Toward Flexible Embodied Energy: Scale-Inspired Overlapping Lithium-Ion Batteries with High-Energy-Density and Variable Stiffness

High performance flexible batteries are essential ingredients for flexible devices. However, general isolated flexible batteries face critical challenges in developing multifunctional embodied energy systems, owing to the lack of integrative design. Herein, inspired by scales in creatures, overlapping flexible lithium-ion batteries (FLIBs) consisting of energy storage scales and connections using LiNi_0.5Co_0.2Mn_0.3O₂ (NCM523) and graphite electrodes are presented. The scale-dermis structure ensures a high energy density of 374.4 Wh L⁻¹ as well as a high capacity retention of 93.2% after 200 charge/discharge cycles and 40 000 bending times. A variable stiffness property is revealed that can be controlled by battery configurations and deformation modes. Furthermore, the overlapping FLIBs can be housed directly into the architecture of several flexible devices, such as robots and grippers, allowing to create multifunctionalities that go far beyond energy storage and include load-bearing and variable flexibility. This study broadens the versatility of FLIBs toward energy storage structure engineering of flexible devices.     

Polar Perturbations in Functional Oxide Heterostructures

Growth and characterization of metal-oxide thin films foster successful development of oxide-material-integrated thin-film devices represented by metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFET), drawing enormous technological and scientific interest for several decades. In recent years, functional oxide heterostructures have demonstrated remarkable achievements in modern technologies and provided deeper insights into condensed-matter physics and materials science owing to their versatile tunability and selective amplification of the functionalities. One of the most critical aspects of their physical properties is the polar perturbation stemming from the ionic framework of an oxide. By engineering and exploiting the structural, electrical, magnetic, and optical characteristics through various routes, numerous perceptive studies have clearly shown how polar perturbations advance functionalities or drive exotic physical phenomena in complex oxide heterostructures. In this review, both intrinsic (engraved by thin-film heteroepitaxy) and extrinsic (reversibly controllable defect-mediated disorder and polar adsorbates) elements of polar perturbations, highlighting their abilities for the development of highly tunable functional properties are summarized. Scientifically, the recent approaches of polar perturbations render one to consolidate a prospect of atomic-level manipulation of polar order in epitaxial oxide thin films. Technologically, this review also offers useful guidelines for rational design to heterogeneously integrated oxide-based multi-functional devices with high performances.     

Doped/Undoped A1-A2 Typed Copolymers as ETLs for Highly Efficient Organic Solar Cells

The electron transport layer (ETL) is a critical component in achieving high device performance and stability in organic solar cells. Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) have become an attractive alternative due to film-forming properties and ease of preparation. However, p-type CPEs generally exhibit poor charge mobility and conductivity, incorporation of electron-withdrawing units forming alternated D-A conjugated backbone can make up for these deficiencies. Herein, the ratio of electron withdrawing moieties are further increased and two poly(A1-alt-A2) typed PIIDNDI-Br and PDPPNDI-Br based on the combination of naphthalene diimide (NDI) with isoindigo (IID) or diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) via direct arylation polycondensation are synthesized. These CPEs possess excellent alcohol solubility, a suitable lowest unocuppied molecular orbital energy level, and work function tunability. Surprisingly, the incorporation of IID and DPP units generate distinct self-doping behaviors, which are confirmed by UV–vis absorption and ESR spectra. However, no matter doped or undoped, both CPEs present better charge-transporting properties and conductivity when utilized as ETLs. The PIIDNDI-Br and PDPPNDI-Br display good universal compatibility with the blend of PM6:Y6 and PM6:L8-BO, and PCEs of 18.32% and 18.36% are obtained, respectively, which also present excellent storage stability. In short, the combination of two different acceptors demonstrates an efficient strategy to design highly efficient ETLs for high performance photovoltaic devices.     

