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| Open AccessZero modes activation to reconcile floppiness, rigidity, and multistability into an all-in-one class of reprogrammable metamaterials
Floppiness, rigidity, and multi-stability often represent inherently contradictory macroscopic properties in solids. Here, authors introduce an all-in-one metamaterial that capitalizes on local state transitions to harmonize these divergent properties within a single transformable architecture.
- Lei Wu
- & Damiano Pasini
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Article
| Open AccessImpact of molecular symmetry on crystallization pathways in highly supersaturated KH2PO4 solutions
The molecular symmetry of solute structure in aqueous solutions is a key clue to understand Ostwald’s step rule. Here, the authors show that molecular symmetry and its structural evolution can govern the crystallization pathways in aqueous solutions.
- Yong Chan Cho
- , Sooheyong Lee
- & Geun Woo Lee
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Article
| Open AccessLow-nuclearity CuZn ensembles on ZnZrOx catalyze methanol synthesis from CO2
The ideal metal selection and atomic-level arrangement for catalysts in CO2 hydrogenation are still uncertain. Here, copper is identified as the most effective promoter for enhancing ZnZrOx catalysts when precisely structured into CuZn ensembles, offering new insights for designing superior catalysts for CO2-based methanol synthesis.
- Thaylan Pinheiro Araújo
- , Georgios Giannakakis
- & Javier Pérez-Ramírez
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Article
| Open AccessThe fluidic memristor as a collective phenomenon in elastohydrodynamic networks
Collective behavior of nonlinear soft valves forming fluid flow networks is not well understood. The authors reveal the mechanisms underlying the collective behavior of soft flow networks with negative differential resistance elements.
- Alejandro Martínez-Calvo
- , Matthew D. Biviano
- & Miguel Ruiz-García
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Article
| Open AccessRadionuclide tracing based in situ corrosion and mass transport monitoring of 316L stainless steel in a molten salt closed loop
In situ corrosion monitoring is essential to unveil corrosion mechanisms and safeguard materials’ health. Here, the authors develop a radionuclide tracing based in situ corrosion monitoring technique that can monitor corrosion attack depth and corrosion product transport in flowing molten salts.
- Yafei Wang
- , Aeli P. Olson
- & Adrien Couet
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Article
| Open AccessLayer-by-layer phase transformation in Ti3O5 revealed by machine-learning molecular dynamics simulations
Reconstructive phase transitions in materials are usually slow due to large activation energy barriers. Here, the authors show a kinetically favorable layer-by-layer mechanism in Ti3O5 transformations using machine-learning molecular dynamics simulations.
- Mingfeng Liu
- , Jiantao Wang
- & Xing-Qiu Chen
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Article
| Open AccessMultilevel design and construction in nanomembrane rolling for three-dimensional angle-sensitive photodetection
Zhang et al. report a quasistatic multilevel finite element model to predict the 3D structures assembled by 2D nanomembranes, validated by large-scale, high-yield, and configurable fabrication. 3D Si/Cr photodetectors assisted by neural network are employed to resolve the incident light angle.
- Ziyu Zhang
- , Binmin Wu
- & Yongfeng Mei
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Article
| Open AccessEnabling robust blue circularly polarized organic afterglow through self-confining isolated chiral chromophore
The preparation of systems that give blue circularly polarised organic afterglow is desirable but challenging. Here, the authors confine a chiral chromophore within a polymer matrix to limit non-radiative transitions and give blue circularly polarised organic afterglow.
- Mingjian Zeng
- , Weiguang Wang
- & Wei Huang
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Article
| Open AccessVapor-induced phase-separation-enabled versatile direct ink writing
The extrusion-based three-dimensional printing of polymers, metals, and composites requires elevated temperatures and may lead to diverse undesirable defects on printed parts. Here, the authors develop a vapor-induced phase separation printing technique to construct polymeric, metallic, and composite parts by using a polymer as a binder.
- Marc Sole-Gras
- , Bing Ren
- & Yong Huang
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Article
| Open AccessHighly robust supramolecular polymer networks crosslinked by a tiny amount of metallacycles
Supramolecular polymeric materials have exhibited attractive features such as self-healing, reversibility and stimuli-responsiveness but because of the weak bonding nature of most noncovalent interactions, constructing supramolecular polymer materials with high robustness remains challenging. Here, the authors describe the construction of highly robust stimuli-responsive supramolecular polymer networks by using only a tiny amount of metallacycles as the supramolecular crosslinkers.
