Towards advanced zinc anodes by interfacial modification strategies for efficient aqueous zinc metal batteries

Developing sustainable and clean energy sources(e.g.,solar,wind,and tide energy)is essential to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality.Due to the discontinuous and inco nsistent nature of common clean energy sources,high-performance energy storage technologies are a critical part of achieving this target.Aqueous zinc metal batteries(AZMBs)with inherent safety,low cost,and competitive performance are regarded as one of the promising candidates for grid-scale energy storage.However,zinc metal anodes(ZMAs)with irreversible problems of dendrite growth,hydrogen evolution reaction,self-corrosio n,and other side reactions have seriously hindered the development and commercialization of AZMBs.An increasing number of researchers are focusing on the stability of ZMAs,so assessing the effectiveness of existing research strategies is critical to the development of AZMBs.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals and challenges of AZMBs.Resea rch strategies for interfacial modification of ZMAs are systematically presented.The features of artificial interfacial coating and in-situ interfacial coating of ZMAs are compared and discussed in detail,as well as the effect of modified interfacial ZMA on the full-battery performance.Finally,perspectives are provided on the problems and challenges of ZMAs.This review is expected to offer a constructive reference for the further development and commercialization of AZMBs.

Achieving Negatively Charged Pt Single Atoms on Amorphous Ni(OH)_(2)Nanosheets with Promoted Hydrogen Absorption in Hydrogen Evolution

Single-atom(SA)catalysts with nearly 100%atom utilization have been widely employed in electrolysis for decades,due to the outperforming catalytic activity and selectivity.However,most of the reported SA catalysts are fixed through the strong bonding between the dispersed single metallic atoms with nonmetallic atoms of the substrates,which greatly limits the controllable regulation of electrocatalytic activity of SA catalysts.In this work,Pt-Ni bonded Pt SA catalyst with adjustable electronic states was successfully constructed through a controllable electrochemical reduction on the coordination unsaturated amorphous Ni(OH)_(2)nanosheet arrays.Based on the X-ray absorption fine structure analysis and first-principles calculations,Pt SA was bonded with Ni sites of amorphous Ni(OH)_(2),rather than conventional O sites,resulting in negatively charged Pt^(δ-).In situ Raman spectroscopy revealed that the changed configuration and electronic states greatly enhanced absorbability for activated hydrogen atoms,which were the essential intermediate for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction.The hydrogen spillover process was revealed from amorphous Ni(OH)_(2)that effectively cleave the H-O-H bond of H_(2)O and produce H atom to the Pt SA sites,leading to a low overpotential of 48 mV in alkaline electrolyte at-1000 mA cm^(-2)mg^(-1)_(Pt),evidently better than commercial Pt/C catalysts.This work provided new strategy for the control-lable modulation of the local structure of SA catalysts and the systematic regulation of the electronic states.

Immune checkpoint inhibition mediated with liposomal nanomedicine for cancer therapy

Immune checkpoint blockade(ICB)therapy for cancer has achieved great success both in clinical results and on the market.At the same time,success drives more attention from scientists to improve it.However,only a small portion of patients are responsive to this therapy,and it comes with a unique spectrum of side effects termed immunerelated adverse events(irAEs).The use of nanotechnology could improve ICBs’delivery to the tumor,assist them in penetrating deeper into tumor tissues and alleviate their irAEs.Liposomal nanomedicine has been investigated and used for decades,and is well-recognized as the most successful nano-drug delivery system.The successful combination of ICB with liposomal nanomedicine could help improve the efficacy of ICB therapy.In this review,we highlighted recent studies using liposomal nanomedicine(including new emerging exosomes and their inspired nanovesicles)in associating ICB therapy.

