Materials Advances最新文献

Liver diseases have become a great burden to human health because of their high morbidity and mortality rates. Orthotopic liver transplantation, which has always been considered the primary treatment for end-stage liver disease, has limitations in clinical practice. The development of cell therapy, especially induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), holds promise in treating liver diseases. It has been reported that hepatocyte-like cells and liver organoids derived from iPSCs can be applied to establish disease models, test drug hepatotoxicity or directly perform specific functions as grafts. In this article, we systematically reviewed two differentiated derivants of iPSCs and show the prospective application of differentiated products in order to provide an experimental and theoretical basis for clinical treatment.

Metallic thermoelectric materials with a high thermoelectric power factor and high thermal conductivity are favorable for transient dynamic active thermal management of microelectronics. Among these, several ytterbium intermetallic compounds demonstrate sharp peaks in their density of states due to contributions from ytterbium f-orbitals. YbZn₁₁ is one of these compounds with a Gaussian-like density of states close to its Fermi level, an advantageous shape to achieve a high thermoelectric power factor. If the Fermi-level can be adjusted, high Seebeck coefficient values are expected following the Wiedemann–Franz law. Here we present YbZn₁₁, a rarely made and studied sample, and for the first time, we report its thermoelectric and transport properties. Band structure calculations confirm the Gaussian function shape of the density of states. However, Seebeck calculations show that the Fermi level is not well positioned and ideally should be shifted by 200 meV. Al substitution for Zn (YbZn_11−xAl_x) and Zn-deficiency (YbZn_11−x) are applied to modify the band structure and to shift the Fermi level to adjust the Seebeck coefficient.

Single- and multi-nanoporous (1–100 nm pore size) solid-state membranes (SSNMs) receive significant attention in various fields, spanning from biosensing to water purification. Their finely tunable nanopore geometry and chemistry, combined with the large selection of materials that they can be made of, such as polymers, inorganic materials (e.g., silicon, silica, and alumina), and hydrogels, provide an excellent platform to control their mass transport and sensing capabilities for different cargoes from Å scale ions up to macromolecular biomaterials. The critical requirement to merge these nanoporous membranes’ advanced structural and chemical features with their applications is to find the most suitable analytical techniques that permit macro- and micro-scale and real-time probing of different nanopore activities. Luminescence-based detection of various physico-chemical processes in nanoporous membranes has recently received great attention: it permits rapid, non-invasive, and dynamic probing of nanoporous materials, yielding information on mass transport and sensing both (i) macroscopically, such as from an array of nanopores, and (ii) micro-nanoscopically, with ultra-high (e.g., single molecule) sensitivity and high resolution in time and space. Quantitative information arising from luminescence experiments on membrane-analyte interactions has uncovered the effects of nanoconfinement, membrane stability, and performance. This review article aims to provide the reader with a handbook of fluorescent methods–from the simplest to implement to the most advanced–helpful in studying different kinds of SSNMs for a specific application or function. To this end, we include examples from the literature published in the last ten years. At the end of our article, we also discuss limitations of the current state of fluorescence probing techniques and their future prospects.

In this research, ZnO/P(VDF-TrFE) piezoelectric composites are fabricated in different concentrations by two methods, spray coating and casting. Crystallinity, surface morphology, and piezoelectric performance of such films were analyzed and resulted in the optimal properties of 20 wt% ZnO in casted films (d₃₃ = 48.93 pm V⁻¹). The high sensitivity (18.5 mV N⁻¹) of such piezoelectric films as tactile sensors was observed by performing two experiments, as a sensor in a gripping robot, and as a wearable device, monitoring the movement in the human arm. The research highlights the intricate relationship between crystallinity, β-phase content, piezoelectric coefficient, and sensor performance, underscoring the role of factors like stress distribution and mechanical behavior in determining overall efficacy.

