Smart Interfacing between Co-Fe Layered Double Hydroxide and Graphitic Carbon Nitride for High-efficiency Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction

Bimetallic compounds such as hydrotalcite-type layered double hydroxides(LDHs)are promising electrocatalysts owing to their unique electronic structures.However,their abilities toward nitrogen adsorption and reduction are undermined since the surface-mantled,electronegative-OH groups hinder the charge transfer between transition metal atoms and nitrogen molecules.Herein,a smart interfacing strategy is proposed to construct a coupled heterointerface between LDH and 2D g-C_(3)N_(4),which is proven by density functional theory(DFT)investigations to be favorable for nitrogen adsorption and ammonia desorption compared with neat LDH surface.The interfaced LDH and g-C_(3)N_(4) is further hybridized with a self-standing TiO_(2) nanofibrous membrane(NM)to maximize the interfacial effect owing to its high porosity and large surface area.Profited from the synergistic superiorities of the three components,the LDH@C_(3)N_(4)@TiO_(2) NM delivers superior ammonia yield(2.07×10^(−9) mol s^(−1) cm^(−2))and Faradaic efficiency(25.3%),making it a high-efficiency,noble-metal-free catalyst system toward electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction.

On Similarities and Differences of Invasive and Non-Invasive Electrical Brain Signals in Brain-Computer Interfacing

We perceive that some Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) researchers believe in totally different origins of invasive and non-invasive electrical BCI signals. Based on available literature we argue, however, that although invasive and non-invasive BCI signals are different, the underlying origin of electrical BCIs signals is the same.

An Overview of Bidirectional DC-DC Converter Topologies and Control Strategies for Interfacing Energy Storage Systems in Microgrids

A microgrid is defined as a local electric power distribution system with diverse DG （distributed generation） units, energy storage systems, and loads, which can operate as a part of the distribution system or when needed can operate in an islanded mode. Energy storage systems play a key role in improving security, stability, and power quality of the microgrid. During grid-connected mode, these storage units are charged from various DG sources as well as the main grid. During islanded mode, DG sources along with the storage units need to supply the load. Power electronic interfaces between the microgrid buses and the storage units should be able to detect the mode of operation, allow seamless transition between the modes, and allow power flow in both directions, while maintaining stability and power quality. An overview of bidirectional converter topologies relevant to microgrid energy storage application and their control strategies will be presented in this paper.

Bioinspired nanomaterials for wearable sensing and human–machine interfacing

The inculcation of bioinspiration in sensing and human–machine interface(HMI)technologies can lead to distinctive characteristics such as conformability,low power consumption,high sensitivity,and unique properties like self-healing,self-cleaning,and adaptability.Both sensing and HMI are fields rife with opportunities for the application of bioinspired nanomaterials,particularly when it comes to wearable sensory systems where biocompatibility is an additional requirement.This review discusses recent development in bioinspired nanomaterials for wearable sensing and HMIs,with a specific focus on state-of-the-art bioinspired capacitive sensors,piezoresistive sensors,piezoelectric sensors,triboelectric sensors,magnetoelastic sensors,and electrochemical sensors.We also present a comprehensive overview of the challenges that have hindered the scientific advancement in academia and commercialization in the industry.

Alloy/layer double hydroxide interphasic synergy via nano-heterointerfacing for highly reversible CO_(2)redox reaction in Li-CO_(2)batteries

