Interdisciplinary Materials最新文献

α-MgAgSb is one of the few high-performance thermoelectric materials near room temperature, thanks to its inherently suppressed lattice thermal conductivity. However, conventional approaches to optimizing electrical properties often inadvertently degrade carrier mobility, adversely impacting thermoelectric performance at lower temperatures. In this study, we discovered in an experiment that Mg-Ag anti-site defects exist in the lattice and create staggered nanoscale anti-site zones in the matrix. This unique structure significantly scatters phonons while having a negligible influence on carrier transport due to the preservation of carrier transport channels. By fine-tuning the formation energy of Mg-Ag anti-sites through Zn doping, both carrier transport and phonon scattering were successfully bolstered. Consequently, a high figure of merit (zT) of ~0.45 at 200 K and an average zT of ~0.75 within the low-temperature range of 200–400 K can be achieved. Furthermore, a single-pair device constructed using the obtained α-MgAgSb and commercial Bi₂Te₃ legs exhibited a temperature difference of ~56 K at 325 K, showcasing promise for thermoelectric cooling applications. This demonstration underscores the efficiency of anti-site manipulation as a means to enhance the thermoelectric cooling performance of α-MgAgSb.

The hierarchical Bouligand structure, ubiquitous in organisms and endowing natural creatures with exceptional performance attributes, stands as a prime example of nature's evolutionary prowess. Following the example of nature, the construction of biomimetic Bouligand structures will significantly propel advancements and innovations within the domain of biomedical and healthcare applications. In this review, we summarize cutting-edge research progress of biomimetic Bouligand architectures. Firstly, the natural Bouligand structures in animals, plants, and humans are introduced. On this basis, the relationship between properties and Bouligand structure is briefly discussed, including toughening mechanism, optical characteristics, and biological properties. Subsequently, the review details the construction strategies of the biomimetic Bouligand architectures, covering a variety of methods such as self-assembly, biomimetic mineralization, shear brushing, electrostatic spinning, and 3D printing. Finally, the utilization of biomimetic Bouligand architectures in biomedical and healthcare fields, especially for bone regeneration, tooth repair, body protection, and biosensor transmission, is discussed in detail. Despite the significant theoretical advantages of Bouligand structure, its feasibility in biomedical and healthcare applications still remains in its infancy. We eagerly anticipate the future development of biomimetic Bouligand architectures with superior performance, tailored to clinical scenarios and health needs, thereby fulfilling the grand vision of “inspiration from nature and giving back to life.”

Hydrophobic porous membrane is the key to the desalination performance of membrane distillation (MD). However, traditional MD membranes suffer from poor hydrophobicity of pore surfaces, leading to pore wetting and causing the loss of desalination stability. In this study, we present an ultrathin polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanocomposite membrane with robust anti-wetting properties and high permeability for stable MD desalination. The improved anti-wetting properties are achieved by enhancing the hydrophobicity of membrane pore surfaces via introducing hydrophobic silica nanoparticles to build nanostructures on the pore surfaces. The hydrophobic nanostructured pore surfaces induce the formation of the nano-Cassie state upon contact with water, thereby enhancing the specific liquid entry pressure of water (LEP_w) with 788% compared to commercial PVDF membranes. The resulted porous structure and 10 μm membrane thickness (i.e., 20 times thinner than commercial PVDF membranes) enable the stable desalination flux of 20.30 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and high salt rejection of > 99.9% with 60°C seawater. Our ultrathin nanocomposite membranes provide a promising solution for long-term MD seawater desalination.

Although outstanding power conversion efficiency has been achieved in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), poor stability and lead (Pb) toxicity are still the key challenges limiting the commercial application of PSCs. Herein, we adopted both chemical encapsulation and physical encapsulation to address these problems. Via strong chemical interaction between dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and perovskite, the chemical encapsulation strategy results in higher perovskite film quality with reduced trap density, and the device efficiency enhances from 22.07% to 24.36%. Physical encapsulation polymer with high film robustness and self-healing properties could effectively isolate external risks and restore protection after physical damage. Furthermore, both chemical and physical encapsulation materials could trap Pb ions leaking from the perovskite materials by forming coordination interactions. We simulated realistic scenarios in which PSCs encapsulated by different methods suffered water immersion and mechanical damage, and quantitatively measured Pb leakage rates under different conditions. Higher device stability and greater Pb leakage reduction were achieved, confirming the excellent encapsulation effect of the synergy of chemical and physical encapsulation. This study provides an effective strategy to realize safe and environmentally friendly PSCs to promote their commercialization.

