Electron最新文献

Advanced organic devices and circuits demand both ultrahigh charge carrier mobilities and ultralow-resistance contacts. However, due to a larger access resistance in staggered organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), the achievement of ultralow contact resistance () is still a challenge. The modulation of contact resistance by molecular layers near the interface has been rarely reported. Here, we demonstrate that few-layer organic single crystals are grown on hafnium oxide (HfO₂) by solution-shearing epitaxy. We utilize these organic crystals to fabricate bottom-gate staggered OTFTs with different contact processes. The results show that the contact properties of OTFTs are obviously modulated by crystal layers. The tri-layer (3L) evaporated-Au C₁₀-DNTT OTFTs exhibit optimal electrical performance, including ultralow of 5.6 Ω ∙ cm, recorded transfer length of 0.4 μm, field-effect mobility over 14 , threshold voltage lower than 0.3 V, and long-term air stability over 8 months. The main cause is that the metal atoms can penetrate into the charge transport layer, with damage-free, in 3L evaporated-Au OTFTs; nevertheless, it cannot be realized in other cases. Due to layer stacking of conjugated molecules and polymers, our strategy can efficiently modulate the contact resistance to aid the development of high-performance organic devices and circuits.

Semiconductor-based solar-driven water-splitting technology is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach to the production of clean fuels. Unconventional enhancement strategies have provided unique pathways for improving solar to hydrogen efficiency. This review (DOI: 10.1002/elt2.4) outlines the fundamental concepts of these physical effects and elucidates their intrinsic mechanisms in enhancing the efficiency of the photo(electro)catalysts.

Lithium-ion battery with high Li⁺ flux transferability is a key direction in the field of clean energy. However, with small thickness, commercial polyolefin separators own low porosity to ensure sufficient thermomechanical properties, resulting in tortuous and enlarged Li⁺ diffusion pathways that induce large overpotentials and detrimental dendrite growth. This research (DOI: 10.1002/elt2.1) introduces a ∼3-μm ultralight PTFE matrix (UP3D) separator and describes its design principle and mechanism. Results show that the UP3D separator has a high Li⁺ flux transferability and strong mechanical properties, which reflects its promising potential in high-flux battery applications.

Semiconductor-based solar-driven water splitting technology is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach for the production of clean fuels. The overall solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of semiconductor-based photo(electro)catalysts is jointly determined by factors, such as light absorption efficiency of the photo(electro)catalysts, internal separation efficiency of charge carriers, and injection efficiency of surface charges. However, the traditional improvement strategies, such as morphology control, functional layer modification, and band alignment engineering, still have certain limitations in enhancing the conversion efficiency of the photo(electro)catalytic water splitting. Recently, unconventional enhancement strategies based on surface plasmonic effects, piezoelectric effects, thermoelectric effects, and magnetic effects have provided unique pathways for improving the solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of photo(electro)catalysts. Therefore, this review outlines the fundamental concepts of these physical effects and elucidates their intrinsic mechanisms in enhancing the efficiency of photo(electro)catalysts for water splitting process through practical application examples. Ultimately, the future development of unconventional strategies for enhancing photo(electro)catalytic water splitting is envisioned.

It is highly desired yet challenging to strategically steer CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) toward ethylene (C₂H₄) with high activity under visible light irradiation. The key to achieving this goal is increasing the local *CO concentration on the catalyst surface and promoting the C-C coupling progress. Here, we prepare tandem catalysts of CuSe/Au_X to realize the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to C₂H₄ with high activity. Under light irradiation, the loaded Au NPs are used to activate and transfer CO₂ to *CO. The generated *CO intermediate could migrate to the surface of CuSe and cause the C-C coupling process. Moreover, the theoretical calculation results show that the transport process of *CO from Au NPs to CuSe is spontaneous, which plays a critical role in guaranteeing the high concentration of *CO intermediate on the surface of CuSe. This work not only reveals the effect of tandem catalysis on CO₂RR to C2 products but also explores the most suitable tandem catalyst to produce C₂H₄ with high activity by adjusting the loading amounts of Au NPs. Thus, it provides a way to adjust the Cu-based catalyst used in the production of C2 products by photocatalytic CO₂RR, which may attract extensive attention in the field.

The advent of industrial civilization has brought about enormous materials advancements; yet it has also caused a rapid depletion of natural resources, leading to global energy crisis and environmental pollution. Facing human civilization, one fundamental issue stands at its core: how can we achieve a harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature? This question has become the key challenge of our time, demanding our utmost attention and concerted efforts.

The concept of sustainable development was raised by the Bruntland Commission of the United Nations in 1987, aiming to bridge the gap between economic growth and environmental preservation for future generations. Materials scientists have been at the forefront of advancing sustainable development over past decades. From the development of novel environmental-friendly materials to innovations in cleaner technologies, waste recycling, energy conversion and storage, and even disease treating, the processes and products that materials scientists have developed are moving the world forward to a greener future.

