Two-dimensional (2D) Bi2O2Te holds immense potential for infrared photodetection due to its narrow bandgap, high carrier mobility, and excellent environmental stability. However, the synthesis of high-quality single-crystal nanosheets remains challenging owing to its narrow thermodynamic growth window. Herein, high-quality 2D Bi2O2Te single-crystal nanosheets were successfully synthesized via finite element method simulation-assisted chemical vapor deposition, guided by the analysis of precursor transport and concentration distribution. Based on this, a Bi2O2Te/p-Si heterojunction photodetector was then constructed, where the built-in electric field effectively suppresses the dark current and facilitates the separation of photogenerated carriers. The as-obtained heterojunction photodetector exhibits impressive performance in the visible to near-infrared spectral region (650-1208 nm), achieving high photoresponsivity of 988.40 A/W and specific detectivity of 1.19 & times; 1014 Jones. Compared with Bi2O2Te-based two-terminal devices, the weak-light detection capability of the heterojunction detector is enhanced by 450 times, accompanied by a rapid response speed at the microsecond level (tau r/tau d approximate to 43/ 19 mu s). This work provides a novel strategy for the controllable synthesis of 2D materials and the development of high-performance heterojunction photodetectors.
Carbon dots (CDs) have been widely explored as active components in sensing, catalysis and therapeutics, thanks to their unique traits combining cost efficiency, high biocompatibility, straightforward synthesis and excellent luminescent properties. Although numerous room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) carbon-dot systems have been reported in recent years, the development of simple, cost-effective, and scalable strategies for preparing RTP carbon-dot composites with tunable emission colors remains of considerable interest. Besides, the fabrication of multicolor phosphorescent CDs remains highly sought after. This work introduces a facile and scalable strategy to produce citric acid-based CDs embedded into zeolites (CA-CDs@zeolite) with long-lived phosphorescence. In comparison with reported protocols to produce similar composites, our method allows for the straightforward preparation of inexpensive phosphorescent CDs@zeolite in only 8 h. By controlling the drying temperature and the amount of citric acid (CA), green and yellow phosphorescence CDs were successfully obtained with a luminescence quantum yield ranging from 2 to 7% and a remarkable phosphorescence lifetime of 141.1 and 335.3 ms, respectively. Moreover, upon addition of urea into CA-CDs@zeolite CA500U-CDs@zeolite were generated, which displayed bright fluorescence and a luminescence quantum yield of 10%. The different CD containing zeolitic composites were used to build colored patterns for applications in anti-counterfeiting.
This study presents a groundbreaking MXene/polyethylene terephthalate (Ti3C2Tx/PET) laminated "electromagnetic trap" structure based on an equal-impedance gradient design, which overcomes the reflection-dominated shielding mechanism of conventional transparent electromagnetic materials. By precisely controlling the number of Ti3C2Tx/PET layers (4-10 L), the PET dielectric thickness (similar to 3 mm), and the Ti3C2Tx film thickness (monolayer: similar to 2.3 nm; bilayer: similar to 3.7 nm), an absorption-dominant electromagnetic shielding performance was successfully obtained in the X-band. These structures exhibit exceptional tunability, delivering broadly adjustable average microwave absorption of 70% to 95% while maintaining a visible light transmittance between 17% and 66%. Remarkably, the 10-layer bilayer-Ti3C2Tx/PET trap achieved near-perfect maximum absorption (similar to 97%) along with an electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of up to 22 dB, significantly surpassing most reported transparent or semi-transparent electromagnetic shielding structures. By establishing a comprehensive "design-fabrication-verification" framework, we elucidated the underlying microwave absorption mechanism, which is driven by the equal-impedance gradient effect and enhanced Ohmic losses induced by multi-interfacial wave reflections. This work not only provides an innovative material system and reliable design strategy for addressing electromagnetic stealth challenges in transparent windows, but also establishes a solid theoretical foundation for developing next-generation intelligent electromagnetic devices.
