Interdisciplinary Materials最新文献

Alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) for scalable hydrogen production largely hinges on addressing the sluggish bubble-involved kinetics on the traditional Ni-based electrode, especially for ampere-level current densities and beyond. Herein, 3D-printed Ni-based sulfide (3DPNS) electrodes with varying scaffolds are designed and fabricated. In situ observations at microscopic levels demonstrate that the bubble escape velocity increases with the number of hole sides (HS) in the scaffolds. Subsequently, we conduct multiphysics field simulations to illustrate that as the hole shapes transition from square, pentagon, and hexagon to circle, where a noticeable reduction in the bubble-attached HS length and the pressure balance time around the bubbles results in a decrease in bubble size and an acceleration in the rate of bubble escape. Ultimately, the 3DPNS electrode with circular hole configurations exhibits the most favorable HER performance with an overpotential of 297 mV at the current density of up to 1000 mA cm⁻² for 120 h. The present study highlights a scalable and effective electrode scaffold design that promotes low-cost and low-energy green hydrogen production through the ampere-level alkaline HER.

Exploration of metastable phases holds profound implications for functional materials. Herein, we engineer the metastable phase to enhance the thermoelectric performance of germanium selenide (GeSe) through tailoring the chemical bonding mechanism. Initially, AgInTe₂ alloying fosters a transition from stable orthorhombic to metastable rhombohedral phase in GeSe by substantially promoting p-state electron bonding to form metavalent bonding (MVB). Besides, extra Pb is employed to prevent a transition into a stable hexagonal phase at elevated temperatures by moderately enhancing the degree of MVB. The stabilization of the metastable rhombohedral phase generates an optimized bandgap, sharpened valence band edge, and stimulative band convergence compared to stable phases. This leads to decent carrier concentration, improved carrier mobility, and enhanced density-of-state effective mass, culminating in a superior power factor. Moreover, lattice thermal conductivity is suppressed by pronounced lattice anharmonicity, low sound velocity, and strong phonon scattering induced by multiple defects. Consequently, a maximum zT of 1.0 at 773 K is achieved in (Ge_0.98Pb_0.02Se)_0.875(AgInTe₂)_0.125, resulting in a maximum energy conversion efficiency of 4.90% under the temperature difference of 500 K. This work underscores the significance of regulating MVB to stabilize metastable phases in chalcogenides.

Sodium (Na) metal is a competitive anode for next-generation energy storage applications in view of its low cost and high-energy density. However, the uncontrolled side reactions, unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and dendrite growth at the electrode/electrolyte interfaces impede the practical application of Na metal as anode. Herein, a heterogeneous Na-based alloys interfacial protective layer is constructed in situ on the surface of Na foil by self-diffusion of liquid metal at room temperature, named “HAIP Na.” The interfacial Na-based alloys layer with good electrolyte wettability and strong sodiophilicity, and assisted in the construction of NaF-rich SEI. By means of direct visualization and theoretical simulation, we verify that the interfacial Na-based alloys layer enabling uniform Na⁺ flux deposition and suppressing the dendrite growth. As a result, in the carbonate-based electrolyte, the HAIP Na||HAIP Na symmetric cells exhibit a remarkably enhanced cycling life for more than 650 h with a capacity of 1 mAh cm⁻² at a current density of 1 mA cm⁻². When the HAIP Na anode is paired with sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) cathode, the SPAN||HAIP Na full cells demonstrate excellent rate performance and cycling stability.

Low efficiency and spectral instability caused by the surface defects have been considerable issues for the mixed-halogen blue emitting perovskite quantum dots light-emitting diodes (PeQLEDs). Here, an in situ surface passivation to perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) is realized by introducing the metal cations competitive lattice occupancy assisted with acid-etching, in which the long-chain, insulating and weakly bond surface ligands are removed by addition of octanoic acid (OTAC). Meanwhile, the dissolved A-site cations (Na⁺) compete with the protonated oleyl amine and are subsequently anchored to the surface vacancies. The preadded lead bromide, acting as inorganic ligands, demonstrates strong bonding to the uncoordinated surface ions. The as-synthesized PeQDs show the boosted photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and superior stability with longer lifetime. As a result, the PeQLEDs (470 nm) based on the OTAC-Na PeQDs exhibit an external quantum efficiency of 8.42% in the mixed halogen PeQDs (CsPb(Br_xCl_1−x)₃). Moreover, the device exhibits superior spectra stability with negligible shift. Our competition mechanism in combination with in situ passivation strategy paves a new way for improving the performance of blue PeQLEDs.

