Materials Today最新文献

Anode-less Li-based metal batteries and beyond: Challenges, strategies, and prospects

IF 21.1 1区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials Today

Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.002

Huan Shi , Fulu Chu , Yamin Zhang, Yang Liu, Linrui Hou, Xuting Li, Changzhou Yuan

Traditional lithium-ion batteries struggle to meet the escalating energy density demands of electric vehicles, electronic devices and other applications, precipitating a surge in interest towards high-energy–density (HED) batteries. Anode-less lithium metal batteries (AL-LMBs), which obviate excess metal inventory, emerge as an enticing HED solution with reduced production costs and attenuated safety concerns in contrast to conventional metal-based batteries. Nevertheless, the practical realization of AL-LMBs encounters formidable challenges, including low Coulombic efficiency (CE) and the specter of metal dendrite formation. Hence, delving into the electrochemical intricacies and failure mechanisms of AL-LMBs assumes paramount importance, alongside formulating efficacious strategies to actualize HED AL-LMBs. This review endeavors to spotlight recent strides in AL-LMB research, offering comprehensive insights into their practical deployment. It comprehensively synthesizes the evolution of AL-LMBs over the past two decades, delineates persisting hurdles, and scrutinizes recent breakthroughs in AL-LMBs through effective policies and collaborative strategies. Moreover, it explores cutting-edge innovations in Li-beyond (Na, K, Zn, and Al) anode-less metal batteries (AL-MBs), proffering promising avenues to surmount extant impediments. Ultimately, future opportunities and potential trajectories for AL-MBs are evaluated, with the aim of catalyzing deeper exploration in this burgeoning field.

{"title":"Anode-less Li-based metal batteries and beyond: Challenges, strategies, and prospects","authors":"Huan Shi , Fulu Chu , Yamin Zhang, Yang Liu, Linrui Hou, Xuting Li, Changzhou Yuan","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional lithium-ion batteries struggle to meet the escalating energy density demands of electric vehicles, electronic devices and other applications, precipitating a surge in interest towards high-energy–density (HED) batteries. Anode-less lithium metal batteries (AL-LMBs), which obviate excess metal inventory, emerge as an enticing HED solution with reduced production costs and attenuated safety concerns in contrast to conventional metal-based batteries. Nevertheless, the practical realization of AL-LMBs encounters formidable challenges, including low Coulombic efficiency (CE) and the specter of metal dendrite formation. Hence, delving into the electrochemical intricacies and failure mechanisms of AL-LMBs assumes paramount importance, alongside formulating efficacious strategies to actualize HED AL-LMBs. This review endeavors to spotlight recent strides in AL-LMB research, offering comprehensive insights into their practical deployment. It comprehensively synthesizes the evolution of AL-LMBs over the past two decades, delineates persisting hurdles, and scrutinizes recent breakthroughs in AL-LMBs through effective policies and collaborative strategies. Moreover, it explores cutting-edge innovations in Li-beyond (Na, K, Zn, and Al) anode-less metal batteries (AL-MBs), proffering promising avenues to surmount extant impediments. Ultimately, future opportunities and potential trajectories for AL-MBs are evaluated, with the aim of catalyzing deeper exploration in this burgeoning field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 446-483"},"PeriodicalIF":21.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Unveiling the contact electrification of triboelectric fibers by exploring their unique micro- and macroscale structural properties

IF 21.1 1区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials Today

Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.013

Renwei Cheng , Chuanhui Wei , Chuan Ning , Tianmei Lv , Xiao Peng , Zhong Lin Wang , Kai Dong

The emerging triboelectric fibers or textiles have recently attracted widespread attention due to their unique wearable energy supply and self-powered sensing functions. However, the unique micro- and macrostructural effects of triboelectric fibers on contact-electrificaion (CE) have not been systematically studied, which result in the lower charge output compared to conventional film structure. Here, in order to provide theoretical guidance for designing high-performance triboelectric fibers with optimized structural designs, a systematic experimental measurement and theoretical analysis method is developed to explore the influence laws and potential mechanisms of the surface microstructural defects and overall macrostructural compositions of triboelectric fibers on their CE behaviors. It can be found that the surface microstructure defects contribute to increasing the total charge transfer, due to the increase in effective interface contact area. In addition, triboelectric fibers with core–shell coaxial structure prepared by uniform coating method have higher electrical output performance, which can ensure maximum contact between the conductive layer and the dielectric layer. This work provides a new research paradigm for studying the CE behavior and quantifying surface charges of complex structures, and suggests a multiscale structural design strategy for high-performance triboelectric fibers.

