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This review summarizes the synthesis of printable photonic materials and devices for both wearable and implantable sensing applications. The challenges of mechanical stability, biocompatibility, and large-scale manufacturing are discussed with proposed strategies. Innovations in high-performance printable photonic sensing devices can inspire their practical applications in personalized medicine and intelligent healthcare.

Abstract

Photonic materials possess tunable optical properties and have been widely utilized for healthcare applications. These materials enable the detection of physical and physiological bio-signals via modulated optical output characteristics, such as wavelength shifts, fluorescence emission, and light scattering. When further synthesized into functional photonic inks, multimodal devices for epidermal, minimally invasive, and implantable bio-sensing can be constructed in facile and printable manners. This review first introduces functional photonic materials in different geometries and their unique properties. To enable feasible fabrication of multi-functional photonic devices for biosensing in versatile platforms, the synthesis of printable inks and the as-printed devices are then illustrated. Subsequently, the advances and breakthroughs to construct printable photonic devices and integrated systems for wearable and implantable applications are displayed, especially for multimodal sensing to facilitate personalized and remote healthcare. Finally, the challenges in achieving mechanical stability, eliminated degradation, enhanced biocompatibility in dynamic biological environments, and scalable production are discussed, along with the prospects toward reliable and intelligent healthcare.

This work presents a breakthrough in wave manipulation physics and technology, enabling perfect absorption and precise wavefront control. The proposed concept of metagrating surpasses the size and efficiency limitations of conventional ones. Its compact, lightweight design tackles the key challenge inherent to all elastic wave-manipulation metastructures, which consists in the unavoidable vibration modes in finite structures hindering their implementation in real-world applications.

Abstract

Optical and acoustic metagratings have addressed the challenges of low-efficiency wave manipulation and high-complexity fabrication associated with metamaterials and metasurfaces. In this research, the concept of locally resonant elastic metagrating (LREM) is both theoretically and experimentally demonstrated, which is underpinned by the unique elastic impedance modulation and the hybridization of intrinsic evanescent waves. Remarkably, the LREM overcomes the size limitations of conventional metagratings and offers a distinctive design paradigm for highly efficient, compact, and lightweight structures for wave manipulation in elastic wave systems. Importantly, the LREM tackles a key challenge inherent to all elastic wave-manipulation metastructures, which consists in the unavoidable vibration modes in finite structures hindering their real-world applications.

In this work, a highly scalable chemical approach based on the anion exchange reaction is developed to engineer an amorphous metal compound layer on the surface of argyrodite-type electrolyte grains. Further, a novel localized grain engineering concept is introduced, which combines engineered and pure electrolyte grains to enable aggregates with favorable macroscopic properties for suppressing Li intrusion.

Abstract

Li intrusion is the primary factor contributing to the undesirable cycling durability and rate capability of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries. However, conventional engineering methodologies for solid electrolytes (SEs) that focus on crystalline scales, such as doping, have limited efficacy in addressing this issue, as they not only involve cumbersome trial-and-error processes but also struggle to simultaneously optimize the multiple macroscopic properties necessary for effectively suppressing Li intrusion. Herein, rather than following the conventional practice of SE engineering, it is concentrated on optimizing SEs at the grain-aggregate level. A highly scalable chemical approach based on a thermodynamic-favored anion exchange reaction is first developed to engineer an amorphous metal compound layer on the surface of argyrodite-type electrolyte grains. Further, a novel localized grain engineering concept is introduced, which combines engineered and pure electrolyte grains to enable aggregates with favorable macroscopic properties for suppressing Li intrusion. The localized grain-engineered electrolyte aggregates greatly enhance Li reversibility and are able to suppress Li intrusion under practical working conditions. Notably, the 20 µm-Li||LiNi0.83Co0.12Mn0.05O2 cell using localized grain-engineered electrolyte aggregates can stably cycle for over 2000 cycles at a high current density of 1.6 mA cm−2.

A novel vapor phase method is first proposed to reconstruct a robust LiF coating layer on the Li-rich Mn-based oxide cathodes. The designed LiF layer effectively modulates the electric field distribution on the electrode surface, thereby promoting the formation of a uniform LiF-rich cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI). The optimized CEI facilitates homogeneous Li+ fluxes on the electrode surface, contributing to a stable electrode-electrolyte interface.

