Nanoscale Spatially Resolved Terahertz Response of a PbS-Graphene Heterostructure.

Heterostructures have promising applications in photonics and optoelectronics, mainly due to their high electron mobility and broadband photoresponse covering visible, infrared, and terahertz (THz) ranges. However, it is challenging to detect heterostructures in high definition with conventional THz techniques. Here we demonstrate a THz nanoscopic imaging method which is capable of resolving the local THz response of PbS-graphene heterostructures based upon a sophisticated THz near-field optical microscope.

A Wafer-Level Fabricated Heating-Vacuum Micro-Platform with Resonant MEMS Monolithically Integrated.

This paper presents a silicon-based wafer-level vacuum packaging platform with a monolithically integrated micro-oven. This system provides vacuum and constant temperature operating conditions to improve the performance of resonant micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) devices. Based on a three-layer wafer-level vacuum packaging process, the platform integrates a silicon thermistor, a thermal isolation structure, and a heater with the addition of a mask and an additional silicon wafer.

A miniaturized MEMS accelerometer with anti-spring mechanism for enhancing sensitivity.

Anti-spring mechanisms are widely used for improving the noise performance of MEMS accelerometers due to their stiffness softening effect. However, the existing mechanisms typically require large bias force and displacement for achieving stiffness softening, leading to large device dimensions. Here, we propose a novel anti-spring mechanism composed of two pre-shaped curved beams connected in a parallel configuration, which can achieve stiffness softening without requiring large bias force and displacement.

Optimizing C─C Coupling on Cu/Cu/Ga Interfaces by Enhancing Active Hydrogen Absorption for Excellent CO-to-C Electrosynthesis.

The electrocatalytic reduction of CO (CORR) to high-value chemicals and fuels offers a promising route for a clean carbon cycle. However, it often suffers from low catalytic activity and poor selectivity. Heterostructure construction has been shown to be an effective strategy for producing multi-carbon products, but the synergistic mechanisms between multiple active sites resulting from the reconstruction process remain unclear.

Nanoscale Resist-Free Patterning of Halogenated Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks by Extreme UV Lithography.

Advancements in patterning techniques for metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crucial for their integration into microelectronics. However, achieving precise nanoscale control of MOF structures remains challenging. In this work, a resist-free method for patterning MOFs is demonstrated using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography with a resolution of 40 nm.

Functional design of metal aerogels for wearable electrochemical biosensing devices.

Metal aerogels (MAs) represent a novel class of aerogels composed entirely of interconnected metal nanoparticles or nanostructures. They integrate the unique physicochemical properties of metals with the high surface area and porosity of traditional aerogels, resulting in high electrochemical activity, efficient mass and electron transport, and considerable mechanical stability. These attributes make MAs particularly appealing for applications in wearable electrochemical biosensing devices.

An ultra-violet and infrared dual-band photodetector using a GaO thin film and HgTe colloidal quantum dots.

Dual-band photodetection of ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) light is an advanced technology aimed at simultaneously or selectively detecting signals from these two distinct wavelength bands. This technique offers broad application prospects, particularly in environments requiring multispectral information. In this work, a solar-blind UV photodetector made from an amorphous GaO (a-GaO) thin film was combined with a short-wave infrared photodetector made from a HgTe colloidal quantum dot (CQD) film.

Demonstration of 300 mm RF-SOI wafers fabricated by layer transfer technology.

State-of-the-art telecom applications have brought a real challenge to the radio-frequency silicon-on-insulator (RF-SOI) performance. This paper presents the key fabrication technologies for domestic 300 mm RF-SOI wafers fulfilling high-volume manufacture for the first time. To achieve stress relaxation, atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) coupled with annealing and chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) was applied to deposit the Poly-Si layer, resulting in a handle wafer with higher resistivity and lower warpage.

Si-HgTe Quantum Dot Visible-Infrared Photodetector.

Silicon photodetectors are well developed, with the advantage of their low cost and easy fabrication. However, due to the semiconductor band gap limitation, their detection wavelength is limited in the visible and near-infrared ranges. To broaden the detection wavelength, we stacked a mercury telluride (HgTe) colloidal quantum dot (CQD) photodiode and a silicon PIN photodiode in series.

Brain compensatory activation during Stroop task in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.

Purpose: This study investigated the disparities in brain activation patterns during the Stroop task among individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and those without any cognitive impairments (healthy controls, HCs) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Methods: We analyzed the cortical activation patterns of 73 patients with MCI and 63 HC individuals as they completed the Stroop task, employing fNIRS. The regions of interest (ROIs) included the dorsal prefrontal cortex (dPFC), ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), and parietal lobe (PL).

