A General Sol-Gel Route to Fabricate Large-Area Highly-Ordered Metal Oxide Arrays Toward High-Performance Zinc-Air Batteries.

A universal method is demonstrated for the fabrication of large-area highly ordered microporous arrayed metal oxides based on a high-quality self-assembly opal template combined with a sucrose-assisted sol-gel technique. Sucrose as a chelating agent optimizes precursor infiltration and regulates both oxide formation and the melting process of polystyrene templates, thus preventing crack formation during infiltration and calcination. As a result, over 20 metal element-based 3DOM oxides with arbitrary compositions are successfully prepared.

Single-layer MoS/graphene-based stable on-chip Zn-ion microbattery for monolithically integrated electronics.

Self-powered microelectronics are essential for the sustained and autonomous operations of wireless electronics and microrobots. However, they are challenged by integratable microenergy supplies. Herein, we report a single-layer (SL) MoS/graphene heterostructure for stable Zn-ion microbatteries.

WiFi-Powered Sensor Integrated into a Smart Glove with a Fully Fabric Antenna for the Human-Machine Interface.

The integration of flexible sensors into human-machine interfaces (HMIs) is in increasing demand for intuitive and effective manipulation. Traditional glove-based HMIs, constrained by nonconformal rigid structures or the need for bulky batteries, face limitations in continuous operation. Addressing this, we introduce yarn-based bend sensors in our smart glove, which are wirelessly powered and harvest energy from a fully textile 5.

Recent advances in hydrogel-based flexible strain sensors for harsh environment applications.

Flexible strain sensors are broadly investigated in electronic skins and human-machine interaction due to their light weight, high sensitivity, and wide sensing range. Hydrogels with unique three-dimensional network structures are widely used in flexible strain sensors for their exceptional flexibility and adaptability to mechanical deformation. However, hydrogels often suffer from damage, hardening, and collapse under harsh conditions, such as extreme temperatures and humidity levels, which lead to sensor performance degradation or even failure.

Backside Coating for Stable Zn Anode with High Utilization Rate.

Stable Zn anodes with high utilization rate are urgently required to promote the specific and volumetric energy densities of Zn-ion batteries for practical applications. Herein, contrary to the widely utilized surface coating on Zn anodes, this work shows that a zinc foil with a backside coated layer delivers much enhanced cycling stability even under high depth of discharge. The backside coating significantly reduces stress concentration, accelerates heat diffusion, and facilitates electron transfer, thus effectively preventing dendrite growth and structural damage at high Zn utilization.

High intrinsic phase stability of ultrathin 2M WS.

Metallic 2M or 1T'-phase transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) attract increasing interests owing to their fascinating physicochemical properties, such as superconductivity, optical nonlinearity, and enhanced electrochemical activity. However, these TMDs are metastable and tend to transform to the thermodynamically stable 2H phase. In this study, through systematic investigation and theoretical simulation of phase change of 2M WS, we demonstrate that ultrathin 2M WS has significantly higher intrinsic thermal stabilities than the bulk counterparts.

Bio-Inspired Trace Hydroxyl-Rich Electrolyte Additives for High-Rate and Stable Zn-Ion Batteries at Low Temperatures.

High-rate and stable Zn-ion batteries working at low temperatures are highly desirable for practical applications, but are challenged by sluggish kinetics and severe corrosion. Herein, inspired by frost-resistant plants, we report trace hydroxyl-rich electrolyte additives that implement a dual remodeling effect for high-performance low-temperature Zn-ion batteries. The additive with high Zn absorbability not only remodels Zn primary solvent shell by alternating H O molecules, but also forms a shielding layer thus remodeling the Zn surface, which effectively enhances fast Zn de-solvation reaction kinetics and prohibits Zn anode corrosion.

Functional Laminated Fiber Scaffold Based on Titanium Monoxide for Lithium Metal-Based Batteries.

Lithium metal-based rechargeable batteries are attracting increasing attention due to their high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. However, the dendrite growth leads to short circuits or even explosions and rapid depletion of active materials and electrolytes. Here, a functionalized and laminated scaffold (PVDF/TiO@C fiber) based on lithiophilic titanium monoxide is rationally designed to inhibit dendrite growth.

Sphere-Confined Reversible Zn Deposition for Stable Alkaline Aqueous Batteries.