Li-CO_(2)batteries are among the most intriguing techniques for balancing the carbon cycle,but are challenged by the annoyed thermodynamic barrier of the Li_(2)CO_(3)decomposition reaction.Herein,we demonstrate the electrocatalytic performances of two-dimensional(2D)CoAl-layer double hydroxide(LDH)nanosheets can be significantly improved by trans-dimensional crosslinking with three-dimensional(3D)multilevel nanoporous(MP)-RuCoAl alloy(MP-RuCoAl alloy⊥CoAl-LDH).The MP-RuCoAl alloy⊥CoAl-LDH with multiscale pore channels and abundant nano-heterointerface is directly prepared by controllable etching Al from a Ru-Co-Al master alloy along with simultaneous partial oxidization of Al and Co atoms.The MP-RuCoAl is composed of various intermetallic compounds and Ru with abundant grain boundaries,and forms numerous heterointerface with 2D CoAl-LDH nanosheets.The multiscale porous metallic network benefits mass and electron transportation as well as discharge product storage and enables a rich multiphase reaction interface.In situ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry shows that the mass-to-charge ratio in the charging process is~0.733 which is consistent with the theoretical value of 3/4,stating that the reversible co-decomposition of Li_(2)CO_(3)and C can be achieved with the MP-RuCoAl alloy⊥CoAl-LDH.The Ketjen black(KB)/MP-RuCoAl⊥CoAl-LDH battery demonstrates a high cyclability for over 2270 h(227 cycles)with a lower voltage gap stabilized at~1.3 V at 200 mA·g^(−1).Our findings here provide useful guidelines for developing high efficiency transition metal based electrocatalysts by coupling with conductive porous substrate for impelling the development of practical Li-CO_(2)battery systems.

Laser‑Induced Highly Stable Conductive Hydrogels for Robust Bioelectronics

Despite the promising progress in conductive hydrogels made with pure conducting polymer,great challenges remain in the interface adhesion and robustness in longterm monitoring.To address these challenges,Prof.Seung Hwan Ko and Taek-Soo Kim’s team introduced a laserinduced phase separation and adhesion method for fabricating conductive hydrogels consisting of pure poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate on polymer substrates.The laser-induced phase separation and adhesion treated conducting polymers can be selectively transformed into conductive hydrogels that exhibit wet conductivities of 101.4 S cm^(−1)with a spatial resolution down to 5μm.Moreover,they maintain impedance and charge-storage capacity even after 1 h of sonication.The micropatterned electrode arrays demonstrate their potential in long-term in vivo signal recordings,highlighting their promising role in the field of bioelectronics.

Multiple Tin Compounds Modified Carbon Fibers to Construct Heterogeneous Interfaces for Corrosion Prevention and Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Currently,the demand for electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorbing materials with specific functions and capable of withstanding harsh environments is becoming increasingly urgent.Multi-component interface engineering is considered an effective means to achieve high-efficiency EMW absorption.However,interface modulation engineering has not been fully discussed and has great potential in the field of EMW absorption.In this study,multi-component tin compound fiber composites based on carbon fiber(CF)substrate were prepared by electrospinning,hydrothermal synthesis,and high-temperature thermal reduction.By utilizing the different properties of different substances,rich heterogeneous interfaces are constructed.This effectively promotes charge transfer and enhances interfacial polarization and conduction loss.The prepared SnS/SnS_(2)/SnO_(2)/CF composites with abundant heterogeneous interfaces have and exhibit excellent EMW absorption properties at a loading of 50 wt%in epoxy resin.The minimum reflection loss(RL)is−46.74 dB and the maximum effective absorption bandwidth is 5.28 GHz.Moreover,SnS/SnS_(2)/SnO_(2)/CF epoxy composite coatings exhibited long-term corrosion resistance on Q235 steel surfaces.Therefore,this study provides an effective strategy for the design of high-efficiency EMW absorbing materials in complex and harsh environments.

Research status and prospects of the fractal analysis of metal material surfaces and interfaces

As a mathematical analysis method,fractal analysis can be used to quantitatively describe irregular shapes with self-similar or self-affine properties.Fractal analysis has been used to characterize the shapes of metal materials at various scales and dimensions.Conventional methods make it difficult to quantitatively describe the relationship between the regular characteristics and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces.However,fractal analysis can be used to quantitatively describe the shape characteristics of metal materials and to establish the quantitative relationships between the shape characteristics and various properties of metal materials.From the perspective of two-dimensional planes and three-dimensional curved surfaces,this paper reviews the current research status of the fractal analysis of metal precipitate interfaces,metal grain boundary interfaces,metal-deposited film surfaces,metal fracture surfaces,metal machined surfaces,and metal wear surfaces.The relationship between the fractal dimensions and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces is summarized.Starting from three perspectives of fractal analysis,namely,research scope,image acquisition methods,and calculation methods,this paper identifies the direction of research on fractal analysis of metal material surfaces and interfaces that need to be developed.It is believed that revealing the deep influence mechanism between the fractal dimensions and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces will be the key research direction of the fractal analysis of metal materials in the future.

