms are identified to classify energy-level optimization strategies into two categories.
3 Performance-enhancement strategies for perovskite solar cells are analyzed from a quantum-level perspective.

15 Years of Progress on Transition Metal-Based Electrocatalysts for Microbial Electrochemical Hydrogen Production: From Nanoscale Design to Macroscale Application

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Designing high-performance electrocatalysts is one of the key challenges in the development of microbial electrochemical hydrogen production. Transition metal-based (TM-based) electrocatalysts are introduced as an astonishing alternative for future catalysts by addressing several disadvantages, like the high cost and low performance of noble metal and metal-free electrocatalysts, respectively. In this critical review, a comprehensive analysis of the major development of all families of TM-based catalysts from the beginning development of microbial electrolysis cells in the last 15 years is presented. Importantly, pivotal design parameters such as selecting efficient synthesis methods based on the type of material, main criteria during each synthesizing method, and the pros and cons of various procedures are highlighted and compared. Moreover, procedures for tuning and tailoring the structures, advanced strategies to promote active sites, and the potential for implementing novel unexplored TM-based hybrid structures suggested. Furthermore, consideration for large-scale application of TM-based catalysts for future mass production, including life cycle assessment, cost assessment, economic analysis, and recently pilot-scale studies were highlighted. Of great importance, the potential of utilizing artificial intelligence and advanced computational methods such as active learning, microkinetic modeling, and physics-informed machine learning in designing high-performance electrodes in successful practices was elucidated. Finally, a conceptual framework for future studies and remaining challenges on different aspects of TM-based electrocatalysts in microbial electrolysis cells is proposed.

Highlights:
1 Comprehensive overview of the evolution of transition metal-based catalysts in microbial electrolysis cells from their inception to the present.
2 Critical design parameters of catalysts evaluated from technical, economic, and sustainability perspectives.
3 A conceptual framework is proposed to address current challenges and guide future research based on literature best practices.

Recent Progress of Electrospun Nanofiber-Based Composite Materials for Monitoring Physical, Physiological, and Body Fluid Signals

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Flexible electronic skin (E-skin) sensors offer innovative solutions for detecting human body signals, enabling human–machine interactions and advancing the development of intelligent robotics. Electrospun nanofibers are particularly well-suited for E-skin applications due to their exceptional mechanical properties, tunable breathability, and lightweight nature. Nanofiber-based composite materials consist of three-dimensional structures that integrate one-dimensional polymer nanofibers with other functional materials, enabling efficient signal conversion and positioning them as an ideal platform for next-generation intelligent electronics. Here, this review begins with an overview of electrospinning technology, including far-field electrospinning, near-field electrospinning, and melt electrospinning. It also discusses the diverse morphologies of electrospun nanofibers, such as core–shell, porous, hollow, bead, Janus, and ribbon structure, as well as strategies for incorporating functional materials to enhance nanofiber performance. Following this, the article provides a detailed introduction to electrospun nanofiber-based composite materials (i.e., nanofiber/hydrogel, nanofiber/aerogel, nanofiber/metal), emphasizing their recent advancements in monitoring physical, physiological, body fluid, and multi-signal in human signal detection. Meanwhile, the review explores the development of multimodal sensors capable of responding to diverse stimuli, focusing on innovative strategies for decoupling multiple signals and their state-of-the-art advancements. Finally, current challenges are analyzed, while future prospects for electrospun nanofiber-based composite sensors are outlined. This review aims to advance the design and application of next-generation flexible electronics, fostering breakthroughs in multifunctional sensing and health monitoring technologies.

Highlights:
1 This work reviews recent advancements in electrospun nanofiber-based composite materials for monitoring physical, physiological, and body fluid signals, with a particular focus on the design strategies of nanofiber-based composites.
2 The electrospinning technologies, nanofiber morphologies, fabrication of nanofiber membranes, and the integration of nanofibers with materials such as hydrogels, aerogels, or metals are comprehensively reviewed and discussed.
3 The current challenges and future prospects of nanofiber-based composite materials for human monitoring are discussed and analyzed.

Understanding Electrolytes and Interface Chemistry for Sustainable Nonaqueous Metal–CO2 Batteries

Bijiao He, Yunnian Ge, Fang Zhang, Huajun Tian, Yan Xin, Yong Lei, Yang Yang — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Metal–carbon dioxide (CO₂) batteries hold great promise for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and are regarded as one of the most promising energy storage techniques due to their efficiency advantages in CO₂ recovery and conversion. Moreover, rechargeable nonaqueous metal–CO₂ batteries have attracted much attention due to their high theoretical energy density. However, the stability issues of the electrode–electrolyte interfaces of nonaqueous metal–CO₂ (lithium (Li)/sodium (Na)/potassium (K)–CO₂) batteries have been troubling its development, and a large number of related research in the field of electrolytes have conducted in recent years. This review retraces the short but rapid research history of nonaqueous metal–CO₂ batteries with a detailed electrochemical mechanism analysis. Then it focuses on the basic characteristics and design principles of electrolytes, summarizes the latest achievements of various types of electrolytes in a timely manner and deeply analyzes the construction strategies of stable electrode–electrolyte interfaces for metal–CO₂ batteries. Finally, the key issues related to electrolytes and interface engineering are fully discussed and several potential directions for future research are proposed. This review enriches a comprehensive understanding of electrolytes and interface engineering toward the practical applications of next-generation metal–CO₂ batteries.

Highlights:
1 This review focuses on the design principles and basic characteristics of electrolytes, as well as how to construct a stable electrode–electrolyte interface. Perspectives on how electrolytes influence CO₂ redox pathways are consolidated and proposed.
2 The electrochemical reaction mechanism and interfacial evolution of nonaqueous metal–CO₂ batteries in different electrolyte systems are highlighted.
3 The electrode/electrolyte interface challenges encountered by nonaqueous metal–CO₂ batteries are thoroughly discussed, along with corresponding optimization strategies.

From Wave Energy to Electricity: Functional Design and Performance Analysis of Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Ying Lou, Mengfan Li, Aifang Yu, Junyi Zhai, Zhong Lin Wang — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) offer a self-sustaining power solution for marine regions abundant in resources but constrained by energy availability. Since their pioneering use in wave energy harvesting in 2014, nearly a decade of advancements has yielded nearly thousands of research articles in this domain. Researchers have developed various TENG device structures with diverse functionalities to facilitate their commercial deployment. Nonetheless, there is a gap in comprehensive summaries and performance evaluations of TENG structural designs. This paper delineates six innovative structural designs, focusing on enhancing internal device output and adapting to external environments: high space utilization, hybrid generator, mechanical gain, broadband response, multi-directional operation, and hybrid energy-harvesting systems. We summarize the prevailing trends in device structure design identified by the research community. Furthermore, we conduct a meticulous comparison of the electrical performance of these devices under motorized, simulated wave, and real marine conditions, while also assessing their sustainability in terms of device durability and mechanical robustness. In conclusion, the paper outlines future research avenues and discusses the obstacles encountered in the TENG field. This review aims to offer valuable perspectives for ongoing research and to advance the progress and application of TENG technology.

Highlights:
1 Systematically expounding functional design of reported triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs).
2 Conducting an extensive comparison of the power conversion efficiencies of TENGs in air and water wave environments.
3 Comprehensively assessing the existing challenges and delineating the future pathways for development.

Engineering Bifunctional Catalytic Microenvironments for Durable and High-Energy-Density Metal–Air Batteries

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Rechargeable metal–air batteries have gained significant interest due to their high energy density and environmental benignity. However, these batteries face significant challenges, particularly related to the air-breathing electrode, resulting in poor cycle life, low efficiency, and catalyst degradation. Developing a robust bifunctional electrocatalyst remains difficult, as oxygen electrocatalysis involves sluggish kinetics and follows different reaction pathways, often requiring distinct active sites. Consequently, the poorly understood mechanisms and irreversible surface reconstruction in the catalyst’s microenvironment, such as atomic modulation, nano-/microscale, and surface interfaces, lead to accelerated degradation during charge and discharge cycles. Overcoming these barriers requires advancements in the development and understanding of bifunctional electrocatalysts. In this review, the critical components of metal–air batteries, the associated challenges, and the current engineering approaches to address these issues are discussed. Additionally, the mechanisms of oxygen electrocatalysis on the air electrodes are examined, along with insights into how chemical characteristics of materials influence these mechanisms. Furthermore, recent advances in bifunctional electrocatalysts are highlighted, with an emphasis on the synthesis strategies, microenvironmental modulations, and stabilized systems demonstrating efficient performance, particularly zinc– and lithium–air batteries. Finally, perspectives and future research directions are provided for designing efficient and durable bifunctional electrocatalysts for metal–air batteries.

Highlights:
1 Overview of metal–air batteries architecture, reaction mechanisms, and challenges in developing bifunctional air-breathing electrodes.
2 Comprehensive discussion on engineering the microenvironment chemistry of noble metal-free bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.
3 Insights into future research directions for earth-abundant bifunctional catalysts with enhanced performance and durability, aiming to guide the future development of advanced bifunctional catalysts for scalable applications.

Artificial Intelligence Empowers Solid-State Batteries for Material Screening and Performance Evaluation

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Solid-state batteries are widely recognized as the next-generation energy storage devices with high specific energy, high safety, and high environmental adaptability. However, the research and development of solid-state batteries are resource-intensive and time-consuming due to their complex chemical environment, rendering performance prediction arduous and delaying large-scale industrialization. Artificial intelligence serves as an accelerator for solid-state battery development by enabling efficient material screening and performance prediction. This review will systematically examine how the latest progress in using machine learning (ML) algorithms can be used to mine extensive material databases and accelerate the discovery of high-performance cathode, anode, and electrolyte materials suitable for solid-state batteries. Furthermore, the use of ML technology to accurately estimate and predict key performance indicators in the solid-state battery management system will be discussed, among which are state of charge, state of health, remaining useful life, and battery capacity. Finally, we will summarize the main challenges encountered in the current research, such as data quality issues and poor code portability, and propose possible solutions and development paths. These will provide clear guidance for future research and technological reiteration.

Highlights:
1 The latest advancements in the application of machine learning (ML) for the screening of solid-state battery materials are reviewed.
2 The achievements of various ML algorithms in predicting different performances of the battery management system are discussed.
3 Future challenges and perspectives of artificial intelligence in solid-state battery are discussed.

Synthesis Strategies and Multi-field Applications of Nanoscale High-Entropy Alloys

Bin Zhang, Qingxue Mu, Ye Pei, Siyu Hu, Shuo Liu, Taolei Sun, Guanbin Gao — Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Alloying strategies have proven effective in enhancing the properties of metallic materials. However, conventional alloying strategies face significant limitations in preparing nanoscale multi-alloys and continuous optimizing surface-active sites. High-entropy alloys (HEAs) display a broader spectrum of unique properties due to their complex electron distribution and atomic-level heterogeneity arising from the stochastic mixing of multiple elements, which provides a diverse array of binding sites and almost continuous distribution of binding energies. This review aims to summarize recent research advancements in synthesis strategies and multi-field applications of nanoscale HEAs. It emphasizes several commonly employed synthesis strategies and significant challenges in synthesizing nanoscale HEAs. Finally, we present a comprehensive analysis of the advantages of HEAs for multi-field applications, emphasizing significant application trends related to nanosizing and multidimensionalization to develop more efficient nanoscale HEAs.

Highlights:
1 The comprehensive overview of the synthesis of nanoscale high-entropy alloys and the advantages over conventional alloys.
2 The comprehensive overview of the multi-field applications of nanoscale high-entropy alloys and recent cutting-edge research advances.
3 The comprehensively analyses of the challenges and opportunities in high-entropy alloy development and emphasizes the key application trends in nanosizing and multidimensionalization.

Sensors Innovations for Smart Lithium-Based Batteries: Advancements, Opportunities, and Potential Challenges

Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Lithium-based batteries (LiBs) are integral components in operating electric vehicles to renewable energy systems and portable electronic devices, thanks to their unparalleled energy density, minimal self-discharge rates, and favorable cycle life. However, the inherent safety risks and performance degradation of LiB over time impose continuous monitoring facilitated by sophisticated battery management systems (BMS). This review comprehensively analyzes the current state of sensor technologies for smart LiBs, focusing on their advancements, opportunities, and potential challenges. Sensors are classified into two primary groups based on their application: safety monitoring and performance optimization. Safety monitoring sensors, including temperature, pressure, strain, gas, acoustic, and magnetic sensors, focus on detecting conditions that could lead to hazardous situations. Performance optimization sensors, such as optical-based and electrochemical-based, monitor factors such as state of charge and state of health, emphasizing operational efficiency and lifespan. The review also highlights the importance of integrating these sensors with advanced algorithms and control approaches to optimize charging and discharge cycles. Potential advancements driven by nanotechnology, wireless sensor networks, miniaturization, and machine learning algorithms are also discussed. However, challenges related to sensor miniaturization, power consumption, cost efficiency, and compatibility with existing BMS need to be addressed to fully realize the potential of LiB sensor technologies. This comprehensive review provides valuable insights into the current landscape and future directions of sensor innovations in smart LiBs, guiding further research and development efforts to enhance battery performance, reliability, and safety.

Highlights:
1 Sensors for smart Lithium-based batteries (LiBs) are classified based on their application into safety monitoring (i.e., temperature, pressure, and strain) to detect hazardous conditions and performance optimization (i.e., optical and electrochemical sensors) for monitoring factors such as state of charge and state of health.
2 The potential for innovation in LiB sensor technology is driven by advancements in nanotechnology, miniaturization, machine learning algorithms, and wireless sensor networks, all of which contribute to enhanced sensor performance.
3 Key challenges faced in developing LiB sensors include miniaturization, power consumption, cost efficiency and scalability, and compatibility with existing battery management systems.

Advances in Metal Halide Perovskite Scintillators for X-Ray Detection

Fri, 23 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The relentless pursuit of advanced X-ray detection technologies has been significantly bolstered by the emergence of metal halides perovskites (MHPs) and their derivatives, which possess remarkable light yield and X-ray sensitivity. This comprehensive review delves into cutting-edge approaches for optimizing MHP scintillators performances by enhancing intrinsic physical properties and employing engineering radioluminescent (RL) light strategies, underscoring their potential for developing materials with superior high-resolution X-ray detection and imaging capabilities. We initially explore into recent research focused on strategies to effectively engineer the intrinsic physical properties of MHP scintillators, including light yield and response times. Additionally, we explore innovative engineering strategies involving stacked structures, waveguide effects, chiral circularly polarized luminescence, increased transparency, and the fabrication of flexile MHP scintillators, all of which effectively manage the RL light to achieve high-resolution and high-contrast X-ray imaging. Finally, we provide a roadmap for advancing next-generation MHP scintillators, highlighting their transformative potential in high-performance X-ray detection systems.

Highlights:
1 The review highlights recent advancements in enhancing the intrinsic physical properties of metal halide perovskite scintillators, such as improving light yield and response times, to improve their X-ray detection performance.
2 It discusses innovative engineering strategies to effectively optimize radioluminescent light management for high-resolution X-ray imaging.
3 The problems encountered in the application of metal halides perovskites materials for X-ray detection are summarized, and the potential development direction in the future is prospected.