The practical applications of alkaline zinc-based batteries are challenged by poor rechargeability with an insufficient zinc utilization ratio. Herein, a sphere-confined reversible zinc deposition behavior from a free-standing Zn anode is reported, which is composed of bi-continuous ZnO-protected interconnected and hollowed Zn microspheres by the Kirkendall effect. The cross-linked Zn network with in situ formed outer ZnO shell and inner hollow space not only inhibits side reactions but also ensures long-range conductivity and accommodates shape change, which induces preferential reversible zinc dissolution-deposition process in the inner space and maintains structural integrity even under high zinc utilization ratio.

Liquid Metal-Based Stable and Stretchable Zn-Ion Battery for Electronic Textiles.

Electronic textiles harmoniously interact with the human body and the surrounding environment, offering tremendous interest in smart wearable electronics. However, their wide application faces challenges due to the lack of stable and stretchable power electrodes/devices with multifunctional design. Herein, an intrinsically stretchable liquid metal-based fibrous anode for a stable Zn-ion battery (ZIB) is reported.

Flexible Energy Storage Devices to Power the Future.

The field of flexible electronics is a crucial driver of technological advancement, with a strong connection to human life and a unique role in various areas such as wearable devices and healthcare. Consequently, there is an urgent demand for flexible energy storage devices (FESDs) to cater to the energy storage needs of various forms of flexible products. FESDs can be classified into three categories based on spatial dimension, all of which share the features of excellent electrochemical performance, reliable safety, and superb flexibility.

Ultraviolet-Assisted Printing of Flexible Solid-State Zn-Ion Battery with a Heterostructure Electrolyte.

Flexible solid-state Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) have garnered considerable attention for next-generation power sources, but the corrosion, dendrite growth, and interfacial problems severely hinder their practical applications. Herein, a high-performance flexible solid-state ZIB with a unique heterostructure electrolyte is facilely fabricated through ultraviolet-assisted printing strategy. The solid polymer/hydrogel heterostructure matrix not only isolates water molecules and optimizes electric field distribution for dendrite-free anode, but also facilitates fast and in-depth Zn transport in the cathode.

Wood-Derived Continuously Oriented Three-Phase Interfacial Channels for High-Performance Quasi-Solid-State Alkaline Zinc Batteries.

Although recently developed hybrid zinc (Zn) batteries integrate the benefits of both alkaline Zn and Zn-air batteries, the kinetics of the electrocatalytic oxygen reaction and mass transfer of the electrolyte, which are limited by the mismatched and disordered multiphase reaction's interfacial transfer channels, considerably inhibit the performance of hybrid Zn batteries. In this work, novel, continuously oriented three-phase interfacial channels at the cathode derived from the natural structure of pine wood are developed to address these challenges. A pine wood chip is carbonized and asymmetrically loaded with a hydrophilic active material to achieve the creation of a wood-derived cathode that integrates the active material, current collector, and continuously oriented three-phase reaction interfacial channels, which allows the reaction dynamics to be accelerated.

3D Printed Graphene-Based Metamaterials: Guesting Multi-Functionality in One Gain.

Advanced functional materials with fascinating properties and extended structural design have greatly broadened their applications. Metamaterials, exhibiting unprecedented physical properties (mechanical, electromagnetic, acoustic, etc.), are considered frontiers of physics, material science, and engineering.

Gradient design of imprinted anode for stable Zn-ion batteries.

Achieving long-term stable zinc anodes at high currents/capacities remains a great challenge for practical rechargeable zinc-ion batteries. Herein, we report an imprinted gradient zinc electrode that integrates gradient conductivity and hydrophilicity for long-term dendrite-free zinc-ion batteries. The gradient design not only effectively prohibits side reactions between the electrolyte and the zinc anode, but also synergistically optimizes electric field distribution, zinc ion flux and local current density, which induces preferentially deposited zinc in the bottom of the microchannels and suppresses dendrite growth even under high current densities/capacities.

Highly Efficient All-3D-Printed Electrolyzer toward Ultrastable Water Electrolysis.

The practical application of electrochemical water splitting has been plagued by the sluggish kinetics of bubble generation and the slow escape of bubbles which block reaction surfaces at high current densities. Here, 3D-printed Ni (3DP Ni) electrodes with a rationally designed periodic structure and surface chemistry are reported, where the macroscopic ordered pores allow fast bubble evolution and emission, while the microporosity ensures a high electrochemically active surface area (ECSA). When they are further loaded with MoNi and NiFe layered double hydroxide active materials, the 3D electrodes deliver 500 mA cm at an overpotential of 104 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 310 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively.