Ultra-Thick Graphene Films with High Thermal Conductivity Through a Non-Stacking Strategy.

The growing heat flow density from the miniaturization trend of electronic devices seriously challenges the heat diffusion in electronic systems. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for thermal management materials with both thermal conductivity (K) and material thickness (d) to effectively transfer devices' heat flux. Graphene films (GFs) with high K have attracted significant attention, but achieving both high K and large d remains challenging due to graphene's intrinsic properties and fabrication limitations.

Chameleon-Inspired Photoelectric-Driven Multifunctional Memristors Based on Polyoxometalate for an Adaptive-Recognition-Tuning System.

Integrating the color-tuning ability of natural organisms with memory functions into a single device is crucial for developing biomimetic intelligent systems. Despite significant efforts, a gap remains between the existing "passive and integrated" tuning methods and the "active and independent" strategies observed in organisms. Here, we propose a multifunctional memristor combining programmable color modulation and brain-inspired functions, fabricated using polyoxometalates, HPMoVO.

AI-enabled diagnosis and localization of myocardial ischemia and coronary artery stenosis from magnetocardiographic recordings.

Early diagnosis and localization of myocardial ischemia (MS) and coronary artery stenosis (CAS) play a crucial role in the effective prevention and management of ischemic heart disease (IHD). Magnetocardiography (MCG) has emerged as a promising approach for non-invasive, non-contact, and high-sensitivity assessment of cardiac dysfunction. This study presents a multi-center, AI-enabled diagnosis and localization of myocardial ischemia and coronary artery stenosis from MCG data.

Controllable magnetism and an anomalous Hall effect in (BiSb)Te-intercalated MnBiTe multilayers.

MnBiTe-based superlattices not only enrich the materials family of magnetic topological insulators, but also offer a platform for tailoring magnetic properties and interlayer magnetic coupling through the strategic insertion layer design. Here, we present the electrical and magnetic characterization of (BiSb)Te-intercalated MnBiTe multilayers grown by molecular beam epitaxy. By precisely adjusting the Sb-to-Bi ratio in the spacer layer, the magneto-transport response is modulated, unveiling the critical role of Fermi level tuning in optimizing the anomalous Hall signal and reconfiguring the magnetic ground state.

Direct Photopatterning of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks via Photoinduced Fluorination.

Precise and effective patterning strategies are essential for integrating metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into microelectronics, photonics, sensors, and other solid-state devices. Direct lithography of MOFs with light and other irradiation sources has emerged as a promising patterning strategy. However, existing direct lithography methods often rely on the irradiation-induced amorphization of the MOFs structures and the breaking of strong covalent bonds in their organic linkers.

A hybrid single quantum dot coupled cavity on a CMOS-compatible SiC photonic chip for Purcell-enhanced deterministic single-photon emission.

The ability to control nonclassical light emission from a single quantum emitter by an integrated cavity may unleash new perspectives for integrated photonic quantum applications. However, coupling a single quantum emitter to cavity within photonic circuitry towards creation of the Purcell-enhanced single-photon emission is elusive due to the complexity of integrating active devices in low-loss photonic circuits. Here we demonstrate a hybrid micro-ring resonator (HMRR) coupled with self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) for cavity-enhanced deterministic single-photon emission.

Integrating Electric Ambipolar Effect for High-Performance Zinc Bromide Batteries.

The coupling of fast redox kinetics, high-energy density, and prolonged lifespan is a permanent aspiration for aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries, but which has been severely hampered by a narrow voltage range and suboptimal compatibility between the electrolytes and electrodes. Here, we unprecedentedly introduced an electric ambipolar effect for synergistic manipulation on Zn ternary-hydrated eutectic electrolyte (ZTE) enabling high-performance Zn-Br batteries. The electric ambipolar effect motivates strong dipole interactions among hydrated perchlorates and bipolar ligands of L-carnitine (L-CN) and sulfamide, which reorganized primary cations solvation sheath in a manner of forming Zn[(L-CN)(SA)(HO)] configuration and dynamically restricting desolvated HO molecules, thus ensuring a broadened electrochemical window of 2.