MXene-Ti3C2Tx-Based Neuromorphic Computing: Physical Mechanisms, Performance Enhancement, and Cutting-Edge Computing

Kaiyang Wang, Shuhui Ren, Yunfang Jia, Xiaobing Yan, Lizhen Wang, Yubo Fan — Fri, 23 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Neuromorphic devices have shown great potential in simulating the function of biological neurons due to their efficient parallel information processing and low energy consumption. MXene-Ti₃C₂T_x, an emerging two-dimensional material, stands out as an ideal candidate for fabricating neuromorphic devices. Its exceptional electrical performance and robust mechanical properties make it an ideal choice for this purpose. This review aims to uncover the advantages and properties of MXene-Ti₃C₂T_x in neuromorphic devices and to promote its further development. Firstly, we categorize several core physical mechanisms present in MXene-Ti₃C₂T_x neuromorphic devices and summarize in detail the reasons for their formation. Then, this work systematically summarizes and classifies advanced techniques for the three main optimization pathways of MXene-Ti₃C₂T_x, such as doping engineering, interface engineering, and structural engineering. Significantly, this work highlights innovative applications of MXene-Ti₃C₂T_x neuromorphic devices in cutting-edge computing paradigms, particularly near-sensor computing and in-sensor computing. Finally, this review carefully compiles a table that integrates almost all research results involving MXene-Ti₃C₂T_x neuromorphic devices and discusses the challenges, development prospects, and feasibility of MXene-Ti₃C₂T_x-based neuromorphic devices in practical applications, aiming to lay a solid theoretical foundation and provide technical support for further exploration and application of MXene-Ti₃C₂T_x in the field of neuromorphic devices.

Highlights:
1 This review reveals the advantages of MXene-Ti₃C₂T_x for neuromorphic devices, classifies the core physical mechanisms, and outlines strategies to drive targeted optimization and future innovation.
2 The review outlines three key engineering strategies: doping engineering, interfacial engineering, and structural engineering, while also providing comprehensive guidance for material and device improvement.
3 MXene-Ti₃C₂T_x-based devices demonstrate groundbreaking potential in next-generation computing, such as near-sensor computing and in-sensor computing, enabling faster and more energy-efficient data processing directly at the sensor level.

TENG-Boosted Smart Sports with Energy Autonomy and Digital Intelligence

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Technological advancements have profoundly transformed the sports domain, ushering it into the digital era. Services leveraging big data in intelligent sports—encompassing performance analytics, training statistical evaluations and metrics—have become indispensable. These tools are vital in aiding athletes with their daily training regimens and in devising sophisticated competition strategies, proving crucial in the pursuit of victory. Despite their potential, wearable electronic devices used for motion monitoring are subject to several limitations, including prohibitive cost, extensive energy usage, incompatibility with individual spatial structures, and flawed data analysis methodologies. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have become instrumental in the development of self-powered devices/systems owing to their remarkable capacity to harnessing ambient high-entropy energy from the environment. This paper provides a thorough review of the advancements and emerging trends in TENG-based intelligent sports, focusing on physiological data monitoring, sports training performance, event refereeing assistance, and sports injury prevention and rehabilitation. Excluding the potential influence of sports psychological factors, this review provides a detailed discourse on present challenges and prospects for boosting smart sports with energy autonomy and digital intelligence. This study presents innovative insights and motivations for propelling the evolution of intelligent sports toward a more sustainable and efficient future for humanity.

Highlights:
1 The recent advancements in triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)-based sports equipment for smart sports are comprehensively reviewed.
2 Thorough explorations of combining TENG technology and artificial intelligence/machine learning techniques to enhance smart sports are examined in this study.
3 Comprehensive discussions on the opportunities and challenges of TENG-based smart sports are summarized.

Recent Advances in Spectrally Selective Daytime Radiative Cooling Materials

Tue, 20 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Daytime radiative cooling is an eco-friendly and passive cooling technology that operates without external energy input. Materials designed for this purpose are engineered to possess high reflectivity in the solar spectrum and high emissivity within the atmospheric transmission window. Unlike broadband-emissive daytime radiative cooling materials, spectrally selective daytime radiative cooling (SSDRC) materials exhibit predominant mid-infrared emission in the atmospheric transmission window. This selective mid-infrared emission suppresses thermal radiation absorption beyond the atmospheric transmission window range, thereby improving the net cooling power of daytime radiative cooling. This review elucidates the fundamental characteristics of SSDRC materials, including their molecular structures, micro- and nanostructures, optical properties, and thermodynamic principles. It also provides a comprehensive overview of the design and fabrication of SSDRC materials in three typical forms, i.e., fibrous materials, membranes, and particle coatings, highlighting their respective cooling mechanisms and performance. Furthermore, the practical applications of SSDRC in personal thermal management, outdoor building cooling, and energy harvesting are summarized. Finally, the challenges and prospects are discussed to guide researchers in advancing SSDRC materials.

Highlights:
1 This review comprehensively presents recent advancements in spectrally selective daytime radiative cooling (SSDRC) materials, focusing on their fundamental characteristics, primarily concerning their structures and properties.
2 The fabrication principles and corresponding operational mechanisms of several typical SSDRC materials are systematically introduced.
3 Based on the latest research, this review highlights the innovative applications in personal thermal management, outdoor building cooling, and energy harvesting, while also discussing the challenges and prospects for the future development of daytime radiative cooling.

Construction of High-Performance Membranes for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries: Challenges, Development, and Perspectives

Mon, 19 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

While being a promising candidate for large-scale energy storage, the current market penetration of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) is still limited by several challenges. As one of the key components in VRFBs, a membrane is employed to separate the catholyte and anolyte to prevent the vanadium ions from cross-mixing while allowing the proton conduction to maintain charge balance in the system during operation. To overcome the weakness of commercial membranes, various types of membranes, ranging from ion exchange membranes with diverse functional groups to non-ionic porous membranes, have been designed and reported to achieve higher ionic conductivity while maintaining low vanadium ion permeability, thus enhancing efficiency. In addition, besides overall efficiency, stability and cost-effectiveness of the membrane are also critical aspects that determine the practical applicability of the membranes and thus VRFBs. In this article, we have offered comprehensive insights into the mechanism of ion transportation in membranes of VRFBs that contribute to the challenges and issues of VRFB applications. We have further discussed optimal strategies for solving the trade-off between the membrane efficiency and its durability in VRFB applications. The development of state-of-the-art membranes through various material and structure engineering is demonstrated to reveal the relationship of properties-structure-performance.

Highlights:
1 Critically analyses the ion transport mechanisms of various membranes and compares them and highlights the challenges of membranes for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB).
2 In-depth analysis and discussion of the best strategies for membranes to achieve high-performance VRFB.
3 Prospective approaches to realising high-performance, sustainable VRFB membranes.

Two-Dimensional Materials, the Ultimate Solution for Future Electronics and Very-Large-Scale Integrated Circuits

Laixiang Qin, Li Wang — Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The relentless down-scaling of electronics grands the modern integrated circuits (ICs) with the high speed, low power dissipation and low cost, fulfilling diverse demands of modern life. Whereas, with the semiconductor industry entering into sub-10 nm technology nodes, degrading device performance and increasing power consumption give rise to insurmountable roadblocks confronted by modern ICs that need to be conquered to sustain the Moore law’s life. Bulk semiconductors like prevalent Si are plagued by seriously degraded carrier mobility as thickness thinning down to sub-5 nm, which is imperative to maintain sufficient gate electrostatic controllability to combat the increasingly degraded short channel effects. Nowadays, the emergence of two-dimensional (2D) materials opens up new gateway to eschew the hurdles laid in front of the scaling trend of modern IC, mainly ascribed to their ultimately atomic thickness, capability to maintain carrier mobility with thickness thinning down, dangling-bonds free surface, wide bandgaps tunability and feasibility to constitute diverse heterostructures. Blossoming breakthroughs in discrete electronic device, such as contact engineering, dielectric integration and vigorous channel-length scaling, or large circuits arrays, as boosted yields, improved variations and full-functioned processor fabrication, based on 2D materials have been achieved nowadays, facilitating 2D materials to step under the spotlight of IC industry to be treated as the most potential future successor or complementary counterpart of incumbent Si to further sustain the down-scaling of modern IC.

Highlights:
1 With the incessant down-scaling of electronics, traditional semiconductors like Si are encountered with insurmountable hurdles to maintain performance increase without bringing about additional issues of power consumption escalating, in this context, two-dimensional (2D) materials emerge as superior candidates to supersede or complement Si attributed to their marvelous electronic properties to further sustain the Moore’s law life.
2 2D materials-based electronics in More Moore and More than Moore’ regimes have attained promising achievements and showcased monumental potentials applications in low power consumption integrated circuits
3 2D materials-based integrated circuits have gone through a promising development, evolving from small-scale integrated circuits (ICs) to full-functioned processors. Whereas enormous endeavors are waited to be dedicated to realize large-scale ICs attributed to lack of large-scale 2D materials of electronic qualities and immature fabricating techniques.

Multifunctional Organic Materials, Devices, and Mechanisms for Neuroscience, Neuromorphic Computing, and Bioelectronics

Felix L. Hoch, Qishen Wang, Kian‑Guan Lim, Desmond K. Loke — Thu, 08 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Neuromorphic computing has the potential to overcome limitations of traditional silicon technology in machine learning tasks. Recent advancements in large crossbar arrays and silicon-based asynchronous spiking neural networks have led to promising neuromorphic systems. However, developing compact parallel computing technology for integrating artificial neural networks into traditional hardware remains a challenge. Organic computational materials offer affordable, biocompatible neuromorphic devices with exceptional adjustability and energy-efficient switching. Here, the review investigates the advancements made in the development of organic neuromorphic devices. This review explores resistive switching mechanisms such as interface-regulated filament growth, molecular-electronic dynamics, nanowire-confined filament growth, and vacancy-assisted ion migration, while proposing methodologies to enhance state retention and conductance adjustment. The survey examines the challenges faced in implementing low-power neuromorphic computing, e.g., reducing device size and improving switching time. The review analyses the potential of these materials in adjustable, flexible, and low-power consumption applications, viz. biohybrid spiking circuits interacting with biological systems, systems that respond to specific events, robotics, intelligent agents, neuromorphic computing, neuromorphic bioelectronics, neuroscience, and other applications, and prospects of this technology.

Highlights:
1 The review emphasizes the switching mechanisms of organic neuromorphic materials.
2 In addition to these switching mechanisms, the capabilities of organic neuromorphic materials in tunable, conformable, and low-power applications, e.g., neuromorphic computing, neuroscience, and neuromorphic bioelectronics, are investigated.
3 This review article offers a comprehensive examination of the capabilities of organic neuromorphic material-based devices to incorporate artificial intelligence into everyday activities.

AI-Enabled Piezoelectric Wearable for Joint Torque Monitoring

Sat, 03 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Joint health is critical for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions that are affecting approximately one-third of the global population. Monitoring of joint torque can offer an important pathway for the evaluation of joint health and guided intervention. However, there is no technology that can provide the precision, effectiveness, low-resource setting, and long-term wearability to simultaneously achieve both rapid and accurate joint torque measurement to enable risk assessment of joint injury and long-term monitoring of joint rehabilitation in wider environments. Herein, we propose a piezoelectric boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs)-based, AI-enabled wearable device for regular monitoring of joint torque. We first adopted an iterative inverse design to fabricate the wearable materials with a Poisson’s ratio precisely matched to knee biomechanics. A highly sensitive piezoelectric film was constructed based on BNNTs and polydimethylsiloxane and applied to precisely capture the knee motion, while concurrently realizing self-sufficient energy harvesting. With the help of a lightweight on-device artificial neural network, the proposed wearable device was capable of accurately extracting targeted signals from the complex piezoelectric outputs and then effectively mapping these signals to their corresponding physical characteristics, including torque, angle, and loading. A real-time platform was constructed to demonstrate the capability of fine real-time torque estimation. This work offers a relatively low-cost wearable solution for effective, regular joint torque monitoring that can be made accessible to diverse populations in countries and regions with heterogeneous development levels, potentially producing wide-reaching global implications for joint health, MSK conditions, ageing, rehabilitation, personal health, and beyond.

Highlights:
1 Artificial intelligence-enabled wearable device with boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs)-based piezoelectric film for accurate joint torque sensing.
2 Inverse-designed structure optimizes biomechanical compatibility for enhanced knee motion tracking.
3 High-sensitivity BNNTs/polydimethylsiloxane composite enables precise and dynamic knee motion signal detection.
4 Lightweight neural network processes complex signals for accurate torque, angle, and load estimation.
5 Real-time monitoring system provides instant knee torque assessment for daily use.

Applications of Carbon-Based Multivariable Chemical Sensors for Analyte Recognition

Sat, 03 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Over recent decades, carbon-based chemical sensor technologies have advanced significantly. Nevertheless, significant opportunities persist for enhancing analyte recognition capabilities, particularly in complex environments. Conventional monovariable sensors exhibit inherent limitations, such as susceptibility to interference from coexisting analytes, which results in response overlap. Although sensor arrays, through modification of multiple sensing materials, offer a potential solution for analyte recognition, their practical applications are constrained by intricate material modification processes. In this context, multivariable chemical sensors have emerged as a promising alternative, enabling the generation of multiple outputs to construct a comprehensive sensing space for analyte recognition, while utilizing a single sensing material. Among various carbon-based materials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene have emerged as ideal candidates for constructing high-performance chemical sensors, owing to their well-established batch fabrication processes, superior electrical properties, and outstanding sensing capabilities. This review examines the progress of carbon-based multivariable chemical sensors, focusing on CNTs/graphene as sensing materials and field-effect transistors as transducers for analyte recognition. The discussion encompasses fundamental aspects of these sensors, including sensing materials, sensor architectures, performance metrics, pattern recognition algorithms, and multivariable sensing mechanism. Furthermore, the review highlights innovative multivariable extraction schemes and their practical applications when integrated with advanced pattern recognition algorithms.

Highlights:
1 This paper reviews the fundamentals and research progress of carbon-based multivariable chemical sensors, with a particular focus on the classification and identification of multiple analytes.
2 Carbon-based multivariable chemical sensors consisting of carbon nanotubes/graphene as the sensing material and field effect transistors as the transducers are discussed in detail.
3 A comprehensive analysis of multivariable sensing mechanisms is presented and design criteria for carbon-based multivariable sensors are summarized.

Probing Interfacial Nanostructures of Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems by In-Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The ability to control the electrode interfaces in an electrochemical energy storage system is essential for achieving the desired electrochemical performance. However, achieving this ability requires an in-depth understanding of the detailed interfacial nanostructures of the electrode under electrochemical operating conditions. In-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is one of the most powerful techniques for revealing electrochemical energy storage mechanisms with high spatiotemporal resolution and high sensitivity in complex electrochemical environments. These attributes play a unique role in understanding how ion transport inside electrode nanomaterials and across interfaces under the dynamic conditions within working batteries. This review aims to gain an in-depth insight into the latest developments of in-situ TEM imaging techniques for probing the interfacial nanostructures of electrochemical energy storage systems, including atomic-scale structural imaging, strain field imaging, electron holography, and integrated differential phase contrast imaging. Significant examples will be described to highlight the fundamental understanding of atomic-scale and nanoscale mechanisms from employing state-of-the-art imaging techniques to visualize structural evolution, ionic valence state changes, and strain mapping, ion transport dynamics. The review concludes by providing a perspective discussion of future directions of the development and application of in-situ TEM techniques in the field of electrochemical energy storage systems.

Highlights:
1 An in-depth look into the latest developments of in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging techniques for probing the interfacial nanostructures of electrochemical energy storage systems.
2 Selected examples to highlight the fundamental understanding of atomic-scale and nanoscale mechanisms by employing some of the state-of-the-art imaging techniques to visualize the interfacial nanostructural evolution.
3 The challenges and future directions of the development and application of in-situ TEM techniques in the cutting-edge areas of electrochemical energy storage research are discussed.

Exploring Single-Atom Nanozymes Toward Environmental Pollutants: Monitoring and Control

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

As environmental pollutants pose a serious threat to socioeconomic and environmental health, the development of simple, efficient, accurate and cost-effective methods for pollution monitoring and control remains a major challenge, but it is an unavoidable issue. In the past decade, the artificial nanozymes have been widely used for environmental pollutant monitoring and control, because of their low cost, high stability, easy mass production, etc. However, the conventional nanozyme technology faces significant challenges in terms of difficulty in regulating the exposed crystal surface, complex composition, low catalytic activity, etc. In contrast, the emerging single-atom nanozymes (SANs) have attracted much attention in the field of environmental monitoring and control, due to their multiple advantages of atomically dispersed active sites, high atom utilization efficiency, tunable coordination environment, etc. To date, the insufficient efforts have been made to comprehensively characterize the applications of SANs in the monitoring and control of environmental pollutants. Building on the recent advances in the field, this review systematically summarizes the main synthesis methods of SANs and highlights their advances in the monitoring and control of environmental pollutants. Finally, we critically evaluate the limitations and challenges of SANs, and provide the insights into their future prospects for the monitoring and control of environmental pollutants.

