Featured
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Article
| Open AccessHighly cross-linked carbon tube aerogels with enhanced elasticity and fatigue resistance
Carbon aerogels are generally fragile and tend to collapse under large compressive strain. Here, the authors demonstrate that the mechanical strength, elasticity, and fatigue resistance can be improved by fabricating aerogels with interconnected carbon tubes.
- Lei Zhuang
- , De Lu
- & Hongjie Wang
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Article
| Open AccessRotational and dilational reconstruction in transition metal dichalcogenide moiré bilayers
Lattice reconstruction crucially influences the electronic properties of twisted van der Waals structures. Here, the authors report a quantitative characterization of the mechanical deformations occurring in small-angle twisted bilayers and heterobilayers of 2D semiconductors via interferometric 4D scanning transmission electron microscopy.
- Madeline Van Winkle
- , Isaac M. Craig
- & D. Kwabena Bediako
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Article
| Open AccessRobust microscale structural superlubricity between graphite and nanostructured surface
Structural superlubricity (SSL) is a state of nearly zero friction and no wear between two contacted solid surfaces. Here, authors show that, by preventing edge contact with the substrate, a microscale graphite flake can achieve robust SSL against nanostructured silicon surfaces under ambient condition.
- Xuanyu Huang
- , Tengfei Li
- & Quanshui Zheng
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Article
| Open AccessShape distortion in sintering results from nonhomogeneous temperature activating a long-range mass transport
Shape distortion is a limitation for sintering-based manufacturing techniques, yet the fundamental causes are not fully understood. Here, the authors study and characterize such behavior and develop a continuum model to describe the effect and provide fundamental understanding to control distortion.
- Sandra M. Ritchie
- , Sasa Kovacevic
- & Rahul P. Panat
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Article
| Open AccessSynergistic binding sites in a metal-organic framework for the optical sensing of nitrogen dioxide
Luminescent metal-organic frameworks are an emerging class of optical sensors capable to capture and detect toxic gases. Here, the authors report the incorporation of synergistic binding sites in MOF-808 through post-synthetic modification with copper for optical sensing of NO2 at remarkably low concentrations.
- Isabel del Castillo-Velilla
- , Ahmad Sousaraei
- & Ana E. Platero-Prats
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Article
| Open AccessUnderstanding the sulphur-oxygen exchange process of metal sulphides prior to oxygen evolution reaction
Dynamic reconstruction of metal sulphides during electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction is a key aspect of study. Herein, modelling on a series of cobalt-nickel bimetallic sulphides, the authors reveal a dynamic phase evaluation pathway and the S-O substitution process occurring on the catalytic surface at the pre-catalytic stage.
- Yang Hu
- , Yao Zheng
- & Chun-Hua Yan
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Article
| Open AccessHydrovoltaic effect-enhanced photocatalysis by polyacrylic acid/cobaltous oxide–nitrogen doped carbon system for efficient photocatalytic water splitting
The construction of efficient photocatalyst system by utilizing hydrovoltaic technology bring promise but a challenge for photocatalytic water splitting. Here, the authors report a hydrovoltaic effect-enhanced photocatalytic system that shows high efficiency and quick kinetics of water splitting.
- Xu Xin
- , Youzi Zhang
- & Xuanhua Li
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Article
| Open AccessUnraveling a bifunctional mechanism for methanol-to-formate electro-oxidation on nickel-based hydroxides
Understanding the active sites is essential for advanced catalyst design. Here, the authors report a bifunctional mechanism for the methanol electrooxidation reaction using NiMn hydroxide with NiIII and oxygen active sites which work in a cooperative manner to promote either spontaneous or non-spontaneous methanol oxidation.
- Botao Zhu
- , Bo Dong
- & Lai Feng
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Article
| Open AccessAqueous spinning of robust, self-healable, and crack-resistant hydrogel microfibers enabled by hydrogen bond nanoconfinement
Hydrogels with homogenous structure are vulnerable to defects and cracks, and local mechanical failure occurs consequently. Here, the authors develop a spinning process to produce robust hydrogel microfibers with both crack insensitivity and self-healability.
