ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

Regulating the Microstructure of SbSe Films via a MoO Nanocrystal Interfacial Layer for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production
Lu L, Jiang J, Wang H, Shi H, Xiao Y, He J and Li C
SbSe photocathodes are promising candidates for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production, but their performance is often limited by insufficient light harvesting and severe charge recombination. Here, we introduce a MoO nanocrystal interfacial layer to regulate the microstructure and interfacial properties of SbSe films. When grown on Mo/MoO substrates, SbSe develops a nanocolumnar crystal structure with improved crystallographic orientation compared to films deposited directly on Mo, forming a light-trapping morphology that reduces reflectance and enhances absorption. In addition, MoO functions as a hole transport layer, creating proper band alignment with SbSe to facilitate interfacial carrier transfer and mitigate charge accumulation and recombination losses. Transient absorption spectroscopy confirms that the presence of MoO accelerates photogenerated carrier separation and prolongs carrier lifetime. Benefiting from these synergistic effects, the optimized Mo/MoO/SbSe/Pt photocathode achieves an approximately 40% enhancement in maximum photocurrent and a positive shift in onset potential relative to Mo/SbSe/Pt. This work demonstrates an effective strategy to boost the performance of SbSe-based photoelectrodes and provides valuable insights for interface and structural engineering in semiconductor devices.
Synergistic Proteolysis Targeting Chimera Chemotherapy Conjugate for Potent Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment
Zhao Q, Zeng R, Bi T, Yang X, Wang T, Chen L, Huang J, Dai X, Xu H, Sun Q and Liu Z
Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exhibits high malignancy, low survival rates, and unfavorable prognosis. As a primary chemotherapy agent for NSCLC, gemcitabine (GEM) suppresses RNA/DNA synthesis to trigger cancer cell apoptosis. Nevertheless, GEM therapy is limited by systemic toxicity and suboptimal efficacy. Combining GEM with other small-molecule kinase inhibitors frequently enhances therapeutic outcomes. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), a critical epigenetic regulator implicated in transcriptional control, shows strong associations with tumor progression. This study demonstrates that BRD4 degradation via the PROTAC molecule MZ1 potentiates NSCLC susceptibility to GEM. To enable codelivery, a GSH-responsive nano prodrug, , was strategically engineered. Compared to GEM or MZ1 monotherapy, demonstrated a more potent antitumor profile fostering a synergistic therapeutic through ferroptosis induction. In vivo assessment substantiated significantly enhanced tumor regression with ferroptosis promotion. These findings nominate as a promising clinical candidate for NSCLC therapy.
Tunable Stiffness of Matrix-Derived Membranes Enables Independent and Coupled Analysis of Pressure and Strain Effects in Barrier Tissue-On-Chip Models
Newton JD, Hossain S, Abedi K, Song Y, Pavelick J, Dos Santos CC, Wong A and Young EWK
Organ-on-a-chip (OOC) devices modeling thin barrier tissues often incorporate features of the mechanical microenvironment which play regulatory roles in maintaining tissue function. In contexts where tissues are exposed to complex combinations of forces including stretch, hydrostatic pressure, and shear stress, different forces can interact synergistically. As such, modeling mechanical complexity is important to accurately recapitulate tissue behavior. Various combinations of these three mechanical forces have been investigated using OOC or other complex in vitro models, but the combination of hydrostatic pressure and stretch has received relatively little focus. This work presents the development of a platform capable of simultaneously applying controlled pressure and stretch to suspended thin model tissues for investigating the effects of complex mechanical cues. This is accomplished through direct application of variable pressure to one side of the suspended tissue, resulting in pressure-induced stretch. Independent control of the two mechanical cues is established through detailed mechanical characterization and development of stiffness tuning strategies for the nonlinearly elastic extra-cellular matrix (ECM)-based thin membrane scaffolds used to support the model tissue. Mechanical characterization is accomplished through the development of a bulge-test method relying on imaging the curvature of membranes under pressure loading. Application of the developed platform is demonstrated through functional characterization of pulmonary endothelial monolayers exposed to various combinations of pressure and stretch corresponding to healthy and pathological levels found in pulmonary hypertension. It was found that exposure of monolayers to both elevated pressure and elevated stretch results in increased permeability and altered cytoskeleton and junctional morphology, and that these changes are not observed in response to only one elevated mechanical cue. The presented work has the potential to advance the use of biomaterial-based OOC platforms with complex mechanical properties in modeling barrier tissue responses to complex mechanical cues.
