The exceptional deformability and mobility of liquid-metal matter in aqueous environments confer significant potential in simulating various biomimetic behaviors. Here, inspired by biochemotaxis in nature, we fabricate a leukocyte-like liquid-metal entity that successfully simulates various leukocyte behaviors, such as self-phagocytosis, large-scale self-deformation, oscillatory self-propulsion, self-splitting and merging, and self-climbing opposing gravity. The intriguing mechanisms arise from the self-adapting surface tension of liquid metals, which is modulated by an environmentally oriented asymmetric chemical reaction that has discrepancies in tunable potential, metallic composition, and reactant ratios. Further findings demonstrate that this liquid entity can autonomously climb up to 5° slopes and traverse complex terrains. Moreover, it showcases robust deformability and impressive adaptability in obstacle navigation. It is anticipated that this functional entity will lay the foundation for future research, positioning liquid metals as a model for developing biomimetic living matter and advancing the construction of advanced nature-simulation systems.
{"title":"Chemotaxic biomimetic liquid metallic leukocytes","authors":"Yibing Ma, Jianye Gao, Tangzhen Guan, Yiyue Tao, Minghui Guo, Jing Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2025.101991","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.101991","url":null,"abstract":"The exceptional deformability and mobility of liquid-metal matter in aqueous environments confer significant potential in simulating various biomimetic behaviors. Here, inspired by biochemotaxis in nature, we fabricate a leukocyte-like liquid-metal entity that successfully simulates various leukocyte behaviors, such as self-phagocytosis, large-scale self-deformation, oscillatory self-propulsion, self-splitting and merging, and self-climbing opposing gravity. The intriguing mechanisms arise from the self-adapting surface tension of liquid metals, which is modulated by an environmentally oriented asymmetric chemical reaction that has discrepancies in tunable potential, metallic composition, and reactant ratios. Further findings demonstrate that this liquid entity can autonomously climb up to 5° slopes and traverse complex terrains. Moreover, it showcases robust deformability and impressive adaptability in obstacle navigation. It is anticipated that this functional entity will lay the foundation for future research, positioning liquid metals as a model for developing biomimetic living matter and advancing the construction of advanced nature-simulation systems.","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143375162","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}
High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have a wide range of applications due to their excellent physical and chemical properties. However, traditional synthesis routes always require high temperatures over 923 K or have high equipment requirements. Here, we developed a liquid metal gallium (Ga)-mediated strategy using only a commercial vortex mixer and metal powders to synthesize HEAs near room temperature (303 K) with low power (7 W). A variety of HEAs were successfully prepared, and the yield can be expanded to over 10 g each time. The mechanistic investigation proved that Ga continued to flow under the mechanical force and exposed fresh surfaces to contact the metal, thereby promoting the process of metal dissolution in Ga and forming HEAs. These as-prepared HEAs can be used for catalysis in electrochemical oxygen evolution reactions with low overpotential and high durability. This strategy provides an innovative method for low-energy synthesis of HEAs at room temperature.
{"title":"Simple, fast, and energy saving: Room temperature synthesis of high-entropy alloy by liquid-metal-mediated mechanochemistry","authors":"Shining Wu, Yuting Zhang, Guanwu Li, Yifeng Hou, Mengyang Cao, Chengyu Wei, Pengkun Yang, Lu Huang, Yingpeng Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2025.101986","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.101986","url":null,"abstract":"High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have a wide range of applications due to their excellent physical and chemical properties. However, traditional synthesis routes always require high temperatures over 923 K or have high equipment requirements. Here, we developed a liquid metal gallium (Ga)-mediated strategy using only a commercial vortex mixer and metal powders to synthesize HEAs near room temperature (303 K) with low power (7 W). A variety of HEAs were successfully prepared, and the yield can be expanded to over 10 g each time. The mechanistic investigation proved that Ga continued to flow under the mechanical force and exposed fresh surfaces to contact the metal, thereby promoting the process of metal dissolution in Ga and forming HEAs. These as-prepared HEAs can be used for catalysis in electrochemical oxygen evolution reactions with low overpotential and high durability. This strategy provides an innovative method for low-energy synthesis of HEAs at room temperature.","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143192399","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}
Pub Date : 2025-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2024.10.019
Mingxing Peng , Qilong Zhao , Anping Chai , Yutian Wang , Min Wang , Xuemin Du
Establishing vascular neural networks is critical for tissue regeneration. However, none of the existing approaches can replicate the physiological processes that varying extracellular cues sequentially play parts in different phases, thus hindering synergistic neurovascular remodeling. Here, we report a ferroelectric living interface for fine-tuned exosome secretion (LIFES) that harnesses unique topographical and electric (piezoelectric and photopyroelectric) signals and sustained generation of bioactive exosomes by rationally constructing a ferroelectric layer and a living cell layer. The LIFES exhibits physiology-mimicking paracrine effects, including sustained (∼192 h), phase-specific exosome secretion with tunable contents (∼8-fold increases) and programmable microRNA (miRNA) cargoes (initially pro-angiogenic and later pro-neurogenic), which overcome the limitations of the existing exosome delivery systems, such as short lifetime (∼24–48 h), difficult-to-preserve bioactivity, and non-changeable cargoes. LIFES allows for enhanced effectiveness in promoting neurovascular remodeling both in vitro and in challenging diabetic wound models, opening new avenues for next-generation intelligent materials and biomedical devices.