- Lang He
- , Yu Jiang
- & Shijun Li
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Article
| Open AccessSurface oxidation/spin state determines oxygen evolution reaction activity of cobalt-based catalysts in acidic environment
Co-based catalysts are promising candidates for oxygen evolution reaction catalysis in an acidic environment, but the structure-activity relationship is unclear. Here, the authors discover that their acidic water oxidation activity is determined by the surface oxidation/spin state.
- Jinzhen Huang
- , Camelia Nicoleta Borca
- & Emiliana Fabbri
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Article
| Open AccessObservation of spatiotemporal optical vortices enabled by symmetry-breaking slanted nanograting
A microscale platform composed of a slanted nanograting is experimentally demonstrated to efficiently generate spatiotemporal optical vortex. This approach paves the way towards an integrated system for ultrafast pulse shaping.
- Pengcheng Huo
- , Wei Chen
- & Ting Xu
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| Open AccessA 2D chiral microcavity based on apparent circular dichroism
Here the authors induce asymmetric transmission in planar Fabry–Pérot microcavities by embedding organic thin films exhibiting apparent circular dichroism (ACD), an optical phenomenon based on 2D chirality.
- Tzu-Ling Chen
- , Andrew Salij
- & Randall H. Goldsmith
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Article
| Open AccessKinetically controlled metal-elastomer nanophases for environmentally resilient stretchable electronics
Metal-elastomer nanophases are critical for stretchable electronics but face mixing challenges. This study introduces a kinetic method for precise mixing, yielding gyrified nanophases with improved durability and strain-invariant conductivity, which holds promise for resilient stretchable devices.
- Soosang Chae
- , Won Jin Choi
- & Tae Il Lee
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Article
| Open AccessFine-tuning the pore environment of ultramicroporous three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks for efficient one-step ethylene purification
The construction of three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks for gas separation is challenging due to the similar physicochemical properties of the gas mixture. Here, the authors report functional three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks by fine-tunning the pore environment with pyridine units to achieve effective separation of ethane from ethylene.
- Yang Xie
- , Wenjing Wang
- & Cheng Wang
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Article
| Open AccessMechanism of DNA origami folding elucidated by mesoscopic simulations
The self-assembly process of DNA nanostructures is still not well understood, especially for DNA origami. Here, the authors present a mesoscopic model that uses a switchable force field to capture the mechanical behavior of single- and double-stranded DNA motifs and transition between them, allowing access to the long assembly timescales of DNA origami up to several kilobases in size.
- Marcello DeLuca
- , Daniel Duke
- & Gaurav Arya
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Article
| Open AccessWide field-of-hearing metalens for aberration-free sound capture
Achieving a wide angular response in single layer acoustic metalenses is challenging. By leveraging perfect acoustic symmetry conversion, the authors realize an aberration free metalens with a wide field-of-hearing, up to 140 degrees.
- Dongwoo Lee
- , Beomseok Oh
- & Junsuk Rho
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Article
| Open AccessNonlinear optical diode effect in a magnetic Weyl semimetal
Here the authors demonstrate a broadband nonlinear optical diode effect and its electric control in the magnetic Weyl semimetal CeAlSi. Their findings advance ongoing research to identify novel optical phenomena in topological materials.
- Christian Tzschaschel
- , Jian-Xiang Qiu
- & Su-Yang Xu
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Article
| Open AccessUltrafast piezocapacitive soft pressure sensors with over 10 kHz bandwidth via bonded microstructured interfaces
Piezocapacitive pressure sensors are typically limited by the slow response-relaxation speed for detecting dynamic stimuli. Here, Zhang et al. utilize the electrode-dielectric interface and bonded micro-structured interface for energy dissipation and reduce the response and relaxation time to 0.04 ms.
