Interlayer Magnetic Interaction in the CrI_(3)/CrSe_(2) Heterostructure

Based on first-principles calculations, we systematically study the stacking energy and interlayer magnetic interaction of the heterobilayer composed of CrI_(3) and CrSe_(2) monolayers. It is found that the stacking order plays a crucial role in the interlayer magnetic coupling. Among all possible stacking structures, the AA-stacking is the most stable heterostructure, exhibiting interlayer antiferromagnetic interactions. Interestingly, the interlayer magnetic interaction can be effectively tuned by biaxial strain. A 4.3% compressive strain would result in a ferromagnetic interlayer interaction in all stacking orders. These results reveal the magnetic properties of CrI_(3)/CrSe_(2) heterostructure, which is expected to be applied to spintronic devices.

From 0D to 3D:Hierarchical structured high-performance free-standing silicon anodes based on binder-induced topological network architecture

Free-standing silicon anodes with high proportion of active materials have aroused great attention;however,the mechanical stability and electrochemical performance are severely suppressed.Herein,to resolve the appeal issues,a free-standing anode with a"corrugated paper"shape on micro-scale and a topological crosslinking network on the submicron and nano-scale is designed.Essentially,an integrated three-dimensional electrode structure is constructed based on robust carbon nanotubes network with firmly anchored SiNPs via forming interlocking junctions.In which,the hierarchical interlocking structure is achieved by directional induction of the binder,which ensures well integration during cycling so that significantly enhances mechanical stability as well as electronic and ionic conductivity of electrodes.Benefiting from it,this anode exhibits outsta nding performance under harsh service conditions including high Si loading,ultrahigh areal capacity(33.2 mA h cm^(-2)),and high/low temperatures(-15-60℃),which significantly extends its practical prospect.Furthermore,the optimization mechanism of this electrode is explored to verify the crack-healing and structure-integration maintaining along cycling via a unique self-stabilization process.Thus,from both the fundamental and engineering views,this strategy offers a promising path to produce high-performance free-standing electrodes for flexible device applications especially facing volume effect challenges.

In Situ Mineralization of Biomass-Derived Hydrogels Boosts Capacitive Electrochemical Energy Storage in Free-Standing 3D Carbon Aerogels

Here,a novel fabrication method for making free-standing 3D hierarchical porous carbon aerogels from molecularly engineered biomass-derived hydrogels is presented.In situ formed flower-like CaCO_(3)molecularly embedded within the hydrogel network regulated the pore structure during in situ mineralization assisted one-step activation graphitization(iMAG),while the intrinsic structural integrity of the carbon aerogels was maintained.The homogenously distributed minerals simultaneously acted as a hard template,activating agent,and graphitization catalyst.The decomposition of the homogenously distributed CaCO_(3)during iMAG followed by the etching of residual CaO through a mild acid washing endowed a robust carbon aerogel with high porosity and excellent electrochemical performance.At 0.5 mA cm^(-2),the gravimetric capacitance increased from 0.01 F g^(-1)without mineralization to 322 F g^(-1)with iMAG,which exceeds values reported for any other free-standing or powder-based biomass-derived carbon electrodes.An outstanding cycling stability of~104%after 1000 cycles in 1 M HClO4 was demonstrated.The assembled symmetric supercapacitor device delivered a high specific capacitance of 376 F g^(-1)and a high energy density of 26 W h kg^(-1)at a power density of 4000 W kg^(-1),with excellent cycling performance(98.5%retention after 2000 cycles).In combination with the proposed 3D printed mold-assisted solution casting(3DMASC),iMAG allows for the generation of free-standing carbon aerogel architectures with arbitrary shapes.Furthermore,the novel method introduces flexibility in constructing free-standing carbon aerogels from any ionically cross-linkable biopolymer while maintaining the ability to tailor the design,dimensions,and pore size distribution for specific energy storage applications.