Graphene Aerogel Composites with Self‑Organized Nanowires‑Packed Honeycomb Structure for Highly Efficient Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

With vigorous developments in nanotechnology,the elaborate regulation of microstructure shows attractive potential in the design of electromagnetic wave absorbers.Herein,a hierarchical porous structure and composite heterogeneous interface are constructed successfully to optimize the electromagnetic loss capacity.The macro–micro-synergistic graphene aerogel formed by the ice template‑assisted 3D printing strategy is cut by silicon carbide nanowires(SiC_(nws))grown in situ,while boron nitride(BN)interfacial structure is introduced on graphene nanoplates.The unique composite structure forces multiple scattering of incident EMWs,ensuring the combined effects of interfacial polarization,conduction networks,and magnetic-dielectric synergy.Therefore,the as-prepared composites present a minimum reflection loss value of−37.8 dB and a wide effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)of 9.2 GHz(from 8.8 to 18.0 GHz)at 2.5 mm.Besides,relying on the intrinsic high-temperature resistance of SiC_(nws) and BN,the EAB also remains above 5.0 GHz after annealing in air environment at 600℃ for 10 h.

Advanced Functional Electromagnetic Shielding Materials:A Review Based on Micro‑Nano Structure Interface Control of Biomass Cell Walls

Research efforts on electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding materials have begun to converge on green and sustainable biomass materials.These materials offer numerous advantages such as being lightweight,porous,and hierarchical.Due to their porous nature,interfacial compatibility,and electrical conductivity,biomass materials hold significant potential as EMI shielding materials.Despite concerted efforts on the EMI shielding of biomass materials have been reported,this research area is still relatively new compared to traditional EMI shielding materials.In particular,a more comprehensive study and summary of the factors influencing biomass EMI shielding materials including the pore structure adjustment,preparation process,and micro-control would be valuable.The preparation methods and characteristics of wood,bamboo,cellulose and lignin in EMI shielding field are critically discussed in this paper,and similar biomass EMI materials are summarized and analyzed.The composite methods and fillers of various biomass materials were reviewed.this paper also highlights the mechanism of EMI shielding as well as existing prospects and challenges for development trends in this field.

Molecule‑Level Multiscale Design of Nonflammable Gel Polymer Electrolyte to Build Stable SEI/CEI for Lithium Metal Battery

The risk of flammability is an unavoidable issue for gel polymer electrolytes(GPEs).Usually,flameretardant solvents are necessary to be used,but most of them would react with anode/cathode easily and cause serious interfacial instability,which is a big challenge for design and application of nonflammable GPEs.Here,a nonflammable GPE(SGPE)is developed by in situ polymerizing trifluoroethyl methacrylate(TFMA)monomers with flame-retardant triethyl phosphate(TEP)solvents and LiTFSI–LiDFOB dual lithium salts.TEP is strongly anchored to PTFMA matrix via polarity interaction between-P=O and-CH_(2)CF_(3).It reduces free TEP molecules,which obviously mitigates interfacial reactions,and enhances flame-retardant performance of TEP surprisingly.Anchored TEP molecules are also inhibited in solvation of Li^(+),leading to anion-dominated solvation sheath,which creates inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interface/cathode electrolyte interface layers.Such coordination structure changes Li^(+)transport from sluggish vehicular to fast structural transport,raising ionic conductivity to 1.03 mS cm^(-1) and transfer number to 0.41 at 30℃.The Li|SGPE|Li cell presents highly reversible Li stripping/plating performance for over 1000 h at 0.1 mA cm^(−2),and 4.2 V LiCoO_(2)|SGPE|Li battery delivers high average specific capacity>120 mAh g^(−1) over 200 cycles.This study paves a new way to make nonflammable GPE that is compatible with Li metal anode.

