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| Open AccessPredicting maximum strain hardening factor in elongational flow of branched pom-pom polymers from polymer architecture
The quantitative connection between the molecular topology and molecular dynamics is a long-standing, fundamental challenge in polymer science. Here the authors present a model-driven predictive scheme for the uniaxial extensional viscosity and strain hardening of branched polymer melts, specifically for the pom-pom architecture.
- Max G. Schußmann
- , Manfred Wilhelm
- & Valerian Hirschberg
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Article
| Open AccessProgramming viscoelastic properties in a complexation gel composite by utilizing entropy-driven topologically frustrated dynamical state
Tuning the physical interactions and structures to govern the viscoelastic properties in hydrogels without altering the chemistry is challenging. Here the authors design a complexation gel composite and utilize the physical principle of topologically frustrated dynamical state to tune the correlated structures between the guest polycation chains and negatively charged host gels.
- Gui Kang Wang
- , Yi Ming Yang
- & Di Jia
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Article
| Open AccessImaging 3D chemistry at 1 nm resolution with fused multi-modal electron tomography
The authors demonstrate 3D chemical imaging of organic and inorganic materials near or below one-nanometer resolution using multi-modal electron tomography, by fusing elastic and inelastic scattering signals.
- Jonathan Schwartz
- , Zichao Wendy Di
- & Robert Hovden
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Article
| Open AccessA substitutional quantum defect in WS2 discovered by high-throughput computational screening and fabricated by site-selective STM manipulation
Point defects in 2D semiconductors have potential for quantum computing applications, but their controlled design and synthesis remains challenging. Here, the authors identify and fabricate a promising quantum defect in 2D WS2 via high-throughput computational screening and scanning tunnelling microscopy.
- John C. Thomas
- , Wei Chen
- & Geoffroy Hautier
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Article
| Open AccessBiocompatible aggregation-induced emission active polyphosphate-manganese nanosheets with glutamine synthetase-like activity in excitotoxic nerve cells
Glutamine synthetase (GS) relies on Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to activate glutamate (Glu) and are vital for maintaining ammonia and Glu homeostasis, but GS function is impaired during ATP-deficient neurotoxic events. Here the authors report polyphosphate-manganese nanosheets having GS-like activity independent of ATP to promote the conversion of Glu to glutamine in excitatory neurotoxic cells.
- Jing Wang
- , Xinyang Zhao
- & Wei Wei
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Article
| Open AccessCollapse of carbon nanotubes due to local high-pressure from van der Waals encapsulation
vdW assembly of low-dimensional materials has proven the capability of creating structures with on-demand properties. Here, the authors report on the structural collapse of CNTs in conjunction with a metal-semiconductor junction induced by the VdW encapsulation.
- Cheng Hu
- , Jiajun Chen
- & Zhiwen Shi
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Article
| Open AccessMultiple hydrogen-bonding induced nonconventional red fluorescence emission in hydrogels
The development of fluorescent polymer hydrogels without the use of extended pi-conjugation is challenging. Here, the authors report the use of clustering-trigger emission to give red fluorescence on boiling polymer hydrogels, with tuneable emission properties.
- Jiayu Wu
- , Yuhuan Wang
- & Feng Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessEstablishing superfine nanofibrils for robust polyelectrolyte artificial spider silk and powerful artificial muscles
Spider silk has desirable properties, but these are hard to replicate with artificial materials. Here, the authors report a polyelectrolyte artificial spider silk, with control over dissociation of the polymer chains by introduction of ions, and thermally driven supercontraction.
- Wenqian He
- , Meilin Wang
- & Zunfeng Liu
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Review Article
| Open AccessUntethered soft actuators for soft standalone robotics
Untethered soft robots offer numerous advantages in terms of mobility, versatility, and autonomy, making them increasingly valuable for a wide range of applications. Jung et al. review the new types of untethered soft actuators that represent breakthroughs and discuss the future perspective of soft actuators.
- Yeongju Jung
- , Kangkyu Kwon
- & Seung Hwan Ko
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Article
| Open AccessMemory-electroluminescence for multiple action-potentials combination in bio-inspired afferent nerves
In this work, a nanoscale light-emitting diode with memory-electroluminescence is demonstrated, which is used for mimicking the generation of multiple action-potentials and their combinations in bio-inspired afferent nerves.
