Railway Engineering Science (铁道工程科学)•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40534-025-00415-2
Wheelset tread defects in subway locomotives present critical safety hazards, yet manual inspection remains prevalent, suffering from inefficiency and human error. This study proposes an enhanced YOLOv5-based detection algorithm tailored for subway wheelset tread defects. A multi-head self-attention module is integrated to capture long-range dependencies within global feature maps, improving small-target detection. A weighted bidirectional feature pyramid network (BiFPN) enables balanced multi-scale feature fusion and efficient cross-scale integration. To mitigate limited labeled data and annotation inaccuracies, a novel loss function, W-MPDIoU, is introduced to accelerate convergence. Experimental validation using real defect data and simulated experimental data yields an average detection accuracy of 99.1%, a 4.29% improvement over the original YOLOv5, with a detection speed of 15 ms per image. The model also outperforms YOLOv12 in convergence speed, detection accuracy, and inference speed. Despite these gains, limitations persist in defect variety and dataset size, necessitating further refinement for broader generalization. The proposed method enables real-time tread defect detection, enhancing safety and operational efficiency in urban rail transit maintenance.
Journal of Advanced Ceramics•2026•DOI: 10.26599/JAC.2026.9221346
Achieving intrinsic surface compressive stress in monolithic oxide ceramics without heterogeneous interfaces remains a persistent challenge. This study introduces oxygen-vacancy compensation prestressing (OVCP), a defect-engineering strategy that generates in situ surface prestressing in zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA). Oxygen vacancy-rich ZTA was first produced by vacuum hot pressing, followed by air annealing to induce surface reoxygenation and form an oxygen-charged layer (OCL). The optimized treatment increased flexural strength to (1679±78) MPa, a 31% improvement over the unannealed state. Mechanistically, oxygen-vacancy compensation during annealing induces lattice expansion in the near-surface region. Constrained by the less-oxidized interior, this expansion converts into a residual compressive stress field that suppresses bending-induced failure. A simplified bilayer model quantitatively supports the experimentally observed strengthening behavior. These findings establish oxygen vacancy-regulated lattice expansion as an effective mechanism for intrinsic surface prestressing, providing a simple, interface-free route for strengthening oxide ceramics. The approach circumvents delamination and interfacial debonding inherent to conventional coating or laminated architectures, offering a scalable pathway for high-performance structural oxide ceramics.
Nano Research•2026•DOI: 10.26599/NR.2026.94908775
Flexible sensors have advanced rapidly to achieve skin-like multisensory capabilities, yet their performance is compromised by strain disturbances and multi-parameter interactions, impeding widespread deployment. Here, we report a flexible fibrous device with a patterned cellular structure enabling anti-strain interference, dual-parameter measurement, and static/dynamic detection. The patterned cellular fibrous structure achieves a heterogenous strain distribution that preserves sensing performance under 10% strain. The sensor integrates a piezoresistive component for low-frequency mechanical stimuli and a thermoelectric response to calibrate temperature-induced resistance changes. A hybrid piezoresistive/piezoelectric sensing platform was experimentally implemented for static pressure persistence and high-frequency acoustic excitation from 0 to 300 Hz. The hybrid tactile sensing achieved the highest material identification accuracy of 98.6%. This work provides valuable proposals to resolve practical constraints in flexible sensor applications, compelling advantages for broader wearable integration.
Nano Research•2026•DOI: 10.26599/NR.2026.94908587
Aerogels are promising for thermal insulation due to their lightweight and low thermal conductivity, yet achieving high-temperature resistance (>1000 °C) alongside robust mechanical performance remains challenging. Here, we report a cactus-inspired spiral structure strategy via freezing-assisted direct ink writing (DIW). By controlling the rotation angle (θ) and printing spacing (x), we fabricate SiO2/ZrO2 aerogels with programmable macroscopic spiral architectures. The aerogel with θ = 40° and x = 1.3 mm exhibits excellent thermal insulation (30.2 mW·m−1·K−1) but limited compressive strength (159.3 kPa at 24.2% fracture strain). To enhance mechanical properties without compromising insulation, we propose an arctangent-topological DIW strategy using αn = arctan(1/n) to create four-fold rotational symmetry. At αn = 26.6° (n = 2), the aerogel achieves a thermal conductivity of 33.9 mW·m−1·K−1 and a compressive strength of 341.7 kPa at 24.6% fracture strain, representing a significant improvement. Finite element simulations (COMSOL Multiphysics) corroborate experimental results. Demonstrations on electronic chips and flame nozzles confirm effective thermal protection. This work provides a viable route to aerogels with integrated high-temperature stability and mechanical robustness.
Nano Research•2026•DOI: 10.26599/NR.2026.94908854
Constructing photocatalysts decorated with atomically dispersed metal species (ADMs) represents a pivotal strategy to maximize atom utilization and tailor active sites for efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction. However, conventional synthesis strategies, typically relying on tedious wet-chemistry or prolonged thermal calcination, often suffer from slow kinetics that inevitably drive the thermodynamic aggregation of metastable single atoms or nanoclusters into less active nanoparticles. Herein, we bypassed these limitations by developing a facile flash Joule heating (FJH) strategy to engineer stable Cu ADMs on TiO2 via an ultrafast and millisecond-scale heating-quenching process. This non-equilibrium thermal shock effectively stabilizes the metal species before thermal diffusion can occur, ensuring a robust metal–support interaction, as unambiguously confirmed by aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analyses. Consequently, the optimized Cu1.0/TiO2 delivers an approximately 10-fold enhancement in CO evolution compared to pristine TiO2 under simulated solar irradiation. Comprehensive in-situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and photoelectrochemical measurements reveal that these isolated Cu sites function as superior electron-trapping centers, which significantly accelerate interfacial charge transfer kinetics and promote the activation of critical reaction intermediates. This work establishes FJH as a versatile and scalable platform for overcoming the stability-dispersion trade-off in the rational design of high-performance photocatalysts.
Nano Research•2026•DOI: 10.26599/FRICT.2026.9441262
The growing demand for high-performance and long-service components in challenging applications has driven the development of high-strength metastable β-titanium alloys with multifunctional surfaces. This study introduces a novel surface engineering strategy, integrated bulk heat treatment with surface functionalisation (IBTSF), which combines bulk aging treatment with catalytic ceramic conversion treatment (C3T) incorporating Ag or Au. This approach simultaneously imparts surface multifunctionalities—high hardness, desirable tribological properties, and high antibacterial efficacy—while enhancing bulk mechanical properties. Using the metastable β-titanium alloy Ti–15V–3Al–3Cr–3Sn (Ti–15–3) as a representative, C3T was catalysed with either Au or Ag. Under a 20 N load, Au-catalysed C3T achieved near-zero wear and a low, stable coefficient of friction (COF) of ~0.3, attributed to the formation of a lubricating tribo-film. In contrast, Ag-catalysed C3T maintained stable tribological performance up to 10 N while delivering high antibacterial efficacies of 99.878% and 99.999% against E. coli and S. aureus within 3–6 h of contact, respectively, through passive Ag-ion release. Both treatments enhanced bulk tensile strength by approximately 50%, from 872±39 to 1,280±40 MPa. This combination of exceptional wear resistance, potent antibacterial activity, and improved mechanical strength offers a promising pathway to surface multifunctionalising metastable alloys for long-service, high-reliability applications.
Nano Research•2026•DOI: 10.26599/FRICT.2026.9441216
The vibration and noise issues of lightweight friction pairs in suburban train braking systems have become a critical bottleneck restricting their engineering application. This study investigated lightweight friction pairs composed of three representative synthetic brake pads and an aluminum matrix composite brake disc. Utilizing tribological tests, interfacial wear analysis, and dynamic modeling, the study investigated the impact of interfacial wear and contact behaviors on vibration and noise and elucidated the mechanisms by which pad material properties influence these responses. The experimental findings revealed that the pad material properties significantly affect the wear behavior and friction-induced vibration and noise responses of lightweight friction pairs. The pad enriched with lubricating phases (Pad A) readily established stable lubricating films, while the highly plastic pad (Pad C) effectively captured wear debris to build the third-body layers that cushioned loads. Both reduced friction fluctuations and contact stiffness, thereby attenuating vibration and noise. Conversely, the high-hardness pad (Pad B) failed to form continuous lubricating films, leading to intensified friction, higher contact stiffness, and pronounced vibration and noise. Numerical simulations further confirmed that the friction coefficient and normal contact stiffness synergistically regulated system stability, directly affecting the vibration and noise responses. Systems characterized by high friction and large contact stiffness (Pad B) were particularly susceptible to modal coupling, resulting in dynamic instability and elevated vibration and noise levels. Therefore, optimizing the pad material properties and regulating the behavior of wear debris to facilitate the stable formation of lubricating films or third-body layers can effectively suppress friction coefficient fluctuations, reduce normal contact stiffness, and enhance interfacial stability, thereby mitigating vibration and noise. The findings provide a theoretical foundation and engineering guidance for optimizing the design of low-noise lightweight braking systems and selecting appropriate friction materials.
Nano Research•2026•DOI: 10.26599/FRICT.2026.9441213
Nanocomposites have attracted significant attention as lubricant additives due to their advantages in reducing friction, enhancing wear resistance, and improving thermal and oxidative stability. In recent years, increasing research has explored how different types of nanomaterials (such as carbon-based materials, metallic nanoparticles, and ceramic phases) can use synergistic effects to achieve performance surpassing that of their single components. This review focuses on relevant studies published between 2020 and 2025, providing an updated overview of the advantages, synthesis methods, structures, dispersion stability, lubrication mechanisms, and tribological behavior of nanocomposites. Various structural types are discussed, including core–shell, layered, and in situ hybrid systems, along with their fabrication routes, such as sol–gel processing, hydrothermal synthesis, and surface modification strategies. The lubrication mechanism of nanocomposites is analyzed based on the material structure and the testing conditions. Particular attention is paid to the synergistic effects among multiple components within the nanocomposites and to how these synergies enhance tribological performance. Furthermore, the challenges faced by nanocomposites and potential future developments are discussed. This review aims to clarify the current status of nanocomposites as lubricant additives and facilitate their future application in advanced lubrication systems.
Chinese Journal of Energetic Materials (含能材料)•2026•DOI: 10.11943/CJEM2026021
To elucidate the influence mechanism of particle size on the ignition and combustion behavior of Al-Li-Mg alloys, four alloy powders with median diameters of 9, 13, 16, and 24 μm were systematically investigated. Physicochemical properties were characterized by laser diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, simultaneous thermal analysis, and oxygen bomb calorimetry. Ignition and combustion behaviors were assessed using a laser ignition test bench equipped with high-speed photography and fiber-optic spectrometry. Results show that with increasing particle size, ignition delay time first decreases sharply then stabilizes, dropping from 135 ms (9 μm) to 51 ms (13 μm), then to 15 ms (16 μm) and 18 ms (24 μm). Combustion intensity, indicated by maximum spectral intensity, decreases from 7300.4 (9 μm) to 1721.6 (24 μm). Combustion duration initially extends slightly then stabilizes, from 857 ms (9 μm) to 928 ms (13 μm) and approximately 920 ms for larger sizes. Notably, the 13 μm alloy achieves an optimal balance among ignition delay (51 ms), combustion duration (928 ms), and combustion intensity (6041.8). The study reveals a critical size effect: between 13 and 16 μm, ignition delay drops by 71% while combustion intensity decreases by 54%, indicating a transition from surface-diffusion-controlled to micro-explosion-dominated combustion. This mechanism arises from competition between heat conduction and elemental diffusion: larger particles restrict heat transfer, promoting Li and Mg surface enrichment and temperature gradients that induce micro-explosions, thereby shortening ignition delay but reducing combustion efficiency and intensity.
Chinese Journal of Energetic Materials (含能材料)•2026•DOI: 10.11943/CJEM2026051
The channel reactor offers advantages of high-efficiency mass and heat transfer, providing a basis for transitioning mixed-controlled strongly exothermic reactions from batch to continuous industrial production. This study focuses on the synthesis of 3-amino-4-aminoximiofurazan (AAOF). Reaction calorimetry experiments provided fundamental heat release data, which, combined with material and energy balances, yielded exothermic model parameters for a channel reactor. A heat transfer-exothermic model was constructed, and numerical solutions simulated jacket heat transfer, heat transfer rates, and heat exchange medium effectiveness. Thermal safety risks in the continuous flow process were analyzed, leading to a heat exchange control strategy. Results show that for a reactor tube of 0.01 m diameter and 5 m length, producing AAOF at 2 kg·h⁻¹ with heat transfer oil in co-current flow, the mass flow rate significantly affects safety: below 0.1 kg·h⁻¹, outlet temperature exceeds 120 °C, approaching the onset decomposition temperature (121.7 °C), risking thermal accumulation and runaway; optimal heat removal occurs at 2–3.5 kg·h⁻¹; above 4.5 kg·h⁻¹, temperature drops below 100 °C, failing to meet process conditions. The optimal heat exchange medium flow range is 2–3.5 kg·h⁻¹, providing foundational data and process parameters for safe design and stable operation of AAOF synthesis in channel reactors.
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.
Chinese Journal of Energetic Materials (含能材料)•2026•DOI: 10.11943/CJEM2026012
To investigate the reaction-growth behavior of propellants and polymer-bonded explosives (PBX) after non-shock ignition under mass-inertial confinement, a thick-walled cylinder experimental setup was constructed. The setup provided strong radial structural confinement and incorporated a large mass block with a mass ratio exceeding 45:1 relative to the energetic material. Laser ignition (250 W) was used to initiate reactions, and multiple photonic Doppler velocimetry (PDV) probes simultaneously measured radial expansion velocity of the cylinder and axial velocity of the mass block top. High-speed photography and recovered debris analysis were employed to compare reaction evolution processes. Results show that mass-inertial confinement enhances pressure buildup during the early reaction phase, but the type of energetic material determines reaction-growth characteristics and violence under identical confinement. For the composite propellant (containing AP, aluminum, RDX, and energetic binder), mass-inertial confinement dominated early pressurization; the system exhibited axial mass block acceleration without yielding of the thick-walled cylinder. Maximum reaction pressure was below 50 MPa, reaction fraction was less than 1%, and nearly all propellant was recovered, indicating a burning reaction. For the PBX (containing HMX and CL-20), early pressurization was jointly influenced by mass-inertial and structural confinement; the cylinder underwent yielding and radial expansion, and the mass block showed local upsetting deformation. Maximum reaction pressure reached 2 GPa, reaction fraction exceeded 50%, and no explosive was recovered, indicating a violent explosion. These findings provide insights into non-shock ignition reaction-growth mechanisms and safety design of structural charges.