Highlights:
1 Review of the state-of-the-art synthesis strategies for single-atom nanozymes.
2 Analysis of the recent advances in single-atom nanozymes for monitoring and control of environmental pollutants.
3 Challenges and perspectives of single-atom nanozymes in environmental pollutants monitoring and control.

Smart Textiles for Personalized Sports and Healthcare

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Advances in wearable electronics and information technology drive sports data collection and analysis toward real-time visualization and precision. The growing pursuit of athleticism and healthy life makes it appealing for individuals to track their real-time health and exercise data seamlessly. While numerous devices enable sports and health monitoring, maintaining comfort over long periods remains a considerable challenge, especially in high-intensity and sweaty sports scenarios. Textiles, with their breathability, deformability, and moisture-wicking abilities, ensure exceptional comfort during prolonged wear, making them ideal for wearable platforms. This review summarized the progress of research on textile-based sports monitoring devices. First, the design principles and fabrication methods of smart textiles were introduced systematically. Textiles undergo a distinctive fiber–yarn–fabric or fiber–fabric manufacturing process that allows for the regulation of performance and the integration of functional elements at every step. Then, the performance requirements for precise sports data collection of smart textiles, including main vital signs, joint movement, and data transmission, were discussed. Lastly, the applications of smart textiles in various sports scenarios are demonstrated. Additionally, the review provides an in-depth analysis of the emerging challenges, strategies, and opportunities for the research and development of sports-oriented smart textiles. Smart textiles not only maintain comfort and accuracy in sports, but also serve as inexpensive and efficient information-gathering terminals. Therefore, developing multifunctional, cost-effective textile-based systems for personalized sports and healthcare is a pressing need for the future of intelligent sports.

Highlights:
1 This review provides comprehensive structural design strategies for the manufacturing of smart textiles, covering fibers, yarns, and fabrics and offers professional guidance for product development in this field.
2 The fundamental performance criteria for sports-oriented smart textiles have been provided, highlighting the key attributes required for their optimal functionality in athletic applications.
3 This review systematically introduces the diverse roles of smart textiles in specific sports scenarios and the stringent requirements they must meet to perform effectively in these environments.

Evolving Role of Conjugated Polymers in Nanoelectronics and Photonics

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Conjugated polymers (CPs) have emerged as an interesting class of materials in modern electronics and photonics, characterized by their unique delocalized π-electron systems that confer high flexibility, tunable electronic properties, and solution processability. These organic polymers present a compelling alternative to traditional inorganic semiconductors, offering the potential for a new generation of optoelectronic devices. This review explores the evolving role of CPs, exploring the molecular design strategies and innovative approaches that enhance their optoelectronic properties. We highlight notable progress toward developing faster, more efficient, and environmentally friendly devices by analyzing recent advancements in CP-based devices, including organic photovoltaics, field-effect transistors, and nonvolatile memories. The integration of CPs in flexible sustainable technologies underscores their potential to revolutionize future electronic and photonic systems. As ongoing research pushes the frontiers of molecular engineering and device architecture, CPs are poised to play an essential role in shaping next-generation technologies that prioritize performance, sustainability, and adaptability.

Highlights:
1 This review offers an overview of recent advancements in conjugated polymers (CPs), with a thorough discussion of their molecular engineering. Key electronic properties are put forth that complement traditional inorganic semiconductor devices.
2 Key concepts and innovations in molecular engineering are discussed, highlighting advancements that improve device performance, with a particular focus on photovoltaics, organic field-effect transistors, and nonvolatile memory devices.
3 The current challenges in fabricating CP-based devices are explored, along with anticipated future developments and growing market demand.

Hydrogel Electrolytes-Based Rechargeable Zinc-Ion Batteries under Harsh Conditions

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Rechargeable zinc (Zn)-ion batteries (RZIBs) with hydrogel electrolytes (HEs) have gained significant attention in the last decade owing to their high safety, low cost, sufficient material abundance, and superb environmental friendliness, which is extremely important for wearable energy storage applications. Given that HEs play a critical role in building flexible RZIBs, it is urgent to summarize the recent advances in this field and elucidate the design principles of HEs for practical applications. This review systematically presents the development history, recent advances in the material fundamentals, functional designs, challenges, and prospects of the HEs-based RZIBs. Firstly, the fundamentals, species, and flexible mechanisms of HEs are discussed, along with their compatibility with Zn anodes and various cathodes. Then, the functional designs of hydrogel electrolytes in harsh conditions are comprehensively discussed, including high/low/wide-temperature windows, mechanical deformations (e.g., bending, twisting, and straining), and damages (e.g., cutting, burning, and soaking). Finally, the remaining challenges and future perspectives for advancing HEs-based RZIBs are outlined.

Highlights:
1 The developing history and recent advances of hydrogel electrolytes for rechargeable zinc-ion batteries under harsh conditions are summarized.
2 The fundamentals, species, and mechanisms of the hydrogel electrolytes are discussed.
3 The functional design strategies for advanced hydrogel electrolytes under harsh conditions are discussed.
4 The remaining challenges and future perspectives for the practical application of hydrogel electrolyte-based rechargeable zinc-ion batteries are discussed.

Revealing the Oxygen Transport Challenges in Catalyst Layers in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells and Water Electrolysis

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Urgent requirements of the renewable energy boost the development of stable and clean hydrogen, which could effectively displace fossil fuels in mitigating climate changes. The efficient interconversion of hydrogen and electronic is highly based on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and water electrolysis (PEMWEs). However, the high cost continues to impede large-scale commercialization of both PEMFC and PEMWE technologies, with the expense primarily attributed to noble catalysts serving as a major bottleneck. The reduction of Pt loading in PEMFCs is essential but limited by the oxygen transport resistance in the cathode catalyst layers (CCLs), while the oxygen transport in anode catalyst layers (ACLs) in PEMWEs also being focused as the Ir/IrO_x catalyst reduced. The pore structure and the catalyst–ionomer agglomerates play important roles in the oxygen transport process of both PEMFCs and PEMWEs due to the similarity of membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Herein, the oxygen transport mechanism of PEMFCs in pore structure and ionomer thin films in CCLs is systematically reviewed, while state-of-the-art strategies are presented for enhancing oxygen transport and performance through materials and structural design. The deeply research opens avenues for exploring similar key scientific problems in oxygen transport process of PEMWEs and their further development.

Highlights:
1 Mechanisms of the bulk and local oxygen transport in cathode catalyst layers (CCLs) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are presented.
2 State-of-the-art strategies to mitigate the oxygen transport resistance in CCLs in PEMFCs are reviewed, including the novel structure design, carbon supports design, and ionomer design.
3 New directions for oxygen transport development in anode catalyst layers (ACLs) in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWEs) are inspired by the PEMFCs.

Integrating Hard Silicon for High-Performance Soft Electronics via Geometry Engineering

Lei Yan, Zongguang Liu, Junzhuan Wang, Linwei Yu — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Soft electronics, which are designed to function under mechanical deformation (such as bending, stretching, and folding), have become essential in applications like wearable electronics, artificial skin, and brain-machine interfaces. Crystalline silicon is one of the most mature and reliable materials for high-performance electronics; however, its intrinsic brittleness and rigidity pose challenges for integrating it into soft electronics. Recent research has focused on overcoming these limitations by utilizing structural design techniques to impart flexibility and stretchability to Si-based materials, such as transforming them into thin nanomembranes or nanowires. This review summarizes key strategies in geometry engineering for integrating crystalline silicon into soft electronics, from the use of hard silicon islands to creating out-of-plane foldable silicon nanofilms on flexible substrates, and ultimately to shaping silicon nanowires using vapor–liquid–solid or in-plane solid–liquid–solid techniques. We explore the latest developments in Si-based soft electronic devices, with applications in sensors, nanoprobes, robotics, and brain-machine interfaces. Finally, the paper discusses the current challenges in the field and outlines future research directions to enable the widespread adoption of silicon-based flexible electronics.

Highlights:
1 Crystalline silicon (c-Si) is one of the most mature and reliable materials for high-performance electronic devices and has garnered widespread attention in the field of flexible electronics.
2 This article examines the detailed transition enabled by geometry engineering from "3D bulk materials" to "2D thin films," and ultimately to "1D nanowires," highlighting the advancements and challenges in enhancing the flexibility and mechanical properties of c-Si.
3 We emphasize the forefront applications of silicon nanowires in wearable electronics and healthcare, aiming to accelerate the rapid development of c-Si within the realm of flexible electronics.

Low-Power Memristor for Neuromorphic Computing: From Materials to Applications

Zhipeng Xia, Xiao Sun, Zhenlong Wang, Jialin Meng, Boyan Jin, Tianyu Wang — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

As an emerging memory device, memristor shows great potential in neuromorphic computing applications due to its advantage of low power consumption. This review paper focuses on the application of low-power-based memristors in various aspects. The concept and structure of memristor devices are introduced. The selection of functional materials for low-power memristors is discussed, including ion transport materials, phase change materials, magnetoresistive materials, and ferroelectric materials. Two common types of memristor arrays, 1T1R and 1S1R crossbar arrays are introduced, and physical diagrams of edge computing memristor chips are discussed in detail. Potential applications of low-power memristors in advanced multi-value storage, digital logic gates, and analogue neuromorphic computing are summarized. Furthermore, the future challenges and outlook of neuromorphic computing based on memristor are deeply discussed.

Highlights:
1 This review describes various types of low-power memristors, demonstrating their potential for a wide range of applications.
2 This review summarizes low-power memristors for multi-level storage, digital logic, and neuromorphic computing, emphasizing their use as artificial synapses and neurons in artificial neural network, convolutional neural network, and spiking neural network, along with 1T1R and 1S1R crossbar array designs.
3 Further exploration is essential to overcome limitations and unlock the full potential of low-power memristors for in-memory computing and AI.

Breaking Boundaries: Advancing Trisulfur Radical-Mediated Catalysis for High-Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) have attracted significant attention due to their high theoretical energy density and low-cost raw materials. However, LSBs still face various challenges in practical applications, particularly the shuttle effect, electrode passivation, and slow kinetics. In recent years, trisulfur radicals (TRs), important intermediates in LSBs, have emerged as a promising and beyond-traditional solution to these problems, which serves as a mediated catalyst to improve the electrochemical performance of LSBs. As a system that is inconsistent with the catalytic conversion process discussed in the traditional LSBs, this review focuses on the generation, detection, promotion, and catalytic roles of TRs, especially emphasizing the formation of TRs in solid-state lapis lazuli analogs and discussing the pros and cons of high donor number solvents and/or their co-solvents in stabilizing TRs. Strategies involving homogeneous/heterogeneous catalysts are discussed for increment of TRs and enhancing catalytic reactions in LSBs. Ultimately, given TRs’ significant potential as a key factor in enhancing the performance of LSBs, future perspectives and outlooks are provided to guide the further development of TRs in LSBs. This review provides valuable insights into the design of electrolytes and catalysts for increment of TRs, paving the new practical direction and way for advanced LSBs.

Highlights:
1 The review emphasizes the formation of trisulfur radicals in solid-state lapis lazuli analogs and the role of high donor number solvents and/or their co-solvents in stabilizing trisulfur radicals.
2 The detection techniques are also discussed for monitoring the generation of trisulfur radicals, which are critical for understanding their behavior and optimizing the design of lithium–sulfur batteries.
3 The strategies involving both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts are summarized to increase the generation of trisulfur radicals and enhance catalytic reactions in lithium–sulfur batteries for practical applications. The strategies involving both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts are summarized to increase the generation of trisulfur radicals and enhance catalytic reactions in lithium–sulfur batteries for practical applications.

Sustainable Materials Enabled Terahertz Functional Devices

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Terahertz (THz) devices, owing to their distinctive optical properties, have achieved myriad applications in diverse domains including wireless communication, medical imaging therapy, hazardous substance detection, and environmental governance. Concurrently, to mitigate the environmental impact of electronic waste generated by traditional materials, sustainable materials-based THz functional devices are being explored for further research by taking advantages of their eco-friendliness, cost-effective, enhanced safety, robust biodegradability and biocompatibility. This review focuses on the origins and distinctive biological structures of sustainable materials as well as succinctly elucidates the latest applications in THz functional device fabrication, including wireless communication devices, macromolecule detection sensors, environment monitoring sensors, and biomedical therapeutic devices. We further highlight recent applications of sustainable materials-based THz functional devices in hazardous substance detection, protein-based macromolecule detection, and environmental monitoring. Besides, this review explores the developmental prospects of integrating sustainable materials with THz functional devices, presenting their potential applications in the future.

Highlights:
1 Sources and types of sustainable materials and their advantages in fabricating high performance terahertz (THz) functional devices are systematically reviewed.
2 The principles and implementations of sustainable material enabled THz functional devices for wireless communication, molecular sensing, and biomedical detection.
3 This review emphasizes new insights from a comprehensive analysis, presenting challenges in intelligent modulation and perception of sustainable materials assisted THz functional devices.

Correction: Artificial Intelligence-Powered Materials Science

Xiaopeng Bai, Xingcai Zhang — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The advancement of materials has played a pivotal role in the advancement of human civilization, and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered materials science heralds a new era with substantial potential to tackle the escalating challenges related to energy, environment, and biomedical concerns in a sustainable manner. The exploration and development of sustainable materials are poised to assume a critical role in attaining technologically advanced solutions that are environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and conducive to human well-being. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current scholarly progress in artificial intelligence-powered materials science and its cutting-edge applications. We anticipate that AI technology will be extensively utilized in material research and development, thereby expediting the growth and implementation of novel materials. AI will serve as a catalyst for materials innovation, and in turn, advancements in materials innovation will further enhance the capabilities of AI and AI-powered materials science. Through the synergistic collaboration between AI and materials science, we stand to realize a future propelled by advanced AI-powered materials.

Highlights:
1 A detailed exploration is provided of how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques are applied across various aspects of materials science.
2 Major challenges in AI-driven materials science are evaluated.
3 Novel case studies are incorporated, demonstrating their impact on accelerating material development and discovery.

Review on MXenes-Based Electrocatalysts for High-Energy-Density Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Xintao Zuo, Yanhui Qiu, Mengmeng Zhen, Dapeng Liu, Yu Zhang — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) hold significant promise as advanced energy storage systems due to their high energy density, low cost, and environmental advantages. However, despite recent advancements, their practical energy density still falls short of the levels required for commercial viability. The energy density is critically dependent on both sulfur loading and the amount of electrolyte used. High-sulfur loading coupled with lean electrolyte conditions presents several challenges, including the insulating nature of sulfur and Li₂S, insufficient electrolyte absorption, degradation of the cathode structure, severe lithium polysulfide shuttling, slow redox reaction kinetics, and instability of the Li metal anode. MXenes-based materials, with their metallic conductivity, large polar surfaces, and abundant active sites, have been identified as promising electrocatalysts to improve the redox reactions in LSBs. This review focuses on the significance and challenges associated with high-sulfur loading and lean electrolytes in LSBs, highlighting recent advancements in MXenes-based electrocatalysts aimed at optimizing sulfur cathodes and lithium anodes. It provides a comprehensive discussion on MXenes as both active materials and substrates in LSBs, with the goal of enhancing understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that govern sulfur conversion reactions and lithium plating/stripping behavior. Finally, the review explores future opportunities for MXenes-based electrocatalysts, paving the way for the practical application of LSBs.