Stable Zn Anodes with Triple Gradients.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are highly desirable for sustainable energy storage, but the undesired Zn dendrites growth severely shortens the cycle life. Herein, a triple-gradient electrode that simultaneously integrates gradient conductivity, zincophilicity, and porosity is facilely constructed for a dendrite-free Zn anode. The simple mechanical rolling-induced triple-gradient design effectively optimizes the electric field distribution, Zn ion flux, and Zn deposition paths in the Zn anode, thus synergistically achieving a bottom-up deposition behavior for Zn metals and preventing the short circuit from top dendrite growth.

Internal Maxillary Artery-Radial Artery-Middle Cerebral Artery Bypass and STA-MCA Bypass for the Treatment of Complex Middle Cerebral Artery Bifurcation Aneurysm: A Case Report.

Background: Children's complex middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm is a relatively rare occurrence. When the huge aneurysm is located in the MCA bifurcation with an inconspicuous neck and involving numerous arteries, intravascular interventional surgery or aneurysm clipping are often difficult treatment options. At this point, high flow bypass revascularization is necessary as a treatment to preserve cerebral blood flow.

MOF-Derived Bifunctional CoSe Nanoparticles Embedded in N-Doped Carbon Nanosheet Arrays as Efficient Sulfur Hosts for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur batteries possess the merits of low cost and high theoretical energy density but suffer from the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides and slow redox kinetics of sulfur. Herein, novel CoSe nanoparticles embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheet arrays (CoSe/NC) were constructed on carbon cloth as the self-supported host for a sulfur cathode using a facile fabrication strategy. The interconnected porous carbon-based structure of the CoSe/NC could facilitate the rapid electron and ion transfer kinetics.

Fabrication of 3D-Printed Ceramic Structures for Portable Solar Desalination Devices.

This paper proposes the fabrication process of the first fully 3D-printed ceramic core structures for portable solar desalination devices optimized to tackle water scarcity from an energy and sustainability perspective. Robocasting, a 3D printing technique, is utilized to fabricate a fully ceramic structure of an integrated solar absorber/thermal insulator/water transporter based on the two-layered structure of modified graphene on silica (MG@Silica) and the porous silica structure. Robocasting has demonstrated its flexibility in tailoring structural designs, combining nanopores and microchannels that exhibit uniform water transport delivery and thermal insulation.

Structure-Enhanced Mechanically Robust Graphite Foam with Ultrahigh MnO Loading for Supercapacitors.

With the fast bloom of flexible electronics and green vehicles, it is vitally important to rationally design and facilely construct customized functional materials with excellent mechanical properties as well as high electrochemical performance. Herein, by utilizing two modern industrial techniques, digital light processing (DLP) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD), a unique 3D hollow graphite foam (HGF) is demonstrated, which shows a periodic porous structure and robust mechanical properties. Finite element analysis (FEA) results confirm that the properly designed gyroidal porous structure provides a uniform stress area and mitigates potential structural failure caused by stress concentrations.

Developmental onset of enduring long-term potentiation in mouse hippocampus.

Analysis of long-term potentiation (LTP) provides a powerful window into cellular mechanisms of learning and memory. Prior work shows late LTP (L-LTP), lasting >3 hr, occurs abruptly at postnatal day 12 (P12) in the stratum radiatum of rat hippocampal area CA1. The goal here was to determine the developmental profile of synaptic plasticity leading to L-LTP in the mouse hippocampus.

Recent progress on hollow array architectures and their applications in electrochemical energy storage.

The structural design of electrode materials is one of the most important factors that determines the electrochemical performance of energy storage devices. In recent years, hollow micro-/nanoarray structures have been widely explored for energy applications due to their unique structural advantages. Their complex hollow interior and shell arrays enable fast ion diffusion/transport, provide abundant active sites and accommodate volume changes.

Recent Advances on Self-Supported Arrayed Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Flexible Solid-State Zn-Air Batteries.

Flexible solid-state Zn-air batteries have been rapidly developed benefiting from the uprising demand for wearable electronic devices, wherein the air electrode integrated with efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts plays an important role to achieve high performance. Binder-free self-supported bifunctional catalysts can provide large active surface area, fast electron transport path, easy ion diffusion, and excellent structural stability and flexibility, thus acting as promising flexible air cathodes. In this review, recent advances on the application of nanoarrayed electrocatalysts as air cathodes in flexible Zn-air batteries are reviewed.