Ligand Design in Atomically Precise Copper Nanoclusters and Their Application in Electrocatalytic Reactions

Metal nanoclusters (MNCs) are compositionally well-defined and also structurally precise materials with unique molecule-like properties and discrete electronic energy levels. Atomically precise ligand-protected Cu nanoclusters (LP-CuNCs) are one category of typical MNCs that usually demonstrate unique geometric and electronic structures to serve as electrocatalysts. However, the synthesis, application, as well as structure-performance relationship of LP-CuNCs are not adequately studied. Significantly, the ligands are essential to the geometric structure, crystal structure, size, and electronic structure of LP-CuNCs, which determine their physiochemical properties and applications. In this review, significant progress in the ligand design of LP-CuNCs, and their application in electrocatalytic reactions is introduced. The general basics of ligand-protected MNCs (LP-MNCs) are first introduced and the functions of ligands are emphasized. Subsequently, a series of different ligands for LP-CuNCs including thiolates, phosphines, alkynyl, polymers, and biomolecules are highlighted. Thereafter, their applications in different electrocatalytic reactions are discussed. It is believed that this review will not only inspire the design and synthesis of novel LP-CuNCs, but also contribute to the extension of their applications in electrocatalytic reactions and the establishment of accurate structure-performance relationships.     

Self-Adhesive Polydimethylsiloxane Foam Materials Decorated with MXene/Cellulose Nanofiber Interconnected Network for Versatile Functionalities

Polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) foam as one of next-generation polymer foam materials shows poor surface adhesion and limited functionality, which greatly restricts its potential applications. Fabrication of advanced PDMS foam materials with multiple functionalities remains a critical challenge. In this study, unprecedented self-adhesive PDMS foam materials are reported with worm-like rough structure and reactive groups for fabricating multifunctional PDMS foam nanocomposites decorated with MXene/cellulose nanofiber (MXene/CNF) interconnected network by a facile silicone foaming and dip-coating strategy followed by silane surface modification. Interestingly, such self-adhesive PDMS foam produces strong interfacial adhesion with the hybrid MXene/CNF nano-coatings. Consequently, the optimized PDMS foam nanocomposites have excellent surface super-hydrophobicity (water contact angle of ≈159^o), tunable electrical conductivity (from 10⁻⁸ to 10 S m⁻¹), stable compressive cyclic reliability in both wide-temperature range (from −20 to 200 ^oC) and complex environments (acid, sodium, and alkali conditions), outstanding flame resistance (LOI value of >27% and low smoke production rate), good thermal insulating performance and reliable strain sensing in various stress modes and complex environmental conditions. It provides a new route for the rational design and development of advanced PDMS foam nanocomposites with versatile multifunctionalities for various promising applications such as intelligent healthcare monitoring and fire-safe thermal insulation.     

Hyperelastic,Robust, Fire-Safe Multifunctional MXene Aerogels with Unprecedented Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Efficiency

MXene aerogels have shown great potential for many important functional applications, in particular electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. However, it has been a grand challenge to create mechanically hyperelastic, air-stable, and durable MXene aerogels for enabling effective EMI protection at low concentrations due to the difficulties in achieving tailorable porous structures, excellent mechanical elasticity, and desired antioxidation capabilities of MXene in air. Here, a facile strategy for fabricating MXene composite aerogels by co-assembling MXene and cellulose nanofibers during freeze-drying followed by surface encapsulation with fire-retardant thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is reported. Because of the maximum utilization of pore structures of MXene, and conductive loss enhanced by multiple internal reflections, as-prepared aerogel with 3.14 wt% of MXene exhibits an exceptionally high EMI shielding effectiveness of 93.5 dB, and an ultra-high MXene utilization efficiency of 2977.71 dB g g⁻¹, tripling the values in previous works. Owing to the presence of multiple hydrogen bonding and the TPU elastomer, the aerogel exhibits a hyperelastic feature with additional strength, excellent stability, superior durability, and high fire safety. This study provides a facile strategy for creating multifunctional aerogels with great potential for applications in EMI protection, wearable devices, thermal management, pressure sensing, and intelligent fire monitoring.     

Bioinspired Intervertebral Disc with Multidirectional Stiffness Prepared via Multimaterial Additive Manufacturing

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) has become a significant public health issue worldwide. This can result in loss of spinal function affecting patient health and quality of life. Artificial total disc replacement (A-TDR) is an effective approach for treating symptomatic DDD that compensates for lost functionality and helps patients perform daily activities. However, because current A-TDR devices lack the unique structure and material characteristics of natural intervertebral discs (IVDs), they fail to replicate the multidirectional stiffness needed to match physiological motions and characterize anisotropic behavior. It is still unclear how the multidirectional stiffness of the disc is affected by structural parameters and material characteristics. Herein, a bioinspired intervertebral disc (BIVD-L) based on a representative human lumbar segment is developed. The proposed BIVD-L reproduces the multidirectional stiffness needed for the most common physiological kinematic behaviors. The results demonstrate that the multidirectional stiffness of the BIVD-L can be regulated by structural and material parameters. The results of this research deepen knowledge of the biomechanical behavior of the human lumbar disc and may provide new inspirations for the design and fabrication of A-TDR devices for both engineering and functional applications.     

