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| Open AccessPd(II)/Pd(IV) redox shuttle to suppress vacancy defects at grain boundaries for efficient kesterite solar cells
Charge loss at grain boundaries of kesterite polycrystalline absorbers limits the performance of thin film solar cells. Here, authors report the use of Pd(II)/Pd(IV) redox shuttle to assist the capture and exchange of Se atoms and eliminate vacancy defects, realizing certified efficiency of 14.3%.
- Jinlin Wang
- , Jiangjian Shi
- & Qingbo Meng
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Article
| Open AccessLaCl3-based sodium halide solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity for all-solid-state batteries
The advancement of sodium halide solid-state electrolytes can propel high-energy-density all-solid-state sodium-ion batteries. Here, the authors present a LaCl3-based electrolyte facilitating rapid Na+ ion conduction along the c-axis diffusion channel, ensuring high capacity even at elevated current densities.
- Chengyu Fu
- , Yifan Li
- & Hongfa Xiang
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| Open AccessHighly reversible zinc metal anode enabled by strong Brønsted acid and hydrophobic interfacial chemistry
Trace amounts of strong acid can suppress Zn corrosion and promote uniform Zn deposition. Here, the authors use HTFSI to create a hydrophobic micro-environment at the Zn-electrolyte interface, enabling high efficiency and cycling stability.
- Qingshun Nian
- , Xuan Luo
- & Xiaodi Ren
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| Open AccessPhysics-informed neural network for lithium-ion battery degradation stable modeling and prognosis
Reliable lithium-ion battery health assessment is vital for safety. Here, authors present a physics-informed neural network for accurate and stable state-of-health estimation, overcoming challenges of varied battery types and usage conditions.
- Fujin Wang
- , Zhi Zhai
- & Xuefeng Chen
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| Open AccessModulate stress distribution with bio-inspired irregular architected materials towards optimal tissue support
Natural materials exhibit compelling functionalities owing to their irregular architectures, but the study on irregular architected materials is elusive. Here the authors report a generative computational framework to virtually grow irregular materials with optimized properties that match target stress distributions, facilitating tissue support for orthopedic femur restoration.
- Yingqi Jia
- , Ke Liu
- & Xiaojia Shelly Zhang
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| Open AccessSuperlative mechanical energy absorbing efficiency discovered through self-driving lab-human partnership
It is challenging to design tough structures based on energy absorbing efficiency owing to the difficulties in modeling non-linear deformation. Here, the authors report a human-monitored self-driving lab and discover structural motifs with high energy absorbing efficiencies up to 75.2%.
- Kelsey L. Snapp
- , Benjamin Verdier
- & Keith A. Brown
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Article
| Open AccessThe role of microstructure in the thermal fatigue of solder joints
Thermal fatigue frequently leads to failure in electronic solder joints. Here, the authors measure and quantitatively explain how microstructure affects thermal fatigue in a ball grid array package and propose optimum microstructures for thermal fatigue resistance.
- J. W. Xian
- , Y. L. Xu
- & C. M. Gourlay
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| Open AccessNon-coplanar helimagnetism in the layered van-der-Waals metal DyTe3
Helimagnetic materials host a twisted magnetic texture, realizing screws, cycloids, and cones. While helimagnets are common in three dimensional materials, layered van der Waals helimagnets are exceedingly rare. Here, Akatsuka et al. demonstrate conical ordering in the easily cleavable magnet DyTe3.
- Shun Akatsuka
- , Sebastian Esser
- & Max Hirschberger
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Article
| Open AccessConcentration-induced spontaneous polymerization of protic ionic liquids for efficient in situ adhesion
Adhesives require a balance between cohesion and interfacial adhesion, which can be challenging to achieve. Here the authors report the polymerisation of a protic ionic liquid-based monomer, with internal and external non-covalent interactions contributing to both cohesion and adhesion.
- Jun Zhang
- , Xuan Zhou
- & Shiguo Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessBounds to electron spin qubit variability for scalable CMOS architectures
Understanding the microscopic variability of CMOS spin qubits is crucial for developing scalable quantum processors. Here the authors report a combined experimental and numerical study of the effect of interface roughness on variability of quantum dot spin qubits formed at the Si/SiO2 interface.