{"title":"A ferroelectric living interface for fine-tuned exosome secretion toward physiology-mimetic neurovascular remodeling","authors":"Mingxing Peng , Qilong Zhao , Anping Chai , Yutian Wang , Min Wang , Xuemin Du","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2024.10.019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matt.2024.10.019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Establishing vascular neural networks is critical for tissue regeneration. However, none of the existing approaches can replicate the physiological processes that varying extracellular cues sequentially play parts in different phases, thus hindering synergistic neurovascular remodeling. Here, we report a ferroelectric living interface for fine-tuned exosome secretion (LIFES) that harnesses unique topographical and electric (piezoelectric and photopyroelectric) signals and sustained generation of bioactive exosomes by rationally constructing a ferroelectric layer and a living cell layer. The LIFES exhibits physiology-mimicking paracrine effects, including sustained (∼192 h), phase-specific exosome secretion with tunable contents (∼8-fold increases) and programmable microRNA (miRNA) cargoes (initially pro-angiogenic and later pro-neurogenic), which overcome the limitations of the existing exosome delivery systems, such as short lifetime (∼24–48 h), difficult-to-preserve bioactivity, and non-changeable cargoes. LIFES allows for enhanced effectiveness in promoting neurovascular remodeling both <em>in vitro</em> and in challenging diabetic wound models, opening new avenues for next-generation intelligent materials and biomedical devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"8 2","pages":"Article 101901"},"PeriodicalIF":17.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142678451","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}
Pub Date : 2025-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2024.11.008
Wei Zheng , Guocai Lu , Xianghong Liu , Shilei Fan , Yinhua Hu , Nicola Pinna , Jun Zhang
Heterojunctions are of essential importance for electronic sensors due to their unique properties at the junctions. However, a planar junction made of two-dimensional (2D) materials commonly suffers from slow response and irreversible recovery because of slow physisorption and desorption rates. Herein, we present a unique design of a mixed-dimensional heterojunction built from patterned growth of 3D n-type CdS nanowire arrays and p-type 2D WSe2 nanosheets for photoelectric gas sensors. This heterojunction sensor showed highly selective and reversible responses to NO2 and NH3 with detection limits of 60 and 54 ppb, respectively, under UV illumination at room temperature. Notably, the sensor exhibited an ultrafast response time of less than 1 s to 1 ppm NO2 and NH3, which outperforms most previous reports. The hybrid junction structure proposed herein will pave the way for engineering new electronic devices from a broad selection of materials to achieve improved sensing performances at room temperature.