Tuning the crystallinity of titanium nitride on copper-embedded carbon nanofiber interlayers for accelerated electrochemical kinetics in lithium-sulfur batteries

The development of lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries is hindered by the disadvantages of shuttling of polysulfides and the sluggish redox kinetics of the conversion of sulfur species during discharge and charge.Herein,the crystallinities of a titanium nitride(TiN)film on copper-embedded carbon nanofibers(Cu-CNFs)are regulated and the nanofibers are used as interlayers to resolve the aforementioned crucial issues.A low-crystalline TiN-coated Cu-CNF(L-TiN-Cu-CNF)interlayer is compared with its highly crystalline counterpart(H-TiN-Cu-CNFs).It is demonstrated that the L-TiN coating not only strengthens the chemical adsorption toward polysulfides but also greatly accelerates the electrochemical conversion of polysulfides.Due to robust carbon frameworks and enhanced kinetics,impressive highrate performance at 2 C(913 mAh g^(-1)based on sulfur)as well as remarkable cyclic stability up to 300 cycles(626 mAh g^(-1))with capacity retention of 46.5%is realized for L-TiN-Cu-CNF interlayer-configured Li-S batteries.Even under high loading(3.8 mg cm^(-2))of sulfur and relatively lean electrolyte(10μL electrolyte per milligram sulfur)conditions,the Li-S battery equipped with L-TiN-Cu-CNF interlayers delivers a high capacity of 1144 mAh g^(-1)with cathodic capacity of 4.25 mAh cm^(-2)at 0.1 C,providing a potential pathway toward the design of multifunctional interlayers for highly efficient Li-S batteries.

Peak structure in the interlayer conductance of Moirésuperlattices

We investigate the peak structure in the interlayer conductance of Moirésuperlattices using a tunneling theory wedeveloped previously.The theoretical results predict that,due to the resonance of two different partial waves,the doublepeakstructure can appear in the curve of the interlayer conductance versus twist angle.Furthermore,we study the influencesof the model parameters,i.e.,the chemical potential of electrodes,the thickness of Moirésuperlattice,and the strength ofinterface potential,on the peak structure of the interlayer conductance.In particular,the parameter dependence of the peakstructure is concluded via a phase diagram,and the physical meanings of the phase diagram is formulized.Finally,thepotential applications of the present work is discussed.

Effect of interlayer bonded bilayer graphene on friction

We study the friction properties of interlayer bonded bilayer graphene by simulating the movement of a slider on the surface of bilayer graphene using molecular dynamics.The results show that the presence of the interlayer covalent bonds due to the local sp^(3) hybridization of carbon atoms in the bilayer graphene seriously reduces the frictional coefficient of the bilayer graphene surface to 30%,depending on the coverage of interlayer sp^(3) bonds and normal loads.For a certain coverage of interlayer sp3bonds,when the normal load of the slider reaches a certain value,the surface of this interlayer bonded bilayer graphene will lose the friction reduction effect on the slider.Our findings provide guidance for the regulation and manipulation of the frictional properties of bilayer graphene surfaces through interlayer covalent bonds,which may be useful for applications of friction related graphene based nanodevices.

High mechanical strength Si anode synthesis with interlayer bonded expanded graphite structure for lithium-ion batteries

Despite advancements in silicon-based anodes for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries,their widespread commercial adoption is still hindered by significant volume expansion during cycling,especially at high active mass loadings crucial for practical use.The root of these challenges lies in the mechanical instability of the material,which subsequently leads to the structural failure of the electrode.Here,we present a novel synthesis of a composite combining expanded graphite and silicon nanoparticles.This composite features a unique interlayer-bonded graphite structure,achieved through the application of a modified spark plasma sintering method.Notably,this innovative structure not only facilitates efficient ion and electron transport but also provides exceptional mechanical strength(Vickers hardness:up to658 MPa,Young's modulus:11.6 GPa).This strength effectively accommodates silicon expansion,resulting in an impressive areal capacity of 2.9 mA h cm^(-2)(736 mA h g^(-1)) and a steady cycle life(93% after 100cycles).Such outsta nding performance is paired with features appropriate for large-scale industrial production of silicon batteries,such as active mass loading of at least 3.9 mg cm^(-2),a high-tap density electrode material of 1.68 g cm^(-3)(secondary clusters:1.12 g cm^(-3)),and a production yield of up to 1 kg per day.