Journal of Inorganic Materials (无机材料学报)•2026•DOI: 10.15541/jim20260018
Ag2S0.4Te0.6 is an inorganic semiconductor with favorable ductility and thermoelectric performance, showing potential for applications in wearable electronics. Recent studies have indicated that optimization of preparation processes, such as annealing, can significantly enhance the ductility of the material, which is closely related to its phase composition and crystal structure. In this work, high-resolution synchrotron radiation powder X-ray diffraction data of the Ag2S0.4Te0.6 powder sample before and after annealing were collected over a temperature range of 110–700 K. By combining Rietveld structural refinement, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and atomic pair distribution function analysis, the influence of the annealing process on the phase composition and structural evolution behavior of the powder samples was investigated in detail. The results show that the pristine Ag2S0.4Te0.6 powder is predominantly amorphous, containing only a small amount of poorly crystalline monoclinic phase. During heating, the material gradually crystallizes, first forming a monoclinic phase, which subsequently transforms into mixed body-centered cubic (bcc) and face-centered cubic (fcc) phases. After cooling back to room temperature, the sample remains in a mixed state of bcc-dominated cubic crystallinity and amorphous phase. In contrast, the annealed powder sample already exhibits a mixed cubic crystalline/amorphous state at room temperature, and no obvious phase transition behavior is observed during heating. Moreover, the thermoelectric properties of Ag2S0.4Te0.6 bulk sample remain largely unaffected by the annealing process. This study provides structural insights for further understanding the annealing-induced improvement in ductility.
Journal of Inorganic Materials (无机材料学报)•2026•DOI: 10.15541/jim20260115
Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are promising emissive materials for optoelectronic devices owing to their tunable emission wavelength, high color purity, and solution processability. Quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs), an important complementary technology to organic light-emitting diodes, have demonstrated considerable potential in display applications. However, the inherent toxicity of conventional Cd- and Pb-based QDs has driven the development of heavy-metal-free QDs systems. Currently, heavy-metal-free blue QLEDs still lag significantly behind their red and green counterparts in device efficiency and operational stability, representing a critical bottleneck to their practical application. To address this issue, ZnSeTe QDs have attracted significant research interest due to their tunable bandgap and excellent blue emission properties. In this work, a comprehensive review of ZnSeTe QDs is provided. Firstly, their nucleation and growth mechanisms, as well as typical synthesis methods are introduced, and the key factors affecting their optical properties are discussed. On this basis, various performance optimization strategies, including band engineering, surface etching, shell passivation, and ligand regulation, are systematically summarized. Furthermore, electroluminescence mechanisms of QLEDs and recent progress on the application of ZnSeTe QDs in blue-emitting devices are reviewed. Finally, the current challenges, such as low emission efficiency, limited device lifetime, and charge injection imbalance, are discussed, and potential future development directions are proposed.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25070023
Prolonged exposure to n-butanol, a hazardous volatile organic compound (VOC), necessitates sensitive detection at low concentrations for environmental and health monitoring. This study presents a novel Eu/Ce-codoped MOF-ZnO gas sensor for n-butanol detection under ultraviolet (UV) activation at ambient temperature. A series of Eu/Ce-ZnO nanomaterials were synthesized via a simple co-precipitation route by varying the mass ratios of Eu and Ce incorporated into pristine ZnO derived from MOF precursors. Gas testing results revealed that introducing an appropriate amount of Eu and Ce enlarged the specific surface area and enriched the oxygen vacancy content compared to pristine MOF-ZnO. Upon UV irradiation, the 0.03 wt% Eu 0.04 wt% Ce-ZnO sensor achieved a superior response of 611 for 100 ppm n-butanol at room temperature, 15.28 times higher than that of pristine MOF-ZnO (40). Furthermore, the sensor presented rapid response/recovery times (15 s/28 s) and excellent selectivity. The doped rare earth elements Eu and Ce simultaneously suppress the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, greatly improving response, stability, and selectivity. These findings demonstrate the potential of Eu/Ce-codoped ZnO nanoparticles for efficient, cost-effective n-butanol detection, offering a promising avenue for highly sensitive, UV-enhanced gas sensors for ambient temperature VOC monitoring.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25070029
Accurate temperature control and effective oxide removal are critical for high-quality epitaxial growth in molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Conventional practice relies on manual interpretation of reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) patterns, introducing operator-dependent variability and impeding automation. This work presents an unsupervised contrastive learning framework for real-time RHEED analysis during substrate deoxidation. By imposing temporal similarity constraints between adjacent video segments, the model generates smooth, interpretable feature trajectories that delineate deoxidation state transitions without manual labels. Pre-training with a grouped contrastive loss significantly improves boundary discrimination and localization of critical regions. Generalizability is assessed via two transfer strategies: calibration-free clustering and few-shot fine-tuning. The pre-trained model achieves 88.1% clustering accuracy on GaAs deoxidation samples without additional labels, and 94.3–95.5% accuracy after fine-tuning with only five sample pairs across GaAs, Ge, and InAs substrates. Optimized for resource-constrained edge devices, the framework enables real-time, plug-and-play integration with existing MBE systems and rapid adaptation across materials and equipment. This approach advances automation and reproducibility in semiconductor manufacturing.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/26010049
For over a century, the thermal conductivity (κ) of metals has been constrained to approximately 400 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ due to strong electron–phonon coupling and lattice anharmonicity. This limit poses a critical bottleneck for advanced electronics, where power densities are projected to reach 1 MW/cm² by 2030. A groundbreaking study by Li et al. (Science, 2026, doi:10.1126/science.aeb1142) reports the experimental realization of single-crystalline θ-phase tantalum nitride (θ-TaN), a metastable transition metal nitride with a room-temperature thermal conductivity of ~1100 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹, nearly three times that of copper. The hexagonal crystal structure (space group P6m2) features rigid, interpenetrating covalent networks that yield a large acoustic-optical phonon gap, significant acoustic phonon bunching, exceptionally weak electron–phonon coupling, and minimal isotope scattering due to the near-monoisotopic nature of tantalum (¹⁸¹Ta, 99.988%). These properties enable phonon-dominated heat transport while retaining metallic electrical conductivity. The synthesis via a scalable flux-assisted method avoids extreme pressure and temperature conditions, raising prospects for industrial adoption. This discovery redefines design principles for high-thermal-conductivity materials, demonstrating that metals are not fundamentally limited to ~400 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹. It opens avenues for metastable transition metal nitrides and carbides, with potential applications in AI accelerators, power semiconductors, and aerospace components.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2026•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2026.01.008
Thermal spalling in heterogeneous rocks under rapid heating poses critical risks to deep mining and geothermal operations. In this study, we develop a coupled thermal–mechanical–damage (TM-D) model that explicitly incorporates Weibull distributed heterogeneity to a single fracture in rock, and validate it against ceramic quenching and granite acoustic emission experiments. Distance based generalized sensitivity analysis (DGSA) is applied to quantify the influence and interactions of key parameters, revealing the dominant controls on spalling onset, severity, and damage morphology. The results demonstrate that thermal stress dominates crack initiation and propagation, that lateral constraints can significantly delay and suppress spalling, and that material heterogeneity markedly influences peak stress and damage modes within a certain range of thermal expansion coefficient and has multiple effects on thermal spalling. This study provides a theoretical basis for quantitative assessment and parameter optimization of thermal spalling processes in rock masses.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2026•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2026.01.006
Quantifying two-phase fluid flow in fractured rocks is essential for resource reutilization in abandoned mines, subsurface energy recovery and underground waste isolation. This study develops a mathematical framework for predicting the permeability of rough fracture networks by integrating fractal geometry with single-phase and two-phase seepage theory. A permeability model for rough fracture networks is first established, and its sensitivity to key geometric parameters is analyzed. A second model is then formulated to relate water-phase saturation to measurable variables, enabling the estimation of two-phase permeability from Reynolds number and aperture. Model predictions show deviations of less than 10% from numerical simulations for both single-phase and two-phase flow, demonstrating the accuracy and robustness of the proposed approach. The results highlight the dominant roles of fracture number, tortuosity and aperture in controlling permeability, as well as the influence of flow regimes on relative permeability. The proposed framework provides a practical and physically based method for analyzing multiphase seepage in fractured rock and offers a foundation for further applications to field-scale fractured systems.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2026•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2026.02.008
In deep hard rock mining, high confining pressure inhibits tensile failure, leading to low efficiency and severe tool wear in conventional mechanical rock breaking methods. To solve this problem, we propose a Controllable Free Surface Induced Tensile-Shear Collaborative Fracturing (CFS-TSCF) method. The method pre-forms an engineered controllable free surface (CFS) to reconfigure the local stress field, enabling a specialized device (FIPFD) to apply directional tensile-shear loads for low-energy breaking. A multi-scale approach integrating lab AE tests, DEM simulations, and field verification investigated the fracture mechanism and performance. Results revealed a predominantly tensile-driven (>50%) process. The CFS transforms the rock's triaxial compression into a specific stress path. This path, dominated by directional tension and constrained by lateral compression, guides the fracture along a low-energy channel. This also dictates the micro-mechanism's evolution from central quasi-tensile to peripheral tensile-shear failure. Field trials in hard rock (>200 MPa UCS) validated the method, demonstrating controllable, blocky spalling and achieving an average mining efficiency of 52.03 t/h. This research validates the CFS-TSCF method, offering a new technical paradigm for safe, efficient, continuous hard rock mining.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2026•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2026.02.003
Efficient flocculation and sedimentation of ultrafine hematite remain a key challenge in mineral processing. This study elucidates the pH-dependent flocculation behaviour of hematite with anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) using a multi-scale correlation framework integrating interfacial analysis, structural characterization, and sedimentation evaluation. Increasing pH induces progressive surface deprotonation, yielding a more negative hematite surface and enhanced APAM adsorption from 0.106 to 0.186 mg/m2. FTIR, XPS, and molecular dynamics simulations consistently reveal strengthened Fe–OOC coordination, intensified hydrogen bonding, and more stabilised polymer conformations under alkaline conditions. Microscopy, SEM, and FBRM show that alkaline conditions facilitate the formation of larger and denser flocs, with size increasing from 56 to 982 μm and fractal dimension from 1.44 to 1.87. These structural changes markedly improve sedimentation performance, reducing turbidity from 436.8 to 76.7 NTU and increasing settled solids from 35.94 to 52.43 percent. The proposed multi-scale correlation model quantitatively links interfacial chemistry, floc structural evolution, and settling behaviour, providing a unified mechanistic basis for pH-regulated hematite flocculation. This framework not only advances understanding of polymer–mineral interactions but also offers practical guidance for optimising solid–liquid separation and tailings-water recycling in fine mineral beneficiation.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/26020026
Ferroelectric domain walls are conventionally treated as two-dimensional (2D) interfaces separating regions of differing polarization. Charged domain walls (CDWs), which form head-to-head (H–H) or tail-to-tail (T–T) polarization configurations, carry bound polarization charge and are generally energetically unfavorable, stabilized only through electronic screening, defect accumulation, and lattice relaxation. Recent work by Zhong et al. (Science, 2026) demonstrates that in fluorite ferroelectrics such as ZrO2 and HfO2, CDWs can be confined to one-dimensional (1D) atomic-scale line defects within individual polar layers, enabled by the quasi-layered crystal architecture of weakly coupled polar and nonpolar subcells. Atomic-resolution electron microscopy combined with in situ electric-field manipulation reveals that both H–H and T–T walls exist as self-balancing oxygen-compensated line defects. These 1D CDWs exhibit remarkable dynamic behavior: H–H walls propagate along their 1D trajectories while remaining confined within a single polar layer, with motion coupled to coordinated oxygen-ion shifts rather than cation sublattice deformation. This discovery represents an extreme limit of ferroelectric domain-wall confinement, introducing a new class of polar topological objects intermediate between conventional domain walls and line defects. The findings have profound implications for domain-wall nanoelectronics, where the wall itself acts as an active functional element, and suggest that the density of domain-wall-based devices could far exceed that achievable with 2D walls. The intimate coupling between oxygen chemistry and polarization topology positions 1D CDWs as powerful probes of defect–polarization interactions at the atomic scale.
China Foundry•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-026-5274-3
With the growing demand for lightweight and high-performance components in automotive and aerospace industries, aluminum alloy die-castings are evolving toward larger dimensions and thinner walls, posing significant challenges to thermal management during solidification. Traditional cooling channel designs often fail to ensure uniform temperature distribution, leading to defects such as shrinkage porosity and deformation. This study proposes an automated design framework integrating the moving morphable components (MMC) topology optimization method with particle swarm optimization (PSO) to generate efficient and manufacturable cooling channel layouts for A380 aluminum alloys. Firstly, a systematic initialization strategy was developed with component dimensions of 4-10 mm in width and 15-40 mm in length, along with discrete orientation angles. The optimization process effectively guided components toward high-temperature regions identified through numerical simulation, followed by post-processing operations including temperature-based sorting, overlap removal, and component interconnection. The final design with 20 retained components was selected. Then, castings with a conventional cooling system and without any cooling system were employed as benchmark cases for comparison with the current optimized design. Compared with the conventional and no-cooling cases, the current cooling system exhibits a consistently lower temperature standard deviation after 30 s, maintains superior thermal uniformity throughout solidification, and achieves this improvement without comprising the average temperature.
China Foundry•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-5024-y
Abstract: The unique crystallographic lamellar microstructure (CLM) Ni-based superalloys fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) exhibits excellent tensile properties. This study aims to investigate CLM’s high-temperature stress rupture behavior and use these findings to improve the additive manufacturing process. The result shows that the high temperature-induced intergranular fracture in <110> grain region is responsible for stress rupture failure under both conditions of 760 °C/780 MPa and 980 °C/260 MPa. Among them, the sub-grain boundary fracture occurs only under high temperature and low stress, 980 °C/260 MPa. Due to the severe intergranular fracture induced by stray grains, the stress rupture life is very low under both conditions. According to the finite element simulation, the formation of stray grains stems from the unstable heat flow within the melt pool during the process. In addition, the shorter stress rupture lifetime does not excite a more pronounced dislocation network around the γ′ phase. However, the deformation twins can still be activated inside the <110> grains, so it has excellent plasticity under both test conditions. Finally, this work indicates that the future optimization of CLM by LPBF should focus on eliminating of high-angle grain boundaries in <110> grains.