{"title":"Unveiling the contact electrification of triboelectric fibers by exploring their unique micro- and macroscale structural properties","authors":"Renwei Cheng , Chuanhui Wei , Chuan Ning , Tianmei Lv , Xiao Peng , Zhong Lin Wang , Kai Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The emerging triboelectric fibers or textiles have recently attracted widespread attention due to their unique wearable energy supply and self-powered sensing functions. However, the unique micro- and macrostructural effects of triboelectric fibers on contact-electrificaion (CE) have not been systematically studied, which result in the lower charge output compared to conventional film structure. Here, in order to provide theoretical guidance for designing high-performance triboelectric fibers with optimized structural designs, a systematic experimental measurement and theoretical analysis method is developed to explore the influence laws and potential mechanisms of the surface microstructural defects and overall macrostructural compositions of triboelectric fibers on their CE behaviors. It can be found that the surface microstructure defects contribute to increasing the total charge transfer, due to the increase in effective interface contact area. In addition, triboelectric fibers with core–shell coaxial structure prepared by uniform coating method have higher electrical output performance, which can ensure maximum contact between the conductive layer and the dielectric layer. This work provides a new research paradigm for studying the CE behavior and quantifying surface charges of complex structures, and suggests a multiscale structural design strategy for high-performance triboelectric fibers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 295-306"},"PeriodicalIF":21.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Emerging colored and transparent radiative cooling: Fundamentals, progress, and challenges

IF 21.1 1区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials Today

Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2024.12.012

Yalu Xin , Chen Li , Wei Gao , Yongping Chen

The worsening energy crisis and global warming have intensified interest in passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) technology. This technology consumes no energy and can directly dissipate heat to outer space. Despite advancements in the cooling mechanism, material design, preparation technologies, and practical applications, the traditional white or silver appearance does not meet aesthetic and functional needs, and potential light pollution limits their development. Recently, colored and transparent PDRC materials have been developed, providing solutions that satisfy aesthetic and functional requirements while delivering impressive cooling performance. This review overviews these emerging materials and strategies for colored and transparent PDRC. First, the cooling mechanism of PDRC is examined from the optics and thermodynamic perspective, and the current experimental methods for radiative cooling performance and the current state of traditional white and silver PDRC are summarized. Next, the design strategies, cooling performance, and application areas of colored and transparent PDRC are discussed in detail, and the problems existing in each type of material design are comprehensively analyzed. Furthermore, the challenges and potential research directions for the next generation of highly efficient PDRC are explored. This review aims to inspire further in-depth research into colored and transparent PDRC technology and promote its application across various fields.

{"title":"Emerging colored and transparent radiative cooling: Fundamentals, progress, and challenges","authors":"Yalu Xin , Chen Li , Wei Gao , Yongping Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2024.12.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2024.12.012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The worsening energy crisis and global warming have intensified interest in passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) technology. This technology consumes no energy and can directly dissipate heat to outer space. Despite advancements in the cooling mechanism, material design, preparation technologies, and practical applications, the traditional white or silver appearance does not meet aesthetic and functional needs, and potential light pollution limits their development. Recently, colored and transparent PDRC materials have been developed, providing solutions that satisfy aesthetic and functional requirements while delivering impressive cooling performance. This review overviews these emerging materials and strategies for colored and transparent PDRC. First, the cooling mechanism of PDRC is examined from the optics and thermodynamic perspective, and the current experimental methods for radiative cooling performance and the current state of traditional white and silver PDRC are summarized. Next, the design strategies, cooling performance, and application areas of colored and transparent PDRC are discussed in detail, and the problems existing in each type of material design are comprehensively analyzed. Furthermore, the challenges and potential research directions for the next generation of highly efficient PDRC are explored. This review aims to inspire further in-depth research into colored and transparent PDRC technology and promote its application across various fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 355-381"},"PeriodicalIF":21.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Extraordinary piezoresponse in free-standing two-dimensional Bi2O2Se semiconductor toward high-performance light perception synapse

IF 21.1 1区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials Today

Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2024.11.003

Yafang Li , Lin Wang , Yu Ouyang , Dexiang Li , Yuting Yan , Kai Dai , Liyan Shang , Jinzhong Zhang , Liangqing Zhu , Yawei Li , Zhigao Hu

