Nanoscience News (<front>)

Title tbc

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Max Xu (Courant Institute, NYU)
• Wednesday 21 May 2025, 13:30-15:00
• Venue: MR4, CMS.
• Series: Discrete Analysis Seminar; organiser: Julia Wolf.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

Convergence for sparse graphs and representations

Various modes of convergence can be defined to control the asymptotic `global’ properties of a growing sequence of sparse graphs. Variants of these that allow directed and labeled edges have appeared independently in the study of sofic entropy in ergodic theory. In both settings, the theory has run into fundamental open questions about the convergence of some basic examples, especially random regular graphs. In the first part, I will sketch some of these questions with their background. In the second part, I will describe some analogs for unitary representations that have answers in terms of operator algebras. I will also indicate some applications to the study of random matrices if time allows.

(A more elementary account of some of these topics will occupy the Mordell lecture on Thursday.)

• Speaker: Tim Austin (University of Warwick)
• Wednesday 30 April 2025, 13:30-15:00
• Venue: MR4, CMS.
• Series: Discrete Analysis Seminar; organiser: Julia Wolf.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00605H, PaperYuhao Guo, Qinhui Guan, Xingjuan Li, Mengjun Zhao, Na Li, Zizhong Zhang, Gui-qiang Fei, Tingjiang Yan
In heterogeneous photocatalysis, the dynamics of charge carriers holds particular significance for comprehending the underlying catalytic mechanism and designing highly efficient photocatalysts. The current technological challenge lies in how to...
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry

Here, the study reports morphotropic phase boundary like behavior in a relaxor ferroelectric polymer with a unique head-to-head/tail-to-tail chain structure by the complete hydrogenation of poly(vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene), achieving an outstanding piezoelectric coefficient of −107 pC/N, over five times higher than commercial polyvinylidene difluoride. This breakthrough enables next-generation high-performance flexible devices.

Abstract

During past decades, the construction of morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) behavior in ceramic-based relaxor ferroelectrics has successfully led to a significant enhancement in the piezoelectric coefficient for actuators, transducers, and sensors application. However, MPB-like behavior is achieved only in the ferroelectric state in flexible ferroelectric polymers such as poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) with the highest piezoelectric coefficients of ≈−63.5 pC/N, due to the lack of a rational design in polymer chain structure and composition. Here, the study reports the first MPB-like behavior observed in a relaxor ferroelectric polymer synthesized by fully hydrogenating poly(vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene), which are primarily linked in a head-to-head/tail-to-tail manner, and trifluoroethylene units are randomly dispersed along the molecular chain. The unique polymer chain structure is found to be responsible for the formation of conformations disorder, thus strong relaxor behavior, and phase transition from an all-trans conformation to 3/1 helix, thus inducing phase boundary behavior. As a result, an outstanding longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient of −107 pC/N, more than five times higher than that of commercial poly(vinylidene fluoride) (−20 pC/N), is observed. This work opens up a new gate for next-generation high-performance flexible devices.

A microphase separation-driven supramolecular tissue adhesive based on guanidinium-functionalized polydimethylsiloxane exhibits instantaneous adhesion in both dry and wet environments. In the meantime, this material demonstrates the capacity for antibacterial hemostasis upon application to biological tissues and can be readily removed from tissue surfaces through wet wiping with medical-grade alcohol.

Abstract

Tissue adhesives are promising materials for expeditious hemorrhage control, while it remains a grand challenge to engineer a superior formulation with instantaneous adhesion, on-demand debonding, and the integration of multiple desirable properties such as antibacterial and hemostatic capabilities. Herein, a multifunctional supramolecular tissue adhesive based on guanidinium-modified polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is introduced, driven by a reversible microphase separation mechanism. By optimizing the content of guanidinium ions, precise control over cohesive strength, adhesion, and wettability is achieved, resulting in strong instantaneous adhesion under both dry and wet conditions. Notably, the supramolecular nature of the adhesive allows for convenient on-demand removal using medical-grade alcohol, offering a critical advantage for easy debonding. Additionally, the adhesive exhibits remarkable antimicrobial properties while maintaining excellent biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. Its underwater injectability supports minimally invasive surgical procedures. Furthermore, the adhesive's ability to incorporate solid particles enhances its versatility, particularly for the development of drug-embedded bioadhesives. This work addresses key challenges in tissue adhesive design via a microphase separation-driven working principle, thereby opening promising new avenues for the development of advanced bioadhesives with tailored properties and enhanced surgical and wound care outcomes.