China Foundry•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-026-5085-6
Electroslag remelting (ESR) is an important metallurgical process for producing high-purity materials with homogeneous compositions and sound microstructures, and its typical products are ingots or simple castings. The core principle involves the resistive melting of a consumable electrode within a slag pool, followed by the refining of molten metal droplets as they traverse the slag, and subsequent sequential solidification in a water-cooled mold. However, conventional ESR processes face limitations in producing large or complex-shaped components, enhancing production efficiency, achieving highly specialized microstructures, and meeting ultra-high purity demands for advanced applications. Advanced composite ESR technologies have been developed to overcome these limitations by innovatively modifying key process aspects. For instance, electrode systems are improved using vibration, rotation, or multiple electrodes. Enhanced mold design and solidification control are achieved through techniques including conductive molds, mold rotation, and ingot withdrawal. Precise control of the process is realized through the use of protective gas, vacuum, or elevated pressure, as well as the application of external fields such as magnetic fields or ultrasonic vibration. This review comprehensively summarizes these advanced techniques, examining their principles and characteristics, and discussing their specific advantages and challenges.
China Foundry•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-5004-2
The microstructure of high Nb-TiAl alloys was optimized by the addition of a small amount of Ta elements to further improve their properties. A series of Ti46Al1.5Cr8Nb-xTa (x=0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, at.%) alloys were prepared by vacuum arc melting. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and related influencing mechanisms were systematically investigated. The results indicate that the solidification microstructure of the Ti46Al1.5Cr8Nb-xTa alloys comprises the γ-TiAl phase, α2-Ti3Al phase, and B2 phase. As the Ta content increases from 0.2at.% to 1.0at.%, the content of α2 phase and B2 phase increases, while the γ phase content decreases. Among them, the B2 phase shows the most pronounced change, being significantly refined, with its content increasing from 12.49% to 21.91%. In addition, the average size of the lamellar colony decreases from 160.65 to 94.44 μm. The addition of the Ta element shifts the solidification path toward lower aluminum concentrations, leading to changes in phase content. The tantalum-induced increase in the B2 phase and enhanced supercooling at the solidification front provide the basis for lamellar colony refinement. Compressive testing at room temperature reveals that the Ti46Al1.5Cr8Nb0.4Ta alloy exhibits optimal compressive properties, achieving a compressive strength of 2,434 MPa and a compressive strain of 33.1%. The improvement of its properties is attributed to a combination of lamellar colony refinement, solid solution strengthening resulting from the incorporation of Ta element, and a reduction in the c/a of the γ phase.
China Foundry (中国铸造 - 英文版)•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-026-5062-0
The laser-clad Fe45 alloy coating inherently comprises multiple crystalline phases, resulting in a heterogeneous microstructural distribution that influences its performance. In this study, the rare earth yttria (Y2O3) was employed to modify laser-clad Fe45 alloy coatings, and the effects of Y2O3 addition on their microstructure, microhardness, and tribological properties were investigated. As the Y2O3 content increases from 0% to 0.3wt.%, the dominant microstructure transforms from columnar crystals to fine cellular and equiaxed crystals. The modified coating with 0.3wt.% Y2O3 achieves a surface hardness of 568 HV0.3 and a wear volume of 1,735.41 μm3, representing a 14.06% increase in hardness and a 51.16% reduction in wear volume compared to the undoped coating. Further increasing the Y2O3 content from 0.3wt.% to 0.9wt.% gradually leads to the emergence of a coarser feather-like microstructure, characterized by a dendritic framework with inter-dendritic equiaxed crystals. Concurrently, both the hardness and wear resistance of the coating decrease. Nevertheless, all Y2O3-modified coatings surpass the undoped Fe45 coating in both hardness and wear resistance. Appropriate Y2O3 doping effectively refines the Fe45 alloy coating’s microstructure and induces lattice distortion, thereby enhancing its hardness and wear resistance.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6161-1
Zn-Mn alloys are regarded as promising biodegradable metals for orthopedic applications owing to their moderate degradation rates and favorable osteogenic properties. However, the presence of a substantial number of second-phase particles in Zn-based alloys might induce severe localized degradation via micro-coupling corrosion, thereby compromising the mechanical integrity of the alloy during in vivo tissue regeneration. In this study, high-pressure solid solution (HPSS) treatment was conducted at 5 GPa and 380 ℃ for 1 h to fabricate Zn-0.5Mn alloys. Microstructural characterization revealed that the HPSS treatment facilitated the formation of a supersaturated solid solution by completely dissolving the ζ-MnZn13 phase into the α-Zn matrix. The resultant strengthening mechanisms, including supersaturated solid solution strengthening, grain-size strengthening, and dislocation strengthening, collectively enhanced the compressive yield strength (σcys) of the Zn-0.5Mn alloy to about 183.7 MPa, approximately three times that of the as-cast (AC) Zn-0.5Mn alloy. Moreover, compared with the AC alloy, the HPSS Zn-0.5Mn alloy exhibited uniform degradation behavior with a markedly reduced degradation rate.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01847-5
Developing biomass platform compounds into high value-added chemicals is a key step in renewable resource utilization. Herein, we report porous carbon-supported Ni-ZnO nanoparticles catalyst (Ni-ZnO/AC) synthesized via low-temperature coprecipitation, exhibiting excellent performance for the selective hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). A linear correlation is first observed between solvent polarity (ET(30)) and product selectivity within both polar aprotic and protic solvent classes, suggesting that solvent properties play a vital role in directing reaction pathways. Among these, 1,4-dioxane (aprotic) favors the formation of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF) with 97.5% selectivity, while isopropanol (iPrOH, protic) promotes 2,5-dimethylfuran production with up to 99.5% selectivity. Mechanistic investigations further reveal that beyond polarity, proton-donating ability is critical in facilitating hydrodeoxygenation. iPrOH enables a hydrogen shuttle mechanism where protons assist in hydroxyl group removal, lowering the activation barrier. In contrast, 1,4-dioxane, lacking hydrogen bond donors, stabilizes BHMF and hinders further conversion. Density functional theory calculations confirm a lower activation energy in iPrOH (0.60 eV) compared to 1,4-dioxane (1.07 eV). This work offers mechanistic insights and a practical strategy for solvent-mediated control of product selectivity in biomass hydrogenation, highlighting the decisive role of solvent-catalyst-substrate interactions.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01889-9
Aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) are promising candidates for renewable energy storage, yet their practical deployment in subzero environments remains challenging due to electrolyte freezing and dendritic growth. Although organic additives can enhance the antifreeze properties of electrolytes, their weak polarity diminishes ionic conductivity, and their flammability poses safety concerns, undermining the inherent advantages of aqueous systems. Herein, we present a cost-effective and highly stable Na2SO4 additive introduced into a Zn(ClO4)2-based electrolyte to create an organic-free antifreeze electrolyte. Through Raman spectroscopy, in situ optical microscopy, density functional theory computations, and molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that Na+ ions improve low-temperature electrolyte performance and mitigate dendrite formation by regulating uniform Zn2+ deposition through preferential adsorption and electrostatic interactions. As a result, the Zn||Zn cells using this electrolyte achieve a remarkable cycling life of 360 h at −40 °C with 61% depth of discharge, and the Zn||PANI cells retained an ultrahigh capacity retention of 91% even after 8000 charge/discharge cycles at −40 °C. This work proposes a cost-effective and practical approach for enhancing the long-term operational stability of AZMBs in low-temperature environments.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-02000-y
The increasing scarcity of freshwater resources has driven the rapid emergence of solar-driven interfacial evaporators (SDIEs) as a sustainable approach to harvest fresh water by utilizing solar energy. Lignocellulosic biomass, featuring natural abundance, excellent renewability, unique natural structures, and superior biodegradability compared to the synthetic polymers, is highly attractive for constructing solar steam generators. This review aims to offer an innovative and in-depth insight into designing and optimizing high-performance integrated solar interfacial evaporators derived from renewable lignocellulosic biomass. First, the structural characteristics of lignocellulosic biomass are briefly introduced, serving as photothermal layer or supporting substrates in SDIEs. Secondly, the fabrication methods and processing technologies of lignocellulosic biomass-based evaporators are summarized from the perspective of photothermal layer and supporting substrates. Next, the most recent advances of regulation and optimization strategies are proposed to improve evaporation efficiency. Subsequently, this review summarizes the diverse functionalities of SDIEs, including desalination, power generation, wastewater treatment and antimicrobial, atmospheric water harvesting, and photocatalytic hydrogen production. Finally, the challenges in this field and outlook on the future development are discussed, which are anticipated to provide new opportunities for the advancement of lignocellulosic biomass-based SDIEs.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-02009-3
Stretchable electronics have been recognized as intriguing next-generation electronics that possess huge market value, and stretchable electronic conductors (SECs) are essential for stretchable electronics, which not only can serve as critical functional components but also are the indispensable electronic connections bridging various electronic components within stretchable electronic systems. Herein, we offer a comprehensive review of recent progress in SECs including the material categories, structure designs, fabrication techniques, and applications. The characteristics, performance enhancement strategies, and application requirements are emphasized. Based on the recent advances, the existing challenges and future prospects are outlined and discussed.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-02017-3
The sluggish Li+ migration kinetics and unstable electrode/electrolyte interface severely hinder the commercial application of high-performance lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, an artificial protective layer is constructed using zwitterionic covalent organic framework (Z-COF) simultaneously containing sulfonate and ethidium groups, aiming to facilitate rapid, uniform Li+ transport and stabilize anode interface. The sulfonate groups with high lithiophilicity provide abundant hopping sites for fast Li+ diffusion. The ethidium cations immobilize TFSI− and solvent molecules by ion–dipole interactions, which accelerate the dissociation of LiTFSI and Li+ desolvation. Moreover, the monodispersed zwitterionic units coupling with ordered micropore structures in Z-COF create exclusive Li+ migration channels, modulate homogeneous space charge distribution, kinetically facilitating uniform Li+ deposition. Experiments and theoretical calculations indicate that C–F and S–N bonds of TFSI− exhibit enhanced cleavage susceptibility driven by electrostatic attraction, realizing a LiF/Li3N-rich electrolyte/electrode interface. The designed Z-COF protection layer enables Li|Li symmetrical cells stable cycling over 6300 h at 2 mA cm−2/2 mAh cm−2. The Z-COF@Li|LiFePO4 (LFP) full cells deliver high-capacity retention of 85.2% after 1000 cycles at 8 C. The assembled Z-COF@Li|LFP pouch cells demonstrate a lifespan of more than 240 cycles. This work provides fresh insights into the practical application of zwitterionic COF in next-generation LMBs.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01999-4
With the widespread application of lithium batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, battery-related safety and reliability issues have become increasingly prominent. Conventional monitoring methods often struggle to address dynamic changes under complex operando. In recent years, flexible sensing technology has emerged as a promising solution for battery health monitoring due to its high adaptability and conformability to complex structures. Meanwhile, empowered by artificial intelligence (AI) for data analysis, the collected data enables efficient and accurate state assessment, offering robust support for accident prevention. Against this background, this paper first explores the integrated applications of flexible sensors in battery health monitoring and their unique advantages in addressing complex battery operating conditions, while analyzing the potential of AI in battery state analysis. Subsequently, it systematically reviews mainstream flexible sensing technologies (e.g., film sensors, thermocouples, and optical fiber sensors), elucidating their mechanisms for revealing intricate internal battery processes during operation. Finally, the paper discusses AI’s role in enhancing monitoring efficiency and accuracy, and envisions future research directions and application prospects. This work aims to provide technical references for the battery health monitoring field as well as promote the application of flexible sensing technologies in improving battery system safety and reliability.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01987-8
Highly active and stable FeOOH cocatalysts are essential for achieving optimal performance of BiVO4 (BVO) photoanodes. Despite offering remarkable structural stability, widely used thick FeOOH cocatalysts often suffer from insufficient hole transport capability, which hinders the overall activity. The present study demonstrates that a simple photoetching strategy is able to introduce gradient distributed oxygen vacancies (GOV) in the thick FeOOH layer and significantly enhances the photogenerated holes transport dynamics. The incorporation of GOV within FeOOH not only realizes the “relay transport” of photogenerated hole through the progressive upward shift of the valence band in the spatial distribution, but also provides abundant oxidation active sites by efficient hole trapping. These improvements effectively improve the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities and mitigate photocorrosion by the instantaneous hole extraction. Consequently, the FeOOH-GOV layer enables the BVO/FeOOH-GOV photoanode to achieve an impressive photocurrent density of 5.37 mA cm−2 and a robust operational stability up to 160 h at 1.23 VRHE, setting new benchmarks for current density and stability in FeOOH-based BVO photoanodes. This work provides an effective avenue to optimize OER cocatalysts for constructing highly efficient and stable photoelectrochemical water splitting devices.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01994-9
Electrolytic Zn–MnO2 batteries are promising candidates for safe and sustainable energy storage owing to their high voltage, environmental benignity, and cost-effectiveness. However, practical applications are hindered by the poor conductivity and the irreversible dissolution of conventional ε-MnO2 deposits. Herein, we report a scalable semisolid slurry electrode architecture that enables stable MnO2 deposition/dissolution using a three-dimensional percolating network of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as both conductive matrix and deposition host. The slurry system promotes the formation of highly conductive γ-MnO2 owing to enhanced charge transfer kinetics, enabling overall dissolution rather than the localized separation typically seen in traditional electrodes. The Zn–MnO2 slurry cell exhibits a reversible areal capacity approaching 60 mAh cm−2. Moreover, the flowable nature of the slurry allows electrochemically inactive MnO2 formed during dissolution to be reconnected and reactivated by CNTs in the rheological network, ensuring deep utilization and cycling stability. This work establishes a slurry electrode strategy to improve electrolytic MnO2 reactions and offers a viable pathway toward renewable aqueous batteries for grid-scale applications.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01993-w
With the escalating demand for safe, sustainable, and high-performance energy storage systems, hydrogel electrolytes have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional liquid electrolytes in zinc-ion batteries. By integrating the high ionic conductivity of liquid electrolytes with the mechanical robustness of solid frameworks, hydrogel electrolytes offer distinct advantages in suppressing zinc dendrite formation, enhancing interfacial stability, and enabling reliable operation under extreme environmental conditions. This review systematically summarizes the fundamental characteristics and design criteria of hydrogel electrolytes, including mechanical flexibility, ionic transport capabilities, and environmental adaptability. It further explores various compositional design strategies involving natural polymers, synthetic polymers, and composite systems, as well as the incorporation of electrolyte salts and functional additives. In addition, recent advances in functional optimization, such as anti-freezing properties, self-healing abilities, thermal responsiveness, and biocompatibility, are comprehensively discussed. Finally, the review outlines the current challenges and proposes potential directions for future research.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01926-7
Achieving high-energy density remains a key objective for advanced energy storage systems. However, challenges, such as poor cathode conductivity, anode dendrite formation, polysulfide shuttling, and electrolyte degradation, continue to limit performance and stability. Molecular and ionic dipole interactions have emerged as an effective strategy to address these issues by regulating ionic transport, modulating solvation structures, optimizing interfacial chemistry, and enhancing charge transfer kinetics. These interactions also stabilize electrode interfaces, suppress side reactions, and mitigate anode corrosion, collectively improving the durability of high-energy batteries. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms is essential to guide the design of next-generation battery materials. Herein, this review summarizes the development, classification, and advantages of dipole interactions in high-energy batteries. The roles of dipoles, including facilitating ion transport, controlling solvation dynamics, stabilizing the electric double layer, optimizing solid electrolyte interphase and cathode–electrolyte interface layers, and inhibiting parasitic reactions—are comprehensively discussed. Finally, perspectives on future research directions are proposed to advance dipole-enabled strategies for high-performance energy storage. This review aims to provide insights into the rational design of dipole-interactive systems and promote the progress of electrochemical energy storage technologies.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01901-2
Chloride-based solid electrolytes are considered promising candidates for next-generation high-energy–density all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). However, their relatively low oxidative decomposition threshold (~4.2 V vs. Li+/Li) constrains their use in ultrahigh-voltage systems (e.g., 4.8 V). In this work, ferroelectric BaTiO3 (BTO) nanoparticles with optimized thickness of ~50–100 nm were successfully coated onto Li2.5Y0.5Zr0.5Cl6 (LYZC@5BTO) electrolytes using a time-efficient ball-milling process. The nanoparticle-induced interfacial ionic conduction enhancement mechanism contributed to the preservation of LYZC's high ionic conductivity, which remained at 1.06 mS cm−1 for LYZC@5BTO. Furthermore, this surface electric field engineering strategy effectively mitigates the voltage-induced self-decomposition of chloride-based solid electrolytes, suppresses parasitic interfacial reactions with single-crystal NCM811 (SCNCM811), and inhibits the irreversible phase transition of SCNCM811. Consequently, the cycling stability of LYZC under high-voltage conditions (4.8 V vs. Li⁺/Li) is significantly improved. Specifically, ASSB cells employing LYZC@5BTO exhibited a superior discharge capacity of 95.4 mAh g−1 over 200 cycles at 1 C, way outperforming cell using pristine LYZC that only shows a capacity of 55.4 mAh g−1. Furthermore, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that Metal-O-Cl by-products from cumulative interfacial side reactions accounted for 6% of the surface species initially, rising to 26% after 200 cycles in pristine LYZC. In contrast, LYZC@5BTO limited this increase to only 14%, confirming the effectiveness of BTO in stabilizing the interfacial chemistry. This electric field modulation strategy offers a promising route toward the commercialization of high-voltage solid-state electrolytes and energy-dense ASSBs.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01887-x
The growing prevalence of exercise-induced tibial stress fractures demands wearable sensors capable of monitoring dynamic musculoskeletal loads with medical-grade precision. While flexible pressure-sensing insoles show clinical potential, their development has been hindered by the intrinsic trade-off between high sensitivity and full-range linearity (R2 > 0.99 up to 1 MPa) in conventional designs. Inspired by the tactile sensing mechanism of human skin, where dermal stratification enables wide-range pressure adaptation and ion-channel-regulated signaling maintains linear electrical responses, we developed a dual-mechanism flexible iontronic pressure sensor (FIPS). This innovative design synergistically combines two bioinspired components: interdigitated fabric microstructures enabling pressure-proportional contact area expansion (∝ P1/3) and iontronic film facilitating self-adaptive ion concentration modulation (∝ P2/3), which together generate a linear capacitance-pressure response (C ∝ P). The FIPS achieves breakthrough performance: 242 kPa−1 sensitivity with 0.997 linearity across 0–1 MPa, yielding a record linear sensing factor (LSF = 242,000). The design is validated across various substrates and ionic materials, demonstrating its versatility. Finally, the FIPS-driven design enables a smart insole demonstrating 1.8% error in tibial load assessment during gait analysis, outperforming nonlinear counterparts (6.5% error) in early fracture-risk prediction. The biomimetic design framework establishes a universal approach for developing high-performance linear sensors, establishing generalized principles for medical-grade wearable devices.
