Propylene carbonate (PC)-based electrolytes are promising for supercapacitors but suffering from oxidative degradation at high voltage and elevated temperature, severely limiting durability. Here, we report a polycyanoalkane (PCA) additive that significantly enhances the stability of the DMPBF4/PC electrolyte, with DMPBF4 as the organic salt and PC as the solvent, for supercapacitors. PCA acts as a bifunctional agent, simultaneously stabilizing BF4− anions in the bulk electrolyte and forming a protective, nitrogen-rich interphase on the positive electrode through preferential oxidation. This dual mechanism effectively suppresses both anion decomposition and solvent oxidation, leading to improved capacitive performance. Supercapacitors with 2 wt% PCA exhibit near-ideal behavior and significantly reduced leakage current, enabling stable operation up to 3.5 V at room temperature. Impressively, at 3.3 V and 65 °C, the PCA-modified electrolyte retains 80% capacitance after 500 h, a substantial improvement over neat PC electrolytes. Post-mortem analyses confirm the formation of a uniform, cyano-rich interphase with reduced degradation products on the positive electrode. This anion receptor-based strategy, combining solvation control and interphase engineering, provides a promising approach to expand the operational limits of PC-based supercapacitors.

The development of high-performance lubricants with tunable properties and straightforward synthesis is essential for extending equipment service life and enhancing energy efficiency. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) represent a promising platform owing to their customizable structures, facile preparation, and environmentally benign nature. Here, we report a ground-breaking DES formulation comprising lactobionic acid (LBA) as hydrogen-bond (H-bond) acceptor and ethylene glycol as donor. This rationally designed DES achieves an ultralow friction coefficient of ∼0.005 and maintains stable macroscopic superlubricity (210 min) under a high pressure of 497 MPa. Remarkably, unlike traditional ionic liquids and mineral oils whose tribological performance deteriorates under humid conditions, this DES uniquely exploits ambient moisture as a functional component, maintaining robust superlubricity even at 70% relative humidity. Spectroscopic investigations reveal a competitive adsorption mechanism at the tribological interface: water molecules compete with EG for H-bond sites, resulting in a bimodal distribution of strong and weak H-bonds. This unique molecular architecture enables strong H-bonds to provide exceptional load-bearing capacity while weak H-bonds facilitate ultralow-shear sliding interfaces during tribological contact. Based on this mechanistic understanding, we propose an innovative design paradigm that exploits competitive water adsorption as a molecular mediator. This strategy enables modulation of H-bond strength to simultaneously achieve a high load-bearing capacity and superlubricity. This approach provides a versatile and practical pathway for developing next-generation green superlubricants, while facilitating sustainable industrial development.

To address the critical challenges of corrosion and wear in marine environments, a three-dimensional grapheneMXene-perfluoroalkyl framework (3DGM-F) was fabricated through self-assembly of fluorooctyltriethoxysilane (FOTs)-modified MXene and GO, then integrated into an epoxy matrix with nanocellulose as an interfacial reinforcer. The 3DGM-F/EP composite exhibited a remarkable 87.7 % reduction in wear rate under seawater lubrication and a 46.2 % decrease in corrosion current density compared to neat epoxy. Notably, even after 30 days of immersion in seawater, the composite retained exceptional corrosion resistance. These enhancements were attributed to the hydrophobic chloride barrier effect imparted by FOTs-modified MXene, synergistic lubrication of MXene/graphene, and tortuous diffusion pathways offered by 3D architecture. This work provides an advanced design strategy for high-performance durable marine epoxy composites.

Carbon-based supercapacitors represent one of the most widely utilized commercial capacitive energy storage devices. Organic electrolyte systems, particularly tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate/acetonitrile (TEABF4/ AN), have maintained market dominance for decades due to their superior cost-effectiveness and performance characteristics. However, the potential of conventional carbon-tuning methods to enhance capacitance is now largely exhausted. Herein, we demonstrate that introducing a high dielectric constant organic salt (triethylmethylammonium tetrafluoroborate, TEMABF4) as an electrolyte additive can dramatically increase capacitance. At an optimal concentration of 2 wt% TEMABF4, the capacitance increases by 26% to exceed 200 F g- 1, achieving an exceptional energy density of 50 Wh kg-1. This enhancement is due to the smaller radius and asymmetric structure of TEMA+ that compresses the double-layer thickness, surpassing traditional capacitance limits. The underlying mechanism is validated through in situ Raman spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. This electrolyte additive paves the way for high-energy-density supercapacitors by transcending current capacitance limits.