Self-Regulated Cobalt-Zinc-Ferrite Nanoprobe for Targeted Chemomagnetic Hyperthermia in Cancer Therapy
Choppadandi M, Parmar K, Ghosh S, K SR, Rao KH, Singh AA, Sharma P, Kumar H, Turubilli HL, Chauhan SC, Yallapu MM and Kapusetti G
Chemo-magnetic hyperthermia is a promising alternative anticancer treatment strategy employed to synergize the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy and magnetic hyperthermia. Despite its potential efficacy, most chemo-magnetic hyperthermia strategies are limited owing to limited thermal conversion ability and inadequate local therapeutic temperatures with nontargeted, uncontrolled release of anticancer agents. Herein, we developed a targeted formulation of anticancer drug-loaded nanoprobe for site-specific chemo-magnetic hyperthermia. The engineered nanoprobe comprising doxorubicin-loaded cobalt-zinc-ferrite nanoparticles, surface-modified with estrone-3-hemisuccinate (TMNPs), exhibits enhanced magnetic properties, including elevated saturation magnetization and the ability to a prolonged constant therapeutic temperature (42-46 °C) under an alternating magnetic field of 20 mT. Targeted delivery was achieved via specific interaction with estrogen receptors (ERs), which resulted in markedly higher apoptosis (∼97%) in ER-positive MCF-7 cells compared to ER-negative controls. evaluation using a xenograft murine model of breast cancer demonstrated the efficacy of TMNPs in orchestrating a multifaceted therapeutic response through the synergistic integration of chemotherapeutic and hyperthermic modalities. Immunofluorescence analysis of tumor tissues post-treatment revealed the localized induction of thermal stress and upregulation of Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP-70), a biomarker linked to enhanced immune cell infiltration and activation within the tumor microenvironment. Overall, this study presents a methodical effort to explore the effectiveness of cobalt-zinc-ferrite nanoprobe for chemo-magnetic hyperthermia effects that can be used for efficient, patient-specific, targeted, controlled anticancer therapy through chemodynamic-magnetic-thermal synergistic therapy.
Photonic Crystal-Enhanced Fluorescence Response of MOFs for the Detection of Metabolism-Related Molecules
Zhu Q, Chen Y, Lin Z, Lin J, Zhang Z, Pang S, Zhu J, Li D, Ning GH and Li F
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and glucose serve as coupled molecular hubs in energy transductions, functioning as the primary energy currency and fundamental carbon substrate, respectively. However, distinguishing and quantifying ATP and glucose in sweat presents significant challenges for current analytical techniques. Herein, we report an efficient method for visualizing and quantifying ATP and glucose content at various concentration levels using fluorescent detection. This method utilizes a customized ZIF-90 (SRB&GOx@ZIF-90) that reacts with ATP and glucose to produce fluorescence at distinct emission wavelengths. The peaks of these waves exhibit a linear dependence on the concentrations of ATP and glucose, respectively. The MOFs react rapidly and quantitatively with ATP and glucose to exhibit good stability, maintaining a stable fluorescence response across the sweat pH range. Moreover, incorporating photonic crystals (PCs) significantly amplifies the fluorescent intensity of the reaction, enabling ultrasensitive detection. The high performance of this method offers a novel approach for identifying abnormally elevated ATP and glucose levels in metabolism-related diseases. By combining band gap-matched photonic crystals with reactive SRB&GOx@ZIF-90, this approach achieves simultaneous, accurate, and precise detection of ATP and glucose levels without interference from similar substances or background signals.