To enhance motion monitoring and braking distance estimation capabilities for automotive assisted driving systems, this study presents a novel spherical triboelectric nanogenerator (S-TENG) sensor with directional detection capacity. The key innovation lies in integrating material self-forming surface micropores with a carbon nanotube sponge, which creates an enhanced triboelectric interface that significantly optimizes contact dynamics. This unique configuration increases the effective contact area by more than 98.6% and enables detection of subtle motion signals with superior force sensitivity (100.00 kPa-1). A major scientific contribution of this work is establishing comprehensive correlations between output signals and critical parameters, including acceleration (0.2-4.1 m/s2), load (75-500 Pa), and directional vectors. Furthermore, we develop a groundbreaking self-sensing approach by continuously monitoring the peak open-circuit voltage (VOC) and incorporating the braking distance factor L to establish a self-sensing equation for the friction coefficient based on the time integral of VOC, which represents a significant advancement in self-powered sensing for intelligent transportation. The sensor achieves an acceleration sensitivity of 7.03 V/(m/s2), demonstrating its capability to provide multidirectional motion data. This study not only provides a viable strategy to enhance assisted driving safety but also advances the field of self-powered sensing technologies through its innovative design and analytical framework.
Combining the precise incorporation of electronegative nitrogen (N) species with a core-shell structure is essential for achieving high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysis. In this study, we leverage the intrinsic catalytic properties of ruthenium (Ru) to propose a method that simultaneously achieves in-situ controllable N doping and anchoring of Ru. Subsequently, a core-shell structured Ru@RuO2/NC electrocatalyst is obtained via air oxidation. Experimental and theoretical results reveal that the Ru@RuO2 induces strong metal-oxide interfacial coupling, while the introduction of N promotes the redistribution of charges in the material. The synergistic effect not only endows the material with bifunctional properties but also enhances its intrinsic activity and significantly improves the utilization efficiency of Ru (4.2 wt%). Ru@RuO2/NC exhibits outstanding bifunctional activity for oxygen evolution (223 mV@10 mA cm-2) and hydrogen evolution (39 mV@10 mA cm-2) during alkaline water electrolysis. This work provides a new strategy for the controllable design of high-performance electrocatalysts, highlighting the crucial roles of both precise interfacial doping and synergistic support engineering on optimizing catalytic performance.
As the spacecraft enters and maneuvers within its celestial orbit, the photovoltaic structures inevitably experience severe dynamic loading. It is imperative to investigate the dynamic mechanical properties in space structure design, as this is a crucial metric for evaluating the capability against impulsive loads. This study embeds isogeometric analysis (IGA) within a non-classical refined shear deformation theory (RSDT) incorporating the modified couple stress theory (MCST) to capture size-dependent geometrically nonlinear dynamics of organic solar cells (OSCs). Various parameters such as boundary conditions, damping, and loading types are considered. Numerical results confirm convergence and accuracy against established benchmarks. Results demonstrate that the size effects significantly enhance stiffness and reduce deflection. The geometrically nonlinear model lowers vibration amplitudes and prolongs periods. Considering damping, the energy system has been effectively dissipated. In addition, safety verification confirms that ITO (indium tin oxide) layer strains remain below critical thresholds under extreme loads. A semi-empirical formula is established, enabling direct estimation of the allowable dynamic load before brittle failure.
ABSTRACT As a leading candidate for next‐generation electronics, high‐performance 2D Bi 2 O 2 Se has garnered significant interest in the scientific community. However, the understanding of its defect mechanisms remains elusive, hindering the development of further functionalities. In this study, we utilized Raman spectroscopy and ultrafast pump–probe experiments to investigate Bi 2 O 2 Se thin films prepared via a solution‐based technique. By comparing carrier decay times under low and high fluences in 25 nm‐ and 115 nm‐thick films, we proposed the defect mechanisms associated with two common defects in the thicker film: Se vacancies and Se–Bi antisites, which exhibit shallow donor and deep donor behaviors, respectively. Additionally, Se–Bi antisites became prominent under higher fluences. Our insights into these defect mechanisms offer valuable guidance for defect engineering in high‐power electronics.