Crystallization Modulation and Holistic Passivation Enables Efficient Two‑Terminal Perovskite/CuIn(Ga)Se_(2)Tandem Solar Cells

Two-terminal(2-T)perovskite(PVK)/CuIn(Ga)Se_(2)(CIGS)tandem solar cells(TSCs)have been considered as an ideal tandem cell because of their best bandgap matching regarding to Shockley–Queisser(S–Q)limits.However,the nature of the irregular rough morphology of commercial CIGS prevents people from improving tandem device performances.In this paper,D-homoserine lactone hydrochloride is proven to improve coverage of PVK materials on irregular rough CIGS surfaces and also passivate bulk defects by modulating the growth of PVK crystals.In addition,the minority carriers near the PVK/C60 interface and the incompletely passivated trap states caused interface recombination.A surface reconstruction with 2-thiopheneethylammonium iodide and N,N-dimethylformamide assisted passivates the defect sites located at the surface and grain boundaries.Meanwhile,LiF is used to create this field effect,repelling hole carriers away from the PVK and C60 interface and thus reducing recombination.As a result,a 2-T PVK/CIGS tandem yielded a power conversion efficiency of 24.6%(0.16 cm^(2)),one of the highest results for 2-T PVK/CIGS TSCs to our knowledge.This validation underscores the potential of our methodology in achieving superior performance in PVK/CIGS tandem solar cells.

Remote interfacing between superconducting qubits and Rydberg-atom qubits via thermal coupled cavities

We propose a built-in fault-tolerant geometric operation to realize fast remote entanglement between superconducting qubits anchored to a 15 m K plate and Rydberg-atom qubits trapped near a 1 K plate via thermal coupled cavities. We show that this operation is robust against the detrimental effects of the thermal mode states and fluctuations in the control parameters. The operation can generate a high-fidelity entanglement between superconducting and atomic qubits under realistic experimental parameters, comparable to the results of the existing methods using auxiliary cooling systems. The scheme proposed here will promote the development of quantum network and distributed superconducting quantum computation.

Development of STEP AP224 Extractor for Interfacing Feature Based CAPP to STEP-NC(AP238)

Manufacturing features represent area of interest on the machinable surface of a part, which can provide a unique set of removable volumes from part. Feature description in standard for exchange of product(STEP) AP224 is an efficient neutral format for the development of feature based process planning. Process planning information of features can be converted to numerical control(NC)code to have complete manufacturing information of part. STEP-NC code provides an efficient manufacturing information model compared to G-M codes. In this work, an interface is developed for extraction of feature information available in AP224(AIM) format and the ruled-based approach is used to select different process planning parameters. A graphical user interface(GUI) is developed for the interface for displaying features information as represented in AP224 file. Furthermore, the interface generates STEP-NC code in AP238 format. The developed interface has three modules. 1) Module I: Reading interface for STEP AP224 file and development of GUI. 2)Module II: Selection of feature based process planning parameters. 3) Module III: Writing interface for STEP-NC(AP238). The developed interface has been implemented in Java through Java standard data access interface(JSDAITM). The generated STEP-NC AP238 code for the test part has been successfully simulated on STEP-NC Machine TM, an AP238 simulator. This article also provides an in-depth view of application interpreted model(AIM) representation format of STEP for AP224 and AP238.

Topological quantum memory interfacing atomic and superconducting qubits

We propose a scheme to manipulate a topological spin qubit which is realized with cold atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice.In particular, by introducing a quantum opto-electro-mechanical interface, we are able to first transfer a superconducting qubit state to an atomic qubit state and then to store it into the topological spin qubit. In this way, an efficient topological quantum memory could be constructed for the superconducting qubit. Therefore, we can consolidate the advantages of both the noise resistance of the topological qubits and the scalability of the superconducting qubits in this hybrid architecture.

