Materials Horizons最新文献

Intelligent protective clothing plays a pivotal role in safeguarding life and health. In this study, we have developed a cellulose@polyethyleneimine aerogel fiber (CE@PEI-aerogel fiber), which integrates thermal protection, hazardous gas detection, and visual warning functions. This innovative fiber is fabricated through amino-functionalization modification of cotton followed by wet-spinning processes. The resulting aerogel fiber exhibits a three-dimensional network structure with uniform nanopores, and the constructed fabric demonstrates exceptional thermal insulation properties and an ultra-low thermal conductivity of 29.5 mW (m K)^-1. Notably, the introduction of amino groups significantly enhances the dye uptake rate (95.95% for reactive red) and fixation rate (77.68% for reactive red) of the aerogel fiber via a salt-free dyeing process. Furthermore, by incorporating commercially available responsive dyes, these aerogel fibers exhibit high sensitivity, rapid response, and visual detection capabilities towards toxic substances including acidic gases, ammonia, formaldehyde, and acetone with a detection limit at the ppm level. The CE@PEI-aerogel fiber can be further woven into a fabric, which integrates thermal protection, visual early warning, and robust mechanical properties, achieving a comprehensive "detection-protection-warning" system for industrial safety and environmental monitoring.

The development of therapies that dynamically respond to the wound microenvironment is essential to overcome the limitations of conventional monotherapies. We present a wearable patch that self-regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) to accelerate wound healing. This flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) patch conforms to the wound, delivering narrow 630 nm peak light at an irradiance of 5 mW cm^-2 for photobiomodulation (PBM). The patch activates healing directly via PBM, and the consequently induced ROS serve as a therapeutic trigger. This ROS trigger stimulates ROS-responsive nanoparticles to release antioxidant drugs, which neutralize excess ROS. We confirmed a dose-dependent additive effect across 2-8 J cm^-2, with 6 J cm^-2 being the most effective. This combination therapy significantly accelerated wound closure and promoted superior tissue regeneration, including robust skin barrier reconstruction and mature vessel stabilization. This OLED patch introduces a next-generation phototherapy, transforming signals into therapeutic triggers for advanced combination treatments.

The quantitative relationship between chemical composition, crystal structure and functional properties in materials with complex distortions has remained elusive, creating a critical bottleneck for rational design. This is particularly relevant for the vast family of Pnma perovskites-technologically important materials where octahedral tilting governs key functionalities. While Landau theory successfully describes structural responses to external stimuli like temperature or pressure, its application to chemical diversity has been largely unexplored. Here, we bridge this gap by demonstrating that symmetry-derived order parameters serve as universal descriptors, providing a language connecting chemical bonding to distortion patterns. Through group-theoretical analysis of 227 Pnma perovskites across oxides, fluorides, halides and chalcogenides, we establish robust symmetry principles governing composition-structure relationships. Unlike empirical descriptors or non-analytical machine learning approaches, our framework provides quantitative, physics-based design rules for engineering functional properties. This work expands Landau theory into chemical space, creating a universal platform for understanding and designing functional materials, with implications extending beyond perovskites to other distorted crystal structures.

Although transarterial chemoembolization is a prevalent treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), its efficacy is limited by inadequate vascular infiltration, inconsistent embolization, and lack of therapeutic synergy. We developed a multifunctional injectable hydrogel system using strategically combined high- and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid and a carbon dot/iron complex (APIO/Fe complex) to overcome these challenges. The dual-molecular-weight approach optimizes both structural integrity and injectability and also enables the homogeneous distribution of therapeutic agents. The APIO carbon dots were produced by a one-pot hydrothermal synthesis using iohexol and 1-(3-aminopropyl) imidazole as dual-purpose precursors for computed tomography (CT) imaging and iron chelation. The APIO/Fe complex was characterized via dynamic light scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, confirming its nanoscale structure and compositional integrity. The APIO/Fe hydrogel demonstrated shear-thinning and self-healing properties, injectability, and mechanical recovery. The APIO/Fe complex and the hydrogel preserved CT and magnetic resonance imaging contrast capabilities compared with conventional contrast agents. They also catalyzed the Fenton reaction, initiated the formation of reactive oxygen species, and accelerated coagulation upon interaction with blood. In a three-dimensional vascular model, the APIO/Fe complex induced occlusion. This multifunctional platform integrates imaging visibility, oxidative therapy, and embolic function, thus providing a synergistic, minimally invasive approach for HCC treatment.

