Liquid crystal-integrated metasurfaces for an active photonic platform

Metasurfaces have opened the door to next-generation optical devices due to their ability to dramatically modulate electromagnetic waves at will using periodically arranged nanostructures.However,metasurfaces typically have static optical responses with fixed geometries of nanostructures,which poses challenges for implementing transition to technology by replacing conventional optical components.To solve this problem,liquid crystals(LCs)have been actively employed for designing tunable metasurfaces using their adjustable birefringent in real time.Here,we review recent studies on LCpowered tunable metasurfaces,which are categorized as wavefront tuning and spectral tuning.Compared to numerous reviews on tunable metasurfaces,this review intensively explores recent development of LC-integrated metasurfaces.At the end of this review,we briefly introduce the latest research trends on LC-powered metasurfaces and suggest further directions for improving LCs.We hope that this review will accelerate the development of new and innovative LC-powered devices.

Circulating tumor DNA in liquid biopsy: Current diagnostic limitation

With the rapid development of science and technology,cell-free DNA(cfDNA)is rapidly becoming an important biomarker for tumor diagnosis,monitoring and prognosis,and this cfDNA-based liquid biopsy technology has great potential to become an important part of precision medicine.cfDNA is the total amount of free DNA in the systemic circulation,including DNA fragments derived from tumor cells and all other somatic cells.Tumor cells release fragments of DNA into the bloodstream,and this source of cfDNA is called circulating tumor DNA(ctDNA).cfDNA detection has become a major focus in the field of tumor research in recent years,which provides a new opportunity for non-invasive diagnosis and prognosis of cancer.In this paper,we discuss the limitations of the study on the origin and dynamics analysis of ctDNA,and how to solve these problems in the future.Although the future faces major challenges,it also con-tains great potential.

Corrosion behavior of pure metals(Ni and Ti)and alloys(316H SS and GH3535)in liquid GaInSn

In this study,the interactions between a Ga-based liquid metal,GaInSn,and several metal materials,including pure metals(Ni and Ti)and alloys(316H stainless steel(SS)and GH3535),at 650℃were investigated.The aim was to evaluate the corrosion performance and select a suitable candidate material for use as a molten salt manometer diaphragm in thermal energy storage systems.The results indicated that the alloys(316H SS and GH3535)exhibited less corrosion than pure metals(Ni and Ti)in liquid GaInSn.Ga-rich binary intermetallic compounds were found to form on the surfaces of all the tested metal materials exposed to liquid GaInSn,as a result of the decomposition of liquid GaInSn and its reaction with the constituent elements of the metal materials.The corrosion mechanism for all the tested materials exposed to liquid GaInSn was also investigated and proposed,which may aid in selecting the optimal candidate material when liquid GaInSn is used as the pressure-sensing medium.

Multi-dimensional multiplexing optical secret sharing framework with cascaded liquid crystal holograms

Secret sharing is a promising technology for information encryption by splitting the secret information into different shares.However,the traditional scheme suffers from information leakage in decryption process since the amount of available information channels is limited.Herein,we propose and demonstrate an optical secret sharing framework based on the multi-dimensional multiplexing liquid crystal(LC)holograms.The LC holograms are used as spatially separated shares to carry secret images.The polarization of the incident light and the distance between different shares are served as secret keys,which can significantly improve the information security and capacity.Besides,the decryption condition is also restricted by the applied external voltage due to the variant diffraction efficiency,which further increases the information security.In implementation,an artificial neural network(ANN)model is developed to carefully design the phase distribution of each LC hologram.With the advantage of high security,high capacity and simple configuration,our optical secret sharing framework has great potentials in optical encryption and dynamic holographic display.

Enhancing CO_(2) transport with plasma-functionalized ionic liquid membranes

The ionic liquid(IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate treated with radiofrequency plasma is proposed for functionalization and immobilization on polyethersulfone supports to form supported ionic liquid membranes for CO_(2) separation.The effects of treatment time and transmembrane pressure difference on CO_(2) permeance were evaluated.The best gas permeation performance was obtained with a treatment time of 10 min and the transmembrane pressure difference was 0.25 MPa.Characterization of the materials by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrates that the IL is grafted with carboxyl groups and deprotonated through plasma treatment.A preliminary mechanism for the plasma treatment and facilitated transport of CO_(2)has been proposed on this basis.

