High-Resolution Sensing

In article number 2104706, Jingbin Zeng, Zifeng Yan, Yadong Yin, and co-workers fabricate a hybrid pressure aerogel/hydrogel sensor by integrating a polypyrrole nanotube-structured aerogel into a polyacrylamide hydrogel. With high stretchability and self-healing property, the hybrid polymer sensor exhibits stable performance in high-resolution sensing of a wide range of pressure from human physiological signals to significant stress caused by car rolling.

Tissue Engineering

In article number 2106487, Dongryeol Ryu, GeunHyung Kim, and co-workers propose a microfluidic device with cell-laden methacrylated gelatin bioink and alginate as a matrix hydrogel to fabricate a functional hybrid structure, which is obtained using a one-step process, laden with cell-aggregated microbeads for tissue engineering applications. The cell-bead-laden hybrid struts exhibit outstanding cellular activities compared to conventionally bioprinted cell-laden struts.

Infrared Solar Cells

PbS colloidal quantum dot infrared solar cells can supplement silicon or perovskite solar cells. The energy level evolution of large size PbS quantum dots causes the authors to reconsider the matching charge extraction contacts. In article number 2105495, Haisheng Song and co-workers develop a sputtered ZnO-based champion device which obtains a certified power conversion efficiency of over 10%, and the 1100 nm filtered efficiency achieves 1.23%.

NIR-IIa Cell Tracker

In article number 2105362, Jen-Shyang Ni, Kai Li, and co-workers design a series of NIR-II fluorophores through a heteroatom-inserted electron delocalization strategy, which is used as a NIR-IIa cell tracker to dynamically track the homing of transplanted stem cells in the acute lung injury model.

The recent progress, importance, and future needs of pH sensors and time-temperature indicators (TTIs) for smart sensors in food packaging applications is reviewed. The mechanisms for sensing pH and temperature, the advantages and limitations of the materials and fabrication processes employed in making the sensors, and solutions to make them more safe, useful, and effective are discussed.

In this review, several key factors for binders to enhance the electrochemical performance of silicon anodes are summarized. In addition, some commonly used modification methods for binders are also provided to control these influencing factors. Finally, to overcome the existing problems and challenges of binders, several possible development directions of binders are suggested.

While photocatalysis has been focused on TiO₂-based materials, the harvesting of plasmonic effects has emerged as an efficient strategy to enhance photocatalytic performances. Therefore, the combination of TiO₂ with plasmonic nanoparticles has attracted massive attention. This review covers the fundamentals, recent advances, and representative examples, and provides future guidelines in the field of TiO₂-based plasmonic photocatalysis toward various important molecular transformations.

In this review, the various strategies for blue perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) based on mixed-halide PQDs, quantum-confined all-bromide PQDs, metal-doped PQDs, and lead-free PQDs are focused on. Then, the recent progress of electroluminescence and down-converted LEDs based on blue PQDs is summarized, which provides valuable guidance to design and create efficient blue LEDs.

Host–guest room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials have revolutionized the understandings of organic optoelectronics, leading to significant advances in constructing advanced applications. Explanative account is provided for systematizing the knowledge of host–guest RTP materials, with an emphasis on construction strategies, molecular structures and properties, and diverse applications.

Sodium Ion Batteries

Polymer electrodes have been significantly limited by poor reversible specific capacities, where a majority of aromatic C6-benzene linkages are redox inactive. In article number 2105927, Xiang Zhu, Hao Jiang, and co-workers show that decreasing steric hindrance of aromatic C6-benzene rings within a porous organic framework affords a significant improvement in the redox reaction kinetics, thereby facilitating the acceptance of sodium ions on these rings and boosting overall battery performance.

Decreasing steric hindrance of aromatic C6-benzene rings within a porous organic framework affords a significant improvement in the redox reaction kinetics, thereby facilitating the acceptance of sodium ions on these rings and boosting overall sodium ion batteries (SIBs) performance. This study may open up new possibilities for the rational design and synthesis of new porous organic frameworks for SIBs.

Achieving high sensitivity of pressure over a broad range covering both subtle and extremely high pressure remains a challenge due to the unsatisfactory structural stretchability and compressibility of the sensing materials. This work addresses this issue by designing a hybrid structured aerogel/hydrogel sensor by integrating a nanotube structured polypyrrole aerogel with a polyacrylamide hydrogel.

A microfluidic device with cell-laden methacrylated gelatin bioink and alginate as a matrix hydrogel is used to fabricate a functional hybrid structure laden with cell-aggregated microbeads. The hybrid structure with adipose stem cells results in significantly higher myogenesis in comparison to normally bioprinted struts.

