Synergistic“Anchor‑Capture”Enabled by Amino and Carboxyl for Constructing Robust Interface of Zn Anode

While the rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries(AZIBs)have been recognized as one of the most viable batteries for scale-up application,the instability on Zn anode–electrolyte interface bottleneck the further development dramatically.Herein,we utilize the amino acid glycine(Gly)as an electrolyte additive to stabilize the Zn anode–electrolyte interface.The unique interfacial chemistry is facilitated by the synergistic“anchor-capture”effect of polar groups in Gly molecule,manifested by simultaneously coupling the amino to anchor on the surface of Zn anode and the carboxyl to capture Zn^(2+)in the local region.As such,this robust anode–electrolyte interface inhibits the disordered migration of Zn^(2+),and effectively suppresses both side reactions and dendrite growth.The reversibility of Zn anode achieves a significant improvement with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.22%at 1 mA cm^(−2)and 0.5 mAh cm^(−2)over 500 cycles.Even at a high Zn utilization rate(depth of discharge,DODZn)of 68%,a steady cycle life up to 200 h is obtained for ultrathin Zn foils(20μm).The superior rate capability and long-term cycle stability of Zn–MnO_(2)full cells further prove the effectiveness of Gly in stabilizing Zn anode.This work sheds light on additive designing from the specific roles of polar groups for AZIBs.

Reduction of ice adhesion on nanostructured and nanoscale slippery surfaces

Ice nucleation and accretion on structural surfaces are sources of major safety and operational concerns in many industries including aviation and renewable energy.Common methods for tackling these are active ones such as heating,ultrasound,and chemicals or passive ones such as surface coatings.In this study,we explored the ice adhesion properties of slippery coated substrates by measuring the shear forces required to remove a glaze ice block on the coated substrates.Among the studied nanostructured and nanoscale surfaces[i.e.,a superhydrophobic coating,a fluoropolymer coating,and a polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)chain coating],the slippery omniphobic covalently attached liquid(SOCAL)surface with its flexible polymer brushes and liquid-like structure significantly reduced the ice adhesion on both glass and silicon surfaces.Further studies of the SOCAL coating on roughened substrates also demonstrated its low ice adhesion.The reduction in ice adhesion is attributed to the flexible nature of the brush-like structures of PDMS chains,allowing ice to detach easily.

Trifunctional Cu-Mesh/Cu_(2)O@FeO Nanoarrays for Highly Efficient Degradation of Antibiotic, Inactivation of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, and Damage of Antibiotics Resistance Genes

Trifunctional Cu-mesh/Cu_(2)O@FeO nanoarrays heterostructure is designed and fabricated by integrating CuCu_(2)O@FeO nanoarrays onto Cu-mesh(CM)via an in situ growth and phase transformation process.It is successfully applied to efficiently mitigate the antibiotic pollution,including degradation of antibiotics,inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria(ARB),and damage of antibiotics resistance genes(ARGs).Under visible-light irradiation,CM/CuCu_(2)O@FeO nanoarrays exhibit a superior degradation efficiency on antibiotics(e.g.,up to 99%in 25 min for tetracycline hydrochloride,TC),due to the generated reactive oxygen species(ROS),especially the dominant·O^(2−).It can fully inactivate E.coli(HB101)with initial number of~108 CFU mL^(−1) in 10 min,which is mainly attributed to the synergistic effects of 1D nanostructure,dissolved metal ions,and generated ROS.Meanwhile,it is able to damage ARGs after 180 min of photodegradation,including tetA(vs TC)of 3.3 log 10,aphA(vs kanamycin sulfate,KAN)of 3.4 log 10,and tnpA(vs ampicillin,AMP)of 4.4 log 10,respectively.This work explores a green way for treating antibiotic pollution under visible light.