Two-dimensional (2D) PdSe2 atomic crystals hold great potential for optoelectronic applications due to their bipolar electrical characteristics, tunable bandgap, high electron mobility, and exceptional air stability. Nevertheless, the scalable synthesis of large-area, high-quality 2D PdSe2 crystals using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) remains a significant challenge. Here, we present a self-limiting liquid-phase edge-epitaxy (SLE) low-temperature growth method to achieve high-quality, centimeter-sized PdSe2 films with single-crystal domain areas exceeding 30 mu m. The SLE growth mechanism, clarified by theoretical calculations and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), reveals that hydrogen ions on the precursor surface inhibit vertical growth while promoting lateral growth. The as-grown PdSe2 few-layer exhibits a surface roughness of 1.20 nm and an average conductivity of 1.67 x 10-6 S/m, demonstrating their smoothness and uniformity. Temperature-dependent electrical measurements and transfer characteristic curves confirm the orthorhombic PdSe2's bipolar semiconductor behavior. The photodetector based on few-layer PdSe2 films exhibit excellent optoelectronic performance in the 405-1650 nm wavelength range, achieving a responsivity of 6262.37 A W-1, a detectivity of similar to 1012 Jones under 1064 nm illumination, and a fast response time of 37.1 mu s, making them highly suitable for broadband photodetection applications. This work provides valuable insights into the scalable synthesis of PdSe2 few-layers and establishes a foundation for the development of PdSe2-based integrated functional devices.
Conductive hydrogels with water-enriched pores have shown great potential in electromagnetic wave protection and flexible wearable electronics. However, hydrogel with high water content often results in some challenges such as water loss and low-temperature freezing. In this study, porous gelatin/ChCl/MXene Ti3C2Tx (GCM) hydrogels were prepared via a facile one-pot method. The introduction of ChCl forms abundant hydrogen bonds in GCM hydrogels, which endows the hydrogels long-term anti-drying (30 days) and anti-freezing abilities (-30 degrees C). Due to the synergistic effects of the porous structure, highly conductive MXene and water molecules, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) reach up to 108 dB in the X-band. Significantly, the effect of water molecules on EMI SE is quantified by adjusting the water content in hydrogel. Moreover, the gelatin-based hydrogel exhibits super-elasticity (0.25 MPa at 80 % strain) and demonstrates no significant decrease in EMI SE after 500 compression cycles. Finally, the excellent pressure-sensing properties of GCM hydrogel enable sensitive and reliable detection in human motion and smart coding. Therefore, the developed GCM hydrogel demonstrates promising application prospects in the fields of EMI shielding and sensing for wearable electronic devices.
Perovskite-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are emerging as promising renewable energy devices that achieve optoelectronic and triboelectric coupling on their own to improve electric output. Nevertheless, the coupled electric output is susceptible to low triboelectric and optoelectronic properties due to internal defects of perovskites and limitations in film quality. Hence, in this work, additive engineering was used to introduce poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymer into lead-free perovskite Cs3Sb2Cl3I6 precursor to modulate the crystal growth and passivate the crystal defects and optimize film quality, which can synergistically optimize optoelectronic and triboelectric properties. Under illumination, the open-circuit voltage (VOC) and the short circuit current (ISC) of unmodified Cs3Sb2Cl3I6-based TENG are 116 V and 11.4 mu A through optoelectronic and triboelectric coupling effects, respectively. In contrast, the V OC and I SC of TENG based on Cs3Sb2Cl3I6 modified by PEO are up to 184 V and 19.1 mu A, respectively, which increases by 58.62 % and 67.54 %. The maximum power density can reach 2.13 W m-2. Most importantly, the PEO-modified Cs3Sb2Cl3I6-based TENG exhibits excellent stability, which can maintain 90.9 % of its initial triboelectric output within 40 days. This work declares that ligand modification is an effective strategy to improve the electric output of coupled TENG, providing a new perspective for achieving high-performance perovskite-based TENG, and photothermal therapy by monitoring both human motion and environmental light intensity.
