Due to high aspect-ratio, superior electrical conductivity and mechanical flexibility, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been widely used as conductive additive for high energy-density electrodes in lithiumion batteries (LIBs). However, the effective and damage-free purifications of SWCNTs still remain challenging, in which metallic catalysts can be almost completely removed from SWCNT powders. Herein, we firstly demonstrate a novel approach for low-temperature purification of SWCNTs based on the metal-salt hydrothermal replacement reaction, in which the carbon-shell-encapsulated metal nanoparticles (Ni and Fe) has been effectively removed by the CuCl2 replacement reaction at 200 degrees C. Moreover, the experimental results reveal that this purification strategy does not introduce structural defects into the SWCNTs. Our findings will improve the purification efficiency of high-quality SWCNTs and then promote large-scale practical applications of SWCNTs in different fields.

Tin disulfide (SnS2) has attracted extensive research attention due to its superior properties originating from its unique crystalline structure. However, its practical applications are greatly restricted by difficult morphology regulation and insufficient photoresponse capability. Herein, we successfully synthesized copper and carbon co-doped SnS2 (Cu-C-SnS2) nanosheets via a carbon dot-assisted hydrothermal method. The morphology, crystal structure and chemical composition of the obtained samples were characterized by FE-SEM, XRD and XPS. The experimental results reveal that the synthesized Cu-C-SnS2 presents nanosheet morphology with a bandgap of approximately 2.445 eV. Moreover, carbon dots and copper doping can effectively regulate the morphology of SnS2, which provides a reliable strategy for the controllable synthesis of SnS2 nanosheets. Meanwhile, the photoelectric device based on the as-fabricated Cu-C-SnS2 nanosheets were successfully fabricated, and exhibited favorable photoelectric response under 405 nm light irradiation.

Theoretical and simulation-based studies on gas-solid interactions fail to capture real time dynamics of adsorption, desorption, and charge transfer, whereas in-situ characterization technology provides direct and reliable insights into these processes. Herein, the gas-solid interfacial interaction mechanisms of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are systematically investigated using in-situ Raman spectroscopy and resonant microcantilever techniques. In-situ Raman spectroscopy revealed a quantitative correlation between the shifts of G+ and 2D band and interfacial charge transfer (2.3 cm-1 at 25 degrees C, 2.2 cm-1 at 150 degrees C), indicating that temperature and charge transfer effects enhance hole carrier concentration and accelerate electron injection from SWCNT to NO2 molecules. The adsorption-desorption measurements using the resonant microcantilever revealed that the activation energy (Delta Ea) and enthalpy change (-Delta H) indicate a transition from reversible physisorption to stronger chemisorption. Thermodynamic analysis reveal that adsorption dominates at low temperature, whereas desorption is favored at high temperature. Additionally, deposition of a 5 nm Al2O3 layer on the SWCNT film significantly enhance the sensor stability, reducing response decay to 16.9% and 29.7% for 5 and 10 ppm NO2 after six months, compared to 70.4% and 69.8% within three months for uncoated sensors. These findings elucidate the gas-solid interaction mechanism and guide the design of durable and reliable sensors.

Moisture electricity generation (MEG) has emerged as a sustainable and versatile energy-harvesting technology capable of converting ubiquitous environmental moisture into electrical energy, which holds great promise for renewable energy and constructing self-powered electronics. In this review, we begin by outlining the fundamental mechanisms—ion diffusion, electric double layer formation, and streaming potential—that govern charge transport for MEG in moist environments. A comprehensive survey of material innovations follows, highlighting breakthroughs in carbon-based materials, conductive polymers, hydrogels, and bio-inspired systems that enhance MEG performance, scalability, and biocompatibility. We then explore a range of device architectures, from planar and layered systems to flexible, miniaturized, and textile-integrated designs, engineered for both energy conversion and sensor integration. Key challenges are analyzed, along with strategies for overcoming them. We conclude with a forward-looking perspective on future directions, including hybrid energy systems, AI-assisted material design, and real-world deployment. This review presents a timely and comprehensive overview of MEG technologies and their trajectory toward practical and sustainable energy solutions.