ENSO Index Variations and Links with Solar and Volcanic Activity

In this paper, we investigated the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI), for simplicity called in this paper an El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) index in 1950-2023 by applying the wavelet spectral transform and the IBM SPSS correlations analysis. ONI follows the three months’ current measurements of the average temperature of the sea surface in the East-Central tropical part of the Pacific Ocean nearby the international line of the date change over the average sea surface temperature over the past 30 years. The ENSO index is found to have a strong (>87%) correlation with the Global Land-Ocean Temperature (GLOT). The scatter plots of the ENSO-GLOT correlation with the linear and cubic fits have shown that the ENSO index is better fit by the cubic polynomial increasing proportionally to a cubic power of the GLOT variations. The wavelet analysis allowed us to detect the two key periods in the ENSO (ONI) index: 4 - 5 years and 12 years. The smaller period of 4.5 years can be linked to the motion of tectonic plates while the larger period of 12 years is shown to have a noticeable correlation of 25% with frequencies of the underwater (submarine) volcanic eruptions in the areas with ENSO occurrences. Not withholding any local terrestrial factors considered to contribute to the ENSO occurrences, we investigated the possibility of the volcanic eruptions causing ENSO to be also induced by the tidal forces of Jupiter and Sun showing the correlation of the underwater volcanic eruption frequency with the Jupiter-Earth distances to be 12% and with the Sun-Earth distances, induced by the solar inertial motion, in January, when the Earth is turned to the Sun with the southern hemisphere where the ENSO occurs, to become 15%. Hence, the underwater volcanic eruptions induced by tidal forces of Jupiter and Sun can be the essential additional factors imposing this 12 year period of the ENSO (ONI) index variations.

Hydrothermal Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Six Complexes Constructed from 1,3,5-Benzenetricarboxylic Acid and 4'-(4-Pyridyl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine Mixed Ligands

Six new transition metal complexes, [Zn（HBTC）（PYTPY）]n·n PYTPY（1）, [Cu（HBTC）（PYTPY）]n·n PYTPY（2）, [Co（HBTC）（PYTPY）]n·n DMF（3）, [Mn（HBTC）（PYTPY）]n·n DMF（4）, [Cd（HBTC）（PYTPY）（H2O）]n·2nH2O（5）, and [Co（HBTC）（PYTPY）（H2O）2]（6）,（H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, PYTPY = 4＇-（4-pyridyl）-2,2＇：6＇,2＇＇-terpyridine, DMF = N,N？-dimethylformamide）, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Complexes 1~5 all feature one-dimensional chain structures, and complex 6 exhibits a zero-dimensional structure. Complexes 1~5 present three-dimensional（3D） supramolecular frameworks via π-π stacking interactions, whenas 6 has also a 3D supramolecular structure assembled by hydrogen bonding. Meanwhile, complexes 1 ~ 6 exhibit the thermal stabilities and photoluminescent properties.

Vertically Aligned Silicon Carbide Nanowires/Boron Nitride Cellulose Aerogel Networks Enhanced Thermal Conductivity and Electromagnetic Absorbing of Epoxy Composites

With the innovation of microelectronics technology, the heat dissipation problem inside the device will face a severe test. In this work, cellulose aerogel(CA) with highly enhanced thermal conductivity(TC) in vertical planes was successfully obtained by constructing a vertically aligned silicon carbide nanowires(SiC NWs)/boron nitride(BN) network via the ice template-assisted strategy. The unique network structure of SiC NWs connected to BN ensures that the TC of the composite in the vertical direction reaches 2.21 W m^(-1) K^(-1) at a low hybrid filler loading of 16.69 wt%, which was increased by 890% compared to pure epoxy(EP). In addition, relying on unique porous network structure of CA, EP-based composite also showed higher TC than other comparative samples in the horizontal direction. Meanwhile, the composite exhibits good electrically insulating with a volume electrical resistivity about 2.35 × 10^(11) Ω cm and displays excellent electromagnetic wave absorption performance with a minimum reflection loss of-21.5 dB and a wide effective absorption bandwidth(<-10 dB) from 8.8 to 11.6 GHz. Therefore, this work provides a new strategy for manufacturing polymer-based composites with excellent multifunctional performances in microelectronic packaging applications.

Enhancement of surface wettability via micro-and nanostructures by single point diamond turning

Studies on surface wettability have received tremendous interest due to their potential applications in research and industrial processes. One of the strategies to tune surface wettability is modifying surface topography at micro-and nanoscales. In this research, periodic micro-and nanostructures were patterned on several polymer surfaces by ultra-precision single point diamond turning to investigate the relationships between surface topographies at the micro-and nanoscales and their surface wettability. This research revealed that single-point diamond turning could be used to enhance the wettability of a variety of polymers, including polyvinyl chloride(PVC), polyethylene 1000(PE1000), polypropylene copolymer(PP) and polytetrafluoroethylene(PFTE), which cannot be processed by conventional semiconductor-based manufacturing processes. Materials exhibiting common wettability properties(θ≈ 90°) changed to exhibit "superhydrophobic" behavior(θ > 150°). Compared with the size of the structures, the aspect ratio of the void space between micro-and nanostructures has a strong impact on surface wettability.