Fast prototype and rapid construction of three-dimensional and multi-scaled pitcher for controlled drainage by systematic biomimicry

Biomimetic materials that use natural wisdom to solve practical problems are developing rapidly.The trend for systematic biomimicry is towards in-situ characterization of naturalcreatures with high spatial resolutions.Furthermore,rapid reconstruction of digital twin models with the same complex features as the prototype is indispensable.However,it faces bottlenecks and limits in fast characterization and fabrication,precise parameter optimization,geometricdeviations control,and quality prediction.To solve these challenges,here,we demonstrate astate-of-the-art method taking advantage of micro-computed tomography and three-dimensional printing for the fast characterization of the pitcher plant Nepenthes x ventrata and fabrication of its biomimetic model to obtain a superior drainage controller with multiscale structures withprecise surface morphology optimization and geometric deviation control.Thefilm-rupture-based drainage dynamic and mechanisms are characterized by x-ray and high-speed videography,which determines the crucial structures for unique directionaldrainage.Then the optimized artificial pitchers are further developed into sustained drainage devices with novel applications,such as detection,reaction,and smoke control.

Smart Manipulation of Gas Bubbles in Harsh Environments Via a Fluorinert-Infused Shape-Gradient Slippery Surface

Fundamental research and practical applications have examined the manipulation of gas bubbles on open surfaces in lowsurface-tension,high-pressure,and high-acidity,-alkalinity,or-salinity environments.However,to the best of our knowledge,effi cient and general approaches to achieve the smart manipulation of gas bubbles in these harsh environments are limited.Herein,a Fluorinert-infused shape-gradient slippery surface(FSSS)that could eff ectively regulate the behavior of gas bubbles in harsh environments was successfully fabricated.The unique capability of FSSS was mainly attributed to the properties of Fluorinert,which include chemical inertness and incompressibility.The shape-gradient morphology of FSSS could induce asymmetric driving forces to move gas bubbles directionally on open surfaces.Factors infl uencing gas bubble transport on FSSS,such as the apex angle of the slippery surface and the surface tension of the aqueous environment,were carefully investigated,and large apex angles were found to result in large initial transport velocities and short transport distances.Lowering the surface tension of the aqueous environment is unfavorable to bubble transport.Nevertheless,FSSS could transport gas bubbles in aqueous environments with surface tensions as low as 28.5±0.1 mN/m,which is lower than that of many organic solvents(e.g.,formamide,ethylene glycol,and dimethylformamide).In addition,FSSS could also realize the facile manipulation of gas bubbles in various aqueous environments,e.g.,high pressure(~6.8 atm),high acidity(1 mol/L H 2 SO 4),high alkalinity(1 mol/L NaOH),and high salinity(1 mol/L NaCl).The current fi ndings provide a source of knowledge and inspiration for studies on bubble-related interfacial phenomena and contribute to scientifi c and technological developments for controllable bubble manipulation in harsh environments.

Bio-inspired superhydrophobic magnesium alloy surfaces with active anti-corrosion and self-healing properties

Bio-inspired superhydrophobic magnesium(Mg)alloy surfaces are of increasing interest in corrosion protection due to superior barrier and shielding effects.However,superhydrophobic(SHB)anti-corrosion surfaces are susceptible to damage,which limit their extensive applications.To this end,a micro/nano structure-functional molecule SHB composite coating with self-healing and active anti-corrosion dual-function properties was designed on Mg alloys substrate.The dual-function SHB composite anti-corrosion coating based on lauric acid(La)intercalated and modified hydrotalcite(La-LDH)consisted of three-layer structure,namely La-LDH powder/polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)/La-LDH film.The anti-corrosion performance of as-prepared coatings was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS).The results indicate that the SHB coating shows excellent active corrosion resistance.Moreover,we also examined the self-healing and anti-corrosion properties of SHB coating upon physical damage and explained the healing mechanism.After heat treatment,the damaged SHB coating regain its surface microstructure and corrosion protection property.This work expands new insights for the wide application of Mg alloys and the research in the field of metal protection.