The increasing frequency of extreme weather events driven by global climate change has intensified icing-related challenges across critical infrastructure, including transportation, energy systems, and aerospace applications. Conventional anti-/de-icing technologies are often limited by high energy consumption, operational inefficiency, and environmental concerns, underscoring the urgent need for more sustainable solutions. Herein, we define key terms: 'icephobic' materials passively inhibit ice formation or adhesion; 'anti-icing' refers to preventing ice accretion, while 'de-icing' involves removing accumulated ice; 'superhydrophobic' surfaces exhibit extreme water repellency (contact angle > 150°, sliding angle < 10°); and 'slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS)' are lubricant-infused surfaces that provide a smooth, ice-repellent interface. Photothermal materials have shown great potential in anti-icing applications, offering efficient, eco-friendly ice mitigation by harnessing solar energy for localized heat generation. This review provides a systematic summary of the role and application prospects of photothermal anti-icing materials in anti-icing applications, with an emphasis on the underlying mechanisms, particularly interfacial wettability dynamics and thermal transport processes. We categorize and critically assess major classes of photothermal materials, including carbon-based, metallic, semiconductor, polymeric, and all-weather systems, discussing their fabrication strategies and associated performance trade-offs. Key barriers to commercialization are highlighted, including challenges related to mechanical durability and geometric adaptability, optical transparency and scalable production, as well as precise thermal management and long-term chemical stability. Beyond a systematic summary of recent progress, this review pioneers a unified perspective that integrates photothermal efficiency, surface/interfacial design, and environmental adaptability. We critically analyze the synergistic effects and inherent trade-offs among these dimensions. By establishing this framework, this review aims to guide the rational design of next-generation photothermal icephobic materials for targeted applications and bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and real-world implementation.

Achieving scarless healing combined with skin appendage regeneration remains an extremely challenging task in the treatment of skin wounds. Vitamin A derivatives have shown great potential for follicle neogenesis and scarless repair but suffer from poor solubility, instability, photosensitivity, and toxicity in wound healing processes. Here, we present a multifunctional bioadhesive hydrogel system that integrates polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles with vitamin A derivatives to promote functional skin regeneration. The PDA nanoparticles stabilized and enabled pH-responsive release of vitamin A derivatives, while simultaneously providing reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and antioxidant protection. Embedded within an imine-crosslinked adhesive hydrogel network, this platform achieved strong tissue adhesion, sustained drug delivery, and favorable immune microenvironment modulation. In vivo, using both rat burn wounds and rabbit hypertrophic scar models, the optimized formulation accelerated wound closure, rebalanced collagen deposition, suppressed myofibroblast activation, and markedly prevented pathological fibrosis. Strikingly, it also induced robust de novo hair follicle formation, indicating true functional tissue restoration. Transcriptomic and immunofluorescence analyses further revealed downregulation of pro-fibrotic and inflammatory pathways alongside activation of regenerative signaling, including M2 macrophage polarization and suppression of the M1 phenotype in treated wounds. This study introduces an early vitamin A-based nanocomposite hydrogel with dual anti-scarring and regenerative functions, offering a promising strategy for advanced wound care.

Correction for 'Moderately polarized carborane-MOF with inverse C₂ selectivity for one-step polymer-grade ethylene purification' by Changhong Liu et al., Mater. Horiz., 2026, 13, 473-479, https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH01641J.