Nano-Micro Letters (纳微快报)•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01895-x
Co3S4 electrocatalysts with mixed valences of Co ions and excellent structural stability possess favorable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity, yet challenges remain in fabricating rechargeable lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) due to their poor OER performance, resulting from poor electrical conductivity and overly strong intermediate adsorption. In this work, fancy double heterojunctions on 1T/2H-MoS2@Co3S4 (1T/2H-MCS) were constructed derived from the charge donation from Co to Mo ions, thus inducing the phase transformation of MoS2 from 2H to 1T. The unique features of these double heterojunctions endow the 1T/2H-MCS with complementary catalysis during charging and discharging processes. It is worth noting that 1T-MoS2@Co3S4 could provide fast Co–S–Mo electron transport channels to promote ORR/OER kinetics, and 2H-MoS2@Co3S4 contributed to enabling moderate eg orbital occupancy when adsorbed with oxygen-containing intermediates. On the basis, the Li2O2 nucleation route was changed to solution and surface dual pathways, improving reversible deposition and decomposition kinetics. As a result, 1T/2H-MCS cathodes exhibit an improved electrocatalytic performance compared with those of Co3S4 and MoS2 cathodes. This innovative heterostructure design provides a reliable strategy to construct efficient transition metal sulfide catalysts by improving electrical conductivity and modulating adsorption toward oxygenated intermediates for LOBs.
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.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6256-8
This study integrates true triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments with finite-discrete element method (FDEM) numerical simulation to systematically investigate the control mechanisms of interface strength and inclination angle on hydraulic fracture propagation in coal measure strata under different in-situ stress conditions. The results indicate that the fracture propagation path at the rock interface is jointly controlled by the interface strength coefficient (η), the interface inclination angle (θ), and the vertical stress difference coefficient (k). When fractures propagate from soft rock to hard rock, the interface strength coefficient (η) plays a dominant role. The larger the η is, the more likely the hydraulic fracture is to penetrate the interface along the direction of vertical stress. Conversely, when fractures propagate from hard rock to soft rock, vertical stress primarily controls the propagation path. A larger vertical stress difference coefficient promotes interface crossing, while a smaller coefficient tends to cause the fracture to extend laterally along the interface. The interface inclination angle influences the magnitude and direction of the vertical stress component along the interface. A smaller θ facilitates interface penetration by hydraulic fractures, whereas a larger θ leads to fracture propagation along the interface. The complexity of the hydraulic fracture network increases with higher k and θ . Moreover, the complexity of hydraulic fracture morphology exhibits a non-monotonic trend, initially decreasing and then increasing with rising k and θ. This research provides an important theoretical basis for the design and control of hydraulic fracturing in coal measure strata.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6261-y
To mitigate the detrimental effects of sulfur and enhance the enrichment efficiency of valuable elements in desulfurized diasporic bauxite, the effects of CaO dosage, caustic alkali concentration, reaction temperature and time on the digestion behavior of alumina, sulfur and gallium were illustrated, and the digestion thermodynamics and mechanism were also revealed. During the high-temperature Bayer process, alumina and gallium were digested synergistically, while pyrite was digested to S2− and SO42−. Appropriate CaO dosage promotes the digestion of alumina and gallium, and facilitates the precipitation of sulfur as calcium sulfoaluminate hydrate, effectively removing sulfur from the solution. Excess CaO leads to the formation of hydrogarnet, wherein Ga3+ incorporates into the crystal lattice by substituting for Al3+, reducing the digestion efficiency of gallium. Under the optimum conditions (CaO dosage of 3%, reaction temperature of 260 ℃, reaction time of 60 min, caustic alkali concentration of 260 g/L), the corresponding alumina and gallium digestion efficiencies reach 90.82% and 77.58%, respectively, with a significantly reduced sulfur concentration of 1.32 g/L in the solution. This work provides theoretical guidance for the efficient co-extraction of alumina and gallium from high-sulfur bauxite via the Bayer process.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6228-z
The Western Dongting Lake area, a biodiversity hotspot under traditional farming, has long suffered heavy metal pollution. In this study, the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb in agricultural soils were determined and ecological risks were evaluated using both the hazard quotient(HQ) model and the probabilistic ecological risk assessment(PERA) model. The results showed that HQ suggested slight or negligible risks, whereas PERA indicated consistently high and unacceptable risks. This discrepancy arose because HQ criteria are derived from human health thresholds and provide only deterministic estimates, whereas PERA incorporates species-specific predicted no-effect concentration(PNEC), environmental variability, and uncertainty, thereby providing more precise and site-specific risk assessments and assigning probabilities. By applying a tiered PERA model, our study highlights its novelty and superiority in ecological risk characterization, providing critical guidance for soil management and ecological protection in contaminated farmlands.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6189-2
Plant roots serve as a natural reinforcement method with the potential to significantly enhance slope stability. In engineering practice, roots can function synergistically with geosynthetics, reducing the reliance on artificial materials. Based on a three-dimensional (3D) rotational failure mechanism, this study proposes a novel framework to evaluate the influence of plant roots on the stability of geosynthetic-reinforced slopes. By integrating the hydrological effects of transpiration and the mechanical composite action of root–soil interaction, the reinforcing capacity of uniform root systems is comprehensively assessed. The required dimensionless reinforcement strength at the limit failure state is derived using the functional balance equation. The validity of the proposed method is confirmed through comparisons with existing two-dimensional (2D) solutions for vegetated slopes and 3D solutions for non-vegetated reinforced slopes. Furthermore, various parameter plots are provided to facilitate design analysis. The results indicate that accounting for 3D spatial effects and plant root reinforcement significantly reduces the required reinforcement strength, thereby lowering construction costs and enhancing overall slope safety.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6203-8
The tunnel face stability is investigated in inclined layered soils under steady unsaturated seepage and seismic loading. The rigorous estimate of the maximum face pressure is provided during tunnel excavation. The modified pseudo-dynamic method is applied to capture the spatial and temporal characteristics of seismic forces. A spatial distribution formula for suction stress under steady seepage conditions is derived for inclined layered soils. The study examines how inclined stratification influences the shape of failure mechanisms, the suction head profile, and variations in seismic acceleration. The spatial and temporal changes in suction stress and seismic loading are integrated into the energy equilibrium formulation based on a three-dimensional discretized failure model, and the critical face support pressure can be calculated via an integrated optimization strategy. The distributions of seismic acceleration ratios are obtained under various dynamic parameter conditions and the spatial variation of suction stress in the soil ahead of the tunnel face under different hydraulic hysteresis scenarios. The proposed analytical approach is compared with previous research, and the differences in results under different representations of seismic waves are also discussed. The research results can provide a valid framework to evaluate the influence of seismic excitation, steady-unsaturated infiltration, hydraulic hysteresis, and inclined stratification on tunnel face stability.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6108-y
With increasing mining depth in metal mines, the stability of roadway support structures is significantly affected by the complex surrounding rock. This study performs biaxial compression and bolt pull-out experiments on anchorage body specimens with different structural plane dip angles to explore failure mechanisms of anchorage structures and evolutionary law of bolt anchorage force. Results show the dip angle notably impacts the bearing capacity and failure modes of anchorage specimens. Their peak stress exhibits a V-shaped trend: decreasing from 54.80 MPa to 19.65 MPa as dip angles increase from 0° to 45°, with failure mode transitioning from tensile to shear; at 60°, it becomes a tensile-dominated mixed mode. Bolt anchoring significantly enhances bearing capacity (most remarkably by 153.22% at 45°) and changes failure from brittle to ductile. Pull-out tests reveal two failure modes: slip at the bolt-rock interface and bolt fracture. At 45°, bolt fracture occurs under a 14.55 kN peak pull-out load, matching the bolt's yield strength. This failure mechanism involves two key factors: structural plane sliding that shears the bolt, and mechanical interlocking that restricts pull-out, substantially increasing anchorage force. These findings provide insights for stability assessment and support design of roadway structures in complex geological environments.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4072-7
Ceramic cores fabricated by stereolithography exhibit great potential in casting turbine blades. Previous research on ceramic core molding was primarily conducted using vertical printing techniques, which not only resulted in lengthy molding durations but also compromised the mechanical strength. In this work, silica (SiO2) ceramic cores, with fine complex geometric shapes, were fabricated using 65vol.% ceramic slurry by digital light processing (DLP) with different printing angles. Printing angles significantly impact the surface accuracy, shrinkage, printing efficiency of green bodies, as well as the microstructure and mechanical properties of sintered ceramic core samples. As the printing angle in the green body increases, the bonding area decreases, surface roughness on the XY plane worsens, shrinkage in the Z direction becomes more pronounced, and the printing efficiency declines. Similarly, an increase in the printing angle in the sintered body leads to a reduction in bending strength. At a printing angle of 30°, the printing time is reduced to half of that at 90°, which improves the molding efficiency. Meanwhile, the obtained bulk density of 1.71 g·cm-3, open porosity of 24%, and flexural strength of 10.6±1 MPa can meet the requirements of sintered ceramic cores. Therefore, designing and optimizing the printing angles can achieve the balance between shrinkage, printing efficiency, and flexural strength.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01828-8
The therapeutic efficacy of cuproptosis, ferroptosis, and apoptosis is hindered by inadequate intracellular copper and iron levels, hypoxia, and elevated glutathione (GSH) expression in tumor cells. Thermoelectric technology is an emerging frontier in medical therapy that aims to achieve efficient thermal and electrical transport characteristics within a narrow thermal range for biological systems. Here, we systematically constructed biodegradable Cu2MnS3-x-PEG/glucose oxidase (MCPG) with sulfur vacancies (SV) using photothermoelectric catalysis (PTEC), photothermal-enhanced enzyme catalysis, and starvation therapy. This triggers GSH consumption and disrupts intracellular redox homeostasis, leading to immunogenic cell death. Under 1064 nm laser irradiation, MCPG enriched with SV, owing to doping, generates a local temperature gradient that activates PTEC and produces toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hydroxyl radicals and oxygen are generated through peroxide and catalase-like processes. Increased oxygen levels alleviate tumor hypoxia, whereas hydrogen peroxide production from glycometabolism provides sufficient ROS for a cascade catalytic reaction, establishing a self-reinforcing positive mechanism. Density functional theory calculations demonstrated that vacancy defects effectively enhanced enzyme catalytic activity. Multimodal imaging-guided synergistic therapy not only damages tumor cells, but also elicits an antitumor immune response to inhibit tumor metastasis. This study offers novel insights into the cuproptosis/ferroptosis/apoptosis pathways of Cu-based PTEC nanozymes.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4287-7
The present work aims to investigate the effects of quenching, lamellarizing, and tempering (QLT) heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ZG14Ni3Cr1MoV high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel by comparing with traditional quenching and tempering (QT) heat treatment. Following the various QLT heat treatments, a dual-phase microstructure consisting of “soft” ferrite and “hard” tempered bainite is obtained, exhibiting significantly refined grain sizes (38.87 to 46.51 μm for QLT samples) compared to QT samples (64.93 μm). As the lamellar quenching temperature increases from 750 °C to 810 °C, the yield strength and tensile strength of the QLT samples increase, although they remain lower than those of the QT samples. Conversely, elongation at fracture, reduction of area, and the product of strength and elongation synergy decrease, yet consistently exceed QT levels. Notably, the QLT samples demonstrate superior cryogenic impact toughness within the range of -80 °C to -120 °C, achieving optimal values after 910 °C quenching + 780 °C lamellar quenching + 670 °C tempering: 215.97 J at -80 °C, 207.80 J at -100 °C, and 183.17 J at -120 °C. This exceptional cryogenic toughness is attributed to two key mechanisms in the dual-phase microstructure: (i) a low dislocation density that suppresses crack initiation, and (ii) crack-tip passivation by soft ferrite, coupled with crack deflection and hindrance at high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs). The results establish QLT as a viable method for enhancing cryogenic toughness in ZG14Ni3Cr1MoV HSLA steels.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01816-y
Optical synapses have an ability to perceive and remember visual information, making them expected to provide more intelligent and efficient visual solutions for humans. As a new type of artificial visual sensory devices, photoelectric memristors can fully simulate synaptic performance and have great prospects in the development of biological vision. However, due to the urgent problems of nonlinear conductance and high-energy consumption, its further application in high-precision control scenarios and integration is hindered. In this work, we report an optoelectronic memristor with a structure of TiN/CeO2/ZnO/ITO/Mica, which can achieve minimal energy consumption (187 pJ) at a single pulse (0.5 V, 5 ms). Under the stimulation of continuous pulses, linearity can be achieved up to 99.6%. In addition, the device has a variety of synaptic functions under the combined action of photoelectric, which can be used for advanced vision. By utilizing its typical long-term memory characteristics, we achieved image recognition and long-term memory in a 3×3 synaptic array and further achieved female facial feature extraction behavior with an activation rate of over 92%. Moreover, we also use the linear response characteristic of the device to design and implement the night meeting behavior of autonomous vehicles based on the hardware platform. This work highlights the potential of photoelectric memristors for advancing neuromorphic vision systems, offering a new direction for bionic eyes and visual automation technology.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01827-9
This study proposes a novel and sustainable method for fabricating 3D-printed carbon-based electrodes for electrochemical wastewater treatment. We prepared B,N-doped carbon electrodes with hierarchical porosity and a significantly enhanced surface area-to-volume ratio (up to 180%) compared to non-optimized analogues using a synergistic combination of 3D printing, phase inversion, and microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. This process allows the metal-free growth of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures directly onto polymer-derived substrates, resulting in a 20-fold increase in the electrochemically active surface area. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were used to improve mass transport and reduce pressure drop. Electrochemical characterization demonstrated that the optimized electrodes performed significantly better, achieving 4.7-, 4-, and 6.5-fold increases in the degradation rates of atenolol, metoprolol, and propranolol, respectively, during electrochemical oxidation. These results highlight the efficacy of the integrated fabrication and simulation approach in producing high-performance electrodes for sustainable wastewater treatment applications.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01788-z
