Direct Photolithography of WO_(x) Nanoparticles for High‑Resolution Non‑Emissive Displays

High-resolution non-emissive displays based on electrochromic tungsten oxides(WOx)are crucial for future near-eye virtual/augmented reality interactions,given their impressive attributes such as high environmental stability,ideal outdoor readability,and low energy consumption.However,the limited intrinsic structure of inorganic materials has presented a significant challenge in achieving precise patterning/pixelation at the micron scale.Here,we successfully developed the direct photolithography for WOx nanoparticles based on in situ photo-induced ligand exchange.This strategy enabled us to achieve ultra-high resolution efficiently(line width<4μm,the best resolution for reported inorganic electrochromic materials).Additionally,the resulting device exhibited impressive electrochromic performance,such as fast response(<1 s at 0 V),high coloration efficiency(119.5 cm^(2) C^(−1)),good optical modulation(55.9%),and durability(>3600 cycles),as well as promising applications in electronic logos,pixelated displays,flexible electronics,etc.The success and advancements presented here are expected to inspire and accelerate research and development(R&D)in high-resolution non-emissive displays and other ultra-fine micro-electronics.

Ultralow Interfacial Thermal Resistance of Graphene Thermal Interface Materials with Surface Metal Liquefaction

Developing advanced thermal interface materials(TIMs)to bridge heat-generating chip and heat sink for constructing an efficient heat transfer interface is the key technology to solve the thermal management issue of high-power semiconductor devices.Based on the ultra-high basal-plane thermal conductivity,graphene is an ideal candidate for preparing high-performance TIMs,preferably to form a vertically aligned structure so that the basal-plane of graphene is consistent with the heat transfer direction of TIM.However,the actual interfacial heat transfer efficiency of currently reported vertically aligned graphene TIMs is far from satisfactory.In addition to the fact that the thermal conductivity of the vertically aligned TIMs can be further improved,another critical factor is the limited actual contact area leading to relatively high contact thermal resistance(20-30 K mm^(2) W^(−1))of the“solid-solid”mating interface formed by the vertical graphene and the rough chip/heat sink.To solve this common problem faced by vertically aligned graphene,in this work,we combined mechanical orientation and surface modification strategy to construct a three-tiered TIM composed of mainly vertically aligned graphene in the middle and micrometer-thick liquid metal as a cap layer on upper and lower surfaces.Based on rational graphene orientation regulation in the middle tier,the resultant graphene-based TIM exhibited an ultra-high thermal conductivity of 176 W m^(−1) K^(−1).Additionally,we demonstrated that the liquid metal cap layer in contact with the chip/heat sink forms a“liquid-solid”mating interface,significantly increasing the effective heat transfer area and giving a low contact thermal con-ductivity of 4-6 K mm^(2) W^(−1) under packaging conditions.This finding provides valuable guidance for the design of high-performance TIMs based on two-dimensional materials and improves the possibility of their practical application in electronic thermal management.

Analysis and Verification on Buckling Mechanism of Spatial Tow Steering in Automated Fiber Placement

Automated fiber placement(AFP)enables the efficient and precise fabrication of complex-shaped aerospace composite structures with lightweight and high-performance properties.However,due to the excessive compression on the inner edge of the tow placed along the curved trajectory,the resulting defects represented by buckling and wrinkles in spatial tow steering can induce poor manufacturing accuracy and quality degradation of products.In this paper,a theoretical model of tow buckling based on the first-order shear deformation laminate theory,linear elastic adhesion interface and Hertz compaction contact theory is proposed to analyze the formation mechanism of the wrinkles and predict the formation of defects by solving the critical radius of the trajectory,and finite element analysis involving the cohesive zone modeling(CZM)is innovated to simulate the local buckling state of the steered tow in AFP.Additionally,numerical parametric studies and experimental results indicate that mechanical properties and geometric parameters of the prepreg,the curvature of the placement trajectory and critical process parameters have a significant impact on buckling formation,and optimization of process parameters can achieve effective suppression of placement defects.This research proposes a theoretical modeling method for tow buckling,and conducts in-depth research on defect formation and suppression methods based on finite element simulation and placement experiments.