Highlights:
1 The significance and challenges associated with high-sulfur loading and lean electrolytes in lithium–sulfur batteries are comprehensively reviewed.
2 Catalytic properties of MXenes-based electrocatalysts are optimized via d-band center tuning, internal electric field constructing, single-atom seeding, and cocktail effects introducing.
3 The structure–activity relationships between MXenes-based electrocatalysts and lithium–sulfur battery performances are comprehensively summarized.

Bioinspired Electrolyte-Gated Organic Synaptic Transistors: From Fundamental Requirements to Applications

Yuanying Liang, Hangyu Li, Hu Tang, Chunyang Zhang, Dong Men, Dirk Mayer — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Rapid development of artificial intelligence requires the implementation of hardware systems with bioinspired parallel information processing and presentation and energy efficiency. Electrolyte-gated organic transistors (EGOTs) offer significant advantages as neuromorphic devices due to their ultra-low operation voltages, minimal hardwired connectivity, and similar operation environment as electrophysiology. Meanwhile, ionic–electronic coupling and the relatively low elastic moduli of organic channel materials make EGOTs suitable for interfacing with biology. This review presents an overview of the device architectures based on organic electrochemical transistors and organic field-effect transistors. Furthermore, we review the requirements of low energy consumption and tunable synaptic plasticity of EGOTs in emulating biological synapses and how they are affected by the organic materials, electrolyte, architecture, and operation mechanism. In addition, we summarize the basic operation principle of biological sensory systems and the recent progress of EGOTs as a building block in artificial systems. Finally, the current challenges and future development of the organic neuromorphic devices are discussed.

Highlights:
1 Neuromorphic device with bioinspired parallel information processing and presentation and energy efficiency is desired for the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
2 Electrolyte-gated organic transistors can be leveraged to emulate versatile synaptic functions with tunable properties and excellent biocompatibility.
3 Recent development regarding the organic channel materials, neuromorphic device handling neurochemical signals, the basic requirements to achieve artificial synapse, and the applications on mimicking perception functions are reviewed.

Physics of 2D Materials for Developing Smart Devices

Neeraj Goel, Rahul Kumar — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Rapid industrialization advancements have grabbed worldwide attention to integrate a very large number of electronic components into a smaller space for performing multifunctional operations. To fulfill the growing computing demand state-of-the-art materials are required for substituting traditional silicon and metal oxide semiconductors frameworks. Two-dimensional (2D) materials have shown their tremendous potential surpassing the limitations of conventional materials for developing smart devices. Despite their ground-breaking progress over the last two decades, systematic studies providing in-depth insights into the exciting physics of 2D materials are still lacking. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the importance of 2D materials in bridging the gap between conventional and advanced technologies due to their distinct statistical and quantum physics. Moreover, the inherent properties of these materials could easily be tailored to meet the specific requirements of smart devices. Hence, we discuss the physics of various 2D materials enabling them to fabricate smart devices. We also shed light on promising opportunities in developing smart devices and identified the formidable challenges that need to be addressed.

Highlights:
1 Extensively discussed the physics of various two-dimensional materials enabling them to fabricate smart devices.
2 Statistical and quantum physics for understanding the functioning of smart electronic devices with strategies for improving their performance.
3 New advancement in device architectures for developing smart devices.

An Overview of Dynamic Descriptions for Nanoscale Materials in Particulate Photocatalytic Systems from Spatiotemporal Perspectives

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Particulate photocatalytic systems using nanoscale photocatalysts have been developed as an attractive promising route for solar energy utilization to achieve resource sustainability and environmental harmony. Dynamic obstacles are considered as the dominant inhibition for attaining satisfactory energy-conversion efficiency. The complexity in light absorption and carrier transfer behaviors has remained to be further clearly illuminated. It is challenging to trace the fast evolution of charge carriers involved in transfer migration and interfacial reactions within a micro–nano-single-particle photocatalyst, which requires spatiotemporal high resolution. In this review, comprehensive dynamic descriptions including irradiation field, carrier separation and transfer, and interfacial reaction processes have been elucidated and discussed. The corresponding mechanisms for revealing dynamic behaviors have been explained. In addition, numerical simulation and modeling methods have been illustrated for the description of the irradiation field. Experimental measurements and spatiotemporal characterizations have been clarified for the reflection of carrier behavior and probing detection of interfacial reactions. The representative applications have been introduced according to the reported advanced research works, and the relationships between mechanistic conclusions from variable spatiotemporal measurements and photocatalytic performance results in the specific photocatalytic reactions have been concluded. This review provides a collective perspective for the full understanding and thorough evaluation of the primary dynamic processes, which would be inspired for the improvement in designing solar-driven energy-conversion systems based on nanoscale particulate photocatalysts.

Highlights:
1 The dynamic descriptions for nanoscale particulate photocatalysts have been elucidated in terms of the irradiation field, photo-excited carrier behavior and interfacial reaction in the photocatalytic systems.
2 The advanced spatiotemporal characterization techniques and evaluation methods are collected with the introduction of recent works and applications.
3 The challenges and prospects in the elaborate investigation of photocatalytic dynamics are discussed.

Quasi-Solid Gel Electrolytes for Alkali Metal Battery Applications

Jiahui Lu, Yingying Chen, Yaojie Lei, Pauline Jaumaux, Hao Tian, Guoxiu Wang — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Alkali metal batteries (AMBs) have undergone substantial development in portable devices due to their high energy density and durable cycle performance. However, with the rising demand for smart wearable electronic devices, a growing focus on safety and durability becomes increasingly apparent. An effective strategy to address these increased requirements involves employing the quasi-solid gel electrolytes (QSGEs). This review focuses on the application of QSGEs in AMBs, emphasizing four types of gel electrolytes and their influence on battery performance and stability. First, self-healing gels are discussed to prolong battery life and enhance safety through self-repair mechanisms. Then, flexible gels are explored for their mechanical flexibility, making them suitable for wearable devices and flexible electronics. In addition, biomimetic gels inspired by natural designs are introduced for high-performance AMBs. Furthermore, biomass materials gels are presented, derived from natural biomaterials, offering environmental friendliness and biocompatibility. Finally, the perspectives and challenges for future developments are discussed in terms of enhancing the ionic conductivity, mechanical strength, and environmental stability of novel gel materials. The review underscores the significant contributions of these QSGEs in enhancing AMBs performance, including increased lifespan, safety, and adaptability, providing new insights and directions for future research and applications in the field.

Highlights:
1 This review explores the application of quasi-solid gel electrolytes (QSGEs) in alkali metal batteries (AMBs), emphasizing self-healing gels, flexible gels, biomimetic gels, and biomass gels. Each of these gel types brings unique advantages to the performance of AMBs.
2 This review outlines future research directions, including synthesizing advanced QSGEs, in situ characterization techniques, and theoretical simulations to better understand and optimize these materials. It identifies critical areas for investigation, guiding researchers to optimize QSGEs in AMBs and enhance their application.

Design Refinement of Catalytic System for Scale-Up Mild Nitrogen Photo-Fixation

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Ammonia and nitric acid, versatile industrial feedstocks, and burgeoning clean energy vectors hold immense promise for sustainable development. However, Haber–Bosch and Ostwald processes, which generates carbon dioxide as massive by-product, contribute to greenhouse effects and pose environmental challenges. Thus, the pursuit of nitrogen fixation through carbon–neutral pathways under benign conditions is a frontier of scientific topics, with the harnessing of solar energy emerging as an enticing and viable option. This review delves into the refinement strategies for scale-up mild photocatalytic nitrogen fixation, fields ripe with potential for innovation. The narrative is centered on enhancing the intrinsic capabilities of catalysts to surmount current efficiency barriers. Key focus areas include the in-depth exploration of fundamental mechanisms underpinning photocatalytic procedures, rational element selection, and functional planning, state-of-the-art experimental protocols for understanding photo-fixation processes, valid photocatalytic activity evaluation, and the rational design of catalysts. Furthermore, the review offers a suite of forward-looking recommendations aimed at propelling the advancement of mild nitrogen photo-fixation. It scrutinizes the existing challenges and prospects within this burgeoning domain, aspiring to equip researchers with insightful perspectives that can catalyze the evolution of cutting-edge nitrogen fixation methodologies and steer the development of next-generation photocatalytic systems.

Highlights:
1 The review provides a brief overview of basic mechanisms, element selections, activity confirmation, and experimental protocols of photocatalytic nitrogen fixation under mild conditions.
2 The review details strategies for scale-up photocatalysts in nitrogen fixation, emphasizing defect engineering, facet optimization, heteroatom doping, single-atom site creation, and composite synthesis.
3 The review emphasizes the importance of environmental assessment for photocatalyst lifecycle sustainability in mild nitrogen fixation for the future.

Bio-Inspired Ionic Sensors: Transforming Natural Mechanisms into Sensory Technologies

Kyongtae Choi, Gibeom Lee, Min‑Gyu Lee, Hee Jae Hwang, Kibeom Lee, Younghoon Lee — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Many natural organisms have evolved unique sensory systems over millions of years that have allowed them to detect various changes in their surrounding environments. Sensory systems feature numerous receptors—such as photoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, and chemoreceptors—that detect various types of external stimuli, including light, pressure, vibration, sound, and chemical substances. These stimuli are converted into electrochemical signals, which are transmitted to the brain to produce the sensations of sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell. Inspired by the biological principles of sensory systems, recent advancements in electronics have led to a wide range of applications in artificial sensors. In the current review, we highlight recent developments in artificial sensors inspired by biological sensory systems utilizing soft ionic materials. The versatile characteristics of these ionic materials are introduced while focusing on their mechanical and electrical properties. The features and working principles of natural and artificial sensing systems are investigated in terms of six categories: vision, tactile, hearing, gustatory, olfactory, and proximity sensing. Lastly, we explore several challenges that must be overcome while outlining future research directions in the field of soft ionic sensors.

Highlights:
1 This review provides an overview of recent developments in soft ionic sensors inspired by biological sensory systems, focusing on their material properties and working principles.
2 The features and working principles of natural and artificial sensing systems are investigated in terms of six categories: vision, tactile, auditory, gustatory, olfactory, and proximity sensing.
3 The challenges encountered in developing soft ionic sensors and the future research directions to overcome these issues are discussed.

Mechanisms and Mitigation Strategies of Gas Generation in Sodium-Ion Batteries

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The transition to renewable energy sources has elevated the importance of SIBs (SIBs) as cost-effective alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for large-scale energy storage. This review examines the mechanisms of gas generation in SIBs, identifying sources from cathode materials, anode materials, and electrolytes, which pose safety risks like swelling, leakage, and explosions. Gases such as CO₂, H₂, and O₂ primarily arise from the instability of cathode materials, side reactions between electrode and electrolyte, and electrolyte decomposition under high temperatures or voltages. Enhanced mitigation strategies, encompassing electrolyte design, buffer layer construction, and electrode material optimization, are deliberated upon. Accordingly, subsequent research endeavors should prioritize long-term high-precision gas detection to bolster the safety and performance of SIBs, thereby fortifying their commercial viability and furnishing dependable solutions for large-scale energy storage and electric vehicles.

Highlights:
1 The mechanisms and main sources of gas generation in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are discussed.
2 In order to effectively improve the safety of SIBs, various strategies to inhibit gas generation are proposed.
3 The future development direction to enhance the safety and performance of SIBs is emphasized.

V–Ti-Based Solid Solution Alloys for Solid-State Hydrogen Storage

Shaoyang Shen, Yongan Li, Liuzhang Ouyang, Lan Zhang, Min Zhu, Zongwen Liu — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This review details the advancement in the development of V–Ti-based hydrogen storage materials for using in metal hydride (MH) tanks to supply hydrogen to fuel cells at relatively ambient temperatures and pressures. V–Ti-based solid solution alloys are excellent hydrogen storage materials among many metal hydrides due to their high reversible hydrogen storage capacity which is over 2 wt% at ambient temperature. The preparation methods, structure characteristics, improvement methods of hydrogen storage performance, and attenuation mechanism are systematically summarized and discussed. The relationships between hydrogen storage properties and alloy compositions as well as phase structures are discussed emphatically. For large-scale applications on MH tanks, it is necessary to develop low-cost and high-performance V–Ti-based solid solution alloys with high reversible hydrogen storage capacity, good cyclic durability, and excellent activation performance.

Highlights:
1 Hydrogen storage performance of V-Ti-based solid solution alloys is related to the elementary composition, phase structure, and homogeneity.
2 Micro-strain accumulation is responsible for capacity degradation.
3 Low-cost and high-performance V-Ti-based solid solution alloys with high reversible hydrogen storage capacity, good cyclic durability, and excellent activation performance should be developed.

A Review of MAX Series Materials: From Diversity, Synthesis, Prediction, Properties Oriented to Functions

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

MAX series materials, as non-van der Waals layered multi-element compounds, contribute remarkable regulated properties and functional dimension, combining the features of metal and ceramic materials due to their inherently laminated crystal structure that M_n+1X_n slabs are intercalated with A element layers. Oriented to the functional requirements of information, intelligence, electrification, and aerospace in the new era, how to accelerate MAX series materials into new quality productive forces? The systematic enhancement of knowledge about MAX series materials is intrinsic to understanding its low-dimensional geometric structure characteristics, and physical and chemical properties, revealing the correlation of composition, structure, and function and further realizing rational design based on simulation and prediction. Diversity also brings complexity to MAX materials research. This review provides substantial tabular information on (I) MAX’s research timeline from 1960 to the present, (II) structure diversity and classification convention, (III) synthesis route exploration, (IV) prediction based on theory and machine learning, (V) properties, and (VI) functional applications. Herein, the researchers can quickly locate research content and recognize connections and differences of MAX series materials. In addition, the research challenges for the future development of MAX series materials are highlighted.

Highlights:
1 Oriented to the understanding of MAX series materials, the research timeline, structure diversity, and synthesis are systematically reviewed.
2 The prediction, properties, and functional applications of MAX series materials are summarized.
3 This review emphasizes research challenges for the future development of MAX series materials.

Aggregation-Induced Emissive Scintillators: A New Frontier for Radiation Detection and Imaging

Xinyi Li, Jiafu Yu, Yinghao Fan, Yuting Gao, Guangda Niu — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is a unique phenomenon where certain organic materials exhibit enhanced luminescence in their aggregated states, overcoming the typical quenching observed in conventional organic materials. Since its discovery in 2001, AIE has driven significant advances in fields like OLEDs and biological imaging, earning recognition in fundamental research. However, its application in high-energy radiation detection remains underexplored. Organic scintillators, though widely used, face challenges such as low light yield and poor radiation attenuation. AIE materials offer promising solutions by improving light yield, response speed, and radiation attenuation. This review summarizes the design strategies behind AIE scintillators and their very recent applications in X-ray, γ-ray, and fast neutron detection. We highlight their advantages in enhancing detection sensitivity, reducing background noise, and achieving high-resolution imaging. By addressing the current challenges, we believe AIE materials will play a pivotal role in advancing future radiation detection and imaging technologies.

Highlights:
1 Summarizes the high quantum efficiency and rapid response of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials in radiation detection, showcasing their advantages in high-energy radiation signal detection.
2 Reviews the progress in AIE materials’ radiation response for efficient detection of X-rays, γ rays, neutrons, and other radiation types.
3 Long term stability, device integration, and adaptability to diverse radiation forms remain key challenges for broader AIE material applications.

Nanomaterials Enhanced Sonodynamic Therapy for Multiple Tumor Treatment

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) as an emerging modality for malignant tumors mainly involves in sonosensitizers and low-intensity ultrasound (US), which can safely penetrate the tissue without significant attenuation. SDT not only has the advantages including high precision, non-invasiveness, and minimal side effects, but also overcomes the limitation of low penetration of light to deep tumors. The cytotoxic reactive oxygen species can be produced by the utilization of sonosensitizers combined with US and kill tumor cells. However, the underlying mechanism of SDT has not been elucidated, and its unsatisfactory efficiency retards its further clinical application. Herein, we shed light on the main mechanisms of SDT and the types of sonosensitizers, including organic sonosensitizers and inorganic sonosensitizers. Due to the development of nanotechnology, many novel nanoplatforms are utilized in this arisen field to solve the barriers of sonosensitizers and enable continuous innovation. This review also highlights the potential advantages of nanosonosensitizers and focus on the enhanced efficiency of SDT based on nanosonosensitizers with monotherapy or synergistic therapy for deep tumors that are difficult to reach by traditional treatment, especially orthotopic cancers.