Abstract

Constructing a stable cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) is crucial to enhance the battery performance of Li-rich Mn-based oxide (LMO) cathodes. To achieve an ideal CEI, a gas-phase fluorination technique is proposed to pre-structure a robust LiF layer (≈1 nm) on the LMO surface. The designed LiF layer effectively modulates the electric field distribution on the electrode surface and mitigates undesirable side reactions between the electrode and electrolyte, thereby promoting the formation of a uniform LiF-rich CEI layer on the LMO-F-1. The optimized CEI facilitates homogeneous Li+ fluxes across the electrode surface and enhances Li+ diffusion in the electrode during (de)intercalation, contributing to a stable electrode-electrolyte interface. Moreover, the robust LiF-rich CEI layer effectively suppresses the decomposition of lithium salts in the electrolyte and reduces autocatalytic side reactions triggered by the by-products. In addition, it improves the structural stability of LMO by increasing the formation energies of oxygen and manganese vacancies. As a result, the modified LMO with the LiF-rich CEI retains 95% of its initial capacity after 100 cycles, demonstrating remarkable electrochemical stability. The proposed gas-phase Li+ flux homogenization strategy offers a promising avenue for enhancing the interface stability of high-voltage cathode materials with lithium storage.

Nature Energy, Published online: 06 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01733-9

Developing safe, fast-recharging Li-metal batteries is challenging due to the need for stable, non-flammable electrolytes. This study presents an electrolyte design using miniature anion–Li+ solvation structures, achieving high conductivity, stable cycling and improved safety.

Nature Energy, Published online: 06 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01722-y

Europe’s future battery cell demand is projected to exceed 1 TWh yr−1 by 2030, outpacing domestic production despite strong expected growth. While 50–60% self-sufficiency appears likely, achieving the European 90% target remains uncertain.

Nature Energy, Published online: 06 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01738-4

Single-crystal Ni-rich cathode materials are highly sought after in battery development. In this study the authors present a synthesis route that leverages Li2O sublimation to facilitate the production of high-performance single-crystal cathode materials.

RO-FIGS: Efficient and Expressive Tree-Based Ensembles for Tabular Data

Tree-based models are often robust to uninformative features and can accurately capture non-smooth, complex decision boundaries. Consequently, they often outperform neural network-based models on tabular datasets at a significantly lower computational cost. Nevertheless, the capability of traditional tree-based ensembles to express complex relationships efficiently is limited by using a single feature to make splits. To improve the efficiency and expressiveness of tree-based methods, we propose Random Oblique Fast Interpretable Greedy-Tree Sums (RO-FIGS). RO-FIGS builds on Fast Interpretable Greedy-Tree Sums, and extends it by learning trees with oblique or multivariate splits, where each split consists of a linear combination learnt from random subsets of features. This helps uncover interactions between features and improves performance. The proposed method is suitable for tabular datasets with both numerical and categorical features. We evaluate RO-FIGS on 22 real-world tabular datasets, demonstrating superior performance and much smaller models over other tree- and neural network-based methods. Additionally, we analyse their splits to reveal valuable insights into feature interactions, enriching the information learnt from SHAP summary plots, and thereby demonstrating the enhanced interpretability of RO-FIGS models. The proposed method is well-suited for applications, where balance between accuracy and interpretability is essential.

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• Speaker: Urška Matjašec (University of Cambridge)
• Thursday 06 March 2025, 13:00-14:00
• Venue: Lecture Theatre 2, Computer Laboratory, William Gates Building.
• Series: Artificial Intelligence Research Group Talks (Computer Laboratory); organiser: Mateja Jamnik.

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Large Values of the Riemann Zeta Function in Short Intervals

The interplay between probability theory and number theory has a rich history of producing deep results and conjectures. Important instances are the works of Erdös, Kac, Selberg, Montgomery, Soundararajan and Granville, to name a few. This talk will review recent results in this spirit where the insights of probability, of branching processes in particular, have led to a better understanding of large values of the Riemann zeta function in short intervals on the critical line.

• Speaker: Louis-Pierre Arguin (Oxford)
• Tuesday 18 March 2025, 14:00-15:00
• Venue: MR12.
• Series: Probability; organiser: ww295.