- Yingkun Shi
- , Baohu Wu
- & Peiyi Wu
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Article
| Open AccessPolyamide membranes with nanoscale ordered structures for fast permeation and highly selective ion-ion separation
Membranes with precise ion-ion separation are critical for sustainable water treatment. Here, authors demonstrated controlled construction of a nanofiltration membrane with fast permeation and high Cl-/SO42- selectivity by simultaneous spatial and temporal control of interfacial polymerization.
- Changwei Zhao
- , Yanjun Zhang
- & Sui Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessDeformation constraints of graphene oxide nanochannels under reverse osmosis
Nanochannels in laminated graphene oxide nanosheets featuring confined mass transport have attracted interest in multiple research fields. As an important aspect for efficient pressure-driven membrane processes, authors investigate the response and deformation behaviours of such nanochannels to different external conditions.
- Kecheng Guan
- , Yanan Guo
- & Hideto Matsuyama
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Article
| Open AccessPhotocatalytic cyclohexane oxidation and epoxidation using hedgehog particles
Spiky hedgehog particles are reported to access a photocatalytic pathway for alkane oxidation directly to industrially relevant epoxides in one step, providing a lower cost and less energy-intensive pathway as compared to common alkene feedstocks.
- Douglas G. Montjoy
- , Elizabeth A. K. Wilson
- & Nicholas A. Kotov
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Article
| Open AccessCoherent consolidation of trillions of nucleations for mono-atom step-level flat surfaces
Constructing atomically flat surface in a single crystal ultrathin film is difficult owing to the coherent merging of trillions of clusters. Here the authors establish the initial growth mechanism of a single crystal Cu thin film with atomically flat surface using atomic sputtering epitaxy.
- Taewoo Ha
- , Yu-Seong Seo
- & Se-Young Jeong
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Article
| Open AccessAtomically dispersed iridium catalysts on silicon photoanode for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting
Single atom catalysts not only maximize the atomic efficiency of noble metal but also introduce unconventional geometric and electronic structures. Here, the authors demonstrate the decoration of iridium single atoms on silicon photoanodes to boost the photogenerated charge carrier kinetics.
- Sang Eon Jun
- , Youn-Hye Kim
- & Ho Won Jang
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Article
| Open AccessSub-nanometer-scale mapping of crystal orientation and depth-dependent structure of dislocation cores in SrTiO3
Accurate measurement of defect structures is hindered by complex atomic configuration and/or crystal tilt. Here, the authors realize sub-nanometer mapping of crystal tilt and deep-subangstrom resolution and depth-dependent imaging of dislocations.
- Haozhi Sha
- , Yunpeng Ma
- & Rong Yu
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Article
| Open AccessDeformation characteristics of solid-state benzene as a step towards understanding planetary geology
Solid benzene and other simple organic minerals play important roles in geological processes on Titan-like cold Solar System bodies. Here, the authors discover benzene microcrystals plastically deform via densification enabled by molecule reorientation and shearing.
- Wenxin Zhang
- , Xuan Zhang
- & Julia R. Greer
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Article
| Open AccessSelf-rolling of vanadium dioxide nanomembranes for enhanced multi-level solar modulation
In this work, authors demonstrate a smart window combining mechanochromism with thermochromism by self-rolling of VO2 nanomembranes to modulate in-door temperature self-adapted to seasons and climate with high efficiency.
- Xing Li
- , Cuicui Cao
- & Yongfeng Mei
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Article
| Open AccessSelf-assembling nanofibrous bacteriophage microgels as sprayable antimicrobials targeting multidrug-resistant bacteria
Bacteriophage are natural antibiotic agents and provide natural building blocks for living biomaterials. Here, the authors crosslink self-organised bacteriophages to make sprayable microgels which preserves the natural antibacterial action, have tuneable auto-fluorescence and demonstrate application in food decontamination.
- Lei Tian
- , Leon He
- & Zeinab Hosseinidoust
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Article
| Open AccessLamellar carbon nitride membrane for enhanced ion sieving and water desalination
Traditional carbon nitride membranes are generally presented with random stacking behavior leading to undesired separation performance. Here, authors create lamellar membranes via polycation pillaring to afford adaptive subnanochannels, overcoming the selectivity-permeability trade-off in forward osmosis.
