Materials Horizons最新文献

The mechanical properties of polymer elastomer materials, such as strength and ductility, play important roles in a wide range of applications, including the carrying of major equipment and the construction of infrastructure. However, owing to the widespread disordered physicochemical bonding and unpredictable internal phase separation phenomenon, traditional materials show a complex nonlinear correlation between the material structure and its performance, which makes it difficult to accurately adapt to the performance requirements of various specific application scenarios. In view of the above challenges, this paper innovatively proposes a strategy to achieve linear programmability in the mechanical properties of polymer elastomer materials. Instead of increasing the entropy value of the material, which may be brought about by the traditional physical composite method, this strategy adopts a unique path of introducing special dynamic chain segments (AlPUs). This innovative design leads to a highly ordered microscopic hydrogen bonding arrangement within the elastomer, which effectively reduces the free volume within the material, thus bringing the mechanical response of the material closer to the ideal state. Furthermore, by fine-tuning the content of material components, we are able to achieve linear control of key mechanical indexes, such as tensile strength and elongation at break, which is a significant advantage in terms of precision, range of adjustment, and versatility. The successful implementation of this work opens up a new way toward logical, fine and intelligent design and preparation of polymer materials, providing a solid materials science foundation and unlimited possibilities to promote technological innovation and development in the field of future major equipment and infrastructure.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are an emergent threat to the environment due to their toxic, carcinogenic, and environmentally persistent nature. Commonly, these harmful micropollutants are removed from contaminated water sources through adsorption by porous sorbents such as activated carbon. While studies suggest a relationship between sorbent pore size and their PFAS remediation performance, the underlying mechanisms-particularly those related to sorbate morphology-have not been elucidated through direct experimental observations. This work investigates how pore size in carbonaceous sorbents impacts the morphology of adsorbed perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) aggregates and their sorption behavior, using microporous and mesoporous carbons as models. Contrast-matching small-angle neutron scattering (CM-SANS) is used to determine the structure of adsorbed PFOA molecules, supported by molecular dynamics simulations and physisorption experiments. Our findings reveal that the larger pore sizes in mesoporous sorbents enable the formation of PFOA assemblies during adsorption, which is hindered in microporous sorbents. Collectively, this work provides direct insights into the adsorption and assembly mechanisms of PFAS molecules within confined pores, offering important insights for the rational design of effective remediation systems.

Solid-state batteries have gradually become a hotspot for the development of lithium-ion batteries due to their intrinsic safety and potential high energy density, among which, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have attracted much attention due to the advantages of low cost, good flexibility and scalability for commercial application. However, the low ionic conductivity at room temperature, low mechanical strength and unstable interfaces of SPEs hinder further practical applications. In this paper, the modulation of the Li coordination structure and different ion transport channels in the wide-temperature range are reviewed. In addition, the effects of the Li coordination structure on the electrolyte/electrode interfaces/interphases and electrochemical performance are also presented. Furthermore, future research directions including coordination structure, ion transport, manufacturing techniques and full cell performance are summarized and an outlook is given, which will provide general principles to design safe and high-performance solid-state lithium batteries.

The manipulation of droplets with non-destructive, efficient, and high-precision features is of great importance in several fields, including microfluidics and biomedicine. The lubrication layer of bioinspired slippery surfaces demonstrates remarkable stability and self-restoration capabilities when subjected to external perturbations. Consequently, research into the manipulation of droplets on slippery surfaces has continued to make progress. This paper presents a review of the methods of droplet manipulation on bioinspired slippery surfaces. It begins by outlining the basic theory of slippery surfaces and the mechanism of droplet motion on slippery surfaces. Furthermore, droplet manipulation methods on slippery surfaces are classified into active and passive approaches based on the presence of external stimuli (e.g., heat, light, electricity, and magnetism). Finally, an outlook is provided on the current challenges facing droplet manipulation on slippery surfaces, and potential solution ideas are presented.

Photocatalysis has emerged as a crucial technology for utilizing solar energy to combat global warming and energy shortages. In this realm, both organic and inorganic halide/oxide perovskites have attracted considerable interest. Despite the prevalence of research on lead-based perovskites, the focus is shifting towards lead-free alternatives due to lead's detrimental environmental impact. These materials are at the forefront of developments in photovoltaics, optoelectronics, and photocatalysis. When combined with carbon-based materials to form heterojunctions, lead-free perovskites demonstrate outstanding photocatalytic performance while being cost-effective. This review examines various synthesis methods for lead-free perovskites and their numerous heterojunctions with carbon-based materials. It specifically highlights Z- and S-scheduled heterojunctions, emphasizing their use in hydrogen production, carbon dioxide reduction, and oxygen evolution. The review emphasizes the evolving field of scientific research aimed at solving current energy and environmental issues.