- Jesús D. Cifuentes
- , Tuomo Tanttu
- & Andre Saraiva
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| Open AccessPolarization-driven band topology evolution in twisted MoTe2 and WSe2
The band topology of twisted 2D systems is a key factor behind their fascinating physics. Here, the authors demonstrate the role of polarization in driving the band topology evolution in twisted transition metal dichalcogenide homobilayers.
- Xiao-Wei Zhang
- , Chong Wang
- & Di Xiao
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Article
| Open AccessDroplet-based mechanical transducers modulated by the symmetry of wettability patterns
Asymmetric mechanical transducers are pivotal in various applications; however, conventional methods demand continuous energy and intricate fabrication. Here, the authors demonstrate a droplet-based mechanical transducer utilizing wettability-patterned surfaces, enabling precise control of droplet dynamics.
- Luanluan Xue
- , An Li
- & Yanlin Song
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| Open AccessA large-strain and ultrahigh energy density dielectric elastomer for fast moving soft robot
Dielectric elastomer actuators require high driving electric fields to achieve high performances for soft robots due to their low dielectric constant and high stiffness. Here, the authors introduce polar fluorinated groups and nanodomains aggregated by long alkyl side chains into the dielectric elastomer design to overcome these issues and develop fast soft robots.
- Wenwen Feng
- , Lin Sun
- & Chao Wang
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| Open AccessAtomically dispersed Iridium on Mo2C as an efficient and stable alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction catalyst
High-performance hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells rely on the anode loading of platinum-group metals. Here, the authors report a highly active hydrogen oxidation electrocatalyst which contains atomically dispersed Ir on Mo2C nanoparticles supported on a carbon substrate.
- Jinjie Fang
- , Haiyong Wang
- & Zhongbin Zhuang
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| Open AccessExtreme magnetoresistance at high-mobility oxide heterointerfaces with dynamic defect tunability
Extreme magnetoresistance is characterized by a large and non-saturating magnetoresistance. Typically, it is observed in materials with compensated bandstructures, however, here, Christensen et al demonstrate a large and non-saturating magnetoresistance in a γAl2O3/SrTiO3 heterostructure, which is related to disorder, rather than the materials bandstructure.
- D. V. Christensen
- , T. S. Steegemans
- & N. Pryds
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| Open AccessEvidence for multiferroicity in single-layer CuCrSe2
The authors observe multiferroicity in a single-layer non van der Waals material, CuCrSe2. The coexistence of room-temperature ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism up to 120 K is corroborated by a set of comprehensive experimental techniques.
- Zhenyu Sun
- , Yueqi Su
- & Baojie Feng
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Article
| Open AccessHigh spin axion insulator
Existing proposals of axion insulators are limited to spin-1/2 systems. Here the authors put forward a concept of a high spin axion insulator with several peculiar properties, such as the absence of gapless surface states and tunability of the axion field by an external magnetic field.
- Shuai Li
- , Ming Gong
- & X. C. Xie
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| Open AccessHigh-performance flexible p-type Ce-filled Fe3CoSb12 skutterudite thin film for medium-to-high-temperature applications
The authors fabricate p-type Fe3CoSb12-based skutterudite films exhibiting high thermoelectric performance, stability, and flexibility at medium-to-high temperatures, based on preparing custom target materials and pulsed laser deposition techniques.
- Dou Li
- , Xiao-Lei Shi
- & Zhi-Gang Chen
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Article
| Open AccessDivacancy and resonance level enables high thermoelectric performance in n-type SnSe polycrystals
N-type polycrystalline SnSe shows inferior ZT to p-type polycrystalline due to its high thermal conductivity and lower power factor. The authors overcome the problem via the synergy of divacancy defect and introducing resonance level into the conduction band.
- Yaru Gong
- , Wei Dou
- & Guodong Tang
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| Open AccessEnhancing in vivo cell and tissue targeting by modulation of polymer nanoparticles and macrophage decoys
Targeted drug delivery in vivo is a complex challenge, and understanding the characteristics that define the behavior of delivery vehicles in vivo is vital for advancing delivery vehicle design. Here the authors use a library of polymeric delivery vehicles and high-throughput tools to study the structure-function relationships guiding the physiological fate of nanomedicines.