Construction of Dense CuO Microsphere Structures on Current Collector Surfaces for High-Performance Anode-Free Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries
Lei QQ, Song WJ, Du LL, Zou S, Hu XQ, Wang PF, Zhu M, Gong Z, Wu YH, Zhang YH and Shi FN
Anode-free aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AF-AZIBs) enhance energy density by eliminating the traditional thick zinc foil anode. However, they often face challenges such as low Coulombic efficiency (CE) and unstable cycling performance, primarily caused by uneven zinc deposition and dendrite growth on the current collector. To address these issues, we propose a simple, cost-effective surface modification method for Cu foil as the anode current collector. We brush the Cu foil surface with a marker pen filled with a mixed solution of (NH)SO and NaOH, enabling the in situ formation of dense CuO microspheres (Dense-CuO@Cu). This method offers better control over microsphere formation in comparison to conventional direct immersion methods, resulting in a uniform and dense microsphere structures. The dense microspheres increase the specific surface area and active site density, promoting more uniform zinc deposition, suppressing dendrite growth, and enhancing CE. Zn||Dense-CuO@Cu half cells exhibit stable cycling performance for over 4000 cycles at 5 mA cm with CE > 99.9%. Full cells with Dense-CuO@Cu as the anode and pregalvanized vanadium dioxide (ZnVO) as the cathode exhibit an initial capacity of 329 mAh g at 0.5 A g. They retain 80.6% of their initial capacity after 1000 cycles. This efficient interfacial engineering offers valuable insights into advancing high-performance AF-AZIBs.
Molecular Engineering of Imidazole Ionic Liquids to Suppress Ion Migration in Perovskite Solar Cells
Mo K, Yang X, Zhu X, Li M, Yang M, Li S, Cheng S, Li H, Chen F, Yang Y, Liu Y, Lin Q, Yuan S and Wang Z
Ion migration in perovskite solar cells is a key factor limiting their thermal stability and long-term operational performance. Suppressing ion migration is therefore critical for durable devices, yet strategies to control ion migration at the molecular level remain limited. Here, we introduce a rational molecular design using imidazole-based ionic liquids to inhibit ion migration and enhance the device stability. By systematically replacing butyl and methyl with allyl and vinyl on the imidazole ring (the ability of electron donating gradually weakens from butyl to vinyl), we reduce electron density and increase electrostatic potential, tuning its interactions with perovskite components. Spectroscopic analyses indicate weakened coordination with Pb and strengthened interactions with I, which play a critical role in mitigating ion migration. Among the derivatives, 1-butyl-3-vinyl imidazole (VBIM) most efficiently inhibits ion migration under light, electric bias, and an elevated temperature. Solar cell devices incorporating VBIM achieve a champion efficiency of 26.13% and exhibit dramatically improved thermal stability, demonstrating the critical role of ionic-liquid-mediated ion migration suppression for efficient and durable cells.
An Angular Sensor Based on Differential Electrical Signals at the Rotating Interface for Humanoid Robot Control and Interactions
Li Y, Wang Z, Huang S, Pang B, Bu T and Wu H
Robots are becoming increasingly intelligent, and sensing technology plays a crucial role in their development. The joint position information provided by angular sensors is the basis for the robot to achieve high-precision motion control. Traditional angular sensors based on photoelectric and electromagnetic principles typically suffer from bulky size and high-power consumption, making it difficult to meet the compact integration requirements of intelligent robots. Here, we developed an angular sensor based on differential electrical signals at the rotating interface. The angular sensor consists of alternately arranged electrodes as the stator and a dielectric film as the rotor. Two sets of alternating electrodes can extract differential electrical signals during rotation to sense angular displacement and velocity. The sensitivity can be improved by the optimization of the electrode structure parameters and the selection of the dielectric film material, achieving an angular displacement sensitivity of 24.5 nC/rad and an angular velocity sensitivity of 23.3 nA s/rad. Furthermore, the wear during rotation is reduced by increasing the dielectric film hardness and decreasing the electrode surface roughness, thereby enhancing long-term operational stability. The lightweight and compact features of the sensors allow them to be integrated directly into the robot's joints for real-time monitoring of kinematic parameters and trajectory planning in teaching mode. In addition, the angular sensor can also monitor the flexion of human joints for robotic teleoperation. This method breaks through the size, power consumption and accuracy limitations of traditional angular sensors, and has a promising prospect in the fields of robotics and human-robot interactions.