Method Development and Validation of the Simultaneous Analysis of Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Benzisothiazolinone and Bronopol in Washing-Up Liquid

A method of analysis for the simultaneous determination of methylisothiazolinone (MI), methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMI), benzisothiazolinone (BIT) and Bronopol (BNP) in washing-up liquid was established. The method consisted of a gradient HPLC analysis at three different wavelengths. The four compounds could be analyzed with good precision and accuracy.

Phosphotungstic acid ionic liquid for efficient photocatalytic desulfurization:Synthesis,application and mechanism

An efficient mass transfer process is a critical factor for regulating catalytic activity in a photocatalytic desulfurization system.Herein,a phosphotungstic acid(HPW)active center is successfully composited with a quaternary ammonium phosphotungstate-based hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride ionic liquid(CTAC-HPW)by the ion exchange method for the photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene sulfide.The keggin structure of HPW and highly mass transfer performance of organic cations synergistically enhanced the photocatalytic activity towards the effective convertion of dibenzothiophene(DBT)with the excitation of visible light.The deep desulfurization(<10 mg·kg^(-1))is attained within 30 min,and well stability is demonstrated within 25 cycles.Moreover,the CTAC-HPW photocatalyst projects well selectivity to interference from coexisting compounds such as olefins and aromatic hydrocarbons and universality of dibenzothiophenes,for example,4-methyldibenzothiophene(4-MDBT)and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene(4,6-DMDBT).Ultimately,a possible photocatalytic desulfurization mechanism is proposed according to the Gaschromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS),proving that the final product is the corresponding sulfone.The trapping experiment and electron spin resonance(ESR)analysis confirmed that h^(+)and,COOH played critical roles in the oxidation process.The work offers a practicable strategy for efficiently converting DBT to DBTO_(2) with added value.

Highly selective extraction of aromatics from aliphatics by using metal chloride-based ionic liquids

The separation of aromatics from aliphatics is essential for achieving maximum exploitation of oil resources in the petrochemical industry.In this study,a series of metal chloride-based ionic liquids were prepared and their performances in the separation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene(tetralin)/dodecane and tetralin/decalin systems were studied.Among these ionic liquids,1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate([EMIM][FeCl_(4)])with the highest selectivity was used as the extractant.Density functional theory calculations showed that[EMIM][FeCl_(4)]interacted more strongly with tetralin than with dodecane and decalin.Energy decomposition analysis of[EMIM][FeCl_(4)]-tetralin indicated that electrostatics and dispersion played essential roles,and induction cannot be neglected.The van der Waals forces was a main effect in[EMIM][FeCl_(4)]-tetralin by independent gradient model analysis.The tetralin distribution coefficient and selectivity were 0.8 and 110,respectively,with 10%(mol)tetralin in the initial tetralin/dodecane system,and 0.67 and 19.5,respectively,with 10%(mol)tetralin in the initial tetralin/decalin system.The selectivity increased with decreasing alkyl chain length of the extractant.The influence of the extraction temperature,extractant dosage,and initial concentrations of the system components on the separation performance were studied.Recycling experiments showed that the regenerated[EMIM][FeCl_(4)]could be used repeatedly.

Dielectric anisotropy in liquid crystal mixtures with nematic and smectic phases

The modulation of dielectric anisotropy(△ε)is pivotal for elucidating molecular interactions and directing the alignment of liquid crystals.In this study,we combine liquid crystals with opposing dielectric anisotropies to explore the impact of varying concentrations on their properties.We report the sign-reversal of△εin both the nematic and smectic A phases of these mixed liquid crystals,alongside a dual-frequency behaviour across a broad temperature spectrum.Our research further quantifies the influence of mixture ratios under various temperatures and electric field frequencies.This exploration may pave the way for the discovery of new physical phenomena.