This research introduces an aerogel apheresis device specifically designed for hyperlipidemia management in elderly patients. Leveraging the unique properties of aerogels, LipClean achieves selective lipid adsorption from plasma while maintaining efficiency and biocompatibility. The optimized hydrophilic-hydrophobic network ensures effective water permeability and reduces the unintended removal of essential plasma components.

Abstract

Elderly patients with hyperlipidemia often exhibit resistance to conventional hypolipidemic treatments, underscoring the need for more effective strategies to address lipid imbalances in this high-risk group. This study introduces LipClean, an aerogel-based apheresis device specifically designed to remove harmful plasma lipids. LipClean is constructed using hydrophilic cellulose fibers, which serve as a supramolecular platform for synthesizing hydrophobic conjugated polymers through a Sonogashira-Hagihara reaction. These conjugated polymers are then cross-linked with the cellulose fibers via phosphorylation, generating an aerogel monolith with an interpenetrating network of hydrophilic fibers and hydrophobic polymers. Unlike bilayer aerogels that separate hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers, LipClean's interpenetrating structure is precisely engineered through polymer design and gradient cross-linking. This optimization enhances both bodily fluid flow and lipid adsorption while minimizing the removal of essential plasma components and ensuring unobstructed cell passage. In preclinical testing, LipClean significantly reduced triglyceride and cholesterol levels in an elderly rat model of hyperlipidemia and normalized lipid levels in blood samples from hypertensive patients. Importantly, purified blood maintained normal levels of blood cells and physiological and biochemical indicators after apheresis, highlighting LipClean's potential for managing hyperlipidemia-related disorders. This study, therefore, underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in driving medical device innovation.

It is shown that the synthesis of solution-processable poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) hole transporting materials (HTMs) follows the principle of oxidative polymerization-induced electrostatic self-assembly (OPIESA), with the kinetic behavior strongly correlated to the volume of the polyanion matrix, and propose a kinetically-controlled polymerization (KCP) approach to synthesize solution-processable, high-performance PEDOT HTMs by halting the polymerization at certain stages within a low-volume polyanion matrix.

Abstract

The updating of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) hole transporting material (HTM) is crucial for organic solar cells (OSCs). Despite decades of development in PEDOT:PSS and its derivatives, a comprehensive understanding of their supramolecular polymerization mechanisms remains elusive, precluding the attainment of the optimal architectures and functions. Herein, it is shown that the synthesis of PEDOT:PSS follows the principle of oxidative polymerization-induced electrostatic self-assembly, with the kinetic behavior strongly correlated to the volume of PSS polyanion matrix. Moreover, a kinetically controlled polymerization approach is proposed to synthesize PEDOT HTMs with exceptional time efficiency by prematurely halting the rapid polymerization process within a low-volume PSS matrix. The reduced interference from PSS confers unique advantages to the methodology in achieving highly oxidized and interconnected PEDOTs. This leads to comprehensive improvements in the physico-chemical properties of PEDOT:PSS, significantly enhancing OSC efficiency to 20.04%. Furthermore, the optimized PEDOT maintains exceptional semiconducting characteristics and outstanding OSC efficiency even at an unprecedentedly high PSS insulator content of 94.12%. The substantial increase in loading significantly amplifies the manifestation of polyanion functionalities, such as improving colloidal stability, thereby facilitating the resurgence of previously underutilized naphthalene sulfonate polyanion in the fabrication of high-quality, solution-processable PEDOT HTMs.