Broadband Neuromorphic Phototransistors Based on Oxygen Vacancy Modulation in Indium-Gallium-Zinc Oxide Films
Kim M, Kim J, Kim H, Nam S, Kang D, Lee JM, Yeon E, Kim J, Jo JW, Hwang DK, Park SK and Kim YH
Optoelectronic neuromorphic devices have gained considerable attention as promising platforms for next-generation sensors and artificial vision systems owing to their ability to mimic biological visual functions. A key challenge, however, lies in achieving broadband photodetection, particularly extending into the near-infrared (NIR) region, without relying on complex heterostructures that limit process simplicity, scalability, and stability. Here, we present a simple and effective approach to realize broadband photosensing and synaptic functionalities by engineering oxygen vacancies in indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) thin films. By tuning the oxygen vacancy content, IGZO-based synaptic phototransistors achieved broadband detection across the visible (blue, green, red) to NIR (850 nm) range. Particularly, defect engineering markedly enhanced photosensitivity in the NIR region, from 9.17 to 244.8 A W. Furthermore, the devices successfully emulated essential synaptic behaviors including short-term memory, long-term memory, and paired-pulse facilitation using NIR light stimulation. An artificial neural network trained with conductance modulation data achieved a classification accuracy of 90.38% on the MNIST handwritten digit data set. These results establish oxygen-vacancy-engineered IGZO phototransistors as a robust and scalable platform for broadband, low-power, and compact neuromorphic vision systems.
Topotactic Conversion of Two-Dimensional WSe into Atomically Thin Nonlayered Metal Nitrides
Liu W, Zhang T, Wu C, Zhang D, Zhao G, Wang S, Fang Z, Li X, Watanabe K, Taniguchi T and Li J
To date, much of the synthesis efforts pertaining to atomically thin materials have been directed toward van der Waals layered structures. When nonlayered materials are thinned down to the atomic scale, they exhibit markedly different emergent properties compared with their bulk counterparts. However, the lack of a scalable synthesis technique for atomically thin nonlayered materials possessing single crystallinity poses a substantial barrier to exploring their intrinsic physical properties and potential applications. Here, we present a topotactic synthesis approach for producing atomically thin nonlayered tungsten dinitride (WN) single crystals, utilizing van der Waals layered tungsten diselenide (WSe) as precursor materials. Our investigations reveal the conversion of even bilayer WSe into WN with high degrees of single crystallinity and nitrogen-rich elemental composition. Employing an h-BN mask-assisted spatially controlled topotactic conversion strategy, we fabricate lateral WN-WSe heterojunctions, leading to a notable enhancement in the on-off ratio compared to conventional Pt/WSe planar contacts. Furthermore, local hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) measurements highlight the improved electrocatalytic activity of WN compared to WSe. Our study provides insights into scalable synthesis methods for atomically thin nonlayered materials and offers a promising platform for developing transitional metal nitride (TMN)-based electronics and advanced catalysts.
Assembled Gold Superstructure Triggered Synergistic Apoptosis/Ferroptosis via Combined Photo-Enzyme Therapy
Chen H, Zheng G, Qin F, Yu Y, Yang H and Mao X
Traditional chemotherapy agents often face multiple drug resistance mechanisms in breast cancer and are associated with significant side effects. Innovative phototherapy and enzyme therapy demonstrate potential in ameliorating hypoxic conditions in the tumor microenvironment while inducing oxidative stress. Here, we designed a NIR-triggered multifunctional nanoplatform for the synergistic combination of phototherapy and enzyme therapy in tumors. It encapsulates Au-Au@PEG nanocomponents and integrates gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) coated with polydopamine (PDA), followed by doxorubicin (DOX) loading. We refer to this formulation as DOX-PDA@Au-Au@PEG (DOX-PAAP). DOX-PAAP is capable of releasing drugs through degradation of the coating under low pH and high glutathione (GSH) conditions. The synergistic effect between the PDA coating and AuNPs significantly enhances the photothermal effect associated with NIR light absorption, thereby improving the therapeutic efficacy. Meanwhile, AuNCs can not only catalyze the decomposition of HO to generate hydroxyl radicals in conjunction with the PDA coating but also produce singlet oxygen under NIR irradiation. This mechanism disrupts the GSH antioxidant axis, thereby promoting the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products (LPO), culminating in dual apoptosis-ferroptosis pathway activation. This study highlights the critical role of NIR phototherapy and enzyme therapy in combination therapies for ferroptosis and apoptosis therapy targeting tumors.
