Wearing “Body Armor” on Zinc anodes for Robust Aqueous Zinc-ion Batteries
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE05757K, PaperQunhao Wang, Xueyong Deng, Xiaolin Xue, Jian Zhang, Jiangqi Zhao, Zengyan Sui, Yuefei Zou, Longbo Luo, Wei Zhang, Xiangyang Liu, Canhui Lu
Rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries (ZIBs) are a promising device for sustainable energy storage, yet their application is hindered by uncontrollable Zn dendrite growth and parasitic reactions. Herein, a flexible membrane...
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Single Ion Conductive “Plasticine-Like” Solid Electrolyte Combined with Modulated D-Band Center of Interfacial Zinc Atoms for Highly Reversible Zinc Metal Anode
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00737B, PaperKang Yan, Yongbo Fan, Xueya Yang, Xinyu Wang, Shengmei Chen, Weijia Wang, Mingchang Zhang, Huiqing Fan, Longtao Ma
Highly concentrated salts, like 30 m ZnCl₂, can reduce free water molecules in aqueous electrolytes but also increase acidity, causing severe acid-catalyzed corrosion of the Zn anode, current collector, and...
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High‐Oriented SnO2 Nanocrystals for Air‐Processed Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells with an Efficiency of 23.87%
DAC-AA into SnO2 colloids favors the crystalline phase and preferential orientation along high-oriented (101) and (200) crystal planes by reducing surface absorption energy and modulating crystal thermodynamics, promoting heating transfer rate in the flexible PEN substrate and favoring perovskite/SnO2 lattice matching. The f-PSCs fabricated in full-air conditions produce an efficiency of 23.87% and exceptional mechanical stability.
Abstract
Tin (IV) oxide (SnO2) electron transport layer (ETL) emerges as the most promising n-type semiconductor material for flexible perovskite solar cells (f-PSCs). The (110) facet-dominated SnO2 colloids are readily created, whereas other best-performing (101) and (200) facets-dominated ones with superior potential in interface modulation and lattice matching remain insufficiently explored. Here water-soluble acryloyloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride-acrylamine (DAC-AA) doping into SnO2 colloids produces more (101)- and (200)-oriented crystal domains through lowering surface absorption energy and offering additional thermodynamic driving force. Theoretical and experimental analyses corroborate that the grain preference orientation induced by DAC-AA modification strengthens heating transfer rate on the flexible substrate and favors lattice matching of perovskite (100) plane on SnO2 (101) and (200) facets. Accordingly, the champion f-PSCs on high-oriented SnO2-DAC-AA ETLs fabricated fully in ambient air conditions achieve the efficiencies of 23.87% and 22.41% with aperture areas of 0.092 and 1 cm2. In parallel, the propitious interfacial lattice arrangement attenuates the formation of micro-strain inside perovskite films, maintaining 92.5% of their initial performance after 10 000 bending cycles with a curvature radius of 6 mm.
Reprogrammable Mechanical Metamaterials via Passive and Active Magnetic Interactions
The combination of flexible matrices with embedded hard-magnetic nodes enables metastructures with reprogrammable mechanical properties, even in the absence of external magnetic fields. The evolving interaction between nodes during structural deformation allows mechanical tunability under quasi-static and dynamic loading, and bistable transitions. This approach enables engineered structural components with adaptable mechanical responses, reprogrammable via magnetic element redistribution or applied fields.
Abstract
This study experimentally demonstrates the reprogrammability of a rotating-squares-based mechanical metamaterial with an embedded array of permanent magnets. How the orientation, residual magnetization, and stiffness of the magnets influence both the static and dynamic responses of the metamaterial is systematically investigated. It is showed that by carefully tuning the magnet orientation within the metamaterial, notable tunability of the metamaterial response can be achieved across static and dynamic regimes. More complex magnetic node configurations can optimize specific structural responses by decoupling the tunability of quasi-static stress–strain behavior from energy absorption under impact loading. Additionally, reprogrammability can be further enhanced by an external magnetic field, which modulates magnetic interactions within the structure. This work paves the way for developing engineered structural components with adaptable mechanical responses, reprogrammable through either the redistribution of magnetic elements or the application of an external magnetic field.