- Kun Wang
- , Yitao Liao
- & Tae Whan Kim
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Article
| Open AccessControl of polymers’ amorphous-crystalline transition enables miniaturization and multifunctional integration for hydrogel bioelectronics
Soft elastic materials could be useful in the fabrication of brain-machine interfaces, but achieving the desirable material properties can be challenging. Here, the authors report control of the amorphous-crystalline transition of polymers to alter hydrogel properties and monitor mouse behaviour.
- Sizhe Huang
- , Xinyue Liu
- & Siyuan Rao
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Article
| Open AccessMulti-level, forming and filament free, bulk switching trilayer RRAM for neuromorphic computing at the edge
Filamentary RRAM technologies suffer from variations and noise, leading to computational accuracy loss, and increased energy consumption. Park et al. created a trilayer metal-oxide bulk switching RRAM technology without filament formation and showed edge computing for an autonomous navigation task.
- Jaeseoung Park
- , Ashwani Kumar
- & Duygu Kuzum
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Article
| Open AccessConfining single Er3+ ions in sub-3 nm NaYF4 nanoparticles to induce slow relaxation of the magnetisation
Many of the most industrially important magnets require the addition of rare-earths to improve their coercivity and magnetic performance. Here, the authors place a single paramagnetic rare-earth ion, Er3+, in a diamagnetic nanoparticle, and study the slow relaxation of the resulting nanoparticles, providing vital information for the further development of rare-earth magnetic materials.
- Diogo A. Gálico
- , Emille M. Rodrigues
- & Muralee Murugesu
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Article
| Open AccessConsummating ion desolvation in hard carbon anodes for reversible sodium storage
Hard carbon is regarded as a promising negative electrode for Na-ion batteries but suffers from low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE). Here, the authors identify the time-dependent ion pre-desolvation on the nanopore of hard carbons, which remarkably improves the ICE by simply extending the aging time.
- Ziyang Lu
- , Huijun Yang
- & Haoshen Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessMagnetically propagating Hund’s exciton in van der Waals antiferromagnet NiPS3
Recently, excitons with unconventional properties were reported in a van der Waals antiferromagnet NiPS3. Here, using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, the authors show that the formation of these excitons is primarily driven by Hund’s coupling and that they propagate similarly to two-magnon excitations.
- W. He
- , Y. Shen
- & M. P. M. Dean
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Article
| Open AccessEfficient ammonia synthesis from the air using tandem non-thermal plasma and electrocatalysis at ambient conditions
The conversion of atmospheric N2 into NH3 under ambient pressure is highly interesting but very challenging. In this study, the authors present a tandem air-NOx and NOx-NH3 system that combines non-thermal plasma-enabled N2 oxidation with Ni(OH)x/Cu-catalyzed electrochemical NOx−reduction, resulting in a high NH3 yield from N2 under ambient pressure conditions.
- Wei Liu
- , Mengyang Xia
- & Guidong Yang
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Article
| Open AccessSub-millisecond lithiothermal synthesis of graphitic meso–microporous carbon
Porous carbons with high specific surface area and electronic conductivity are of interest for their electron and ion transport ability. Here authors use ultra-high temperature reactions of Li metal and polytetrafluoroethylene to make graphitized porous carbon for electrochemical energy storage.
- Huimin Zhang
- , Jingyi Qiu
- & Hao Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessSweat permeable and ultrahigh strength 3D PVDF piezoelectric nanoyarn fabric strain sensor
Electronic packaging causes piezoelectric sensors to be airtight, resulting in poor wearing comfort. To address this issue, the authors develop a 3D all-fiber piezoelectric sensor with sweat permeable using the advanced 3D textile technology.
- Wei Fan
- , Ruixin Lei
- & Shengbo Ge
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Article
| Open AccessFlower-shaped 2D crystals grown in curved fluid vesicle membranes
Thin crystals grown on rigid spherical templates of increasing curvature exhibit increased protrusions. Here, the authors demonstrate the opposite curvature effect on the morphology of molecularly thin crystals grown within elastic fluid membranes, like those of biological cells.