Laser-plasma interactions enable a regime of nuclear physics characterized by high peak fluxes and ultrashort pulse durations, distinct from conventional accelerator capabilities. In this work, we demonstrate laser-driven ultrafast bremsstrahlung as a platform for investigating high-energy photonuclear processes. By focusing ultra-intense laser pulses onto a deuterium gas jet, we generated a high-yield electron beam of similar to 2.98 x 10(11) electrons per shot to produce an intense bremsstrahlung (similar to 1.45x10(10) photons/shot, E-gamma > 9.14 MeV). This source successfully triggered and resolved high-multiplicity I-127(gamma, xn) reactions (x = 1, 3, 4, 6-8), including the high-threshold (gamma, 8n) channel (E-thr = 69.8 MeV), in a broad-spectrum environment. The derived flux-averaged cross-sections show reasonable agreement with both TALYS 2.0 theoretical calculations and available literature data within experimental uncertainties. Our results indicate that laser-driven radiation is a reliable probe for laboratory-scale simulations of stellar nucleosynthesis and the study of short-lived exotic nuclei.

gamma-Graphyne (GY) is a promising nanofiller to enhance epoxy's tribological properties, yet its inert surface and structural instability hinder interfacial bonding. We strategically welded graphene quantum dots (GQDs) onto a three-dimensional GY (3DGY) framework using hydrothermal method, followed by epoxy resin impregnation. The resulting 3DGY/GQDs hybrid shows uniform GQDs loading and a 23.8% lower contact angle with epoxy, confirming improved wettability. At 0.5 wt% loading, the composite exhibits a 31.6 degrees C higher glass transition temperature, 39.6% greater tensile strength, and 53.2% and 93.2% reductions in friction coefficient and wear rate, respectively. Compared with existing carbon related materials (such as graphene-, MXene-, and carbondots-)/epoxy resin systems, this study innovatively combines three-dimensional skeleton reinforcement with defect filling of quantum dots, providing a new strategy for high-performance friction epoxy composite materials.

Abstract Carbon-based supercapacitors often suffer from limited capacitance, typically below 120 F g–1, even with structural modifications. This study achieves a significant capacitance boost, exceeding 200 F g–1, by ingeniously mitigating carrier asymmetry within both electrodes and electrolytes. Nitrogen- and boron-doped carbon, used as positive and negative electrodes, enhance the density of states and charge carrier mobility while compensating for quantum capacitance asymmetry. Concurrently, introducing isopropylammonium cations into the mixed electrolyte compresses the electric double layer, equalizing anionic and cationic charge disparities at the solid–liquid interface. This > 200 F g–1 value represents the highest gravimetric capacitance reported for carbon-based supercapacitors using organic electrolytes. Impressively, at a high current density of 100 A g–1, the device maintains 128 F g–1, outperforming commercial YP-50F at 1 A g–1. These results offer pivotal insights into overcoming supercapacitor capacitance limitations and understanding the fundamental enhancement mechanisms.

Developing sustainable thermosetting resins and their composite materials is one of the key research topics in the field of sustainable tribology today. This study prepared a series of polyhexahydrotriazine-crosslinked polyimide (PI-PHT) films featuring rigid skeleton-dynamic networks through polycondensation of amine-terminated polyimide oligomers with formaldehyde. The PI-PHT/250 degrees C film demonstrated outstanding tribological performance in various complex friction environments owing to its highly crosslinked rigid-flexible network, exhibiting a specific wear rate 55 % lower than conventional thermosetting polyimides (TBPI). Crucially, these highperformance films achieve complete degradation and recycling under acidic conditions (pH < 2, 25 degrees C). PIPHT films and their composites uniquely combine exceptional wear resistance with recyclability, presenting significant application potential in sustainable tribology.

