Fabrication of Ultrafine L1-FePt-Based Magnetic Patterns Enabled by Single-Step Nanoimprint-Assisted Block Copolymer Self-Assembly.

The bit islands in magnetic patterns play a crucial role in advancing magnetic recording density, but the trade-off issues between miniaturization and scalable production are still challenging. Here we present a two-in-one technique of nanoimprint lithography (NIL)-assisted self-assembly using a specially engineered FePt-containing block copolymer (BCP), offering a simple one-step fabrication for L1-FePt bit-patterned media with high throughput. This method combines top-down NIL with bottom-up self-assembly to precisely control the ultrafine magnetic bits in the nanoscale patterns.

High-Performance Ideal Bandgap Sn-Pb Mixed Perovskite Solar Cells Achieved by MXene Passivation.

Ideal bandgap (1.3-1.4 eV) Sn-Pb mixed perovskite solar cells (PSC) hold the maximum theoretical efficiency given by the Shockley-Queisser limit.

Heterogeneous CuO Nano-Skeletons from Waste Electronics for Enhanced Glucose Detection.

Electronic waste (e-waste) and diabetes are global challenges to modern societies. However, solving these two challenges together has been challenging until now. Herein, we propose a laser-induced transfer method to fabricate portable glucose sensors by recycling copper from e-waste.

Seeing Through Muddy Water: Laser-Induced Graphene for Portable Tomography Imaging.

Due to its outstanding physical and chemical properties, graphene synthesized by laser scribing on polyimide (PI) offers excellent opportunities for photothermal applications, antiviral and antibacterial surfaces, and electrochemical storage and sensing. However, the utilization of such graphene for imaging is yet to be explored. Herein, using chemically durable and electrically conductive laser-induced graphene (LIG) for tomography imaging in aqueous suspensions is proposed.

Separators Modified with Ultrathin Montmorillonite/Polymer Nanocoatings Achieve Dendrite-Free Lithium Deposition at High Current Densities.

Fatal dendritic growth in lithium metal batteries is closely related to the composition and thickness of the modified separator. Herein, an ultrathin nanocoating composed of monolayer montmorillonite (MMT), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) on a polypropylene separator is prepared. The MMT was exfoliated into monolayers (only 0.

Multifunctional laser-induced graphene circuits and laser-printed nanomaterials toward non-invasive human kidney function monitoring.

Faced with the increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), portable monitoring of CKD-related biomarkers such as potassium ion (K), creatinine (Cre), and lactic acid (Lac) levels in sweat has shown tremendous potential for early diagnosis. However, a rapidly manufacturable portable device integrating multiple CKD-related biomarker sensors for ease of sweat testing use has yet to be reported. Here, a portable electrochemical sensor integrated with multifunctional laser-induced graphene (LIG) circuits and laser-printed nanomaterials based working electrodes fabricated by fully automatic laser manufacturing is proposed for non-invasive human kidney function monitoring.

An ultrawide field-of-view pinhole compound eye using hemispherical nanowire array for robot vision.

Garnering inspiration from biological compound eyes, artificial vision systems boasting a vivid range of diverse visual functional traits have come to the fore recently. However, most of these artificial systems rely on transformable electronics, which suffer from the complexity and constrained geometry of global deformation, as well as potential mismatches between optical and detector units. Here, we present a unique pinhole compound eye that combines a three-dimensionally printed honeycomb optical structure with a hemispherical, all-solid-state, high-density perovskite nanowire photodetector array.

In situ Electrical Impedance Tomography for Visualizing Water Transportation in Hygroscopic Aerogels.

The global water crisis demands immediate attention, and atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) provides a viable alternative. However, studying the real-time subtle relationship between water absorption, diffusion, and internal structure for hygroscopic materials is challenging. Herein, a dynamic visualization technique is proposed that utilizes an in situ electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system and a precise reconstruction algorithm to achieve real-time monitoring of the water sorption process within aerogels from an internal microstructural perspective.

Halloysite-derived mesoporous silica with high ionic conductivity improves Li-S battery performance.

The slow Li transport rate in the thick sulfur cathode of the Li-S battery affects its capacity and cycling performance. Herein, Fe-doped highly ordered mesoporous silica material (Fe-HSBA-15) as a sulfur carrier of the Li-S battery shows high ion conductivity (1.10 mS cm) and Li transference number (0.

Roll-to-Roll Manufacturing of Breathable Superhydrophobic Membranes.

Self-cleaning and anti-biofouling are both advantages for lotus-leaf-like superhydrophobic surfaces. Methods for creating superhydrophobicity, including chemical bonding low surface energy molecular fragments and constructing surface morphology with protrusions, micropores, and trapped micro airbags by traditional physical strategies, unfortunately, have encountered challenges. They often involve complex synthesis processes, stubborn chemical accumulation, brutal degradation, or infeasible calculation and imprecise modulation in fabricating hierarchical surface roughness.

High-Throughput Automatic Laser Printing Strategy toward Cost-effective Portable Integrated Urea Tele-Monitoring System.

A portable sweat urea sensing system is a promising solution to satisfy the booming requirement of kidney function tele-monitoring. However, the complicated manufacturing route and the cumbersome electrochemical testing system still need to be improved to develop the urea point-of-care testing (POCT) and tele-monitoring devices. Here, a universal technical route based on a high-throughput automatic laser printing strategy for fabricating the portable integrated urea monitoring system is proposed.

Laser-Induced Transfer of Functional Materials.

Patterning is crucial for the large-scale application of functional materials. Laser-induced transfer is an emerging patterning method for additively depositing functional materials to the target acceptor. With the rapid development of laser technologies, this laser printing method emerges as a versatile method to deposit functional materials in either liquid or solid format.

Rapid and Unamplified Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA via CRISPR-Cas13a-Modified Solution-Gated Graphene Transistors.

The disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is termed COVID-19. Even though COVID-19 has been out for more than two years, it is still causing a global pandemic. Due to the limitations of sample collection, transportation, and kit performance, the traditional reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method has a long detection period and high testing costs.

Highly Sensitive Broadband Phototransistors Based on Gradient Tin/Lead Mixed Perovskites.

Highly sensitive broadband photodetectors are critical to numerous cutting-edge technologies such as biomedical imaging, environment monitoring, and night vision. Here, phototransistors based on mixed Sn/Pb perovskites are reported, which demonstrate ultrahigh responsivity, gain and specific detectivity in a broadband from ultraviolet to near-infrared region. The interface properties of the perovskite phototransistors are optimized by a special three-step cleaning-healing-cleaning treatment, leading to a high hole mobility in the channel.

High Open Circuit Voltage Over 1 V Achieved in Tin-Based Perovskite Solar Cells with a 2D/3D Vertical Heterojunction.

2D-3D mixed tin halide perovskites are outstanding candidate materials for lead-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to their improved stability and decreased trap density in comparison with their pure 3D counterparts. However, the mixture of multiple phases may lead to poor charge transfer across the films and limit the device efficiency. Here, a stacked quasi-2D (down)-3D (top) double-layered structure in perovskite films prepared via vacuum treatment is demonstrated, which can result in a planar bilayer heterojunction.

High-Performance Tin-Lead Mixed-Perovskite Solar Cells with Vertical Compositional Gradient.

Sn-Pb mixed perovskites with bandgaps in the range of 1.1-1.4 eV are ideal candidates for single-junction solar cells to approach the Shockley-Queisser limit.