Although three-dimensional metal halide perovskites are promising candidates for direct X-ray detection, the ion migration of perovskites seriously affects the detector stability. Herein, face-/edge-shared 3D heterometallic glycinate hybrid perovskitoid Pb2CuGly2X4 (Gly = -O2C-CH2-NH2; X = Cl, Br) single crystals (SCs), in which the adjacent lead halide layers are linked by large-sized Cu(Gly)2 pillars, are synthesized in water. The Cu(Gly)2 pillars in combination with face-/edge-shared inorganic skeleton are found able to synergistically suppress the ion migration, delivering a high ion migration activation energy (Ea) of 1.06 eV. The Pb2CuGly2Cl4 SC X-ray detector displays extremely low dark current drift of 1.20 × 10–9 nA mm−1 s−1 V−1 under high electric field (120 V mm−1) and continuous X-ray irradiation (2.86 Gy), and a high sensitivity of 9,250 μC Gy−1 cm−2 is also achieved. More excitingly, the Pb2CuGly2Cl4 nanocrystal can be easily dispersed in water and directly blade-coated on thin-film transistor (TFT) array substrate, and the obtained Pb2CuGly2Cl4-based TFT array detector offers an X-ray imaging capability with spatial resolution of 2.2 lp mm−1.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01798-x
Creating strongly coupled heterostructures with favorable catalytic activities is crucial for promoting the performance of catalytic reactions, especially those involve multiple intermediates. Herein, we fabricated a strongly coupled platinum/molybdenum nitrides nanocluster heterostructure on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (Pt/Mo₂N–NrGO) for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. The well-defined Pt-containing Anderson-type polyoxometalates promote strong interfacial Pt–N–Mo bonding in Pt/Mo2N–NrGO, which exhibits a remarkably low overpotential, high mass activity, and exceptional long-term durability (> 500 h at 1500 mA cm⁻2) in an anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE). Operando Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory reveal that pronounced electronic coupling at the Pt/Mo₂N cluster interface facilitates the catalytic decomposition of H2O through synergistic stabilization of intermediates (Pt–H* and Mo-OH*), thereby enhancing the kinetics of the rate-determining Volmer step. Techno-economic analysis indicates a levelized hydrogen production cost of $2.02 kg⁻1, meeting the US DOE targets. Our strategy presents a viable pathway to designing next-generation catalysts for industrial AEMWE for green hydrogen production.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01803-3
As a green sustainable alternative technology, synthesizing nitrate by electrocatalytic nitrogen oxidation reaction (NOR) can replace the traditional energy-intensive Ostwald process. But low nitrogen fixation yields and poor selectivity due to the high bond energy of the N≡N bond and competition from the oxygen evolution reaction in the electrolyte restrict its application. On the other hand, two-dimensional (2D) PdS2 as a member in the family of group-10 novel transition metal dichalcogenides (NTMDs) presents the interesting optical and electronic properties due to its novel folded pentagonal structure, but few researches involve to its fabrication and application. Herein, unique imitating growth feature for PdS2 on different 2D substrates has been firstly discovered for constructing 2D/2D heterostructures by interface engineering. Due to the different exposed chemical groups on the substrates, PdS2 grows as the imitation to the morphologies of the substrates and presents different thickness, size, shape and the degree of oxidation, resulting in the significant difference in the NOR activity and stability of the obtained composite catalysts. Especially, the thin and small PdS2 nanoplates with more defects can be obtained by decorating poly(1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazolium bromide) on the 2D substrate, easily oxidized during the preparation process, resulting in the in situ generation of SO4^2−, which plays a crucial role in reducing the activation energy of the NOR process, leading to improved efficiency for nitrate production, verified by theoretical calculation. This research provides valuable insights for the development of novel electrocatalysts based on NTMDs for NOR and highlights the importance of interface engineering in enhancing catalytic performance.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01789-y
Immunization has long played essential roles in preventing diseases. However, the desire for precision delivery of vaccines to boost a robust immune response remains largely unmet. Here, we describe the use of acupoint delivery of nanovaccines (ADN) to elicit dual-niche immunological priming. ADN can simultaneously stimulate mast cell-assisted maturation of dendritic cells at the acupoint and enable direct delivery of nanovaccines into the draining lymph nodes. We demonstrate that ADN not only provokes antigen presentation by lymph node-resident CD8α+ dendritic cells, but also induces the accumulation of nanovaccines in B-cell zones, amplifying antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses and immunoglobulin G antibody expression in draining lymph nodes. ADN also generates systemic immune responses by causing immune memory and preventing T-cell anergy in the spleen. Further supported by evoking effective antitumor responses and high-level antiviral antibodies in mice, ADN provides a simple yet versatile platform for advanced nanovaccination.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01783-4
Disrupting the symmetric electron distribution of porphyrin-like Fe single-atom catalysts has been considered as an effective way to harvest high intrinsic activity. Understanding the catalytic performance governed by geometric microstrains is highly desirable for further optimization of such efficient sites. Here, we decipher the crucial role of local microstrain in boosting intrinsic activity and durability of asymmetric Fe single-atom catalysts (Fe–N3S1) by replacing one N atom with S atom. The high-curvature hollow carbon nanosphere substrate introduces 1.3% local compressive strain to Fe–N bonds and 1.5% tensile strain to Fe–S bonds, downshifting the d-band center and accelerating the kinetics of *OH reduction. Consequently, highly curved Fe–N3S1 sites anchored on hollow carbon nanosphere (FeNS-HNS-20) exhibit negligible current loss, a high half-wave potential of 0.922 V vs. RHE and turnover frequency of 6.2 e−1 s−1 site−1, which are 53 mV more positive and 1.7 times that of flat Fe–N–S counterpart, respectively. More importantly, multiple operando spectroscopies monitored the dynamic optimization of strained Fe–N3S1 sites into Fe–N3 sites, further mitigating the overadsorption of *OH intermediates. This work not only sheds new light on local microstrain-induced catalytic enhancement, but also provides a plausible direction for optimizing efficient asymmetric sites via geometric configurations.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01772-7
The relentless pursuit of advanced X-ray detection technologies has been significantly bolstered by the emergence of metal halides perovskites (MHPs) and their derivatives, which possess remarkable light yield and X-ray sensitivity. This comprehensive review delves into cutting-edge approaches for optimizing MHP scintillators performances by enhancing intrinsic physical properties and employing engineering radioluminescent (RL) light strategies, underscoring their potential for developing materials with superior high-resolution X-ray detection and imaging capabilities. We initially explore into recent research focused on strategies to effectively engineer the intrinsic physical properties of MHP scintillators, including light yield and response times. Additionally, we explore innovative engineering strategies involving stacked structures, waveguide effects, chiral circularly polarized luminescence, increased transparency, and the fabrication of flexile MHP scintillators, all of which effectively manage the RL light to achieve high-resolution and high-contrast X-ray imaging. Finally, we provide a roadmap for advancing next-generation MHP scintillators, highlighting their transformative potential in high-performance X-ray detection systems.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01777-2
In the quest for high-efficiency and cost-effective catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a novel biomass-driven strategy is developed to fabricate a unique one-dimensional rod-arrays@two-dimensional interlaced-sheets (C1D@2D) network. A groundbreaking chemical fermentation (CF) pore-generation mechanism, proposed for the first time for creating nanopores within carbon structures, is based on the optimal balance between gasification and solidification. This mechanism not only results in a distinctive C1D@2D multilevel network with nanoscale, intersecting and freely flowing channels but also introduces a novel concept for in situ, extensive and hierarchical pore formation. The unique architecture, combined with the homogeneous dispersion of Ni-Fe nanoparticles, facilitates easy electrolyte penetration and provides abundant active sites for the anchoring and dispersion of reactive molecules or ions. Consequently, the Ni-Fe@C1D@2D porous network demonstrates an exceptional OER electrocatalytic performance, achieving a record-low overpotential of 165 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and maintaining long-term stability for over 90 h. Theoretical calculations reveal that the porous structure markedly strengthens the interaction between alloy nanoparticles and the carbon matrix, thereby significantly boosting their electrocatalytic activity and stability. These findings unequivocally validate the CF pore-generation mechanism as a powerful and innovative strategy for designing highly efficient functional nanostructures.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01784-3
Nickel-based cathodes in aqueous nickel-zinc batteries typically suffer from sluggish reaction kinetics and limited energy density. In situ introduction of metal phosphides and rational construction of heterostructures can effectively promote electron/ion transport. However, the complex evolution of phosphidation and intractable phosphidizing degree greatly affect the composition of active phase, active sites, charge transfer rate, and ion adsorption strength of cathodes. Herein, the critical bimetallic phosphide layer (CBPL) is constructed on the NiCo-layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) skeleton by a controllable anion-exchange strategy, yielding a novel nanohybrid cathode (NiCo-P1.0, 1.0 representing the mass ratio of Na2H2PO2 to NiCo-LDH). The high-conductivity CBPL with the inner NiCo-LDH forms extensive heterostructures, effectively regulating the electronic structure via charge transfer, thereby improving electrical conductivity. Remarkably, the CBPL exhibits unexpected electrochemical activity and synergizes with NiCo-LDH for electrode reactions, ultimately delivering extra energy. Benefiting from the bifunctional CBPL, NiCo-P1.0 delivers an optimal capacity of 286.64 mAh g−1 at 1C (1C = 289 mAh g−1) and superb rate performance (a capacity retention of 72.22% at 40C). The assembled NiCo-P1.0//Zn battery achieves ultrahigh energy/power density (503.62 Wh kg−1/18.62 kW kg−1, based on the mass loading of active material on the cathode), and the flexible quasi-solid-state pouch cell validates its practicality. This work demonstrates the superiority of bifunctional CBPL for surface modification, providing an effective and scalable compositing strategy in achieving high-performance cathodes for aqueous batteries.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01782-5
Rechargeable zinc-ion batteries have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for large-scale energy storage applications due to their high safety and low cost. However, the use of Zn metal in batteries suffers from many severe issues, including dendrite growth and parasitic reactions, which often lead to short cycle lives. Herein, we propose the construction of functional organic interfacial layers (OIL) on the Zn metal anodes to address these challenges. Through a well-designed organic-assist pre-construction process, a densely packed artificial layer featuring the immobilized zwitterionic molecular brush can be constructed, which can not only efficiently facilitate the smooth Zn plating and stripping, but also introduce a stable environment for battery reactions. Through density functional theory calculations and experimental characterizations, we verify that the immobilized organic propane sulfonate on Zn anodes can significantly lower the energy barrier and increase the kinetics of Zn2+ transport. Thus, the Zn metal anode with the functional OIL can significantly improve the cycle life of the symmetric cell to over 3500 h stable operation. When paired with the H2V3O8 cathode, the aqueous Zn-ion full cells can be continuously cycled over 7000 cycles, marking an important milestone for Zn anode development for potential industrial applications.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01796-z
Over 950 billion (about 3.8 million tons) masks have been consumed in the last four years around the world to protect human beings from COVID-19 and air pollution. However, very few of these used masks are being recycled, with the majority of them being landfilled or incinerated. To address this issue, we propose a repurposing upcycling strategy by converting these polypropylene (PP)-based waste masks to high-performance thermally conductive nanocomposites (PP@G, where G refers to graphene) with exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding property. The PP@G is fabricated by loading tannic acid onto PP fibers via electrostatic self-assembling, followed by mixing with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). Because this strategy enables the GNPs to form efficient thermal and electrical conduction pathways along the PP fiber surface, the PP@G shows a high thermal conductivity of 87 W m⁻1 K⁻1 and exhibits an electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of 88 dB (1100 dB cm−1), making it potentially applicable for heat dissipation and electromagnetic shielding in advanced electronic devices. Life cycle assessment and techno-economic assessment results show that our repurposing strategy has significant advantages over existing methods in reducing environmental impacts and economic benefits. This strategy offers a facile and promising approach to upcycling/repurposing of fibrous waste plastics.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01775-4
The hole transport layer (HTL)-free carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) are promising for commercialization owing to their excellent operational stability and simple fabrication process. However, the power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of C-PSCs are inferior to the metal electrode-based devices due to their open-circuit voltage (Voc) loss. Herein, time-resolved confocal photoluminescence microscopy reveals that grain boundary defects at the perovskite/carbon interface are very likely to function as nonradiative recombination centers in HTL-free C-PSCs. A versatile additive Li2CO3 is used to modify the conformal tin oxide electron transport layer for HTL-free C-PSCs. Li2CO3 modification can result in enhanced charge extraction and optimized energy alignment at electron transport layer/perovskite interface, as well as suppressed defects at perovskite top surface due to Li2CO3-induced formation of PbI2 crystallites. Such dual interfacial passivation ultimately leads to significantly improved Voc up to 1.142 V, which is comparable to the metal electrode-based devices with HTL. Moreover, a record-high PCE of 33.2% is achieved for Li2CO3-modified C-PSCs under weak light illumination conditions, demonstrating excellent indoor photovoltaic performance. This work provides a practical approach to fabricate low-cost, highly efficient carbon-based perovskite solar cells.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01759-4
Silicon suboxide (SiOx, 0<x<2) is an appealing anode material to replace traditional graphite owing to its much higher theoretical specific capacity enabling higher-energy-density lithium batteries. Nevertheless, the huge volume change and rapid capacity decay of SiOx electrodes during cycling pose huge challenges to their large-scale practical applications. To eliminate this bottleneck, a dragonfly wing microstructure-inspired polymer electrolyte (denoted as PPM-PE) is developed based on in-situ polymerization of bicyclic phosphate ester- and urethane motif-containing monomer and methyl methacrylate in traditional liquid electrolyte. PPM-PE delivers excellent mechanical properties, highly correlated with the formation of a micro-phase separation structure similar with dragonfly wings. By virtue of superior mechanical properties and the in-situ solidified preparation method, PPM-PE can form a 3D polymer network buffer against stress within the electrode particles gap, enabling much suppressed electrode volume expansion and more stabilized solid electrolyte interface along with evidently decreased electrolyte decomposition. Resultantly, PPM-PE shows significant improvements in both cycling and rate performance in button and soft package batteries with SiOx-based electrodes, compared with the liquid electrolyte counterpart. Such a dragonfly wing microstructure-inspired design philosophy of in-situ solidified polymer electrolytes helps facilitate the practical implementation of high-energy lithium batteries with SiOx-based anodes.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01720-5