Inside Front Cover: The review of doi:10.1002/idm2.12245 provides a comprehensive summary and discussion of the emerging research frontier Engineered Living Energy Materials (ELEMs). These materials represent a novel paradigm that integrates biological and artificial systems to enable sustainable energy conversion. By identifying key technical hurdles, this review provides a roadmap for future directions.

Outside Front Cover: The article of doi:10.1002/idm2.12249 explores how machine learning–driven activity prediction, energy barrier optimization, and data-guided materials design accelerate the discovery of a new generation of electrocatalysts, and discusses their applications in water electrolysis, fuel cells, and carbon dioxide reduction, thereby advancing innovation in sustainable energy solutions.

Inside Back Cover: This image of doi:10.1002/idm2.12250 vividly illustrates the role of Mg-based materials in the field of gas separation and purification. In the figure, NeZha, a hero in Chinese traditional myth representing magnesium, is combating exhaust gas from factories including CO₂, SO₂ and NO_x, etc., which is represented by a dark dragon. The weapons are designed according to the molecular structure of Mg-based materials such as MgH₂, Mg-MOF-74, MgO and Mg(OH)₂, which are discussed in the article. The figure encapsulates the article's core focus on utilizing Mg-based compounds to develop cost-effective and efficient gas separation technologies for environment protection and clean energy.

Outside Back Cover: The cover image of doi:10.1002/idm2.12243 illustrates the diverse applications of fiber-shaped supercapacitors (FSCs), including their integration into wearable power fabrics for modular energy storage, coupling with specific devices, forming composite fibers, and combining with energy-harvesting fibers to develop integrated fabrics with both energy-harvesting and energy-storage functions.

Data-driven artificial intelligence provides strong technical support for addressing global energy and environmental issues. The powerful data processing and analysis capabilities of machine learning (ML) can quickly predict electrocatalytic performance, improving the efficiency of catalyst design and addressing the time-consuming and inefficient nature of traditional catalyst design. By integrating ML with theoretical calculations and experiments, catalytic reaction processes can be precisely regulated. This not only accelerates the discovery of new catalysts but also drives the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly sustainable energy technologies. In this article, we discuss new approaches to discovering novel catalysts driven by ML, focusing on catalytic activity prediction, reaction energy barrier optimization, and the design of innovative catalytic materials. We systematically analysis the application of ML in the field of electrocatalysis and explore the future prospects of ML in this domain. We provide a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the application of ML in the field of electrocatalysis and explore its potential for future development.

Magnesium (Mg) is globally abundant in resources, and Mg-based compounds—such as magnesium based hydrides, hydroxides, oxides, and magnesium metal-organic frameworks (Mg MOFs)—have shown significant application prospects in gas separation. This is largely due to the electronic characteristics of Mg or Mg²⁺ ions, which facilitate the capture of hydrogen (H₂) and acidic gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) from other gases. Consequently, exploring the use of Mg-based materials in gas separation and purification applications could not only advance the scientific understanding of solid-gas interaction mechanisms but also provide cost-effective solutions for gas separation technology at an industrial level. This review summarizes the recent practices and explorations of Mg-based solid-state materials in various gas separation and purification methods, including physical adsorption-based separation, chemical absorption-based separation, and membrane-based separation. For each separation method, the relevant Mg-based materials are discussed in detail, and key findings from existing research are presented and analyzed. Additionally, inspired by the straightforward design of air-stable hydrogen storage materials, this review specifically addresses anti-passivation strategies for Mg-based hydrides, which are crucial for their applications in hydrogen gas separation and purification. Finally, this review highlights key issues and fields for future research and development in Mg-based gas separation materials.