Experimental study on seismic reinforcement of bridge foundation on silty clay landslide with inclined interlayer

A shaking table test for a bridge foundation reinforced by anti-slide piles on a silty clay landslide model with an inclined interlayer was performed.The deformation characteristics of the bridge foundation piles and anti-slide piles were analyzed in different loading conditions.The dynamic response law of a silty clay landslide with an inclined interlayer was summarized.The spacing between the rear anti-slide piles and bridge foundation should be reasonably controlled according to the seismic fortification requirements,to avoid the two peaks in the forced deformation of the bridge foundation piles.The“blocking effect”of the bridge foundation piles reduced the deformation of the forward anti-slide piles.The stress-strain response of silty clay was intensified as the vibration wave field appeared on the slope.Since the vibration intensified,the thrust distribution of the landslide underwent a process of shifting from triangle to inverted trapezoid,the difference in the acceleration response between the bearing platform and silty clay landslide tended to decrease,and the spectrum amplitude near the natural vibration frequency increased.The rear anti-slide piles were able to slow down the shear deformation of the soil in front of the piles and avoid excessive acceleration response of the bridge foundation piles.

A Transient-Pressure-Based Numerical Approach for Interlayer Identification in Sand Reservoirs

Almost all sandstone reservoirs contain interlayers. The identification and characterization of these interlayers iscritical for minimizing the uncertainty associated with oilfield development and improving oil and gas recovery.Identifying interlayers outside wells using identification methods based on logging data and machine learning isdifficult and seismic-based identification techniques are expensive. Herein, a numerical model based on seepageand well-testing theories is introduced to identify interlayers using transient pressure data. The proposed modelrelies on the open-source MATLAB Reservoir Simulation Toolbox. The effects of the interlayer thickness, position,and width on the pressure response are thoroughly investigated. A procedure for inverting interlayer parametersin the reservoir using the bottom-hole pressure is also proposed. This method uses only transient pressuredata during well testing and can effectively identify the interlayer distribution near the wellbore at an extremelylow cost. The reliability of the model is verified using effective oilfield examples.

Numerical analysis on seismic performance of underground structures in liquefiable interlayer sites from centrifuge shaking table test

When an underground structure passes through a liquefiable soil layer,the soil liquefaction may pose a significant threat to the structure.A centrifuge shaking table test was performed to research the seismic response of underground structures in liquefiable interlayer sites,and a valid numerical model was obtained through simulation model test.Finally,the calibrated numerical model was used to perform further research on the influence of various distribution characteristics of liquefiable interlayers on the seismic reaction of underground structures.The key findings are as follows.The structure faces the most unfavorable condition once a liquefiable layer is located in the middle of the underground structure.When a liquefiable layer exists in the middle of the structure,the seismic reactions of both the underground structure and model site will increase with the rise of the thickness of the liquefiable interlayer.The inter-story drift of the structure in the non-liquefiable site is much smaller than that in the liquefiable interlayer site.The inter-story drift of the structure is not only associated with the site displacement and the soil-structure stiffness ratio but also closely associated with the slippage of the soil-structure contact interface under the condition of large deformation of the site.

Interlayer repair with porcine small intestinal submucosa versus internal repair with tragus cartilage in endoscopic tympanoplasty