High-performance liquid metal electromagnetic actuator fabricated by femtosecond laser

Small-scale electromagnetic soft actuators are characterized by a fast response and simplecontrol,holding prospects in the field of soft and miniaturized robotics.The use of liquid metal(LM)to replace a rigid conductor inside soft actuators can reduce the rigidity and enhance the actuation performance and robustness.Despite research efforts,challenges persist in the flexible fabrication of LM soft actuators and in the improvement of actuation performance.To address these challenges,we developed a fast and robust electromagnetic soft microplate actuator based on a laser-induced selective adhesion transfer method.Equipped with unprecedentedly thin LM circuit and customized low Young’s modulus silicone rubber(1.03 kPa),our actuator exhibits an excellent deformation angle(265.25?)and actuation bending angular velocity(284.66 rad·s^(-1)).Furthermore,multiple actuators have been combined to build an artificial gripper with a wide range of functionalities.Our actuator presents new possibilities for designing small-scaleartificial machines and supports advancements in ultrafast soft and miniaturized robotics.

Naturally Crosslinked Biocompatible Carbonaceous Liquid Metal Aqueous Ink Printing Wearable Electronics for Multi-Sensing and Energy Harvesting

Achieving flexible electronics with comfort and durability comparable to traditional textiles is one of the ultimate pursuits of smart wearables.Ink printing is desirable for e-textile development using a simple and inexpensive process.However,fabricating high-performance atop textiles with good dispersity,stability,biocompatibility,and wearability for high-resolution,large-scale manufacturing,and practical applications has remained challenging.Here,waterbased multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs)-decorated liquid metal(LM)inks are proposed with carbonaceous gallium–indium micro-nanostructure.With the assistance of biopolymers,the sodium alginate-encapsulated LM droplets contain high carboxyl groups which non-covalently crosslink with silk sericin-mediated MWCNTs.E-textile can be prepared subsequently via printing technique and natural waterproof triboelectric coating,enabling good flexibility,hydrophilicity,breathability,wearability,biocompatibility,conductivity,stability,and excellent versatility,without any artificial chemicals.The obtained e-textile can be used in various applications with designable patterns and circuits.Multi-sensing applications of recognizing complex human motions,breathing,phonation,and pressure distribution are demonstrated with repeatable and reliable signals.Self-powered and energy-harvesting capabilities are also presented by driving electronic devices and lighting LEDs.As proof of concept,this work provides new opportunities in a scalable and sustainable way to develop novel wearable electronics and smart clothing for future commercial applications.

Ionic liquid-assisted preparation of hydroxyapatite and its catalytic performance for decarboxylation of itaconic acid

The synthesis of methacrylic acid from biomass-derived itaconic acid is a green route,for it can get rid of the dependence on fossil resource.In order to solve the problems on this route such as use of a preciousmetal catalyst and a corrosive homogeneous alkali,we prepared a series of hydroxyapatite catalysts by an ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal method and evaluated their catalytic performance.The results showed that the ionic liquid[Bmim]BF_(4) can affect the crystal growth of hydroxyapatite,provide fluoride ion for fluorination of hydroxyapatite,and adjust the surface acidity and basicity,morphology,textural properties,crystallinity,and composition of hydroxyapatite.The[Bmim]BF4 dosage and hydrothermal temperature can affect the fluoride ion concentration in the hydrothermal system,thus changing the degree of fluoridation of hydroxyapatite.High fluoride-ion concentration can lead to the formation of CaF_(2) and thus significantly decrease the catalytic performance of hydroxyapatite.The hydrothermal time mainly affects the growth of hydroxyapatite crystals on the c axis,leading to different catalytic performance.The suitable conditions for the preparation of this fluoridized hydroxyapatite are as follows:a mass ratio of[Bmim]BF4 to calcium salt=0.2:1,a hydrothermal time of 12 h,and a hydrothermal temperature of 130℃.A maximal methacrylic acid yield of 54.7%was obtained using the fluoridized hydroxyapatite under relatively mild reaction conditions(250℃ and 2 MPa of N_(2))in the absence of a precious-metal catalyst and a corrosive homogeneous alkali.

