The performance of microfluidic biochips arises from the coupled effects of channel geometry, flow and mass transport, and the functional materials integrated into them, including electrodes, transducers, membranes, and bioactive interfaces. These materials obey the same processing–microstructure–property relationships that define ceramic and inorganic materials science. Existing reviews are typically organized by application or material family, while those that link materials, fabrication, and performance generally remain focused on a single material class or transduction mode. We introduce a function–property–fabrication framework that links each biochip function to the material property it requires, the inorganic material chosen to provide that property, the fabrication route used to implement it, and the resulting device performance. Materials are grouped by the property each function demands: electrical conductivity and electrocatalytic activity, optical field enhancement, biocompatibility and bioactivity, piezoelectric response, and porosity with selective transport. Fabrication is treated as the step that decides whether these properties are retained or degraded. Seen this way, many current limitations in biochips trace back to problems in ceramic and inorganic materials, and the processing–microstructure–property–performance framework offers a basis for building more sensitive, reproducible, and manufacturable devices.
Hydrosulfide argyrodites have emerged as promising solid electrolytes because they can combine high Li-ion conductivity with favorable compatibility against lithium metal. However, phase formation in hydrosulfide argyrodites remains challenging because of the inherent difficulties in synthesis. The presence of secondary phases can also obscure intrinsic transport properties and complicate their application in all-solid-state batteries. Here, we investigate how the BH4− content influences phase formation, ionic transport, and interfacial behavior with lithium metal in the Li7−xPS6−x(BH4)x system. Among the examined compositions, x = 1.8 shows diffraction patterns mainly associated with the argyrodite phase, with less apparent secondary-phase. In addition, the x = 1.8 solid electrolyte exhibits a lithium-ion conductivity of 2.0 × 10−2 S cm−1 at 25 °C after hot pressing and maintains a stable Li-metal interfacial response. To further evaluate its electrochemical applicability, the x = 1.8 electrolyte and Li6PS5Cl were used as the anolyte and catholyte, respectively, in a dual-electrolyte LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2 (NCM90)/Li all−solid−state battery, which exhibited stable cycling performance. These results provide insight into how synthetic and compositional factors influence phase evolution, ion transport, and Li-metal interfacial behavior in hydrosulfide argyrodite solid electrolytes.
Ferrite-based perovskites have emerged as promising symmetrical electrode materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) due to their superior chemical stability and thermomechanical compatibility with electrolyte materials. However, their application in the intermediate-temperature range is limited by sluggish ORR kinetics and low electrocatalytic activity. In this study, PrBa0.4Sr0.6Fe2O5+δ-xGd0.1Ce0.9O1.95 (PBSF-xGDC, x = 0, 30, 40, and 50 wt
Sb2Te3-based thermoelectric materials are promising for low- to intermediate-temperature waste-heat recovery, but their performance is governed by strongly coupled electronic and thermal transport processes. In this study, reported Sb2Te3-based compositions were systematically evaluated using the Effective Mass (EM) model to decouple the effects of carrier concentration, mobility, lattice thermal conductivity (κl), and bipolar thermal transport (κbp). The analysis reveals distinct optimization strategies depending on dopant chemistry. Nb-based materials exhibit the most favorable room-temperature electronic transport, with Sb1.97Nb0.03Ag0.005Te3 achieving the highest thermoelectric quality factor (B-factor) of 0.37 through the combination of high weighted mobility and strongly reduced κl. However, its elevated-temperature performance is increasingly limited by bipolar transport. In contrast, In-alloyed and Te-deficient materials exhibit lower room-temperature mobility because of defect-related carrier scattering, but more effectively suppress κbp at elevated temperatures by delaying minority-carrier excitation. Consequently, several Te-deficient In-containing compositions show higher intermediate-temperature device ZT values than the Nb-based systems, with Sb1.82In0.15Cu0.03Te2.98 reaching the highest device ZT of 0.47 at 523 K. These results demonstrate that high room-temperature electronic quality does not necessarily translate into superior device-level performance and highlight the need to balance weighted mobility, lattice heat conduction, and bipolar suppression across the intended operating-temperature range.
The proliferation of wireless communication technologies operating in the S-band (2-4 GHz) frequency range has intensified concerns regarding electromagnetic interference (EMI) and potential health risks from prolonged electromagnetic radiation exposure. While perovskite-based materials have emerged as promising microwave absorbers due to their tunable electromagnetic properties, most research has focused on X-band and Ku-band frequencies, leaving S-band absorption mechanisms largely unexplored. Moreover, the fundamental relationship between cation substitution-driven structural transitions and S-band absorption performance remains poorly understood. This study addresses these gaps by investigating Sr2+-substituted Ca1-xSrxMnO3 (x = 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8) perovskites synthesized via solid-state reaction assisted by high-energy ball milling. Rietveld refinement reveals that increasing S2+ content drives a progressive phase transition from mixed orthorhombic-hexagonal structures (x = 0.2 and 0.5) to a single hexagonal phase at x = 0.8, accompanied by reduced crystallite size (50.65 nm -> 12.98 nm) and narrower particle size distribution confirmed by SEM analysis. Magnetic characterization demonstrates predominantly paramagnetic behavior with weak ferromagnetic contributions arising from competing double-exchange and super-exchange interactions. Increasing Sr2+ concentration enhances saturation magnetization (0.012 to 0.123 emu/g) while reducing coercivity (0.072 to 0.030 & times; 10(4) Oe). Electromagnetic measurements reveal synergistic enhancement of dielectric and magnetic losses with higher Sr2+ substitution, resulting in superior microwave absorption. The x = 0.8 composition achieves an optimal reflection loss of - 30.35 dB at 2.24 GHz with an effective absorption bandwidth covering 91.5% of the S-band at only 1.5 mm thickness, demonstrating exceptional impedance matching. These findings establish Sr-rich Ca1-xSrxMnO3 perovskites as promising candidates for lightweight, broadband S-band electromagnetic interference mitigation.