Objective Endoscopic tympanoplasty includes various surgical methods,such as internal repair,interlayer repair,and external overlay.This technique requires autologous materials,allografts,and xenografts,which are used to repair tympanic membrane(TM)perforation.To obtain good results,appropriate surgical methods and repair materials should be selected.This study aims to assess the efficacy of repairing refractory TM perforations in the porcine small intestinal submucosa(SIS)during transcanal endoscopic type I tympanoplasty.Method A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent TM perforation repair with porcine SIS and tragus cartilage between January 2022 and September 2022 at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine.Perforation size,tympanic status,pre-and postoperative symptoms,follow-up data,wound healing rates,and hearing improvement were analysed.Results Of the 115 patients included in the study,56 underwent interlayer repair with porcine SIS of the TM,and 59 patients underwent internal repair with tragus cartilage.No significant difference was found between the two groups at baseline in terms of age,sex,disease course,perforation side,tympanic status,underlying disease,or preoperative infection.The total postoperative effective rate of interlayer implantation with porcine SIS was 91.07%(51 patients),and that of internal implantation with tragus cartilage was 88.14%(52 patients).No significant difference was found in terms of the graft success rate between the two surgical methods(p=0.887).Postoperative pure tone auditory(PTA)and air-bone gap(ABG)density significantly increased in both groups compared with before surgery(p<0.05).However,the postoperative PTA and ABG density were not significantly different 3 months post-surgery between the two groups(p>0.05).Compared to those in the internal implantation group,the patients in the interlayer group had a shorter operation duration(51.36±6.76 min vs.59.71±7.45 min,t=6.298,p<0.001)and less blood loss(11.91±2.61 mL vs.15.27±2.57 mL,t=7.019,p<0.001).Conclusions Our study suggests that the porcine SIS,as well as the tragus cartilage,has a high success rate in repairing irreversible TM perforation.Endoscopic tympanoplasty via interlayer implantation with porcine SIS offers distinct advantages,including the absence of donor-site incision and scar formation,and ease of graft modification and manipulation.

Growth of Free-standing Diamond Films on Graphite Substrates with Ti Interlayers

Free-standing diamond films, deposited using DC Arc Plasma Jet CVD method onto graphite substrates with titanium interlayers, have been investigated. The Ti interlayers were deposited by arc ion plating equipments. The thickness, morphology and composite phase of Ti interlayers were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The titanium carbide (TiC) was detected in both sides of the interlayers, which played an important role with respect to reasonable adhesion with film and diamond nucleation. The semi-translucent diamond films were characterized by SEM and Raman spectrum. The sharp diamond peak with low intensity of amorphous carbon shows that diamond films have very high quality. The overall results suggest that plating Ti interlayer on graphite substrate is an effective way to obtain optical grade free-standing diamond films.

Bulk preparation of free-standing single-iron-atom catalysts directly as the air electrodes for high-performance zinc-air batteries

The keen interest in fuel cells and metal-air batteries stimulates a great deal of research on the development of a cost-efficient and high-performance catalyst as an alternative to traditional Pt to boost the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)at the cathode.Herein,we report a facile and scalable strategy for the large-scale preparation of a free-standing and flexible porous atomically dispersed Fe-N-doped carbon microtube(FeSAC/PCMT)sponge.Benefiting from its unique structure that greatly facilitates the catalytic kinetics,mass transport,and electron transfer,our FeSAC/PCMT electrode exhibits excellent performance with an ORR potential of 0.942 V at^(-3) mA cm^(-2).When the FeSAC/PCMT sponge was directly used as an oxygen electrode for liquid-state and flexible solid-state zinc-air batteries,high peak power densities of 183.1 and 58.0 mW cm^(-2) were respectively achieved,better than its powdery counterpart and commercial Pt/C catalyst.Experimental and theoretical investigation results demonstrate that such ultrahigh ORR performance can be attributed to atomically dispersed Fe-N_(5) species in FeSAC/PCMT.This study presents a cost-effective and scalable strategy for the fabrication of highly efficient and flexible oxygen electrodes,provides a significant new insight into the catalytic mechanisms,and helps to realize significant advances in energy devices.

Enhanced strength-ductility synergy in a wire and arc additively manufactured Mg alloy via tuning interlayer dwell time