Theoretical and Experimental Sets of Choice Anode/Cathode Architectonics for High-Performance Full-Scale LIB Built-up Models

To control the power hierarchy design of lithium-ion battery(LIB)builtup sets for electric vehicles(EVs),we offer intensive theoretical and experimental sets of choice anode/cathode architectonics that can be modulated in full-scale LIB built-up models.As primary structural tectonics,heterogeneous composite superstructures of full-cell-LIB(anode//cathode)electrodes were designed in closely packed flower agave rosettes TiO2@C(FRTO@C anode)and vertical-star-tower LiFePO4@C(VST@C cathode)building blocks to regulate the electron/ion movement in the three-dimensional axes and orientation pathways.The superpower hierarchy surfaces and multi-directional orientation components may create isosurface potential electrodes with mobile electron movements,in-to-out interplay electron dominances,and electron/charge cloud distributions.This study is the first to evaluate the hotkeys of choice anode/cathode architectonics to assemble different LIB-electrode platforms with high-mobility electron/ion flows and high-performance capacity functionalities.Density functional theory calculation revealed that the FRTO@C anode and VST-(i)@C cathode architectonics are a superior choice for the configuration of full-scale LIB built-up models.The integrated FRTO@C//VST-(i)@C full-scale LIB retains a huge discharge capacity(~94.2%),an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.85%after 2000 cycles at 1 C,and a high energy density of 127 Wh kg?1,thereby satisfying scale-up commercial EV requirements.

Biosafety of a 3D-printed intraocular lens made of a poly (acrylamide-co-sodium acrylate) hydrogel in vitro and in vivo

AIM:To assess the biosafety of a poly(acrylamide-cosodium acrylate)hydrogel(PAH)as a 3D-printed intraocular lens(IOL)material.METHODS:The biosafety of PAH was first evaluated in vitro using human lens epithelial cells(LECs)and the ARPE19 cell line,and a cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay was performed to investigate alterations in cell proliferation.A thin film of PAH and a conventional IOL were intraocularly implanted into the eyes of New Zealand white rabbits respectively,and a sham surgery served as control group.The anterior segment photographs,intraocular pressure(IOP),blood parameters and electroretinograms(ERG)were recorded.Inflammatory cytokines in the aqueous humor,such as TNFαand IL-8,were examined by ELISA.Cell apoptosis of the retina was investigated by TUNEL assay,and macro PAHge activation was detected by immunostaining.RESULTS:PAH did not slow cell proliferation when cocultured with human LECs or ARPE19 cells.The implantation of a thin film of a 3 D-printed IOL composed of PAH did not affect the IOP,blood parameters,ERG or optical structure in any of the three experimental groups(n=3 for each).Both TNFαand IL-8 in the aqueous humor of PAH group were transiently elevated 1 wk post-operation and recovered to normal levels at 1 and 3 mo post-operation.Iba1+macroPAHges in the anterior chamber angle in PAH group were increased markedly compared to those of the control group;however,there was no significant difference compared to those in the IOL group.CONCLUSION:PAH is a safe material for 3D printing of personal IOLs that hold great potential for future clinical applications.

Record-Breaking Frequency of 44 GHz Based on the Higher Order Mode of Surface Acoustic Waves with LiNbO_(3)/SiO_(2)/SiC Heterostructures

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology has been extensively explored for wireless communication, sensors, microfluidics, photonics, and quantum information processing. However, due to fabrication issues, the frequencies of SAW devices are typically limited to within a few gigahertz, which severely restricts their applications in 5G communication, precision sensing, photonics, and quantum control. To solve this critical problem, we propose a hybrid strategy that integrates a nanomanufacturing process (i.e., nanolithography) with a LiNbO_(3)/SiO_(2)/SiC heterostructure and successfully achieve a record-breaking frequency of about 44 GHz for SAW devices, in addition to large electromechanical coupling coefficients of up to 15.7%. We perform a theoretical analysis and identify the guided higher order wave modes generated on these slow-on-fast SAW platforms. To demonstrate the superior sensing performance of the proposed ultra-high-frequency SAW platforms, we perform micro-mass sensing and obtain an extremely high sensitivity of approximately 33151.9 MHz·mm2·μg−1, which is about 1011 times higher than that of a conventional quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and about 4000 times higher than that of a conventional SAW device with a frequency of 978 MHz.