- Yuan Zhang
- , Xiaomeng Zhou
- & Chuan Fei Guo
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| Open AccessClosed-loop recycling of sulfur-rich polymers with tunable properties spanning thermoplastics, elastomers, and vitrimers
Sulfur-rich polymers are promising candidates for chemical recycling but lack efficient synthetic strategies for achieving diverse structures. Here, the authors report a synthesis strategy for polytrithiocarbonates which is compatible with a wide range of monomers enabling diverse structures via polycondensation of dithiols and dimethyl trithiocarbonate.
- Jin-Zhuo Zhao
- , Tian-Jun Yue
- & Wei-Min Ren
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| Open AccessFerrielectricity controlled widely-tunable magnetoelectric coupling in van der Waals multiferroics
Two-dimensional multiferroics with effective magnetoelectric coupling has not been realized. Here, the authors find a magnetoelectric coupling mechanism in two-dimensional CuCrP2S6 interlocked with heterogeneous ferrielectric state.
- Qifeng Hu
- , Yuqiang Huang
- & Yi Zheng
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Article
| Open AccessWater-assisted oxidative redispersion of Cu particles through formation of Cu hydroxide at room temperature
Redispersion of sintered metal species requires high temperatures in reactive atmospheres. Here, the authors report room temperature redispersion of supported Cu particles via formation of mobile hydroxylated Cu species induced by gaseous H2O and anchoring of the Cu species by surface OH groups.
- Yamei Fan
- , Rongtan Li
- & Qiang Fu
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| Open AccessExciton engineering of 2D Ruddlesden–Popper perovskites by synergistically tuning the intra and interlayer structures
Guo et al. report enhanced emission and photoconductivity in 2D Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites by synergistically tuning the intra and interlayer structure via pressure. A structure descriptor considering both intra- and interlayer is then introduced for screening perovskite with desired properties.
- Songhao Guo
- , Willa Mihalyi-Koch
- & Xujie Lü
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Article
| Open AccessPushing thermal conductivity to its lower limit in crystals with simple structures
The pursuit of materials with low heat conductivity is vital for numerous applications. Here, the authors find AgTlI2 show low heat conductivity of 0.25 W/mK at room temperature, discussing its thermal transport mechanisms.
- Zezhu Zeng
- , Xingchen Shen
- & Yue Chen
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Article
| Open AccessEssential role of lattice oxygen in hydrogen sensing reaction
Understanding the sensing mechanism of metal oxide semiconductors is imperative for developing high-performance sensors. Here, the participation of lattice oxygen, caused by additional Ge, boosts the hydrogen sensing ability of SnO2.
- Jiayu Li
- , Wenzhe Si
- & Guo-Dong Li
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Article
| Open AccessElectron paramagnetic resonance as a tool to determine the sodium charge storage mechanism of hard carbon
Hard carbons are considered the most suitable negative electrode materials for Na-ion batteries. Here, authors use electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine the spin nature of mechanochemically-modified hard carbons to predict their charge storage mechanism for sodium-ion batteries.
- Bin Wang
- , Jack R. Fitzpatrick
- & Nuria Tapia-Ruiz
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Article
| Open AccessLight-induced giant enhancement of nonreciprocal transport at KTaO3-based interfaces
Optical control is an alternative pathway to boost nonlinear transport in noncentrosymmetric systems. Here, the authors observe a light-induced giant enhancement of nonreciprocal transport coefficient as high as 105 A−1 T−1 at KTaO3-based Rashba interfaces.
- Xu Zhang
- , Tongshuai Zhu
- & Xuefeng Wang
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Article
| Open AccessIn situ observation of the atomic shuffles during the {\({{11}}\bar{{{2}}}{{1}}\)} twinning in hexagonal close-packed rhenium
Atomic shuffles are important phenomena accompanying the twinning in hexagonal close-packed crystals, but the direct experimental observation on it is lacking. Here, the authors show the shuffling mechanism of {112 ̅1} twinning in rhenium nanocrystals by in situ transmission electron microscopy.
- Yang He
- , Zhengwu Fang
- & Scott X. Mao
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Article
| Open AccessArtificial kagome lattices of Shockley surface states patterned by halogen hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks
By utilizing the templating effect of a halogen hydrogen-bonded organic framework, the authors show that the Shockley surface states of coinage metals can be patterned into artificial kagome lattices with high tunability.