The increasingly serious electromagnetic radiation and electronic waste pose a significant threat to public health and the operation of electronic devices. Despite the enormous potential of highly conductive Ti3C2Tx MXenebased electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, significant challenges persist in terms of mechanical flexibility and antioxidation. In this study, it was firstly proposed for a scalable method to prepare MXene Ti3C2Tx/gelatin/sodium lignosulphonate (MXene/GEL/SL) films with good biodegradability, and Fe3+ ions were introduced to enhance cross-linking degree and stabilize the gelatin matrixes, which endowed the films with mechanical flexibility and durability. The film (MXene content: 30 wt%) has a thickness of merely 0.08 mm, exhibiting a high SE/d value of 432 dB/mm and maintaining its good EMI shielding performance even after being soaked in water for 15 days. Additionally, the film-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) even in 85 % humidity manifest excellent open-circuit voltage (230 V), short-circuit current (28 mu A) and power density (2.9 W/m2), respectively. Also, the TENG demonstrates good utility as a self-powered sensor when attached to different parts of human body to monitor human health. Therefore, the as-developed MXene/GEL/SL film presents good application prospects in the fields of both electromagnetic shielding and self-powered sensing for wearable electronics.
Anisotropic two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors have emerged as promising candidates for polarization-resolved photodetection due to their intrinsic in-plane optical anisotropies and linear dichroisms. However, their practical applications are often constrained by limited spectral response and low anisotropy ratios. In this work, we report a broadband polarization-sensitive photodetector based on a type-II p-GaTe/n-PdSe2 van der Waals heterostructure, where interfacial band engineering-through the combined effect of the built-in p-n junction field and Schottky barrier-enables efficient carrier separation and unconventional reverse rectification. The device exhibits a high reverse rectification ratio (> 10(2)) and an ultra-low forward dark current (similar to 10(-11) A). Owing to the engineered band alignment, it achieves broadband photodetection from 365 to 940 nm, with a high photo-switching ratio (> 10(3)), responsivity (similar to 10(3) A/W), detectivity (similar to 10(13) Jones), and external quantum efficiency (similar to 10(4)%). Furthermore, strong polarization sensitivity is demonstrated, with polarization ratios of 5.39, 4.71, and 4.60 at the wavelengths of 365, 520, and 940 nm, respectively, highlighting the potential of this heterostructure for high-performance and polarization-resolved optoelectronic applications.
The microwave interaction of ultrathin Ti3C2Tx MXene films is governed by their nanosheet network-modulated conductivity. By integrating a transfer matrix model with the Drude model, this study reveals the dielectric response mechanisms of MXene films under microwave radiation, driven by nanosheet coverage (c) and thickness (t). For monolayer films, coverage-dependent conductivity transitions delineate two distinct regimes: (i) a discontinuous percolation regime (c < 80%) dominated by intra-flake electron transport (|εi/εr| < 1), resulting in high microwave transparency, and (ii) a metallic-like conduction regime (c > 80%) where synergistic intra-/inter-flake hopping (|εi/εr| > 1) enhances interfacial polarization and ohmic loss, enabling 27% maximum microwave absorption at a high sheet conductivity of ∼0.001 S (c = 93%). For multilayer continuous films, thickness dictates dual transport dynamics: sub-6.6 nm films exhibit surface/interface scattering-limited bulk conductivity (σ ∼ 3000 S cm-1, τ > 6 ps), while thicker films (t > 6.6 nm) transition to bulk-like metallic conduction (σ ∼ 13 000 S cm-1, τ < 6 ps), achieving concurrent 48% microwave absorption at 6.6 nm and 19 dB shielding at 24 nm. The percolation-governed conductivity scaling and thickness-modulated electron transport establish design principles for optimizing MXene-based ultrathin electromagnetic functional materials in microwave absorption, shielding, and flexible sensing applications, bridging nanoscale structural engineering with macroscopic functionality.