Highlights:
1 The main mechanisms and clinical potential of sonodynamic therapy are emphasized.
2 The nanomaterials provide new prospects and development directions for enhancing the treatment of cancer.
3 Recent developments of sonodynamic therapy for deep tumors that are difficult to reach by traditional treatment, especially orthotopic cancers.

Developing mRNA Nanomedicines with Advanced Targeting Functions

Ji Wang, Lijun Cai, Ning Li, Zhiqiang Luo, Haozhen Ren, Bing Zhang, Yuanjin Zhao — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The emerging messenger RNA (mRNA) nanomedicines have sprung up for disease treatment. Developing targeted mRNA nanomedicines has become a thrilling research hotspot in recent years, as they can be precisely delivered to specific organs or tissues to enhance efficiency and avoid side effects. Herein, we give a comprehensive review on the latest research progress of mRNA nanomedicines with targeting functions. mRNA and its carriers are first described in detail. Then, mechanisms of passive targeting, endogenous targeting, and active targeting are outlined, with a focus on various biological barriers that mRNA may encounter during in vivo delivery. Next, emphasis is placed on summarizing mRNA-based organ-targeting strategies. Lastly, the advantages and challenges of mRNA nanomedicines in clinical translation are mentioned. This review is expected to inspire researchers in this field and drive further development of mRNA targeting technology.

Highlights:
1 The structure and modification strategies of messenger RNA (mRNA), along with advanced delivery carriers, are thoroughly reviewed to showcase their role in targeted drug delivery.
2 Recent advancements in mRNA nanomedicines, focusing on targeted strategies for various organs, are summarized to illustrate their therapeutic potential.
3 The major challenges and future perspectives for the clinical translation of targeted mRNA nanomedicines are discussed, emphasizing solutions to biological barriers.

Advances in Anion Chemistry in the Electrolyte Design for Better Lithium Batteries

Hecong Xiao, Xiang Li, Yongzhu Fu — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Electrolytes are crucial components in electrochemical energy storage devices, sparking considerable research interest. However, the significance of anions in the electrolytes is often underestimated. In fact, the anions have significant impacts on the performance and stability of lithium batteries. Therefore, comprehensively understanding anion chemistry in electrolytes is of crucial importance. Herein, in-depth comprehension of anion chemistry and its positive effects on the interface, solvation structure of Li-ions, as well as the electrochemical performance of the batteries have been emphasized and summarized. This review aims to present a full scope of anion chemistry and furnish systematic cognition for the rational design of advanced electrolytes for better lithium batteries with high energy density, lifespan, and safety. Furthermore, insightful analysis and perspectives based on the current research are proposed. We hope that this review sheds light on new perspectives on understanding anion chemistry in electrolytes.

Highlights:
1 The impact of anions on the interface is summarized, including forming a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), repairing the damaged SEI, and modulate electric double layer.
2 The influence of anions on the solvation structure is presented, including enhancing desolvation process of the Li-ions and the antioxidant property of the electrolyte.
3 This review also emphasizes the important role of anions in enhancing battery safety through their flame-retardant properties, as well as their impact on energy density and power density by altering reaction pathways and accelerating reactions.

Recent Advances of Electrocatalysts and Electrodes for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells: from Nano to Meter Scale Challenges

Yang Li, Ming‑Shui Yao, Yanping He, Shangfeng Du — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Direct formic acid fuel cells are promising energy devices with advantages of low working temperature and high safety in fuel storage and transport. They have been expected to be a future power source for portable electronic devices. The technology has been developed rapidly to overcome the high cost and low power performance that hinder its practical application, which mainly originated from the slow reaction kinetics of the formic acid oxidation and complex mass transfer within the fuel cell electrodes. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the progress around this technology, in particular for addressing multiscale challenges from catalytic mechanism understanding at the atomic scale, to catalyst design at the nanoscale, electrode structure at the micro scale and design at the millimeter scale, and finally to device fabrication at the meter scale. The gap between the highly active electrocatalysts and the poor electrode performance in practical devices is highlighted. Finally, perspectives and opportunities are proposed to potentially bridge this gap for further development of this technology.

Highlights:
1 Comprehensive review of the progress in direct formic acid fuel cells from catalytic mechanisms to catalyst design, and to the electrode/device fabrication.
2 The gap between highly active formic acid oxidation catalysts and unsatisfactory device performance is highlighted.
3 Perspectives for catalyst and electrode design are discussed.

Fast-Developing Dynamic Radiative Thermal Management: Full-Scale Fundamentals, Switching Methods, Applications, and Challenges

Long Xie, Xuechuan Wang, Yageng Bai, Xiaoliang Zou, Xinhua Liu — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Rapid population growth in recent decades has intensified both the global energy crisis and the challenges posed by climate change, including global warming. Currently, the increased frequency of extreme weather events and large fluctuations in ambient temperature disrupt thermal comfort and negatively impact health, driving a growing dependence on cooling and heating energy sources. Consequently, efficient thermal management has become a central focus of energy research. Traditional thermal management systems consume substantial energy, further contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, emergent radiant thermal management technologies that rely on renewable energy have been proposed as sustainable alternatives. However, achieving year-round thermal management without additional energy input remains a formidable challenge. Recently, dynamic radiative thermal management technologies have emerged as the most promising solution, offering the potential for energy-efficient adaptation across seasonal variations. This review systematically presents recent advancements in dynamic radiative thermal management, covering fundamental principles, switching mechanisms, primary materials, and application areas. Additionally, the key challenges hindering the broader adoption of dynamic radiative thermal management technologies are discussed. By highlighting their transformative potential, this review provides insights into the design and industrial scalability of these innovations, with the ultimate aim of promoting renewable energy integration in thermal management applications.

Highlights:
1 This review comprehensively summarizes the current state-of-the-art in dynamic radiative thermal management technology.
2 In-depth discussion of the basic principles of dynamic radiative thermal management technology, design strategies, and a list of related applications are presented.
3 An in-depth look at the challenges facing dynamic radiative thermal management technology, providing potential solutions for the future direction of the field.

Structural Mechanisms of Quasi-2D Perovskites for Next-Generation Photovoltaics

Hyeonseok Lee, Taeho Moon, Younghyun Lee, Jinhyun Kim — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Quasi-two-dimensional (2D) perovskite embodies characteristics of both three-dimensional (3D) and 2D perovskites, achieving the superior external environment stability structure of 2D perovskites alongside the high efficiency of 3D perovskites. This effect is realized through critical structural modifications in device fabrication. Typically, perovskites have an octahedral structure, generally ABX₃, where an organic ammonium cation (A') participates in forming the perovskite structure, with A'_(n) (n = 1 or 2) sandwiched between A_(n-1)B_(n)X_(3n+1) perovskite layers. Depending on whether A' is a monovalent or divalent cation, 2D perovskites are classified into Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite or Dion-Jacobson perovskite, each generating different structures. Although each structure achieves similar effects, they incorporate distinct mechanisms in their formation. And according to these different structures, various properties appear, and additive and optimizing methods to increase the efficiency of 3D perovskites also exist in 2D perovskites. In this review, scientific understanding and engineering perspectives of the quasi-2D perovskite is investigated, and the optimal structure quasi-2D and the device optimization is also discussed to provide the insight in the field.

Highlights:
1 This review highlights the structural advantages and challenges of qausi-2D perovskite.
2 Beyond these structural adaptations, unique additive methods specific to quasi-2D perovskites are suggested, alongside future directions for further improvement.
3 Material and device analysis using Ruddlesden–Popper, Dion–Jacobson, and alternating cation phases are discussed.

Artificial Intelligence-Powered Materials Science

Xiaopeng Bai, Xingcai Zhang — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Microneedle-Based Approaches for Skin Disease Treatment

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The use of microneedles (MNs) has been established as an effective transdermal drug delivery strategy that has been extensively deployed for treating various diseases, including skin diseases. MNs can surpass the constraints of conventional drug delivery methods by their superior safety and efficacy through precise targeting, while simultaneously enabling painless delivery. Currently, MNs are increasingly used as carriers for drug delivery, with the loading of insoluble drugs to improve their treatment efficiency or combining with bioactive substances for the construction of an efficient drug delivery system to maximize the effects of bioactive substances. The methods used for preparation MNs are diverse, enabling them to meet the requirements of most applications. The emergence of MNs has addressed the shortcomings associated with insoluble drugs, expanded the applications of bioactive substances, and improved their use in clinical practice. This review summarizes current information on the application of MNs in a variety of skin diseases, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia, hypertrophic scarring, atopic dermatitis, melanoma, acne, and skin infections. The current clinical applications and future opportunities for MNs in the treatment of skin diseases are also discussed. Despite substantial progress in the clinical application of MNs as delivery vectors, issues such as low drug loading and poor mechanical strength during MNs preparation remain the main challenges. Therefore, clinical implementation of MNs-based therapies remains limited, highlighting key opportunities for future research.

Highlights:
1 Microneedles (MNs) are used extensively for treating skin diseases due to their capability to provide less-invasive targeted drug delivery.
2 Intelligent MNs can be fabricated from biocompatible materials with specialized properties, thereby providing improved treatment efficacy.
3 Currently, there are limitations in the clinical application of MNs, highlighting the significance of further investigation to facilitate the translation of this innovative technology into patient treatment contexts.

Functionalized Separators Boosting Electrochemical Performances for Lithium Batteries

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The growing demands for energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and portable electronics have significantly pushed forward the need for safe and reliable lithium batteries. It is essential to design functional separators with improved mechanical and electrochemical characteristics. This review covers the improved mechanical and electrochemical performances as well as the advancements made in the design of separators utilizing a variety of techniques. In terms of electrolyte wettability and adhesion of the coating materials, we provide an overview of the current status of research on coated separators, in situ modified separators, and grafting modified separators, and elaborate additional performance parameters of interest. The characteristics of inorganics coated separators, organic framework coated separators and inorganic–organic coated separators from different fabrication methods are compared. Future directions regarding new modified materials, manufacturing process, quantitative analysis of adhesion and so on are proposed toward next-generation advanced lithium batteries.

Highlights:
1 The commonly used modification methods for separator of lithium batteries are summarized, which include surface coating, in situ modification and grafting modification.
2 The adhesion of coating materials with the separators and wettability of the modified separators prepared from the three methods are compared.
3 The challenges and future directions of separator modification are provided.

Advanced Bismuth-Based Anode Materials for Efficient Potassium Storage: Structural Features, Storage Mechanisms and Modification Strategies

Yiye Tan, Fanglan Mo, Hongyan Li — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are considered as a promising energy storage system owing to its abundant potassium resources. As an important part of the battery composition, anode materials play a vital role in the future development of PIBs. Bismuth-based anode materials demonstrate great potential for storing potassium ions (K⁺) due to their layered structure, high theoretical capacity based on the alloying reaction mechanism, and safe operating voltage. However, the large radius of K⁺ inevitably induces severe volume expansion in depotassiation/potassiation, and the sluggish kinetics of K⁺ insertion/extraction limits its further development. Herein, we summarize the strategies used to improve the potassium storage properties of various types of materials and introduce recent advances in the design and fabrication of favorable structural features of bismuth-based materials. Firstly, this review analyzes the structure, working mechanism and advantages and disadvantages of various types of materials for potassium storage. Then, based on this, the manuscript focuses on summarizing modification strategies including structural and morphological design, compositing with other materials, and electrolyte optimization, and elucidating the advantages of various modifications in enhancing the potassium storage performance. Finally, we outline the current challenges of bismuth-based materials in PIBs and put forward some prospects to be verified.

Highlights:
1 Various bismuth-based materials used in potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) anode are classified and overviewed, and the structure and potassium storage mechanism of various materials are discussed.
2 The advantages and challenges of different PIBs anode materials are pointed out, and the existing modification strategies to improve potassium storage are summarized.
3 The promising research directions of bismuth-based anode materials are proposed.

Advances in TENGs for Marine Energy Harvesting and In Situ Electrochemistry

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The large-scale use of ample marine energy will be one of the most important ways for human to achieve sustainable development through carbon neutral development plans. As a burgeoning technological method for electromechanical conversion, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has significant advantages in marine energy for its low weight, cost-effectiveness, and high efficiency in low-frequency range. It can realize the efficient and economical harvesting of low-frequency blue energy by constructing the floating marine energy harvesting TENG. This paper firstly introduces the power transfer process and structural composition of TENG for marine energy harvesting in detail. In addition, the latest research works of TENG on marine energy harvesting in basic research and structural design are systematically reviewed by category. Finally, the advanced research progress in the power take-off types and engineering study of TENG with the marine energy are comprehensively generalized. Importantly, the challenges and problems faced by TENG in marine energy and in situ electrochemical application are summarized and the corresponding prospects and suggestions are proposed for the subsequent development direction and prospects to look forward to promoting the commercialization process of this field.

Highlights:
1 The basic information of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), the power conversion process, and key points of the marine energy harvesting TENGs was introduced in detail.
2 An in-depth introduction and analysis of relevant research with the marine energy harvesting were conducted through gradient classification.
3 This review not only provided a deeper summary of the latest research progress, discoveries, and challenges, but also made a rational outlook on solutions to related issues and future development directions.

Molecular Mechanism Behind the Capture of Fluorinated Gases by Metal–Organic Frameworks

Qian Wang, Yong Hu, Yifan Gu — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Fluorinated gases (F-gases) play a vital role in the chemical industry and in the fields of air conditioning, refrigeration, health care, and organic synthesis. However, the direct emission of waste gases containing F-gases into the atmosphere contributes to greenhouse effects and generates toxic substances. Developing porous materials for the energy-efficient capture, separation, and recovery of F-gases is highly desired. Recently, as a highly designable porous adsorbents, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit excellent selective sorption performance toward F-gases, especially for the recognition and separation of different F-gases with highly similar properties, showing their great potential in F-gases control and recovery. In this review, we discuss the capture and separation of F-gases and their azeotropic, near-azeotropic, and isomeric mixtures in various application scenarios by MOFs, specifically classify and analyze molecular interaction between F-gases and MOFs, and interpret the mechanisms underlying their high performance regarding both adsorption capacity and selectivity, providing a repertoire for future materials design. Challenges faced in the transformation research roadmap of MOFs adsorbent separation technologies toward F-gases are also discussed, and areas for future research endeavors are highlighted.

Highlights:
1 The progress of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in capturing and separating F-gases is highlighted.
2 The molecular mechanisms of adsorption and separation are classified and analyzed.
3 Toolboxes of MOFs structural design for fluorinated gases separation are provided.

Membranes of Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity PIM-1 for Gas Separation: Modification Strategies and Meta-Analysis

Boya Qiu, Yong Gao, Patricia Gorgojo, Xiaolei Fan — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) have received considerable attention for making high-performance membranes for carbon dioxide separation over the last two decades, owing to their highly permeable porous structures. However, challenges regarding its relatively low selectivity, physical aging, and plasticisation impede relevant industrial adoptions for gas separation. To address these issues, several strategies including chain modification, post-modification, blending with other polymers, and the addition of fillers, have been developed and explored. PIM-1 is the most investigated PIMs, and hence here we review the state-of-the-arts of the modification strategies of PIM-1 critically and discuss the progress achieved for addressing the aforementioned challenges via meta-analysis. Additionally, the development of PIM-1-based thin film composite membranes is commented as well, shedding light on their potential in industrial gas separation. We hope that the review can be a timely snapshot of the relevant state-of-the-arts of PIMs guiding future design and optimisation of PIMs-based membranes for enhanced performance towards a higher technology readiness level for practical applications.