A Self-Assembled Vertical-Gradient and Well-Dispersed MXene Structure for Flexible Large-Area Perovskite Modules

Advancing hole transport layers (HTL) to realize large-area, flexible, and high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is one of the most challenging issues for its commercialization. Here, a self-assembled gradient Ti₃C₂T_x MXene incorporated PEDOT:PSS HTL is demonstrated to achieve high-performance large-area PSCs by establishing half-caramelization-based glucose-induced MXene redistribution. Through this process, the Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanosheets are spontaneously dispersed and redistributed at the top region of HTL to form the unique gradient distribution structure composed of MXene:Glucose:PEDOT:PSS (MG-PEDOT). These results show that the MG-PEDOT HTL not only offers favorable energy level alignment and efficient charge extraction, but also improves the film quality of perovskite layer featuring enlarged grain size, lower trap density, and longer carrier lifetime. Consequently, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the flexible device based on MG-PEDOT HTL is increased by 36% compared to that of pristine PEDOT:PSS HTL. Meanwhile, the flexible perovskite solar minimodule (15 cm² area) using MG-PEDOT HTL achieve a PCE of 17.06%. The encapsulated modules show remarkable long-term storage stability at 85 °C in ambient air (≈90% efficiency retention after 1200 h) and enhanced operational lifetime (≈90% efficiency retention after 200 h). This new approach shows a promising future of the self-assembled HTLs for developing optoelectronic devices.     

Light-Responsive Programmable Shape-Memory Soft Actuator Based on Liquid Crystalline Polymer/Polyurethane Network

Liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs), especially liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) can generate ultrahigh shape change amplitude but has lower mechanical strength. Although some attempts have been tried to improve the mechanical performance of LCE, there are still limitations including complicated fabrication and high actuation temperature. Here, a versatile method is reported to fabricate light-driven actuator by covalently cross-linking polyurethane (PU) into LCP networks (PULCN). This new scheme is distinct from the previous interpenetrating network strategy, the hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds are used in this study to improve the miscibility of non-liquid-crystalline PU and LCP materials and enhance the stability of the composite system. This material not only possesses the shape memory properties of PU but shows shape-changing behavior of LCPs. With a shrinkage ratio of 20% at the phase transition temperature, the prepared materials reached a maximum mechanical strength of 20 MPa, higher than conventional LCP. Meanwhile, the resulting film shows diverse and programmable initial shapes by constructing crosslinking density gradient across the thickness of the film. By integration of PULCN with near-infrared light-responsive polydopamine, local and sequential light control is achieved. This study may provide a new route for the fabrication of programmable and mechanically robust light-driven soft actuator.     

Pre-Activation of CO2 at Cobalt Phthalocyanine-Mg(OH)2 Interface for Enhanced Turnover Rate

Cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) anchored on heterogeneous scaffold has drawn great attention as promising electrocatalyst for carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR), but the molecule/substrate interaction is still pending for clarification and optimization to maximize the reaction kinetics. Herein, a CO₂RR catalyst is fabricated by affixing CoPc onto the Mg(OH)₂ substrate primed with conductive carbon, demonstrating an ultra-low overpotential of 0.31 ± 0.03 V at 100 mA cm⁻² and high faradaic efficiency of >95% at a wide current density range for CO production, as well as a heavy-duty operation at 100 mA cm⁻² for more than 50 h in a membrane electrode assembly. Mechanistic investigations employing in situ Raman and attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy unravel that Mg(OH)₂ plays a pivotal role to enhance the CO₂RR kinetics by facilitating the first-step electron transfer to form anionic *CO₂⁻ intermediates. DFT calculations further elucidate that introducing Lewis acid sites help to polarize CO₂ molecules absorbed at the metal centers of CoPc and consequently lower the activation barrier. This work signifies the tailoring of catalyst-support interface at molecular level for enhancing the turnover rate of CO₂RR.