An implantable wireless supercapacitor-activated neuro (W-SCAN) system consisting of the coil, diode bridge circuit, in-hydrogel supercapacitor, and stimulation electrodes has been developed for neuronal excitation and inhibition. By applying an adjustable electric field to stimulation electrodes, a spontaneously induced ionic oscillatory stimulation within tissue fluids is generated, which enables electro-interventional therapy for brain-related neurological disorders.

Abstract

The bidirectional modulation of cerebral neurons in the brain possesses enhancement and inhibition of neural activity, which is of great interest in the treatment of motor nerve disorders and emotional disorders, and cognitive defects. However, existing approaches usually rely on electrical/electrochemical stimulations, which show low security by implanting metal probes and unidirectional currents with single modulation. Herein, an implantable in-hydrogel wireless supercapacitor-activated neuron system consisting of the coil, diode bridge circuit, in-hydrogel supercapacitor, and stimulation electrodes is fabricated, which provides a bidirectional and adjustable ion diffusion current to safely and effectively excite and inhibit brain neurons. The designed in-hydrogel supercapacitor exhibits a high storage charge ability of ≈90 times larger than the devices without hydrogel encapsulation, owing to the in situ radical addition mechanism. Moreover, the in-hydrogel electrodes are implanted into the thalamus, amygdala, and prefrontal lobes of the brain to evoke the corresponding changes in potential intensity and frequency through the external chargeable coil and diode bridge circuit, which verifies the potential of the multimodule supercapacitor in amelioration and treatment Parkinson's, severe depression, and Alzheimer's disease.

Piezoelectric transduction in monolayer MoS2 is demonstrated using an ultrasound tip ( 100 kHz) from a wire bonder. Transient current measurements reveal sharp peaks with high peak-to-base ratios, tunable via gate voltage and ultrasound power. Multiple acoustic wave reflections enhance signal linewidth, validated by microacoustic simulations, establishing a robust platform for ultrasound-driven piezoelectric sensing.

Abstract

The interaction of ultrasonic waves with piezoelectric materials provides a quantitative route to enhance electrical and mechanical coupling in van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. Here, wire-bonding tip-assisted ultrasound (≈100 kHz) is presented as an effective approach to achieve piezoelectric transduction in monolayer MoS2 on Si/SiO2 substrates. Transient current measurements show reproducible sharp peaks with a peak-to-base ratio (I peak /I base ≈ 12) unique to monolayer MoS2, under an impact duration of 10–100 ms. Electrostatic gate voltage (V g ) and ultrasound power (W P ) tunable piezocurrent exhibit 3–5 times higher sensitivity in the ON-state (V g ⩾ 0) compared to the OFF-state. Multiple reflections of acoustic waves at source-drain electrodes, with an increment in reflection coefficients, enhance the linewidth of peak currents, validated by microacoustic simulations of surface acoustic wave (SAW) propagation in submicron geometries. The localized strain and Joule heating under ultrasonic excitation may generate a temperature rise of ≈20 K, which reduces activation energy barriers, potentially enhancing reaction rates in temperature-sensitive chemical processes, such as hydrogen peroxide decomposition. This thermal-damage-free method integrates with silicon-based fabrication, establishing a robust platform for on-chip catalysis and energy harvesting in FET-based piezotransducers.

This work demonstrates stabilization of complex magnetic skyrmion bags in ferromagnetic thin films through precisely engineered anisotropy defects using ion irradiation. The researchers achieve controlled field- and laser-induced generation of skyrmionia, target skyrmions, and higher-order skyrmion bags at room temperature. This reliable platform opens opportunities for studying the dynamics of these topological textures and their implementation in advanced spintronic devices.