Localized strain engineering has a higher spatial modulation precision because it can generate noteworthy out-of-plane deformation, which shows novel physical properties for developing functional devices. However, the relevant research and the coupling with external fields has not been well developed. Here, we focus on disclosing the strain-optical-electrical cooperative interactions of the emerging two-dimensional (2D) Bi₂O₂Se semiconductor with a free-standing structure. The suspended Bi₂O₂Se exhibits remarkable out-of-plane electromechanical coupling. The piezoelectric coefficient of

\sim

13.1 pm/V from 8 nm nanoflake significantly surpasses that from its flat structure and the majority 2D materials. The generated back-to-back built-in electric field efficiently regulates transport carriers under optical stimulation, leading to a larger photogenerated current enhancement about 10⁴ of a suspended Bi₂O₂Se device without gate voltage modulation. This device also displays an ultra-high-performance artificial synaptic function, which has thousands of changes in synaptic weight, superior paired-pulse facilitation, bio-similarity relaxation times, and an interesting “learning-experience” behavior similar to human beings. The realization of an electromechanical visualization model and excellent optoelectronic synaptic functions can promote the further development of 2D materials based flexoelectric applications.

{"title":"Extraordinary piezoresponse in free-standing two-dimensional Bi2O2Se semiconductor toward high-performance light perception synapse","authors":"Yafang Li , Lin Wang , Yu Ouyang , Dexiang Li , Yuting Yan , Kai Dai , Liyan Shang , Jinzhong Zhang , Liangqing Zhu , Yawei Li , Zhigao Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2024.11.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2024.11.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Localized strain engineering has a higher spatial modulation precision because it can generate noteworthy out-of-plane deformation, which shows novel physical properties for developing functional devices. However, the relevant research and the coupling with external fields has not been well developed. Here, we focus on disclosing the strain-optical-electrical cooperative interactions of the emerging two-dimensional (2D) Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>Se semiconductor with a free-standing structure. The suspended Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>Se exhibits remarkable out-of-plane electromechanical coupling. The piezoelectric coefficient of <span><math><mrow><mo>∼</mo></mrow></math></span> 13.1 pm/V from 8 nm nanoflake significantly surpasses that from its flat structure and the majority 2D materials. The generated back-to-back built-in electric field efficiently regulates transport carriers under optical stimulation, leading to a larger photogenerated current enhancement about 10<sup>4</sup> of a suspended Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>Se device without gate voltage modulation. This device also displays an ultra-high-performance artificial synaptic function, which has thousands of changes in synaptic weight, superior paired-pulse facilitation, bio-similarity relaxation times, and an interesting “learning-experience” behavior similar to human beings. The realization of an electromechanical visualization model and excellent optoelectronic synaptic functions can promote the further development of 2D materials based flexoelectric applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 12-23"},"PeriodicalIF":21.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Chemotherapeutics-enabled apoptosis-pyroptosis switch to trigger adaptive and innate immunity for metastatic breast cancer immunotherapy

IF 21.1 1区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials Today

Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.009

Ying-Tao Zhong , Zi-Wen Qiu , Ke-Yan Zhang , Zhen-Ming Lu , Zhuo-Feng Li , Jun-Mei Nie , Yi Cen , Hong Cheng , Shi-Ying Li , Xiaoyuan Chen

Pyroptosis-inducing chemotherapeutics hold promise for activating both adaptive and innate immunity in breast cancer immunotherapy. However, their practical efficacy is often limited by inadequate expression of pyroptosis-executed gasdermin and insufficient transfer of tumor-derived DNA. In this work, our findings indicated that the epigenetic drug of decitabine (DEC) can increase the gasdermin E (GSDME) level in breast cancer cells, while the DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic drug of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38) can activate caspase-3 and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon gene (cGAS-STING) pathway. Based on these discoveries, a glutathione (GSH)-responsive nanoplatform equipped with PD-L1 blockade peptide (PD-L1 pep) is further fabricated for targeting delivery of these chemotherapeutic combination to breast cancer cells. Interestingly, the apoptosis-pyroptosis switch (denoted as PL@SD) not only enables the cascade activation of caspase-3 and GSDME to induce an apoptosis-pyroptosis transition, but also accelerates the release of tumor-derived DNA through the pore-formation to elicit the cGAS-STING activity. Concurrently, PL@SD elevates dendritic cell maturation, cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration, natural killer cell recruitment and long-term immunological memory effect to boost adaptive and innate immunity, thus synergistically suppressing primary breast cancer, distant lung metastases and tumor rechallenge. Overall, this study presents an elaborate strategy for apoptosis-pyroptosis transition and cGAS-STING activation, which might provide a new insight to expand the applications of the existing therapeutic drugs for tumor immunotherapy.