NIR-Responsive Free Standing Borophene Mediates Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy to Reduce Bacterial Biofilm Burden
Vincy A, Anand V, Kannan DK, Pandith A, Gurnani B, Ranjan P, Pathak A, Jain N, Chahal S, Kumar P and Vankayala R
Bacterial biofilms in open clinical wounds drive persistent infections, antibiotic resistance, and chronic inflammation, posing significant treatment challenges. Traditional therapies, including surgical debridement and antibiotics, are increasingly ineffective due to resistant strains. Light-activatable photosensitizers offer promise but are limited by poor tissue penetration and rapid photobleaching, especially in the UV/visible spectrum. Here, we introduce free-standing borophene nanosheets (B NSs) as a photoactivatable nanomaterial operating within the NIR-I and NIR-II biological windows. The B NSs demonstrate high photothermal conversion efficiencies (∼32% in NIR-I, 26.3% in NIR-II) and efficiently generate singlet oxygen under NIR irradiation. Functionally, B NSs effectively inhibit biofilm formation and eradicate mature biofilms ex vivo, while exhibiting minimal toxicity in vivo in a zebrafish model. These findings highlight B NSs as a promising, noninvasive approach for combating antibiotic-resistant biofilms with potential for clinical translation.
Highly Sensitive and Stable CeLaCuO/Ni-BTC MOF-Based Humidity Sensor for Plant Monitoring
Rodrigues J, Santhakumar KC, Nawaz H, Singh S, Mishra SM, Anjum DH, Polychronopoulou K and Alcheikh N
Herein, we report a high-performance humidity sensor based on oxygen-vacancy-rich CeLaCuO integrated with a porous Ni-BTC metal-organic framework (MOF). Compared with the single CeLaCuO and Ni-BTC sensors, the CeLaCuO/Ni-BTC composite sensor exhibits a higher response value (24% @ 32% relative humidity (RH)), lower hysteresis (0.465%RH), faster response/recovery time (24.5/47.8 s), and enhanced long-term stability (<2.6% over 60 days). Moreover, it achieves a high sensitivity of ≈ 1.35/%RH with excellent linearity ( = 0.9868) across 11-63% RH and demonstrates a very low temperature cross-sensitivity between 25 and 100 °C (<0.35%). These improved performance properties are attributed to abundant oxygen vacancies (Ov) in the CeLaCuO structure that provide active sites for water adsorption and H/HO species generation for fast ionic conduction. The high-surface-area Ni-BTC framework enhances water uptake and facilitates efficient charge transfer at the oxide-MOF interface. The lab-fabricated composite sensor also demonstrates real-world applicability in a microclimate chamber for monitoring the microclimate surrounding the (strawberry) plant, where lower humidity (<60%) can cause plant stress and reduce yield. The proposed sensor placed on the plant shows a good response for various humidity levels at 43%, 51%, and 63% RHs, respectively. Moreover, the results show that, at 63% RH, plants exhibited optimal transpiration, allowing efficient water and nutrient uptake, resulting in healthy leaf morphology with minimal stress. Thus, the proposed sensors hold strong potential as next-generation real-time humidity sensors with practical applications in agriculture, smart greenhouses, environmental monitoring, and indoor climate control.