{"title":"Mixed-dimensional heterojunction by 3D CdS nanowire arrays bridged with 2D WSe2 for ultrafast photoelectric gas sensor","authors":"Wei Zheng , Guocai Lu , Xianghong Liu , Shilei Fan , Yinhua Hu , Nicola Pinna , Jun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2024.11.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matt.2024.11.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heterojunctions are of essential importance for electronic sensors due to their unique properties at the junctions. However, a planar junction made of two-dimensional (2D) materials commonly suffers from slow response and irreversible recovery because of slow physisorption and desorption rates. Herein, we present a unique design of a mixed-dimensional heterojunction built from patterned growth of 3D n-type CdS nanowire arrays and p-type 2D WSe<sub>2</sub> nanosheets for photoelectric gas sensors. This heterojunction sensor showed highly selective and reversible responses to NO<sub>2</sub> and NH<sub>3</sub> with detection limits of 60 and 54 ppb, respectively, under UV illumination at room temperature. Notably, the sensor exhibited an ultrafast response time of less than 1 s to 1 ppm NO<sub>2</sub> and NH<sub>3</sub>, which outperforms most previous reports. The hybrid junction structure proposed herein will pave the way for engineering new electronic devices from a broad selection of materials to achieve improved sensing performances at room temperature.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"8 2","pages":"Article 101914"},"PeriodicalIF":17.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142763890","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}
Pub Date : 2025-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2024.101950
Jiazhe Ma , Zhongqiang Yang
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), possessing inherent anisotropy, are renowned for their capacity to undergo reversible, large deformations or significant structural color changes under external stimuli. When formed into one-dimensional structures, known as LCE fibers, these materials exhibit superior construction flexibility and exceptional response performance in applications such as actuators, artificial muscles, soft robots, and mechanochromic sensors, owing to their unique advantages of high aspect ratios and large specific surface areas. In this review, we focus on recent advances in LCE fibers. First, we introduce the stimulus-responsive mechanisms of LCE fibers. Then, we discuss the fabrication methods of LCE fibers, detailing the merits and demerits of each. After this, we present a summary of the applications of LCE fibers. Finally, we conclude with their current challenges and future opportunities. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and valuable perspective on LCE fibers for experts in the field of smart materials.
{"title":"Smart liquid crystal elastomer fibers","authors":"Jiazhe Ma , Zhongqiang Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2024.101950","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matt.2024.101950","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), possessing inherent anisotropy, are renowned for their capacity to undergo reversible, large deformations or significant structural color changes under external stimuli. When formed into one-dimensional structures, known as LCE fibers, these materials exhibit superior construction flexibility and exceptional response performance in applications such as actuators, artificial muscles, soft robots, and mechanochromic sensors, owing to their unique advantages of high aspect ratios and large specific surface areas. In this review, we focus on recent advances in LCE fibers. First, we introduce the stimulus-responsive mechanisms of LCE fibers. Then, we discuss the fabrication methods of LCE fibers, detailing the merits and demerits of each. After this, we present a summary of the applications of LCE fibers. Finally, we conclude with their current challenges and future opportunities. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and valuable perspective on LCE fibers for experts in the field of smart materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"8 2","pages":"Article 101950"},"PeriodicalIF":17.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143124572","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}
Pub Date : 2025-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2024.11.003
Matteo Fratarcangeli , S. Avery Vigil , Ziqing Lin , Conner J. Soderstedt , Ivan A. Moreno-Hernandez
The current state-of-the-art electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is iridium dioxide, providing a compromise between activity and stability. The low elemental abundance of iridium, coupled with the dissolution of iridium dioxide under operating conditions, prevents the global-scale implementation of electrolyzers. Understanding the origin of iridium dioxide dissolution at the nanoscale is crucial for the development of next-generation electrocatalysts that efficiently utilize iridium to meet energy demands. Herein, we report the influence of structural disorder, modulated by synthesis temperature, on the nanoscale dissolution dynamics and electrocatalytic activity of iridium dioxide nanocrystals. Our observations of dissolution on single nanocrystals revealed that structural disorder destabilized the OER-inactive (111) facets and had no substantial effect on the stability of the OER-active (110) facets. These findings highlight the importance of understanding nanoscale dynamic restructuring and suggest the possibility of developing highly active and stable (110)-based iridium dioxide electrocatalysts for water oxidation.
{"title":"Direct observation of structural disorder effects on iridium dioxide nanocrystal dissolution","authors":"Matteo Fratarcangeli , S. Avery Vigil , Ziqing Lin , Conner J. Soderstedt , Ivan A. Moreno-Hernandez","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2024.11.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matt.2024.11.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The current state-of-the-art electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is iridium dioxide, providing a compromise between activity and stability. The low elemental abundance of iridium, coupled with the dissolution of iridium dioxide under operating conditions, prevents the global-scale implementation of electrolyzers. Understanding the origin of iridium dioxide dissolution at the nanoscale is crucial for the development of next-generation electrocatalysts that efficiently utilize iridium to meet energy demands. Herein, we report the influence of structural disorder, modulated by synthesis temperature, on the nanoscale dissolution dynamics and electrocatalytic activity of iridium dioxide nanocrystals. Our observations of dissolution on single nanocrystals revealed that structural disorder destabilized the OER-inactive (111) facets and had no substantial effect on the stability of the OER-active (110) facets. These findings highlight the importance of understanding nanoscale dynamic restructuring and suggest the possibility of developing highly active and stable (110)-based iridium dioxide electrocatalysts for water oxidation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"8 2","pages":"Article 101909"},"PeriodicalIF":17.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142713356","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}
Pub Date : 2025-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2024.11.029
Ying Zhang , Jun Xu , Ben Wang
Artificially engineered red blood cells with immunological inertia are promising candidates for universal blood transfusions, eliminating the need to consider blood types. Their unique resilience is particularly beneficial for mismatched blood transfusions. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America by Lei et al. introduced a cell silicification strategy designed to shield the blood group antigens of red blood cells, protecting them from external stressors. This approach supports biocompatible allogeneic transfusions and mechanical perfusion. The silicified red blood cells exhibited significant potential for cross-species blood transfusion without triggering immune activation.