Unveiling the chemistry behind the electrolytic production of hydrogen peroxide by oxygenated carbon

Oxygenated carbon materials exhibit outstanding electrocatalytic performance in the production of hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)through a two-electron oxygen reduction reaction.The nature of the active functional group and underlying reaction mechanism,however,remain unclear.Here,a comprehensive workflow was established to identify the active sites from the numerous possible structures.The common hydroxyl group at the notched edge demonstrates a key role in the two-electron process.The local chemical environment weakens the binding of OOH intermediate to substrate while enhancing interaction with solution,thereby promoting the H_(2)O_(2)production.With increasing pH,the intramolecular hydrogen bond between OOH intermediate and hydroxyl decreases,facilitating OOH desorption.Furthermore,the rise in selectivity with increasing potential stems from the suppression of the four-electron process.The active site was further validated through experiments.Guided by theoretical understanding,optimal performance was achieved with high selectivity(>95%)and current density(2.06 mA/cm^(2))in experiment.

Phase structure evolution and coercivity mechanism of high-Co containing permanent magnets

The phase structure and magnetic properties of high-Co containing permanent magnets with high thermal stability have been systematically studied in this work.It is abnormal that the coercivity of annealed samples was slightly lower than that of sintered samples,while the coercivity was usually enhanced after annealing in conventional Nd–Fe–B samples.Further analysis showed that in addition to RE_(2)(Fe,Co)_(14)B main phase and RE-rich grain boundary phase,there were also new Co-rich magnetic phases located in the grain boundary.During annealing,the phase structures of high-Co containing magnets were readjusted,especially the increasing Co-rich magnetic phase and emerging RE-rich particles precipitated from the main phase.Eventually,the isolated RE-rich particles would act as the pinning center of the domain wall movement in demagnetization process.It was confirmed that the coercivity of annealed high-Co containing magnets was controlled by both nucleation and pinning.Pinning mechanism can partially compensate for the weakening of magnetic isolation due to increased Co-rich magnetic phase,which explained the moderate decrease in coercivity of annealed high-Co containing magnets.The discovery of new coercivity mechanism contributed to in-depth understanding of high-Co containing magnets.

Effect of In doping on the evolution of microstructure,magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of NdFeB magnets

The grain boundary phase affects the magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of sintered NdFeB magnets.In this work,a small amount of In was added to NdFeB magnets by induction melting to systematically investigate its effect on the evolution of the microstructure,magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of NdFeB magnets.Microstructural analysis illustrated that minor In addition generated more grain boundary phases and an abundant amorphous phase at the triple-junction grain boundary.While the addition of In failed to enhance the magnetic isolation effect between adjacent matrix grains,its incorporation fortuitously elevated the electrochemical potential of the In-containing magnets.Besides,during corrosion,an In-rich precipitate phase formed,hindering the ingress of the corrosive medium into the magnet.Consequently,this significantly bolstered the corrosion resistance of the sintered NdFeB magnets.The phase formation,magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of In-doped NdFeB magnets are detailed in this work,which provides new prospects for the preparation of high-performance sintered NdFeB magnets.

End-group modulation of phenazine based non-fullerene acceptors for efficient organic solar cells with high open-circuit voltage

Phenazine-based non-fullerene acceptors(NFAs)have demonstrated great potential in improving the power conversion efficiency(PCE)of organic solar cells(OSCs).Halogenation is known to be an effective strategy for increasing optical absorption,refining energy levels,and improving molecular packing in organic semiconductors.Herein,a series of NFAs(Pz IC-4H,Pz IC-4F,Pz IC-4Cl,Pz IC-2Br)with phenazine as the central core and with/without halogen-substituted(dicyanomethylidene)-indan-1-one(IC)as the electron-accepting end group were synthesized,and the effect of end group matched phenazine central unit on the photovoltaic performance was systematically studied.Synergetic photophysical and morphological analyses revealed that the PM6:Pz IC-4F blend involves efficient exciton dissociation,higher charge collection and transfer rates,better crystallinity,and optimal phase separation.Therefore,OSCs based on PM6:Pz IC-4F as the active layer exhibited a PCE of 16.48%with an open circuit voltage(Voc)and energy loss of 0.880 V and 0.53 e V,respectively.Accordingly,this work demonstrated a promising approach by designing phenazine-based NFAs for achieving high-performance OSCs.