Strength-ductility trade-off is a common issue in Mg alloys. This work proposed that a synergistic enhancement of strength and ductility could be achieved through tuning interlayer dwell time(IDT) in the wire and arc additive manufacturing(WAAM) process of Mg alloy.The thermal couples were used to monitor the thermal history during the WAAM process. Additionally, the effect of different IDTs on the microstructure characteristics and resultant mechanical properties of WAAM-processed Mg alloy thin-wall were investigated. The results showed that the stable temperature of the thin-wall component could reach 290 ℃ at IDT=0s, indicating that the thermal accumulation effect was remarkable. Consequently, unimodal coarse grains with an average size of 39.6 μm were generated, and the resultant room-temperature tensile property was poor. With the IDT extended to 60s, the thermal input and thermal dissipation reached a balance, and the stable temperature was only 170 ℃, closing to the initial temperature of the substrate. A refined grain structure with bimodal size distribution was obtained. The remelting zone had fine grains with the size of 15.2 μm, while the arc zone owned coarse grains with the size of 24.5 μm.The alternatively distributed coarse and fine grains lead to the elimination of strength-ductility trade-off. The ultimate tensile strength and elongation of the samples at IDT=60s are increased by 20.6 and 75.0% of those samples at IDT=0s, respectively. The findings will facilitate the development of additive manufacturing processes for advanced Mg alloys.

Tunable vacancy defect chemistry on free-standing carbon cathode for lithium-sulfur batteries

The defect chemistry is successfully modulated on free-standing and binder-free carbon cathodes for highly efficient Li-S redox reactions.Such rationally regulated defect engineering realizes the synchronization of ion/electron-conductive and defect-rich networks on the threedimension carbon cathode,leading to its tunable activity for both relieving the shuttle phenomenon and accelerating the sulfur redox reaction kinetics.As expected,the defective carbon cathode harvests a high rate capacity of 1217.8 mAh g^(-1)at 0.2 C and a superior capacity retention of61.7%at 2 C after 500 cycles.Even under the sulfur mass loading of 11.1 mg cm^(-2),the defective cathode still holds a remarkable areal capacity of 8.5 mAh cm^(-2).

Monolayer MoS_(2)Fabricated by In Situ Construction of Interlayer Electrostatic Repulsion Enables Ultrafast Ion Transport in Lithium-Ion Batteries

High theoretical capacity and unique layered structures make MoS_(2)a promising lithium-ion battery anode material.However,the anisotropic ion transport in layered structures and the poor intrinsic conductivity of MoS_(2)lead to unacceptable ion transport capability.Here,we propose in-situ construction of interlayer electrostatic repulsion caused by Co^(2+)substituting Mo^(4+)between MoS_(2)layers,which can break the limitation of interlayer van der Waals forces to fabricate monolayer MoS_(2),thus establishing isotropic ion transport paths.Simultaneously,the doped Co atoms change the electronic structure of monolayer MoS_(2),thus improving its intrinsic conductivity.Importantly,the doped Co atoms can be converted into Co nanoparticles to create a space charge region to accelerate ion transport.Hence,the Co-doped monolayer MoS_(2)shows ultrafast lithium ion transport capability in half/full cells.This work presents a novel route for the preparation of monolayer MoS_(2)and demonstrates its potential for application in fast-charging lithium-ion batteries.

A novel perylene diimide-based ionene polymer and its mixed cathode interlayer strategy for efficient and stable inverted perovskite solar cells

Inverted(p-i-n)perovskite solar cells(PerSCs)have attracted much attention owing to their low temperature processability,less hysteresis effect and easy integration as a subunit for the tandem device.The unsatisfactory interface contacts and energy level barrier between adjacent interlayers on the cathode side are one of the key challenges for the development of p-i-n PerSCs.Herein,perylene diimidebased(PDI)ionene polymer was synthesized and developed as a cathode interlayer(CIL)to enhance interface contact,reduce the energy level barrier and prevent the migration of I-ions.The compact PNPDI CIL with high conductivity and appropriate lowest unoccupied molecular orbital(LUMO)level,resulted in a high efficiency device(20.03%),which is higher than the control device with bathophenanthroline(Bphen)(19.48%).Bphen-based CIL shows better adjusting ability of the work function of cathode metal but exhibits poor film-forming property.So,the synergistic effect of 1+1>2 can be obtained by combining Bphen and PNPDI into one CIL.As expected,the device performance was further improved by using the mixed CIL of Bphen and PNPDI,and 21.46%power conversion efficiency(PCE)was achieved.What’s more,the compact and hydrophobic mixed CIL dramatically enhanced the resistance to I-ions and moisture,which led to much enhanced device stability.