Abstract

Topologically non-trivial magnetic solitons are complex spin textures with a distinct single-particle nature. Although magnetic skyrmions, especially those with unity topological charge, have attracted substantial interest due to their potential applications, more complex topological textures remain largely theoretical. In this work, the stabilization of isolated higher-order skyrmion bags beyond the prototypical π-skyrmion in ferromagnetic thin films is experimentally demonstrate, which has posed considerable challenges to date. Specifically, controlled generation of skyrmionium (2π-skyrmion), target skyrmion (3π-skyrmion), and skyrmion bags (with variable topological charge) are achieved through the introduction of artificially engineered anisotropy defects via local ion irradiation. They act as preferential sites for the field- or laser-induced nucleation of skyrmion bags. Remarkably, ultrafast laser pulses achieve a substantially higher conversion rate transforming skyrmions into higher-order skyrmion bags compared to their formation driven by magnetic fields. High-resolution x-ray imaging enables direct observation of the resulting skyrmion bags. Complementary micromagnetic simulations reveal the pivotal role of defect geometry–particularly diameter–in stabilizing closed-loop domain textures. The findings not only broaden the experimental horizon for skyrmion research, but also suggest strategies for exploiting complex topological spin textures within a unified material platform for practical applications.

This study presents a DeepONet-based machine learning framework for designing stochastic mechanical metamaterials with tailored nonlinear mechanical properties. By leveraging sparse but high-quality experimental data from in situ micro-mechanical tests, high predictive accuracy and enable efficient inverse design are achieved. This approach integrates experimental mechanics and AI, advancing next-generation metamaterials for aerospace, healthcare, and energy applications.

Abstract

Machine learning (ML) is emerging as a transformative tool for the design of mechanical metamaterials, offering properties that far surpass those achievable through lab-based trial-and-error methods. However, a major challenge in current inverse design strategies is their reliance on extensive computational and/or experimental datasets, which becomes particularly problematic for designing micro-scale stochastic architected materials that exhibit nonlinear mechanical behaviors. Here, a comprehensive end-to-end scientific ML framework, leveraging deep neural operators (including DeepONet and its variants) is introduced, to directly learn the relationship between the complete microstructure and mechanical response of architected metamaterials from sparse but high-quality in situ experimental data. Various neural operators and standard neural networks are systematically compared to identify the model that offers better interpretability and accuracy. The approach facilitates the efficient inverse design of structures tailored to specific nonlinear mechanical behaviors. Results obtained from stochastic spinodal microstructures, printed using two-photon lithography, reveal that the prediction error for mechanical responses is within a range of 5 - 10%. This work underscores that by employing neural operators with advanced nano- and micro-mechanical experiments, the design of complex micro-architected materials with desired properties becomes feasible, even in scenarios constrained by data scarcity. This work marks a significant advancement in the field of materials-by-design, potentially heralding a new era in the discovery and development of next-generation metamaterials with unparalleled mechanical characteristics derived directly from experimental insights.

An amino-alcohol ligand with strong binding affinity to Ni2+ is employed to modulate the growth kinetics of chemical bath deposited NiOx for preparing compact NiOx film with superior coverage, enhanced conductivity and reduced defect density, finally realizing the highest efficiency of 26.53% along with great operational stability and scalability for the champion device based on NiOx/SAM hole transport layer.

Abstract

The interfacial contact between the hole transport layer (HTL) and perovskite layer plays a critical role in determining the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, to address the limitations of commercial NiOx nanoparticles and realize low temperature fabrication of compact NiOx film, a chemical bath deposition (CBD) approach is employed and strategically modified. By introducing an amino-alcohol ligand of triisopropanolamine (TPA) into the precursor, the deposition process is effectively controlled. TPA binds strongly with Ni2+ ions, facilitating their gradual release and promoting the in situ formation of a compact Ni(OH)2 intermediate. This retarded growth kinetics yield high-quality NiOx films with enhanced coverage, increased conductivity, and reduced trap-state. The films also feature abundant hydroxyl groups, providing sufficient anchoring sites for MeO-2PACz. Based on this bilayer HTL, a PCE of 26.53% (certified 26.44%) with improved operational stability is achieved for the 0.09 cm2 device, marking the highest efficiency for inverted PSCs based on CBD NiOx. Furthermore, the strategy demonstrates excellent scalability, delivering efficiencies of 24.75% for a 1 cm2 device and 22.96% for a 12.96 cm2 minimodule. This work provides a facile but effective CBD approach for preparing high-quality NiOx films, offering a promising and scalable pathway for inverted PSCs.