Initiating Binary Metal Oxides Microcubes Electromagnetic Wave Absorber Toward Ultrabroad Absorption Bandwidth Through Interfacial and Defects Modulation

Cobalt nickel bimetallic oxides(NiCo_(2)O_(4))have received numerous attentions in terms of their controllable morphology,high temperature,corrosion resistance and strong electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorption capability.However,broadening the absorption bandwidth is still a huge challenge for NiCo_(2)O_(4)-based absorbers.Herein,the unique NiCo_(2)O_(4)@C core-shell microcubes with hollow structures were fabricated via a facile sacrificial template strategy.The concentration of oxygen vacancies and morphologies of the three-dimensional(3D)cubic hollow core-shell NiCo_(2)O_(4)@C framework were effectively optimized by adjusting the calcination temperature.The specially designed 3D framework structure facilitated the multiple reflections of incident electromagnetic waves and provided rich interfaces between multiple components,generating significant interfacial polarization losses.Dipole polarizations induced by oxygen vacancies could further enhance the attenuation ability for the incident EM waves.The optimized NiCo_(2)O_(4)@C hollow microcubes exhibit superior EMW absorption capability with minimum RL(RLmin)of-84.45 dB at 8.4 GHz for the thickness of 3.0 mm.Moreover,ultrabroad effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)as large as 12.48 GHz(5.52-18 GHz)is obtained.This work is believed to illuminate the path to synthesis of high-performance cobalt nickel bimetallic oxides for EMW absorbers with excellent EMW absorption capability,especially in broadening effective absorption bandwidth.

Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance of Halloysite Nanoclay-Polyester Nanocomposites

The environmental stress cracking resistance of halloysite nanoclay-polyester nanocomposites was investigated using fracture mechanics approach. The incorporation of halloysite nanoclay was found to improve the environmental stress cracking resistance of the nano-composites. The storage modulus of nano-composites measured by dynamic mechanical analysis increased remarkably as a function of halloysite nanoclay content. At 0.7 wt% nanoclay, the Tg improved from 72°C to 76°C. The fracture toughness increased up to 33% and time to failure improved 155% with the addition of 0.7 wt% of halloysite nanoclay. The maximum microhardness was found 119% higher for the same nano-filler concentration compared to monolithic polyester. The reinforcement with 1 wt% showed lower fracture toughness due to agglomerations of nanoclay which act as flaws. The presence of agglomerates weakened the bond between nano-particles and matrix hence reduces the environmental stress cracking resistance by halloysite nanoclay reinforcement.

Influence of Macro-Topography on Damage Tolerance and Fracture Toughness of Monolithic Epoxy for Tribological Applications

Influence of topographical features on mechanical properties of monolithic epoxy samples has been studied. The topographical features studied include waviness (Wa), roughness average (Ra), root mean square value (Rq), and maximum roughness height (Rmax or Rz). The Rz of as-cast monolithic epoxy samples was 13.93 μm. By treating with velvet cloth, the Rz value significantly decreased to 2.28 μm. The Rz value of monolithic epoxy sample treated with abrasive paper 1200P was 4.85 μm which was also lower than that of as-cast monolithic epoxy samples. However, Rz values significantly increased by treating with abrasive papers 320P and 60P and became 20.32 μm and 39.32 μm, respectively. It was interesting to note that although Ra, Wa, and Rq, all increased by treating the monolithic epoxy samples with abrasive paper 1200P, however, Rz decreased by abrasive paper 1200P. A weight loss of up to 17% was observed in monolithic epoxy samples after the treatment with the abrasive papers. Both V-shaped and U-shaped notches were produced on the surfaces of the samples. The mechanical properties were significantly degraded due to surface notches mainly because of the associated stress concentration effect. The topographical features also influenced the dynamic mechanical properties and fracture mode.