Doping can effectively adjust the energy band structure of a semiconductor, thereby influencing its electrical and optical properties. In this study, density functional theory is employed to calculate the crystal structure, electronic configurations, energy bands, and optical properties of tellurium‐doped Bi 2 O 2 Se (Bi 2 O 2 Se 1‐x Te x ), demonstrating that Te substitution lowers the conduction band, reducing the bandgap. Then 2D Bi 2 O 2 Se 1‐x Te x nanosheets are synthesized via organic ion template‐guided solution growth method, with Te doping controlled by the Te/Se molar ratio. Optical spectroscopy confirmed that tellurium doping significantly modulates the electronic properties of Bi 2 O 2 Se. When the doping molar concentration is 30%, its bandgap decreases to 0.57 eV. Therefore, Bi 2 O 2 Se 1‐x Te x nanosheet‐based photodetector demonstrates obvious enhancement of the photoelectric response in the near‐infrared region. Notably, Bi 2 O 2 Se 0.7 Te 0.3 photodetector demonstrates broadband photosensitivity across 650–1550 nm, with high responsivity of 32.87 A W −1 and enhanced detectivity of 8.89 × 10 9 Jones at 1060 nm. The device also features a short response time of 16.8/11 µs at 1550 nm. Moreover, the photo‐response of the detector shows reliable working stability. Finally, the photodetector is utilized for single‐pixel imaging, showcasing its high‐contrast infrared light detection capability. These results indicate that Bi 2 O 2 Se 1‐x Te x is a promising material for high‐sensitivity infrared light detection applications.
2D MXene are showing great prospects for EMI shielding by virtue of abundant surface functional groups and outstanding metallic electrical conductivity. However, it remains a great challenge to simultaneously achieve flexible, lightweight and high stability in MXene shielding materials due to inferior mechanical strength and poor oxidation stability. Gelation paves up an effective and facile strategy to develop highly stable and conductive 3D porous Ti3C2Tx architectures. Herein, super-flexible and highly conductive H-Ti3C2Tx MXene composite films with 3D macro-assemblies for EMI shielding were fabricated through a gelation-densification process initiated by hydrochloric acids, and two-step vacuum-assisted filtration followed by freeze-casting approach. The obtained nanocomposite films manifest satisfactory mechanical properties with a tensile strength of 116.51 MPa, excellent EMI SE of 55.14 dB, superior SSE/t and high EMI SE retention after 5000 cycles of bending deformation. In addition, the as-prepared nanocomposite papers demonstrate outstanding thermal management performances such as rapid response time, high Joule heating temperature (118 °C) at low applied voltage (2.5 V) and eminent working stability (4000 s).
For thousands of years, wood has been utilized as a natural, abundant, and sustainable material for structural construction and furniture. To enhance its value, we have developed a simple process that can directly convert low-value wood (including cracked wood, chips, shives, and other wood residues) into high-performance allcellulose ionogels. This process involves delignification, in situ dissolution of cellulose, and self-assembly of molecular cellulose chains. The resulting ionogel exhibits excellent properties such as high ion conductivity (-60 mS/cm), mechanical strength (-6 MPa), and self-healing capability (-10 min). Notably, it also demonstrates exceptional freeze tolerance, withstanding temperatures as low as -50 degrees C while maintaining high ion conductivity (-6.4 mS/cm). The ionogel is a versatile substrate for flexible electronic circuits. We have developed a sensor utilizing this ionogel that is breathable, flexible, and highly responsive to temperature, humidity, and strain. Furthermore, we have used it as a gel electrolyte to create supercapacitors with exceptional performance even in low-temperature conditions. The ionic liquid can be reused, with an all-cellulose framework that breaks down naturally in moist soil within 15 days. This sustainable method of producing high-performance ionogels from low-value wood has immense potential in shaping the next generation of soft, intelligent devices.
Soft ionic conductors are widely used in flexible electronics. However, the simultaneous enhancement of their mechanical properties and ionic conductivity remains challenging. This paper reports the successful development of a strong and tough cellulose-based ionic conductor with exceptional mechanical properties and high ionic conductivity by in situ dissolution and reorganization of the fiber matrix of filter paper to create a multiscale structure. The resulting ionic conductor exhibits a fracture strength of 14.13 MPa and a fracture energy of up to 2.84 MJ/m3, exceeding most reported ionic conductors. It also exhibits an impressive ionic conductivity of up to 76.3 mS/cm. Results of experiments on its use in a flexible quasi-solid-state zinc-hybrid supercapacitor show its remarkable features, such as a high capacity of 218 mAh/g, an energy density of 217 Wh/kg, and a power density of 17,520 W/kg. Furthermore, it exhibits excellent temperature resistance, working effectively even at -60 degrees C. In addition, by incorporating kirigami structures, we fabricated a strain sensor with the cellulose-based ionic conductor with a high gauge factor, as well as a piezoresistive sensor for handwriting recognition and a capacitance pressure sensor for force mapping with wide range and sensitivity. This study opens up new possibilities for fabricating flexible electronics with superior performance using sustainable and renewable resources.