This work presents a time-resolved ratiometric fluorescence nanothermometer with high quantum yield and exceptional thermal sensitivity, enabling rapid and accurate in vivo temperature imaging by eliminating the interference of wavelength-dependent signal attenuation and autofluorescence. A further developed fluorescence temperature endoscopy system overcomes the light penetration limitation, realizing real-time temperature guidance during liver tumor ablation in rabbit model.

Abstract

Thermal ablation is a common treatment option for early-stage cancers, but the lack of real-time temperature imaging feedback method increases the risk of incomplete or excessive ablation. Although ratiometric nanothermometer offers a rapid temperature imaging solution, accurate in vivo signal extraction remains challenging due to the autofluorescence and wavelength-dependent tissue absorption and scattering. Herein, a time-resolved ratiometric fluorescence nanothermometer composed of europium and iridium complex with identical working wavelength but distinguishing lifetimes is reported, whose well-designed structures enable 450 nm excitation of both complexes with a high quantum yield (57.8%). Based on the nanothermometer, accurate signal extraction is realized in whole blood, beneath a 2 cm tissue phantom and a 5 mm pork slice through a time-resolved ratiometric method. By leveraging the exceptional thermal sensitivity (6.9% K−1), high temperature resolution (0.02 K), and clinically relevant temperature range (30–96 °C) of the nanothermometer, a fluorescence temperature endoscopy system is further designed with a real-time temperature imaging speed of 10 fps, which is applied to minimally invasive temperature monitoring during microwave ablation of liver tumors in rabbits, realizing precise ablation control through dynamic ablation power adjustment. The real-time and accurate temperature imaging performance of the nanothermometer may offer a new perspective for intraoperative guidance.

The atomic design and control of golden single-atom alloys (PdAu1 and PtAu1 SAAs) are achieved by taking full advantage of the intrinsically isolated Bi atoms in fully ordered PdBi and PtBi matrixes, serving as highly selective, active, and stable cathode oxygen reduction and anode methanol oxidation electrocatalysts, respectively, to trigger a direct methanol fuel cell with high power density.

Abstract

Engineering electrocatalysts at a single-atomic site can enable unprecedented atomic utilization and catalytic activity, yet it remains challenging in multimetallic active centers to simultaneously achieve high catalytic selectivity and stability. Herein, the atomic design and control of golden single-atom alloys (PdAu1 and PtAu1 SAAs) based on fully ordered PdBi and PtBi matrixes is presented, serving as highly selective, active, and stable cathode and anode electrocatalysts, respectively, to trigger direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The octahedral PdAu1 SAA exhibits ultrahigh mass-activity of 5.37 A mgPd + Au −1 without noticeable decay for 12 0000 cycles toward oxygen reduction. While PdAu1 SAA is inactive for methanol oxidation, PtAu1 SAA exhibits an ultrahigh mass-activity of 28.59 A mgPt + Au −1. The selective electrocatalysts drive a practical DMFC with a high-power density of 155.0 mW cm−2. Density functional theory calculations reveal the desired regulation of selectivity via reducing the energy barrier for potential-determining steps (PDS) of *OH to H2O and *HCOO to CO2. This work provides a general strategy to engineer multimetallic alloys at the atomic level, advancing the development of high-performance electrocatalysts.

This study presents glutathione-responsive nanoparticles (PSMA-NP/BEZ) targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen to deliver a PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor. The system simultaneously suppresses P-glycoprotein-mediated drug resistance, enhances chemotherapy sensitivity, and reprograms immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments by inactivating myeloid-derived suppressor cells, offering a dual chemo-immunotherapeutic strategy against advanced prostate cancer.