{"title":"Artificially engineered red blood cells for universal blood transfusion","authors":"Ying Zhang , Jun Xu , Ben Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2024.11.029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matt.2024.11.029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Artificially engineered red blood cells with immunological inertia are promising candidates for universal blood transfusions, eliminating the need to consider blood types. Their unique resilience is particularly beneficial for mismatched blood transfusions. A recent study published in the <em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America</em> by Lei et al. introduced a cell silicification strategy designed to shield the blood group antigens of red blood cells, protecting them from external stressors. This approach supports biocompatible allogeneic transfusions and mechanical perfusion. The silicified red blood cells exhibited significant potential for cross-species blood transfusion without triggering immune activation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"8 2","pages":"Article 101935"},"PeriodicalIF":17.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143124982","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}
Pub Date : 2025-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2024.10.022
Yuanhao Chen , Cristian Valenzuela , Yuan Liu , Xiao Yang , Yanzhao Yang , Xuan Zhang , Shaoshuai Ma , Ran Bi , Ling Wang , Wei Feng
Skeletal muscles are composed of neuromuscular fiber bundles that combine the sensing capability of muscle spindle fibers with the actuation function of muscle fibers. However, it is difficult to develop artificial soft neuromuscular fiber bundles (NeuroMuscles) with sophisticated sensing-diagnosis-actuation autonomy. Herein, a unique rotational molding strategy is proposed to fabricate core-multishelled fibers with a liquid metal core, liquid crystal elastomer actuation layer, and adhesion sheath. The NeuroMuscles are developed by seamlessly welding multiple fibers through a self-reinforcing interface featuring independent channels for stimulus source and perception signals with built-in adaptive feedback. When integrated with NeuroMuscles, artificial arms and fingers can not only sense their own motion in real time but also detect the object’s surfaces. Importantly, the biomimetic knee-jerk reflex of artificial legs is achieved by establishing adaptive feedback within NeuroMuscles without off-board control systems for signal processing. The NeuroMuscles could function as indispensable components for implantable muscular reinforcements, next-generation soft machines, and beyond.
{"title":"Biomimetic artificial neuromuscular fiber bundles with built-in adaptive feedback","authors":"Yuanhao Chen , Cristian Valenzuela , Yuan Liu , Xiao Yang , Yanzhao Yang , Xuan Zhang , Shaoshuai Ma , Ran Bi , Ling Wang , Wei Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2024.10.022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matt.2024.10.022","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Skeletal muscles are composed of neuromuscular fiber bundles that combine the sensing capability of muscle spindle fibers with the actuation function of muscle fibers. However, it is difficult to develop artificial soft neuromuscular fiber bundles (NeuroMuscles) with sophisticated sensing-diagnosis-actuation autonomy. Herein, a unique rotational molding strategy is proposed to fabricate core-multishelled fibers with a liquid metal core, liquid crystal elastomer actuation layer, and adhesion sheath. The NeuroMuscles are developed by seamlessly welding multiple fibers through a self-reinforcing interface featuring independent channels for stimulus source and perception signals with built-in adaptive feedback. When integrated with NeuroMuscles, artificial arms and fingers can not only sense their own motion in real time but also detect the object’s surfaces. Importantly, the biomimetic knee-jerk reflex of artificial legs is achieved by establishing adaptive feedback within NeuroMuscles without off-board control systems for signal processing. The NeuroMuscles could function as indispensable components for implantable muscular reinforcements, next-generation soft machines, and beyond.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"8 2","pages":"Article 101904"},"PeriodicalIF":17.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142673716","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}
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