Highly Aligned Graphene Aerogels for Multifunctional Composites

Stemming from the unique in-plane honeycomb lattice structure and the sp^(2)hybridized carbon atoms bonded by exceptionally strong carbon–carbon bonds,graphene exhibits remarkable anisotropic electrical,mechanical,and thermal properties.To maximize the utilization of graphene’s in-plane properties,pre-constructed and aligned structures,such as oriented aerogels,films,and fibers,have been designed.The unique combination of aligned structure,high surface area,excellent electrical conductivity,mechanical stability,thermal conductivity,and porous nature of highly aligned graphene aerogels allows for tailored and enhanced performance in specific directions,enabling advancements in diverse fields.This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in highly aligned graphene aerogels and their composites.It highlights the fabrication methods of aligned graphene aerogels and the optimization of alignment which can be estimated both qualitatively and quantitatively.The oriented scaffolds endow graphene aerogels and their composites with anisotropic properties,showing enhanced electrical,mechanical,and thermal properties along the alignment at the sacrifice of the perpendicular direction.This review showcases remarkable properties and applications of aligned graphene aerogels and their composites,such as their suitability for electronics,environmental applications,thermal management,and energy storage.Challenges and potential opportunities are proposed to offer new insights into prospects of this material.

Intelligent Recognition Using Ultralight Multifunctional Nano‑Layered Carbon Aerogel Sensors with Human‑Like Tactile Perception

Humans can perceive our complex world through multi-sensory fusion.Under limited visual conditions,people can sense a variety of tactile signals to identify objects accurately and rapidly.However,replicating this unique capability in robots remains a significant challenge.Here,we present a new form of ultralight multifunctional tactile nano-layered carbon aerogel sensor that provides pressure,temperature,material recognition and 3D location capabilities,which is combined with multimodal supervised learning algorithms for object recognition.The sensor exhibits human-like pressure(0.04–100 kPa)and temperature(21.5–66.2℃)detection,millisecond response times(11 ms),a pressure sensitivity of 92.22 kPa^(−1)and triboelectric durability of over 6000 cycles.The devised algorithm has universality and can accommodate a range of application scenarios.The tactile system can identify common foods in a kitchen scene with 94.63%accuracy and explore the topographic and geomorphic features of a Mars scene with 100%accuracy.This sensing approach empowers robots with versatile tactile perception to advance future society toward heightened sensing,recognition and intelligence.

Enhancing multifunctional photocatalysis with acetate-assisted cesium doping and unlocking the potential of Z-scheme solar water splitting

Graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))has been extensively doped with alkali metals to enlarge photocatalytic output,in which cesium(Cs)doping is predicted to be the most efficient.Nevertheless,the sluggish diffusion and doping kinetics of precursors with high melting points,along with imprecise regulation,have raised the debate on whether Cs doping could make sense.For this matter,we attempt to confirm the positive effects of Cs doping on multifunctional photocatalysis by first using cesium acetate with the character of easy manipulation.The optimized Csdoped g-C_(3)N_(4)(CCN)shows a 41.6-fold increase in visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)compared to pure g-C_(3)N_(4) and impressive degradation capability,especially with 77%refractory tetracycline and almost 100%rhodamine B degradedwithin an hour.The penetration ofCs+is demonstrated to be a mode of interlayer doping,and Cs–N bonds(especially with sp^(2) pyridine N in C═N–C),along with robust chemical interaction and electron exchange,are fabricated.This atomic configuration triggers the broadened spectral response,the improved charge migration,and the activated photocatalytic capacity.Furthermore,we evaluate the CCN/cadmium sulfide hybrid as a Z-scheme configuration,promoting the visible HER yield to 9.02 mmol g^(−1) h^(−1),which is the highest ever reported among all CCN systems.This work adds to the rapidly expanding field of manipulation strategies and supports further development of mediating served for photocatalysis.