Room-Temperature Phosphorescence of Pyrene Using Perovskite as a Triplet-Sensitizing Matrix and Oxygen Barrier
Ebe H, Hattori S, Ohke M, Igarashi J, Hamatsu A, Anbe M, Atteberry ML, Dong Y, Furis M, Kitaura M and Matsui J
To realize the formation and transfer of triplet excited states in hybrid organic-inorganic materials, material designs that facilitate efficient triplet sensitization and suppress molecular excited-state deactivation are imperative. In this study, we demonstrated the efficient formation of molecular triplet excited states via through-space triplet energy transfer (TET) in a perovskite nanocrystal (PNC)─pyrene (Py)─composite film. Uniform dispersion of Py as an organic acceptor within the PNC matrix facilitated effective TET, enabling room-temperature Py phosphorescence emission with an average lifetime of 60.7 ms. The TET process exhibited an efficiency of 22%, and the oxygen barrier properties of the PNC matrix suppressed oxygen quenching, allowing retention of Py phosphorescence even under ambient conditions. The proposed simple and effective material design strategy for extending the functionalities of organic acceptor molecules through controlled interface interactions can be applied in triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion and photocatalysis.
A Low-Voltage Stretchable Synaptic Transistor Array for Temperature Perception, Facilitated Associative Learning, and Neuromorphic Computing
Cui D, Zhao Z, Tian F, Zheng Q, Liao X, Chen W, Zhang J and Zhou C
Stretchable synaptic transistors are promising candidates for brain-inspired neuromorphic systems in soft robotics and wearable electronics, where temperature perception and low-power operation are critical for biological fidelity and energy efficiency. However, the interplay between mechanical strain, temperature perception, and synaptic properties remains underexplored in such devices. Here, we report a high-density, temperature-modulated stretchable synaptic transistor (TM-SST) array fabricated via a photolithography-based, transfer-free process, integrating a semiconductor carbon nanotube (s-CNT) network channel and an SU-8 dielectric layer. The devices exhibit a high on-off ratio (∼10) at a low gate voltage () between ±2.5 V and a drain-to-source voltage () of -0.1 V. Importantly, the devices exhibit temperature-dependent synaptic characteristics across 10-40 °C, with effective modulation of postsynaptic current (PSC), plasticity, memory retention, and paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), while maintaining stable performance under 40% strain. Furthermore, temperature modulation enhances neuromorphic performance: a 15 °C cooling improves memory retention in associative learning from seconds to minutes, while simulations show accelerated learning with a 10× dynamic range. This work advances stretchable synaptic devices by enabling temperature perception to enhance neuromorphic functionality.
A Hyaluronidase-Responsive Nanoplatform for Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging and Synergistic Photodynamic/Gas/Chemodynamic Therapy in Bacterial Infection Sites
Fu L, Huang Y, Sun X, Wang X, Li S, Wang X, Kang Q, Shen D and Chen L
Bacterial infections are a serious threat to life and health safety due to their high morbidity and mortality. Currently, the commonly used antimicrobial method is the use of antibiotics, but it is prone to drug resistance. Here, we designed and constructed a nanoplatform F-CLs@HA capable of fluorescent imaging localization at the site of bacterial infection as well as synergizing the three antimicrobial therapeutic methods of photodynamic therapy/gas therapy/chemodynamic therapy (PDT/GT/CDT). It is made by combining carbon dots (CDs) with l-arginine (CL-s) and encapsulated by hyaluronic acid (HA) together with FeO. HA is able to target the CD44 receptor, which is overexpressed on inflammatory macrophages, and the higher level of hyaluronidase at the location of bacterial infection is able to hydrolyze HA, releasing antibacterial drugs. CDs are made by the high-temperature reaction of the near-infrared (NIR) dye cyanine 7 (Cy-7), which not only has a PDT effect but also improves the problem of aggregation quenching of small-molecule fluorescent dyes and realizes stable NIR fluorescence imaging. Moreover, FeO is able to release hydroxyl radicals (•OH) as a commonly used drug in CDT. In addition, nitric oxide (NO) released from l-arginine is highly reactive with reactive oxygen species (ROS), generating more toxic reactive nitrogen species (RNS) that induce bacterial death. Both in vivo and in vitro evaluations show that our nanoplatform has favorable imaging and therapeutic effects. In summary, F-CLs@HA has great potential for application in the treatment of bacterial infections.