Conventional polyimide (PI) gradually exposes deficiencies in tribological endurance, thermal stability, and mechanical strength during under prolonged long-term extreme service, making it difficult to meet the increasingly stringent application demands. In this study, 1,7-bis(aminophenyl)-meta-carborane (BMCB) was covalently grafted onto graphene oxide (GO) to obtain a functional hybrid monomer (GOCB), which was subsequently incorporated into the PI backbone via in situ polymerization, yielding a series of GOCB/PI composite films with significantly enhanced comprehensive properties. Notably, the 0.5% GOCB/PI film exhibited significantly enhanced thermomechanical properties (Td10% = 555.7 degrees C, Young's modulus = 2.32 GPa) compared with pure PI (532.8 degrees C, 1.27 GPa). Moreover, the 0.5% GOCB/PI film also demonstrated excellent tribological properties, with a specific wear rate of 0.49 & times; 10-4 mm3/N & sdot;m under dry sliding, representing a 76% reduction compared to pure PI. This improvement was mainly attributed to the nano-reinforced skeleton and strong interfacial interactions formed by GOCB, which endowed the material with excellent rigidity and thermal stability while effectively bearing and dispersing contact stress, enabling the material to resist frictional heat and shear stress during the friction process. This study presents a synergistic strategy for the holistic enhancement of PI properties through the co-incorporation of carborane and GO, offering new insights into the design of highperformance polyimide materials for advanced engineering applications.

The insufficient dispersion and random orientation of nanofillers in composite materials fundamentally constrain the enhancement of their tribological properties. To address these inherent limitations, a strategy was developed to assemble graphene oxide (GO) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) into three-dimensional graphene‒boron nitride hybrid (3DGB) architecture via directional freeze-casting, achieving controlled alignment of these components. The sheet-sheet integration of h-BN and graphene nanosheets facilitates structural stabilization of the 3DGB network through interfacial stress redistribution mechanisms, concurrently improving the fracture resistance characteristics. The fabricated 3DGB serves as an optimized framework substrate for epoxy resin (EP) composites in the resin transfer molding (RTM) method, yielding substantial improvements in the tribological properties while achieving synergistic enhancements in both the load-bearing capacity and interfacial adhesion. Comparative analysis demonstrated that the properties of the 3DGB/EP composites were enhanced in combination with those of the pristine epoxy. Specifically, their tensile strength and thermal conductivity increase by 37.5% and 33%, respectively, compared with those of pristine epoxy. Notably, 3DGB significantly increased the tribological performance of the epoxy, as evidenced by a 72.1% reduction in the kinetic friction coefficient and a 90.12% decrease in the specific wear rate. This strategy establishes a novel paradigm for the hierarchical design of high-performance composites and offers new insights into the integration of multicomponent two-dimensional (2D) fillers and tribology-based multifunctional composites.

We present an experimental study of proton acceleration driven by femtosecond multi-PW lasers of three different prepulse parameters with the peak laser intensity of 1.2 × 1021 W/cm2 irradiating micrometre-thick metal foils. For 4-μm-thick copper foils, the highest-energy proton beam of 58.9 MeV is generated with the moderate-contrast laser, while the low-contrast or high-contrast lasers result in the lower proton cutoff energies. The one-dimensional hydrodynamic and two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations indicate that the front preplasma of foils induced by the laser prepulse can enhance electron acceleration and in turn improve proton acceleration, while the rear preplasma will weaken the sheath field and be unfavourable for accelerating ions. For the case of the moderate contrast, the scale length of the front preplasma is long enough to generate high-temperature electrons compared to the high-contrast case, and the scale length of the rear preplasma is so short that the sheath field still remains strong compared with the low-contrast case, which is advantageous for generating high-energy protons. Meanwhile, a concrete map is theoretically given for accelerating higher-energy protons. This work extends the concept of the prepulse effect on target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) to a wider range of laser parameters (multi-PW, 1021 W/cm2), representing an important step towards potential applications of TNSA-driven proton sources, especially considering that PW and even 10 PW laser facilities exist all around the world.