2D multifunctional devices:from material preparation to device fabrication and neuromorphic applications

Neuromorphic computing systems,which mimic the operation of neurons and synapses in the human brain,are seen as an appealing next-generation computing method due to their strong and efficient computing abilities.Two-dimensional (2D) materials with dangling bond-free surfaces and atomic-level thicknesses have emerged as promising candidates for neuromorphic computing hardware.As a result,2D neuromorphic devices may provide an ideal platform for developing multifunctional neuromorphic applications.Here,we review the recent neuromorphic devices based on 2D material and their multifunctional applications.The synthesis and next micro–nano fabrication methods of 2D materials and their heterostructures are first introduced.The recent advances of neuromorphic 2D devices are discussed in detail using different operating principles.More importantly,we present a review of emerging multifunctional neuromorphic applications,including neuromorphic visual,auditory,tactile,and nociceptive systems based on 2D devices.In the end,we discuss the problems and methods for 2D neuromorphic device developments in the future.This paper will give insights into designing 2D neuromorphic devices and applying them to the future neuromorphic systems.

Converting an O-vacancy-rich oxide into a multifunctional separator modifier for long-lifespan lithium metal batteries

The lithium metal anode is hailed as the desired "holy grail" for the forthcoming generation of highenergy-density batteries,given its astounding theoretical capacity and low potential.Nonetheless,the formation and growth of dendrites seriously compromise battery life and safety.Herein,an yttriastabilized bismuth oxide(YSB) layer is fabricated on the polypropylene(PP) separator,where YSB reacts with Li anode in-situ in the cell to form a multi-component composite interlayer consisting of Li_(3)Bi,Li_(2)O,and Y_(2)O_(3).The interlayer can function not only as a redistributor to regulate Li^(+) distribution but also as an anion adsorber to increase the Li^(+) transference number from 0.37 to 0.79 for suppressing dendrite nucleation and growth.Consequently,compared with the cell with a baseline separator,those with modified separators exhibit prolonged lifespan in both Li/Li symmetrical cells and Li/Cu half-cells.Notably,the full cells coupled with ultrahigh-loading LiFePO_(4) display an excellent cycling performance of 1700 cycles with a high capacity retention of ~80% at 1 C,exhibiting great potential for practical applications.This work provides a feasible and effective new strategy for separator modification towards building a much-anticipated dendrite-free Li anode and realizing long-lifespan lithium metal batteries.

Multifunctional phase change film with high recyclability, adjustable thermal responsiveness, and intrinsic self-healing ability for thermal energy storage

Phase change materials(PCMs) present promising potential for guaranteeing safety in thermal management systems.However,most reported PCMs have a single application in energy storage for thermal management systems,which does not meet the growing demand for multi-functional materials.In this paper,the flexible material and hydrogen-bonding function are innovatively combined to design and prepare a novel multi-functional flexible phase change film(PPL).The 0.2PPL-2 film exhibits solid-solid phase change behavior with energy storage density of 131.8 J/g at the transition temperature of42.1℃,thermal cycling stability(500 cycles),wide-temperature range flexibility(0-60℃) and selfhealing property.Notably,the PPL film can be recycled up to 98.5% by intrinsic remodeling.Moreover,the PPL film can be tailored to the desired colors and configurations and can be cleverly assembled on several thermal management systems at ambient temperature through its flexibility combined with shape-memory properties.More interestingly,the transmittance of PPL will be altered when the ambient temperature changes(60℃),conveying a clear thermal signal.Finally,the thermal energy storage performance of the PPL film is successfully tested by human thermotherapy and electronic device temperature control experiments.The proposed functional integration strategy provides innovative ideas to design PCMs for multifunctionality,and makes significant contributions in green chemistry,highefficiency thermal management,and energy sustainability.

Utilizing a defective MgO layer for engineering multifunctional Co-MOF hybrid materials with tailored leaf-like and polyhedral structures for optimal electrochemical and photocatalytic activities