- Hao Wan
- , Geunwoong Jeon
- & Maria M. Santore
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Article
| Open AccessFunctionalized MXene ink enables environmentally stable printed electronics
Here, authors demonstrate the electrohydrodynamic printing of alkylated 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine functionalized MXene (AD-MXene) ink. The AD-MXene outperforms vacuum-deposited Au and Al electrodes, providing thin film transistors with good environmental stability due to its hydrophobicity.
- Tae Yun Ko
- , Heqing Ye
- & Insik In
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Article
| Open AccessVisualized in-sensor computing
The communication of colour information stands as one of the most immediate and widespread methods of interaction among biological entities. Xu et al. report an electrochromic neuromorphic transistor employing color updates to represent synaptic weight for real-time visualised in-sensor computing.
- Yao Ni
- , Jiaqi Liu
- & Wentao Xu
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Article
| Open AccessQuantum critical phase of FeO spans conditions of Earth’s lower mantle
Large-scale eDMFT computation reveals that FeO undergoes a gradual orbitally selective insulator-metal transition across the extreme conditions of Earth’s interior, with implications for compositions and conductivity of the core-mantle boundary region.
- Wai-Ga D. Ho
- , Peng Zhang
- & Vasilije V. Dobrosavljevic
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Article
| Open AccessDirect programming of confined surface phonon polariton resonators with the plasmonic phase-change material In3SbTe2
Tailored light-matter interaction can be achieved with surface phonon polaritons (SPhPs). Here, Conrads et al. employ the plasmonic phase-change material In3SbTe2 on the polar crystal SiC for direct programming of confined SPhP resonators and study their resonance modes via near-field microscopy.
- Lukas Conrads
- , Luis Schüler
- & Thomas Taubner
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Article
| Open AccessTransparent integrated pyroelectric-photovoltaic structure for photo-thermo hybrid power generation
The full potential of photoelectric devices can possibly be maximized through pyroelectricity for power generation beyond thermodynamic limit. Here, authors report photovoltaic heterostructure device with pyroelectric absorber, achieving 2.5 times more output power due to long-range electric field.
- Malkeshkumar Patel
- , Hyeong-Ho Park
- & Joondong Kim
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Article
| Open AccessDualistic insulator states in 1T-TaS2 crystals
While monolayer of 1T-TaS2 is considered to be a Mott insulator, the nature of the bulk insulating state is debated. Here the authors introduce a ladder-type structures with fractional misalignment of adjacent layers, showing that it becomes a Mott insulator due to decoupling between the layers.
- Yihao Wang
- , Zhihao Li
- & Liang Cao
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Article
| Open AccessBoosting thermoelectric performance of single-walled carbon nanotubes-based films through rational triple treatments
Authors introduce triple treatments to advance flexible single-walled carbon nanotube films, achieving a power factor of 20.29 µW cm−1 K−2. High structural stability and flexibility enable the fabrication of a high-power-density flexible device.
- Yuan-Meng Liu
- , Xiao-Lei Shi
- & Zhi-Gang Chen
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Article
| Open AccessRoom-temperature stabilizing strongly competing ferrielectric and antiferroelectric phases in PbZrO3 by strain-mediated phase separation
There is a desire to know how the threefold ferrielectric coexists with the antiferroelectric phase. Here, the authors realize a threefold-modulated ferrielectric phase regulated by strain-mediated phase separation in PbZrO3 thin film.
- Ziyi Yu
- , Ningbo Fan
- & Fangfang Xu
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Article
| Open AccessAutonomous self-healing supramolecular polymer transistors for skin electronics
Integrating self-healing capabilities into skin-like stretchable transistors presents a persistent challenge. Here, by using a supramolecular polymer matrix, the authors develop autonomous self-healing transistors and skin-like logic circuits.
- Ngoc Thanh Phuong Vo
- , Tae Uk Nam
- & Jin Young Oh
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Article
| Open AccessAtomic-scale observation of localized phonons at FeSe/SrTiO3 interface
The authors characterize the phonon modes at the FeSe/SrTiO3 interface with atomically resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy and correlate them with accurate atomic structure in an electron microscope. They find several phonon modes highly localized at the interface, one of which engages in strong interactions with the electrons in FeSe.