- Yang Wang
- , Tingting Lian
- & Markus Antonietti
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Article
| Open AccessMapping structure heterogeneities and visualizing moisture degradation of perovskite films with nano-focus WAXS
Understanding the correlation between moisture degradation and structural features of perovskite films is essential to improve their stability. Here, the authors apply nano-focused wide-angle X-ray scattering to map the heterogeneities over several micrometers across lateral and vertical directions.
- Nian Li
- , Shambhavi Pratap
- & Peter Müller-Buschbaum
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Article
| Open AccessDefect free strain relaxation of microcrystals on mesoporous patterned silicon
Many complex devices rely on epitaxial growth with high crystallinity and accurate composition. Here authors report epitaxial growth of Ge on deep etched porous Si pillars to provide a fully compliant substrate enabling elastic relaxation of defect free Ge microcrystals.
- Alexandre Heintz
- , Bouraoui Ilahi
- & Abderraouf Boucherif
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Article
| Open AccessHumidity-dependent lubrication of highly loaded contacts by graphite and a structural transition to turbostratic carbon
Graphite, one of the oldest known dry lubricants, loses its friction-reducing properties in dry environments. Here, the authors show that this effect is associated with both chemical modifications of the surfaces and a structural transformation of the graphite to turbostratic carbon.
- Carina Elisabeth Morstein
- , Andreas Klemenz
- & Michael Moseler
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Article
| Open AccessDirect strain correlations at the single-atom level in three-dimensional core-shell interface structures
Understanding 3D interfacial strain at the atomic level has been a long-sought challenge in the field of core-shell nanomaterials. Here, the authors address this challenge by revealing the full 3D atomic structures of Pd@Pt core-shell nanoparticles
- Hyesung Jo
- , Dae Han Wi
- & Yongsoo Yang
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Article
| Open AccessAssembly-induced spin transfer and distance-dependent spin coupling in atomically precise AgCu nanoclusters
The assembly of atomically precise clusters into ordered superstructures enables new functional material designs. Here, the authors propose a strategy for linear arrangements of AgCu clusters and explore the consequent transfer and coupling of magnetic spins.
- Nan Xia
- , Jianpei Xing
- & Zhikun Wu
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Article
| Open AccessFast hydrogen purification through graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet membranes
In this work, lamellar graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet membranes are constructed for gas separation. Benefiting from their high-density intrinsic in-plane nanopores and broader permeable interlayer channels, the proposed membranes exhibit high H2 permeance with good selectivity of multiple gas mixtures.
- Yisa Zhou
- , Ying Wu
- & Haihui Wang
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Article
| Open AccessChiral superstructures of inorganic nanorods by macroscopic mechanical grinding
Chiroptic materials made of self-assembled nanomaterials are essential for advanced optical applications. Here, the authors show that macroscopic grinding can break the symmetry in achiral superlattices of inorganic nanorods, generating chiral superstructures.
- Zhiwei Yang
- , Yanze Wei
- & Zhijie Yang
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Article
| Open AccessPtn–Ov synergistic sites on MoOx/γ-Mo2N heterostructure for low-temperature reverse water–gas shift reaction
Constructing effective synergistic sites between multiple components in supported catalysts is the key to improve catalytic performance. Here the authors utilized the stress of MoO3/γ-Mo2N structure and the interaction between Pt and support to construct an effective catalytic interface for the low-temperature reverse water–gas shift reaction.
- Hao-Xin Liu
- , Jin-Ying Li
- & Ding Ma
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Article
| Open AccessSynchronous quantitative analysis of chiral mesostructured inorganic crystals by 3D electron diffraction tomography
Chiral mesostructured inorganic crystals exhibit distinctive twisting and helical hierarchical stacking. Here, the authors report a general approach for the synchronous quantitative analysis of rotation axis, torsion angle, pitch length, and arrangement modes.
- Jing Ai
- , Xueliang Zhang
- & Lu Han
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Article
| Open AccessDislocation exhaustion and ultra-hardening of nanograined metals by phase transformation at grain boundaries
Strengthening of metals by grain refinement is limited by the inverse Hall-Petch effect. Here, the authors show nanograined metals can be strengthened by exhausting lattice dislocations via triggering of phase transformation at grain boundaries, instead of further grain refinement.