- Alexandra S. Piotrowski-Daspit
- , Laura G. Bracaglia
- & W. Mark Saltzman
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| Open AccessCentimeter-scale nanomechanical resonators with low dissipation
Exploring new mechanics regime, researchers created centimeter-long, nanometer-thin resonators, achieving unmatched room temperature mechanical isolation via cutting edge nanoengineering and machine learning design; rivaling cryogenic counterparts.
- Andrea Cupertino
- , Dongil Shin
- & Richard A. Norte
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| Open AccessAdvancing interactive systems with liquid crystal network-based adaptive electronics
There is significant interest in developing electronic units that can perform sensing, signal processing, and actuation functions independently, similar to biological systems. Lyu et al. develop electronic units based on liquid crystal oligomer networks that exhibit adaptive behavior in response to environmental stimuli such as light and heat.
- Pengrong Lyu
- , Dirk J. Broer
- & Danqing Liu
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| Open AccessA reactive neural network framework for water-loaded acidic zeolites
Modelling of acidic zeolites, one of the key industrial catalysts, under realistic operating conditions is currently limited to specific cases. Here, the authors report a machine learning framework allowing for accurate high-throughput modelling.
- Andreas Erlebach
- , Martin Šípka
- & Lukáš Grajciar
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| Open AccessLong-term relapse-free survival enabled by integrating targeted antibacteria in antitumor treatment
Tumor-resident intracellular microbiota (TRIM) could be a potential target for anticancer treatment. Here the authors report Au@Ag2Se nano-assemblies enabling bacterial killing, tumor inhibition and immune regulation in tumor microenvironment.
- Yuanlin Wang
- , Yaqian Han
- & Miao Yu
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| Open AccessPolyoxometalate-based plasmonic electron sponge membrane for nanofluidic osmotic energy conversion
Nanofluidic membranes have great potential in harvesting osmotic energy, but performance is hampered by insufficient permselectivity. Here, the authors solve this problem with a polyoxometalate-based nanofluidic plasmonic electron sponge membrane.
- Chengcheng Zhu
- , Li Xu
- & Chen Wang
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| Open AccessMonosymmetric Fe-N4 sites enabling durable proton exchange membrane fuel cell cathode by chemical vapor modification
The limited durability of metal-nitrogen-carbon electrocatalysts hinders their use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells for the oxygen reduction reaction. Here the authors transform active sites from FeN4 to stable monosymmetric FeN2 + N’2 via chemical vapor modification, resulting in enhanced improving the durability of the catalyst.
- Jingsen Bai
- , Tuo Zhao
- & Wei Xing
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| Open AccessDisentangling the effects of structure and lone-pair electrons in the lattice dynamics of halide perovskites
By comparing CsSrBr3 and CsPbBr3 with close structural similarity but the latter lacking lone-pair electrons on the octahedral metal, the authors reveal the similar vibrational anharmonicities in the two perovskites, which disentangles the electronic properties and vibrational anharmonicities.
- Sebastián Caicedo-Dávila
- , Adi Cohen
- & David A. Egger
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| Open AccessReduction of precious metal ions in aqueous solutions by contact-electro-catalysis
Currently, precious metal recovery from e-waste water is usually performed by liquid extraction or sorbent processes. Here, the authors show the untapped potential of dielectric insulators as catalysts for the 1-step selective recovery of gold in aqueous solutions by contact-electrocatalysis.
- Yusen Su
- , Andy Berbille
- & Zhong Lin Wang
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| Open AccessRemote epitaxy of single-crystal rhombohedral WS2 bilayers
Rhombohedral-stacked (R-stacked) transition metal dichalcogenide bilayers exhibit remarkable properties, but their large-area epitaxial growth remains challenging. Here, the authors report the remote epitaxy of centimetre-scale single-crystal R-stacked WS2 bilayer films on sapphire substrates.
- Chao Chang
- , Xiaowen Zhang
- & Xiaozhi Xu
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| Open AccessHigh-performance piezoelectric energy harvesting in amorphous perovskite thin films deposited directly on a plastic substrate
Traditional methods to incorporate polycrystalline thin film into flexible systems are often complicated and limited by their sizes. Here, the authors introduce flexible amorphous thin film energy harvester, based on perovskite oxides, on a plastic substrate for electromechanical energy harvesting.