Efficient Autonomous Dew Water Harvesting by Laser Micropatterning: Superhydrophilic and High Emissivity Robust Grooved Metallic Surfaces Enabling Filmwise Condensation and Radiative Cooling
Laser micropatterning is presented as a promising technology in the search for autonomous dew water harvesting materials. Laser-grooved metallic surfaces achieve simultaneously high infrared emissivity and superhydrophilicity, which gives them self-cooling properties under atmospheric radiative deficit and the ability to condense water in an efficient filmwise fashion. An autonomous dew water harvesting system based on those surfaces yields remarkable results.
Abstract
The present work explores a unique yet unexplored synergy between the properties of laser micropatterned metallic surfaces and the requirements for an autonomous dew water harvesting candidate material. Laser-patterned aluminum surfaces achieved simultaneously high infrared emissivity (up to 0.95 in the atmospheric window) and superhydrophilic wettability (water contact angle of 0°), key properties enabling passive radiative cooling and filmwise condensation dynamics respectively. The generation of micrometric-sized grooves during laser processing plays a fundamental role in both properties, as they provide a broadband enhancement of the emissivity based on multiscale topographies and oxide layers, while limiting the growth of the water film during condensation through strong capillary wicking forces. As a result, the patterned aluminum surfaces display self-cooling capacities under radiative deficit conditions as well as low water retention levels (three times lower than the untreated dropwise condensation counterparts). The promising results obtained lead to the construction and evaluation of a real size outdoors autonomous dew water harvesting system based on those surfaces, demonstrating the scalability of the technology. A 70% improvement in the collected dew water in comparison to a state-of-the-art reference material is consistently measured during 1-year outdoor study, proving the robustness of the surfaces and their performance.
Thu 01 May 13:00: Is There Hope for the Climate?
Abstract Stay tuned!
Bio
Srinivasan Keshav is the Robert Sansom Professor of Computer Science at the University of Cambridge, focusing on the intersection of computer science and sustainability. He earned his PhD from UC Berkeley and has held roles at Bell Labs, Cornell University, and the University of Waterloo. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, ACM , and IEEE , Keshav is recognized for his contributions to networking and sustainability. His research includes innovations in energy systems, carbon footprint reduction, and forest conservation using remote sensing. Keshav emphasizes practical applications of computer science to global challenges, fostering collaborative solutions in smart grids and biodiversity conservation.
- Speaker: Srinivasan Keshav, University of Cambridge
- Thursday 01 May 2025, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: GS15, William Gates Building. Zoom link: https://cl-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/4361570789?pwd=Nkl2T3ZLaTZwRm05bzRTOUUxY3Q4QT09&from=addon .
- Series: Energy and Environment Group, Department of CST; organiser: lyr24.
Chiral Aluminum Oxyhydroxide Supraparticles as Adjuvants
Chiral flower-like aluminum oxyhydroxide (AlOOH) supraparticles (SPs) are fabricated as an adjuvant, indicating that that L-SPs enters dendritic cells (DCs) via Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) to enhance NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation.
Abstract
Aluminum-based adjuvants dominate global vaccine formulations owing to their proven efficacy in humoral immunity induction. However, their inherent limitations in activating cellular immunity pose critical challenges for vaccine development. In this study, chiral flower-like aluminum oxyhydroxide (AlOOH) supraparticles (SPs) are synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal method using cysteine (Cys) enantiomers as chiral ligands, achieving a g-factor of 0.004. L-AlOOH SPs (L-SPs) demonstrate significantly greater enhancement in dendritic cell (DC) maturation and antigen cross-presentation efficiency compared to D-AlOOH SPs (D-SPs), indicating its potential as an adjuvant. Mechanistic studies reveal that L-SPs enter DCs via Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), thereby enhancing NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. In vivo experiments show that L-SPs generate 21.59-fold higher OVA-specific antibody titers than commercial aluminum adjuvants. Further studies show that L-SPs, after mixed with H9N2 virus proteins, enhance influenza virus antibody titers by 15.28-fold, with sustained protection, confirming its translational potential. This study demonstrates the performance of chiral AlOOH SPs to simultaneously amplify humoral and cellular immunological responses, entering it as a promising next-generation adjuvant for cancer immunotherapy and pandemic preparedness.