Abstract

Acquired drug resistance and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment significantly limit the efficacy of chemotherapy and immunotherapy in advanced prostate cancer. Blocking the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway has been recently proved as a new strategy to improve sensitivity to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Herein, glutathione (GSH)-sensitive nanoparticles (PSMA-NP/BEZ) are developed that can target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), loaded with PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor prodrug BEZ235. BEZ235 can be released from PSMA-NP/BEZ in response to elevated GSH levels in prostate cancer tissues, inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and impairing downstream cellular functions such as cell proliferation, DNA repair, and protein synthesis. When combined with paclitaxel, PSMA-NP/BEZ could reduce drug efflux by downregulating P-glycoprotein expression in cancer cells, thus enhancing the sensitivity to chemotherapy. Furthermore, PSMA-NP/BEZ could impair the immunosuppressive functions of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and reshape the “cold” immune microenvironment in prostate cancer, enhancing immunotherapeutic efficacy and including long-term immune memory against tumor recurrence. PSMA-NP/BEZ serves a safe and promising strategy to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy and immunotherapy in advanced prostate cancer.

In this article, the Mg2Ni@Ti─MgO catalyst, featuring Mg2Ni and stable Ti─MgO with stable Ti valence state, is applied to Mg/MgH2. It simultaneously facilitates the hydrogen adsorption, dissociation, diffusion, and nucleation processes, enabling moderate-temperature hydrogen storage reactions with long-term cycle stability. These findings suggest the importance of combining early- and late-transition metals in a gas-solid phase reaction.

Abstract

Enhancing hydrogenation and dehydrogenation (de/hydrogenation) kinetics without compromising cycle stability is a major challenge for Mg-based hydrogen storage materials (Mg/MgH2). The de/hydrogenation reactions of Mg/MgH2 are one of the gas–solid reactions involving hydrogen adsorption, dissociation, diffusion, and nucleation, which often results in the catalysts being unable to simultaneously accelerate these distinct kinetic processes. Here, the Mg2Ni@Ti─MgO catalyst with dual active sites is reported to be designed to address this issue. The stabilization of Ti2+ and Ti3+ valence states in the MgO lattice simultaneously accelerates hydrogen adsorption and dissociation. Additionally, Mg2Ni serves as a hydrogen diffusion and nucleation center, synergistically enhancing de/hydrogenation reactions. Consequently, it enables MgH2 to release 5.28 wt.% H2 in 2 min at 280 °C, and achieves 1.96 wt.% H2 of hydrogen release in 60 min at 180 °C. The Mg2Ni@Ti─MgO catalyst exhibits remarkable chemical stability at the interfacial structure, minimizing structural and chemical degradation impact, and realizing excellent de/hydrogenation performance over 1000 cycles. These results provide a new methodology for optimizing multiple kinetic steps, attaining highly efficient and stable de/hydrogenation reactions.

Different approaches to MOF-NP composite formation, such as ship-in-a-bottle, bottle-around-the-ship and in situ one-step synthesis, are used. Owing to synergistic effects, the advantageous features of the components of the composites are beneficially combined, and their individual drawbacks are mitigated. In this way, the performance in applications ranging from batteries and supercapacitors to chemical catalysis, electrocatalysis, sensing, photodegradation of contaminants, and biomedicine is boosted.

Abstract

Composite structures created from metal‒organic framework (MOF) matrices are reviewed in this work. Depending on the nature of the second component apart from the MOF platform, several synergistic properties may arise; at the same time, the initial features of the single constituent materials are usually maintained, and individual shortcomings are mitigated. Currently, timely energy and environmental challenges necessitate the quest for more advanced materials and technologies. Significant developments in MOF-nanocomposites have enabled their application across a wide range of modern and traditional fields. This review demonstrates in an exhaustive and critical way a broad range of MOF-based nanocomposites, namely, MOF/perovskite nanoparticles (NPs), MOF/metal (non-iron) oxide NPs, MOF/Fe3O4 NPs, MOF/metal chalcogenide NPs, MOF/metal NPs, and MOF/carbon-based materials, as well as nanocomposites of MOFs with other semiconductor NPs. Key points related to the synthesis, characterization, and applications of these materials are provided. Depending on their configuration, the composites under discussion can be applied in domains such as photoelectrochemical sensing, antibiotic/dye degradation, optoelectronics, photovoltaics, catalysis, solar cells, supercapacitors, batteries, water remediation, and drug loading. Sometimes, MOFs can undergo certain processes (e.g. pyrolysis) and act as precursors for composite materials with appealing characteristics. Therefore, a special section in the manuscript is devoted to MOF-derived NP composites. Toward the end of the text, we conclude while also describing the challenges and possibilities for further investigations in the umbrella of material categories analyzed herein. Despite the progress achieved, key questions remain to be answered regarding the relationships among the morphology, properties, and polyvalent activity of these materials. The present work aims to shed light on most of their aspects and innovative prospects, facilitating a deeper comprehension of the underlying phenomena, functionality, and mechanistic insights governing their behavior.