Noncontact human-machine interfaces (HMIs) provide a hygienic and intelligent approach for the communication between human and robots. However, they are limited by the interaction distance and bulky power supply. Here, we introduce a self-powered, noncontact intelligent sensing interface based on moisture-driven electricity generation and machine learning technique. We demonstrate that a hydrogel doped with ions exhibits strong hygroelectronic behavior and generates sustainable voltage up to ~0.6 volts from ambient air. The motion of a human hand creates localized air turbulence, resulting in changes to humidity and air pressure that tailor the electrical output. By using machine learning models to decode the motion-dependent voltage, our system achieves high gesture recognition accuracy of up to 99% for Arabic numerals, with an impressive interaction distance up to ~8 centimeters. The proposed system is demonstrated in applications such as encrypted information transmission, virtual reality gaming, and real-time vehicle control.

Metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) electrocatalysts, with their low cost and good bifunctional activity, hold broad application prospects in the field of zinc-air batteries (ZABs). However, the inherent limitations of bifunctional activity often result in weak oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. To enhance bifunctional activity, this work employs a two-step pyrolysis method to construct an optimized P/Co-N-C-2 electrocatalyst featuring dual active sites of Co2P and Co-N-C. This method not only introduces highly active Co2P sites but also retains a sufficient number of Co-N-C sites, thereby ultimately achieving enhanced bifunctional activity. This regulation method endows the electrocatalyst with an excellent limiting current density (5.85 mA cm-2) and a low OER overpotential (438 mV at 10 mA cm-2). The assembled liquid ZAB exhibits superior battery performance compared to noble metal electrocatalysts (Pt/C, RuO2). Additionally, the flexible ZAB exhibits a significant power density (31.72 mW cm-2) alongside excellent mechanical flexibility and stability, indicating its great potential for applications in ZABs. This work breaks through the inherent constraints of bifunctional activity and achieves a simultaneous improvement in OER and ORR activity, and provides new insights for the design of bifunctional electrocatalysts.

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are regarded as ideal candidates for the next generation of batteries due to their exceptionally high energy density. However, the practical applications of LMBs face significant challenges, primarily due to dimensional changes and the growth of lithium (Li) dendrites during long-term cycling. Herein, hierarchical coaxial heterostructures based on lithiophilic Co3O4 nanosheets anchored on Co nanowires (CoNWs) were constructed via in-situ thermal annealing process, enabling efficient thermal Li infusion for stable Li anodes. The design of the CoNWs@Co3O4 coaxial heterostructure not only tunes the electronic structure and enhances electron and Li ion transfer via the heterostructure interface, but also improves the stability of the heterogeneous nanostructure via the in-situ growth of Co3O4 nanosheets. The hierarchical coaxial heterostructure of CoNWs@Co3O4 hybrids offers additional nucleation sites and abundant voids, which effectively accommodate the significant volumetric changes of Li and preserve the unique nano-micro structure. Various characterizations and density functional theory (DFT) simulations jointly validate that the unique hierarchical CoNWs@Co3O4 coaxial heterostructure enhances the adsorption of Li+ and inhibits the growth of Li dendrites. Benefiting from the distinctive hierarchical CoNWs@Co3O4 coaxial heterostructure, the CoNWs@Co3O4 symmetrical cell demonstrates a significantly extended and consistent lifespan of 2100 h at 1mA cm- 2 and 850 h at 5 mA cm- 2 with low overvoltage hysteresis. When paired with LiFePO4 cathodes, the full cells exhibit excellent rate capacity, achieving a capacity retention of 88.5 % after 1000 cycles at 5C, holding promising potentials for practical applications. Overall, the design strategy for hierarchical coaxial heterostructures presented in this work offers new insight for the practical applications of LMBs in the future.

Pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) typically exhibit limited sensitivity due to the low charge transfer dynamics between nanotubes and gas molecules. Among various enhancement methods, the Fermi level regulation proves to be effective in promoting the charge transfer between SWCNTs and gas molecules, consequently improving the sensing performance. Herein, we firstly report a non-destructive method to regulate the Fermi level of SWCNTs through doping metal chlorides, and the interfacial charge transfer between SWCNTs and different metal chlorides has been well investigated by combining Raman shift with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Experimental results reveal that the interfacial charge transfer dynamics determine the sensing properties of SWCNTs doped with chlorides. The as-fabricated FeCl3-doped SWCNT sensors exhibit a high response of 196.9 % in response to 100 ppb NO2 gas with excellent selectivity. The Kelvin probe force microscope (KPFM) results directly prove the doping effect of metal chlorides due to the shift down of Fermi level of SWCNTs after doping FeCl3. Our work not only propose a novel method to controllably regulate the Fermi level of SWCNTs but also provide a guidance for high-performance SWCNT-based sensing devices.