PbS colloidal quantum dot infrared solar cells can supplement silicon or perovskite solar cells. The energy level evolution of large size PbS quantum dots makes us reconsider the matching charge extraction contacts. The sputtered ZnO based device obtains a certified power conversion efficiency of over 10%, and the 1100 nm filtered efficiency achieves 1.23%.

A heteroatom-inserted electron delocalization (HEED) strategy is facilitated to construct a series of second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorophores. One representative AIEgen (TTQiT) displays a maximum emission wavelength beyond 1100 nm with desirable fluorescent brightness, which is successfully used as the NIR-IIa cell trackers to dynamically detect the homing of stem cells in mice with acute lung injury.

Density functional theory calculations in combination with experimental study are used to establish a multi-site engineering strategy for developing robust WS₂-based hybrid electrocatalyst on mesoporous bimetallic nitride nanoarrays for bifunctional water splitting in base, requiring 84 mV to afford 10 mA cm⁻² for hydrogen evolution reaction, and 240 mV at 100 mA cm⁻² for oxygen evolution reaction with excellent large-current durability.

Reduced dimension is one of the effective strategies to modulate thermoelectric properties. This work successfully fabricated n-type PbSe/SnSe superlattices with quantum-well structure. Featured with ultrahigh power factor and ultralow thermal conductivity, the value of ZT at room temperature is significantly increased from 0.14 for PbSe single layer to 1.6 for PbSe/SnSe quantum-wells.

Using a convenient mixed injection, an HA@MnO₂/FGF-2/Exos hydrogel dressing covering the diabetic wound tightly can be rapidly formed. The positive quaternary ammonium groups in the graft play a long-term antibacterial role. The MnO₂/e-PL nanosheet acts as a nanoenzyme to catalyze the conversion from H₂O₂ to O₂. The released Exos^M2@miR-223 simulate long-lasting angiogenesis and the released FGF-2 accelerates epithelization efficiently.

Metal-free edge-rich vertical graphene is synthesized and exhibits a superior H₂O₂ performance in alkaline media. It is unambiguously revealed that the edge-bound in-plane ether-type functional groups (COC) are active sites for H₂O₂ production. Moreover, a simple vacuum-based method is developed to effectively create a hydrophobic surface through hydrocarbon adsorption, which largely boosts H₂O₂ productivity.

An organic–inorganic hybrid cathode consisting of 1T phase MoS₂ grown on reduced graphene oxide mixed with carbon nanotubes and phenyl tetrasulfide (PTS) retains 69.8% of the theoretical capacity of PTS after 950 cycles in rechargeable lithium batteries. The cells also show high mass loadings and low electrolyte dependence. The dynamic 1T-2H mixed-phases MoS₂ is critical for the improved performance.

Water-soluble nanoparticles containing twisted double [7]carbohelicene are prepared for lysosome-targeted cancer treatment involving both type I and II photodynamic therapy (PDT). This contribution reports a promising helicene-based phototherapeutic agent involving both type I and II PDT for organelle-targeted biotherapy.

A new, regenerable polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based membrane for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water is presented. The membrane, functionalized with an ad hoc synthesized deep cavity cavitand, is easily produced by electrospinning and features excellent filter performances. The regeneration is obtained by pH-driven conformational vase-to-kite switch of the cavitand to release the included PAHs.

A high-efficiency supramolecular phosphorescence-capturing system with delayed near-infrared emission is successfully constructed via an efficient triplet to singlet Förster resonance energy transfer strategy, presenting ultrahigh antenna effects (352.9, 123.5) at a high donor/acceptor ratio (150:1, 300:1).

Novel porous Au–Ag nanoparticles are synthesized and applied as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probes. The tunable porous nanoparticles are dealloyed through galvanic replacement reaction from flexibly adjustable Au–Ag alloy nanoparticle precursors. The synthesized porous nanoparticles have extraordinary Raman enhancement due to their rough surface, large accessible surface area, and high density of “hot spots”, providing single-particle level SERS probes.

In situ adsorbate induced strategy at programmed temperature triggers lattice compress in metal–organic framework by reaction heat effect, and thus obtains electron-deficient Pd single atoms (Pd₁^δ+). This catalyst exhibits high intrinsic activity (activation energy (E_a) of 40.5 s⁻¹) and selectivity of 93% with long-term stability in selective acetylene hydrogenation, correlating with reduced C₂H₄ desorption energy and activation barriers for hydrogenation.

Highly efficient, electrically driven, and complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible electronic–plasmonic transducers are demonstrated by integration of Al–AlO_X–Cu tunnel junctions, Cu plasmonic waveguides, and Si–Cu Schottky diodes. Plasmonic signals are generated by applying voltages across the tunnel junctions, which then propagate along Cu plasmonic waveguides, and are detected with the Schottky diodes.