- Shangshu Wu
- , Zongde Kou
- & Tao Feng
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Matters Arising
| Open AccessReply to: Pitfalls in the location of guest molecules in metal-organic frameworks
- Bin Wang
- , Lin-Hua Xie
- & Banglin Chen
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Article
| Open AccessChemical deposition of Cu2O films with ultra-low resistivity: correlation with the defect landscape
Cu2O offers a lot of potential for several optoelectronic applications. Here, the authors present a low temperature, fast and scalable approach to deposit Cu2O films with low resistivity, which is correlated to the defect landscape in the material.
- Abderrahime Sekkat
- , Maciej Oskar Liedke
- & David Muñoz-Rojas
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Article
| Open AccessElectrocatalytic hydrogenation of quinolines with water over a fluorine-modified cobalt catalyst
Selective hydrogenation of quinolines with easy-to-handle hydrogen donors and cost-effective catalysts is desirable. Here electrocatalytic quinoline hydrogenation to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines is reported with water over a fluorine-modified cobalt.
- Shuoshuo Guo
- , Yongmeng Wu
- & Cuibo Liu
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Article
| Open AccessEnhanced polarization and abnormal flexural deformation in bent freestanding perovskite oxides
Freestanding perovskite oxides pave the way to novel flexural properties. Here, the authors observe the nanoscale strain gradient induced flexoelectric polarization with an unusual flexo-expansion/shrinkage effect in freestanding ferroelectric oxide.
- Songhua Cai
- , Yingzhuo Lun
- & Xiaoqing Pan
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Article
| Open AccessMolecular identification and quantification of defect sites in metal-organic frameworks with NMR probe molecules
Defects in porous materials can alter the pore structure and chemical properties. Here authors demonstrate an approach for studying defects in metal-organic frameworks using 31P NMR and probe molecules.
- Jinglin Yin
- , Zhengzhong Kang
- & Xueqian Kong
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Article
| Open AccessImaging Cu2O nanocube hollowing in solution by quantitative in situ X-ray ptychography
Observing morphological changes of nanoparticles in solution requires advanced in-situ imaging methods. Here, the authors use X-ray ptychography to image the growth and hollowing of Cu2O nanocubes in 3D.
- Lukas Grote
- , Martin Seyrich
- & Dorota Koziej
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Article
| Open AccessThe origin of jerky dislocation motion in high-entropy alloys
Dislocations in high-entropy alloys encounter pinning during glide resulting in jerky motion. Here the authors demonstrate that the density of high local Peierls force is proportional to the critical stress required for their glide and mobility.
- Daniel Utt
- , Subin Lee
- & Karsten Albe
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Article
| Open AccessProtein secondary structure in spider silk nanofibrils
Secondary fibril structure is a key component of the mechanical properties of protein materials like silk, yet, limited information is known about the internal structure of these protein fibrils. Here, the authors report on the use of polarised Raman and FTIR spectroscopy to study silk materials and identify six distinct secondary structures.
- Qijue Wang
- , Patrick McArdle
- & Hannes C. Schniepp
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Article
| Open AccessUltrastrong and multifunctional aerogels with hyperconnective network of composite polymeric nanofibers
Three-dimensional (3D) microfibrillar network represents an important structural design for various natural tissues and synthetic aerogels but achieving high mechanical properties for synthetic 3D microfibrillar networks remains challenging. Here, the authors report an ultrastrong polymeric aerogels involving self-assembled 3D networks of aramid nanofiber composites with high nodal connectivity.
- Huimin He
- , Xi Wei
- & Lizhi Xu
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Article
| Open AccessMicroporous polymer adsorptive membranes with high processing capacity for molecular separation
Trade-off between permeability and nanometer-level selectivity is an inherent shortcoming of membrane-based separation of molecules. Here, the authors report a membrane adsorption material based on hydrophilic amidoxime modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity to selectively adsorb and separate small organic molecules from water with ultrahigh processing capacity
- Zhenggong Wang
- , Xiaofan Luo
- & Jian Jin
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Article
| Open AccessMagnetic control over the fundamental structure of atomic wires
Magnetic effects can emerge due to structural variations when the size of materials is reduced towards the nanoscale. Here, Chakrabarti et al demonstrates the opposite effect, showing that the interatomic distance in atomic wires changes by up to 20% depending on the orientation of an applied magnetic field.