The thermal conductivity graphene films using graphene oxide (GO) as the raw material experience an expansion in interlamellar spacing and weaker compactness attributed to the decomposition of oxygen-containing functional groups during thermal reduction. The process indirectly influences the cross-plane thermal conductivity (K perpendicular to), resulting in limitations for the potential applications. In this work, a graphene film with high K perpendicular to value is achieved by integration of controlled thermal reduction of GO film and the strategic embedding multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into graphene layers. The results demonstrate that a moderate thermal reduction rate (3 degrees C min(-1)) helps to avoid excessive morphological evolution in GO. Simultaneously, the uniformly embedded MWCNTs network acts as bridging structures, which can effectively repair the point defects in graphene and significantly reduce the interlamellar interfacial thermal resistance. After optimization of the thermal reduction process and the MWCNTs loading, the K perpendicular to value of the MWCNT-graphene film at room temperature is 23.28 W m(-1) K-1, which is 4.82 times higher than that of pristine graphene. This work deepens the understanding of the GO thermal reduction process and offers valuable guidance for the design of advanced graphene composite films with superior cross-plane thermal management capabilities.

TiO2 nanorod arrays (NRs) were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and the effects of ethanol addition to the precursor on the morphology, crystal structure, and optoelectronic properties was investigated. Ethanol addition promoted an increase in both the length and diameter of TiO2 nanorods, while improving their orientation. The introduction of ethanol induced oxygen vacancy defects, elevated the Fermi level of TiO2, enhanced carrier concentration, and intensified light absorption. The constructed In/TiO2/FTO Schottky junction device exhibited excellent self-powered photoresponse characteristics under ultraviolet (UV) illumination. At an ethanol addition of 0.5 mL (ethanol-to-water ratio of 29:1), TiO2-based photodetector achieved a responsivity of 4.8 x 10(-3) A/W at 375 nm under zero bias, with rise and decay times of 19 ms and 86 ms, respectively. By exploiting the linear superposition relationship of photocurrents generated under 375 nm and 405 nm monochromatic light and mixed light illumination, light-controlled "AND" gate logic operations were achieved.

Self-powered ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors (PDs) based on n-ZnO nanorod arrays (NRs)/p-CuSCN heterojunctions were fabricated through a controlled electrodeposition process. ZnO NRs were hydrothermally grown on FTO substrates, followed by electrochemical deposition of CuSCN at 0 degrees C and room temperature (RT) for varying durations (300-1800 s). Structural characterization revealed that RT deposition promoted uniform CuSCN coverage with improved crystallinity, while 0 degrees C deposition resulted in sparse, impurity-containing grains. The optimized RT deposited devices (1800 s) exhibited a type-II heterojunction with an enhanced interfacial area, facilitating efficient charge separation under UV illumination (350 nm) in the absence of external bias. Key performance metrics included a high photoresponsivity of 1.57 A/W and fast response times, attributed to the built-in electric field at the ZnO/CuSCN interface. These results highlight the critical role of deposition temperature and time in tailoring heterojunction properties for self-powered optoelectronic applications.

Optoelectronic logic gates (OELGs) hold great promise for next‐generation high‐performance computing and real‐time data processing. By converting photonic inputs into electric output with Boolean logic operations, OELGs can offer high‐speed, large‐capacity, and low‐power consumption, which are rather challenging due to limited logic operations with a single device unit and multifunctional integration complexity. Here, a reconfigurable, all‐in‐one broadband OELG is demonstrated that realizes a full set of fundamental Boolean logic operations (AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR, and XNOR) within a single van der Waals junction. This is achieved through an electrically tunable transport‐mediated spectral photoresponse, which enables precise control over the photocurrent across the visible to infrared range. The tunable photovoltaic effect and polarization sensitivity facilitate both linear and nonlinear logic operations, with an exceptional ON/OFF ratio exceeding four orders of magnitude. Furthermore, advanced functionalities such as edge extraction, image fusion, and anti‐glare recognition are showcased—all implemented within a single device configuration. The work provides a powerful strategy for intelligent optical computing and real‐time perception, with potential applications in autonomous vehicles, security monitoring, and augmented reality.

