Infomat最新文献

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) show great promise for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. However, their susceptibility to oxidation, particularly in humid environments or water, limits their industrial applications. This study introduces a straightforward method for developing functionalized MXenes (F-MXenes) with significantly enhanced oxidation resistance and environmental stability, which are critical factors for industrial scalability. The resulting F-MXenes disperse easily in non-polar solvents, adhere well to various substrates, and remain highly stable under harsh conditions in an accelerated oxidation test at 100°C and 80% relative humidity for 49 days; F-MXenes retained 93% of their initial electrical resistance. Additionally, these films withstand water exposure, maintain superior current retention in seawater and corrosive environments, and exhibit high flexibility (10 000 bending cycles) and tensile strength (35 MPa). Notably, the EMI shielding effectiveness of the hydrophobic F-MXene films, produced using scalable techniques such as spray and blade coating, far exceeds that of previously reported hydrophobic MXene films and MXene composites, achieving 52–77 dB at thicknesses of 5–40 μm. This study highlights the potential of F-MXene as high-performance, scalable EMI-shielding coatings, particularly in humid or water-exposed environments.

As demand for customized wearable electronics grows, free-form Li-ion batteries (LIBs) are attracting significant attention. Although substantial advancements have been made in printed LIBs for shape-versatile electronics, the development of printable solid-state electrolytes remains challenging due to the difficulty of simultaneously achieving desirable rheological properties and ionic conductivity. In this study, a solvent-free, non-flammable solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) is designed as a novel three-dimensional (3D) printable electrolyte via direct ink writing (DIW) for all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). The solvent-free nature of this SPE eliminates post-annealing steps, enhancing safety by mitigating risks of leakage, short-circuiting, and fire. Additionally, precise control over polymer molecular weight and electrolyte composition enables high printing resolution (~100 μm), high ionic conductivity (0.705 mS cm⁻¹ at 25°C), and intrinsic non-flammability. A 3D-printed ASSB, featuring a LiFePO₄ cathode and Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ anode with a mass loading of 7 mg cm⁻², achieves a high areal capacity of 1.14 mAh cm⁻², surpassing all previously reported directly printed ASSBs. This SPE facilitates scalable production of fully DIW-printed ASSBs with superior design flexibility and space efficiency, enabling printing onto customized targets such as flexible substrates and advancing the development of next-generation wearable electronics.

Printed electronics technology, characterized by its low cost, large-area compatibility, operational simplicity, and high-speed processing, has been extensively utilized in the fabrication of flexible electronic devices. Liquid metals, with their exceptional electrical conductivity and room-temperature fluidity, are considered ideal materials for the development of flexible and stretchable electronics. However, the adhesion mechanisms at the interface between liquid metals and substrates, a fundamental aspect of liquid metal-based printed electronics, have not been comprehensively explored in the existing literature. This review first introduces the fundamental properties of liquid metals and their adhesion mechanisms to various substrates, followed by a summary of printing technologies designed to enhance or reduce substrate adhesion. Additionally, techniques for printing on non-adhesive substrates through material modification, as well as methods for achieving detachment on adhesive substrates by controlling interfacial properties, are demonstrated. Finally, future research challenges and developmental trends in materials, methods, equipment, and applications are discussed. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the interfacial adhesion effects between liquid metals and substrates, offering valuable insights for printing on a wide range of substrates, including plastics, silicones, paper, and even biological surfaces.

Artificial visual neural systems have emerged as promising candidates for overcoming the von Neumann bottleneck via integrating image perception, storage, and computation. Existing photoelectric memristors are limited by the need for specific wavelengths or long input times to maintain stable behavior. Here, we introduce a benzothiophene-modified covalent organic framework, enhancing the photoelectric response of methyl trinuclear copper for low-voltage (0.2 V) redox processes. The material enables the modulation of 50 conductive states via light and electrical signals, improving recognition accuracy in low light, dense fog, and high-frequency motion. The ITO/BTT-Cu₃/ITO device's accuracy increases from 7.1% with 2 states to 87.1% after training. This construction strategy and the synergistic effect of photoelectric interactions offer a new pathway for the development of photoelectric neuromorphic computing elements capable of processing environmental information in situ.

Underwater strain sensors are crucial for marine exploration, amphibious robotics, and aquatic dynamic monitoring. However, frequent dry–wet transitions in practical applications can lead to structural degradation and sensitivity loss, limiting their long-term stability. Traditional designs relying on waterproof or hydrophobic layers isolate the core structure from water but suffer from interface delamination and performance decline during dry–wet cycles. Additionally, these layers increase weight, restricting lightweight and flexible applications. Herein, we developed a novel fiber-based underwater strain sensor by coaxially spinning cuprammonium rayon (CR) and Ti₃C₂T_x. A “water-compatible” strategy was introduced to overcome the limitations of traditional “water-repellent” approaches by leveraging molecular-level material design. Ammonium ions in the cuprammonium spinning solution induce MXene gelation, forming a compact core–shell interface. CR's amorphous regions' hydroxyl and amino groups establish dynamic hydrogen bonds with water, enhancing interfacial bonding, mechanical strength, and wet sensitivity. During dry–wet cycles, the water network stabilizes the wet structure and facilitates rapid water release upon drying, restoring molecular interactions to maintain mechanical strength and conductivity. This sensor combines high strength, excellent wet sensitivity, and stable dry conductivity with exceptional adaptability to cycling. It offers a lightweight, high-performance, multifunctional solution for underwater sensing in low-latitude high-humidity environments, ensuring broad applicability.