Micro- or nano-structured targets are advantageous in enhancing and manipulating laser-proton acceleration, due to the increased absorption of laser energy and onset of direct laser acceleration for high-energy electrons. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that nano-wire-array printed on a flat substrate is an efficient nano-injector of relativistic electrons that leads to a significant boost of laser-driven proton acceleration and neutron production beyond normal geometry. By employing an ultra-intense (2*1021 W/cm2) femtosecond laser pulse to irradiate nano-wire-array targets, protons with cut-off energies of 62.8 MeV are generated, and notably, the energy conversion efficiency from laser to protons reaches up to 9

The effectiveness of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) is frequently limited by stress concentration, which arises from the substantial modulus disparity between the reinforcing fibers and the polymer matrix. To overcome this limitation, a modulus gradient interphase was designed by constructing a zinc oxide nanosheet@zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZnO-Ns@ZIF-8) nanoarray on the fiber surface. This interphase not only alleviated the modulus gap between carbon fibers and the polymer matrix but also increased fiber surface roughness and chemical activity. Furthermore, an electron-rich indole group was incorporated as a pi-system into the PHT resin (In-PHT), enabling cation-pi interactions with Zn2+ in ZIF-8 and thus synergistically enhancing interfacial adhesion. As a result, CF@ZnO-Ns@ZIF-8/In-PHT exhibited a tensile strength improvement of 62% and a wear rate decrease of 41% relative to the untreated control sample. Additionally, the acid-degradable In-PHT matrix allowed closed-loop recycling of the fibers without substantial performance loss. This study presents a novel approach for fabricating durable, wear-resistant, and sustainable CFRPs, with a focus on achieving significantly improved interfacial bonding.

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) holds great promise for enhancing polymer coatings, yet its application is hindered by poor dispersion and weak interfacial adhesion within epoxy matrices. Herein, we propose a synergistic modification strategy to address these challenges through the fabrication of covalently-bonded Ag/ KH550-BNNS hybrid fillers. The process involves mechanochemical exfoliation of h-BN into functionalized nanosheets (BNNSs), surface grafting with the silane coupling agent KH550, and in-situ reduction deposition of silver nanoparticles. At an ultralow filler loading of merely 0.6 wt%, the resulting AgKH-BNNSs/EP composite coating exhibits simultaneously enhanced mechanical, tribological, and thermal performance. Specifically, the coating achieves a 55% increase in tensile strength (reaching 87.3 MPa), a 50% reduction in friction coefficient (down to 0.27), a 52% decrease in wear rate, and a 26.3 degrees C elevation in glass transition temperature compared to neat epoxy. These comprehensive improvements arise from a dual reinforcement mechanism: the covalent grafting of KH550 substantially strengthens filler-matrix interfacial adhesion, promoting efficient stress transfer and suppressing crack propagation; meanwhile, uniformly distributed silver nanoparticles enhance thermal conductivity and facilitate the formation of a continuous, stable lubricating transfer film during sliding, thereby effectively reducing friction and wear. Through rational interface engineering and multi-scale reinforcement design, this work establishes an efficient and scalable route for fabricating high-performance multifunctional epoxy coatings. The demonstrated strategy holds particular promise for demanding engineering applications in automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors where enhanced wear resistance and thermal management are critically required.

Nanoparticles, as lubricant additives, can significantly enhance the tribological performance of lubricants by reducing friction coefficients and wear, thereby extending the service life of components. A thorough understanding of the interfacial behavior of nanoparticles and the wear failure mechanisms is essential for comprehending the lubrication mechanisms of nanolubricants and for designing high-performance nanolubricants. However, traditional experimental methods face challenges in revealing the lubrication mechanisms of nanoparticles at the micro/mesoscale, and thus simulation methods have been widespread adopted. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations offer unparalleled methodological advantages in tribological research, enabling the dynamic analysis of physicochemical evolution at friction interfaces with atomic-scale resolution. This review systematically summarizes the progress of MD research on the lubrication mechanisms of nanoparticles in single nanoparticle, multi-nanoparticle, and hybrid nanoparticle systems, while also analyzing the impact of nanoparticle morphology and size parameters on tribological performance.