Superior calcium-magnesium-alumino-silicate (CMAS) corrosion resistance, along with favorable thermophysical properties, is crucial for high-entropy rare-earth disilicates (HEREDSs) to be used as environmental barrier coatings. To achieve this goal, we expand the composition space of HEREDSs and develop 9- to 16-cation HEREDSs using a laser-driven synthesis technique. Specifically, the intensified sluggish diffusion effect induced by extreme elemental mixing and the superior stability of the F-type phase in HEREDSs is beneficial for reducing the dissolution rate of the formed multicomponent apatite in the CMAS melt, while the inclusion of more elements with great atomic weight differences can induce phase separation, leading to deteriorated corrosion behavior. As a result, the synthesized (Lu, Yb, Tm, Er, Ho, Dy, Gd, Sm, Nd, Pr, Ce, La, Eu, Tb)₂Si₂O₇ (14HEREDS) is found to demonstrate superior CMAS corrosion resistance with a low corrosion rate of 6.7 μm h^-1 at 1400 °C for 48 h. Moreover, remarkable thermophysical properties, including superior phase stability over 1600 °C, extremely low room temperature thermal conductivity (1.05 W m^-1 K^-1), and excellent match of coefficient of thermal expansion (5.4 × 10^-6 K^-1) with SiC_f/SiC composites (4.5-5.5 × 10^-6 K^-1), are observed in the synthesized 14HEREDS. Our work develops a novel material with remarkable CMAS corrosion resistance and thermophysical properties, showing great promise for environmental barrier coating applications.

Electric vehicles (EVs) experience substantial reductions in driving range under extreme weather conditions-primarily due to the energy demands of cabin climate control (up to ∼54%) and, to a lesser extent, battery inefficiencies (∼20%). To address this issue, we propose an auxiliary energy source termed as an e-thermal bank, designed to support onboard heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and battery thermal management (BTM). The e-thermal bank is a high-energy-density, microwave-driven, fast-charging thermochemical storage (TCS) system that simultaneously manages cabin climate and battery temperature. To meet the stringent performance requirements of this innovative system, its key component-an advanced sorbent material-is developed through confinement of a TCS salt into a micro- and macro-structured porous matrix. The resulting optimized sorbent exhibits a high sorption capacity of 3.96 g g^-1, a rapid sorption rate, and a record-high material-level energy density of 10 426 kJ g^-1 at 90% relative humidity (RH), all the while ensuring leak-proof operation. Thanks to its structural stability and scalability, this performance translates effectively into a prototype system achieving an ultra-high energy density of 2135 Wh kg^-1 and power densities of 2.96 kW kg^-1 for heating and 3.016 kW kg^-1 for cooling. Theoretical evaluations based on real-world datasets indicate that incorporating the e-thermal bank could extend EV driving range by approximately 30% in winter and 20% in summer across most global regions.

Wave diffraction is typically regarded as a limiting factor in the performance of acoustic noise barriers, enabling sound to bend over finite structures and reducing attenuation, particularly at low frequencies. In this work, we demonstrate that diffraction can instead be harnessed as a functional mechanism for sound suppression by designing metamaterial barriers that incorporate a vertical array of resonators along the barrier surface. The proposed structure changes the dispersion characteristics of edge-diffracted waves and acts as a boundary that transforms diffraction into surface-guided wave propagation. Our analysis reveals that the metabarrier achieves broadband sound attenuation through two distinct mechanisms: (i) the formation of strong standing wave modes due to surface-guided waves confined along the barrier face, and (ii) resonance-induced evanescence decay resulting in localized band gap formation. Together, these effects lead to a substantial enhancement in insertion loss over a broad frequency range. Furthermore, we show that performance can be tuned by implementing double-sided arrays. These findings introduce a new framework for acoustic wave control, in which diffraction is not merely mitigated but actively exploited as a design-enabling feature.