- Ju Han
- , Sung Hyun Park
- & Yong Soo Cho
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Article
| Open AccessMechanically robust and personalized silk fibroin-magnesium composite scaffolds with water-responsive shape-memory for irregular bone regeneration
The regeneration of critical-size bone defects, especially those with irregular shapes, remains a clinical challenge. Here, the authors report a shape-memory, tailorable, self-adaptive and bioactive silk fibroin/magnesium composite scaffold that can quickly match irregular defects by simple trimming and lead to good interface integration.
- Zhinan Mao
- , Xuewei Bi
- & Yufeng Zheng
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| Open AccessSustainable thermal regulation improves stability and efficiency in all-perovskite tandem solar cells
Mixed Sn-Pb perovskites have emerged as promising photovoltaic materials for both single- and multi-junction solar cells. Here, authors reveal the thermal degradation mechanism and incorporate carboranes for thermal regulation, resulting in stable all-perovskite tandems with efficiency of over 27%.
- Shuchen Tan
- , Chongwen Li
- & Zhongmin Zhou
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| Open AccessDual-phase nano-glass-hydrides overcome the strength-ductility trade-off and magnetocaloric bottlenecks of rare earth based amorphous alloys
Metals often suffer from reduced strength and ductility after hydrogenation. Here, the authors show hydrogenation can lead to enhancement in strength and ductility accompanied by a large change in magnetic entropy, overcoming the bottlenecks of using amorphous alloys for magnetic refrigerants.
- Liliang Shao
- , Qiang Luo
- & Weihua Wang
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| Open AccessSingle-zinc vacancy unlocks high-rate H2O2 electrosynthesis from mixed dioxygen beyond Le Chatelier principle
The principle of Le Chatelier is a fundamental concept in textbooks, serving as a guiding principle for controlling chemical and catalytic systems. In this study, the authors present an oxygen electroreduction system based on a single zinc vacancy catalyst, which operates in a manner that extends “beyond” Le Chatelier’s principle.
- Qi Huang
- , Baokai Xia
- & Sheng Chen
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| Open AccessThe origin of exceptionally large ductility in molybdenum alloys dispersed with irregular-shaped La2O3 nano-particles
Application of Molybdenum alloys is hindered by reduced ductility at lower temperatures. Here, the author shows improved ductility in a Mo alloy with irregular-shaped rare-earth La2O3 nanoparticles achieved via rotary-swaging, attributed to the amorphization of the oxide-matrix interface.
- Yujie Chen
- , Yan Fang
- & Qian Yu
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| Open AccessStretchable phosphorescent polymers by multiphase engineering
Stretchable phosphorescent materials have potential in applications such as wearable electronics, but achieving a suitable balance of emission and stretchability is challenging. Here, the authors report the use of microphase separation to show stretchability with emission lifetimes maintained.
- Nan Gan
- , Xin Zou
- & Wei Huang
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| Open AccessInverted device architecture for high efficiency single-layer organic light-emitting diodes with imbalanced charge transport
Efficient organic light-emitting diodes require a multilayer architecture to confine charge recombination to the emissive layer. Here, authors demonstrate efficient single-layer devices for emitters with imbalanced charge transport without the need of additional charge transport or blocking layers.
- Xiao Tan
- , Dehai Dou
- & Gert-Jan A. H. Wetzelaer
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| Open AccessAtomically dispersed asymmetric cobalt electrocatalyst for efficient hydrogen peroxide production in neutral media
The relationship between the structural configurations of M-N-C electrocatalysts and their performances in neutral environments has been insufficiently investigated. Here the authors demonstrate that an ultralow metal-loaded Co-N-C electrocatalyst, featuring the asymmetric Co-C/N/O configuration, exhibit exceptional efficiency in electrochemically producing hydrogen peroxide under neutral conditions.
- Longxiang Liu
- , Liqun Kang
- & Guanjie He
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| Open AccessDynamics of growing carbon nanotube interfaces probed by machine learning-enabled molecular simulations
There is a lack of atomic level insight on the role of defects on carbon nanotubes' growth. Here, authors present a machine learning force field to drive near-microsecond simulations the entire growth process of this material, unveiling mechanisms of defect formation and healing.