Effect of antioxidants on the efficiency of jet milling and the powder characteristics of Sm2Co17 permanent magnets

This study investigated the effect of antioxidants on the grinding efficiency,magnetic powder characteristics,microstructure,and magnetic properties of 2:17 type SmCo permanent magnet materials.The results show that adding antioxidants helps improve the dispersion among magnetic powders,leading to a 33.3%decrease in jet milling time and a 15.8%increase in magnet powder production yield.Additionally,adding antioxidants enhances the oxidation resistance of the magnetic powders.After being stored in a constant temperature air environment at 25C for 48 h,the O content in the powder decreased by 33%compared to samples without antioxidants.While in the magnet body,the O content decreased from 0.21 wt.%to 0.14 wt.%,which helps increase the effective Sm content and domain wall pinning uniformity in the magnet.Excellent magnetic properties were obtained in the magnet with added antioxidants:B_(r)=11.6 kGs,SF=79.6%,H_(cj)=16.8 kOe,and(BH)_(max)=32.5 MGOe.

Striking Stabilization Effect of Spinel Cobalt Oxide Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts in Neutral pH by Dual-Sites Iron Incorporation

Developing stable and efficient nonprecious-metal-based oxygen evolution catalysts in the neutral electrolyte is a challenging but essential goal for various electrochemical systems.Particularly,cobalt-based spinels have drawn a considerable amount of attention but most of them operate in alkali solutions.However,the frequently studied Co-Fe spinel system never exhibits appreciable stability in nonbasic conditions,not to mention attract further investigation on its key structural motif and transition states for activity loss.Herein,we report exceptional stable Co-Fe spinel oxygen evolution catalysts(~30%Fe is optimal)in a neutral electrolyte,owing to its unique metal ion arrangements in the crystal lattice.The introduced iron content enters both the octahedral and tetrahedral sites of the spinel as Fe^(2+)and Fe^(3+)(with Co ions having mixed distribution as well).Combining density functional theory calculations,we find that the introduction of Fe to Co_(3)O_(4)lowers the covalency of metal-oxygen bonds and can help suppress the oxidation of Co^(2+/3+)and 0^(2-).It implies that the Co-Fe spinel will have minor surface reconstruction and less lattice oxygen loss during the oxygen evolution reaction process in comparison with Co_(3)O_(4)and hence show much better stability.These findings suggest that there is still much chance for the spinel structures,especially using reasonable sublattices engineering via multimetal doping to develop advanced oxygen evolution catalysts.

Conversion of Lignin into Porous Carbons for High-Performance Supercapacitors via Spray Drying and KOH Activation: Structure-Properties Relationship and Reaction Mechanism

Lignin-derived porous carbons have emerged as promising electrode materials for supercapacitors.However,the challenge remains in designing and controlling their structure to achieve ideal electrochemical performance due to the complex molecular structure of lignin and its intricate chemical reactions during the activation process.In this study,three porous carbons were synthesized from lignin by spray drying and chemical activation with vary-ing KOH ratios.The specific surface area and structural order of the prepared porous carbon continued to increase with the increase of the KOH ratio.Thermogravimetric-mass spectrometry(TG-MS)was employed to track the molecular fragments generated during the pyrolysis of KOH-activated lignin,and the mechanism of the thermochemical conversion was investigated.During the thermochemical conversion of lignin,KOH facili-tated the removal of H2 and CO,leading to the formation of not only more micropores and mesopores,but also more ordered carbon structures.The pore structure exhibited a greater impact than the carbon structure on the electrochemical performance of porous carbon.The optimized porous carbon exhibited a capacitance of 256 F g-1 at a current density of 0.2 A g-1,making it an ideal electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors.

Adhesion strength of tetrahydrofuran hydrates is dictated by substrate stiffness

Understanding the hydrate adhesion is important to tackling hydrate accretion in petro-pipelines.Herein,the relationship between the Tetrahydrofuran(THF)hydrate adhesion strength(AS)and surface stiffness on elastic coatings is systemically examined by experimental shear force measurements and theoretical methods.The mechanical factor-elastic modulus of the coatings greatly dictates the hydrate AS,which is explained by the adhesion mechanics theory,beyond the usual factors such as wettability and structural roughness.Moreover,the hydrate AS increases with reducing the thickness of the elastic coatings,resulted from the decrease of the apparent surface elastic modulus.The effect of critical thickness for the elastic materials with variable elastic modulus on the hydrate AS is also revealed.This study provides deep perspectives on the regulation of the hydrate AS by the elastic modulus of elastic materials,which is of significance to design anti-hydrate surfaces for mitigation of hydrate accretion in petro-pipelines.