- Ruochen Shi
- , Qize Li
- & Peng Gao
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Article
| Open AccessAn organic proton cage that is ultra-resistant to hydroxide-promoted degradation
Organic cations are typically unstable under low-humidity, alkaline conditions. Here, the authors report an organic cation featuring a proton protected within a cage that can withstand vapor-phase alkaline conditions.
- Chase L. Radford
- , Torben Saatkamp
- & Steven Holdcroft
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Article
| Open AccessHighly efficient anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers via chromium-doped amorphous electrocatalysts
Modulating the electronic structure of active metal sites is crucial to enhance the activity of anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzers. Here, the authors elaborate Cr-doped amorphous metal oxide catalysts with excellent activity and stability.
- Sicheng Li
- , Tong Liu
- & Tao Yao
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Article
| Open AccessLocal CO2 reservoir layer promotes rapid and selective electrochemical CO2 reduction
Converting CO2 to valuable chemicals is of high interest. Here the authors address the challenge of low CO2 solubility in water by incorporating a metal-organic framework layer to enhance CO2 pre-concentration and activation before its electroreduction by the underlying solid electrocatalyst.
- Subhabrata Mukhopadhyay
- , Muhammad Saad Naeem
- & Idan Hod
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Article
| Open AccessFabrication-induced even-odd discrepancy of magnetotransport in few-layer MnBi2Te4
MnBi2Te4 is an antiferromagnetic topological insulator. This combination of magnetic ordering and topological properties has resulted in intense interest, however, like many van der Waals materials, experimental results are hampered by fabrication difficulties. Here, Li, Wang, Lian et al. show that the fabrication process itself can result in mismatched thickness dependence of magneto-transport measurements. ‘
- Yaoxin Li
- , Yongchao Wang
- & Chang Liu
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Article
| Open AccessA liquid metal-based module emulating the intelligent preying logic of flytrap
The intelligent responses of Venus flytrap to various stimuli provide valuable insights into electronic design. Here, the authors report a liquid metal-based logic module with memory and counting properties to intelligently respond like the flytrap.
- Yuanyuan Yang
- & Yajing Shen
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Article
| Open AccessDouble cross-linked 3D layered PBI proton exchange membranes for stable fuel cell performance above 200 °C
Phosphoric acid (PA) doped proton exchange membranes (PEMs) often degrade above 200 °C due to membrane creeping, PA dehydration, and condensation. Here, the authors introduce gel-state polybenzimidazole PEMs with double cross-linked 3D layered structures, enabling efficient and stable fuel cell operation above 200 °C.
- Liang Zhang
- , Mengjiao Liu
- & Lixin Xue
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Article
| Open AccessInkjet-printed optical interference filters
Optical interference filters are multilayer structures for controlling the propagation of electromagnetic waves. Jin et al. have developed a method of via inkjet printing to fabricate optical interference filters with commercially relevant quality with remarkable A4 paper size (29.7 × 21.0 cm²) in ambient conditions.
- Qihao Jin
- , Qiaoshuang Zhang
- & Uli Lemmer
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Perspective
| Open AccessMaterials design for hypersonics
Hypersonic vehicles experience extreme temperatures, high heat fluxes, and aggressive oxidizing environments. Here, the authors highlight key materials design principles for critical vehicle areas and strategies for advancing laboratory-scale materials to flight-ready components.
- Adam B. Peters
- , Dajie Zhang
- & Suhas Eswarappa Prameela
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Article
| Open AccessUnderstanding the charge transfer effects of single atoms for boosting the performance of Na-S batteries
Efficient charge transfer in sulfur electrodes is a crucial challenge for sodium-sulfur batteries. Here, the authors developed a machine-learning-assisted approach to quickly identify effective single-atom catalysts that enhance selectivity for short-chain sodium polysulfides, leading to improved battery performance.
- Yao-Jie Lei
- , Xinxin Lu
- & Guoxiu Wang
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Article
| Open AccessMechanoelectronic stimulation of autologous extracellular vesicle biosynthesis implant for gut microbiota modulation
Pathogenic gut microbiota is responsible for a few debilitating gastrointestinal Diseases. Here, the authors develop a wireless mechanoelectronic device designed to manufacture of functional vesicles in vivo to regulate microbiome.