Near‐Infrared Emissive CuInS2/ZnS Quantum Dot‐Embedded Polymer Scaffolds for Photon Upconversion Imaging
CuInS₂/ZnS quantum dots (nCIS QDs) are developed via template-assisted cation exchange, enabling photon upconversion (UC) with NIR-I emission, a large Stokes shift (≈650 meV), and high PLQY (≈0.95). The QDs are incorporated into a 3D-printed polymer matrix, forming a scaffold with strong optical contrast under UC imaging. This system enables high-contrast NIR imaging for surgical guidance, even under interference layers.
Abstract
A facile synthesis and application of photon upconversion (UC) probes, CuInS₂/ZnS quantum dots (nCIS QDs) is presented, which exhibits near-infrared (NIR) spectral emission. The nCIS QDs are synthesized via a template-assisted cation-exchange reaction during a heating process, resulting in NIR-I emission with a large Stokes shift (≈650 meV) and a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY, ≈0.95). This behavior is attributed to a template-assisted cation-exchange mechanism that produces a wurtzite crystal structure and deep defect states, leading to a relatively long fluorescence lifetime (≈5 µs). The quantum confinement effect allows for the emission of light at different wavelengths by adjusting the size of the nanocrystals. Moreover, their deep defect states facilitate photon UC via a self-trapping triplet-triplet annihilation mechanism. The promising potential of the nCIS QDs is explored in UC imaging, demonstrating high-contrast NIR imaging under IR vision modules, even in the presence of interference layers. It suggests potential applications in surgical guidance and future biomedical imaging.
Wed 14 May 16:00: Spacetime Singularities and Black Holes
After a brief introduction to Einstein’s theory of general relativity and its most profound prediction of black holes, I will focus on spacetime singularities, i.e., regions where general relativity breaks down and must be replaced by a quantum theory of gravity. I first discuss singularities inside black holes. This is the usual case and is an old story, but there have been some recent developments. I will next describe some new results which show that some black holes have singularities on their surface. Finally, I will discuss the possibility of singularities outside black holes.
- Speaker: Professor Gary Horowitz - University of California, Santa Barbara
- Wednesday 14 May 2025, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: MR3.
- Series: Theoretical Physics Colloquium; organiser: Amanda Stagg.
Achieving 20% Efficiency for Binary Organic Solar Cells with Suppressed Non-radiative Recombination via Triphenylamine Halides†
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE01165E, PaperJunjie Zhang, Xiaopeng Duan, Xiaoming Li, Guangkuo Dai, Jiawei Deng, Xunchang Wang, Jiawei Qiao, Hanzhi Wu, Liming Liu, Haodong Huang, Sha Liu, Jun Yan, Huotian Zhang, Xiao-Tao Hao, Renqiang Yang, Feng Gao, Yanming Sun
Minimizing energy loss has been identified as an effective approach to achieve further efficiency breakthroughs in organic solar cells (OSCs), and the main loss channel can be attributed to non-radiative...