Artificial sensory neurons and their applications

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence(AI)technology,the demand for high-performance and energyefficient computing is increasingly growing.The limitations of the traditional von Neumann computing architecture have prompted researchers to explore neuromorphic computing as a solution.Neuromorphic computing mimics the working principles of the human brain,characterized by high efficiency,low energy consumption,and strong fault tolerance,providing a hardware foundation for the development of new generation AI technology.Artificial neurons and synapses are the two core components of neuromorphic computing systems.Artificial perception is a crucial aspect of neuromorphic computing,where artificial sensory neurons play an irreplaceable role thus becoming a frontier and hot topic of research.This work reviews recent advances in artificial sensory neurons and their applications.First,biological sensory neurons are briefly described.Then,different types of artificial neurons,such as transistor neurons and memristive neurons,are discussed in detail,focusing on their device structures and working mechanisms.Next,the research progress of artificial sensory neurons and their applications in artificial perception systems is systematically elaborated,covering various sensory types,including vision,touch,hearing,taste,and smell.Finally,challenges faced by artificial sensory neurons at both device and system levels are summarized.

All-solid-state lithium batteries with inorganic solid electrolytes:Review of fundamental science

The scientific basis of all-solid-state lithium batteries with inorganic solid electrolytes is reviewed briefly, touching upon solid electrolytes, electrode materials, electrolyte/electrode interface phenomena, fabrication, and evaluation. The challenges and prospects are outlined as well.

Corrosion resistance of composite coating on magnesium alloy using combined microarc oxidation and inorganic sealing

The combined microarc oxidation (MAO) and inorganic sealing process was used to deposit a composite coating to improve the corrosion resistance of AZ31 magnesium alloy.The surface morphologies of the resulting duplex coatings were studied by SEM.Furthermore,the corrosion resistance of the coated Mg alloy substrates was investigated using electrochemical workstation and dropping corrosion test.The results show that the composite coating surface consists of Mg,Si,O and Na.It is difficult to deposit inorganic coating on a thick MAO coating surface.As the composite coating was solidified by CO2 under 175 °C,it exhibits a better corrosion resistance than the MAO monolayer,owing to the thick and compact inorganic coating.

Effect of Aluminum Tri-polyphosphate on Corrosion Behavior of Reinforcing Steel in Seawater Prepared Coral Concrete

Atri-polyphosphate was used as a corrosion inhibitor in the seawater prepared coral concrete, and its influence on the corrosion behavior of carbon steel, 304 austenitic stainless steel, and 2205 duplex stainless steel was studied by the open-circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and potentiodynamic polarization, respectively. The results reveal that the corrosion potential and impedance of the reinforcing steel increase, while the corrosion current density decreases with the content of aluminum tripolyphosphate in the coral concrete. A low content of the corrosion inhibitor significantly retards the corrosion of the two stainless steels, but it cannot effectively inhibit the corrosion of the carbon steel in the coral concrete.In general, the carbon steel is unsuitable for the coral concrete for its poor corrosion resistance. In contrast,the stainless steels, especially the 2205 duplex stainless steel, shows an excellent anti-corrosion property in the seawater prepared coral concrete containing a certain amount of inhibitor, which is one of the satisfactory candidate methods to build the long-life coral concrete constructions.

Characterization and Properties of Duplex a-C:H/MAO Coatings on Magnesium Alloy using Combined Microarc Oxidation and Hybrid Magnetron Sputtering

The combined microarc oxidation （MAO） and magnetron sputtering deposition process was used to deposit duplex a-C：H/MAO and Ti-a-C：H/MAO coatings on AM80 magnesium alloy. The microstructure, mechanical properties and tribological behavior of the two duplex coatings were investigated. The experimental results showed that the a-C：H and Ti-a-C：H top films on Si substrates were dense and had a low G peak position and ID/IG ratio, compared with the hydrogen-free amorphous carbon films. Numerous micropores were found on the duplex a-C：H/MAO and Ti-a-C：H/MAO coatings together with low values of hardness （H） and elastic modulus （E）, which also showed good binding strength with the Mg alloy substrates. Compared to MAO treated substrate used for the protection of the Mg alloy, the duplex a-C：H/MAO and Ti-a- C：H/MAO coatings still had stable and low value of friction coefficient, even though the surface of the duplex coatings was rough and porous. Furthermore, the mechanism of friction reduction of the two duplex coatings on the Mg alloy substrates was discussed.