The hybridization of metal-organic framework(MOF)with inorganic layers would lead to the discovery of novel hybrid materials that can provide a compelling strategy for enhancing its photocatalytic and electrochemical response.In the present study,a highly efficient multifunctional hybrid material was developed by exploiting the defective layer formed on AZ31 Mg alloy through plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO)as a nucleation and growth site for Co-MOF.The concentrations of the organic linker 2-Methylimidazole(2,MIm)and cobalt nitrate as a source of Co^(2+) ions were varied to control the growth of the obtained Co-MOF.Lower concentrations of the 2,MIm ligand favored the formation of leaf-like MOF structures through an anisotropic,two-dimensional growth,while higher concentrations led to rapid,isotropic nucleation and the creation of polyhedral Co-MOF structures.The sample characterized by polyhedral Co-MOF structures exhibited superior electrochemical stability,with the lowest corrosion current density(3.11×10^(-9) A/cm^(2))and the highest top layer resistance(2.34×10^(6)Ωcm^(2)),and demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic efficiency,achieving a remarkable 99.98%degradation of methylene blue,an organic pollutant,in model wastewater.To assess the active adsorption sites of the Co-MOF,density functional theory(DFT)was utilized.This study explores the changes in morphologies of the coatings of Co-MOF with the change of solution concentration to form coatings with enhanced properties on the metallic substrate,which could establish the groundwork for the development of next-generation multifunctional frameworks with diverse applications.

Ecosystem service multifunctionality of mixed conifer-broad-leaved forests under climate change and forest management based on matrix growth modelling

Climate change and forest management are recognized as pivotal factors influencing forest ecosystem services and thus multifunctionality.However,the magnitude and the relative importance of climate change and forest management effects on the multifunctionality remain unclear,especially for natural mixed forests.In this study,our objective is to address this gap by utilizing simulations of climate-sensitive transition matrix growth models based on national forest inventory plot data.We evaluated the effects of seven management scenarios(combinations of various cutting methods and intensities)on the future provision of ecosystem services and multifunctionality in mixed conifer-broad-leaved forests in northeastern China,under four climate scenarios(SSP1-2.6,SSP2-4.5,SSP5-8.5,and constant climate).Provisioning,regulating,cultural,and supporting services were described by timber production,carbon storage,carbon sequestration,tree species diversity,deadwood volume,and the number of large living trees.Our findings indicated that timber production was significantly influenced by management scenarios,while tree species diversity,deadwood volume,and large living trees were impacted by both climate and management separately.Carbon storage and sequestration were notably influenced by both management and the interaction of climate and management.These findings emphasized the profound impact of forest management on ecosystem services,outweighing that of climate scenarios alone.We found no single management scenario maximized all six ecosystem service indicators.The upper story thinning by 5%intensity with 5-year interval(UST5)management strategy emerged with the highest multifunctionality,surpassing the lowest values by more than 20%across all climate scenarios.In conclusion,our results underlined the potential of climate-sensitive transition matrix growth models as a decision support tool and provided recommendations for long-term strategies for multifunctional forest management under future climate change context.Ecosystem services and multifunctionality of forests could be enhanced by implementing appropriate management measures amidst a changing climate.

Tailored multifunctional hydrazine derivatives for efficient printable hole-conductive-free mesoscopic perovskite solar cells via enhancing defect passivation

The low-cost and easy large-scale fabrication advantages of printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells(p-MPSCs)are overshadowed by their limited photovoltaic conversion efficiency(PCE).Here,we introduce the hydrazide derivative of 4-Hydroxybenzoylhydrazine(4-HBH)to improve the PCE of p-MPSCs by inducing enhanced defect passivation.Both carbonyl and hydrazine groups in hydrazide groups present strong interaction with perovskite.The hydroxyl group,as an electron donor group,increases the electron cloud density of the hydrazide group in 4-HBH under the conjugation of the benzene ring,and thus enhances its interaction with perovskite.Additionally,the hydroxy group itself interacts with perovskite and passivates defects synergistically.The hydrazine agents can also reduce I2and suppress the loss of iodine in perovskite films,which inhibits the formation of iodine-related defects.Consequently,p-MPSCs with 4-HBH achieve a high PCE of 19.21%,and present well improved stability.