Sodium-ion batteries represent a sustainable and cost-effective solution for grid-scale energy storage. However, the reliance on cathode materials containing scarce transition metals currently limits their wider adoption. Carbonaceous materials present an environmentally sustainable and economically viable alternative. This study investigates the application of reduced graphene oxide as a cathode active material. A detailed analysis of the storage mechanism and its dependence on the morphological and chemical structure revealed that it combines surface capacitance and faradaic reactions. The key factors responsible for high capacity and long cycle life are the open structure of graphene sheets and the presence of functional oxygen and nitrogen groups where Na+ ions are stored in the R–CO + Na⁺ + e⁻ ↔ R–C–O–Na reaction. A good understanding of the mechanism allowed optimisation of cycling conditions in a proof-of-concept all-carbon full cell incorporating reduced graphene oxide and hard carbon as a cathode and an anode, respectively. The system displays good energy density (80 W h kg⁻¹) and remarkable stability over 500 cycles. The gained insights will support the rational design of more efficient carbonaceous electrodes.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are one of the most studied and utilized optoelectronic components in display technology. However, their application in lighting remains limited due to materials costs and a guaranteed feasible deposition technique. To address this challenge, we explored the use of easily synthesized organic molecules capable of complexation with abundant transition metals to enhance their optoelectronic properties, coupled with low-cost wet processing protocols. Four zinc(II) coordination compounds were synthesized and the impact of incorporating two different ligands into a metal center was evaluated in terms of their optoelectronic properties. A photophysical investigation was made, encompassing emission and absorption analyses in both solid-state and thin film configurations. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) processes were performed using polyfluorene (PFO) and zinc(II) compounds in a host–guest system, revealing FRET efficiencies ranging from 10 to 68%, depending on the concentration of zinc(II) compounds in the PFO matrix. Subsequently, solution-processed OLEDs were fabricated using PFO:zinc(II) homo (ZnL11 and ZnL22) and heteroligand (ZnL13 and ZnL23) compounds as the emissive layer at a concentration of 1%, following a straightforward architecture, ITO|PEDOT:PSS|PVK|PFO:Zn(II)-compounds|TmPyPB|Ca|Al. The OLEDs achieved external quantum efficiencies (EQE) close to the theoretical limit of these active layers, ranging from 1.2% to 1.8%, with an applicable brightness value (L > 100 cd m⁻²), coupled with low roll-off in EQE values. Notably, the heteroligand coordination compounds exhibited superior device performance, attributed to their high electrical charge-carrier mobilities, trap-state profiles, and density of free carriers, as elucidated by space-charge shallow- (SCLC) and deep-trap (TCLC) transport models.

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) plays a crucial role in realizing the ambitious objectives of renewable hydrogen (H₂) production and CO₂ neutrality. The efficacy of the HER process mainly relies on the electrocatalysts that are highly active, stable, and cost-effective, ensuring efficient and sustainable H₂ generation. In this study, binary copper–palladium (CuPd) alloy thin film catalysts directly grown on graphite sheets via aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition were employed for the HER in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. A unique array of tower-like microstructures were fabricated by varying the deposition time from 1 to 2 hours, demonstrating excellent HER activity by achieving high current densities of 100 and 1000 mA cm⁻² at low overpotentials of 64 and 137 mV, respectively. It also exhibited favorable Tafel kinetics (28 mV dec⁻¹), a high electrochemical surface area (3046 cm²), and reasonable stability over 24 hours, surpassing the benchmark Pt, Pd, and other reputed noble metal-based catalysts. The synergy between transition and noble metals (Cu–Pd) and the array of tower structure in the alloy has been shown to enhance conductivity and offer abundant active sites, resulting in its superior performance in the HER. Furthermore, density functional theory simulations indicated a decrease in the Gibbs free energy value for the binary CuPd alloy (−0.12 eV) compared to that of metallic Pd and Cu in the HER process, thereby validating the experimental observations. This study presents a straightforward deposition technique to design robust and efficient thin film electrocatalysts and optimize electrochemically active sites to achieve faster HER rates with low overpotential.

Managing glioma, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer, poses significant challenges because of its inherent resistance and the intricate nature of the central nervous system. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses photosensitizers to target and destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues, has emerged as a novel and effective approach for glioma treatment. In this study, we designed and synthesized a novel photosensitizer, ITIC, for potential application in glioma therapy. By employing nanotechnology, we enhanced the water dispersibility of ITIC. ITIC nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit near-infrared absorbance and are light-activatable for generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which allows for effective killing of cancer cells. Furthermore, the unique chemical structure of ITIC makes it easy to conjugate ITIC with targeting ligands to enable specific recognition and uptake by glioma cells in both in vitro and in vivo studies, thereby increasing the precision of glioma cell detection and engagement.

The continuous rise in atmospheric CO₂ level is a major concern, demanding the development of low-cost, scalable porous sorbents with improved efficiency and recyclability. The current chemical adsorption methods are energy-intensive, creating a demand for low-energy CO₂ capture/removal strategies. Physical adsorption of CO₂ offers an efficient and low-energy alternative. This study explores the design and screening of porous carbon pellets for physical adsorption of CO₂ from 15% CO₂ in N₂ at 30 °C. Various sizes of spherical pellets were designed and investigated for their effect on adsorption capacity and kinetics. Changing the shape from spherical to flakes increased the CO₂ adsorption capacity to 2.2 wt% (0.5 mmol g⁻¹). The pellets were also analysed for cyclic adsorption–desorption to access long-term stability and recyclability, showing approximately 80% selectivity for CO₂ over N₂ over 20 cycles.