The development of flexible light-emitting devices is driving innovation from manufacturing to end-use applications, particularly in flexible displays and wearable technologies. However, conventional fabrication methods often suffer from limited brightness, poor mechanical compliance, and high energy consumption. Here, we present a rapid all-solution fabrication strategy that fully exploits the intrinsic fluidity of liquid metal (LM) materials. A highly conductive and deformable Ga-based LM (EGaInSn) serves as the compliant bottom electrode, while a liquid metal-polymer hybrid gel composite (hybrid-gel) with a high dielectric constant functions as the dielectric layer. By engineering the dielectric architecture, the electric field distribution within the alternating-current electroluminescent (ACEL) device is optimized, thereby enhancing electroluminescent (EL) brightness to 110% without sacrificing mechanical flexibility or stability. Furthermore, the all-solution approach enables extrusion printing and screen printing, allowing scalable fabrication of emissive arrays with fine pattern control. This study demonstrates an energy-efficient and high-luminance flexible ACEL device and provides a versatile, low-cost route toward next-generation soft displays and wearable optoelectronic applications.

Metal ions are potent antibacterial agents, but suffer from uncontrolled ion release and toxicity. Here, we present Janus liquid metal nanorobots (J-LMNRs) with microenvironment-responsive ion release for precise antibacterial therapy. The J-LMNRs feature a gallium-based liquid metal (Ga-LM) core encapsulated in a Janus platinum (Pt)-polymer shell. The polymer shell modulates ion release thresholds from Ga-LM nanodroplet core, preventing premature activation in healthy tissues, while the asymmetric Pt in the shell amplifies subtle bacterial signals, such as acidic pH (similar to 6.2) and trace hydrogen peroxide levels (similar to 150 mu M), into reactive oxide species (ROS) to trigger Ga3+ ion release. This design enables autonomous chemotaxis towards infection sites and achieves 95% Staphylococcus aureus eradication within 12 h. By coupling signal amplification with adaptive chemical responsiveness, J-LMNRs minimize off-target toxicity and offer a paradigm shift for intelligent antibacterial systems.

Ultrathin flexible organic optoelectronic devices are widely used in wearable electronics applications due to their advantages of thickness, flexibility, conformable adherence, and low cost. In recent years, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have garnered considerable attention in the fabrication of high-performance organic optoelectronics. However, most of the existing studies focus on investigating the optimization of SAMs on the rigid ITO electrode, while there is still a lack of systematic studies on their morphological evolution and anchoring mechanism on the surface of the flexible transparent electrode. In this work, high-quality PEDOT:PSS electrodes are developed through a multiple-solvent doping strategy, followed by the modification of SAMs to tune their work function. High efficiency charge transport and collection are achieved by using the SAMs modified PEDOT:PSSelectrodes. The ultrathin flexible organic solar cells (OSCs) based on this flexible electrode achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.2%. All-solution-processed ultrathin flexible OSCs and organic photodetectors are also fabricated with liquid metal EGaIn top electrodes. The OSCs achieve a surprising PCE of 14.6%, and the OPDs are being used for real-time photoplethysmograph (PPG) sensing with excellent sensitivity. This work paves the way for the advancement of next-generation ultrathin flexible electronics.

Phase engineering of transition metal chalcogenides is a promising strategy for optimizing catalytic performance. In this work, we investigate the phase-dependent catalytic properties of NiSe. Using density functional theory (DFT) and Variable-cell nudged elastic band technique, we reveal a metastable intermediate phase (MIS-2 ') within the confinement the of interface on the transition path from hexagonal (H-NiSe) to rhombohedral (R-NiSe) structures. Gibbs free energy calculations show that the MIS-2 ' phase has superior hydrogen adsorption (Delta GH* = -0.02 eV) compared to H-NiSe and R-NiSe. NiSe catalysts with different phases were synthesized by hydrothermal methods, and electrochemical tests in 1 M KOH show that the sample containing both MIS-2 ' and R-NiSe prepared at 150 degrees C, delivers the best HER performance (eta 10 = 105.08 mV, Tafel slope = 121.12 mV dec- 1). This improvement is attributed to the synergistic effects of the two phases, especially the involvement of MIS. These findings highlight the potential of phase engineering to enhance catalytic activity and offer a new pathway for optimizing transition-metal chalcogenides based electrocatalysts for sustainable energy applications.