- Shuangshuang Wan
- , Kepeng Wang
- & Lianhui Wang
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Article
| Open AccessImpact of PEG sensitization on the efficacy of PEG hydrogel-mediated tissue engineering
Concerns over the immunogenicity of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) are growing, and the implications for tissue engineering are unknown. Here the authors evaluate the impact of anti-PEG antibodies and PEG immunogenicity on the efficacy of a PEG hydrogel-based tissue engineering therapy.
- Alisa H. Isaac
- , Sarea Y. Recalde Phillips
- & Daniel L. Alge
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Article
| Open AccessGreen moisture-electric generator based on supramolecular hydrogel with tens of milliamp electricity toward practical applications
The emerging moisture-electric harvester suffers from insufficient power output. Here, the authors report a green, efficient, and scalable moisture-electric generator by introducing polyvinyl alcohol-sodium alginate hydrogel as active material.
- Su Yang
- , Lei Zhang
- & Xiaoming Tao
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Article
| Open AccessExciton polariton condensation from bound states in the continuum at room temperature
Bound states in continuum have attracted attention in various platforms, and recently condensation of bound states in continuum polariton modes was demonstrated at low temperatures. Here the authors report the observation of such a state in a periodic air-hole perovskite-based photonic crystal at room temperature.
- Xianxin Wu
- , Shuai Zhang
- & Xinfeng Liu
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Article
| Open AccessElectric-field-assisted proton coupling enhanced oxygen evolution reaction
Manganese complexes have long been utilized by nature to catalyze the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) but mirroring their efficiency in artificial electrochemical systems has proven difficult. This study centers on alpha-manganese dioxide (α-MnO2), which closely mimics natural MnIV-O-MnIII-HxO motifs, presenting a novel method for manipulating proton coupling within the OER process using an external electric field.
- Xuelei Pan
- , Mengyu Yan
- & Liqiang Mai
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Article
| Open AccessExtrinsic hydrophobicity-controlled silver nanoparticles as efficient and stable catalysts for CO2 electrolysis
A key factor for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO is limiting the competing H2 evolution reaction. Here, authors use real-time synchrotron X-ray computed tomography to show that a silver nanoparticle-ligand catalyst structure improves water management, thereby maintaining CO production.
- Young-Jin Ko
- , Chulwan Lim
- & Hyung-Suk Oh
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Article
| Open AccessUltrastrong exciton-plasmon couplings in WS2 multilayers synthesized with a random multi-singular metasurface at room temperature
Here, the authors fabricate a metasurface with nanometre-sized plasmonic hotspots that interact coherently with WS2 excitons, achieving ultrastrong exciton-plasmon coupling.
- Tingting Wu
- , Chongwu Wang
- & Yu Luo
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Article
| Open AccessIntelligent perceptual textiles based on ionic-conductive and strong silk fibers
Perception plays a pivotal role in advancing future intelligent textiles. Here, the authors develop smart perceptual textiles using natural-derived ionic-conductive silk fibers. These textiles can electrically detect external hazards and precisely pinpointing human touch, making them suitable for smart protective clothing and soft human-machine interfaces.
- Haojie Lu
- , Yong Zhang
- & Yingying Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessUltrafast photoluminescence and multiscale light amplification in nanoplasmonic cavity glass
This article presents a unique nanocomposite plasmonic-excitonic glass with extraordinary amplified optical properties: ultra-narrow photoluminescence (FWHM = 13 nm) and ultrashort photoluminescence lifetime (90 ps) at room temperature
- Piotr Piotrowski
- , Marta Buza
- & Dorota A. Pawlak
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Article
| Open AccessInterface-induced dual-pinning mechanism enhances low-frequency electromagnetic wave loss
This paper proposes a dual-pinning mechanism induced by a magneto-electric bias interface and uses it to designs a double-layer core-shell structure, demonstrating that the mechanism improves electromagnetic wave absorption in the low-frequency bands.
- Bo Cai
- , Lu Zhou
- & Guang-Sheng Wang
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Article
| Open AccessDefect scattering can lead to enhanced phonon transport at nanoscale
Defects in materials are well known to suppress thermal transport. Here, the authors demonstrate that introducing defects in nanoscale heating zone enhances thermal conductance by up to 75% through reducing directional phonon nonequilibrium.
- Yue Hu
- , Jiaxuan Xu
- & Hua Bao