Catalytic Copyrolysis Strategy for Coal-Derived Hard Carbons with Enlarged Interlayer Spacing and Closed Pores toward High-Capacity Sodium-Ion Batteries
Li J, Shi J, Li M, Chen H, Peng L, Zhang B, Lan J, Huang Z, Han J and Lv W
Coal-derived hard carbon (HC) is a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to its low cost, abundant reserves, and high carbon yield but its practical application is hindered by the excessive formation of graphite-like microcrystals during pyrolysis, which results in poor sodium storage performance. Here, we propose a catalytic copyrolysis strategy to tailor the carbon microstructure at the molecular level. During copyrolysis, biomass-derived radicals interact with coal molecules, significantly reducing the apparent activation energy of coal pyrolysis. This catalytic effect promotes the cleavage of large aromatic ring structures in coal, decreases steric hindrance to cross-linking, and exposes more reactive sites, thereby facilitating cross-linking reactions, while gaseous byproducts further disrupt the ordered stacking of carbon layers. These cooperative effects promote the formation of disordered microcrystalline domains with enlarged interlayer spacing and abundant closed pores, thereby accelerating Na transport. The optimized HC (HC-37) achieves a high reversible capacity of 317 mAh g, an initial Coulombic efficiency of 88%, excellent rate performance, and nearly 100% capacity retention after 1500 cycles at 1 A g, outperforming conventional coal-derived HCs. This catalyzed pyrolysis strategy offers a facile and scalable route for tailoring coal-based carbon anodes in high-performance SIBs.
Improved Performance of Er-Doped Double Perovskites/Si Light-Emitting Devices with Emission Wavelength at 1.55 μm
Juan F, Zhu T, Zhao X, Xu X, Wang Y, Chen S, Zhao J, Pi X, Xu J and Chen K
Metal halide perovskites exhibit excellent optical performance for light emission; however, their emission is limited to the visible spectrum, which limits their utility for future optical telecommunications. Among them, lead-free double perovskites exhibit unique optical properties attributed to the presence of an abundant self-trapped exciton state that enables a unique application for optoelectronics. However, there has been no report on an electrically driven light-emitting device at 1.5 μm utilizing perovskites so far. Consequently, a rare-earth-based double perovskite was designed containing Laporte-forbidden 4f-4f transitions of Er, enabling the dual emission of visible and near-infrared light. Simultaneously, Sb doping is adopted to optimize the band structure of the double perovskite, thereby enhancing the near-infrared emission at 1.5 μm through broadened self-trapped excitons and phonon-exciton coupling processes. Owing to these optical performance improvements, Si-based CsNaErCl:Sb electroluminescent light-emitting devices (LEDs) are prepared, and the near-infrared signal at about 1.5 μm is detected successfully. Furthermore, a passivation layer was incorporated into the CsNaErCl:Sb LEDs to passivate the defect between CsNaErCl: Sb/ZnO interface. Owing to the reduction in carrier loss, the champion external quantum efficiency and output power density of this device significantly improved, reaching 2.4% and 5.98 mW cm respectively. These results represent pioneering advancements in Si-based perovskite LEDs and optical interconnection technology.
Oral Icariin Nanoparticles Ameliorate Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Alleviating Oxidative Stress
Fan S, Ma N, Li J, Wang B, Zhao Y, Yao Y, Chai X and Zhou Z
Chronic inflammatory liver conditions, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are frequently exacerbated by oxidative stress, rendering the neutralization of reactive oxygen species (ROS) crucial for their amelioration. Oral administration of nanoparticles (NPs) presents an optimal strategy for NAFLD management due to its convenience. This research aimed to overcome the poor water solubility and low bioavailability of icariin (ICA) by engineering an oral nanosystem, ICA-loaded poly(lactic--glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA) NPs with chitosan (CS) and mannose surface modification (ICA-NPs), to augment ICA's antioxidant potency against NAFLD. Methods involved comprehensive in vitro characterization of ICA-NPs (including dispersibility, biocompatibility, HepG2 targeting, and ROS scavenging capabilities) and in vivo studies in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD mice, assessing liver accumulation, ROS scavenging, and antiobesity effects across multiple experimental groups. Results demonstrated that this targeted oral NP system significantly amplified ICA's therapeutic impact, leading to substantial reductions in body weight, diminished white adipose tissue accumulation, decreased hepatic lipid content, improved hepatic function, and a notable suppression of ROS in the livers of NAFLD-afflicted mice. In conclusion, by harnessing the precision of targeted delivery, this oral nanosystem not only enhances ICA's therapeutic efficacy but also establishes a safe and effective platform for the oral administration of herbal remedies for liver conditions, suggesting a promising avenue for advancing herbal medicine in liver disease treatment.