3D Free-Standing Carbon Nanofibers Modified by Lithiophilic Metals Enabling Dendrite-Free Anodes for Li Metal Batteries

Li metal with high-energy density is considered as the most promising anode for the next-generation rechargeable Li metal batteries;however,the growth of Li dendrites seriously hinders its practical application.Herein,3D free-standing carbon nanofibers modified by lithiophilic metal particles(CNF/Me,Me=Sn,Fe,Co)are obtained in situ by the electrospinning method.Benefiting from the lithophilicity,the CNF/Me composite may effectively prevent the formation of Li dendrites in the Li metal batteries.The optimized CNF/Sn–Li composite electrode exhibits a stable cycle life of over 2350 h during Li plating/stripping.When matched with typical commercial LiFePO_(4)(LFP)cathode,the LFP//CNF/Sn–Li full cell presents a high initial discharge specific capacity of 139 mAh g^(−1)at 1 C,which remains at 146 mAh g^(−1)after 400 cycles.When another state-of-the-art commercial LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(NCM(811))cathode is used,the assembled NCM//CNF/Sn–Li full cell shows a large initial specific discharge capacity of 206 mAh g^(−1)at substantially enhanced 10 C,which keeps at the good capacity of 99 mAh g^(−1)after 300 cycles.These results are greatly superior to the counterparts with Li as the anodes,indicating the great potential for practical utilization of the advanced CNF/Sn–Li electrode.

Multifunctional anti-wax coatings for paraffin control in oil pipelines

Paraffin deposition is a severe global problem during crude oil production and transportation.To inhibit the formation of paraffin deposits,the commonly used methods are mechanical cleaning,coating the pipe to provide a smooth surface and reduce paraffin adhesion,electric heating,ultrasonic and microbial treatments,the use of paraffin inhibitors,etc.Pipeline coatings not only have the advantages of simple preparation and broad applications,but also maintain a long-term efficient and stable effect.In recent years,important progress has been made in research on pipe coatings for mitigating and preventing paraffin deposition.Several novel superhydrophilic organogel coatings with low surface energy were successfully prepared by bionic design.This paper reviews different types of coatings for inhibiting wax deposition in the petroleum industry.The research prospects and directions of this rapidly developing field are also briefly discussed.

Bio-inspired special wetting surfaces via self-assembly

Self-assembly is the fundamental principle, which can occur spontaneously in nature. Through billions of years of evolution, nature has learned what is optimal. The optimized biological solution provides some inspiration for scientists and engineers. In the past decade, tinder the multi-disciplinary collaboration, bio-inspired special wetting surfaces have attracted much attention for both fundamental research and practical applications. In this review, we focus on recent research progress in bio-inspired special wetting surfaces via self-assembly, such as low adhesive superhydrophobic surfaces, high adhesive superhydrophobic surfaces, superamphiphobic surfaces, and stimuli-responsive surfaces. The challenges and perspectives of this research field in the future are also briefly addressed.

A bio-inspired Co304-polypyrrole-graphene complex as an efficient oxygen reduction catalyst in one-step ball milling

The development of non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts has attracted much research attention because of their high oxygen reduction reaction （ORR） activities, low cost, and good durability. By one-step in-situ ball milling of graphite, pyrrole, and cobalt salt without resorting to high-temperature annealing, we developed a general and facile strategy to synthesize bio-inspired cobalt oxide and polypyrrole coupled with a graphene nanosheet （Co3O4-PPy/GN） complex. Herein, the exfoliation of graphite and polymerization of pyrrole occurred simultaneously during the ball milling process. Meanwhile, the Co3O4 and Co-Nx ORR active sites were generated from the oxidized cobalt ion, cobalt-PPy, and the newly exfoliated graphene nanosheets via strong π-π stacking interactions. The resultant Co3O4-PPy/GN catalysts showed efficient electrocatalytic performances for ORRs in an alkaline medium with a positive onset and reduction potentials of -0.102 and -0.196 V （vs. Ag/AgCl）, as well as a high diffusion-limited current density （4.471 mA·cm^-2）, which was comparable to that of a Pt/C catalyst （4.941 mA·cm^-2）. Compared to Pt/C, Co3O4-PPy/GN catalysts displayed better long-term stability, methanol tolerance, and anti-CO-poisoning effects, which are of great significance for the design and development of advanced non-precious metal electrocatalysts.