Rechargeable zinc–air batteries (RZABs), emerged as a prospective energy conversion device, have garnered substantial attention from researchers over the past decades. Nevertheless, the sluggish kinetic processes related to the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that occurred on the air cathode throughout the charge–discharge cycles pose a significant challenge. Therefore, the advancement of bifunctional electrocatalysts possessing excellent performance and robust cycling stability is of crucial importance. Herein, a coordination polymer (dimethylimidazolium-Co²⁺-potassium ferricyanide), assembled via chemical induced self-assembly strategy, has been utilized as precursors for the fabrication of 1D/3D dual carbon-supported Fe₃Co nitrogen carbides (Fe₃Co–NC). Confirmed by characterization results and theoretical calculations, the synergistic effect of FeN₂–CoN₃ active sites and the 1D/3D hierarchical networks effectively enhances its bifunctional ORR/OER activities under alkaline electrolyte conditions. Specifically, as-prepared Fe₃Co-NC composite exhibits a remarkable half-wave potential of 0.88 V and achieves a 1.67 V overpotential at 10 mA cm⁻². Moreover, the peak power density of the as-assembled RZAB reaches 182.4 mW cm⁻², maintaining an output voltage of approximately 1.1 V after 400 h of galvanostatic discharge–charge cycling. This research proposes a new, cost-effective, and high-performance synthesis approach for the preparation of bifunctional electrocatalysts.

Nickel-rich layered oxides (LiNi_xCo_yMn_zO₂, NCM) are among the most promising cathode materials for high-energy lithium-ion batteries, offering high specific capacity and output voltage at a relatively low cost. However, industrial-scale co-precipitation presents significant challenges, particularly in maintaining particle sphericity, ensuring a stable concentration gradient, and preserving production yield when transitioning from lab-scale compositions. This study addresses a critical issue in the large-scale synthesis of nickel-rich NCM (x = 0.8381): nickel leaching, which compromises particle uniformity and battery performance. To mitigate this, we optimize the reaction process and develop an artificial intelligence-driven defect prediction system that enhances precursor stability. Our domain adaptation based machine learning model, which accounts for equipment wear and environmental variations, achieves a defect detection accuracy of 97.8% based on machine data and process conditions. By implementing this approach, we successfully scale up NCM precursor production to over 2 tons, achieving 83% capacity retention after 500 cycles at a 1C rate. In addition, the proposed approach demonstrates the formation of a concentration gradient in the composition and a high sphericity of 0.951 (±0.0796). This work provides new insights into the stable mass production of NCM precursors, ensuring both high yield and performance reliability.

The resistance and immune evasion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in biofilms are the culprits behind persistent infections. There is an urgent need for safe and effective antibacterial strategies to address MRSA and biofilm-related infections. Herein, we propose the development of an all-in-one optical microfiber that integrates rapid quantitative analysis with synergistic antimicrobial therapy for deep-seated MRSA in biofilms. The prepared interfacial-functionalized sensor can be used for quantitative analysis of MRSA in clinical whole-blood samples with low volumes (10 μL), reducing the detection time to 30 min and effectively preventing false-positive and false-negative results. The sensor can also be used for multimode antimicrobial therapy. This one-time treatment accelerates recovery and prevents recurrence through the synergistic effect of photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, and the antibacterial effect of Ag⁺, as well as the activation of immune memory. The therapy is localized with relatively low hyperthermia and does not cause harm to the surrounding healthy tissues. The integration of therapeutic agents onto the optical microfiber precludes their enrichment in other organs. The light guided through the optical fiber can reach deep-seated biofilms, which other light sources fail to reach. This work is promising for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of deep-seated infections.

Negative differential transconductance (NDT) presents a promising platform for advancing next-generation computing technologies by reducing power consumption without increasing circuit complexity. The realization of multi-valued logic computing depends on developing innovative device concepts and circuits beyond conventional complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. In this study, we demonstrate NDT behavior in an InSe/BP heterojunction at room temperature, achieving a tunable NDT with a remarkable peak-to-valley current ratio of 43.5 at V_ds = 1.4 V. The device also exhibits distinct photovoltaic behavior and a broad spectral response spanning from 520 to 1550 nm. It delivers excellent photodetection performance, with a high photoresponsivity of 561.68 A W⁻¹, detectivity of 3.95 × 10¹² cmHz^1/2 W⁻¹, an ultrahigh external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 1341.87%, and a fast response speed of 27 μs under 532 nm illumination. Even in the near-infrared regime of 1550 nm, the device maintains a responsivity of 2.21 A W⁻¹, detectivity of 1.23 × 10¹⁰ cmHz^1/2 W⁻¹, and a rise time of 477 μs. Furthermore, we successfully implemented a ternary inverter, a key component for multi-valued logic computing technology, and an artificial neuron capable of emulating neural signal transmission. This study not only highlights the exceptional electronic and optoelectronic performance of the device but also provides deeper insights into band modulation, paving the way for future advancements in low-power, high-speed logic, and neuromorphic applications.

Hydrogen stands as a promising energy carrier that plays a pivotal role in addressing global sustainability and achieving carbon neutrality. The conversion of hydrogen energy through fuel cells has emerged as a central technology in this pursuit. Notably, protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) hold potential for the future hydrogen energy ecosystem, owing to their impressive energy conversion efficiencies at low-to-intermediate temperatures (300–750°C). It is becoming increasingly evident that the development of PCFC technology relies on advancements in the cathode, as oxygen-involved reactions often exhibit sluggish kinetics. In this comprehensive review, we aim to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge concerning the design of advanced cathodes for PCFCs. This includes discussing key descriptors for cathodes, methods for characterizing material properties, and functionalization techniques to enhance electrode performance. Finally, we present insights into future research directions.