Opto-Electronic Advances (光电进展)•2026•DOI: 10.29026/oea.2026.250274
Thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) has emerged as a promising platform for integrated photonics due to its strong electro-optic and nonlinear properties. However, on-chip tunable lasers essential for optical communications, sensing, metrology, and quantum technology remain constrained by limited tuning range or precision, often requiring complex control strategies. This work demonstrates a hybrid integrated electro-optically tunable narrow-linewidth III-V laser on TFLN, achieving a tuning range of ~51.8 nm, an intrinsic linewidth of ~1.21 MHz, and a tuning precision of ~0.03 nm. The external cavity uniquely combines highly reflective Sagnac mirrors and a series of unbalanced interferometers, providing a spectral response that favors single-longitudinal-mode narrow-linewidth lasing. Experimental results show a maximum on-chip power of 102.7 μW at 1551.69 nm, a side-mode suppression ratio of 39.65 dB, and continuous tuning range of ~3.5 pm. The laser operates mode-hop-free over long periods, with a DC voltage tuning range of −30 V to +30 V. The external cavity, built exclusively on single-mode-waveguide-based photonic structures, ensures fundamental-mode propagation, enhancing stability and relaxing fabrication tolerances. The reformulated theory of semiconductor lasers provides design insights for hybrid integrated lasers and on-chip self-injection locked lasers. This work advances the development of high-precision, wide-range tunable lasers for next-generation photonic systems.
Chinese Journal of Energetic Materials (含能材料)•2026•DOI: 10.11943/CJEM2026001
To improve rock fragmentation in open-pit deep-hole blasting, an in-hole layered column charge configuration was designed. Small-scale blasting tests on sandstone specimens were conducted under continuous and layered column charges to capture the failure process and final fragmentation. DEM-PBM coupled simulations visualized the dynamic fracture evolution and validated the experimental observations. Results show that under continuous charge, the top quarter of the specimen developed only a single blast-induced crack, splitting it into two parts, with horizontal fragment velocity of 2.0 m·s⁻¹ and a maximum block size of 9.0 cm. In contrast, layered charge produced multiple cracks in the top quarter, fragmenting it into smaller pieces, increasing horizontal velocity to 7.0 m·s⁻¹, and eliminating blocks larger than 5.0 cm. Simulations confirmed these trends, with maximum block size reduced from 8.8 cm to below 5.0 cm and velocity reaching 6.8 m·s⁻¹, closely matching experiments. Field trials in an open-pit coal mine overburden blasting demonstrated that layered charge reduced the boulder yield from 48.1% to 5.6%, significantly improving fragmentation. The findings confirm the practical effectiveness of in-hole layered column charge in enhancing rock breakage in deep-hole bench blasting.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6295-1
Affected by the depositional environment, coal seams in the weathered and oxidized zone and their overlying strata are characterized by developed fractures and poor self-stability, leading to difficulties in roadway and working face roof management. This paper analyzes the failure characteristics of coal-rock masses in this zone. Combined with model tests and numerical simulation methods, it investigates the stress distribution status, deformation-failure characteristics, and movement-fracture laws of the overlying strata in a fully mechanized top-coal caving working face. The results indicate: (1) Weathering and oxidation significantly degrade strength and increase plastic deformation in coal-rock masses; (2) Under mining-induced disturbance, overlying strata stress is released from the in-situ state and sharply reduced, forming stress concentration zones ahead of the coal wall and at face ends; (3) During mining, fractures propagating upwards from the coal wall trigger rib spalling and top-coal collapse, forming combined cantilever and articulated rock beam structures. The overlying strata sequentially undergo four deformation-failure stages: "bed separation, immediate roof fracture, main roof fracture, and high-level strata collapse". The research findings can provide a basis for the safe mining of fully mechanized top-coal caving faces in weathered and oxidized coal.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01704-5
The development of flexible zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) faces a three-way trade-off among the ionic conductivity, Zn2+ mobility, and the electrochemical stability of hydrogel electrolytes. To address this challenge, we designed a cationic hydrogel named PAPTMA to holistically improve the reversibility of ZIBs. The long cationic branch chains in the polymeric matrix construct express pathways for rapid Zn2+ transport through an ionic repulsion mechanism, achieving simultaneously high Zn2+ transference number (0.79) and high ionic conductivity (28.7 mS cm−1). Additionally, the reactivity of water in the PAPTMA hydrogels is significantly inhibited, thus possessing a strong resistance to parasitic reactions. Mechanical characterization further reveals the superior tensile and adhesion strength of PAPTMA. Leveraging these properties, symmetric batteries employing PAPTMA hydrogel deliver exceeding 6000 h of reversible cycling at 1 mA cm−2 and maintain stable operation for 1000 h with a discharge of depth of 71%. When applied in 4 × 4 cm2 pouch cells with MnO2 as the cathode material, the device demonstrates remarkable operational stability and mechanical robustness through 150 cycles. This work presents an eclectic strategy for designing advanced hydrogels that combine high ionic conductivity, enhanced Zn2+ mobility, and strong resistance to parasitic reactions, paving the way for long-lasting flexible ZIBs.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2024-39-06-01)
The quest for sustainable energy storage solutions is more critical than ever, with the rise in global energy demand and the urgency of transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), with their exceptional electrical conductivity and structural integrity, are at the forefront of this endeavor, offering promising ways for the advance of electrochemical energy storage (EES) devices. This review provides an analysis of the synthesis, properties, and applications of CNTs in the context of EES. We explore the evolution of CNT synthesis methods, including arc discharge, laser ablation, and chemical vapor deposition, and highlight the recent developments in metal-organic framework-derived CNTs and a novel CNT aggregate with a three-dimensional ordered macroporous structure. We also examine the role of CNTs in improving the performance of various EES devices such as lithium-ion, lithium-metal, lithium-sulfur, sodium, and flexible batteries as well as supercapacitors. We underscore the challenges that remain, including the scalability of CNT synthesis and the integration of CNTs in electrode materials, and propose potential solutions and future research directions. The review presents a forward-looking perspective on the pivotal role of CNTs in shaping the future of sustainable EES technologies.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25040033
As artificial intelligence (AI) workloads escalate exponentially, ultra-thin, high-efficiency voltage regulator modules (VRMs) with exceptional power density become essential for backside-mounted configurations. High-density multiphase DC−DC converters are pivotal for implementing vertical power delivery (VPD) architectures in XPU platforms. Strategically positioning these converters beneath processors and maximizing spatial utilization enables core rail currents exceeding 2 kA while significantly reducing power distribution network (PDN) losses compared to conventional solutions. The VPD configuration elevates system-level energy efficiency with >100 W power saving per processor, yielding megawatt-scale savings in a datacenter that uses ~100 000 processors. The synergy of 48 V power conversion architectures and advanced packaging techniques enables the industry’s commitment to balancing computational demands with CO2 emission reduction and environmental sustainability. This paper discusses system architecture, layout geometry, and control strategies for multi-chip multi-phase DC−DC converters, comparing ring, chain, and net topologies, as well as independent and master-slave control schemes.