{"title":"Chemotherapeutics-enabled apoptosis-pyroptosis switch to trigger adaptive and innate immunity for metastatic breast cancer immunotherapy","authors":"Ying-Tao Zhong , Zi-Wen Qiu , Ke-Yan Zhang , Zhen-Ming Lu , Zhuo-Feng Li , Jun-Mei Nie , Yi Cen , Hong Cheng , Shi-Ying Li , Xiaoyuan Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pyroptosis-inducing chemotherapeutics hold promise for activating both adaptive and innate immunity in breast cancer immunotherapy. However, their practical efficacy is often limited by inadequate expression of pyroptosis-executed gasdermin and insufficient transfer of tumor-derived DNA. In this work, our findings indicated that the epigenetic drug of decitabine (DEC) can increase the gasdermin E (GSDME) level in breast cancer cells, while the DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic drug of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38) can activate caspase-3 and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon gene (cGAS-STING) pathway. Based on these discoveries, a glutathione (GSH)-responsive nanoplatform equipped with PD-L1 blockade peptide (PD-L1 pep) is further fabricated for targeting delivery of these chemotherapeutic combination to breast cancer cells. Interestingly, the apoptosis-pyroptosis switch (denoted as PL@SD) not only enables the cascade activation of caspase-3 and GSDME to induce an apoptosis-pyroptosis transition, but also accelerates the release of tumor-derived DNA through the pore-formation to elicit the cGAS-STING activity. Concurrently, PL@SD elevates dendritic cell maturation, cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration, natural killer cell recruitment and long-term immunological memory effect to boost adaptive and innate immunity, thus synergistically suppressing primary breast cancer, distant lung metastases and tumor rechallenge. Overall, this study presents an elaborate strategy for apoptosis-pyroptosis transition and cGAS-STING activation, which might provide a new insight to expand the applications of the existing therapeutic drugs for tumor immunotherapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 263-283"},"PeriodicalIF":21.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Achieving the strength and ductility synergy in a steel through nanoprecipitation and its induced grain refinement

IF 21.1 1区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials Today

Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.004

Weilin Li , Qingqing Ding , Xiao Wei , Ze Zhang , Hongbin Bei

There is a constant demand in human society to develop steels with superior strength and ductility. The strength-ductility trade-off is hardly broken by using one of the four traditional strengthening methods solely, namely, strain hardening, grain refinement, precipitation and solid solution strengthening. The design and development of advanced steels need to introduce as many strengthening mechanisms as possible for achieving desirable strength. To achieve good ductility with high uniform elongation before fracture, necking need to be suppressed by continuous work hardening of the material. Here, we demonstrate that by adding Al (∼6%) and Ti (∼3%) into the Fe-26Ni-1.2C (at.%) steel, nanosized γ′-(Ni, Fe)₃(Al, Ti) (∼20 vol%) can precipitate out in the initial austenitic matrix after one-step aging. The formation of γ′ nanoprecipitates triggers γ → α phase transformation of the matrix during cooling, introducing strain hardening due to volume expansion, and simultaneously refines grains from 15 to 1–2 μm due to the hindering effect of nanoprecipitates on grain boundary migration. Moreover, the γ′ nanoprecipitates not only can hinder dislocation motion in the matrix, but also can plastically deform under high stress to enhance the ductility of the steel. Therefore, the nanoprecipitate-strengthening ultrafine-grained steel suppresses necking instability, which enhances the strength, uniform elongation and work hardening capability simultaneously.