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Nonlinear transport and photocurrent in 2D electronic liquids

Nonlinear transport and optical phenomena, such as charge and spin photogalvanic effects and high-harmonic generation, are of significant interest in condensed matter physics due to their applications in photodetection, optospintronics, and nanoscale imaging of quantum materials. Understanding low-frequency nonlinear photocurrents provides a means to probe and leverage quantum geometry and many-body effects in crystalline materials. In this talk, I will review both old and recent results in nonlinear transport and optics in two-dimensional layered materials, including many-body renormalization of nonlinear optical responses in graphene and the nonlinear Hall effect. I will particularly focus on nonlinear photo-thermoelectric effects and magneto-transport in 2D Fermi liquids, highlighting their role in probing the long-lived dynamics of odd-parity Fermi liquid modes in the hydrodynamic (tomographic) regime.

• Speaker: Habib Rostami (Bath)
• Monday 24 March 2025, 14:00-15:30
• Venue: TCM Seminar Room.
• Series: Theory of Condensed Matter; organiser: Bo Peng.

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Entropy in pointwise ergodic theory

In the first part, I will survey the highlights of pointwise ergodic theory dating back to the work of Birkhoff; in the second part, I will focus on the role of the entropy methods.

• Speaker: Ben Krause (University of Bristol)
• Wednesday 12 March 2025, 13:30-15:00
• Venue: MR4, CMS.
• Series: Discrete Analysis Seminar; organiser: Julia Wolf.

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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00612K, PaperTao Li, Xinji Dong, Hange Yang, jianwei zhang, Rong Huang, Zhuoran Lv, Yueyue Li, Shi Cong Zhang, Fu Qiang Huang, Tian Quan Lin
Cathode materials that exhibit high capacity, rapid charging, and long lifespan at high mass loading are crucial for the commercialization of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). However, challenges such as sluggish...
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry

Nonlinear transport and photocurrent in 2D electronic liquids

Nonlinear transport and optical phenomena, such as charge and spin photogalvanic effects and high-harmonic generation, are of significant interest in condensed matter physics due to their applications in photodetection, optospintronics, and nanoscale imaging of quantum materials. Understanding low-frequency nonlinear photocurrents provides a means to probe and leverage quantum geometry and many-body effects in crystalline materials. In this talk, I will review both old and recent results in nonlinear transport and optics in two-dimensional layered materials, including many-body renormalization of nonlinear optical responses in graphene and the nonlinear Hall effect. I will particularly focus on nonlinear photo-thermoelectric effects and magneto-transport in 2D Fermi liquids, highlighting their role in probing the long-lived dynamics of odd-parity Fermi liquid modes in the hydrodynamic (tomographic) regime.

• Speaker: Habib Rostami (Bath)
• Tuesday 25 March 2025, 14:00-15:30
• Venue: TCM Seminar Room.
• Series: Theory of Condensed Matter; organiser: Bo Peng.

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Entropy in Pointwise Ergodic Theory

In the first part, I will survey the highlights of pointwise ergodic theory dating back to the work of Birkhoff; in the second part, I will focus on the role of the entropy methods.

• Speaker: Ben Krause (University of Bristol)
• Wednesday 12 March 2025, 13:30-15:00
• Venue: MR4, CMS.
• Series: Discrete Analysis Seminar; organiser: Julia Wolf.

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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00641D, PaperShuaipeng Hao, Yuelin Lv, Yi Zhang, Shuaiwei Liu, Zhouliang Tan, Wei Liu, Yuanguang Xia, Wen Yin, Yaqi Liao, Haijin Ji, Yuelin Kong, Yudi Shao, Yunhui Huang, Lixia Yuan
LiFePO4 (LFP) cathodes primarily degrade due to Li+ depletion and Fe (III) phase formation, while preserving their crystal structure, rendering them ideal candidates for direct regeneration. In spent LFP, however,...
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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00399G, PaperZhenjie Wang, Jianlong Wang, Zheng Yang, Jinzhi Zhu, Peinian Zhang, Xin Yu, Hengyu Li, Yang Yu, Yu Zhang, Zhong Lin Wang, Tinghai Cheng
Power management strategies are crucial for improving the energy utilization efficiency of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). However, existing strategies are constrained by the instability of external inputs and the static power...
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry

The (other) Big Bang Theory: Predicting Impact Sensitivities for Energetic Materials

Impact sensitivity (literally, how hard do you need to hit a material to cause it to initiate) is a critically important safety metric and performance indicator for explosives. It’s a challenging property to measure experimentally, however, which has fuelled the need for physical models to understand the link between structure and material property. While predicting property from structure is valuable, perhaps an even greater prize is having the ability to run the process in reverse, i.e. to predict structures likely to present with a desired property. In this talk I will outline, (i) how we can link impact sensitivity to structure through a first-principles physical model, and (ii) how we can broaden out the pool of structures studied through a supervised machine learning study, using features derived from the physical model. The output from this work are tools that can guide the discovery, design and synthesis of safer explosives.

• Speaker: Professor Carole Morrison, University of Edinburgh
• Wednesday 12 March 2025, 14:30-15:30
• Venue: Unilever Lecture Theatre, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry.
• Series: Theory - Chemistry Research Interest Group; organiser: Lisa Masters.

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The gasotransmitter-nanodonor FSG@AB co-releases hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and glucose oxidase (GOx) at bone metastases, disrupting mitochondrial function and inhibiting glycolysis to deplete tumor energy sources, exerting robust anti-tumor effects. The released H₂S travels to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), upregulating glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) expression, reducing extracellular glutamate levels, and mitigating glutamatergic hyperactivity, ultimately alleviating anxiety-like behaviors.

Abstract

Anxiety is highly prevalent among cancer patients, significantly impacting their prognosis. Current cancer therapies typically lack anxiolytic properties and may even exacerbate anxiety. Here, a gasotransmitter-nanodonors (GND) system is presented that exerts dual anxiolytic and anti-tumor effects via a “tumor-brain axis” strategy. The GND, synthesized by co-embedding Fe2⁺ and S2⁻ ions along with glucose oxidase (GOx) within bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles (FSG@AB), enables the controlled release of the gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in the acidic tumor microenvironment. H₂S and GOx synergistically deplete tumor energy sources, resulting in robust anti-tumor effects. Meanwhile, H₂S generated at the tumor site is transported through the bloodstream to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in the brain, where it modulates neuronal activity. Specifically, in the ACC, H₂S upregulates glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1), which reduces extracellular glutamate levels and attenuates the hyperactivity of glutamatergic neurons, thereby alleviating anxiety-like behavior. This study proposes a GND system that targets both oncological and psychiatric dimensions of cancer through the “tumor-brain axis” strategy, resulting in improved therapeutic outcomes.

The miniaturized and portable bio-battery, fabricated by 3-D printing of living hydrogels containing electroactive Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 biofilms, represents a novel class of engineered living energy materials. The electricity generated by this device can be harnessed for nerve stimulation to enable precise control over bioelectrical stimulation and physiological blood pressure signals.

Abstract

Harnessing engineered living materials for energy application represents a promising avenue to sustainable energy conversion and storage, with bio-batteries emerging as a pivotal direction for sustainable power supply. Whereas, the realization of miniaturized and portable bio-battery orchestrating off-the-shelf devices remains a significant challenge. Here, this work reports the development of a miniaturized and portable bio-battery using living hydrogels containing conductive biofilms encapsulated in an alginate matrix for nerve stimulation. These hydrogels, which can be 3-D printed into customized geometries, retained biologically active characteristics, including electroactivity that facilitates electron generation and the reduction of graphene oxide. By fabricating the living hydrogel into a standard 2032 battery shell with a diameter of 20 mm, this work successfully creates a miniaturized and portable bio-battery with self-charging performance. The device demonstrates remarkable electrochemical performance with a coulombic efficiency of 99.5% and maintains high cell viability exceeding 90% after operation. Notably, the electricity generated by the bio-battery can be harnessed for nerve stimulation to enable precise control over bioelectrical stimulation and physiological blood pressure signals. This study paves the way for the development of novel, compact, and portable bio-energy devices with immense potential for future advancements in sustainable energy technologies.

Advanced Materials, Volume 37, Issue 9, March 5, 2025.