Multifunctional Film Assembled from N‑Doped Carbon Nanofiber with Co–N_(4)–O Single Atoms for Highly Efficient Electromagnetic Energy Attenuation

Single-atom materials have demonstrated attractive physicochemical characteristics.However,understanding the relationships between the coordination environment of single atoms and their properties at the atomic level remains a considerable challenge.Herein,a facile waterassisted carbonization approach is developed to fabricate well-defined asymmetrically coordinated Co–N_(4)–O sites on biomass-derived carbon nanofiber(Co–N_(4)–O/NCF)for electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorption.In such nanofiber,one atomically dispersed Co site is coordinated with four N atoms in the graphene basal plane and one oxygen atom in the axial direction.In-depth experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the axial Co–O coordination breaks the charge distribution symmetry in the planar porphyrin-like Co–N_(4) structure,leading to significantly enhanced dielectric polarization loss relevant to the planar Co–N_(4) sites.Importantly,the film based on Co–N_(4)–O/NCF exhibits light weight,flexibility,excellent mechanical properties,great thermal insulating feature,and excellent EMW absorption with a reflection loss of−45.82 dB along with an effective absorption bandwidth of 4.8 GHz.The findings of this work offer insight into the relationships between the single-atom coordination environment and the dielectric performance,and the proposed strategy can be extended toward the engineering of asymmetrically coordinated single atoms for various applications.

Multifunctional catalytic sites regulation of atomic-scale iridium on orthorhombic-CoSe_(2)for high efficiency dual-functional alkaline hydrogen evolution and organic degradation

The earth-abundant and high-performance catalysts are crucial for commercial implementation of hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Herein,a multifunctional site strategy to construct excellent HER catalysts by incorporating iridium(Ir)ions on the atomic scale into orthorhombic-CoSe2(Ir-CoSe_(2))was reported.Outstanding hydrogen evolution activity in alkaline media such as a low overpotential of 48.7 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2)and better performance than commercial Pt/C catalysts at high current densities were found in the Ir-CoSe_(2) samples.In the experiments and theoretical calculations,it was revealed that Ir enabled CoSe_(2)to form multifunctional sites to synergistically catalyze alkaline HER by promoting the adsorption and dissociation of H_(2)O(Ir sites)and optimizing the binding energy for H^(*)on Co sites.It was noticeable that the electrolytic system comprising the Ir-CoSe_(2)electrode not only produced hydrogen efficiently via HER,but also degraded organic pollutants(Methylene blue).The cell voltage of the dual-function electrolytic system was 1.58 V at the benchmark current density of 50 mA cm^(-2),which was significantly lower than the conventional water splitting voltage.It was indicated that this method was a novel strategy for designing advanced HER electrocatalysts by constructing multifunctional catalytic sites for hydrogen production and organic degradation.

A layered multifunctional framework based on polyacrylonitrile and MOF derivatives for stable lithium metal anode

Composite Li metal anodes based on three-dimensional(3D) porous frameworks have been considered as an effective material for achieving stable Li metal batteries with high energy density.However,uneven Li deposition behavior still occurs at the top of 3D frameworks owing to the local accumulation of Li ions.To promote uniform Li deposition without top dendrite growth,herein,a layered multifunctional framework based on oxidation-treated polyacrylonitrile(OPAN) and metal-organic framework(MOF) derivatives was proposed for rationally regulating the distribution of Li ions flux,nucleation sites,and electrical conductivity.Profiting from these merits,the OPAN/carbon nano fiber-MOF(CMOF) composite framework demonstrated a reversible Li plating/stripping behavior for 500 cycles with a stable Coulombic efficiency of around 99.0% at the current density of 2 mA/cm~2.Besides,such a Li composite anode exhibited a superior cycle lifespan of over 1300 h under a low polarized voltage of 18 mV in symmetrical cells.When the Li composite anode was paired with LiFePO_(4)(LFP) cathode,the obtained full cell exhibited a stable cycling over 500 cycles.Moreover,the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation was conducted to reveal the effects on homogeneous Li ions distribution derived from the above-mentioned OPAN/CMOF framework and electrical insulation/conduction design.These electrochemical and simulated results shed light on the difficulties of designing stable and safe Li metal anode via optimizing the 3D frameworks.