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Homogeneous 2D/3D heterostructured tin halide perovskite photovoltaics
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 16 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01905-4
Caesium cations promote the coagulation of 2D and 3D perovskite colloids, synchronizing their nucleation kinetics and enabling the formation of homogeneous 2D/3D heterostructured lead-free photovoltaics with a certified power conversion efficiency of 16.65%.Amorphous Indium-Zinc Oxide Layer with Transport and Protective Dual-Function for High-Efficiency Semitransparent and Tandem Sb2(S,Se)3 Solar Cells
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE04699D, PaperJunjie Yang, Jianyu Li, Yuehao Gu, Rongfeng Tang, Lei Huang, Zhiyuan Cai, Bo Che, Qi Zhao, Shuwei Sheng, Hong Wang, Changfei Zhu, Tao Chen
Environmentally friendly Sb2(S,Se)3 with excellent optoelectronic properties is considered to be a promising light-harvesting material, which can be applied to highly efficient semitransparent solar cells when well coupled with a...
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Fri 25 Apr 11:45: Cambridge MedAI Seminar - April 2025
Sign up on Eventbrite: https://medai_april2025.eventbrite.co.uk
Join us for the Cambridge AI in Medicine Seminar Series, hosted by the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre and the Department of Radiology at Addenbrooke’s. This series brings together leading experts to explore cutting-edge AI applications in healthcare—from disease diagnosis to drug discovery. It’s a unique opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and students to stay at the forefront of AI innovations and engage in discussions shaping the future of AI in healthcare.
This month’s seminar will be held on Friday 25 April 2025, 12-1pm at the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre (Main Lecture Theatre), University of Cambridge and streamed online via Zoom. A light lunch from Aromi will be served from 11:45. The event will feature the following talks:
Unlocking Hidden Potential: Federated Machine Learning on Blood Count Data Enables Accurate Iron Deficiency Detection in Blood Donors – Daniel Kreuter, PhD Student, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
Daniel is a PhD student in the BloodCounts! project, focusing on building algorithms for advanced full blood count analysis to extract additional clinical information from the world’s most common medical test. His research aims to improve healthcare decision-making through more efficient use of existing data. He is in his final year and is supervised by Prof Carola-Bibiane Schönlieb from the Applied Mathematics department and Prof Willem Ouwehand from the department of Haematology. Before coming to Cambridge, Daniel studied physics at the Technische Universität Darmstadt in Germany. His Master’s thesis project focused on replacing costly laser-plasma interaction simulations with a much faster neural network model, reducing computation time from 4 hours to a few milliseconds.
Abstract: The full blood count is the world’s most common medical laboratory test, with 3.6 billion tests performed annually worldwide. Despite this ubiquity, the rich single-cell flow cytometry data generated by haematology analysers to calculate standard parameters like haemoglobin and cell counts is routinely discarded. Our research demonstrates how AI models can extract this hidden value, transforming a routine test into a powerful screening tool for iron deficiency in blood donors—with no additional testing required. Iron deficiency remains a major challenge in blood donation programs, affecting donor health and donation efficiency. By applying advanced machine learning to previously unused data dimensions within standard blood counts, we achieve significantly improved detection accuracy compared to conventional parameters. Furthermore, we show that federated learning enables this approach to scale and generalise across multiple centres while preserving data privacy. This work exemplifies how AI can enhance existing medical infrastructure, extracting new clinical value from already-collected data to improve donor health.
Reconstructing extremely low dose CT images using machine learning – Dr Ander Biguri, Senior Research Associate, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
Ander Biguri received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Bath in 2018, for his work on 4D Computed Tomography for radiotherapy. Since, he has held research positions at University of Southampton, University College London and lastly University of Cambridge. His research lies in the intersection of inverse problems and their applications in real-case scenarios, such as Positron Emission Tomography or various computed tomography modalities. He is best known for the development of the TIGRE toolbox for applied tomography applications.
Abstract: ML models can be used to denoise medical images, however when doing this we don’t use information from the measurements. You can instead add machine learning to the image formation/reconstruction process, ensuring high quality images that still match the measured data from medical scanners. In this talk we will briefly see different ways of adding machine learning to these mathematical processes and discuss the challenges still needed to be tackled to make the application of such methods a clinical reality.