Due to diverse properties complementary to their crystalline state, organic-inorganic metal halide hybrid (OIMH) glasses are drawing increasing attention. Nevertheless, the fundamental principles governing glass formation and crystallization in these materials remain elusive, significantly limiting their multifunctional applications. Here, high glass formation ability and tunable crystallization of glass are achieved through the regulation of intermolecular interactions. The π⋯π and C-H⋯π interactions among Bzmim⁺ (Bzmim = 1-benzyl-3-methylimidazolium) cations increase the melt viscosity and packing inefficiency of the structure, thereby facilitating the high glass formation ability of Bzmim₃SbCl₆ (B3SC6) and Bzmim₂SbCl₅ (B2SC5). The crystallization behaviour of these glasses is closely related to electrostatic attraction. The stronger electrostatic attraction and larger melt fragility in B3SC6 lead to a longer cooperative length of the supercooled liquid above T_g, resulting in a reversible and rapid crystal-glass transformation accompanied by high contrast luminescence switching upon heating. Conversely, the weaker electrostatic attraction and smaller melt fragility in B2SC5 result in a stable glass, and transparent glass ceramic can be fabricated by assisted nucleation and slow crystallization growth. This work highlights the important impact of intermolecular interactions on the formation and crystallization of OIMH glass, providing a design framework for engineering tailored properties for advanced applications in nonvolatile memory and photonic devices.

High-capacity small organic compounds are easily dissolved in aqueous electrolytes, resulting in limited cycling stability of Zn-organic batteries (ZOBs). To address this issue, we proposed constructing superstable lock-and-key hydrogen-bonding networks between the 2,7-dinitrophenanthraquinone (DNPQ) cathode and NH₄⁺ charge carriers to achieve ultrastable ZOBs. DNPQ, with its sextuple-active carbonyl/nitro motifs (H-bonding acceptors), was found to be uniquely prone to redox-coupling with tetrahedral NH₄⁺ ions (H-bonding donors) while excluding sluggish Zn²⁺ ions, owing to a lower activation energy (0.32 vs. 0.43 eV). NH₄⁺-coordinated H-bonding electrochemistry overcame the instability of the DNPQ cathode in aqueous electrolytes and enabled rapid redox kinetics of non-metal NH₄⁺ charge carriers. As a result, a three-step 3e^- NH₄⁺ coordination with the DNPQ cathode achieved large-current survivability (50 A g^-1) and long-lasting cyclability (80 000 cycles) for ZOBs. This work broadens the potential for developing high-performance H-bonding-stabilized organics for advanced ZOBs.

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things, there exists an urgent necessity for high performance piezoelectric energy harvesters to facilitate the construction of more efficient wireless sensor systems. However, the development of piezoelectric energy harvesters with high power density remains a major challenge. In this study, we present a synergistic design strategy aimed at improving the output performance of piezoelectric energy harvesters. Micro-pores with low permittivity were introduced into the ceramics to improve the piezoelectric key parameters, including the piezoelectric voltage coefficient (g₃₃) and the piezoelectric energy harvesting figure of merit (FoM₃₃). The barium titanate (BTO) ceramics with 60% aligned pores obtained high g₃₃ and FoM₃₃, which were up to 24.8 × 10^-3 V m N^-1 and 3.3 × 10^-12 m² N^-1. By optimizing the aspect ratio of each ceramic unit, a higher effective stress level dispersed in the ceramic phase was achieved, and the open circuit voltage of the sensor was significantly improved (41.3%). The construction of high-output performance piezoelectric energy harvesters based on BTO ceramics with relatively low piezoelectric coefficients was successfully achieved via this synergistic design strategy. This high-performance energy harvester exhibits excellent open-circuit voltage (354.8 V), short-circuit current (710.1 μA) and power density (16.7 mW cm^-2), demonstrating the feasibility of this synergistic design strategy in developing high-output energy supply systems. The application of piezoelectric energy harvesters in powering micro-devices and monitoring train stability was demonstrated. This work is expected to provide new opportunities for the fabrication of future self-powered electronic devices.

Electrochemical ammonia synthesis is a promising alternative to the Haber-Bosch process, offering significant potential for sustainable agricultural production and the development of portable, carbon-free energy carriers. The development of electrocatalytic systems is currently dependent on the exploration of electrocatalysts with high activity, selectivity, and stability. Metal single-atom catalysts (SACs) have become a new attractive frontier for ammonia electrosynthesis, owing to their maximized atom utilization, unsaturated atom coordination, and tunable electronic structure. In this review, we focused on different metal sites inside the single-atom catalysts and summarized recent advances in SACs for ammonia electrosynthesis. The properties of small nitrogenous substances (including N₂, NO, NO₂^-, and NO₃^-) are summarized. In addition, the SACs for different catalytic systems are reviewed, with a particular focus on the special and common grounds of metal atom sites. Finally, the perspectives and challenges of SACs for ammonia electrosynthesis are comprehensively discussed, aspiring to provide insights into the development of electrochemical ammonia synthesis.

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