This review explores the role of 3D printing in enhancing flexible pressure sensors with diverse microstructures, including micro-patterned, microporous, and hierarchical designs based on different sensing mechanisms. It explores their applications in wearable electronics, soft robotics, and emerging fields while providing insights into performance optimization and sensor advancements using 3D printing.

Abstract

3D printing has revolutionized the development of flexible pressure sensors by enabling the precise fabrication of diverse microstructures that significantly enhance sensor performance. These advancements have substantially improved key attributes such as sensitivity, response time, and durability, facilitating applications in wearable electronics, robotics, and human–machine interfaces. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the sensing mechanisms of these sensors, emphasizing the role of microstructures, such as micro-patterned, microporous, and hierarchical designs, in optimizing performance. The advantages of 3D printing techniques, including direct and indirect fabrication methods, in the creation of complex microstructures with high precision and adaptability are highlighted. Specific applications, including human physiological signal monitoring, motion detection, soft robotics, and emerging applications, are explored to demonstrate the versatility of these sensors. Additionally, this review briefly discusses key challenges, such as material compatibility, optimization difficulties, and environmental stability, as well as emerging trends, such as the integration of advanced technologies, innovative designs, and multidimensional sensing as promising avenues for future advancements. By summarizing recent progress and identifying opportunities for innovation, this review provides critical insights into bridging the gap between research and real-world applications, helping to accelerate the evolution of flexible pressure sensors with sophisticated 3D-printed microstructures.

Halide chemistry is an emerging approach in promoting the kinetics of all-solid-state Li-S batteries (ASSLSBs). In this perspective, the distinct roles of halide chemistry are discussed at both the cathode and anode, analyzing the atomic arrangement, phase composition, and morphology evolution in various halogenation strategies. further research and broad discussion of halogenation strategies are expected to inspire ASSLSBs.

Abstract

All-solid-state Li-S batteries (ASSLSBs) are emerging as a promising energy storage solution due to their low cost and high energy density. Their solid-state configuration effectively eliminates the notorious shuttle effect caused by soluble polysulfides in conventional liquid electrolytes. However, the heterogeneous solid-to-solid interfaces introduce significant challenges, including sluggish ion/electron transport and interfacial instability among electrode materials, conductive additives, and solid electrolytes (SEs). Recently, halide-based strategies have gained attention for enabling high-performance ASSLSBs. This perspective highlights these strategies, emphasizing the role of halide chemistry in enhancing ASSLSB kinetics. It is contended that halides (e.g., iodides) in sulfur-based cathode composites—such as Li2S and transition metal sulfides—can activate S/Li2S redox reactions, improving both ionic and electronic conductivities. This “catalytic effect” of halides accelerates the reversible transition, even in the absence of conductive additives like SEs or conductive carbons. Moreover, halides at the anode interface play a crucial role in preventing Li dendrite formation and SE degradation, owing to their large polarizability and high interfacial energy. This perspective provides a timely and insightful summary of halide chemistry's impact on ASSLSB kinetics, offering inspiration for further research and broader adoption of halide-based strategies in next-generation solid-state Li-S batteries.

Nature Materials, Published online: 18 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41563-025-02209-7

A tactile visual synapse is developed combining the functionalities of tactile sensation with real-time visualization of its activity for efficient in situ health monitoring.