Lithium (Li) metal is widely recognized as the most promising material for anodes in next-generation high-energy rechargeable batteries. However, challenges such as an unstable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) and significant volume changes leading to uncontrolled growth of Li dendrites have hindered the practical application of Li metal batteries. Herein, a free-standing three-dimensional (3D) scaffold of nickel nanowires (NiNWs) decorated with lithiophilic Ni3S2 nanosheets (NiNWs@Ni3S2) was successfully constructed for stable Li anodes. Various characterization studies and density functional theory simulations confirmed that the lithiophilic surface of Ni3S2 nanosheets could reduce the Li nucleation barrier, facilitating uniform Li ion deposition. Remarkably, the Li2S-rich nanoscale SEI layer that forms after the initial activation process effectively enhances ion transfer kinetics, leading to rapid Li ion transport and enhanced cycling performance. Furthermore, the 3D porous structure of NiNWs@Ni3S2 provides sufficient space to accommodate the volume changes of Li during the plating/stripping process. As a result, the NiNWs@Ni3S2 symmetrical cell demonstrates a long-term stability of over 2250 hours at 1 mA cm(-2) and 900 hours at 5.0 mA cm(-2) with low voltage hysteresis. The assembled Li-NiNWs@Ni3S2 & Vert;LiFePO4 full cell exhibits improved rate and cycling performances over 2000 cycles at 5C. Overall, the unique structure of NiNWs@Ni3S2 offers a straightforward method for creating a 3D lithiophilic host and introduces the concept of interfacial engineering by incorporating an artificial Li2S-rich nanoscale SEI layer for high-performance Li metal anodes.

Lithium (Li) metal has become a research hotspot for anodes materials due to its ultra-high theoretical capacity and the lowest redox potential. However, the practical application of Li metal batteries is hampered by the formation of uncontrollable Li dendrites and the irreversible structural changes during long-term charge/ discharge processes. Developing stable Li metal anode with uniform Li deposition is highly desirable. Herein, surface fluorination of nickel nanowires enabling LiF-rich nanoscale solid electrolyte interface was demonstrated for stable Li anodes. Free-standing three-dimensional (3D) nickel nanowires (NiNWs) current collector decorated with lithiophilic NiF2 nanosheets (NiNWs@NiF2) was constructed via a simple and scalable fluorination strategy. Theoretical and experimental analysis confirmed that the lithiophilic surface of NiF2 nanosheets could reduce the Li nucleation barrier, facilitating uniform Li ion deposition. The 3D conductive NiNWs network enabled fast electron transfer and mitigated volume changes during cycling. Additionally, a LiF-rich nanoscale solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer formed between Li and the electrolyte significantly improved the interfacial stability. As a result, the as-assembled Li-NiNWs@NiF2 symmetrical cell provided a superior electrochemical performance, maintaining stability for 2500 h at 1.0 mA cm- 2 and 900 h at 5.0 mA cm- 2. Furthermore, the assembled LiNiNWs@NiF2 || LiFePO4 (LFP) full cell demonstrated exceptional capacity retention of 93.9 % after 2000 cycles at a rate of 5C. Overall, the unique structure of NiNWs@NiF2 not only offers a straightforward method for designing a 3D lithiophilic host, but also provides the concept of interfacial engineering through the in-situ construction of an artificial LiF-rich nanoscale SEI layer.