This is a hybrid event so you can also join via Zoom:
https://zoom.us/j/99050467573?pwd=UE5OdFdTSFdZeUtIcU1DbXpmdlNGZz09
Meeting ID: 990 5046 7573 and Passcode: 617729
We look forward to your participation! If you are interested in getting involved and presenting your work, please email Ines Machado at im549@cam.ac.uk
For more information about this seminar series, see: https://www.integratedcancermedicine.org/research/cambridge-medai-seminar-series/
- Speaker: Daniel Kreuter and Dr Ander Biguri
- Friday 25 April 2025, 11:45-13:00
- Venue: Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre (Main Lecture Theatre), University of Cambridge.
- Series: Cambridge MedAI Seminar Series; organiser: Hannah Clayton.
Dielectric Constant Engineering of Nonfullerene Acceptors Enables a Record Fill Factor of 83.58% and a High Efficiency of 20.80% in Organic Solar Cells
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00101C, PaperJunwei Dong, Yinfeng Li, Chentong Liao, Xiaopeng Xu, Liyang Yu, Ruipeng Li, Qiang Peng
Organic solar cells (OSCs) have shown promise with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) exceeding 20%, but their performance still lags behind silicon-based and hybrid perovskite solar cells. A critical limitation is...
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Importance of hydrogen oxidation reaction current in quantifying hydrogen crossover in PEM water electrolyzers at high differential pressure
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00048C, Communication Open Access   This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence.Ramchandra Gawas, Douglas I. Kushner, Xiong Peng, Rangachary Mukundan
This work employs online gas chromatography and hydrogen oxidation current measurements for accurate quantification of the hydrogen crossover rates in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers operating at high differential pressure.
To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above.
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Recent Advances in Stimuli‐Responsive Materials and Soft Robotic Actuators for Bioelectronic Medicine
This review explores the integration of responsive materials and soft robotic actuators with implantable electronics to address key challenges in bioelectronic medicine. By enabling shape actuation, these technologies improve deployment, adaptability, and accuracy in minimally invasive procedures. The review discusses actuation mechanisms, device designs, and future opportunities for intelligent, responsive implants with enhanced therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities.
Abstract
Bioelectronic medicine uses implantable electronic devices to interface with electrically active tissues and transform the way disease is diagnosed and treated. One of the biggest challenges is the development of minimally invasive devices that can be deployed to patients at scale. Responsive materials and soft robotic actuators offer unique opportunities to make bioelectronic devices with shape actuation, promising to address the limitations of existing rigid and passive systems, including difficult deployment, mechanical mismatch with soft tissues, and limited adaptability in minimally invasive settings. In this review, an overview is provided of smart materials and soft robotic technologies that show promises for implantable use, discussing advantages and limitations of underlying actuation mechanisms. Examples are then presented where soft actuating mechanisms are combined with microelectrodes to create shape actuating bioelectronic devices. Opportunities and challenges for next-generation intelligent bioelectronic devices assisted by responsive materials and soft robotic actuators are then discussed. These innovations may allow electronic implants to safely navigate to target areas inside the body and establish large area and spatiotemporally controlled interfaces for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures that are minimally invasive.
Glow‐Worm‐Inspired Fluorescent Self‐Healing Actuators for Soft Robot and Reconfigurable Information Encryption
Inspired by glow-worms, a high-performance multifunctional fluorescent actuator is fabricated by combining ultra-stable perovskite quantum dots with self-healing materials. It integrates large deformation, high brightness, high color-purity, color-changing function and full-device self-healing function together. The full-device self-healing function enables reconfigurable on-demand fluorescent patterns. This actuator opens new paths to soft robots and reconfigurable information encryption.