The ability to control the electrode interfaces in an electrochemical energy storage system is essential for achieving the desired electrochemical performance. However, achieving this ability requires an in-depth understanding of the detailed interfacial nanostructures of the electrode under electrochemical operating conditions. In-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is one of the most powerful techniques for revealing electrochemical energy storage mechanisms with high spatiotemporal resolution and high sensitivity in complex electrochemical environments. These attributes play a unique role in understanding how ion transport inside electrode nanomaterials and across interfaces under the dynamic conditions within working batteries. This review aims to gain an in-depth insight into the latest developments of in-situ TEM imaging techniques for probing the interfacial nanostructures of electrochemical energy storage systems, including atomic-scale structural imaging, strain field imaging, electron holography, and integrated differential phase contrast imaging. Significant examples will be described to highlight the fundamental understanding of atomic-scale and nanoscale mechanisms from employing state-of-the-art imaging techniques to visualize structural evolution, ionic valence state changes, and strain mapping, ion transport dynamics. The review concludes by providing a perspective discussion of future directions of the development and application of in-situ TEM techniques in the field of electrochemical energy storage systems.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01739-8
Developing high-efficient flame-retardant coatings is crucial for fire safety polymer and battery fields. Traditional intumescent coatings and ceramifiable coatings struggle to provide immediate and prolonged protection simultaneously, which limits the applicability. To address this, an innovative bi-layered coating with organic/nano-inorganic additives is inspired by differential response behaviors, enabling relay response effect with both fast-acting and extended protection. Specifically, two layers function continuously in the form of a relay. With a mere 320 microns, the bi-layered coating withstands fire temperatures of up to 1400 °C for at least 900 s. Consequently, the coating effective prevented burn through in aluminum plates and glass fabric-reinforced epoxy resin, which otherwise were burned through in 135 and 173 s, respectively. Meanwhile, the bi-layered coating suppressed the formation and decomposition of solid interface layer in lithium soft-package batteries, leading to prolonged electrochemical stability and fire safety. Additionally, the bi-layered coating with a fast response endows polyurethane foam with rapid self-extinguishing, preventing ignition even under exposure to strong fire of 1400 °C. Shortly, our work offers new insights into the design and development of thin, high-performance, and multi-application flame-retardant coatings.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01749-6
Advances in wearable electronics and information technology drive sports data collection and analysis toward real-time visualization and precision. The growing pursuit of athleticism and healthy life makes it appealing for individuals to track their real-time health and exercise data seamlessly. While numerous devices enable sports and health monitoring, maintaining comfort over long periods remains a considerable challenge, especially in high-intensity and sweaty sports scenarios. Textiles, with their breathability, deformability, and moisture-wicking abilities, ensure exceptional comfort during prolonged wear, making them ideal for wearable platforms. This review summarized the progress of research on textile-based sports monitoring devices. First, the design principles and fabrication methods of smart textiles were introduced systematically. Textiles undergo a distinctive fiber–yarn–fabric or fiber–fabric manufacturing process that allows for the regulation of performance and the integration of functional elements at every step. Then, the performance requirements for precise sports data collection of smart textiles, including main vital signs, joint movement, and data transmission, were discussed. Lastly, the applications of smart textiles in various sports scenarios are demonstrated. Additionally, the review provides an in-depth analysis of the emerging challenges, strategies, and opportunities for the research and development of sports-oriented smart textiles. Smart textiles not only maintain comfort and accuracy in sports, but also serve as inexpensive and efficient information-gathering terminals. Therefore, developing multifunctional, cost-effective textile-based systems for personalized sports and healthcare is a pressing need for the future of intelligent sports.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01758-5
Photothermoelectric (PTE) photodetectors with self-powered and uncooled advantages have attracted much interest due to the wide application prospects in the military and civilian fields. However, traditional PTE photodetectors lack of mechanical flexibility and cannot operate independently without the test instrument. Herein, we present a flexible PTE photodetector capable of dual-mode output, combining electrical and optical signal generation for enhanced functionality. Using solution processing, high-quality MXene thin films are assembled on asymmetric electrodes as the photosensitive layer. The geometrically asymmetric electrode design significantly enhances the responsivity, achieving 0.33 mA W−1 under infrared illumination, twice that of the symmetrical configuration. This improvement stems from optimized photothermal conversion and an expanded temperature gradient. The PTE device maintains stable performance after 300 bending cycles, demonstrating excellent flexibility. A new energy conversion pathway has been established by coupling the photothermal conversion of MXene with thermochromic composite materials, leading to a real-time visualization of invisible infrared radiation. Leveraging this functionality, we demonstrate the first human–machine collaborative infrared imaging system, wherein the dual-mode photodetector arrays synchronously generate human-readable pattern and machine-readable pattern. Our study not only provides a new solution for functional integration of flexible photodetectors, but also sets a new benchmark for human–machine collaborative optoelectronics.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01737-w
Micro light sources are crucial tools for studying the interactions between light and matter at the micro/nanoscale, encompassing diverse applications across multiple disciplines. Despite numerous studies on reducing the size of micro light sources and enhancing optical resolution, the efficient and simple fabrication of ultra-high-resolution micro light sources remains challenging due to its reliance on precise micro-nano processing technology and advanced processing equipment. In this study, a simple approach for the efficient fabrication of submicron light sources is proposed, namely shadow-assisted sidewall emission (SASE) technology. The SASE utilizes the widely adopted UV photolithography process, employing metal shadow modulation to precisely control the emission of light from polymer sidewalls, thereby obtaining photoluminescent light sources with submicron line widths. The SASE eliminates the need for complex and cumbersome manufacturing procedures. The effects of process parameters, including exposure dose, development time, and metal film thickness, on the linewidth of sources are investigated in detail. It is successfully demonstrated red, green, and blue submicron light sources. Finally, their potential application in the field of optical anti-counterfeiting is also demonstrated. We believe that the SASE proposed in this work provides a novel approach for the preparation and application of micro light sources.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01716-1
Current protective clothing often lacks sufficient comfort to ensure efficient performance of healthcare workers. Developing protective textiles with high air and moisture permeability is a potential and effective solution to discomfort of medical protective clothing. However, realizing the facile production of a protective textile that combines safety and comfort remains a challenge. Herein, we report the fabrication of highly permeable protective textiles (HPPT) with micro/nano-networks, using non-solvent induced phase separation synergistically driven by CaCl2 and fluorinated polyurethane, combined with spraying technique. The HPPT demonstrates excellent liquid repellency and comfort, ensuring high safety and a dry microenvironment for the wearer. The textile exhibits not only a high hydrostatic pressure (12.86 kPa) due to its tailored small mean pore size (1.03 μm) and chemical composition, but also demonstrates excellent air permeability (14.24 mm s−1) and moisture permeability (7.92 kg m−2 d−1) owing to the rational combination of small pore size and high porosity (69%). The HPPT offers superior comfort compared to the commercially available protective materials. Additionally, we elucidated a molding mechanism synergistically inducted by diffusion–dissolution-phase separation. This research provides an innovative perspective on enhancing the comfort of medical protective clothing and offers theoretical support for regulating of pore structure during phase separations.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01715-2
Sequential processing (SqP) of the active layer offers independent optimization of the donor and acceptor with more targeted solvent design, which is considered the most promising strategy for achieving efficient organic solar cells (OSCs). In the SqP method, the favorable interpenetrating network seriously depends on the fine control of the bottom layer swelling. However, the choice of solvent(s) for both the donor and acceptor have been mostly based on a trial-and-error manner. A single solvent often cannot achieve sufficient yet not excessive swelling, which has long been a difficulty in the high efficient SqP OSCs. Herein, two new isomeric molecules are introduced to fine-tune the nucleation and crystallization dynamics that allows judicious control over the swelling of the bottom layer. The strong non-covalent interaction between the isomeric molecule and active materials provides an excellent driving force for optimize the swelling-process. Among them, the molecule with high dipole moment promotes earlier nucleation of the PM6 and provides extended time for crystallization during SqP, improving bulk morphology and vertical phase segregation. As a result, champion efficiencies of 17.38% and 20.00% (certified 19.70%) are achieved based on PM6/PYF-T-o (all-polymer) and PM6/BTP-eC9 devices casted by toluene solvent.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01707-2
Harnessing solar energy to enhance the rechargeable zinc–air batteries (RZABs) performance is a promising avenue toward sustainable energy storage and conversion. Simultaneously enhancing light-absorption capacity and carrier separation efficiency in nanomaterials, as well as improving electrical conductivity and configuration for electrocatalysis, presents a formidable challenge due to inherent trade-offs and interdependencies. Here, we have developed a Janus dual-atom catalyst (JDAC) with bifunctional centers for efficient charge separation and electrocatalytic performance through a bipolar doping strategy. The in situ X-ray absorption near-edge structure and Raman spectroscopy analyses demonstrated that the Ni and Fe centers in JDAC not only function as effective sites for oxygen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction, respectively, but also serve as efficient hole and electron enrichment sites, effectively suppressing photoelectron recombination while enhancing photocurrent generation. As a result, the assembled JDAC-based light-assisted RZABs exhibited extraordinary stability at large current densities. This work delivers pivotal insight to design Janus dual-atom catalysts that efficiently convert solar energy into electric and chemical energy.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01694-4
Elevating the upper cutoff voltage to 4.6 V could effectively increase the reversible capacity of LiCoO2 (LCO) cathode, whereas the irreversible structural transition, unstable electrode/electrolyte interface and potentially induced safety hazards severely hinder its industrial application. Building a robust cathode/electrolyte interface film by electrolyte engineering is one of the efficient approaches to boost the performance of high-voltage LCO (HV-LCO); however, the elusive interfacial chemistry poses substantial challenges to the rational design of highly compatible electrolytes. Herein, we propose a novel electrolyte design strategy and screen proper solvents based on two factors: highest occupied molecular orbital energy level and LCO absorption energy. Tris (2, 2, 2-trifluoroethyl) phosphate is determined as the optimal solvent, whose low defluorination energy barrier significantly promotes the construction of LiF-rich cathode/electrolyte interface layer on the surface of LCO, thereby eventually suppresses the phase transition and enhances Li+ diffusion kinetics. The rationally designed electrolyte endows graphite||HV-LCO pouch cells with long cycle life (85.3% capacity retention after 700 cycles), wide-temperature adaptability (−60–80 °C) and high safety (pass nail penetration). This work provides new insights into the electrolyte screening and rational design to constructing stable interface for high-energy lithium-ion batteries.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01685-5
The treatment of ammonia nitrogen wastewater (ANW) has garnered significant attention due to the ecology, and even biology is under increasing threat from over discharge ANW. Conventional ANW treatment methods often encounter challenges such as complex processes, high costs and secondary pollution. Considerable progress has been made in employing solar-induced evaporators for wastewater treatment. However, there remain notable barriers to transitioning from fundamental research to practical applications, including insufficient evaporation rates and inadequate resistance to biofouling. Herein, we propose a novel evaporator, which comprises a bio-enzyme-treated wood aerogel that serves as water pumping and storage layer, a cost-effective multi-walled carbon nanotubes coated hydrophobic/hydrophilic fibrous nonwoven mat functioning as photothermal evaporation layer, and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) molecules incorporated as anti-biofouling agent. The resultant bioinspired evaporator demonstrates a high evaporation rate of 12.83 kg m−2 h−1 when treating simulated ANW containing 30 wt% NH4Cl under 1.0 sun of illumination. AIE-doped evaporator exhibits remarkable photodynamic antibacterial activity against mildew and bacteria, ensuring outstanding resistance to biofouling over extended periods of wastewater treatment. When enhanced by natural wind under 1.0 sun irradiation, the evaporator achieves an impressive evaporation rate exceeding 20 kg m−2 h−1. This advancement represents a promising and viable approach for the effective removal of ammonia nitrogen wastewater.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01603-1
Traditional hemostatic materials are difficult to meet the needs of non-compressible bleeding and for coagulopathic patients. In addition, open wounds are susceptible to infection, and then develop into chronic wounds. However, the development of integrated dressings that do not depend on coagulation pathway and improve the microenvironment of chronic wounds remains a challenge. Inspired by the porous structure and composition of the natural extracellular matrix, adipic dihydrazide modified gelatin (GA), dodecylamine-grafted hyaluronic acid (HD), and MnO2 nanozyme (manganese dioxide)@DFO (deferoxamine)@PDA (polydopamine) (MDP) nanoparticles were combined to prepare GA/HD/MDP cryogels through amidation reaction and hydrogen bonding. These cryogels exhibited good fatigue resistance, photothermal antibacterial (about 98% killing ratios of both Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) after 3 min near-infrared irradiation), reactive oxygen species scavenging, oxygen release, and angiogenesis properties. Furthermore, in the liver defect model of rats with coagulopathy, the cryogel displayed less bleeding and shorter hemostasis time than commercial gelatin sponge. In MRSA-infected diabetic wounds, the cryogel could decrease wound inflammation and oxidative stress, alleviate the hypoxic environment, promote collagen deposition, and induce vascular regeneration, showing a better repair effect compared with the Tegaderm™ film. These results indicated that GA/HD/MDP cryogels have great potential in non-compressible hemorrhage for coagulopathic patients and in healing infected wounds for diabetic patients.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01678-4