Nanoparticles are directly sculpted using a converged electron beam in a scanning transmission electron microscope. The controlled modification at the nano and atomic scales induces changes to the plasmonic behavior of individual or collections of nanoparticles in both the spatial and spectral domains, which are observed in situ with monochromated electron energy loss spectroscopy.

An omni-directional ion/electron transmit network and a robust 3D composite structure of Nb-FeF₃·0.33H₂O@C are constructed synchronously by a ternary-treatment strategy of Nb-substitution, rod-like mesoporous architecture and conformal carbon coating, which can satisfactorily promote reaction kinetics, adaptability of volume expansion, and relief of voltage hysteresis, thus exhibiting excellent rate capability, ultrahigh discharge capacity, and long cycling life.

Understanding defect dynamics in 2D materials is critical for tailoring their properties through defect engineering. Herein, annihilation of vacancy clusters in monolayer molybdenum diselenide under electron beam irradiation is reported and found to be energetically favorable, with electron beam and pre-stress facilitating the barrier-hopping. The findings expand the capability of electron beam for manipulating defects in 2D materials.

The heterostructured Bi₂S₃-Bi₂O₃ nanosheets with substantial amount of interface are designed, which demonstrate the enhanced CO₂ electroreduction performance. The fast-interfacial charge transfer induced by the electronic interaction at the interface, together with the increased number of active sites and the improved CO₂ adsorption ability, collectively contribute to the improved electrocatalytic performance.

Metastable amorphous oxides/single-crystalline semiconductor nanosheets assemble into 3D shapes via reconfiguration of the atomic structure of the oxide during heat treatment. For heating parameters leading to densification of the amorphous film, axial forces (F₁, F₂) and a torque (M) drive bending of the nanosheet perpendicularly to its surface. The mechanism allows fabrication of strained superlattices and strain-engineering of complex oxides.

Formation of 3D electroactive architectures with porous morphology is getting growing attention in energy storage community. Such 3D architecture can be constructed by the integration of fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing with atomic layer deposition (ALD). This enables the hierarchical fabrication of core–shell structured V₂O₅ cathodes for Zn²⁺ storage, and enriches the advanced battery electrode manufacturing techniques.

A novel approach for multimodal remote thermometry based on Fabry–Perot optical microcavities built in β-Ga₂O₃:Cr nanowires is reported. The luminescent and interferometric thermometer combines optical features of the Cr³⁺ luminescence and resonances resulting from spatial confinement of light. It presents micron-scale dimensions, temperature precision of around 1 K, and operation in the 150–550 K temperature range.

Ni incorporated polypyrrole (PPy) serves as a multifunctional surface modifier to enhance the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of CdIn₂S₄ (CIS) photoanode. Due to the synergistic effect of photothermal effect from PPy, catalysis effect from Ni incorporation, and the formation of CIS/Ni-PPy p–n junction, the optimum composite photoanode exhibits remarkably enhanced PEC performance under AM 1.5G sunlight combined with near-infrared light irradiation.

An integrated 3D open network of interconnected bismuthene arrays is constructed, of which the distinctive superstructure leads to a good CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) performance for stable formate production with high Faradaic efficiency and current density. Furthermore, a unique two-electrode electrolyzer coupling CO₂RR with methanol oxidation reaction is constructed to reduce energy consumption yet achieve value-added pair-electrosynthesis of formate.

A self-regulating platform combining hydrogel microwrinkles and plasmonic nanoparticle lattices can demonstrate programmable regulation with tunable timescales. The system couples the dynamic optical properties of the wrinkle patterns with moisture-responsive mechanical actuation that can be controlled by the photothermal effect of the plasmonic lattices.

A conductive, flexible, and self-supporting Co/CNT/HNCF membrane is constructed via a multiscale strategy for the efficient electrochemical reduction of CO₂. This membrane can be directly used as gas-diffusion electrode in electrolysis, which produces CO with >90% faradaic efficiencies as well as >300 mA cm⁻² partial current densities for at least 100-h stability.

Here, a bimetal-containing photocatalyst is reported by immobilizing TiO₂ and Pd nanoparticles on the hypercrosslinked polymers. The designed catalyst exhibits excellent photocatalytic CO₂ conversion efficiency with a high CH₄ production rate of 237.4 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ and a remarkable selectivity for more than 99.9%. This work provides a strategy to construct a porous polymers-based semiconductor toward efficient CO₂ photoconversion.

This work reports the rational design of a subcutis-to-intestine cascade for navigating nanovaccines to simultaneously activate cellular and mucosal immune responses. By processing the cascade in vivo, the subcutaneously injected nanovaccines significantly improve protection against intestinal infections.