Degradation Mechanism of TOPCon Solar Cells in an Ambient Acid Environment.

n-Type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cells are expected to dominate the global photovoltaic market in the next decade, primarily owing to their rapidly increasing power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, acids generated from encapsulant hydrolysis under damp-heat (DH) conditions significantly impair the reliability of TOPCon solar cells. This study evaluated the degradation behavior of TOPCon solar cells under an accelerated test in an ambient acid environment.

Ga@MXene-based flexible wearable biosensor for glucose monitoring in sweat.

Most wearable biosensors struggle to balance flexibility and conductivity in their sensing interfaces. In this study, we propose a wearable sensor featuring a highly stretchable, three-dimensional conductive network structure based on liquid metal. The sensor interface utilizes a patterned Ga@MXene hydrogel system, where gallium (Ga) grafted onto MXene provides enhanced electrical conductivity and malleability.

Subcutaneous depth-selective spectral imaging with mμSORS enables noninvasive glucose monitoring.

Noninvasive blood glucose monitoring offers substantial advantages for patients, but current technologies are often not sufficiently accurate for clinical applications or require personalized calibration. Here we report multiple μ-spatially offset Raman spectroscopy, which captures Raman signals at varying skin depths, and show that it accurately detects blood glucose levels in humans. In 35 individuals with or without type 2 diabetes, we first determine the optimal depth for glucose detection to be at or below the capillary-rich dermal-epidermal junction, where we observe a strong correlation between specific Raman bands and venous plasma glucose concentrations.

Ion Irradiation-Induced Coordinatively Unsaturated Zn Sites for Enhanced CO Hydrogenation.

Defect engineering critically influences metal oxide catalysis, yet controlling coordinatively unsaturated metal sites remains challenging due to their inherent instability under reaction conditions. Here, we demonstrate that high-flux argon ion (Ar) irradiation above recrystallization temperatures generated well-defined coordinatively unsaturated Zn (CUZ) sites on ZnO(101̅0) surfaces that exhibited enhanced stability and activity for CO hydrogenation. Combining low-temperature scanning probe microscopy, ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and surface-ligand infrared spectroscopy with density functional theory calculations, we identified <12̅10> step edges exposing CUZ sites as the dominant active sites.

Highly Specific and Sensitive SERS Detection of Putrescine Using Au Nanobowls@Cu-MOF Embedded in a Hydrogel Nanoreactor.

Putrescine is of concern due to its toxicity and applications in monitoring food spoilage and water quality. However, it is difficult to realize highly selective and sensitive detection of putrescine with interferences from other biogenetic amines with similar molecular structures. In this work, Au nanobowls modified by Cu-MOF (core-shell Au bowl@Cu MOF) together with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) are embedded into sodium alginate hydrogel to construct a unique SERS substrate (OPA-Au bowl@Cu MOF/hydrogel) for sensing of putrescine.

Amorphous PdRuO as High-Activity Sensitizers for Ultrafast Low-Humidity Sensors.

Amorphous noble metals often display excellent sensitization due to their unsaturated atomic coordination and abundant active sites on the surface. In this work, amorphous palladium-ruthenium bimetallic nanoparticles were successfully prepared by lithium doping and incorporated into MOF-303 by using a confinement strategy. Compared with crystalline c-PdRuO@MOF-303, the low-humidity sensor constructed with amorphous a-PdRuO@MOF-303 exhibits higher response values (3600 Hz to 3.

Exogenous Coreactant-Free Electrocatalytic Reactive Oxygen Species-Driven Dual-Signal Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemiluminescence Sensor for the Detection of Trenbolone.

Conventional dual-signal electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensors feature high sensitivity and reliability, but the involvement of coreactants inevitably results in a complex configuration and shows reproducibility risk. Here, we propose an exogenous coreactant-free dual-signal platform, comprising luminol (anodic luminophore), CdSe quantum dots (cathodic luminophore), and CoO/TiC electrocatalyst (coreaction promoter). At different redox potentials, CoO/TiC induces water oxidation and oxygen reduction to produce OH and O radicals, which subsequently drive cathodic and anodic ECL emission, respectively.

Self-powered biomedical devices: biology, materials, and their interfaces.

Integrating biomedical electronic devices holds profound promise for advancements in healthcare and enhancing individuals' quality of life. However, the persistent challenges associated with the traditional batteries' limited lifespan and bulkiness hinder these devices' long-term functionality and consistent power supply. Here, we delve into the biology and material interfaces in self-powered medical devices by summarizing the intrinsic electric demands in humans, analyzing material and biological mechanisms for electricity generation and storage, and discussing the pathways toward self-chargeable powering.