Highlights:
1 Critical review of the polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIM)-1-based membranes for applications in selective CO₂ separation.
2 State-of-the-art modification strategies for PIM-1 are thoroughly compared via meta-analysis.
3 Key perspectives for progressing PIM-1 thin film membranes towards practical applications are suggested.

Comprehensive Chlorine Suppression: Advances in Materials and System Technologies for Direct Seawater Electrolysis

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Seawater electrolysis offers a promising pathway to generate green hydrogen, which is crucial for the net-zero emission targets. Indirect seawater electrolysis is severely limited by high energy demands and system complexity, while the direct seawater electrolysis bypasses pre-treatment, offering a simpler and more cost-effective solution. However, the chlorine evolution reaction and impurities in the seawater lead to severe corrosion and hinder electrolysis’s efficiency. Herein, we review recent advances in the rational design of chlorine-suppressive catalysts and integrated electrolysis systems architectures for chloride-induced corrosion, with simultaneous enhancement of Faradaic efficiency and reduction of electrolysis’s cost. Furthermore, promising directions are proposed for durable and efficient seawater electrolysis systems. This review provides perspectives for seawater electrolysis toward sustainable energy conversion and environmental protection.

Highlights:
1 Rational design of chlorine-suppressing catalysts based on mechanistic insights.
2 Overview of recent advances in cutting-edge seawater electrolysis systems.
3 Discussion of challenges and potential directions for direct seawater electrolysis enhancement.

Wearable Biodevices Based on Two-Dimensional Materials: From Flexible Sensors to Smart Integrated Systems

Yingzhi Sun, Weiyi He, Can Jiang, Jing Li, Jianli Liu, Mingjie Liu — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The proliferation of wearable biodevices has boosted the development of soft, innovative, and multifunctional materials for human health monitoring. The integration of wearable sensors with intelligent systems is an overwhelming tendency, providing powerful tools for remote health monitoring and personal health management. Among many candidates, two-dimensional (2D) materials stand out due to several exotic mechanical, electrical, optical, and chemical properties that can be efficiently integrated into atomic-thin films. While previous reviews on 2D materials for biodevices primarily focus on conventional configurations and materials like graphene, the rapid development of new 2D materials with exotic properties has opened up novel applications, particularly in smart interaction and integrated functionalities. This review aims to consolidate recent progress, highlight the unique advantages of 2D materials, and guide future research by discussing existing challenges and opportunities in applying 2D materials for smart wearable biodevices. We begin with an in-depth analysis of the advantages, sensing mechanisms, and potential applications of 2D materials in wearable biodevice fabrication. Following this, we systematically discuss state-of-the-art biodevices based on 2D materials for monitoring various physiological signals within the human body. Special attention is given to showcasing the integration of multi-functionality in 2D smart devices, mainly including self-power supply, integrated diagnosis/treatment, and human–machine interaction. Finally, the review concludes with a concise summary of existing challenges and prospective solutions concerning the utilization of 2D materials for advanced biodevices.

Highlights:
1 Two-dimensional (2D) materials are highlighted for their exceptional mechanical, electrical, optical, and chemical properties, making them ideal for fabricating high-performance wearable biodevices.
2 The review categorizes cutting-edge wearable biodevices by their interactions with physical, electrophysiological, and biochemical signals, showcasing how 2D materials enhance these devices' functionality, mainly including self-powering and human-machine interaction.
3 2D materials enable multifunctional, high-performance biodevices, integrating self-powered systems, treatment platforms, and human-machine interactions, though challenges remain in practical applications.

Advancements in Passive Wireless Sensing Systems in Monitoring Harsh Environment and Healthcare Applications

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Recent advancements in passive wireless sensor technology have significantly extended the application scope of sensing, particularly in challenging environments for monitoring industry and healthcare applications. These systems are equipped with battery-free operation, wireless connectivity, and are designed to be both miniaturized and lightweight. Such features enable the safe, real-time monitoring of industrial environments and support high-precision physiological measurements in confined internal body spaces and on wearable epidermal devices. Despite the exploration into diverse application environments, the development of a systematic and comprehensive research framework for system architecture remains elusive, which hampers further optimization of these systems. This review, therefore, begins with an examination of application scenarios, progresses to evaluate current system architectures, and discusses the function of each component—specifically, the passive sensor module, the wireless communication model, and the readout module—within the context of key implementations in target sensing systems. Furthermore, we present case studies that demonstrate the feasibility of proposed classified components for sensing scenarios, derived from this systematic approach. By outlining a research trajectory for the application of passive wireless systems in sensing technologies, this paper aims to establish a foundation for more advanced, user-friendly applications.

Highlights:
1 This review comprehensively examines recent advancements in passive wireless systems applied to industrial environments and biomedical sensing, with a particular focus on the design strategies of passive wireless systems.
2 The design principles and operational mechanisms of passive wireless system components (sensing modules and readout modules) are systematically categorized.
3 Based on the latest research, the review highlights the innovative applications of passive wireless concepts in industrial environments, equipment safety, as well as in vivo and surface signal detection.

Photolithographic Microfabrication of Microbatteries for On-Chip Energy Storage

Yuan Ma, Sen Wang, Zhong‑Shuai Wu — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Microbatteries (MBs) are crucial to power miniaturized devices for the Internet of Things. In the evolutionary journey of MBs, fabrication technology emerges as the cornerstone, guiding the intricacies of their configuration designs, ensuring precision, and facilitating scalability for mass production. Photolithography stands out as an ideal technology, leveraging its unparalleled resolution, exceptional design flexibility, and entrenched position within the mature semiconductor industry. However, comprehensive reviews on its application in MB development remain scarce. This review aims to bridge that gap by thoroughly assessing the recent status and promising prospects of photolithographic microfabrication for MBs. Firstly, we delve into the fundamental principles and step-by-step procedures of photolithography, offering a nuanced understanding of its operational mechanisms and the criteria for photoresist selection. Subsequently, we highlighted the specific roles of photolithography in the fabrication of MBs, including its utilization as a template for creating miniaturized micropatterns, a protective layer during the etching process, a mold for soft lithography, a constituent of MB active component, and a sacrificial layer in the construction of micro-Swiss-roll structure. Finally, the review concludes with a summary of the key challenges and future perspectives of MBs fabricated by photolithography, providing comprehensive insights and sparking research inspiration in this field.

Highlights:
1 The fundamental principles and step-by-step procedures of photolithography are introduced, and a nuanced understanding of its operational mechanisms and the criteria for photoresist selection is offered.
2 Various specific roles that photolithography plays in microbatteries (MBs) fabrication, including templates for 2D and 3D micropatterns, MB active components, and the sacrificial layer for constructing micro-Swiss-roll structure, are elaborated.
3 The challenges and future directions of MBs fabricated using photolithography, including materials selection, packaging techniques, application, and performance evaluation, are discussed.

Local Strain Engineering of Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Towards Quantum Emitters

Ruoqi Ai, Ximin Cui, Yang Li, Xiaolu Zhuo — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) have received considerable attention in local strain engineering due to their extraordinary mechanical flexibility, electonic structure, and optical properties. The strain-induced out-of-plane deformations in 2D TMDCs lead to diverse excitonic behaviors and versatile modulations in optical properties, paving the way for the development of advanced quantum technologies, flexible optoelectronic materials, and straintronic devices. Research on local strain engineering on 2D TMDCs has been delved into fabrication techniques, electronic state variations, and quantum optical applications. This review begins by summarizing the state-of-the-art methods for introducing local strain into 2D TMDCs, followed by an exploration of the impact of local strain engineering on optical properties. The intriguing phenomena resulting from local strain, such as exciton funnelling and anti-funnelling, are also discussed. We then shift the focus to the application of locally strained 2D TMDCs as quantum emitters, with various strategies outlined for modulating the properties of TMDC-based quantum emitters. Finally, we discuss the remaining questions in this field and provide an outlook on the future of local strain engineering on 2D TMDCs.

Highlights:
1 Methods for creating the local deformation in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) are introduced.
2 Modulations of local strain on their optical properties and excitonic behaviors are discussed.
3 Quantum emitters based on strained 2D TMDCs and other applications are presented.

Plant Cell Wall-Like Soft Materials: Micro- and Nanoengineering, Properties, and Applications

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Plant cell wall (CW)-like soft materials, referred to as artificial CWs, are composites of assembled polymers containing micro-/nanoparticles or fibers/fibrils that are designed to mimic the composition, structure, and mechanics of plant CWs. CW-like materials have recently emerged to test hypotheses pertaining to the intricate structure–property relationships of native plant CWs or to fabricate functional materials. Here, research on plant CWs and CW-like materials is reviewed by distilling key studies on biomimetic composites primarily composed of plant polysaccharides, including cellulose, pectin, and hemicellulose, as well as organic polymers like lignin. Micro- and nanofabrication of plant CW-like composites, characterization techniques, and in silico studies are reviewed, with a brief overview of current and potential applications. Micro-/nanofabrication approaches include bacterial growth and impregnation, layer-by-layer assembly, film casting, 3-dimensional templating microcapsules, and particle coating. Various characterization techniques are necessary for the comprehensive mechanical, chemical, morphological, and structural analyses of plant CWs and CW-like materials. CW-like materials demonstrate versatility in real-life applications, including biomass conversion, pulp and paper, food science, construction, catalysis, and reaction engineering. This review seeks to facilitate the rational design and thorough characterization of plant CW-mimetic materials, with the goal of advancing the development of innovative soft materials and elucidating the complex structure–property relationships inherent in native CWs.

Highlights:
1 This review provides a detailed account of engineered plant cell wall (CW)-mimetic soft materials, which are designed to replicate the intricate composition, structure, and mechanical properties of natural plant CWs.
2 Experimental methods to create CW-like materials are reviewed, and relevant characterization techniques, including mechanical, chemical, structural, and morphological analyses, are discussed.
3 The applications of CW-like materials in several fields, including food packaging, edible films, drug delivery, construction materials, and biocatalysis are highlighted.

Lessons from Nature: Advances and Perspectives in Bionic Microwave Absorption Materials

Dashuang Wang, Tuo Ping, Zhilan Du, Xiaoying Liu, Yuxin Zhang — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Inspired by the remarkable electromagnetic response capabilities of the complex morphologies and subtle microstructures evolved by natural organisms, this paper delves into the research advancements and future application potential of bionic microwave-absorbing materials (BMAMs). It outlines the significance of achieving high-performance microwave-absorbing materials through ingenious microstructural design and judicious composition selection, while emphasizing the innovative strategies offered by bionic manufacturing. Furthermore, this work meticulously analyzes how inspiration can be drawn from the intricate structures of marine organisms, plants, animals, and non-metallic minerals in nature to devise and develop BMAMs with superior electromagnetic wave absorption properties. Additionally, the paper provides an in-depth exploration of the theoretical underpinnings of BMAMs, particularly the latest breakthroughs in broadband absorption. By incorporating advanced methodologies such as simulation modeling and bionic gradient design, we unravel the scientific principles governing the microwave absorption mechanisms of BMAMs, thereby furnishing a solid theoretical foundation for understanding and optimizing their performance. Ultimately, this review aims to offer valuable insights and inspiration to researchers in related fields, fostering the collective advancement of research on BMAMs.

Highlights:
1 This review describes the classification of bionic objects of bionic wave-absorbing materials in detail. From marine organisms, insects, plants to animals, different bionic objects will bring diversified influences and applications.
2 The multifunctional applications of bionic microwave absorption materials are systematically introduced in this paper, from microwave absorption to anti-corrosion, to mechanics, electronics, wearable devices, etc.
3 The theoretical basis and simulation calculation of bionic microwave absorption materials are also discussed.

Recent Advances in Wide-Range Temperature Metal-CO2 Batteries: A Mini Review

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The metal–carbon dioxide batteries, emerging as high-energy–density energy storage devices, enable direct CO₂ utilization, offering promising prospects for CO₂ capture and utilization, energy conversion, and storage. However, the electrochemical performance of M-CO₂ batteries faces significant challenges, particularly at extreme temperatures. Issues such as high overpotential, poor charge reversibility, and cycling capacity decay arise from complex reaction interfaces, sluggish oxidation kinetics, inefficient catalysts, dendrite growth, and unstable electrolytes. Despite significant advancements at room temperature, limited research has focused on the performance of M-CO₂ batteries across a wide-temperature range. This review examines the effects of low and high temperatures on M-CO₂ battery components and their reaction mechanism, as well as the advancements made in extending operational ranges from room temperature to extremely low and high temperatures. It discusses strategies to enhance electrochemical performance at extreme temperatures and outlines opportunities, challenges, and future directions for the development of M-CO₂ batteries.

Highlights:
1 This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current research progress on metal–carbon dioxide (M-CO₂) batteries across a broad temperature range (from room temperature to low/high temperatures).
2 The challenges encountered by M-CO₂ batteries under extreme low- and high-temperature conditions thoroughly discussed, along with strategies to address these challenges.
3 The potential application scenarios and future directions of M-CO₂ batteries across a broad temperature range are highlighted.

Next-Generation Desalination Membranes Empowered by Novel Materials: Where Are We Now?

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Membrane desalination is an economical and energy-efficient method to meet the current worldwide water scarcity. However, state-of-the-art reverse osmosis membranes are gradually being replaced by novel membrane materials as a result of ongoing technological advancements. These novel materials possess intrinsic pore structures or can be assembled to form lamellar membrane channels for selective transport of water or solutes (e.g., NaCl). Still, in real applications, the results fall below the theoretical predictions, and a few properties, including large-scale fabrication, mechanical strength, and chemical stability, also have an impact on the overall effectiveness of those materials. In view of this, we develop a new evaluation framework in the form of radar charts with five dimensions (i.e., water permeance, water/NaCl selectivity, membrane cost, scale of development, and stability) to assess the advantages, disadvantages, and potential of state-of-the-art and newly developed desalination membranes. In this framework, the reported thin film nanocomposite membranes and membranes developed from novel materials were compared with the state-of-the-art thin film composite membranes. This review will demonstrate the current advancements in novel membrane materials and bridge the gap between different desalination membranes. In this review, we also point out the prospects and challenges of next-generation membranes for desalination applications. We believe that this comprehensive framework may be used as a future reference for designing next-generation desalination membranes and will encourage further research and development in the field of membrane technology, leading to new insights and advancements.

Highlights:
1 The theoretical separation performance and practical separation performance of various membranes were collected and compared.
2 An up-to-date holistic and systematic evaluation of membranes from five dimensions (i.e., water permeance, water/NaCl selectivity, membrane cost, scale of development, and stability) is provided and visualized by radar charts.
3 The critical deficiencies revealed in the review are important in guiding the development of next-generation reverse osmosis membranes.

Precision-Engineered Construction of Proton-Conducting Metal–Organic Frameworks

Liyu Zhu, Hongbin Yang, Ting Xu, Feng Shen, Chuanling Si — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Proton-conducting materials have attracted considerable interest because of their extensive application in energy storage and conversion devices. Among them, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) present tremendous development potential and possibilities for constructing novel advanced proton conductors due to their special advantages in crystallinity, designability, and porosity. In particular, several special design strategies for the structure of MOFs have opened new doors for the advancement of MOF proton conductors, such as charged network construction, ligand functionalization, metal-center manipulation, defective engineering, guest molecule incorporation, and pore-space manipulation. With the implementation of these strategies, proton-conducting MOFs have developed significantly and profoundly within the last decade. Therefore, in this review, we critically discuss and analyze the fundamental principles, design strategies, and implementation methods targeted at improving the proton conductivity of MOFs through representative examples. Besides, the structural features, the proton conduction mechanism and the behavior of MOFs are discussed thoroughly and meticulously. Future endeavors are also proposed to address the challenges of proton-conducting MOFs in practical research. We sincerely expect that this review will bring guidance and inspiration for the design of proton-conducting MOFs and further motivate the research enthusiasm for novel proton-conducting materials.