Effect of HEA/Al composite interlayer on microstructure and mechanical property of Ti/Mg bimetal composite by solid-liquid compound casting

In this study,HEA/AI composite interlayer was used to fabricate Ti/Mg bimetal composites by solidliquid compound casting process.The Al layer was prepared on the surface of TC4 alloy by hot dipping,and the FeCoNiCr HEA layer was prepared by magnetron sputtering onto the Al layer.The influence of the HEA layer thickness and pouring temperature on interface evolution was investigated based on SEM observation and thermodynamic analysis.Results indicate that the sluggish diffusion effect of HEA can effectively inhibit the interfacial diffusion between Al and Mg,which is conducive to the formation of solid solution,especially when the thickness of HEA is 800 nm.With the increase of casting temperature from 720 ℃ to 730 ℃,740℃,and 750 ℃,α-Al(Mg),α-Al(Mg)+Al3Mg2,Al3Mg2+Al12Mg17,and Al12Mg17+δ-Mg are formed at the interface of Ti/Mg bimetal,respectively.When the thickness of the HEA layer is 800 nm and the pouring temperature is 720 ℃,the bonding strength of the Ti/Mg bimetal can reach the maximum of 93.6 MPa.

Maize straw application as an interlayer improves organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations in the soil profile: A four-year experiment in a saline soil

Soil salinization is a critical environmental issue restricting agricultural production.Deep return of straw to the soil as an interlayer (at 40 cm depth) has been a popular practice to alleviate salt stress.However,the legacy effects of straw added as an interlayer at different rates on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in saline soils still remain inconclusive.Therefore,a four-year (2015–2018) field experiment was conducted with four levels (i.e.,0,6,12and 18 Mg ha~(–1)) of straw returned as an interlayer.Compared with no straw interlayer (CK),straw addition increased SOC concentration by 14–32 and 11–57%in the 20–40 and 40–60 cm soil layers,respectively.The increases in soil TN concentration (8–22 and 6–34%in the 20–40 and 40–60 cm soil layers,respectively) were lower than that for SOC concentration,which led to increased soil C:N ratio in the 20–60 cm soil depth.Increases in SOC and TN concentrations in the 20–60 cm soil layer with straw addition led to a decrease in stratification ratios (0–20 cm:20–60 cm),which promoted uniform distributions of SOC and TN in the soil profile.Increases in SOC and TN concentrations were associated with soil salinity and moisture regulation and improved sunflower yield.Generally,compared with other treatments,the application of 12 Mg ha~(–1) straw had higher SOC,TN and C:N ratio,and lower soil stratification ratio in the2015–2017 period.The results highlighted that legacy effects of straw application as an interlayer were maintained for at least four years,and demonstrated that deep soil straw application had a great potential for improving subsoil fertility in salt-affected soils.

In Situ Formed Tribofilms as Efficient Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Interlayers for Stabilizing Lithium Metal Anodes

The practical application of Li metal anodes(LMAs)is limited by uncontrolled dendrite growth and side reactions.Herein,we propose a new friction-induced strategy to produce high-performance thin Li anode(Li@CFO).By virtue of the in situ friction reaction between fluoropolymer grease and Li strips during rolling,a robust organic/inorganic hybrid interlayer(lithiophilic LiF/LiC_(6)framework hybridized-CF_(2)-O-CF_(2)-chains)was formed atop Li metal.The derived interface contributes to reversible Li plating/stripping behaviors by mitigating side reactions and decreasing the solvation degree at the interface.The Li@CFO||Li@CFO symmetrical cell exhibits a remarkable lifespan for 5,600 h(1.0 mA cm^(-2)and 1.0 mAh cm^(-2))and 1,350 cycles even at a harsh condition(18.0 mA cm^(-2)and 3.0 mAh cm^(-2)).When paired with high-loading LiFePO4 cathodes,the full cell lasts over 450 cycles at 1C with a high-capacity retention of 99.9%.This work provides a new friction-induced strategy for producing high-performance thin LMAs.