Microwave Assisted Sintering and Photoluminescence Properties of BaaSi6OleNe：Eu^2＋ Green Phosphors

Eu^2＋-doped Ba3Si6012N2 green phosphors were prepared by microwave assisted sintering method at 1275℃ for 4 h, while the counterparts using conventional solid-state reaction method were synthesized at temperature higher than 1300℃ and for to 10 h. Microwave assisted sintering could reduce the activation energy and enhance the diffu- sion rate, thus greatly improved the sintering. Moreover, the influence of Si3N4 content on phase formation, morphol- ogy, absorption, and quantum efficiency, and photoluminescence properties of phosphors were studied. As a result, the Ba3Si6OI2N2：Eu^2＋ samples sintered by microwave assisted sintering method have a higher phase purity and photo- luminescence intensity under ultraviolet excitation as compared with samples sintered in the conventional tube furnace The proposed method is a potential preparation method for the oxynitride phosphors with strong photoluminescence and high phase purity.

Touch-Responsive Hydrogel for Biomimetic Flytrap-Like Soft Actuator

Stimuli-responsive hydrogel is regarded as one of the most promising smart soft materials for the next-generation advanced technologies and intelligence robots,but the limited variety of stimulus has become a non-negligible issue restricting its further development.Herein,we develop a new stimulus of“touch”(i.e.,spatial contact with foreign object)for smart materials and propose a flytrap-inspired touch-responsive polymeric hydrogel based on supersaturated salt solution,exhibiting multiple responsive behaviors in crystallization,heat releasing,and electric signal under touch stimulation.Furthermore,utilizing flytrap-like cascade response strategy,a soft actuator with touch-responsive actuation is fabricated by employing the touch-responsive hydrogel and the thermo-responsive hydrogel.This investigation provides a facile and versatile strategy to design touch-responsive smart materials,enabling a profound potential application in intelligence areas.

Pulsed electrolysis of carbon dioxide by large-scale solid oxide electrolytic cells for intermittent renewable energy storage

CO_(2) electrolysis with solid oxide electrolytic cells(SOECs)using intermittently available renewable energy has potential applications for carbon neutrality and energy storage.In this study,a pulsed current strategy is used to replicate intermittent energy availability,and the stability and conversion rate of the cyclic operation by a large-scale flat-tube SOEC are studied.One hundred cycles under pulsed current ranging from -100 to -300 mA/cm^(2) with a total operating time of about 800 h were carried out.The results show that after 100 cycles,the cell voltage attenuates by 0.041%/cycle in the high current stage of−300 mA/cm^(2),indicating that the lifetime of the cell can reach up to about 500 cycles.The total CO_(2) conversion rate reached 52%,which is close to the theoretical value of 54.3% at -300 mA/cm^(2),and the calculated efficiency approached 98.2%,assuming heat recycling.This study illustrates the significant advantages of SOEC in efficient electrochemical energy conversion,carbon emission mitigation,and seasonal energy storage.

Oxidation of 2,5‐bis(hydroxymethyl)furan to 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid catalyzed by carbon nanotube‐supported Pd catalysts

The selective oxidation of 2,5‐bis(hydroxymethyl)furan(BHMF)in this work was proven as a promising route to produce 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid(FDCA),an emerging bio‐based building‐block with wide application.Under ambient pressure,the modified carbon nanotube‐supported Pd‐based catalysts demonstrate the maximum FDCA yield of 93.0%with a full conversion of BHMF after 60 min at 60°C,much superior to that of the traditional route using 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural(HMF)as substrates(only a yield of 35.7%).The participation of PdH_(x) active species with metallic Pd can be responsible for the encouraging performance.Meanwhile,a possible reaction pathway proceeding through 2,5‐diformylfuran(DFF)and 5‐formyl‐2‐furancarboxylic acid(FFCA)as process intermediates is suggested for BHMF route.The present work may provide new opportunities to synthesize other high value‐added oxygenates by using BHMF as an alternative feedstock.