The development of advanced materials with features of low-carbon, green, renewable, and recycling has fueled the advancement of related industries and technologies. The understanding on the interaction of electrons is one of the keys to strengthening, combining, and inventing materials as it assumes a central role in explaining the optical, magnetic, thermal, and electrical properties of materials. Electron is a basic yet fundamental particle that drives our understanding of the universe and empowers various technological fields, such as computers, microelectronics, communications, sensing, guiding, optical fiber, laser, and artificial intelligence. In 1897, a series of groundbreaking experiments unfolded, confirming the existence of electrons and unraveling their charge-to-mass ratio. The scientific community trembled with anticipation as this revelation positioned electrons as the fundamental building blocks of matter. In 1909, the pioneering endeavors of Robert Millikan at the University of Chicago triumphed, accurately quantifying the electron's charge at approximately e = 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C. Merging this profound knowledge with J. J. Thomson's charge-to-mass ratio exploration, scientists unveiled the electron's mass as 9.1 × 10⁻³¹ kg. Thus, the stage was set for the radiant ascent of the “electron” era, inspiring the core discoveries of many great scientists, including Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Erwin Schrödinger, Werner Heisenberg, and Hendrik Lorentz.

Electrons serve as a crucial link connecting the microscopic and macroscopic worlds. Various application properties displayed by materials are a direct or indirect manifestation of electron behaviors at different electron energy levels. The systematic study of the actions of extranuclear electrons and their associated wave phenomena enables us to fully comprehend matter compositions, phas

Carbon-free electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is an appealing strategy for green ammonia synthesis, but there is still a significant performance bottleneck. Conventional working electrode is usually flooded by the electrolyte during the NRR test, and only the surface material could get access to the nitrogen, which inevitably gives rise to sluggish reaction rate. Herein, an asymmetric electrode design is proposed to tackle this challenge. An aerophilic layer is constructed on one face of the electrocatalyst-loaded electrode, while the other side maintains its original structure, aiming to achieve facilitated nitrogen transfer and electrolyte permeation within the conductive skeleton simultaneously. This asymmetric architecture affords extensive three-phase reaction region within the electrode as demonstrated by the combination of theoretical simulations and experimental measurements, which gives full play to the loaded electrocatalyst. As expected, the proof-of-concept asymmetric electrode delivers an NH₃ yield rate of 40.81 μg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹ and a Faradaic efficiency of 71.71% at −0.3 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, which are more than 4 and 7 times that of conventional electrode, respectively. This work presents a versatile strategy for enhancing the interfacial reaction kinetics and is instructive to electrode design for gas-involved electrochemical reactions.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted widespread attention due to their intrinsic merits of low cost and high safety. However, the poor thermodynamic stability of Zn metal in aqueous electrolytes inevitably cause Zn dendrites growth and interface parasitic side reactions, resulting in unsatisfactory cycling stability and low Zn utilization. Replacing Zn anode with intercalation-type anodes have emerged as a promising alternative strategy to overcome the above issues but the lack of appropriate anode materials is becoming the bottleneck. Herein, the interlayer structure of MoSe₂ anode is preintercalated with long-chain polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), constructing a periodically stacked p-MoSe₂ superlattice to activate the reversible Zn²⁺ storage performance (203 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹). To further improve the stability of the superlattice structure during cycling, the electrolyte is also rationally designed by adding 1,4-Butyrolactone (γ-GBL) additive into 3 M Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂, in which γ-GBL replaces the H₂O in Zn²⁺ solvation sheath. The preferential solvation of γ-GBL with Zn²⁺ effectively reduces the water activity and helps to achieve an ultra-long lifespan of 12,000 cycles for p-MoSe₂. More importantly, the reconstructed solvation structure enables the operation of p-MoSe₂||Zn_xNVPF (Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂O₂F) AZIBs at an ultra-low temperature of −40°C, which is expected to promote the practical applications of AZIBs.

With small thickness, commercial polyolefin separators own low porosity to ensure sufficient thermomechanical properties, resulting in tortuous and enlarged Li⁺ diffusion pathways that induce large overpotentials and detrimental dendrite growth. As a dilemma, the exploration of highly porous separators has been challenged by their large thickness, impairing the applicability of such pursuits. Herein, an ultraporous architecture is designed to shorten Li⁺ transfer pathways by impregnating electrolyte-affinitive poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) into ultralight ∼3 μm 3D-polytetrafluoroethylene scaffold (abbreviated as UP3D). The UP3D separator with a porosity of 74% gives rise to 70% enhancement in Li⁺ transference and 77% reduction in Li⁺ transfer resistance (2.67 mΩ mm⁻¹) and thus enables an ultrahigh Li⁺ flux of 22.7 mA cm⁻², effectively alleviating Li⁺ concentration gradient across the separator. With the separator, the LiFePO₄ half cell delivers a capacity of 118 mAh g⁻¹ with an unparalleled capacity retention of 90% after 1000 cycles at 2 C, and a graphite || LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ pouch full cell delivers an areal energy density of 6.8 mWh cm⁻² at 8.848 mA (1.4 mA cm⁻²) with a high cathode loading of 134.9 mg. Such results, together with the scalable production of the separator, reflect its promising potential in high-flux battery applications of separators that require both ultrahigh porosity and reliability.