The deposition of Ti 3 C 2 T x nanosheets onto an ultralight melamine sponge (MS) holds great appeal for constructing mechanically robust and high-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composites. However, the full potential of Ti 3 C 2 T x materials for shielding performance is impeded by the insufficient affinity between Ti 3 C 2 T x nanosheets and MS. Herein, with the assistance of cellulose nanofibers (CNF), large-sized singlelayer Ti 3 C 2 T x nanosheets were firmly attached to the MS skeleton and enveloped the pores. The obtained Ti 3 C 2 T x /MS composite sponges exhibit a unique multi-cavity structure. Moreover, hydrophobic modification was applied to the composites through the use of two-component silane coupling agents. The silane-modified multicavity structured composite sponges demonstrate significant enhancements in conductivity, mechanical strength, and environmental stability. Particularly, the incorporation of 17 wt% CNF leads to a 29.3 dB increases in shielding efficiency (SE) for the composite sponge. The enhancement can be attributed to the high reflectance of electromagnetic waves due to the highly conductive Ti 3 C 2 T x /CNF cavity-membranes, the multiple internal reflections within the multi-cavity structure, and the improved interfacial polarization loss capability facilitated by the abundance of MXene-CNF interfaces.
A simple synthesis of face-centered cubic (fcc) Ru and RuO2 co-existing electrocatalysts for excellent overall water splitting through reasonable design and assembly protocols remains a formidable challenge. Herein, an fcc Ru-RuO2/C electrocatalyst was successfully synthesized by the wet impregnation method with the help of an alkaline solvent for the first time by one-step annealing. As expected, the overpotential of fcc Ru-RuO2/C at 10 mA cm(-2) is 30 mV and 283 mV for the HER and OER, respectively, which is better than the 44 mV and 331 mV of commercial Pt/C and RuO2. Theoretical calculations reveal that the superior performance is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of fcc Ru and RuO2 nanoparticles in changing the electronic structure and making the adsorption behavior of reaction intermediates reach the desirable level, thus greatly accelerating the hydrogen evolution kinetics and reducing the energy barrier of oxygen evolution. This work not only highlights the importance of phase engineering, but also elucidates the necessity for obtaining bifunctional catalysts in which a metal and an oxide co-exist.
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have emerged as competitive systems for grid-scale energy storage due to their high safety and low cost. However, the lack of suitable high-performance cathode composites limits the practical progress of ZIBs. Herein, a novel cathode material, ammonium cation-inserted and oxygen vacancy co-modulated VO2 (named NVE), was firstly synthesized through the ethylene glycol (EG) sacrificial solvent-assisted structure transformation with the ammonium vanadate (named NV) as the precursor. The sacrificial solvent promotes the structural transformation of ammonium vanadate to NH4+-intercalated vanadium oxide and enhances the number of oxygen vacancies in the resulting material. Moreover, the electrochemical activation process was performed for in-situ construction of NH4+-inserted hydrated vanadium oxide (V2O5 & sdot;nH2O) material. The electrochemical activation process with high anodic voltage enables multiple electron reactions, increasing the utilization of vanadium elements and achieving high capacity. Additionally, the formed hydrogen bonds between the V-O host and inserted NH4+ ions can enhance the structural integrity, while the oxygen vacancies decrease the interaction between the V-O host and inserted Zn2+ ions to boost ion diffusion. Consequently, the resulting activated cathode demonstrates higher capacity (441 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g), superior cycling durability (85.6 % retention over 4000 cycles), and exceptional rate capability (205 mAh/g at 20 A/g). Besides, the fabricated devices based on the activated NVE cathode show decent capacity and excellent flexible stability. Furthermore, the reversible electrochemical Zn2+ storage mechanism upon battery cycling was evaluated by several kinetic measurements and in/ex-situ characterizations. This work provides novel perspectives for the fabrication of advanced cathode materials for superior aqueous ZIBs.