Biphasic Synergy Engineering in Iron-Based Polyanionic Cathodes for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries
Lei C, Sui Z, Li Y, Peng J, Jiang S, Tang W and He Z
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are increasingly favored for large-scale energy storage owing to their cost-effectiveness and elemental abundance. NaFe(PO)PO (NFPP) is a promising polyanionic cathode material due to its high operating voltage and environmental compatibility, but it suffers from poor electronic and ionic conductivity and structural degradation during deep cycling. To address these issues, a biphasic mixture and phase-ratio tuning strategy are employed to construct NFPP&NFPO composite cathodes, integrating NFPP with NaFePO (NFPO), a structurally compatible phase that offers superior stability. This architecture gives rise to interphase synergy, where NFPO alleviates lattice collapse and phase transition of NFPP, while NFPP enhances Na mobility and mitigates polarization in NFPO. We propose a sodium-ion bifurcation theory, wherein Na ions are dynamically redistributed between NFPP and NFPO domains during cycling, forming complementary transport channels that enhance the rate capability and cycling durability. A series of NFPP&NFPO composites with varied phase ratios was synthesized via spray-drying and calcination. Among them, the optimized NFPP&NFPO-2 composite achieves a high discharge capacity of 99.38 mAh g at 0.1 C, maintains 82.1 mAh g at 30 C, and achieves a capacity retention of 97.02% after 6000 cycles at 20 C. These enhancements are attributed to the synergistic sodium-storage mechanism and ion-bifurcation dynamics, which jointly optimize structural robustness, interfacial stability, and Na transport kinetics. This work provides insight into the design of biphasic electrode systems and presents a scalable route toward high-performance polyanionic cathodes for next-generation SIBs.
3D-Printed Multifunctional Hydrogel for Integrated Electromagnetic Interference Shielding, Infrared Stealth, and Wearable Sensing
Hao J, Hu S, Liu D, Yang C, Xu Y, Lyu Y, Ji Z and Wang X
The growing demand for wearable electronics and infrared stealth technologies has highlighted the limitations of traditional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, which often lack flexibility, lightweight design, and multifunctional integration. Although hydrogels present a promising platform due to their flexibility, adhesion, and sensing capabilities, the integration of multiple functions into a single material system through a straightforward fabrication process remains challenging. In this study, we developed a one-pot synthesized multifunctional ANE hydrogel that incorporates an ionic liquid (EBIB) as a conductive medium. Unlike conventional conductive fillers, such as silver nanowires or MXene, EBIB enhances both conductivity and interfacial polarization, achieving an EMI shielding efficiency of 34.5 dB in the X-band, surpassing many reported polymer-based shields. By combining this with vat photopolymerization 3D printing, we fabricated tailored topological structures that promote electromagnetic wave dissipation and suppress infrared thermal transmission. The hydrogel demonstrates effective infrared stealth, maintaining a low temperature increase of 24 °C on a 100 °C hot stage for 20 min, outperforming typical nonporous hydrogel coatings. Furthermore, the material exhibits strong adhesion, high strain sensitivity (gauge factor = 5.282 over 150-300% strain), fast response (165 ms), and cycling stability, exceeding the performance of many existing ionic hydrogels in motion sensing. By integration of EMI shielding, infrared camouflage, and wearable sensing in a single 3D-printable system, this study offers a competitive material solution for next-generation multifunctional sensors.