Dialectics of nature in materials science:binary cooperative complementary materials

Binary cooperative complementary materials,consisting of two components with entirely opposite physiochemical properties at the nanoscale, are presented as a novel principle for the design and construct of functional materials. By summarizing recent achievement in materials science, it can be found that the cooperative interaction distance between the pair of complementary property must be comparable with the scale of related physical or chemical parameter. When the binary components are in the cooperative distance, the cooperation between these building blocks becomes dominant and endows the macroscopic materials with unique properties and advanced functionalities that cannot be achieved by either of building blocks.

An ultrathin two-dimensional iridium-based perovskite oxide electrocatalyst with highly efficient{001}facets for acidic water oxidation

The oxygen evolution reaction(OER)is an electrochemical bottleneck half-reaction in some important energy conversion systems(e.g.,water splitting),which is traditionally mediated by iridium oxides in acidic environment.Perovskite-structured Ir-containing oxides(e.g.,SrIrO_(3))are a family of striking electrocatalysts due to their high specific activity,but this excellent quality is difficultly transferred to a nano-electrocatalyst with large active surface and good structural stability.Here,we present a synthesis method that produces a 2D ultrathin{001}-faceted SrIrO_(3)perovskite(2D-SIO)with a thickness of∼5 nm and high surface area(57.6 m^(2)g^(−1)).We show that 2D-SIO can serve as a highly active and stable electrocatalytic nanomaterial for OER under acidic conditions.This perovskite nanomaterial produces 10 mA cm^(−2)current density at a low overpotential(η,243 mV),and maintains its catalytic activity after 5000 continuous cyclic measurements.Besides ultrathin structure and large surface area,the exposed{001}facets are found to be the most crucial and unique structural factor for achieving high catalytic activity and structural stability.Our joint experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that these advantageous microstructural features of 2D-SIO endow it with a strong capability to generate the key O^(*)intermediates,and thereby facilitate O–O bond formation and the OER.

Science behind nacre:matrix-directed mineralization at ambient condition

Mother Nature has demonstrated the importance of structural designs at multiscale:biological structural materials frequently adopt complex hierarchical structures to optimize their mechanical performance that is far beyond their abiotic counterparts[1].One of the most studied biological materials is the nacreous part in some mollusk shells,

Nanoparticles assembly-induced special wettability for bio-inspired materials

Through billions of years of evolution, nature has optimized the programmed assembly of the nano- and micro-scale structures of biological materials. Nanoparticle assembly provides an avenue for mimick- ing these multiscale functional structures. Bio-inspired surfaces with special wettability have attracted much attention for both fundamental research and practical applications. In this review, we focus on recent progress in nanoparticle assembly-induced special wettability, including superhydrophilic surfaces, superhydrophobic surfaces, superamphiphobic surfaces, stimuli-responsive surfaces, and self- healing surfaces. A brief summary and an outlook of the future of this research field are also provided.

Design and Fabrication of Functional Hydrogels through Interfacial Engineering

Hydrogels have drawn considerable attention in the past two decades due to their excellent biocompatibility and multi-stimuli responsiveness. They have a wide range of applications in the fields related to tissue engineering, sensors and biomedicine. Their applications are strongly influenced by the surface properties of hydrogels and the interfacial interactions between hydrogels and other substrates. In particular, the surface wettability and adhesion of hydrogels decide their applications as drug carriers and wound dressing materials. Nevertheless, there is a lack of systematic discussion on the surface functionalization strategies of hydrogels. Therefore, this review aims at summarizing the strategies of functionalizing the surfaces of hydrogels and bonding hydrogels with other solid substrates. It also explores the challenges and future perspectives of interfacial engineering of hydrogels.