- Sudipto Chakrabarti
- , Ayelet Vilan
- & Oren Tal
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Article
| Open AccessSub-nanometer mapping of strain-induced band structure variations in planar nanowire core-shell heterostructures
Planar growth of nanowire arrays involves interactions between materials that affect the electronic behavior of the effective heterojunction. Here, authors show how core curvature and cross-section morphology affect shell growth, demonstrating how strain at the core-shell interface induces electronic band modulations in ZnSe@ZnTe nanowires.
- Sara Martí-Sánchez
- , Marc Botifoll
- & Jordi Arbiol
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Article
| Open AccessAtomic-resolution structures from polycrystalline covalent organic frameworks with enhanced cryo-cRED
Structure determination of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) is the key to pushing the development of COF-based materials further but precise determination of the structure of COFs is challenging. Here, the authors develop a universal ab initio structure determination method for polycrystalline 3D COFs using cryo-cRED by combining hierarchical cluster analysis with cryo-EM technique and demonstrate COF structures with atomic preciscion and up to 0.79-angstrom resolution.
- Jian Li
- , Cong Lin
- & Junliang Sun
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Article
| Open AccessSubnanometric Ru clusters with upshifted D band center improve performance for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction
Metal nanocluster properties undergo drastic activity alterations with slight size variations, although in-depth examinations of such changes are challenging to perform. Here, authors demonstrate Ru cluster size governs the d-band center position and electrocatalytic activity for H2 evolution.
- Qi Hu
- , Keru Gao
- & Chuanxin He
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Article
| Open AccessDetermining the interlayer shearing in twisted bilayer MoS2 by nanoindentation
The study of the mechanical properties of twisted van der Waals structures can provide important information about their interlayer coupling and electronic behaviour. Here, the authors report a nanoindentation-based technique to determine the interlayer shear stress in bilayer MoS2, showing its independence as a function of the twist angle.
- Yufei Sun
- , Yujia Wang
- & Kai Liu
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Article
| Open AccessExperimental realization of one dimensional helium
Helium isotopes are interesting platforms for testing the quantum properties of fluids. Here the authors demonstrate quantum one-dimensional behaviour of helium (4He) confined in nanopores by using neutron scattering.
- Adrian Del Maestro
- , Nathan S. Nichols
- & Paul E. Sokol
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Article
| Open AccessPeriodic corner holes on the Si(111)-7×7 surface can trap silver atoms
Positioning and trapping single atoms at specific sites of surfaces is a challenging goal that can advance the development of single atom devices. Here the authors demonstrate that single Ag atoms are trapped inside corner holes of the Si(111)-7×7 surface for more than 4 days at room temperature, and suggest that this behavior may be shared by other elements.
- Jacek R. Osiecki
- , Shozo Suto
- & Arunabhiram Chutia
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Article
| Open AccessAssessing the stability of Pd-exchanged sites in zeolites with the aid of a high throughput quantum chemistry workflow
The identification of active sites in cation exchanged-zeolites is computationally highly demanding. Here the authors employ a DFT-based computational framework to identify the energetically most favorable adsorption sites in any zeolite using a systematic high-throughput approach.
- Hassan A. Aljama
- , Martin Head-Gordon
- & Alexis T. Bell
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Article
| Open AccessShape and structural relaxation of colloidal tactoids
Tactoids, consisting of micro-confined liquid crystalline colloids with self-selected shape, bear both fundamental and technological significance. The authors show that the shape relaxation of tactoids follows an exponential decay and develop a model to predict this out-of-the-equilibrium process.
- Hamed Almohammadi
- , Sayyed Ahmad Khadem
- & Raffaele Mezzenga
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Article
| Open AccessDynamically actuated soft heliconical architecture via frequency of electric fields
Frequency responsiveness within a broad dynamic range in adaptive systems while also reducing high-frequency induced heating remains a challenge for advanced photonics. Here, authors report a frequency-actuated heliconical soft architecture with reversible modulation of the photonic bandgap in a wide spectral range.
- Binghui Liu
- , Cong-Long Yuan
- & Quan Li