Structure and dynamical properties during solidification of liquid aluminum induced by cooling and compression

The structural transformation from a liquid into a crystalline solid is an important subject in condensed matter physics and materials science. In the present study, first-principles molecular dynamics calculations are performed to investigate the structure and properties of aluminum during the solidification which is induced by cooling and compression. In the cooling process and compression process, it is found that the icosahedral short-range order is initially enhanced and then begin to decay, the face-centered cubic short-range order eventually becomes dominant before it transforms into a crystalline solid.

Design of a 3D-printed liquid lithium divertor target plate and its interaction with high-density plasma

A liquid Li divertor is a promising alternative for future fusion devices.In this work a new divertor model is proposed,which is processed by 3D-printing technology to accurately control the size of the internal capillary structure.At a steady-state heat load of 10 MW m^(-2),the thermal stress of the tungsten target is within the bearing range of tungsten by finite-element simulation.In order to evaluate the wicking ability of the capillary structure,the wicking process at 600℃ was simulated by FLUENT.The result was identical to that of the corresponding experiments.Within 1 s,liquid lithium was wicked to the target surface by the capillary structure of the target and quickly spread on the target surface.During the wicking process,the average wicking mass rate of lithium should reach 0.062 g s^(-1),which could even supplement the evaporation requirement of liquid lithium under an environment>950℃.Irradiation experiments under different plasma discharge currents were carried out in a linear plasma device(SCU-PSI),and the evolution of the vapor cloud during plasma irradiation was analyzed.It was found that the target temperature tends to plateau despite the gradually increased input current,indicating that the vapor shielding effect is gradually enhanced.The irradiation experiment also confirmed that the 3D-printed tungsten structure has better heat consumption performance than a tungsten mesh structure or multichannel structure.These results reveal the application potential and feasibility of a 3D-printed porous capillary structure in plasma-facing components and provide a reference for further liquid-solid combined target designs.

Determination of liquid viscosity based on dual-frequency-bandparticle tracking

An optical-tweezers-based dual-frequency-band particle tracking system was designed and fabricated for liquid viscositydetection. On the basis of the liquid viscosity dependent model of the particle’s restricted Brownian motion with theFax´en correction taken into account, the liquid viscosity and optical trap stiffness were determined by fitting the theoreticalprediction with the measured power spectral densities of the particle’s displacement and velocity that were derived from thedual-frequency-band particle tracking data. When the SiO2 beads were employed as probe particles in the measurements ofdifferent kinds of liquids, the measurement results exhibit a good agreement with the reported results, as well as a detectionuncertainty better than 4.6%. This kind of noninvasive economical technique can be applied in diverse environments forboth in situ and ex situ viscosity detection of liquids.

Interfacial friction induced capillary flow within nanofiber-supported ionic liquid droplets

As global economic growth increases,the demand for energy sources boosts.While fossil fuels have traditionally satisfied this demand,their environmental influence and limited reserves require alternatives.Fossil fuel combustion contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions,with a pressing need to halve these emissions by 2030 and target net-zero by 2050.Renewable energy sources,contributing currently to 29%of global electricity,are viewed as promising substitutes.With wind energy's potential,Zheng's team developed a novel method to harness even low wind speeds using well-aligned nanofibers and an innovative“drop wind generator”.This system,combining moisture-saturated ionic liquid 3-Methyl-1-octylimidazolium chloride with specific nanofiber arrays,exploits wind-inducedflows for energy conversion.This study highlights the vast untapped potential of low-speed wind as a sustainable energy source potentially for electronics.