Bridging liquid metal (LM) droplets embedded in composite matrices, such as elastomer polymers, are crucial for maintaining high conductivity and mechanical stretchability in flexible electronics. However, the deformability of these LM bridges under strain remains poorly understood. Here, we combine in situ transmission electron microscopy experiments with theoretical modeling to investigate the effects of interface modulation on LM bridge deformability. We find that strong interfacial wettability between LM nanodroplets and the solid substrate enhances stretchability, while the surface oxide layer of LM nanodroplets plays a more complex role. A thin oxide layer promotes symmetric liquid bridge formation, whereas a slight increase in thickness induces super-stretched liquid bridges. However, excessive oxide growth suppresses deformability by reducing LM liquidity. Accordingly, a strategy for controlling the deformation was developed by modulating the thickness of oxides through the regulation of stretching duration. This study reveals the kinetics of interface-driven liquid bridge deformation, providing fundamental insights for the precise engineering of stretchable LM-based conductors in next-generation flexible electronics.

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a global environmental concern, requiring effective methods for its capture and removal from ecosystems. Inspired by natural swarming behaviors, micro/nanorobot swarms are developed to address challenges in fields such as environmental remediation. An innovative solution is presented designing reconfigurable and regenerable liquid metal microrobots (LiquidBots) made from bio-friendly gallium-based liquid metal. These LiquidBots can self-assemble into swarms and actively capture microplastics through electrostatic interactions. They can be regenerated via ultrasonic treatment, allowing for repeated use without loss of efficiency. This approach offers an efficient, sustainable, and adaptable solution to the growing problem of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.

In the realm of wearable electronics, the advancement of flexible energy storage hinges critically on the innovation of efficient electrodes. However, traditional zinc anodes employed in zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZIHSCs) exhibit restricted flexibility. In this study, we fabricated a novel GaInZn alloy anode. Through the precise melting of Ga, In, and Zn in exact proportions and subsequent deposition onto a flexible substrate via a printing technique. The liquid Ga-In phase, with its unique characteristics, uniformly coats the anode surface, thereby optimizing the local electric field and ion current distribution and effectively inhibiting the growth of zinc dendrites. Facilitated by its relatively low melting point, the application onto the flexible substrate is facilitated. The assembled GaInZn//PAM//AC device, featuring an alloy with a mass ratio of mGa/mIn/mZn = 3/ 5.6/1.4, demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving 88 % capacity retention after 3000 cycles. It also delivered an impressive energy density of 54.5 Wh kg- 1 at a power density of 287.2 W kg- 1. Moreover, repeated bending tests revealed excellent mechanical stability, with the device retaining 80.8 % of its initial capacity even after 800 bending cycles. This printable liquid alloy anode holds substantial promise for the next-generation flexible energy storage within the realm of wearable electronics.

A WO 3− x @Au–WS 2 Z-scheme with Au as an electron mediator was constructed. This synergistically enhanced charge separation and greatly improved photoelectrocatalytic methylene blue degradation.

In this paper, we design a self-powered photoelectrochemical (PEC)-type photodetector based on a hybridization of two-dimensional (2D) few-layer antimony (Sb) nanosheets (NSs) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The few-layer Sb NSs obtained by liquid-phase exfoliation can be anchored on the surface of rGO through hydrothermal treatment. Specifically, during photoexcitation, the electron–hole pairs photogenerated on the surface of Sb NSs can be well stimulated and transferred by rGO, reducing the photogenerated carriers recombine on Sb NSs. The excellent electrochemical performance is confirmed by PEC tests. The photobehavior performance of the Sb NSs-rGO composite is significantly improved; its photocurrent density reaches 48.830 nA/cm2 at zero potential, approximately twice that of pure Sb NSs. The hybrid exhibits a faster photoresponse speed, with the response time and recovery time being 0.140 s and 0.163 s, respectively. This enhancement arises from the conductive role of rGO as a conductive channel, and as a result, the efficient separation of photoinduced electron–hole pairs is facilitated. This study is a further exploration of hybrid engineering of 2D materials in photochemical photodetectors and demonstrates significant progress in this field.