Modeling and Simulation of Graphene Based Polymer Nanocomposites: Advances in the Last Decade

Modeling and simulation allow methodical variation of material properties beyond the capacity of experimental methods. The polymers are one of the most commonly used matrices of choice for composites and have found applications in numerous fields. The stiff and fragile structure of monolithic polymers leads to the innate cracks to cause fracture and therefore the engineering applications of monolithic polymers, requiring robust damage tolerance and high fracture toughness, are not ubiquitous. In addition, when “many-parts” cling together to form polymers, a labyrinth of molecules results, which does not offer to electrons and phonons a smooth and continuous passageway. Therefore, the monolithic polymers are bad conductors of heat and electricity. However, it is well established that when polymers are embedded with suitable entities especially nano-fillers, such as metallic oxides, clays, carbon nanotubes, and other carbonaceous materials, their performance is propitiously improved. Among various additives, graphene has recently been employed as nano-filler to enhance mechanical, thermal, electrical, and functional properties of polymers. In this review, advances in the modeling and simulation of grapheme based polymer nanocomposites will be discussed in terms of graphene structure, topographical features, interfacial interactions, dispersion state, aspect ratio, weight fraction, and trade-off between variables and overall performance.

Selective conversion of CO_(2)to CO using earth abundant tin modified copper gas diffusion electrodes

Earth-abundant copper-tin(CuSn)electrocatalysts are potential candidates for cost-effective and sustainable production of CO from electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction(eCO_(2)R).However,the requirement of highoverpotential for obtaining reasonable current,low Faradaic efficiencies(FE)and low intrinsic catalytic activities require the optimisation of the CuSn nanoarchitecture for the further advancement in the field.In the current work,we have optimised Sn loading on Cu gas diffusion electrodes(GDEs)by electrochemical spontaneous precipitation.Samples with various Sn loadings were tested in a three-chamber GDE reactor to evaluate their CO_(2)reduction performances.The best performance of 92%CO Faradaic efficiency at a cathodic current density of 120 mA cm^(-2)was obtained from the 20 min Sn deposited Cu_(2)O sample operated at-1.13 V vs.RHE.The electrocatalyst had~13%surface coverage of Sn on Cu GDE surface,and had Sn in oxide form and copper in metallic form.The catalyst also showed stable performance and was operable for>3 h under chronoamperometric conditions.The surface of the GDE reduces from Cu2O to Cu during eCO_(2)R and goes further reconstruction during the eCO_(2)R.This study demonstrates the potential of Cu-Sn for selective CO production at high current densities.

Terrestrial Temperature, Sea Levels and Ice Area Links with Solar Activity and Solar Orbital Motion

This paper explores the links between terrestrial temperature, sea levels and ice areas in both hemispheres with solar activity indices expressed through averaged sunspot numbers together with the summary curve of eigenvectors of the solar background magnetic field (SBMF) and with changes of Sun-Earth distances caused by solar inertial motion resulting from the gravitation of large planets in the solar system. Using the wavelet analysis of the GLB and HadCRUTS datasets two periods: 21.4 and 36 years in GLB, set and the period of about 19.6 years in the HadCRUTS are discovered. The 21.4-year period is associated with variations in solar activity defined by the summary curve of the largest eigenvectors of the SBMF. A dominant 21.4-year period is also reported in the variations of the sea level, which is linked with the period of 21.4 years detected in the GLB temperature and the summary curve of the SBMF variations. The wavelet analysis of ice and snow areas shows that in the Southern hemisphere, it does not show any links to solar activity periods while in the Northern hemisphere, the ice area reveals a period of 10.7 years equal to a usual solar activity cycle. The TSI in March-August of every year is found to grow with every year following closely the temperature curve, because the Sun moves closer to the Earth orbit owing to gravitation of large planets (solar inertial motion, SIM), while the variations of solar radiation during a whole year have more steady distribution without a sharp TSI increase during the last two centuries. The additional TSI contribution caused by SIM is likely to secure the additional energy input and exchange between the ocean and atmosphere.

Experimental design of paraffin/methylated melamine-formaldehyde microencapsulated composite phase change material and the application in battery thermal management system

In order to maintain the optimal operating temperature of the battery surface and meet the demand for thermal storage technology,battery thermal management system based on phase change materials has attracted increasing interest.In this work,a kind of core-shell structured microcapsule was synthesized by an in-situ polymerization,where paraffin was used as the core,while methanol was applied to mod-ify the melamine-formaldehyde shell to reduce toxicity and improve thermal stability.Moreover,three different types of heat conductive fillers with the same content of 10 wt.%,i.e.,nano-Al_(2)O_(3),nano-ZnO and carbon nanotubes were added,generating composites.The microcapsules were uniform,and were not affected by the thermal fillers,which were evenly dispersed around.The composite sample with carbon nanotubes(10 wt.%)showed the highest thermal conductivity of 0.50 W/(m K)and latent heat of 139.64 J/g.Furthermore,according to the leakage testing and battery charge/discharge experiments,compared with Al_(2)O_(3)and ZnO,the addition of carbon nanotubes remarkably enhances the heat storage ability as latent heat from 126.98 J/g for the prepared sample with Al_(2)O_(3)and 125.86 J/g for the one with ZnO,then to 139.64 J/g,as well as dissipation performance as a cooling effect by decreasing the sur-face temperature of battery from 2%to 12%of microcapsule,composite sample with carbon nanotubes presents a broad application prospect in battery thermal management system and energy storage field.