DPT‐tracker:Dual pooling transformer for efficient visual tracking

Transformer tracking always takes paired template and search images as encoder input and conduct feature extraction and target‐search feature correlation by self and/or cross attention operations,thus the model complexity will grow quadratically with the number of input images.To alleviate the burden of this tracking paradigm and facilitate practical deployment of Transformer‐based trackers,we propose a dual pooling transformer tracking framework,dubbed as DPT,which consists of three components:a simple yet efficient spatiotemporal attention model(SAM),a mutual correlation pooling Trans-former(MCPT)and a multiscale aggregation pooling Transformer(MAPT).SAM is designed to gracefully aggregates temporal dynamics and spatial appearance information of multi‐frame templates along space‐time dimensions.MCPT aims to capture multi‐scale pooled and correlated contextual features,which is followed by MAPT that aggregates multi‐scale features into a unified feature representation for tracking prediction.DPT tracker achieves AUC score of 69.5 on LaSOT and precision score of 82.8 on Track-ingNet while maintaining a shorter sequence length of attention tokens,fewer parameters and FLOPs compared to existing state‐of‐the‐art(SOTA)Transformer tracking methods.Extensive experiments demonstrate that DPT tracker yields a strong real‐time tracking baseline with a good trade‐off between tracking performance and inference efficiency.

Interface Engineering of Titanium Nitride Nanotube Composites for Excellent Microwave Absorption at Elevated Temperature

Currently,the microwave absorbers usually suffer dreadful electromagnetic wave absorption(EMWA)performance damping at elevated temperature due to impedance mismatching induced by increased conduction loss.Consequently,the development of high-performance EMWA materials with good impedance matching and strong loss ability in wide temperature spectrum has emerged as a top priority.Herein,due to the high melting point,good electrical conductivity,excellent environmental stability,EM coupling effect,and abundant interfaces of titanium nitride(TiN)nanotubes,they were designed based on the controlling kinetic diffusion procedure and Ostwald ripening process.Benefiting from boosted heterogeneous interfaces between TiN nanotubes and polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS),enhanced polarization loss relaxations were created,which could not only improve the depletion efficiency of EMWA,but also contribute to the optimized impedance matching at elevated temperature.Therefore,the TiN nanotubes/PDMS composite showed excellent EMWA performances at varied temperature(298-573 K),while achieved an effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)value of 3.23 GHz and a minimum reflection loss(RLmin)value of−44.15 dB at 423 K.This study not only clarifies the relationship between dielectric loss capacity(conduction loss and polarization loss)and temperature,but also breaks new ground for EM absorbers in wide temperature spectrum based on interface engineering.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy in non-invasive neuromodulation

Non-invasive cerebral neuromodulation technologies are essential for the reorganization of cerebral neural networks,which have been widely applied in the field of central neurological diseases,such as stroke,Parkinson’s disease,and mental disorders.Although significant advances have been made in neuromodulation technologies,the identification of optimal neurostimulation paramete rs including the co rtical target,duration,and inhibition or excitation pattern is still limited due to the lack of guidance for neural circuits.Moreove r,the neural mechanism unde rlying neuromodulation for improved behavioral performance remains poorly understood.Recently,advancements in neuroimaging have provided insight into neuromodulation techniques.Functional near-infrared spectroscopy,as a novel non-invasive optical brain imaging method,can detect brain activity by measuring cerebral hemodynamics with the advantages of portability,high motion tole rance,and anti-electromagnetic interference.Coupling functional near-infra red spectroscopy with neuromodulation technologies offe rs an opportunity to monitor the cortical response,provide realtime feedbac k,and establish a closed-loop strategy integrating evaluation,feedbac k,and intervention for neurostimulation,which provides a theoretical basis for development of individualized precise neuro rehabilitation.We aimed to summarize the advantages of functional near-infra red spectroscopy and provide an ove rview of the current research on functional near-infrared spectroscopy in transcranial magnetic stimulation,transcranial electrical stimulation,neurofeedback,and braincomputer interfaces.Furthermore,the future perspectives and directions for the application of functional near-infrared spectroscopy in neuromodulation are summarized.In conclusion,functional near-infrared spectroscopy combined with neuromodulation may promote the optimization of central pellral reorganization to achieve better functional recovery form central nervous system diseases.