{"title":"Achieving the strength and ductility synergy in a steel through nanoprecipitation and its induced grain refinement","authors":"Weilin Li , Qingqing Ding , Xiao Wei , Ze Zhang , Hongbin Bei","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a constant demand in human society to develop steels with superior strength and ductility. The strength-ductility trade-off is hardly broken by using one of the four traditional strengthening methods solely, namely, strain hardening, grain refinement, precipitation and solid solution strengthening. The design and development of advanced steels need to introduce as many strengthening mechanisms as possible for achieving desirable strength. To achieve good ductility with high uniform elongation before fracture, necking need to be suppressed by continuous work hardening of the material. Here, we demonstrate that by adding Al (∼6%) and Ti (∼3%) into the Fe-26Ni-1.2C (at.%) steel, nanosized γ′-(Ni, Fe)<sub>3</sub>(Al, Ti) (∼20 vol%) can precipitate out in the initial austenitic matrix after one-step aging. The formation of γ′ nanoprecipitates triggers γ → α phase transformation of the matrix during cooling, introducing strain hardening due to volume expansion, and simultaneously refines grains from 15 to 1–2 μm due to the hindering effect of nanoprecipitates on grain boundary migration. Moreover, the γ′ nanoprecipitates not only can hinder dislocation motion in the matrix, but also can plastically deform under high stress to enhance the ductility of the steel. Therefore, the nanoprecipitate-strengthening ultrafine-grained steel suppresses necking instability, which enhances the strength, uniform elongation and work hardening capability simultaneously.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 213-222"},"PeriodicalIF":21.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Rational design of metal–organic framework based photocatalysts correlated with specific additives for driving gas–liquid-solid CO2 reduction

IF 21.1 1区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials Today

Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2024.12.019

Huijie He , Weikai Zhai , Peihan Liu , Jingyu Wang

Crystalline porous materials such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have already been applied extensively to photocatalytic CO₂ conversion because of the semiconductor-like property, high specific surface area, and tunable structure. Most of MOFs have existing problems of self-decomposition during gas–solid photocatalytic CO₂ reduction, making them more applicable to a gas–liquid-solid reaction system due to the advantages of room-temperature environment and uniform dispersion of catalysts. However, the review specifically focusing on the progress of gas–liquid-solid photocatalysis over MOF-based materials is relatively scarce so far. Unlike the reaction of CO₂ gas with H₂O vapour in gas–solid mode, the gas–liquid-solid reaction system consists of diverse additives such as photosensitizers and sacrificial agents, which strongly depend on the structural design of photocatalysts. This review classifies the structure of MOF-based materials that correlated with their requirements of specific additives for driving CO₂ reduction. Specifically, we review the recent advances from the requirements of photosensitizers and sacrificial additives to the green overall photosynthesis (just using H₂O as the electron donor). The corresponding strategies for the structural design of MOFs from the aspects of crystal structure, building blocks, photosensitizer units are discussed to clarify the structure–activity relationship. Finally, the challenges and prospects are proposed to develop green and effective MOF-based photocatalysts for CO₂ utilization.

{"title":"Rational design of metal–organic framework based photocatalysts correlated with specific additives for driving gas–liquid-solid CO2 reduction","authors":"Huijie He , Weikai Zhai , Peihan Liu , Jingyu Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2024.12.019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2024.12.019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Crystalline porous materials such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have already been applied extensively to photocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> conversion because of the semiconductor-like property, high specific surface area, and tunable structure. Most of MOFs have existing problems of self-decomposition during gas–solid photocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> reduction, making them more applicable to a gas–liquid-solid reaction system due to the advantages of room-temperature environment and uniform dispersion of catalysts. However, the review specifically focusing on the progress of gas–liquid-solid photocatalysis over MOF-based materials is relatively scarce so far. Unlike the reaction of CO<sub>2</sub> gas with H<sub>2</sub>O vapour in gas–solid mode, the gas–liquid-solid reaction system consists of diverse additives such as photosensitizers and sacrificial agents, which strongly depend on the structural design of photocatalysts. This review classifies the structure of MOF-based materials that correlated with their requirements of specific additives for driving CO<sub>2</sub> reduction. Specifically, we review the recent advances from the requirements of photosensitizers and sacrificial additives to the green overall photosynthesis (just using H<sub>2</sub>O as the electron donor). The corresponding strategies for the structural design of MOFs from the aspects of crystal structure, building blocks, photosensitizer units are discussed to clarify the structure–activity relationship. Finally, the challenges and prospects are proposed to develop green and effective MOF-based photocatalysts for CO<sub>2</sub> utilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 382-403"},"PeriodicalIF":21.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601339","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Supersonic puncture-healable and impact resistant covalent adaptive networks