Nowadays, degradable thermosets are confronted with a contradiction between their low performance and practical applications. In light of the weak covalent bonding of reversible bonds in biodegradable thermosetting resins, limits their applications in the field of tribology. Herein, we synthesize degradable poly(hexahydrotriazine)s (PHTs) by introducing trifluoromethyl (-CF3) groups at different positions of the aromatic diamine main chains, achieving simultaneous improvement of degradability and high friction performance. The results showed that the fluorinated PHTs exhibited higher glass transition temperature (173.8 degrees C), tensile strength (61.8 MPa), and faster degradation rate (3 h) as compared to non-fluorinated polymer. Notably, fluorinated PHT resins exhibited excellent anti-wear performance with wear rates decreasing by 78.6 % owing to the large steric hindrance effect and strong electronegativity brought about by-CF3, which increases the rigidity and heat resistance of the PHTs molecules, thereby enabling it to effectively resist frictional heat generated during the friction process. Fluorinated PHTs revealed excellent wear resistance and degradation properties, which facilitates their practical application of energy conservation and protective metal anti-wear coatings in the tribological industry.

The aggregation issues of two-dimensional nanomaterials remain a barrier to improving the tribological properties of the polymer matrix. Herein, gamma-graphyne (gamma-GY)/graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots (CNQDs) hybrids were fabricated by the hydrothermal method and incorporated into epoxy resin (EP). CNQDs are uniformly anchored onto the surfaces of gamma-GY; the hybrids with multiscale structures are conducive to optimizing the interfacial compatibility with the EP. Compared with pure EP, gamma-GY/CNQDs/EP composites exhibited better thermal properties, with a 27.2% increase in tensile strength. Furthermore, the average friction coefficient and wear rate were decreased by 34% and 76.2%, respectively. The wear surfaces of gamma-GY/CNQDs/EP composites were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to reveal the synergistic lubrication mechanism between gamma-GY and CNQDs in the EP matrix.

Superlubricity technology with ultra-low coefficients of friction and wear rates offers solutions for efficient energy use and extended equipment life. The load-carrying capacity of liquid superlubricity systems is mainly limited by the reconciliation of viscosity, so additives may be an effective means to solve this contradiction. This study reviews the progress of researches on superlubricity systems and delves into the friction reduction and wear resistance mechanisms of solid/liquid additives. An analytical summary of the mechanism of action of solid additives includes the following: First, the filling/self-repair effect enhances interfacial integrity through the dynamic filling of surface defects and the in-situ regeneration of friction film. Second, the rolling/sliding effect reduces energy dissipation by taking advantage of the morphological characteristics of one-dimensional nanostructures and the interlayer slip properties of two-dimensional materials. Third, the asymmetric contact effect optimizes the shear stress distribution by constructing a gradient interface. Fourth, the adsorption/film-forming effect relies on physical adsorption and tribochemistry reaction to form a protective film. Fifth, liquid additives enhance performance through H-bond network reconstruction, ionic hydration regulation, and interfacial tribochemical design. Finally, this review points out the futural research and design directions as well as engineering applications for liquid superlubricity additives.

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) exhibit exceptional lubrication performance due to their unique hydrogen-bonding (H-bond) structure. However, understanding the role of H-bond interactions in friction reduction and load bearing under high loads remains a challenge. In this study, a new type-V DES with triethylene glycol (TEG) as the H-bond donor and 2-ethylhexyl-4-hydroxybenzoate as the H-bond acceptor is reported. This DES adsorbs a small amount of water (2-5 wt%) from the air, enabling stable macroscopic superlubricity under a high load of 435 MPa. In situ Raman spectroscopy reveals that the adsorbed water competes with TEG for H-bonding, weakening some of strong H-bonds while promoting the formation of weaker H-bonds. These weak H-bonds facilitate friction reduction, while the strong H-bonds contribute to load-bearing capacity. This work highlights the critical role of H-bond evolution at the sliding interface and provides valuable insights for the design of highperformance, H-bond-dominated superlubricating materials with practical applications.