- Ruoting Yin
- , Xiang Zhu
- & Bing Wang
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Article
| Open AccessAsymmetric magnetization switching and programmable complete Boolean logic enabled by long-range intralayer Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction
The authors find a magnetization switching mechanism and the long-range intralayer Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction effect, which enables asymmetric magnetization switching and complete Boolean logic operations.
- Qianbiao Liu
- , Long Liu
- & Lijun Zhu
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Article
| Open AccessModified t-butyl in tetradentate platinum (II) complexes enables exceptional lifetime for blue-phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes
It has been challenging to realize efficient and stable blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes. Here, authors explore the effect of substitution position in platinum(II) dopants with suppressed metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer features, resulting in prolonged lifetime in the devices.
- Young Hun Jung
- , Gyeong Seok Lee
- & Jang Hyuk Kwon
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Article
| Open AccessLigand-modified nanoparticle surfaces influence CO electroreduction selectivity
Enhancing the kinetics and selectivity of CO2/CO electroreduction towards valuable multi-carbon products poses a scientific challenge and is imperative for practical applicability. Here the authors report that modifying copper catalysts with surface thiol ligands significantly improves acetate selectivity.
- Erfan Shirzadi
- , Qiu Jin
- & Edward H. Sargent
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Article
| Open AccessOvercoming low initial coulombic efficiencies of Si anodes through prelithiation in all-solid-state batteries
All-solid-state batteries with silicon anodes have high capacities but low initial coulombic efficiencies (ICEs) because of first cycle irreversible capacity loss. Here, the authors report a prelithiation strategy to improve ICEs and reversibility.
- So-Yeon Ham
- , Elias Sebti
- & Ying Shirley Meng
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Article
| Open AccessConvoluted micellar morphological transitions driven by tailorable mesogenic ordering effect from discotic mesogen-containing block copolymer
Assembly of block copolymers can be controlled to give varying morphologies and functionalities, but there are still aspects of the process that are not well understood. Here, the authors report convoluted self-assembly behaviours of block copolymers with discotic liquid crystalline moieties.
- Huanzhi Yang
- , Yunjun Luo
- & Xiaoyu Li
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Article
| Open AccessUltrastiff metamaterials generated through a multilayer strategy and topology optimization
High-performance mechanical metamaterials have been designed through a multilayer strategy and topology optimization, showing capability in approaching the theoretical stiffness limit, as well as prospects in treating multiphysics problems
- Yang Liu
- , Yongzhen Wang
- & Jianbin Du
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Article
| Open AccessEmissive brightening in molecular graphene nanoribbons by twilight states
The authors demonstrate that the band structure of graphene nanoribbons is modulated by cove edges, brightening the luminescence 4-fold via emission from otherwise dark twilight states. High spectral resolution of the optical response reveals strong vibron-electron coupling
- Bernd K. Sturdza
- , Fanmiao Kong
- & Robin J. Nicholas
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Article
| Open AccessA silicon photoanode protected with TiO2/stainless steel bilayer stack for solar seawater splitting
Here, the authors report a Si photoanode coated with a TiO2/stainless steel bilayer to inhibit chloride adsorption and facilitate stable alkaline seawater splitting for over 50 h with an applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 2.62%.
- Shixuan Zhao
- , Bin Liu
- & Jinlong Gong
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Article
| Open AccessHidden non-collinear spin-order induced topological surface states
Several recent experimental studies have found disconnected Fermi surface arcs emerging below the Neel temperature in several rare-earth mono-pnictides. While these electronic states have been attributed to a non-collinear antiferromagnetic order, experimental evidence of this has been lacking. Here Huang et al demonstrate the emergence of non-collinear antiferromagnetic order using spin-polarized scanning tunnelling microscopy.
- Zengle Huang
- , Hemian Yi
- & Weida Wu
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Article
| Open AccessLong lifetimes white afterglow in slightly crosslinked polymer systems
It is challenging to achieve multicolor long-lived room temperature phosphorescence in intrinsic polymers, especially for white afterglow. Here, the authors report a strategy to obtain pure white afterglow micro-crosslinked polymers by covalently coupling different conjugated chromophores with precursors through a simple and rapid one-pot reaction.