Abstract
Fluorescent actuators with light-emitting and shape-deformation properties are promising in bionics and soft robotics. However, current fluorescent actuators barely balance actuation performances with fluorescence properties, as they exhibit insufficient brightness, poor color-purity, low-stability, and few functional-integrations, limiting their applications in complex scenarios. Herein, inspired by glow-worms, a multifunctional fluorescent actuator by combining ultra-stable perovskite quantum dots with polyurethane and graphene oxide composites is reported, which integrates large deformation, high brightness, high color-purity, color-changing function and full-device self-healing function together. The actuator shows a large bending curvature of 2.48 cm−1. It exhibits excellent fluorescence performances, such as quantum yields as high as 58.88% and full-widths at half-maximum as narrow as 21 nm. The actuation and fluorescence properties show long-term stability during more than 1100 cycles of near-infrared irradiation and 12 h of ultraviolet exposure. Moreover, the actuator is integrated with color-changing and full-device self-healing functions, enabling a synergetic color/shape change and reconfigurable on-demand fluorescent patterns. Then, a smart gripper and a crawling robot with crawling/rollover motions are demonstrated. Finally, a non-contact dynamic display of reconfigurable encrypted information driven by light is fabricated to mimic light communications of glow-worms. This actuator demonstrates unprecedented multifunctionality, opening new avenues for fluorescent soft robotics.
Neuromorphic Transistors Integrating Photo‐Sensor, Optical Memory and Visual Synapses for Artificial Vision Application
This work presents a neuromorphic transistor integrating sensing, memory, and computing in one device to address the challenges of commercial artificial vision system. By varying top gate voltages, it can operate as an ultrasensitive photo-sensor (≈6.515 kA W−1), a non-volatile multi-level optical memory (>4 bits), and a neuromorphic visual synapse with 95.26% image recognition accuracy by combing artificial neural network model.
Abstract
In commercial artificial vision system (AVS), the sensing, storage, and computing units are usually physically separated due to their architecture and performance gaps, which thus increases the volume, complexity, and energy loss. This work develops a neuromorphic transistor integrating these different modules within one single device. Leveraging the gate-tunable out-of-plane electric field, the device achieves the multi-mode integration of photo-sensor, optical memory, and visual synapse. When operating at negative top gate voltage (VTG), a strong photo-gating effect enables highly sensitive photo-response with responsivity of ≈6.515 kA W−1 and detectivity up to ≈3.92 × 1014 Jones. Due to the charge storage effect, it can also act as a non-volatile multi-level (>4 bits) optical memory with a long endurance of over 10 000 s and a high writing/erasing ratio of up to 106. At zero or positive VTG, the transistor switches to visual synapse mode with neuromorphic computing capability, providing a pathway for complex biological learning and flexible synaptic plasticity. By further combining the synaptic plasticity with an artificial neural network (ANN), it achieves precise image recognition and classification with an accuracy of up to 95.26%. This work develops a multi-mode transistor that integrates key components of an AVS, addressing the existing challenges of all-in-one integration and manufacturing complexity.
Mon 03 Nov 11:00: LMB Seminar - Title TBC
Abstract not available
- Speaker: David Klenerman, University of Cambridge
- Monday 03 November 2025, 11:00-12:00
- Venue: In person in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre (CB2 0QH) and via Zoom link .
- Series: MRC LMB Seminar Series; organiser: Scientific Meetings Co-ordinator.
Mon 19 May 11:00: LMB Seminar - Blueprints of Life: Understanding the Sex Chromosomes
Sex chromosomes represent the only chromosome pair that differ between males and females, and as such are responsible for the myriad sexual dimorphisms observed in mammals. However, relative to the rest of the genome, their biology remains under explored. In this talk, I will describe how the sex chromosomes appeared during mammalian evolution, the mechanisms by which they regulate their most celebrated role in germline development, and their contribution to male-female differences in disease.
- Speaker: James Turner, The Francis Crick Institute
- Monday 19 May 2025, 11:00-12:00
- Venue: In person in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre (CB2 0QH) and via Zoom link https://mrc-lmb-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/94132066038?pwd=OF2EjwrvRQxl0XgpGK0N5L4bDNaayi.1.
- Series: MRC LMB Seminar Series; organiser: Scientific Meetings Co-ordinator.