Conducting polymer hydrogel can address the challenges of stricken biocompatibility and durability. Nevertheless, conventional conducting polymer hydrogels are often brittle and weak due to the intrinsic quality of the material, which exhibits viscoelasticity. This property may cause a delay in sensor response time due to hysteresis. To overcome these limitations, we have designed a wrinkle morphology three-dimensional (3D) substrate using digital light processing technology and then followed by in situ polymerization to form interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels. This novel design results in a wrinkle morphology conducting polymer hydrogel elastomer with high precision and geometric freedom, as the size of the wrinkles can be controlled by adjusting the treating time. The wrinkle morphology on the conducting polymer hydrogel effectively reduces its viscoelasticity, leading to samples with quick response time, low hysteresis, stable cyclic performance, and remarkable resistance change. Simultaneously, the 3D gradient structure augmented the sensor's sensitivity under minimal stress while exhibiting consistent sensing performance. These properties indicate the potential of the conducting polymer hydrogel as a flexible sensor.

The moiré superlattice, arising from the interface of mismatched single crystals, intricately regulates the physical and mechanical properties of materials, giving rise to phenomena such as superconductivity and superlubricity. This study delves into the profound impact of moiré superlattices on the interfacial mechanical behavior of van der Waals (vdW) layered materials, with a particular focus on tribological properties. A comprehensive review of continuum modeling approaches for vdW layered materials is presented, accentuating the incorporation of moiré superlattice effects in theoretical models to unravel their distinctive interfacial frictional behavior and thermodynamic properties. The exploration of moiré superlattices has significantly advanced our fundamental understanding of interface phenomena in vdW layered materials. This progress provides crucial theoretical insights that can inform the design of multifunctional devices based on the unique properties of twisted layered materials.

The contamination of nitric oxide presents a significant environmental challenge, necessitating the development of efficient photocatalysts for remediation. Conventional heterojunctions encounter obstacles such as large contact barriers, sluggish charge transport, and compromised redox capacity. Here, we introduce an innovative S-type heterostructure photocatalyst, UiO-66-NH₂/ZnS(en)_0.5, designed specifically to overcome these challenges. The synthesis, employing a unique microwave solvothermal method, strategically aligns the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of UiO-66-NH₂ with the highest occupied molecular orbital of ZnS(en)_0.5, fostering the formation of a stepped heterojunction. The resulting intimate interface contact generates a built-in electric field, facilitating charge separation and migration, as evidenced by time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical tests. The abundant active sites in the porous UiO-66-NH₂ counterpart provide adsorption and activation sites for nitrogen monoxide (NO) oxidation. Performance evaluation reveals exceptional photocatalytic NO removal, achieving 70% efficiency and 99% selectivity toward nitrates under simulated solar illumination. Evidence from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and trapping experiments supports the effectiveness of the S-type heterostructure, showcasing refined reactive oxygen species, particularly superoxide. Thus, this study introduces a new perspective on advanced NO oxidation and unlocks the potential of S-scheme heterojunctions to refine reactive oxygen species for NO remediation.

Inside Front Cover: In the work of doi:10.1002/idm2.12153, the affinity between Li and hosting substrates is regulated by homogeneously loading indium (In) single atoms on N-doped graphene. It is found that similar to “volcano curves” in heterogeneous catalysis, the affinity of substrates toward Li should be optimized to a moderate value in order to reach balance for Li plating and Li stripping processes.

Inside Back Cover: The transformation of a rock into a snail by the addition of a small crawling insect serves as a compelling metaphor for how the integration of functional materials can endow an organism with new, targeted functionalities. In the cover of doi:10.1002/idm2.12144, the diverse functional materials exemplified by the snail illustrate the profound impact of such enhancements.

Outside Back Cover: The cycling stability of lithium sulfur batteries is severely affected by the uneven deposition of lithium ions and the shuttle of polysulfides. Due to the different diameters of polysulfides and lithium ions, MOFs with appropriate pore sizes can achieve selective transport of different ions. In the work of doi:10.1002/idm2.12143, Zhou et al. report an ultra-thin and crack-free ZIF-8 film modification layer using ALD technology, achieving homogeneous lithium ion deposition and effective inhibition of polysulfides. Just like the net in the picture, it can catch large fish and release small ones.