- Daniel Hedman
- , Ben McLean
- & Feng Ding
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Article
| Open AccessSpin-orbit torque manipulation of sub-terahertz magnons in antiferromagnetic α-Fe2O3
Antiferromagnetic spintronics offer high speed operations, and reduced issues with stray fields compared to ferromagnetic systems, however, antiferromagnets are typically more challenging to manipulate electrically. Here, Yang, Kim, and coauthors demonstrate electrical control of magnon dispersion and frequency in an α-Fe2O3/Pt heterostructure.
- Dongsheng Yang
- , Taeheon Kim
- & Hyunsoo Yang
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Article
| Open AccessSustainable upcycling of mixed spent cathodes to a high-voltage polyanionic cathode material
Direct recycling of critical battery materials bring promise but a challenge for the mixed cathode chemistries. Here, the authors report a sustainable upcycling approach, transforming degraded LiFePO4 and Mn-rich cathodes into a high-voltage polyanionic material with an increased energy density and economic value.
- Guanjun Ji
- , Di Tang
- & Hui-Ming Cheng
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Article
| Open AccessElectric-field tunable Type-I to Type-II band alignment transition in MoSe2/WS2 heterobilayers
Photoluminescence and photocurrent measurements indicate that MoSe2/WS2 hetero-bilayers can be switched from type-I to type-II band alignment by applying a vertical electric field.
- Jed Kistner-Morris
- , Ao Shi
- & Nathaniel Gabor
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Article
| Open AccessCrown ether decorated silicon photonics for safeguarding against lead poisoning
Lead toxification in society is a public health crisis. The exposure to lead poisoning gives rise to a multitude of health issues. In this work, a chip-scale photonic platform that enables the highly quantitative detection of lead is demonstrated.
- Luigi Ranno
- , Yong Zen Tan
- & Jia Xu Brian Sia
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Article
| Open AccessThree-dimensional liquid metal-based neuro-interfaces for human hippocampal organoids
Providing a suitable multi-electrode array (MEA) for free-floating neural organoids is a great challenge. Here, authors present a mesh soft stretchable MEA for recording neural signals in human hippocampal organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells.
- Yan Wu
- , Jinhao Cheng
- & Xingyu Jiang
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Article
| Open AccessTailoring amorphous boron nitride for high-performance two-dimensional electronics
Here, the authors demonstrate a wafer-scale, low-temperature process using atomic layer deposition, for the synthesis of uniform, conformal amorphous boron nitride (aBN) thin films. They further fabricate aBN-encapsulated monolayer MoS2 field-effect transistors.
- Cindy Y. Chen
- , Zheng Sun
- & Joshua A. Robinson
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Article
| Open AccessSynergistic growth of nickel and platinum nanoparticles via exsolution and surface reaction
Utilizing “Chemistry at a point”, Ni is exsolved from a perovskite lattice under deposited Pt nanoparticles. This yields even smaller Ni Pt alloy nanoparticles on a perovskite nanofiber structure, exhibiting high catalytic activity.
- Min Xu
- , Yukwon Jeon
- & John T. S. Irvine
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Article
| Open AccessLead-free dual-frequency ultrasound implants for wireless, biphasic deep brain stimulation
Ultrasound-driven bioelectronics offer a wireless scheme for implants. Here, the authors reported a lead-free dual-frequency ultrasound implants for wireless, biphasic deep brain stimulation.
- Qian Wang
- , Yusheng Zhang
- & Jiagang Wu
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Article
| Open AccessSnail-inspired water-enhanced soft sliding suction for climbing robots
By mimicking the strong adhesive locomotion ability of snails, the authors present a sliding suction method to allow robots to climb with high adhesive force and low energy consumption up walls and on ceilings.
- Tianqi Yue
- , Hermes Bloomfield-Gadêlha
- & Jonathan Rossiter
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| Open AccessTuning instability in suspended monolayer 2D materials
Tuning the instabilities of 2D materials can control their wrinkling behavior for interesting physical properties, but still challenging. Here, the authors report a push-to-shear experimental approach to control the wrinkling patterns of monolayer 2D materials and measure their bending stiffness.
- Yuan Hou
- , Jingzhuo Zhou
- & Yang Lu