Simulation of liquid cone formation on the tip apex of indium field emission electric propulsion thrusters

Field emission electric propulsion(FEEP) thrusters possess excellent characteristics, such as high specific impulse, low power requirements, compact size and precise pointing capabilities,making them ideal propulsion devices for micro-nano satellites. However, the detection of certain aspects, such as the evolution process of the liquid cone and the physical quantities at the cone apex, proves challenging due to the minute size of the needle tip and the vacuum environment in which they operate. Consequently, this paper introduces a computational fluid dynamics(CFD) model to gain insight into the formation process of the liquid cone on the tip apex of indium FEEP. The CFD model is based on electrohydrodynamic(EHD) equations and the volume of fluid(VOF) method. The entire cone formation process can be divided into three stages, and the time-dependent characteristics of the physical quantities at the cone apex are investigated. The influences of film thickness, apex radius size and applied voltage are compared.The results indicate a gradual increase in the values of electrostatic stress and surface tension stress at the cone apex over an initial period, followed by a rapid escalation within a short duration.Apex configurations featuring a small radius, thick film and high voltage exhibit a propensity for liquid cone formation, and the cone growth time decreases as the film thickness increases.Moreover, some unstable behavior is observed during the cone formation process.

Experimental study of the effect of gas discharge on ionic liquid electrospray

Ionic liquid electrospray(ILE) in an atmospheric environment is often accompanied by the gas discharge phenomenon. It interferes with the normal operation of the electrospray and the measurement of experimental parameters. In this study, electrospray experiments were conducted on the ionic liquid EMI-BF4. The observations revealed that the operating modes of the ionic liquid depend on the voltage polarity at high voltages. Additionally, a correspondence between the operating mode of ILE and the current signal in the circuit was established. The shape of the liquid cone formed at the needle tip bore a striking resemblance to the plume of corona discharge, suggesting that the motion trajectory of electrons influenced the curvature of the liquid cone. Steamer theory provided a clear explanation for the change in curvature as the voltage increased.

Ionic Liquid-Enhanced Assembly of Nanomaterials for Highly Stable Flexible Transparent Electrodes

The controlled assembly of nanomaterials has demon-strated significant potential in advancing technological devices.However,achieving highly efficient and low-loss assembly technique for nanomate-rials,enabling the creation of hierarchical structures with distinctive func-tionalities,remains a formidable challenge.Here,we present a method for nanomaterial assembly enhanced by ionic liquids,which enables the fabrication of highly stable,flexible,and transparent electrodes featuring an organized layered structure.The utilization of hydrophobic and non-volatile ionic liquids facilitates the production of stable interfaces with water,effectively preventing the sedimentation of 1D/2D nanomaterials assembled at the interface.Furthermore,the interfacially assembled nanomaterial monolayer exhibits an alternate self-climbing behavior,enabling layer-by-layer transfer and the formation of a well-ordered MXene-wrapped silver nanowire network film.The resulting composite film not only demonstrates exceptional photoelectric performance with a sheet resistance of 9.4Ωsq^(-1) and 93%transmittance,but also showcases remarkable environmental stability and mechanical flexibility.Particularly noteworthy is its application in transparent electromagnetic interference shielding materials and triboelectric nanogenerator devices.This research introduces an innovative approach to manufacture and tailor functional devices based on ordered nanomaterials.

Liquid metal as an efficient protective layer for lithium metal anodes in all-solid-state batteries

Lithium metal batteries with inorganic solid-state electrolytes have emerged as strong and attractive candidates for electrochemical energy storage devices because of their high-energy content and safety.Nonetheless,inherent challenges of deleterious lithium dendrite growth and poor interfacial stability hinder their commercial application.Herein,we report a liquid metal-coated lithium metal(LM@Li)anode strategy to improve the contact between lithium metal and a Li6PS5Cl inorganic electrolyte.The LM@Li symmetric cell shows over 1000 h of stable lithium plating/stripping cycles at 2mA cm^(-2) and a significantly higher critical current density of 9.8 mAcm^(-2) at 25°C.In addition,a full battery assembled with a high-capacity composite LiNbO3@-LiNi_(0.7)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(LNO@NCM721)cathode shows stable cycling performance.Experimental and computational results have demonstrated that dendrite growth tolerance and physical contact in solid-state batteries can be reinforced by using LM interlayers for interfacial modification.