Highlights:
1 The effects of the size structure and stability of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) on proton conduction are comprehensively summarized.
2 Advanced strategies for constructing proton conduction MOFs are critically discussed.
3 Challenges and opportunities for the development of novel proton-conducting MOFs are further outlined.

Tailoring Cathode–Electrolyte Interface for High-Power and Stable Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Global interest in lithium–sulfur batteries as one of the most promising energy storage technologies has been sparked by their low sulfur cathode cost, high gravimetric, volumetric energy densities, abundant resources, and environmental friendliness. However, their practical application is significantly impeded by several serious issues that arise at the cathode–electrolyte interface, such as interface structure degradation including the uneven deposition of Li₂S, unstable cathode–electrolyte interphase (CEI) layer and intermediate polysulfide shuttle effect. Thus, an optimized cathode–electrolyte interface along with optimized electrodes is required for overall improvement. Herein, we comprehensively outline the challenges and corresponding strategies, including electrolyte optimization to create a dense CEI layer, regulating the Li₂S deposition pattern, and inhibiting the shuttle effect with regard to the solid–liquid–solid pathway, the transformation from solid–liquid–solid to solid–solid pathway, and solid–solid pathway at the cathode–electrolyte interface. In order to spur more perceptive research and hasten the widespread use of lithium–sulfur batteries, viewpoints on designing a stable interface with a deep comprehension are also put forth.

Highlights:
1 This review delves into the mechanism of the state-of-the-art lithium–sulfur batteries from a novel perspective of cathode–electrolyte interface.
2 It provides extensive strategies to construct a stable cathode–electrolyte interphase layer and improve the uneven deposition of Li₂S, enhancing the stability of the interface structure.
3 It proposes an in-depth and comprehensive research on how to inhibit the shuttle effect at the cathode–electrolyte interface with regard to distinct reaction pathways.

Atomically Precise Cu Nanoclusters: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives in Synthesis and Catalytic Applications

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Atomically precise metal nanoclusters are an emerging type of nanomaterial which has diverse interfacial metal–ligand coordination motifs that can significantly affect their physicochemical properties and functionalities. Among that, Cu nanoclusters have been gaining continuous increasing research attentions, thanks to the low cost, diversified structures, and superior catalytic performance for various reactions. In this review, we first summarize the recent progress regarding the synthetic methods of atomically precise Cu nanoclusters and the coordination modes between Cu and several typical ligands and then discuss the catalytic applications of these Cu nanoclusters with some explicit examples to explain the atomical-level structure–performance relationship. Finally, the current challenges and future research perspectives with some critical thoughts are elaborated. We hope this review can not only provide a whole picture of the current advances regarding the synthesis and catalytic applications of atomically precise Cu nanoclusters, but also points out some future research visions in this rapidly booming field.

Highlights:
1 Summarizing recent advances on synthesis and catalytic applications of Cu nanoclusters.
2 The structure–property–functionality relationship is clearly elucidated.
3 Critical analysis of the current challenges and future perspectives.

Advances in the Development of Gradient Scaffolds Made of Nano-Micromaterials for Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The intricate hierarchical structure of musculoskeletal tissues, including bone and interface tissues, necessitates the use of complex scaffold designs and material structures to serve as tissue-engineered substitutes. This has led to growing interest in the development of gradient bone scaffolds with hierarchical structures mimicking the extracellular matrix of native tissues to achieve improved therapeutic outcomes. Building on the anatomical characteristics of bone and interfacial tissues, this review provides a summary of current strategies used to design and fabricate biomimetic gradient scaffolds for repairing musculoskeletal tissues, specifically focusing on methods used to construct compositional and structural gradients within the scaffolds. The latest applications of gradient scaffolds for the regeneration of bone, osteochondral, and tendon-to-bone interfaces are presented. Furthermore, the current progress of testing gradient scaffolds in physiologically relevant animal models of skeletal repair is discussed, as well as the challenges and prospects of moving these scaffolds into clinical application for treating musculoskeletal injuries.

Highlights:
1 This review highlights the gradient variations in the structural composition of musculoskeletal tissues and comprehensively examines recent progress in the fabrication and application of biomimetic gradient scaffolds for musculoskeletal repair.
2 The challenges and prospects of gradient scaffolds for clinical application are discussed.

Recent Strategies and Advances in Hydrogel-Based Delivery Platforms for Bone Regeneration

Xiao Wang, Jia Zeng, Donglin Gan, Kun Ling, Mingfang He, Jianshu Li, Yongping Lu — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Bioactive molecules have shown great promise for effectively regulating various bone formation processes, rendering them attractive therapeutics for bone regeneration. However, the widespread application of bioactive molecules is limited by their low accumulation and short half-lives in vivo. Hydrogels have emerged as ideal carriers to address these challenges, offering the potential to prolong retention times at lesion sites, extend half-lives in vivo and mitigate side effects, avoid burst release, and promote adsorption under physiological conditions. This review systematically summarizes the recent advances in the development of bioactive molecule-loaded hydrogels for bone regeneration, encompassing applications in cranial defect repair, femoral defect repair, periodontal bone regeneration, and bone regeneration with underlying diseases. Additionally, this review discusses the current strategies aimed at improving the release profiles of bioactive molecules through stimuli-responsive delivery, carrier-assisted delivery, and sequential delivery. Finally, this review elucidates the existing challenges and future directions of hydrogel encapsulated bioactive molecules in the field of bone regeneration.

Highlights:
1 Recent advances in the combined delivery platform that integrate nano-/microscale carriers and with 3D hydrogel network for bone regeneration are summarized.
2 The strategies for bioactive molecules delivery involving nanoparticles, nanosheets, and microspheres, along with extra stimuli such as near-infrared light, temperature changes, ultrasonication, and inflammatory conditions, are introduced.
3 The prospects and challenges for the clinical translation and the development of nano-/microscale incorporated hydrogel-based delivery platform are discussed.

Recent Advances in Artificial Sensory Neurons: Biological Fundamentals, Devices, Applications, and Challenges

Shuai Zhong, Lirou Su, Mingkun Xu, Desmond Loke, Bin Yu, Yishu Zhang, Rong Zhao — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Spike-based neural networks, which use spikes or action potentials to represent information, have gained a lot of attention because of their high energy efficiency and low power consumption. To fully leverage its advantages, converting the external analog signals to spikes is an essential prerequisite. Conventional approaches including analog-to-digital converters or ring oscillators, and sensors suffer from high power and area costs. Recent efforts are devoted to constructing artificial sensory neurons based on emerging devices inspired by the biological sensory system. They can simultaneously perform sensing and spike conversion, overcoming the deficiencies of traditional sensory systems. This review summarizes and benchmarks the recent progress of artificial sensory neurons. It starts with the presentation of various mechanisms of biological signal transduction, followed by the systematic introduction of the emerging devices employed for artificial sensory neurons. Furthermore, the implementations with different perceptual capabilities are briefly outlined and the key metrics and potential applications are also provided. Finally, we highlight the challenges and perspectives for the future development of artificial sensory neurons.

Highlights:
1 Biological fundamentals and recent progress of artificial sensory neurons are systematically reviewed.
2 Basic device, performance metrics, and potential applications of artificial sensory neurons are summarized.
3 Challenges for the future development of artificial sensory neurons are discussed.

Smart Gas Sensors: Recent Developments and Future Prospective

Boyang Zong, Shufang Wu, Yuehong Yang, Qiuju Li, Tian Tao, Shun Mao — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Gas sensor is an indispensable part of modern society with wide applications in environmental monitoring, healthcare, food industry, public safety, etc. With the development of sensor technology, wireless communication, smart monitoring terminal, cloud storage/computing technology, and artificial intelligence, smart gas sensors represent the future of gas sensing due to their merits of real-time multifunctional monitoring, early warning function, and intelligent and automated feature. Various electronic and optoelectronic gas sensors have been developed for high-performance smart gas analysis. With the development of smart terminals and the maturity of integrated technology, flexible and wearable gas sensors play an increasing role in gas analysis. This review highlights recent advances of smart gas sensors in diverse applications. The structural components and fundamental principles of electronic and optoelectronic gas sensors are described, and flexible and wearable gas sensor devices are highlighted. Moreover, sensor array with artificial intelligence algorithms and smart gas sensors in “Internet of Things” paradigm are introduced. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of smart gas sensors are discussed regarding the future need of gas sensors for smart city and healthy living.

Highlights:
1 Recent developments of advanced electronic and optoelectronic gas sensors are introduced.
2 Sensor array with artificial intelligence algorithms and smart gas sensors in “Internet of Things” paradigm are highlighted.
3 Applications of smart gas sensors in environmental monitoring, medical and healthcare applications, food quality control, and public safety are described.

Solution-Processed Thin Film Transparent Photovoltaics: Present Challenges and Future Development

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Electrical energy is essential for modern society to sustain economic growths. The soaring demand for the electrical energy, together with an awareness of the environmental impact of fossil fuels, has been driving a shift towards the utilization of solar energy. However, traditional solar energy solutions often require extensive spaces for a panel installation, limiting their practicality in a dense urban environment. To overcome the spatial constraint, researchers have developed transparent photovoltaics (TPV), enabling windows and facades in vehicles and buildings to generate electric energy. Current TPV advancements are focused on improving both transparency and power output to rival commercially available silicon solar panels. In this review, we first briefly introduce wavelength- and non-wavelength-selective strategies to achieve transparency. Figures of merit and theoretical limits of TPVs are discussed to comprehensively understand the status of current TPV technology. Then we highlight recent progress in different types of TPVs, with a particular focus on solution-processed thin-film photovoltaics (PVs), including colloidal quantum dot PVs, metal halide perovskite PVs and organic PVs. The applications of TPVs are also reviewed, with emphasis on agrivoltaics, smart windows and facades. Finally, current challenges and future opportunities in TPV research are pointed out.

Highlights:
1 Recent advancement in solution-processed thin film transparent photovoltaics (TPVs) is summarized, including perovskites, organics, and colloidal quantum dots.
2 Pros and cons of the emerging TPVs are analyzed according to the materials characteristics and the application requirements on the aesthetics and energy generation.
3 Promising TPV applications are discussed with emphasis on agrivoltaics, smart windows and facades.

Unleashing the Potential of Electroactive Hybrid Biomaterials and Self-Powered Systems for Bone Therapeutics

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The incidence of large bone defects caused by traumatic injury is increasing worldwide, and the tissue regeneration process requires a long recovery time due to limited self-healing capability. Endogenous bioelectrical phenomena have been well recognized as critical biophysical factors in bone remodeling and regeneration. Inspired by bioelectricity, electrical stimulation has been widely considered an external intervention to induce the osteogenic lineage of cells and enhance the synthesis of the extracellular matrix, thereby accelerating bone regeneration. With ongoing advances in biomaterials and energy-harvesting techniques, electroactive biomaterials and self-powered systems have been considered biomimetic approaches to ensure functional recovery by recapitulating the natural electrophysiological microenvironment of healthy bone tissue. In this review, we first introduce the role of bioelectricity and the endogenous electric field in bone tissue and summarize different techniques to electrically stimulate cells and tissue. Next, we highlight the latest progress in exploring electroactive hybrid biomaterials as well as self-powered systems such as triboelectric and piezoelectric-based nanogenerators and photovoltaic cell-based devices and their implementation in bone tissue engineering. Finally, we emphasize the significance of simulating the target tissue’s electrophysiological microenvironment and propose the opportunities and challenges faced by electroactive hybrid biomaterials and self-powered bioelectronics for bone repair strategies.

Highlights:
1 Introduce the role of bioelectricity and the endogenous electric field in bone tissue and summarize different techniques to electrically stimulate cells and tissue.
2 Highlight the latest progress in exploring electroactive hybrid biomaterials as well as self-powered systems such as triboelectric and piezoelectric-based nanogenerators and photovoltaic cell-based devices in bone tissue engineering.
3 Emphasize the significance of simulating the target tissue’s electrophysiological microenvironment and propose the opportunities and challenges faced by electroactive hybrid biomaterials and self-powered bioelectronics.

Molecular Structure Tailoring of Organic Spacers for High-Performance Ruddlesden–Popper Perovskite Solar Cells

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Layer-structured Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) perovskites (RPPs) with decent stability have captured the imagination of the photovoltaic research community and bring hope for boosting the development of perovskite solar cell (PSC) technology. However, two-dimensional (2D) or quasi-2D RP PSCs are encountered with some challenges of the large exciton binding energy, blocked charge transport and poor film quality, which restrict their photovoltaic performance. Fortunately, these issues can be readily resolved by rationally designing spacer cations of RPPs. This review mainly focuses on how to design the molecular structures of organic spacers and aims to endow RPPs with outstanding photovoltaic applications. We firstly elucidated the important roles of organic spacers in impacting crystallization kinetics, charge transporting ability and stability of RPPs. Then we brought three aspects to attention for designing organic spacers. Finally, we presented the specific molecular structure design strategies for organic spacers of RPPs aiming to improve photovoltaic performance of RP PSCs. These proposed strategies in this review will provide new avenues to develop novel organic spacers for RPPs and advance the development of RPP photovoltaic technology for future applications.

Highlights:
1 Organic spacers in Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) perovskites play a vital role in tuning crystallization, charge transport and photovoltaic performance for RP perovskite solar cells (PSCs).
2 Fundamental understanding of the functions of molecular structure of organic spacers is the prerequisite to design high-performance PSCs.
3 This review proposes practical design strategies in seeking RP molecular structure to maximize its photovoltaic performance for PSCs.

Flexible Graphene Field-Effect Transistors and Their Application in Flexible Biomedical Sensing

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Flexible electronics are transforming our lives by making daily activities more convenient. Central to this innovation are field-effect transistors (FETs), valued for their efficient signal processing, nanoscale fabrication, low-power consumption, fast response times, and versatility. Graphene, known for its exceptional mechanical properties, high electron mobility, and biocompatibility, is an ideal material for FET channels and sensors. The combination of graphene and FETs has given rise to flexible graphene field-effect transistors (FGFETs), driving significant advances in flexible electronics and sparked a strong interest in flexible biomedical sensors. Here, we first provide a brief overview of the basic structure, operating mechanism, and evaluation parameters of FGFETs, and delve into their material selection and patterning techniques. The ability of FGFETs to sense strains and biomolecular charges opens up diverse application possibilities. We specifically analyze the latest strategies for integrating FGFETs into wearable and implantable flexible biomedical sensors, focusing on the key aspects of constructing high-quality flexible biomedical sensors. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and prospects of FGFETs and their applications in biomedical sensors. This review will provide valuable insights and inspiration for ongoing research to improve the quality of FGFETs and broaden their application prospects in flexible biomedical sensing.

Highlights:
1 The review provides a brief overview of the basic structure, operating mechanism, and key performance indicators of flexible graphene field-effect transistors.
2 The review details the preparation strategy of flexible graphene field-effect transistors focusing on material selection and patterning techniques.
3 The review analyzes the latest strategies for developing wearable and implantable flexible biomedical sensors based on flexible graphene field-effect transistors.

Optimization Strategies of Na3V2(PO4)3 Cathode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ (NVP) has garnered great attentions as a prospective cathode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) by virtue of its decent theoretical capacity, superior ion conductivity and high structural stability. However, the inherently poor electronic conductivity and sluggish sodium-ion diffusion kinetics of NVP material give rise to inferior rate performance and unsatisfactory energy density, which strictly confine its further application in SIBs. Thus, it is of significance to boost the sodium storage performance of NVP cathode material. Up to now, many methods have been developed to optimize the electrochemical performance of NVP cathode material. In this review, the latest advances in optimization strategies for improving the electrochemical performance of NVP cathode material are well summarized and discussed, including carbon coating or modification, foreign-ion doping or substitution and nanostructure and morphology design. The foreign-ion doping or substitution is highlighted, involving Na, V, and PO₄³⁻ sites, which include single-site doping, multiple-site doping, single-ion doping, multiple-ion doping and so on. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects of high-performance NVP cathode material are also put forward. It is believed that this review can provide a useful reference for designing and developing high-performance NVP cathode material toward the large-scale application in SIBs.