Directly growing oxides on the surface of liquid metal (LM) offers a novel strategy to effectively integrate flexible conductive substrate with semiconductive layer for functional devices including photodetectors. Gallium-based liquid metal with native oxides surface typically demonstrates such LM/semiconductor construction with attractive photoelectric responsivity, however, the relevant photo-electrode lacking efficient response to visible light due to the wide band-gap of Ga-oxides. This paper presents a straightforward fabrication route containing printing and in-situ reaction growing for the preparation of liquid metal functionalized with narrow-band gap semiconductor (e.g., Cu2O). The resulting LM/metal-oxides heterostructure exhibits a well-matched liquid–solid contact and good interfacial charge transfer between the soft conductive substrate and active surface components. Characterizations including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy confirm the successful preparation of the Cu2O thin layer with an expanded absorption spectrum range. The as-fabricated photoelectrode consisted of LM-Cu2O, through photoelectrochemical (PEC) tests, presents fast photo-responsibility under the simulated sunlight illumination and self-powered capability. Specifically, the LM-Cu2O based PEC photodetector shows maximum photoresponsivity of − 70 μA/W and photocurrent density of − 9.5 μA/cm2 at a bias voltage of 0 V. Our results provide a general method for the design and manufacture of novel photodetectors.

Designing a high-performance solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is crucial for advancing lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, we propose a hybrid SEI comprising a thin LiF top layer and a bulk layer of a conjugated-ring organic compound mixed with LiF via the self-limiting reaction between the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMIM+PF6-) additive and Li0 anode. This method enabled the lithium anode to afford higher current density. By combining 0.1 M EMIM+PF6- with 1 M LiPF6 in the FEC/FEMC (fluoroethylene carbonate/methyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ester) electrolyte, exceptional performance metrics were achieved, including high Coulombic efficiency (99.93%). The LMB with improved electrolyte can stand against ultrahigh energy density (7 mAh/cm2) and ultrahigh current density (5 mA/cm2) under an electrochemical window of 3.0 to 4.6 V. This study presents an innovative electrolyte design approach that enhances the performance of LMBs by promoting SEI formation through in situ chemical reactions.

Syngas (H2/CO) is an essential chemical feedstock for industrial products. In these focal points, electrocatalytic CO2 reduction has emerged as a desirable strategy for realizing effective syngas production to satisfy energy and environmental requirements. In this work, a metal-molecule hybrid electrode with inherent H2 generation favorability has been crafted by loading molecular Co(Ni)-bpy (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) complexes on Ag foil. The efficient and stable CO2-to-CO conversion with adjustable faradic efficiency from 13 to 98% was realized by optimizing the Co(Ni)-bpy complexes. The regulation of molecular catalysts with the merits of high electron affinity can provide a coordination environment that allows for the localization of Co/Ni active sites at optimal positions with lower binding energies, maintaining their monodisperse properties, and being beneficial for strengthening the CO2 binding and inhibiting competitive reactions. An in-depth understanding of surface and coordination status has been realized by FIB-HRTEM and EXAFS, which confirm that the intimate metal-molecular interaction and well-dispersed mononuclear Co/Ni active sites play vital roles in enhancing catalytic performance. The strong electron residual between the Ag surface and metal-coordinated molecular catalysts may also contribute to the dramatic CO2-to-CO conversion. This study highlights the beneficial role of metal-molecule interactions in electrocatalytic reactions and contributes to ongoing efforts toward achieving controllable selectivity in electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to syngas using molecular catalysts.

The inevitable electrical-thermal-mechanical mismatch at the interface of traditional organic-inorganic nanocomposite dielectrics has long hindered the synergistic enhancement of polarization, voltage resistance, and heat dissipation capacity. To address this challenge, a liquid metal-polymer nanocomposite strategy is put forward to achieve excellent energy storage performance at high temperatures. By introducing EGaIn nanodroplets into a polyetherimide (PEI) matrix, the coupling effect among electricity, heat and force can be on-demand regulated. Simulated results demonstrate that the addition of liquid metals in polymer-based nanocomposites can effectively enhance the overall polarization, strengthen heat conduction and alleviate local stress concentration. Experimental results further indicate that the inverted coupling between the polarization and breakdown strength can be successfully disrupted even at 150 °C. Especially, a high electric displacement of up to 2.83 µC cm-2 can be attained at 500 MV m-1 with only 0.2 vol% of liquid metal fillers. Consequently, the nanocomposite film exhibits an enhanced energy density Ue of 6.0 J cm-3 with an efficiency η of 90% at 150 °C and 500 MV m-1. The present work not only reveals the physical mechanisms of complex electrical-thermal-mechanical interactions but also offers new perspectives on the design of energy storage nanocomposites to break the inverse polarization-breakdown relationship at high temperatures.