Engineering nanomaterials at single-atomic sites could enable unprecedented catalytic properties for broad applications, yet it remains challenging to do so on the surface of multimetallic nanocrystals. Herein, we present the multifactorial engineering (size, shape, phase, and composition) of the fully ordered PtBi nanoplates at atomic level, achieving a unique catalyst surface where the face-centered cubic (fcc) Pt edges are modified by the isolated Pd atoms and BiOx adatoms. This Pd1/Pt-BiOx electrocatalyst exhibits an ultrahigh mass activity of 16.01 A mg−1 Pt+Pd toward ethanol oxidation in alkaline electrolyte and enables a direct ethanol fuel cell of peak power density of 56.7 mW cm−2. The surrounding BiOx adatoms are critical for mitigating CO-poisoning on the Pt surface, and the Pd1/Pt single-atom alloy further facilitates the electrooxidation of CH3CH2OH. This work offers new insights into the rational design and construction of sophisticated catalyst surface at single-atomic sites for highly efficient electrocatalysis.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01593-0
Thermal runaway (TR) is considered a significant safety hazard for lithium batteries, and thermal protection materials are crucial in mitigating this risk. However, current thermal protection materials generally suffer from poor mechanical properties, flammability, leakage, and rigid crystallization, and they struggle to continuously block excess heat transfer and propagation once thermal saturation occurs. This study proposes a novel type of thermal protection material: an aerogel coupled composite phase change material (CPCM). The composite material consists of gelatin/sodium alginate (Ge/SA) composite biomass aerogel as an insulating component and a thermally induced flexible CPCM made from thermoplastic polyester elastomer as a heat-absorbing component. Inspired by power bank, we coupled the aerogel with CPCM through the binder, so that CPCM can continue to ‘charge and store energy’ for the aerogel, effectively absorbing heat, delaying the heat saturation phenomenon, and maximizing the duration of thermal insulation. The results demonstrate that the Ge/SA aerogel exhibits excellent thermal insulation (with a temperature difference of approximately 120 °C across a 1 cm thickness) and flame retardancy (achieving a V-0 flame retardant rating). The CPCM exhibits high heat storage density (811.9 J g−1), good thermally induced flexibility (bendable above 40 °C), and thermal stability. Furthermore, the Ge/SA-CPCM coupled composite material shows even more outstanding thermal insulation performance, with the top surface temperature remaining at 89 °C after 100 min of exposure to a high temperature of 230 °C. This study provides a new direction for the development of TR protection materials for lithium batteries.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01638-4
Magnetic absorbers with high permeability have significant advantages in low-frequency and broadband electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption. However, the insufficient magnetic loss and inherent high conductivity of existing magnetic absorbers limit the further expansion of EMW absorption bandwidth. Herein, the spinel (FeCoNiCrCu)3O4 high-entropy oxides (HEO) are successfully constructed on the surface of FeCoNiCr0.4Cu0.2 high-entropy alloys (HEA) through low-temperature oxygen bath treatment. On the one hand, HEO and HEA have different magnetocrystalline anisotropies, which is conducive to achieving continuous natural resonance to improve magnetic loss. On the other hand, HEO with low conductivity can serve as an impedance matching layer, achieving magneto-electric co-modulation. When the thickness is 5 mm, the minimum reflection loss (RL) value and absorption bandwidth (RL < −5 dB) of bi-phase high-entropy composites (BPHEC) can reach −12.8 dB and 633 MHz, respectively. The RCS reduction value of multilayer sample with impedance gradient characteristic can reach 18.34 dB m2. In addition, the BPHEC also exhibits temperature-stable EMW absorption performance, high Curie temperature, and oxidation resistance. The absorption bandwidth maintains between 593 and 691 MHz from −50 to 150 °C. This work offers a new and tunable strategy toward modulating the electromagnetic genes for temperature-stable ultra-broadband megahertz EMW absorption.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01663-x
High-voltage lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) face substantial challenges, including Li dendrite growth and instability in high-voltage cathodes such as LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NCM811), which impede their practical applications and long-term stability. To address these challenges, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane additive as an electron acceptor is introduced into an ethyl methyl carbonate/fluoroethylene carbonate-based electrolyte. This approach effectively engineers robust dual interfaces on the Li metal anode and the NCM811 cathode, thereby mitigating dendritic growth of Li and enhancing the stability of the cathode. This additive-driven strategy enables LMBs to operate at ultra-high voltages up to 4.7 V. Consequently, Li||Cu cells achieve a coulombic efficiency of 98.96%, and Li||Li symmetric cells extend their cycle life to an impressive 4000 h. Li||NCM811 full cells maintain a high capacity retention of 87.8% after 100 cycles at 4.7 V. Additionally, Li||LNMO full cells exhibit exceptional rate capability, delivering 132.2 mAh g−1 at 10 C and retaining 95.0% capacity after 250 cycles at 1 C and 5 V. As a result, NCM811||graphite pouch cells maintain a 93.4% capacity retention after 1100 cycles at 1 C. These findings underscore the efficacy of additive engineering in addressing Li dendrite formation and instability of cathode under high voltage, thereby paving the road for durable, high-performance LMBs.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01589-w
Common anode materials in aqueous alkaline electrolytes, such as cadmium, metal hydrides and zinc, usually suffer from remarkable biotoxicity, high cost, and serious side reactions. To overcome these problems, we develop a conjugated porous polymer (CPP) in-situ grown on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Ketjen black (KB), noted as C4N/rGO and C4N/KB respectively, as the alternative anodes. The results show that C4N/rGO electrode delivers a low redox potential (−0.905 V vs. Ag/AgCl), high specific capacity (268.8 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1), ultra-stable and fast sodium ion storage behavior (216 mAh g−1 at 20 A g−1) in 2 M NaOH electrolyte. The assembled C4N/rGO//Ni(OH)2 full battery can cycle stably more than 38,000 cycles. Furthermore, by adding a small amount of antifreeze additive dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to adjust the hydrogen bonding network, the low-temperature performance of the electrolyte (0.1 DMSO/2 M NaOH) is significantly improved while hydrogen evolution is inhibited. Consequently, the C4N/rGO//Ni(OH)2 full cell exhibits an energy density of 147.3 Wh Kg−1 and ultra-high cycling stability over a wide temperature range from −70 to 45 °C. This work provides an ultra-stable high-capacity CPP-based anode and antifreeze electrolyte for aqueous alkaline batteries and will facilitate their practical applications under extreme conditions.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01674-8
Gate-all-around field-effect transistors (GAA-FETs) represent the leading-edge channel architecture for constructing state-of-the-art high-performance FETs. Despite the advantages offered by the GAA configuration, its application to catalytic silicon nanowire (SiNW) channels, known for facile low-temperature fabrication and high yield, has faced challenges primarily due to issues with precise positioning and alignment. In exploring this promising avenue, we employed an in-plane solid–liquid-solid (IPSLS) growth technique to batch-fabricate orderly arrays of ultrathin SiNWs, with diameters of DNW = 22.4 ± 2.4 nm and interwire spacing of 90 nm. An in situ channel-releasing technique has been developed to well preserve the geometry integrity of suspended SiNW arrays. By optimizing the source/drain contacts, high-performance GAA-FET devices have been successfully fabricated, based on these catalytic SiNW channels for the first time, yielding a high on/off current ratio of 10^7 and a steep subthreshold swing of 66 mV dec−1, closing the performance gap between the catalytic SiNW-FETs and state-of-the-art GAA-FETs fabricated by using advanced top-down EBL and EUV lithography. These results indicate that catalytic IPSLS SiNWs can also serve as the ideal 1D channels for scalable fabrication of high-performance GAA-FETs, well suited for monolithic 3D integrations.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01676-6
Rapid population growth in recent decades has intensified both the global energy crisis and the challenges posed by climate change, including global warming. Currently, the increased frequency of extreme weather events and large fluctuations in ambient temperature disrupt thermal comfort and negatively impact health, driving a growing dependence on cooling and heating energy sources. Consequently, efficient thermal management has become a central focus of energy research. Traditional thermal management systems consume substantial energy, further contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, emergent radiant thermal management technologies that rely on renewable energy have been proposed as sustainable alternatives. However, achieving year-round thermal management without additional energy input remains a formidable challenge. Recently, dynamic radiative thermal management technologies have emerged as the most promising solution, offering the potential for energy-efficient adaptation across seasonal variations. This review systematically presents recent advancements in dynamic radiative thermal management, covering fundamental principles, switching mechanisms, primary materials, and application areas. Additionally, the key challenges hindering the broader adoption of dynamic radiative thermal management technologies are discussed. By highlighting their transformative potential, this review provides insights into the design and industrial scalability of these innovations, with the ultimate aim of promoting renewable energy integration in thermal management applications.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01675-7
The morphological distribution of absorbent in composites is equally important with absorbents for the overall electromagnetic properties, but it is often ignored. Herein, a comprehensive consideration including electromagnetic component regulation, layered arrangement structure, and gradient concentration distribution was used to optimize impedance matching and enhance electromagnetic loss. On the microscale, the incorporation of magnetic Ni nanoparticles into MXene nanosheets (Ni@MXene) endows suitable intrinsic permittivity and permeability. On the macroscale, the layered arrangement of Ni@MXene increases the effective interaction area with electromagnetic waves, inducing multiple reflection/scattering effects. On this basis, according to the analysis of absorption, reflection, and transmission (A–R–T) power coefficients of layered composites, the gradient concentration distribution was constructed to realize the impedance matching at low-concentration surface layer, electromagnetic loss at middle concentration interlayer and microwave reflection at high-concentration bottom layer. Consequently, the layered gradient composite (LG5-10–15) achieves complete absorption coverage of X-band at thickness of 2.00–2.20 mm with RLmin of −68.67 dB at 9.85 GHz in 2.05 mm, which is 199.0%, 12.6%, and 50.6% higher than non-layered, layered and layered descending gradient composites, respectively. Therefore, this work confirms the importance of layered gradient structure in improving absorption performance and broadens the design of high-performance microwave absorption materials.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01636-6
The coupling of fast redox kinetics, high-energy density, and prolonged lifespan is a permanent aspiration for aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries, but which has been severely hampered by a narrow voltage range and suboptimal compatibility between the electrolytes and electrodes. Here, we unprecedentedly introduced an electric ambipolar effect for synergistic manipulation on Zn2+ ternary-hydrated eutectic electrolyte (ZTE) enabling high-performance Zn-Br2 batteries. The electric ambipolar effect motivates strong dipole interactions among hydrated perchlorates and bipolar ligands of L-carnitine (L-CN) and sulfamide, which reorganized primary cations solvation sheath in a manner of forming Zn[(L-CN)(SA)(H2O)4]2+ configuration and dynamically restricting desolvated H2O molecules, thus ensuring a broadened electrochemical window of 2.9 V coupled with high ionic conductivity. Noticeably, L-CN affords an electrostatic shielding effect and an in situ construction of organic–inorganic interphase, endowing oriented Zn anode plating/stripping reversibly for over 2400 h. Therefore, with the synergy of electro/nucleophilicity and exceptional compatibility, the ZTE electrolyte dynamically boosts the conversion redox of Zn-Br2 batteries in terms of high specific capacity and stable cycling performance. These findings open a window for designing electrolytes with synergetic chemical stability and compatibility toward advanced zinc-ion batteries.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01670-y
In the realm of virtual reality (VR), haptic feedback is integral to enhance the immersive experience; yet, existing wearable devices predominantly rely on skin contact feedback, lacking options for compact and non-contact breeze-sense feedback. Herein, we propose a compact and non-contact working model piezoelectret actuator for providing a gentle and safe breeze sensation. This easy-fabricated and flexible breeze-sense generator with thickness around 1 mm generates air flow pressure up to ~163 Pa, which is significantly sensed by human skin. In a typical demonstration, the breeze-sense generators array showcases its versatility by employing multiple coded modes for non-contact information transmitting. The thin thinness and good flexibility facilitate seamless integration with wearable VR setups, and the wearable arrays empower volunteers to precisely perceive the continuous and sudden breeze senses in the virtual environments. This work is expected to inspire developing new haptic feedback devices that play pivotal roles in human–machine interfaces for VR applications.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01651-1
The microstructure design for thermal conduction pathways in polymeric electrical encapsulation materials is essential to meet the stringent requirements for efficient thermal management and thermal runaway safety in modern electronic devices. Hence, a composite with three-dimensional network (Ho/U-BNNS/WPU) is developed by simultaneously incorporating magnetically modified boron nitride nanosheets (M@BNNS) and non-magnetic organo-grafted BNNS (U-BNNS) into waterborne polyurethane (WPU) to synchronous molding under a horizontal magnetic field. The results indicate that the continuous in-plane pathways formed by M@BNNS aligned along the magnetic field direction, combined with the bridging structure established by U-BNNS, enable Ho/U-BNNS/WPU to exhibit exceptional in-plane (λ//) and through-plane thermal conductivities (λ⊥). In particular, with the addition of 30 wt% M@BNNS and 5 wt% U-BNNS, the λ// and λ⊥ of composites reach 11.47 and 2.88 W m−1 K−1, respectively, which representing a 194.2% improvement in λ⊥ compared to the composites with a single orientation of M@BNNS. Meanwhile, Ho/U-BNNS/WPU exhibits distinguished thermal management capabilities as thermal interface materials for LED and chips. The composites also demonstrate excellent flame retardancy, with a peak heat release and total heat release reduced by 58.9% and 36.9%, respectively, compared to WPU. Thus, this work offers new insights into the thermally conductive structural design and efficient flame-retardant systems of polymer composites, presenting broad application potential in electronic packaging fields.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01596-x
The growing demands for energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and portable electronics have significantly pushed forward the need for safe and reliable lithium batteries. It is essential to design functional separators with improved mechanical and electrochemical characteristics. This review covers the improved mechanical and electrochemical performances as well as the advancements made in the design of separators utilizing a variety of techniques. In terms of electrolyte wettability and adhesion of the coating materials, we provide an overview of the current status of research on coated separators, in situ modified separators, and grafting modified separators, and elaborate additional performance parameters of interest. The characteristics of inorganics coated separators, organic framework coated separators and inorganic–organic coated separators from different fabrication methods are compared. Future directions regarding new modified materials, manufacturing process, quantitative analysis of adhesion and so on are proposed toward next-generation advanced lithium batteries.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01654-y