IF 21.1 1区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials Today

Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2024.12.006

Zhen Sang , Hongkyu Eoh , Kailu Xiao , Dmitry Kurouski , Wenpeng Shan , Jinho Hyon , Svetlana A. Sukhishvili , Edwin L. Thomas

The dynamic behavior of thin polymer films under high-rate deformation and at small length scales is quite different from that of macroscopic samples loaded quasi-statically. While self-healing of dynamic polymers is well documented for macroscopic samples under applied pressure, mild temperature, and prolonged times, self-healing at the nanoscale after extreme deformation at high rates is largely unexplored. We demonstrate the extensive puncture healing of furan/maleimide Diels-Alder polymer (DAP) covalent adaptive network (CAN) submicron thin films induced by supersonic micro-projectile impacts. For a given sample thickness to projectile size ratio, DAP submicron thin films display a significantly smaller perforation than glassy thermoplastics while showing adequate kinetic energy absorption. Post-mortem microscopic examination reveals efficient puncture healing that is enabled by spatiotemporal gradients in stress- and temperature-induced thermomechanical responses of DAP networks. These responses include a unique solid-to-liquid transition, in addition to viscoelasticity and viscoplasticity. Dissociation of DA bonds occurs due to adiabatic heating and high stresses. The partially dissociated network undergoes biaxial stretching until perforation with subsequent entropically-driven elastic recovery helping puncture closure. Infrared nanospectroscopy confirms that the chemical structure of DAP networks surrounding the puncture has recovered to that before the impact. The energy absorption is evaluated using in-situ imaging at nanosecond, micron-scale resolution. This work suggests molecular design principles for advanced self-healable, damage-tolerant, and energy-absorptive materials that withstand ballistic impacts.

{"title":"Supersonic puncture-healable and impact resistant covalent adaptive networks","authors":"Zhen Sang , Hongkyu Eoh , Kailu Xiao , Dmitry Kurouski , Wenpeng Shan , Jinho Hyon , Svetlana A. Sukhishvili , Edwin L. Thomas","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2024.12.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2024.12.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The dynamic behavior of thin polymer films under high-rate deformation and at small length scales is quite different from that of macroscopic samples loaded quasi-statically. While self-healing of dynamic polymers is well documented for macroscopic samples under applied pressure, mild temperature, and prolonged times, self-healing at the nanoscale after extreme deformation at high rates is largely unexplored. We demonstrate the extensive puncture healing of furan/maleimide Diels-Alder polymer (DAP) covalent adaptive network (CAN) submicron thin films induced by supersonic micro-projectile impacts. For a given sample thickness to projectile size ratio, DAP submicron thin films display a significantly smaller perforation than glassy thermoplastics while showing adequate kinetic energy absorption. Post-mortem microscopic examination reveals efficient puncture healing that is enabled by spatiotemporal gradients in stress- and temperature-induced thermomechanical responses of DAP networks. These responses include a unique solid-to-liquid transition, in addition to viscoelasticity and viscoplasticity. Dissociation of DA bonds occurs due to adiabatic heating and high stresses. The partially dissociated network undergoes biaxial stretching until perforation with subsequent entropically-driven elastic recovery helping puncture closure. Infrared nanospectroscopy confirms that the chemical structure of DAP networks surrounding the puncture has recovered to that before the impact. The energy absorption is evaluated using in-situ imaging at nanosecond, micron-scale resolution. This work suggests molecular design principles for advanced self-healable, damage-tolerant, and energy-absorptive materials that withstand ballistic impacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 43-53"},"PeriodicalIF":21.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Mitochondria-inspired general strategy simultaneously enhances contradictory properties of commercial polymers

IF 21.1 1区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials Today

Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2024.12.005

Yuepeng Wang, Lei Yang, Bo Qian, Yihan Wang, Zekai Wu, Jiani Wu, Yujie Jia, Zhengwei You

Thermoplastic polymers have become indispensable in modern life. The processability and mechanical performance of thermoplastic polymers are extremely important; however, they are mutually conflicting and difficult to enhance simultaneously. Inspired by the dynamic fission and fusion of mitochondria, we designed a dynamically cross-linked plasticizing reinforcer complexed with thermoplastic polymers. Plasticizing reinforcer maintained a stable cross-linked structure under routine usage conditions and dissociated into linear oligomers and monomers when processed, leading to a significant enhancement in both the mechanical performance and processability of thermoplastic polymers. We demonstrated the effectiveness and versatility of this strategy by modifying thermoplastic polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, and polylactic acid. Notably, after modification, the strength of polyurethane significantly increased, reaching 75.8 MPa and exceeding that of all thermoplastic polyurethane products. Concurrently, its viscosity was reduced by 70 %. No similar dual modulation effects on mechanical and processing properties have been reported previously. This study provides simple, general and readily industrializable way to simultaneously enhance multiple, typically contradictory aspects of polymers.