Inspired by the hierarchical micro/nanoscale architecture of diatoms which are renown for capturing and utilizing dim light in oceanic environments, a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical liquid metal (LM) sponge was proposed for advancing flexible photoelectrochemical (PEC) photodetectors. A room-temperature LM nanodroplet (ND)-bridging strategy by deformable welding LM NDs on polymer fibers was developed to controllably fabricate 3D architectures consisting of LM integrations in the form of interconnected either one-dimensional (1D) liquid-bridges or two-dimensional (2D) liquid-films. Optical characterization reveals that the 3D hierarchical architecture with radian 2D liquid-films (3D-HA-R2DLF) exhibits moderate absorption (0.34), enhanced reflection (0.55), and minimal transmission (0.01) at 500 nm, with light scattering extending the optical path length for improved photon utilization. Carrier dynamics analysis demonstrates its optimal performance: a carrier concentration of 9.79 × 1011 m-3 and mobility of 9.31 × 106 cm2/V·s, outperforming 1D-liquid-bridges (high mobility but low concentration) and the 3D hierarchical architecture with flat 2D liquid-films (3D-HA-F2DLF) (high concentration but mobility-limited scattering). This 3D architecture combines conductive LM for charge transport with semiconductive amorphous gallium oxide (GaOx) layers for photoabsorption/conversion, achieving the efficient light energy utilization similar to that done by diatoms' microstructure. Specifically, the 3D LM sponge consisting of radian 2D liquid-films achieved a photocurrent density of 1.99 μA/cm2, 3.1 times and 9.47 times higher than its counterparts with flat 2D liquid-films and 1D-liquid-bridges, respectively. Additionally, it exhibited faster response times (0.19 s for response; 0.13 s for recovery). The photodetector demonstrated excellent stability over 4000 s of continuous use and 4000 bending cycles, highlighting its robustness. The concept by bridging LM-NDs into 3D hierarchical and heterogeneous architectures offers a promising strategy to integrating LMs and semiconductors into functional devices, particularly for flexible photoelectric-devices.

With the rising demand for biosignal detection, many wearable sensors emerge in recent years. Such a new generation of sensors relies on major breakthroughs in soft sensing materials, which can be bent, compressed, and stretched in a large range. Ga-based liquid metals (LM) offer a unique combination of high deformability, electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility, making them ideal functional candidate materials for wearable sensors. Numerous studies design various LM sensors for detecting and modulating diverse signals. Nevertheless, further systematic discussion is still missing regarding their operational mechanism, structure defects, and potential solutions. In this review, recent progress in the application of Ga-based LM sensors is summarized and discussed, with a focus on the sensing principles corresponding to distinct LM properties, the problems, and solutions to each type of sensor. The key challenges toward biosignal detection and future research orientations are discussed.

Magnetic liquid-bodied microrobots (MRs) possess nearly infinite shape adaptivity. However, they currently confront the risk of structure instability/crushes during shape-morphing in tiny biological environments. This article reports that magnetic liquid metal (LM) MRs (LMMRs) show high structure stability and robust magnetic maneuverability. In this protocol, Fe nanoparticles are encapsulated inside less-than-10-mu m LM microdroplets by establishing interfacial chemical potential barriers, yielding LMMRs. Their robust magnetic maneuverability originates from the magnetically controlled assembly of Fe nanoparticles inside LM and distinct liquid-solid interaction. With the self-adaptive shape-recovering capabilities even after 50% deformation, LMMRs can implement vertical climbing over walls up to 400% of its body length and traverse channels with the size of its two-thirds. The in vitro and in vivo experiments have both verified the effective magneto-mechanical stimulation of LMMRs upon neurons after their shape-adaptive crossing the blood-brain barrier under a driven magnetic field. Our work provides a promising strategy for wireless therapies with MRs by safely and effectively overcoming biological barriers.