Artificial intelligence-assisted repair of peripheral nerve injury: a new research hotspot and associated challenges

Artificial intelligence can be indirectly applied to the repair of peripheral nerve injury.Specifically,it can be used to analyze and process data regarding peripheral nerve injury and repair,while study findings on peripheral nerve injury and repair can provide valuable data to enrich artificial intelligence algorithms.To investigate advances in the use of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis,rehabilitation,and scientific examination of peripheral nerve injury,we used CiteSpace and VOSviewer software to analyze the relevant literature included in the Web of Science from 1994–2023.We identified the following research hotspots in peripheral nerve injury and repair:(1)diagnosis,classification,and prognostic assessment of peripheral nerve injury using neuroimaging and artificial intelligence techniques,such as corneal confocal microscopy and coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy;(2)motion control and rehabilitation following peripheral nerve injury using artificial neural networks and machine learning algorithms,such as wearable devices and assisted wheelchair systems;(3)improving the accuracy and effectiveness of peripheral nerve electrical stimulation therapy using artificial intelligence techniques combined with deep learning,such as implantable peripheral nerve interfaces;(4)the application of artificial intelligence technology to brain-machine interfaces for disabled patients and those with reduced mobility,enabling them to control devices such as networked hand prostheses;(5)artificial intelligence robots that can replace doctors in certain procedures during surgery or rehabilitation,thereby reducing surgical risk and complications,and facilitating postoperative recovery.Although artificial intelligence has shown many benefits and potential applications in peripheral nerve injury and repair,there are some limitations to this technology,such as the consequences of missing or imbalanced data,low data accuracy and reproducibility,and ethical issues(e.g.,privacy,data security,research transparency).Future research should address the issue of data collection,as large-scale,high-quality clinical datasets are required to establish effective artificial intelligence models.Multimodal data processing is also necessary,along with interdisciplinary collaboration,medical-industrial integration,and multicenter,large-sample clinical studies.

Thermo-hydro-poro-mechanical responses of a reservoir-induced landslide tracked by high-resolution fiber optic sensing nerves

Thermo-poro-mechanical responses along sliding zone/surface have been extensively studied.However,it has not been recognized that the potential contribution of other crucial engineering geological interfaces beyond the slip surface to progressive failure.Here,we aim to investigate the subsurface multiphysics of reservoir landslides under two extreme hydrologic conditions(i.e.wet and dry),particularly within sliding masses.Based on ultra-weak fiber Bragg grating(UWFBG)technology,we employ specialpurpose fiber optic sensing cables that can be implanted into boreholes as“nerves of the Earth”to collect data on soil temperature,water content,pore water pressure,and strain.The Xinpu landslide in the middle reach of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area in China was selected as a case study to establish a paradigm for in situ thermo-hydro-poro-mechanical monitoring.These UWFBG-based sensing cables were vertically buried in a 31 m-deep borehole at the foot of the landslide,with a resolution of 1 m except for the pressure sensor.We reported field measurements covering the period 2021 and 2022 and produced the spatiotemporal profiles throughout the borehole.Results show that wet years are more likely to motivate landslide motions than dry years.The annual thermally active layer of the landslide has a critical depth of roughly 9 m and might move downward in warmer years.The dynamic groundwater table is located at depths of 9e15 m,where the peaked strain undergoes a periodical response of leap and withdrawal to annual hydrometeorological cycles.These interface behaviors may support the interpretation of the contribution of reservoir regulation to slope stability,allowing us to correlate them to local damage events and potential global destabilization.This paper also offers a natural framework for interpreting thermo-hydro-poro-mechanical signatures from creeping reservoir bank slopes,which may form the basis for a landslide monitoring and early warning system.