{"title":"Mitochondria-inspired general strategy simultaneously enhances contradictory properties of commercial polymers","authors":"Yuepeng Wang, Lei Yang, Bo Qian, Yihan Wang, Zekai Wu, Jiani Wu, Yujie Jia, Zhengwei You","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2024.12.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2024.12.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermoplastic polymers have become indispensable in modern life. The processability and mechanical performance of thermoplastic polymers are extremely important; however, they are mutually conflicting and difficult to enhance simultaneously. Inspired by the dynamic fission and fusion of mitochondria, we designed a dynamically cross-linked plasticizing reinforcer complexed with thermoplastic polymers. Plasticizing reinforcer maintained a stable cross-linked structure under routine usage conditions and dissociated into linear oligomers and monomers when processed, leading to a significant enhancement in both the mechanical performance and processability of thermoplastic polymers. We demonstrated the effectiveness and versatility of this strategy by modifying thermoplastic polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, and polylactic acid. Notably, after modification, the strength of polyurethane significantly increased, reaching 75.8 MPa and exceeding that of all thermoplastic polyurethane products. Concurrently, its viscosity was reduced by 70 %. No similar dual modulation effects on mechanical and processing properties have been reported previously. This study provides simple, general and readily industrializable way to simultaneously enhance multiple, typically contradictory aspects of polymers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 35-42"},"PeriodicalIF":21.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Solute coupling governed complex behaviours of precipitate/matrix interfaces in Al alloys

IF 21.1 1区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials Today

Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.010

Xingpu Zhang , Hui Xing , Huajie Yang , Fei Teng , Ze Zhang , Jiangwei Wang

Precipitation-hardened alloys frequently encounter chemical and thereby structural variations at the precipitate/matrix interfaces, which would inevitably impose a strong impact on subsequent precipitation kinetics. However, an atomistic understanding on coupling of different solute atoms at heterophase interfaces and how it changes the precipitate evolution remains largely elusive. Taken Al-Cu-Li-Mg alloy as a model system, here we reveal complex precipitate/matrix interface behaviours governed by solute coupling, using scanning transmission electron microscopy and first-principles calculations. The pre-segregated solutes at precipitate/matrix interfaces largely modify segregation behaviours of following ones, thus, guiding the atomic arrangement at the interfaces. Such solute coupling effect can shape the heterophase interfaces, catalyse the heterogenous nucleation and evolution of interfacial precipitates, and also alter the atomistic mechanism of precipitate growth. Our findings provide atomistic insight into the complex interface behaviours controlled by solute coupling, which would benefit the design of novel age-hardenable materials through interface engineering.

{"title":"Solute coupling governed complex behaviours of precipitate/matrix interfaces in Al alloys","authors":"Xingpu Zhang , Hui Xing , Huajie Yang , Fei Teng , Ze Zhang , Jiangwei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.01.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Precipitation-hardened alloys frequently encounter chemical and thereby structural variations at the precipitate/matrix interfaces, which would inevitably impose a strong impact on subsequent precipitation kinetics. However, an atomistic understanding on coupling of different solute atoms at heterophase interfaces and how it changes the precipitate evolution remains largely elusive. Taken Al-Cu-Li-Mg alloy as a model system, here we reveal complex precipitate/matrix interface behaviours governed by solute coupling, using scanning transmission electron microscopy and first-principles calculations. The pre-segregated solutes at precipitate/matrix interfaces largely modify segregation behaviours of following ones, thus, guiding the atomic arrangement at the interfaces. Such solute coupling effect can shape the heterophase interfaces, catalyse the heterogenous nucleation and evolution of interfacial precipitates, and also alter the atomistic mechanism of precipitate growth. Our findings provide atomistic insight into the complex interface behaviours controlled by solute coupling, which would benefit the design of novel age-hardenable materials through interface engineering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"83 ","pages":"Pages 284-294"},"PeriodicalIF":21.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0