Transition metal carbides, known as MXenes, particularly Ti3C2Tx, have been extensively explored as promising materials for electrochemical reactions. However, transition metal carbonitride MXenes with high nitrogen content for electrochemical reactions are rarely reported. In this work, transition metal carbonitride MXenes incorporated with Pt-based electrocatalysts, ranging from single atoms to sub-nanometer dimensions, are explored for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The fabricated Pt clusters/MXene catalyst exhibits superior HER performance compared to the single-atom-incorporated MXene and commercial Pt/C catalyst in both acidic and alkaline electrolytes. The optimized sample shows low overpotentials of 28, 65, and 154 mV at current densities of 10, 100, and 500 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 29 mV dec−1, a high mass activity of 1203 mA mgPt−1 and an excellent turnover frequency of 6.1 s−1 in the acidic electrolyte. Density functional theory calculations indicate that this high performance can be attributed to the enhanced active sites, increased surface functional groups, faster charge transfer dynamics, and stronger electronic interaction between Pt and MXene, resulting in optimized hydrogen absorption/desorption toward better HER. This work demonstrates that MXenes with a high content of nitrogen may be promising candidates for various catalytic reactions by incorporating single atoms or clusters.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01645-5
The integration of dual-mesoporous structures, the construction of heterojunctions, and the incorporation of highly concentrated oxygen vacancies are pivotal for advancing metal oxide-based gas sensors. Nonetheless, achieving an optimal design that simultaneously combines mesoporous structures, precise heterojunction modulation, and controlled oxygen vacancies through a one-step process remains challenging. This study proposes an innovative method for fabricating zinc stannate semiconductors featuring dual-mesoporous structures and tunable oxygen vacancies via a direct solution precursor plasma spray technique. As a proof of concept, the resulting zinc stannate-based coatings are applied to detect 2-undecanone, a key biomarker for rice aging. Remarkably, the zinc oxide/zinc stannate heterojunctions with a well-defined secondary pore structure exhibit exceptional gas-sensing performance for 2-undecanone at room temperature. Furthermore, practical experiments indicate that the developed sensor effectively identifies adulteration in various rice varieties. These results underscore the potential of this method for designing metal oxides with tailored properties for high-performance gas sensors. The enhanced adsorption capacity and dual-mesoporous features of this semiconductor make it a promising candidate for sensing applications in agricultural food safety inspections.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01637-5
Building anion-derived solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) with enriched LiF is considered the most promising strategy to address inferior safety features and poor cyclability of lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, we discover that, instead of direct electron transfer from surface polar groups to bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI−) for inducing a LiF-rich SEI, the dipole-induced fluorinated-anion decomposition reaction begins with the adsorption of Li ions and is highly dependent on their mobility on the polar surface. To demonstrate this, a single-layer graphdiyne on MXene (sGDY@MXene) heterostructure has been successfully fabricated and integrated into polypropylene separators. It is found that the adsorbed Li ions connect electron-donating sGDY@MXene to TFSI−, facilitating interfacial charge transfer for TFSI− decomposition. However, this does not capture the entire picture. The sGDY@MXene also renders the adsorbed Li ions with high mobility, enabling them to reach optimal reaction sites and expedite their coordination processes with O on O=S=O and F on the broken –CF3−, facilitating bond cleavage. In contrast, immobilized Li ions on the more lithiophilic pristine MXene retard these cleavage processes. Consequently, the decomposition reaction is accelerated on sGDY@MXene. This work highlights the dedicate balance between lithiophilicity and Li-ion mobility in effectively promoting a LiF-rich SEI for the long-term stability of LMBs.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25030011
The optical soliton characteristics of GaSb-based ~2 μm wavelength integrated optical chips have broad application prospects in optoelectronic fields such as optical communications, infrared countermeasures, and gas environment monitoring. In the research of two-section integrated optical chips, more attention is paid to their passive mode-locked characteristics. The ability of its structure to generate stable soliton transmission has not yet been studied, which will limit its further application in high-performance near-mid infrared optoelectronic technology. In this paper, we design and prepare a GaSb-based ~2 μm wavelength two-section integrated semiconductor laser chip structure, and test and analyze its related properties of soliton, including power−injection current−voltage (P−I−V), temperature and mode-locked characteristics. Experimental results show that the chip can achieve stable mode-locked operation at nearly ~2 μm wavelength and present the working characteristics of near optical soliton states and multi-peak optical soliton states. By comparing and analyzing the measured optical pulse sequence curve with the numerical fitting based on the pure fourth order soliton approximation solution, it is confirmed that the two-section integrated optical chip structure can generate stable transmission of multi-peak optical soliton. This provides a research direction for developing near-mid infrared mode-locked integrated optical chips with high-performance property of optical soliton.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25040035
Fractional-N phase-locked loops (PLLs) are widely deployed in high-speed communication systems to generate local oscillator (LO) or clock signals with precise frequency. To support sophisticated modulations for increasing the data rate, the PLL needs to generate low-jitter output. Since the output frequency of the fractional-N PLL is not an integer multiple of the reference clock frequency, the phase error seen by the phase detector (PD) contains not only a random part induced by the oscillator and loop noise, but also a deterministic part due to the fractional operation, which is referred to as the quantization error (Q-error). The Q-error has two side effects on the output jitter. Firstly, the Q-error will induce quantization noise in the PLL output. Although the energy of quantization noise can be shaped to high offset frequencies and suppressed by the low-pass characteristics of the loop with the aid of a delta-sigma modulator (DSM), it could still contribute a substantial portion of the output jitter if a moderate or large loop bandwidth is required to suppress the oscillator's phase noise (PN). Secondly, when the Q-error passes through a nonlinear PD, fractional spurs will be generated, and quantization noise at high offset frequencies will be folded into in-band, which also degrades the output jitter. These side effects could limit the jitter performance in fractional-N PLLs. In the following sections, recent techniques to minimize the side effects of Q-error that enable low-jitter fractional-N PLL with high power efficiency will be reviewed.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2026-41-03-08)
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have significant promise as large-scale energy storage devices due to their high safety, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, their application has been constrained by limited operational voltage windows. A high-voltage-resistant Ti-graphene-Ti cathode current collector (TGT) was designed and fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) printing. The surface of the TGT has a TixOy protective layer, which effectively suppresses electrolyte decomposition under high voltage conditions so that the voltage window of the battery is extended to 1.0–2.2 V without the obvious formation of by-products. Simultaneously, the graphene layer in the TGT structure significantly improves the adsorption and insertion/extraction kinetics of cations, resulting in a high specific capacity of 307.5 mAh g−1 and a prolonged cycling life of the battery. The resultant AZIBs have a stable charge/discharge performance over 400 cycles at a high voltage. Furthermore, the influence of the geometric arrangements of Ti and graphene in the 3D printing process on the energy storage mechanism was investigated and provided novel insight for the development of high-voltage-resistant composite cathode current collectors for AZIBs.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2026-41-03-06)
Exploring non-copper electrocatalysts for CO2-to-CH4 electrosynthesis is important for reducing overreliance on copper and broadening the catalyst landscape. We report a strategy that enables CH4 formation on cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) by regulating the local reaction microenvironment through the catalyst structure. Ultrathin hollow carbon nanospheres (HCNs) with a uniform size were synthesized and used as supports for CoPc, forming “Janus carbon shells” with inner–outer functional asymmetry. The resulting CoPc-HCN hybrid had a maximum CO2-to-CH4 selectivity of 15.1%, overcoming the conventional CO-selective behavior of CoPc. Mechanistic studies show that the hollow carbon structure induces a proton enrichment outside the shell through an inner–outer surface interaction. The inner carbon surface promotes the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and produces a proton-enriched environment near the CoPc-active outer surface, thereby enabling CO2 methanation. This work highlights the critical role of catalyst structure in overcoming intrinsic selectivity limits of molecular catalysts.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2025-6-3)
The typical method for preparing the porous carbon used in supercapacitors (SCs) is time-consuming and energy-intensive. We report a fast and efficient route to synthesize and tailor the structure of porous carbon by a Joule heating technique (JHT) using phenolic resin and precursors. During the JHT process, the time and energy needed are both significantly reduced because the precursor is heated to the target temperature at a rate of 1100 K/s, so the porous carbon is formed with the release of small molecules and the etching of the substrate by K2CO3. JHT has a higher energy efficiency than traditional carbonization methods in a tube furnace and allows for precise control of the pyrolysis process, thus achieving better control of the material's structure and properties. Samples obtained by JHT contain abundant pores and a large specific surface area (1652.7 m2/g), which give an excellent specific capacitance of 476.0 F/g and rate capability (75.1% capacitance retention at 64.0 A/g in an aqueous alkaline electrolyte). Furthermore, in electrolytes of 17.0 mol/kg NaClO4 (water-in-salt) and 1.0 mol/L TEABF4/AN, the symmetric SCs have a maximum energy density of 33.3 and 50.8 Wh/kg at power densities of 220.4 and 376.4 W/kg, respectively. The cells also have good long-term stability, with a nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency, and a capacitance retention of 93.1% in a water-in-salt electrolyte after 10000 cycles, and 88.9% in an organic electrolyte after 8000 cycles. This study shows that JHT has the potential to serve as an ultra-fast method to prepare porous carbons for energy storage.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2024-39-06-07)
Carbon with its high electrical conductivity, excellent chemical stability, and structure ability is the most promising anode material for sodium and potassium ion batteries. We developed a defect-rich porous carbon framework (DRPCF) built with N/O-co-doped mesoporous nanosheets and containing many defects using porous g-C3N4 (PCN) and dopamine (DA) as raw materials. We prepared samples with PCN/DA mass ratios of 1/1, 2/1 and 3/1 and found that the one with a mass ratio of 2/1 and a carbonization temperature of 700 °C in an Ar atmosphere (DRPCF-2/1-700), had a large specific surface area with an enormous pore volume and a large number of N/O heteroatom active defect sites. Because of this, it had the best pseudocapacitive sodium and potassium ion storage performance. A half battery of Na//DRPCF-2/1-700 maintained a capacity of 328.2 mAh g−1 after being cycled at 1 A g−1 for 900 cycles, and a half battery of K//DRPC-2/1-700 maintained a capacity of 321.5 mAh g−1 after being cycled at 1 A g−1 for 1200 cycles. The rate capability and cycling stability achieved by DRPCF-2/1-700 outperforms most reported carbon materials. Finally, ex-situ Raman spectroscopy analysis result confirms that the filling and removing of K+ and Na+ from the electrochemically active defects are responsible for the high capacity, superior rate and cycling performance of the DRPCF-2/1-700 sample.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2024-39-04-05)
The preparation of a synthetic pitch from aromatic monomers could easily regulate structure orientation at the molecular level, which would be useful in fabrication. An isotropic synthetic pitch was prepared by a chlorine- and/or nitrogen-induced substitution polymerization reaction method using aromatic hydrocarbon precursors containing Cl and N, which for this study were chloromethyl naphthalene and quinoline. This method was verified by investigating the structural changes under different synthesis conditions, and the synthesis mechanism induced by aromatics containing Cl was also probed. The result shows that the pyridinic N in quinoline contains a lone pair of electrons, and is an effective active site to induce the polymerization reaction by coupling with aromatic hydrocarbons containing Cl. The reaction between such free radicals causes strong homopolymerization and oligomerization. A higher reaction temperature and longer reaction time significantly increased the degree of polymerization and thus increased the softening point of the pitch. A linear molecular structure was formed by the Cl substitution reaction, which produced a highly spinnable pitch with a softening point of 258.6 °C, and carbon fibers with a tensile strength of 1 163.82 MPa were obtained. This study provides a relatively simple and safe method for the preparation of high-quality spinnable pitch.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2024-39-04-04)
A transformation of naphthalene-based coalescenced mesophase pitch (NMP) to mesophase microbeads was achieved by heating a mixture of NMP and fullerene (C60). This is different from the conventional process of the liquid-phase carbonization of isotropic pitch to the emergence of carbon microbeads in the matrix and finally their growth to form a 100% anisotropic bulk mesophase, but rather a reverse transformation. The effects of C60 loading and reaction temperature on the morphological transformation of mesophase were investigated by polarizing optical and scanning electron microscopies. The physical changes in the NMP induced by C60 were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectroscopy. The results show that the coalesced NMP can be converted to a spherical type at 300–320 °C with the addition of 5% C60, and the size of the mesophase microbeads increases with increasing temperature. Furthermore, a model is established to explain the unique induction effect of C60 in the transformation process. This work makes the morphological transformation of MP controllable, and provides a new idea for the understanding and research of mesophase pitch.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2024-39-03-06)
In recent years, zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs) have attracted increasing attention due to their environmental friendliness and excellent electrochemical properties. However, their performance is mainly limited by the electrochemical performance of the cathode, so it is necessary to develop an advanced cathode material. N, B co-doped sodium alginate-based porous carbon (NBSPC) was prepared by one-step co-carbonization using sodium alginate as the matrix and NH4B5O8 as the N and B source. This N, B co-doping strategy improves the pore structure of the carbon materials and increases the number of surface functional groups, greatly improving the capacitive behavior of the raw materials and thus improving their electrochemical performance. When used as the cathode in ZIHCs, the NBSPC had an excellent rate performance (85.4 mA h g−1 even at ultra-high current density of 40 A g−1) and good cycling stability (15 000 cycles at 20 A g−1 with a capacity retention rate of 94.5%).