Radio frequency (RF) energy harvester as an efficient tool for capturing and converting the flourishing ambient RF energy provides a promising solution for long-term powering the wireless sensor networks and the Internet of things (IoTs). However, the actual distribution of the environmental RF signals is dynamically frequency-dependent due to the diverse wireless terminals only interacting with specified frequencies. To take full advantage of the RF energy carrying this characteristic, an intelligent RF energy harvester is in demand to automatically sense the frequency information of an incident signal and conduct the corresponding RF-to-direct current transformation process. Here, to the best of my knowledge, a frequency-self-adaptive RF harvester is first presented with the help of the shape-reconfigurable liquid metal, which can precisely identify and efficiently convert an arbitrary signal from the frequency span of 1.8 to 2.6 GHz. Companied with a microcontroller unit and a tensile system, the dynamic functionality of the entire system is comprehensively demonstrated, showing promising potential to significantly advance various fields, including sustainable IoT applications, green wearable technologies, and self-powered devices.

Interlayer coupling plays a crucial role in the electronic band structures and optoelectronic properties of the two-dimensional (2D) twisted heterostructures. Herein, MoS2/TaSe2 heterostructures with different twist angles were successfully obtained using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-water-assisted transfer method. Low-frequency Raman scattering analysis demonstrates that the twist angles in the MoS2/TaSe2 heterostructure exhibit periodic regulation on the interlayer coupling, with relatively strong coupling observed at 0(degrees )and 60(degrees). Furthermore, it was found that the intensity ratio of A to B excitons and the second harmonic generation (SHG) responses of the twisted MoS2/TaSe2 heterostructures show periodic and oscillatory features with the increase of the twist angles. These findings can be attributed to the periodic changes in layer spacing as the twist angle increases, which further changes the interlayer coupling in heterostructures. The controlling interlayer interactions through twist angles is significant for the practical design and application of optoelectronic devices based on twisted transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) heterostructures.

The strategic formulation of a compatible electrolyte plays a pivotal role in extending the longevity of lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). Here, we present findings on a partially fluorinated electrolyte distinguished by a subdued solvation affinity towards Li+ ions and a concentrated anion presence within the primary solvation layer. This distinctive solvation arrangement redirects the focal points of reactions from solvent molecules to anions, facilitating the predominant involvement of anions in the creation of a LiF-enriched solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI). Electrochemical assessments showcase effective Li+ transport kinetics, diminished overpotential polarization for Li nucleation (28 mV), and prolonged cycling durability in Li||Li cells employing the partially fluorinated electrolyte. When tested in Li||NCM811 cells, the designed electrolyte delivers a capacity retention of 89.30 % and exhibits a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.80 % over 100 cycles with a charge-potential cut-off of 4.6 V vs. Li/Li+ under the current density of 0.4C. Furthermore, even at a current density of 1C, the cells maintain 81.90 % capacity retention and a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.40 % after 180 cycles. This work underscores the significance of weak-solvation interaction in partially fluorinated electrolytes and highlights the crucial role of solvent structure in enabling the long-term stability and high-energy density of LMBs.

Flexible sensors play an important role in simulation, brain-computer interaction, intelligent robots, and biological detection. Due to the progress of modern medical means, the construction of wearable flexible sensors to realize remote and continuous monitoring of human physical indicators and physiological parameters has become a hot research topic. Non-invasive sensor is a device that can detect physiological parameters without cutting the skin or puncturing the body. They have wide application prospects in the fields of medical treatment, fitness, and daily care due to the following advantages: real-time monitoring, portability, accuracy, and cost reduction. Liquid metal has become a great candidate for constructing flexible biosensors because of its high conductivity, deformability, self-healing, and bio-friendly properties, its spontaneous formation of an oxide film due to exposure to oxygen provides a convenient reaction platform for the preparation of other materials. Two-dimensional materials are inherently superior in preparing sensors due to their great advantages unique chemical and physical properties, their high surface area-to-volume ratios and ultra-high surface sensitivity to the environment also can be used to prepare flexible sensor. This study presents an overview and introduction of biosensors fabricated by liquid metal and two-dimensional materials, including how to prepare specific two-dimensional materials based on liquid metal, and the stripping method is also included. Three kinds of applications are discussed in detail, including the detection of human glucose concentration, pulse detection, and sweat analysis, whose sensing principles depend on piezoelectric, optical, and electrochemical. At the end of the article, we summarized the current challenges faced by biosensors based on liquid metal and looked forward to its future development and future directions of advances.