Multifunctional mixed analog/digital signal processor based on integrated photonics

Photonic signal processing offers a versatile and promising toolkit for contemporary scenarios ranging from digital optical communication to analog microwave operation.Compared to its electronic counterpart,it eliminates inherent bandwidth limitations and meanwhile exhibits the potential to provide unparalleled scalability and flexibility,particularly through integrated photonics.However,by far the on-chip solutions for optical signal processing are often tailored to specific tasks,which lacks versatility across diverse applications.Here,we propose a streamlined chip-level signal processing architecture that integrates different active and passive building blocks in silicon-on-insulator(SOI)platform with a compact and efficient manner.Comprehensive and in-depth analyses for the architecture are conducted at levels of device,system,and application.Accompanied by appropriate configuring schemes,the photonic circuitry supports loading and processing both analog and digital signals simultaneously.Three distinct tasks are facilitated with one single chip across several mainstream fields,spanning optical computing,microwave photonics,and optical communications.Notably,it has demonstrated competitive performance in functions like image processing,spectrum filtering,and electro-optical bandwidth equalization.Boasting high universality and a compact form factor,the proposed architecture is poised to be instrumental for next-generation functional fusion systems.

Multifunctional AlPO_(4)reconstructed LiMn_(2)O_(4)surface for electrochemical lithium extraction from brine

LiMn_(2)O_(4)(LMO)electrochemical lithium-ion pump has gained widespread attention due to its green,high efficiency,and low energy consumption in selectively extracting lithium from brine.However,collapse of crystal structure and loss of lithium extraction capacity caused by Mn dissolution loss limits its industrialized application.Hence,a multifunctional coating was developed by depositing amorphous AlPO_(4)on the surface of LMO using sol-gel method.The characterization and electrochemical performance test provided insights into the mechanism of Li^(+)embedment and de-embedment and revealed that multifunctional AlPO_(4)can reconstruct the physical and chemical state of LMO surface to improve the interface hydrophilicity,promote the transport of Li^(+),strengthen cycle stability.Remarkably,after 20 cycles,the capacity retention rate of 0.5AP-LMO reached 93.6%with only 0.147%Mn dissolution loss.The average Li^(+)release capacity of 0.5AP-LMO//Ag system in simulated brine is 28.77 mg/(g h),which is 90.4%higher than LMO.Encouragingly,even in the more complex Zabuye real brine,0.5AP-LMO//Ag can still maintain excellent lithium extraction performance.These results indicate that the 0.5AP-LMO//Ag lithium-ion pump shows promising potential as a Li^(+)selective extraction system.

N-doped ordered mesoporous carbon as a multifunctional support of ultrafine Pt nanoparticles for hydrogenation of nitroarenes

Due to the advantages of high surface areas, large pore volumes and pore sizes, abundant nitrogen content that favored the metal-support interactions, N-doped ordered mesoporous carbons are regarded as a kind of fascinating and potential support for the synthesis of effective supported cat-alysts. Here, a N-doped ordered mesoporous carbon with a high N content （9.58 wt%）, high surface area （417 m^2/g）, and three-dimensional cubic structure was synthesized successfully and used as an effective support for immobilizing Pt nanoparticles （NPs）. The positive effects of nitrogen on the metal particle size enabled ultrasmall Pt NPs （about 1.0 ± 0.5 nm） to be obtained. Moreover, most of the Pt NPs are homogeneously dispersed in the mesoporous channels. However, using the ordered mesoporous carbon without nitrogen as support, the particles were larger （4.4 ± 1.7 nm） and many Pt NPs were distributed on the external surface, demonstrating the important role of the nitrogen species. The obtained N-doped ordered mesoporous material supported catalyst showed excellent catalytic activity （conversion 100%） and selectivity （〉99%） in the hydrogenation of halogenated nitrobenzenes under mild conditions. These values are much higher than those achieved using a commercial Pt/C catalyst （conversion 89% and selectivity 90%）. This outstanding catalytic perfor-mance can be attributed to the synergetic effects of the mesoporous structure, N-functionalized support, and stabilized ultrasmall Pt NPs. Moreover, such supported catalyst also showed excellent catalytic performance in the hydrogenation of other halogenated nitrobenzenes and nitroarenes. In addition, the stability of the multifunctional catalyst was excellent and it could be reused more than 10 times without significant losses of activity and selectivity. Our results conclusively show that a N-doped carbon support enable the formation of ultrafine metal NPs and improve the reaction ac-tivity and selectivity.