Improved Performance of a Wavelength-Tunable Arrayed Waveguide Grating in Silicon on Insulator

The improved performance of a wavelength-tunable arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) is demonstrated, including the crosstalk, insertion loss and the wavelength tuning efficiency. A reduced impact of the fabrication process on the AWG is achieved by the design of bi-level tapers. The wavelength tuning of the AWG is achieved according to the thermo-optic effect of silicon, and uniform heating of the silicon waveguide layer is achieved by optimizing the heater design. The fabricated AWG shows a minimum crosstalk of 16 dB, a maximum insertion loss of 3.91 dB and a wavelength tuning efficiency of 8.92 nm/W, exhibiting a ～8 dB improvement of crosstalk, ～2.1 dB improvement of insertion loss and ～5 nm/W improvement of wavelength tuning efficiency, compared to our previous reported results.

Thin film dynamics in coating problems using Onsager principle

A new variational method is proposed to investigate the dynamics of the thin film in a coating flow where a liquid is delivered through a fixed slot gap onto a moving substrate. A simplified ODE system has also been derived for the evolution of the thin film whose thickness hf is asymptotically constant behind the coating front. We calculate the phase diagram as well as the film profiles and approximate the film thickness theoretically, and agreement with the well-known scaling law as Ca2/3 is found.

Accurate determination of anisotropic thermal conductivity for ultrathin composite film

Highly anisotropic thermal conductive materials are of significance in thermal management applications. However,accurate determination of ultrathin composite thermal properties is a daunting task due to the tiny thermal conductance,severely hindering the further exploration of novel efficient thermal management materials, especially for size-confined environments. In this work, by utilizing a hybrid measuring method, we demonstrate an accurate determination of thermal properties for montmorillonite/reduced graphene oxide(MMT/r GO) composite film with a thickness range from 0.2 μm to2 μm. The in-plane thermal conductivity measurement is realized by one-dimensional(1D) steady-state heat conduction approach while the cross-plane one is achieved via a modified 3ω method. As-measured thermal conductivity results are cross-checked with different methods and known materials, revealing the high measurement accuracy. A high anisotropic ratio of 60.5, independent of composite thickness, is observed in our measurements, further ensuring the negligible measurement error. Notably, our work develops an effective approach to the determination of ultrathin composite thermal conductivity, which may promote the development of ultrathin composites for potential thermal-related applications.

Capillary filling in closed-end nanotubes

Capillary filling in small length scale is an important process in nanotechnology and microfabrication. When one end of the tube or channel is sealed, it is important to consider the escape of the trapped gas. We develop a dynamic model on capillary filling in closed-end tubes, based on the diffusion-convection equation and Henry＇s law of gas dissolution. We systematically investigate the filling dynamics for various sets of parameters, and compare the results with a previous model which assumes a linear density profile of dissolved gas and neglect the convective term.

Bio-inspired multifunctional metallic glass

As a novel class of metallic materials, bulk metallic glasses(BMGs) have attracted a great deal of attention owing to their technological promise for practical engineering applications. In nature, biological materials exhibit inherent multifunctional integration, which provides some inspiration for scientists and engineers to construct multifunctional artificial materials. In this contribution, inspired by superhydrophobic self-cleaning lotus leaves, multifunctional bulk metallic glasses(BMG) materials have been fabricated through the thermoplastic forming-based process followed by the SiO_2/soot deposition. To mimic the microscale papillae of the lotus leaf, the BMG micropillar with a hemispherical top was first fabricated using micro-patterned silicon templates based on thermoplastic forming. The deposited randomly distributed SiO_2/soot nanostructures covered on BMG micropillars are similar to the branch-like nanostructures on papillae of the lotus leaf. Micro-nanoscale hierarchical structures endow BMG replica with superhydrophobicity, a low adhesion towards water, and self-cleaning, similar to the natural lotus leaf. Furthermore, on the basis of the observation of the morphology of BMG replica in the Si mould, the formation mechanism of BMG replica was proposed in this work. The BMG materials with multifunction integration would extend their practical engineering applications and we expect this method could be widely adopted for the fabrication of other multifunctional BMG surfaces.