Highlights:
1 Optimization strategies for high-performance Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ (NVP) cathode material are well summarized and discussed, including carbon coating or modification, foreign-ion doping or substitution and nanostructure and morphology design.
2 The foreign-ion doping or substitution is highlighted, involving the Na, V, and PO₄³⁻ sites, which include single-site doping, multiple-site doping, single-ion doping and multiple-ion doping.
3 Challenges and future perspectives for high-performance NVP cathode material are presented.

Engineered Cancer Nanovaccines: A New Frontier in Cancer Therapy

Yijie Wang, Congrui Liu, Chao Fang, Qiuxia Peng, Wen Qin, Xuebing Yan, Kun Zhang — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Vaccinations are essential for preventing and treating disease, especially cancer nanovaccines, which have gained considerable interest recently for their strong anti-tumor immune capabilities. Vaccines can prompt the immune system to generate antibodies and activate various immune cells, leading to a response against tumor tissues and reducing the negative effects and recurrence risks of traditional chemotherapy and surgery. To enhance the flexibility and targeting of vaccines, nanovaccines utilize nanotechnology to encapsulate or carry antigens at the nanoscale level, enabling more controlled and precise drug delivery to enhance immune responses. Cancer nanovaccines function by encapsulating tumor-specific antigens or tumor-associated antigens within nanomaterials. The small size of these nanomaterials allows for precise targeting of T cells, dendritic cells, or cancer cells, thereby eliciting a more potent anti-tumor response. In this paper, we focus on the classification of carriers for cancer nanovaccines, the roles of different target cells, and clinically tested cancer nanovaccines, discussing strategies for effectively inducing cytotoxic T lymphocytes responses and optimizing antigen presentation, while also looking ahead to the translational challenges of moving from animal experiments to clinical trials.

Highlights:
1 We classified the carriers that built cancer nanovaccines, discussed their diversified applications and coincidently compared their advantages and disadvantages.
2 Various cellular targets that guide the design and engineering of cancer nanovaccines are categorized and their characteristics and benefits are highlighted.
3 The clinical cases and encountered challenges in cancer nanovaccines are discussed, during which reasonable solutions and future research direction are provided.

Recent Advances in Fibrous Materials for Hydroelectricity Generation

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Depleting fossil energy sources and conventional polluting power generation pose a threat to sustainable development. Hydroelectricity generation from ubiquitous and spontaneous phase transitions between liquid and gaseous water has been considered a promising strategy for mitigating the energy crisis. Fibrous materials with unique flexibility, processability, multifunctionality, and practicability have been widely applied for fibrous materials-based hydroelectricity generation (FHG). In this review, the power generation mechanisms, design principles, and electricity enhancement factors of FHG are first introduced. Then, the fabrication strategies and characteristics of varied constructions including 1D fiber, 1D yarn, 2D fabric, 2D membrane, 3D fibrous framework, and 3D fibrous gel are demonstrated. Afterward, the advanced functions of FHG during water harvesting, proton dissociation, ion separation, and charge accumulation processes are analyzed in detail. Moreover, the potential applications including power supply, energy storage, electrical sensor, and information expression are also discussed. Finally, some existing challenges are considered and prospects for future development are sincerely proposed.

Highlights:
1 Fundamental principles and characteristics of fibrous materials-based hydroelectricity generation (FHG) are thoroughly reviewed.
2 Fabrication strategies and advanced functions of FHG are discussed and summarized in detail.
3 Challenges and perspectives of the next-generation development of FHG are discussed.

Exploring Nanoscale Perovskite Materials for Next-Generation Photodetectors: A Comprehensive Review and Future Directions

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid advancement of nanotechnology has sparked much interest in applying nanoscale perovskite materials for photodetection applications. These materials are promising candidates for next-generation photodetectors (PDs) due to their unique optoelectronic properties and flexible synthesis routes. This review explores the approaches used in the development and use of optoelectronic devices made of different nanoscale perovskite architectures, including quantum dots, nanosheets, nanorods, nanowires, and nanocrystals. Through a thorough analysis of recent literature, the review also addresses common issues like the mechanisms underlying the degradation of perovskite PDs and offers perspectives on potential solutions to improve stability and scalability that impede widespread implementation. In addition, it highlights that photodetection encompasses the detection of light fields in dimensions other than light intensity and suggests potential avenues for future research to overcome these obstacles and fully realize the potential of nanoscale perovskite materials in state-of-the-art photodetection systems. This review provides a comprehensive overview of nanoscale perovskite PDs and guides future research efforts towards improved performance and wider applicability, making it a valuable resource for researchers.

Highlights:
1 Innovative synthesis method for nanoscale-based perovskites with enhanced stability and efficiency.
2 Novel application of nanoscale-based perovskites in optoelectronics with superior performance metrics.
3 Comprehensive analysis of the structure–property relationships in perovskite nanomaterials.

High-Entropy Electrode Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Outlook

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

High-entropy materials represent a new category of high-performance materials, first proposed in 2004 and extensively investigated by researchers over the past two decades. The definition of high-entropy materials has continuously evolved. In the last ten years, the discovery of an increasing number of high-entropy materials has led to significant advancements in their utilization in energy storage, electrocatalysis, and related domains, accompanied by a rise in techniques for fabricating high-entropy electrode materials. Recently, the research emphasis has shifted from solely improving the performance of high-entropy materials toward exploring their reaction mechanisms and adopting cleaner preparation approaches. However, the current definition of high-entropy materials remains relatively vague, and the preparation method of high-entropy materials is based on the preparation method of single metal/low- or medium-entropy materials. It should be noted that not all methods applicable to single metal/low- or medium-entropy materials can be directly applied to high-entropy materials. In this review, the definition and development of high-entropy materials are briefly reviewed. Subsequently, the classification of high-entropy electrode materials is presented, followed by a discussion of their applications in energy storage and catalysis from the perspective of synthesis methods. Finally, an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of various synthesis methods in the production process of different high-entropy materials is provided, along with a proposal for potential future development directions for high-entropy materials.

Highlights:
1 The developmental history of high-entropy materials and the conceptual origin of “high entropy” is comprehensively reviewed.
2 The preparation methods of various high-entropy electrode materials are comprehensively reviewed.
3 The application properties of various high-entropy electrode materials in electrocatalysis and energy storage are comprehensively reviewed, with a prospective outlook on the future development of such materials.

Advances in Graphene-Based Electrode for Triboelectric Nanogenerator

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

With the continuous development of wearable electronics, wireless sensor networks and other micro-electronic devices, there is an increasingly urgent need for miniature, flexible and efficient nanopower generation technology. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology can convert small mechanical energy into electricity, which is expected to address this problem. As the core component of TENG, the choice of electrode materials significantly affects its performance. Traditional metal electrode materials often suffer from problems such as durability, which limits the further application of TENG. Graphene, as a novel electrode material, shows excellent prospects for application in TENG owing to its unique structure and excellent electrical properties. This review systematically summarizes the recent research progress and application prospects of TENGs based on graphene electrodes. Various precision processing methods of graphene electrodes are introduced, and the applications of graphene electrode-based TENGs in various scenarios as well as the enhancement of graphene electrodes for TENG performance are discussed. In addition, the future development of graphene electrode-based TENGs is also prospectively discussed, aiming to promote the continuous advancement of graphene electrode-based TENGs.

Highlights:
1 Comprehensively reviewed the progress in research on graphene electrode-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) from two dimensions, including precision processing methods of graphene electrodes and applications of TENGs.
2 Discussed the various applications of graphene electrode-based TENGs in different scenarios, as well as the ways in which graphene electrodes enhance the performance of TENGs.
3 Offered a prospective discussion on the future development of graphene electrode-based TENGs, with the aim of promoting continuous advancements in this field.

Prussian Blue Analogue-Templated Nanocomposites for Alkali-Ion Batteries: Progress and Perspective

Jian‑En Zhou, Yilin Li, Xiaoming Lin, Jiaye Ye — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have dominated the portable electronic and electrochemical energy markets since their commercialisation, whose high cost and lithium scarcity have prompted the development of other alkali-ion batteries (AIBs) including sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). Owing to larger ion sizes of Na⁺ and K⁺ compared with Li⁺, nanocomposites with excellent crystallinity orientation and well-developed porosity show unprecedented potential for advanced lithium/sodium/potassium storage. With enticing open rigid framework structures, Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) remain promising self-sacrificial templates for the preparation of various nanocomposites, whose appeal originates from the well-retained porous structures and exceptional electrochemical activities after thermal decomposition. This review focuses on the recent progress of PBA-derived nanocomposites from their fabrication, lithium/sodium/potassium storage mechanism, and applications in AIBs (LIBs, SIBs, and PIBs). To distinguish various PBA derivatives, the working mechanism and applications of PBA-templated metal oxides, metal chalcogenides, metal phosphides, and other nanocomposites are systematically evaluated, facilitating the establishment of a structure–activity correlation for these materials. Based on the fruitful achievements of PBA-derived nanocomposites, perspectives for their future development are envisioned, aiming to narrow down the gap between laboratory study and industrial reality.

Highlights:
1 The synthetic protocols of various Prussian blue analogue (PBA)-templated nanocomposites are discussed.
2 Alkali-ion storage mechanisms based on intercalation, alloying, or conversion reactions are analysed.
3 The properties of PBA-templated nanocomposites in alkali-ion batteries (AIBs) are evaluated and compared to outline the structure–activity correlation.
4 Perspectives for the future development of PBA-templated AIB electrodes are envisaged.

Defect Engineering: Can it Mitigate Strong Coulomb Effect of Mg2+ in Cathode Materials for Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries?

Zhengqing Fan, Ruimin Li, Xin Zhang, Wanyu Zhao, Zhenghui Pan, Xiaowei Yang — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) have been considered a promising “post lithium-ion battery” system to meet the rapidly increasing demand of the emerging electric vehicle and grid energy storage market. However, the sluggish diffusion kinetics of bivalent Mg²⁺ in the host material, related to the strong Coulomb effect between Mg²⁺ and host anion lattices, hinders their further development toward practical applications. Defect engineering, regarded as an effective strategy to break through the slow migration puzzle, has been validated in various cathode materials for RMBs. In this review, we first thoroughly understand the intrinsic mechanism of Mg²⁺ diffusion in cathode materials, from which the key factors affecting ion diffusion are further presented. Then, the positive effects of purposely introduced defects, including vacancy and doping, and the corresponding strategies for introducing various defects are discussed. The applications of defect engineering in cathode materials for RMBs with advanced electrochemical properties are also summarized. Finally, the existing challenges and future perspectives of defect engineering in cathode materials for the overall high-performance RMBs are described.

Highlights:
1 The underlying migration mechanism of Mg²⁺ in cathode materials and roles of defects in Mg²⁺ migration in cathode materials were studied.
2 Applications of defect engineering to Mg²⁺ migration in cathode materials and the strategies for introducing various defects were summarized.
3 New development directions of defect engineering in cathode materials for rechargeable magnesium battery were prospected.

Advanced Functional Electromagnetic Shielding Materials: A Review Based on Micro-Nano Structure Interface Control of Biomass Cell Walls

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Research efforts on electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials have begun to converge on green and sustainable biomass materials. These materials offer numerous advantages such as being lightweight, porous, and hierarchical. Due to their porous nature, interfacial compatibility, and electrical conductivity, biomass materials hold significant potential as EMI shielding materials. Despite concerted efforts on the EMI shielding of biomass materials have been reported, this research area is still relatively new compared to traditional EMI shielding materials. In particular, a more comprehensive study and summary of the factors influencing biomass EMI shielding materials including the pore structure adjustment, preparation process, and micro-control would be valuable. The preparation methods and characteristics of wood, bamboo, cellulose and lignin in EMI shielding field are critically discussed in this paper, and similar biomass EMI materials are summarized and analyzed. The composite methods and fillers of various biomass materials were reviewed. this paper also highlights the mechanism of EMI shielding as well as existing prospects and challenges for development trends in this field.

Highlights:
1 The advantages of biomass materials for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding are analyzed, the mechanism of EMI shielding is summarized, and the factors affecting EMI shielding are analyzed systematically.
2 Various biomass materials (wood, bamboo, lignin, cellulose) were modified to obtain unique structures and improve EMI shielding performance.
3 The problems encountered in the application of biomass materials for EMI shielding are summarized, and the potential development and application in the future are prospected.

Advancements and Challenges in Organic–Inorganic Composite Solid Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

To address the limitations of contemporary lithium-ion batteries, particularly their low energy density and safety concerns, all-solid-state lithium batteries equipped with solid-state electrolytes have been identified as an up-and-coming alternative. Among the various SEs, organic–inorganic composite solid electrolytes (OICSEs) that combine the advantages of both polymer and inorganic materials demonstrate promising potential for large-scale applications. However, OICSEs still face many challenges in practical applications, such as low ionic conductivity and poor interfacial stability, which severely limit their applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent research advancements in OICSEs. Specifically, the influence of inorganic fillers on the main functional parameters of OICSEs, including ionic conductivity, Li⁺ transfer number, mechanical strength, electrochemical stability, electronic conductivity, and thermal stability are systematically discussed. The lithium-ion conduction mechanism of OICSE is thoroughly analyzed and concluded from the microscopic perspective. Besides, the classic inorganic filler types, including both inert and active fillers, are categorized with special emphasis on the relationship between inorganic filler structure design and the electrochemical performance of OICSEs. Finally, the advanced characterization techniques relevant to OICSEs are summarized, and the challenges and perspectives on the future development of OICSEs are also highlighted for constructing superior ASSLBs.

Highlights:
1 The lithium-ion conduction mechanism of organic-inorganic composite solid electrolytes (OICSEs) is thoroughly conducted and concluded from the microscopic perspective based on filler content, type, and system.
2 The classic inorganic filler types, including inert and active fillers, are categorized with special emphasis on the relationship between inorganic filler structure design and the electrochemical performance of OICSEs.
3 Advanced characterization techniques for OICSEs are discussed, and the challenges and prospects for developing superior all-solid-state lithium batteries are highlighted.

Bimetallic Single-Atom Catalysts for Water Splitting

Megha A. Deshmukh, Aristides Bakandritsos, Radek Zbořil — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Green hydrogen from water splitting has emerged as a critical energy vector with the potential to spearhead the global transition to a fossil fuel-independent society. The field of catalysis has been revolutionized by single-atom catalysts (SACs), which exhibit unique and intricate interactions between atomically dispersed metal atoms and their supports. Recently, bimetallic SACs (bimSACs) have garnered significant attention for leveraging the synergistic functions of two metal ions coordinated on appropriately designed supports. BimSACs offer an avenue for rich metal–metal and metal–support cooperativity, potentially addressing current limitations of SACs in effectively furnishing transformations which involve synchronous proton–electron exchanges, substrate activation with reversible redox cycles, simultaneous multi-electron transfer, regulation of spin states, tuning of electronic properties, and cyclic transition states with low activation energies. This review aims to encapsulate the growing advancements in bimSACs, with an emphasis on their pivotal role in hydrogen generation via water splitting. We subsequently delve into advanced experimental methodologies for the elaborate characterization of SACs, elucidate their electronic properties, and discuss their local coordination environment. Overall, we present comprehensive discussion on the deployment of bimSACs in both hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction, the two half-reactions of the water electrolysis process.

Highlights:
1 Bimetallic single-atom catalysts (bimSACs) have garnered significant attention for leveraging the synergistic functions of the two metal active centers.
2 This review focuses on the advancements in the field of bimSACs and their pivotal role in hydrogen generation via water splitting.
3 State-of-the-art computational and physicochemical techniques for the analysis of bimSACs and their application in electrocatalytic water splitting are discussed.