Fabricating multifunctional polymeric nanofilm capable of resisting corrosion and activating copper surface by electrochemical and hydrolysis-condensation approach

A multifunctional polymeric nanofilm of triazinedithiolsilane monosodium salt, which can resist corrosion and activatecopper surface concurrently, was prepared by galvanostatic technique and the following hydrolysis-condensation approach.Electrochemical tests were carried out to evaluate the resistant ability of nanofilm. The changes of functional groups atop thenanofilms were monitored with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FT-IR） and contact angles （CA） simultaneously. Thechemical composition and the morphology of the polymeric nanofilm were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）and scanning electron microscope （SEM）, respectively. The results reveal that the preferentially developed disulfide units protect thecopper during the whole preparation process, and the subsequently hydrolyzed nanofilms without/with heating shape into newinterface phases bearing the multifunctionality. This multifunctional interface （the polymeric nanofilm on copper surface） opens upthe possibilities for other OH-containing reagents to be anchored onto copper surface in demanding researches or industrialapplications.

High-Performance and Multifunctional Cement-Based Composite Material

Concrete is a continuously evolving material, and even the definition of high-performance concrete has changed over time. In this paper, high-performance characteristics of concrete material are considered to be those that support the desirable durability, resilience, and sustainability of civil infrastructure that directly impact our quality of life. It is proposed that high-performance material characteristics include tensile ductility, autogenous crack-width control, and material “greenness.” Furthermore, smart functionalities should be aimed at enhancing infrastructure durability, resilience, and sustainability by responding to changes in the surrounding environment of the structure in order to perform desirable functions, thus causing the material to behave in a manner more akin to certain biological materials. Based on recent advances in engineered cementitious composites (ECCs), this paper suggests that concrete embodying such high-performance characteristics and smart multifunctionalities can be designed, and holds the potential to fulfill the expected civil infrastructure needs of the 21st century. Highlights of relevant properties of ECCs are provided, and directions for necessary future research are indicated.

Synthesis and characterization of novel multifunctional epoxy resin

A novel multifunctional epoxy resin was synthesized by polyphenol and epichlorohydrin. The structure and molecular weight of the multifunctional epoxy were characterized by FTIR and ESI-MS. DSC and DMTA were used to investigate the thermal property of multifunctional epoxy cured by DDS. The thermal resistance of the synthesized multifunctional epoxy was much better than a standard diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A epoxy.

Rationale for the use of multifunctional drugs as neuroprotective agents for glaucoma

Glaucoma, the leading cause globally of irreversible blindness, is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive retinal ganglion cell death. To date, no drug has been shown to prevent the retinal ganglion cell loss associated with glaucoma. Multiple mechanisms lead to ganglion cell death in glaucoma, suggesting that a neuroprotectant that has a single mode of action, like memantine, would have a limited positive effect at slowing down ganglion cell death. Conversely simultaneously targeting several factors may be the best therapeutic approach to improve outcomes Multifunctional drugs are fast gaining acceptance as a strategy for the treatment of complex disorders of the central nervous system, such as Parkinson＇s disease, Alzheimer＇s disease and other progressive neurodegenerative diseases. In this paper, we review the current literature on multifunctional drugs and propose a rationale for the use of multifunctional drugs in glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

Flat multifunctional liquid crystal elements through multi-dimensional information multiplexing

Flat optical elements have attracted enormous attentions and act as promising candidates for the next generation of optical components.As one of the most outstanding representatives,liquid crystal(LC)has been widely applied in flat panel display industries and inspires the wavefront modulation with the development of LC alignment techniques.However,most LC elements perform only one type of optical manipulation and are difficult to realize the multifunctionality and light integration.Here,flat multifunctional liquid crystal elements(FMLCEs),merely composed of anisotropic LC molecules with space-variant orientations,are presented for multichannel information manipulation by means of polarization,space and wavelength multiplexing.Specifically,benefiting from the unique light response with the change of the incident polarization,observation plane,and working wavelength,a series of FMLCEs are demonstrated to achieve distinct near-and far-field display functions.The proposed strategy takes full advantage of basic optical parameters as the decrypted keys to improve the information capacity and security,and we expect it to find potential applications in information encryption,optical anti-counterfeiting,virtual/augmented reality,etc.