Energy harvesting from ubiquitous natural water vapor based on moisture electric generator (MEG) technology holds great potential to power portable electronics, the Internet of Things, and wireless transmission. However, most devices still encounter challenges of low output, and a single MEG complemented with another form of energy harvesting for achieving high power has seldom been demonstrated. Herein, we report a flexible and efficient hybrid generator capable of harvesting moisture and tribo energies simultaneously, both from the source of water droplets. The moisture electric and triboelectric layers are based on a water-absorbent citric acid (CA)-mediated polyglutamic acid (PGA) hydrogel and porous electret expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (E-PTFE), respectively. Such a waterproof E-PTFE film not only enables efficient triboelectrification with water droplets' contact but also facilitates water vapor to be transferred into the hydrogel layer for moisture electricity generation. A single hybrid generator under water droplets' impact delivers a DC voltage of 0.55 V and a peak current density of 120 μA cm-2 from the MEG, together with a simultaneous AC output voltage of 300 V and a current of 400 μA from the complementary water-based triboelectric generator (TEG) side. Such a hybrid generator can work even under harsh wild environments with 5 °C cold and saltwater impacts. Significantly, an optical alarm and wireless communication system for wild, complex, and emergency scenarios is demonstrated with power from the hybrid generators. This work expands the applications of water-based electricity generation technologies and provides insight into harvesting multiple potential energies in the natural environment with high output.

AbstractUbiquitous moisture is of particular interest for sustainable power generation and self‐powered electronics. However, current moisture electric generators (MEGs) can only harvest moisture energy in the air, which tremendously limits the energy harvesting efficiency and practical application scenarios. Herein, the operationality of MEG from air to underwater environment, through a sandwiched engineered‐hydrogel device with an additional waterproof breathable membrane layer allowing water vapor exchange while preventing liquid water penetration, is expanded. Underwater environment, the device can spontaneously deliver a voltage of 0.55 V and a current density of 130 µA cm−2 due to the efficient ion separation assisted by negative ions confinement in hydrogel networks. The output can be maintained even under harsh underwater environment with 10% salt concentration, 1 m s−1 disturbing flow, as well as >40 kPa hydraulic pressure. The engineered hydrogel used for MEG also exhibits excellent self‐healing ability, flexibility, and biocompatibility. As the first demonstration of practical applications in self‐powered underwater electronics, the MEG device is successfully powering a wireless emitter for remote communication in water. This new type of MEG offers an innovative route for harvesting moisture energy underwater and holds promise in the creation of a new range of innovative electronic devices for marine Internet‐of‐Things.

The atomic-level interface and strong interfacial interaction enable van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures to fabricate innovative photovoltaic devices by combing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with bulk semiconductors, in which the device performance can be enhanced significantly using outstanding photoelectric property of SWCNTs. Herein, we reported a facile method to fabricate SWCNT/GaAs vdW heterojunction solar cell by transferring p-type (6,5)-enriched SWCNT film onto the n-type GaAs substrate, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.23 % has been achieved without any other treatment. Furthermore, the PCE value can be enhanced to 11.24 % by introducing Nafion as a highly effective dopant with a short -circuit current density of 24.70 mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.64 V and a fill factor of 0.71. Our results reveal that the introduction of Nafion not only induces a stronger and closer contact at the interface be-tween SWCNTs and GaAs, but also shows strong p-doping effect due to the existence of sulfonic acid functional groups. This p-doping effect of Nafion increases the work function of SWCNTs and subsequently enlarges the barrier height at the heterojunction for more efficient carrier separation. In addition, Nafion can also serve as an antireflection and passivation layer, reducing the incident light loss and the carrier recombination rate. These findings suggest that Nafion could be used to improve the performance of SWCNT-based vdW heterojunction devices.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Emerging as the ideal active layer materials for nonvolatile resistive memories are all-inorganic halide perovskites with high carrier mobility and fast ion migration characteristics. Herein, we introduce a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) film between the Al electrode and Cs3Bi2Br9 halide perovskite film to increase the initial resistance value of the device. In addition, it avoids the direct contact between the active electrode and Cs3Bi2Br9 perovskite as well as the introduction of excessive bromine vacancies (V-Br) defects, suppresses the generation of metal halides and large-size V-Br conductive filaments, enhances the cycling stability of the device, and prolongs the retention time. Among them, polymeric perovskite composite devices with moderate concentrations have a long retention time of 10(4) s, stable durability, and a small transition voltage of 0.9 V/-0.31 V. Furthermore, the device can also be utilized in three-person voting systems and logic circuits like "AND" and "OR" gates.