Interface Engineering via Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) MXene Electrolyte Additive toward Dendrite-Free Zinc Deposition

Zinc metal batteries have been considered as a promising candidate for next-generation batteries due to their high safety and low cost.However,their practical applications are severely hampered by the poor cyclability that caused by the undesired dendrite growth of metallic Zn.Herein,Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) MXene was first used as electrolyte additive to facilitate the uniform Zn deposition by controlling the nucleation and growth process of Zn.Such MXene additives can not only be absorbed on Zn foil to induce uniform initial Zn deposition via providing abundant zincophilic-O groups and subsequently participate in the formation of robust solid-electrolyte interface film,but also accelerate ion transportation by reducing the Zn^(2+) concentration gradient at the electrode/electrolyte interface.Consequently,MXene-containing electrolyte realizes dendrite-free Zn plating/striping with high Coulombic efficiency(99.7%)and superior reversibility(stably up to 1180 cycles).When applied in full cell,the Zn-V_(2)O_(5)cell also delivers significantly improved cycling performances.This work provides a facile yet effective method for developing reversible zinc metal batteries.

Hierarchical Honeycomb-Structured Electret/Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Biomechanical and Morphing Wing Energy Harvesting

Flexible,compact,lightweight and sustainable power sources are indispensable for modern wearable and personal electronics and small-unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs).Hierarchical honeycomb has the unique merits of compact mesostructures,excellent energy absorption properties and considerable weight to strength ratios.Herein,a honeycomb-inspired triboelectric nanogenerator(h-TENG)is proposed for biomechanical and UAV morphing wing energy harvesting based on contact triboelectrification wavy surface of cellular honeycomb structure.The wavy surface comprises a multilayered thin film structure(combining polyethylene terephthalate,silver nanowires and fluorinated ethylene propylene)fabricated through high-temperature thermoplastic molding and wafer-level bonding process.With superior synchronization of large amounts of energy generation units with honeycomb cells,the manufactured h-TENG prototype produces the maximum instantaneous open-circuit voltage,short-circuit current and output power of 1207 V,68.5μA and 12.4 mW,respectively,corresponding to a remarkable peak power density of 0.275 mW cm^(−3)(or 2.48 mW g^(−1))under hand pressing excitations.Attributed to the excellent elastic property of self-rebounding honeycomb structure,the flexible and transparent h-TENG can be easily pressed,bent and integrated into shoes for real-time insole plantar pressure mapping.The lightweight and compact h-TENG is further installed into a morphing wing of small UAVs for efficiently converting the flapping energy of ailerons into electricity for the first time.This research demonstrates this new conceptualizing single h-TENG device’s versatility and viability for broad-range real-world application scenarios.

Advances in graphene reinforced metal matrix nanocomposites:Mechanisms,processing,modelling,properties and applications

Graphene has been extensively explored to enhance functional and mechanical properties of metalmatrix nanocomposites for wide-range applications due to their superior mechanical,electrical and thermal properties.This article discusses recent advances of key mechanisms,synthesis,manufacture,modelling and applications of graphene metal matrix nanocomposites.The main strengthening mechanisms include load transfer,Orowan cycle,thermal mismatch,and refinement strengthening.Synthesis technologies are discussed including some conventional methods(such as liquid metallurgy,powdermetallurgy,thermal spraying and deposition technology)and some advanced processing methods(such as molecular-level mixing and friction stir processing).Analytical modelling(including phenomenological models,semi-empirical models,homogenization models,and self-consistent model)and numerical simulations(including finite elements method,finite difference method,and boundary element method)have been discussed for understanding the interface bonding and performance characteristics between graphene and different metal matrices(Al,Cu,Mg,Ni).Key challenges in applying graphene as a reinforcing component for the metal matrix composites and the potential solutions as well as prospectives of future development and opportunities are highlighted.