- Qingao Chen
- , Lunjun Qu
- & Chaolong Yang
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Article
| Open AccessEfficient bubble/precipitate traffic enables stable seawater reduction electrocatalysis at industrial-level current densities
Seawater electroreduction is a promising technique for producing hydrogen, but it is hindered by cathodic Mg2 + /Ca2+ precipitation. Here, the authors propose a microscopic bubble/precipitate traffic system that releases small-sized bubbles across the cathode to repel Mg2 + /Ca2+ precipitates from almost the entire surface area of the catalyst.
- Jie Liang
- , Zhengwei Cai
- & Bo Tang
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Article
| Open AccessLaMg6Ga6S16: a chemical stable divalent lanthanide chalcogenide
Synthesising chemically stable divalent lanthanide compounds is still faced by great challenges. Here, by using octahedra coupling tetrahedra single/double chains to construct an octahedral crystal field, authors synthesised a stable crystalline La(II)-chalcogenide, LaMg6Ga6S16.
- Yujie Zhang
- , Jiale Chen
- & Hongwei Yu
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Article
| Open AccessCompact meta-differentiator for achieving isotropically high-contrast ultrasonic imaging
High-contrast ultrasonic imaging holds significant importance in biomedical and engineering applications. Here, the authors present a compact spatial differentiator tailored for underwater isotropic edge-enhanced imaging, facilitating the realization of high-contrast ultrasonic imaging.
- Yurou Jia
- , Suying Zhang
- & Xiaojun Liu
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Article
| Open AccessObservation of Kekulé vortices around hydrogen adatoms in graphene
Kekulé vortices in hexagonal lattices can host fractionalized charges at zero magnetic field, but have remained out of experimental reach. Here, the authors report a Kekulé vortex in the local density states of graphene around a chemisorbed hydrogen adatom.
- Yifei Guan
- , Clement Dutreix
- & Vincent T. Renard
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Article
| Open AccessLow thermal contact resistance boron nitride nanosheets composites enabled by interfacial arc-like phonon bridge
Boron nitride nanosheets possess high in-plane thermal conductivity and high thermal contact resistance. Here the authors discover obliquely aligned nanosheets at the interface can act as a phonon bridge to lower the contact resistance.
- Ke Zhan
- , Yucong Chen
- & Ling Qiu
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Article
| Open AccessA Janus carbaporphyrin pseudo-dimer
Carbaporphyrin dimers, known for their interesting photophysical properties and application in metal-organic chemistry, generally contain two identical subunits. Here, the authors highlight the benefits that can accrue from breaking the inherent symmetry of carbaporphyrin dimers and details a new approach to creating heterobimetallic complexes.
- Haodan He
- , Jiyeon Lee
- & Xian-Sheng Ke
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Article
| Open AccessMolecular insight into the initial hydration of tricalcium aluminate
The hydration of tricalcium aluminate is an important initial step in the structural build-up of Portland cement. Here the authors use ab initio and accelerated dynamics to describe the reactions and dynamics of this process at the molecular level.
- Xing Ming
- , Wen Si
- & Zongjin Li
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Article
| Open AccessThe formation of unsaturated IrOx in SrIrO3 by cobalt-doping for acidic oxygen evolution reaction
SrIrO3-based catalyst is a promising candidate for acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), but the active sites and factors responsible for its effectiveness remain ambiguous. Here, the authors reveal that dynamic dissolution of Co in Co-SrIrO3 leads to the formation of unsaturated IrOx, enabling high-efficiency OER.
- Jia-Wei Zhao
- , Kaihang Yue
- & Gao-Ren Li
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Article
| Open AccessCrosslinking-induced patterning of MOFs by direct photo- and electron-beam lithography
Precise and scalable patterning is essential for the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in solid-state electronics and photonics. Here, the authors report on resistance-free, direct photo- and electron-beam lithography of MOF films using crosslinking chemistry.
- Xiaoli Tian
- , Fu Li
- & Jinghong Li
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Article
| Open AccessIntegrated mechanical computing for autonomous soft machines
Many mechanical computation platforms developed till date lack a rational design strategy and have limited computational functions, such as stand-alone single logic gates, or deformation/transition behaviors. Byun at al. have reported a systematic design principle for integrated mechanical computing that enables the electronics-free design of autonomous and intelligent soft machines, which are seamlessly integrated.
- Junghwan Byun
- , Aniket Pal
- & Metin Sitti